Vendor Writing: A Night at the Opera with some Rascals

A Night at the Opera with some Rascals

BY CHRIS W., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

One day last April I was selling The Contributor at my spot at a Walmart when I seen a tour bus in the parking lot. No big deal. It’s Nashville. Then, this guy walks over and asks how much for a paper? I said $2. He hands me, well, much, much more. He then asks me, “Do you want to meet a friend of mine?” And this guy walks over. It was Gary, the frontman for Rascal Flats, and the first guy was the road manager for the band.

After talking for about a half hour, Gary asked me what I was doing tonight. I said I hoped to spend some time with my girlfriend why? He said, “I was going to see if you wanted to go backstage at the Opry House.” So I asked, “Can I bring her with me?”

At first Gary said yes, but when I brought her down to the bus he said he called the Opry and was told it was going to be packed backstage. He said I want you to go, but she can’t come with us. I went over and told her, “I’m going to stay here with you,” and she said, "No, Honey, I want you to go. You’ll have some cool stories to tell me when you’re back." Stupid me! I believed her! After the show, Gary dropped me off at my camp. Coming down the driveway Gary asked, “Do you think she’s mad?” I said I hoped not. When I got home, she was gone. I lost the woman I still care about.