I was sitting on my sister's bed with Dave the first time I heard it. We were playing Super Mario World with no sound, so we would be able to hear the raido. The DJ. came on and said something like "keep listening for when to call in, if you want tickets and backstage passes to the Tori Amos show, at the Virgin Mega Store, on the thirteenth." I dropped my Nintendo controller, grabbed Dave's arm and shrieked, "Tori." Then I proceeded to dance around the room singing a little tune that only consisted of four words. Those words were, I must see Tori.
Dave was still sitting on the bed smiling, enjoying my little show. He's used to seeing me act this way when it comes to Tori. Besides, he's almost as obsessed as I am. I stop doing my little dance and go right up into his face. I say, "we will not turn this station off, until one of us wins." Dave laughes and says, "Ok Nanc."
That was the start of Z-100, {radio station} taking over almost every waking hour for me for five days. I also had to beg my entire family not to use the phone to often. I called every time the DJ gave the go ahead. Dave was calling in too. After so many failed attempts, I was beginning to get discouraged. I wouldn't give up though.
Before I knew it, it was the day of the performance. I had no tickets or passes, neither did Dave. Time for calling in to win at the last minuet was running out too. I had to go to work. The radio station at my job was set to one of those stations that only played instrumental music, I severely doubted they would be giving away tickets.
During the bus ride to work, I listened to my walkman to hear if they would say to call in. If they did, I was totally ready to jump of the bus and use a pay phone. The ride went by with out any word about Tori. On the walk from the bus to the office, nothing. It wasn't until I walked into my job did the DJ say "Tori Amos tickets, be caller 100 and they're yours."
I ran out of the office to a nearby pay phone. I dialed the stations 800 number, praying I would be caller 100. As usual the line was busy. I kept trying though. Finally it rang. My heart began to pound. "Z-100" said a female voice. "Did I win the Tori tickets?" I asked breathlessly. "I'm sorry, we just gave the last pair away" said Ms Z-100. "NO" I wailed. How dare they not have anymore tickets. I finally got through and they gave the last pair away seconds before. Ms Z-100 spoke "you know you don't need tickets to get in. With out the special tickets we were giving away you wont be able to meet her but you can still see the show." "Really?" I asked. "Yes, but you better get there fast and get on line, or you wont get in" she said sounding like a school teacher. I thanked Ms Z-100 and hung up the phone.
Thoughts started swirling around in my head. The train station was around the corner. I could get into Manhattan in just enough time. "But what about work?" whispered a little voice. I started thinking, "work or Tori, work or Tori." I grabbed my purse and ran toward the train station.
I got there and checked the schedule. The train would be coming in about five minutes. I fished a quarter out of my pocket to call Dave. I told him what was going on and asked him to meet me at the Virgin Mega Store. "All that calling for nothing." he says trying to sound pissed off. I knew he was too happy to really be mad. "So whoever gets there first will get on line," I say. "I'm gonna try to get a ride to the station, hopefully I'll be able to meet you. If I'm not there by the time they let you in go with out me, but be careful," he says sounding like my dad. "But you have to come," I insist. "I want to and believe me, I'll try my hardest" he said. I see people are forming a line near the edge of the platform. I tell Dave the train is hear. "I love you" he says. "I love you too, see you there," I say before I hang up.
It wasn't until I was snuggled up in a window seat on the train, that I realized I only had a dollar to my name. There was no way I could get to the city with a dollar. I prayed the ticket taker would be a man. A man that would find me cute enough {in my new short balck silky dress with red roses on it} to let my poverty slide. Whether or not it was that or the way I looked at him, with my hazel eyes wide and on the verge of spilling tears, as I whispered "my money is gone, I don't know what happened to it" that got me off the hook I'll never know.
I got off the train at Grand Central Station. I ran through it and the streets of Manhattan like a mad woman. Not stopping until I reached the Virgin Mega Store. Just inside the enterance was a guy handing out bracelets. I walked up to him and he put a yellow one on my wrist and said "go outside to your right and get on line." "Can I have another bracelet, my boyfriends meeting me here?" I ask. He smiles and hands me another one. I go outside and get on line.
Being short has finally payed off for me. I squeezed my way up to the front. There really wasn't a line. It was more like a bunch of people gathered infront of a big double glass door. I start to wonder if Dave will make it and if he'll be able to find me in this mess of people. I'm also along with the hundreds of other eagerly waiting fans getting impatient. I had been standing in the same spot for about an hour. I had a few conversations with the other Tori fans about various things. A couple who was standing to my left had become my new buddies. The girl told me that Jason {the guy she was with} just got one of his stories published in the schools literary magazine. I congratulated him and we were about to start talking about writing, when a guy in a Virgin t-shirt opened the door and started letting people in.
Suddenly everyone was pushing foward. I could barely breathe because my face was attached to the back of the man infront of me. The guy in the Virgin t-shirt stopped letting people in. That got people to stop pushing foward, so I could remove my face from the mans back and breathe again. There was only one row of people a head of me to get in. I was so afraid I was gonna get to the door and the Virgin t-shirt man would say "sorry, there's no more room." He started letting people in again.
I was just about to walk in when he stopped me. No I thought please don't let me not see Tori. The guy must have been reading my thoughts cause he said "don't worry you'll get in, I can only let a certain amount of people in at a time though, that's why I stopped you." I smiled. I was truley happy. I was going to see Tori. It would be my first time seeing her live. The guy opened the door and said "enjoy" as I floated inside.
I was told by a security guard that since I had on a yellow bracelete I was designated to the second level. That was okay with me. I found a spot with a great view of the little stage they set up for Tori. Amazingly, the couple I became buddies with had found me and we stood together . I was excited beyond belief.
The crowd burst into applause and Tori walked out and got on stage. She sat down at the piano then turned to us gave a little wave hello and began to play. My jaw dropped. She was so incredible I couldn't move. Not even to applaud. I had never seen anything like it . I remember she played about five songs and after that she answered questions from the audience. I can't tell you what the questions were or her answeres but I remember she was extreamly personable and sweet. The one problem with me being so excited was that as soon as it was over I couldn't remember any details. All I know is that it was fabulous.
As soon as I got outside the store I remembered something. I was in Manhattan with no money and no way to get home. I could sense someone close behind me so I turned around. It was Dave. I smiled and said "did you see her?" He shook his head no and took my hand. I looked at him and said "I'm sorry you missed it, but at least you'll be able to get home, I have no money, no way to get home and I'm starving." He kissed me and "lets go get some lunch that way you can tell me all about Tori before we get on the train."
* A few months ago I was net surfing and I came across the cutest website. It has this list and it was titled "How To Know If You're Obsessed With Tori Amos." There were many things that were considerd to be Tori obsessive but losing your job to see a Tori show wasn't listed. I can't find the site now, so if anyone knows what I'm talking about could you please give me the address. I think losing your job qualifies as being obsessive. She's worth it though:-)*
