Jamie slowly threw her things into her bag and followed her dad outside. She had been approached by a few people, but none of them were interested. They all said that she had incredible talent, but maybe some other time. That's what Jamie didn't understand. If she was as mind blowing as they said, then what was the problem? Why wouldn't they take her? She let out a defeated sigh and hurried to catch up with her father.
He had been just as upset about this as she had. Jamie had never seen a look of such disappointment on her father's face, and it scared her. He was usually the picture of confidence, always the one to tell her to never give up. Right now, she wasn't so sure she'd get that same answer if she asked.
"Oaf," Jamie fell backward and her bag flew out of her hands as she rammed into something hard...and alive.
"I'm sorry." The voice said above her. She closed her eyes to slow the spinning images and gain back her sight.
"No, it was my fault; I wasn't watching where I was going." She told the stranger as she started to get up. She felt a strong hand on her arm and the felt herself being lifted off the ground and placed onto her feet. "Thanks" She said, finally opening her eyes.
She was surprised to come face to face with a brute of a man that looked to be close to 7 feet tall. Next to him was a comical looking person with a lopsided grin and eyes that sparkled with mischief. He had a strange adaptation of a goatee on his face, and Jamie thought she had never seen something so...different before.
"I'm sorry...My name's Chris, and this is Tim." The shorter man reviled himself and stuck out his hand. Jamie took it with some hesitation but the friendliness of this man's face soon washed that feeling away. "You're James Tanning, right?" He asked, eyes gleaming.
"Yes, That's me. But most people call me Jamie." She drawled, suddenly aware of that ever present Tennessee accent that clung to her words.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you that your performance was amazing. I've never heard such power before. I'd like to talk to your manager, if that's all right." He stated more than asked, and Jamie's hope jumped at the idea this man wanted to talk to her manager. She scanned the area and saw her father talking to some other parent of the girl that had gone on after her. She asked Chris to wait a moment and sauntered off to get her father.
Chris smirked at Tim and said, "I think I might just have to sign that girl to Fuman. Did you hear her?" He rubbed his hands together in excitement. Tim rolled his eyes.
"Whatever man. I heard her; she sound's exactly like Justin did when you all got together. That drawl is enough to make me want to watch Hee Haw, and buy me some cowboy boots." He chuckled at his own joke but Chris hadn't heard him. He was too busy watching as the girl re approached them with a man that looked a lot like her.
"Hello, I'm Allen Tanning, Jamie's father and manager." Chris held back a groan. Having parents manage their kids was almost always a disaster because the parent would never let their precious child do anything they wanted. It was for their own good. But he didn't want to jump to conclusions so he decided to ask a few questions first.
"Pleasure to meet you. My name is Christopher Kirkpatrick. I was just telling Jamie here how amazing she sounded up there."
"Why thank you, she works very hard."
"Well, anyway, I have a small company that manages different musical acts and I wanted to ask Jamie a few questions, if that's all right?" He asked, looking between the pair. They both nodded, so he continued. "What types of music do you like Jamie?" Chris didn't really care about her musical preferences; he just wanted to see who answered, Jamie or her father.
"I--"
"Jamie likes anything. I always tell her to keep and open mind about music styles." Chris nodded and decided to try one more time.
"That's great. What about writing, do you write any songs Jamie?"
"Yessir, I--"
"Jamie's always jotting down things in her little notebook, don'tcha James? But she's always open to ideas." He added in quickly. Chris nodded again and shot a pleading look at Tim, and then he got an idea.
"That's wonderful. Why don't you talk with my partner Tim, and discuss Jamie's ideas...I'm going to get a drink, Jamie...would you like something?" He emphasized his words to her and jerked his head away from her father. Jamie got the message and cleared her throat.
"Um...Yea, I'm actually feelin' a little parched. Excuse me Daddy." Allen waved her off, and turned to Tim, excitement shown in his blue eyes. Tim threw Chris a deadly look and started frantically searching for any musical jargon he had gathered over the years.
Chris waited for Jamie to join him and the pair walked away, in the direction of a bench placed outside the theater. Chris noticed the way she twisted her hands in a nervous gesture and he smiled.
"So Jamie...now I'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's all right." Jamie looked up at him with a sorrowful look.
"I'm sorry about my father. It's just that...I'm all he has and he..." Chris stopped her by placing his hand on her arm.
"It's all right Jamie. I understand. So...do you write your own music?"
"Actually I do. I have pages filled with random thoughts and ideas, and sometimes I like to put those to music. I have a few complete, and one that I've been working on...but it seems to be missing something." Chris noticed her visibly relax as the conversation went to more comfortable territory.
"That's great. I have to warn you though; this is going to be though work. I don't know about your schooling, and how this might affect it, but I really think you have talent. Now, I can't guarantee you a spot on a label, I'm just here to help you get there. I want to you come down to Orlando and do some rough tracks, and then a demo tape we can send to different labels." He watched as Jamie's face dropped in shock.
"Well...I...isn't this a bit sudden?" She asked, flabbergasted.
"To be completely honest, yes. I don't think I would ever do this under any other circumstances, but I see something in you Jamie. Past just your talent, you hold that fire that I once saw in myself and I know you have what it takes." Her face lit up with a bright smile and her eyes danced. But then a somber look passed over her features.
"I must warn you, that we...ah...we don't have a lot of money. I...I don't attend school because we can't pay and my dad has to work three jobs, so I can't pay for anything. I couldn't ask that of my father either." Chris smiled sympathetically dropped a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about a thing James. I know this is sudden, but we can make this work. If you're willing to work at it, you can go anywhere you want to go." She smiled at him and whispered a thank you.
"You have no idea how good this feels." She beamed as they made their way back to her father and Tim.
"More thank you think James, more than you think."
