by Sarah Price
She was tired, but she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was in a whirl, overstimulated for sure and certain. She sat on the sofa in the front of the bus and sighed as she looked around. One week ago, her life had been so different. True, she had been at the farm and the paparazzi had been ruining the lives of her family and community. But never could she have imagined how much her life would have changed in just a few short days.
From Philadelphia to Los Angeles to San Francisco, and next to Las Vegas and then Miami? Some of these cities she had never even heard of! There were new sights and sounds, smells and foods. Even the mobs of people interested her, despite Amanda not fully understanding the crowd’s fascination with Alejandro. Or with her, for that matter.
At one of the radio stations that morning, she had caught sight of several magazines and newspapers on one of the tables. They were opened to different sections and pages, but all were about Alejandro. He had laughed when she pointed it out and just mentioned that the people were probably reading them to catch up on the latest gossip before the interview. But then her eyes fell on the photos of herself.
“Alejandro!” she had gasped, reaching for the paper. “That’s me!”
He had glanced up from his cell phone and peeked over her shoulder. “Sí, it is,” he said, returning to his text messages. “You are America’s darling right now, Amanda. Get used to it.”
She didn’t think she could ever get used to it.
“Why does everyone stop and stare at us?” Aaron had asked her when she was driving the buggy to the general store for an order of food for her mother. Mamm needed flour, sugar, pickling spices, and beans, so Amanda had offered to go in her place. Once Aaron had heard that Amanda was hitching up the horse to the buggy, he had scurried out of afternoon chores to help her, begging and pleading to ride along.
Now, as they were driving down the road, he had asked the question that had perplexed Amanda for years. Why did the tourists find the Amish so fascinating? Why did so many people clog the streets of Lititz and the surrounding communities each spring, summer, and fall?
Even driving the horse and buggy down the road was an issue. Some tourists grew irritated when they were slowed down on their journey because of the buggies. The winding roads of Lancaster County were not conducive to passing other vehicles, especially during the tourist season. So when they finally could pass, they often tried to cut off the buggies as if retaliating for the delay in their busy day.
“Oh, Aaron,” she said, smiling. “We’re just different from them.”
“So they stare at us?”
Amanda laughed. “Don’t we often stare at them with their silly clothing and funny hats?”
He giggled at that. “Ja, that is true.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “You get used to it eventually, and at some point, you stop noticing it.”
Amanda managed to take a short nap. It felt strange to sleep during the day. The only time she had ever done such a thing was on those rare occasions when she had a cold in the winter or a summer flu.
In the bedroom that was at the back of the bus, she had shut the curtains, and with the room so dark, sleep had finally overtaken her. It was a deep sleep, and when she finally awoke, she couldn’t clear her head to fully wake up. It took her a moment to remember where she was and what she was doing there.
San Francisco, she thought as she awoke.
She stretched as she got out of bed and opened the curtains. She could barely make out the blue sky overhead. The bus was behind a gated barrier so that the general public could not disturb the crew of the traveling Viper show.
Amanda rubbed the back of her neck and made her way to the bus door. She just wanted to feel the sunshine on her face. She wasn’t used to being inside so much. She was starting to feel as trapped as if she were back at the farm, cowering inside the house as she hid from the paparazzi.
Outside, she covered her eyes from the blinding brightness of the sun. Even though it was starting to dip in the sky, it was still strong, especially after she had just awakened from a nap. Shutting her eyes, she lifted her face toward the sun and felt the warmth on her skin. For a moment, she was transported back to the farm and standing in a large field, the cows grazing nearby and the sound of a buggy rolling down the street at the end of the lane.
“It’s her!”
She snapped out of her daydream and looked in the direction of the voices. People were gathered by the gate and taking her photo. Amanda frowned and looked away. The solitude of the moment was gone, just like that.
Uncertain about what to do, she wandered away from the gate and toward the open doors through which Alejandro had disappeared earlier. The guard nodded his head and let her pass without asking any questions. Inside was a corridor with doors along each side. She could hear music coming from the end of the hallway, so she walked in that direction.
Inside the stadium, she stood by herself among the empty chairs. On the stage, the band was tuning their instruments, and she could see Alejandro talking with several men and a woman. She sat down in a seat and smiled to herself as she watched him interacting with the people. A touch on the arm for one, his head tossed back in laughter at another.
“Check! Check! One, two, three, four!”
She saw Alejandro lift his hand to his ear and tilt his head. He nodded and said something to the man next to him, then he walked away, toward the center of the stage. He was in command, totally in charge as he directed the different people, and then, with a wave of his hand, the music started and he began to sing to the empty stadium.
She watched him, curious about how it felt to stand there, before the thousands of seats, and know that in just a few hours every seat would be occupied by an adoring fan. Shutting her eyes, she remembered the evening before with the music and the people and the lights. It had been magical, and she saw that Alejandro had a true gift from God. He touched people’s lives in a way that she had never imagined possible. Through music, she realized with amazement. Music.
Yet, at the same time, she was beginning to see that it was more than just the music. It was also the man. From the way that he moved onstage to how he interacted with people one-on-one, Alejandro was always on and always performing. Nothing was too much trouble. He’d pause for photographs and autographs and just a kind word for someone on the streets.
As the song ended, she noticed Carlos cross the stage and whisper something to Alejandro. He waved his arm at the band and said something that Amanda couldn’t hear. Within minutes, Alejandro was walking off the stage and grabbing a bottle of water that Carlos handed to him.
She felt something vibrate in the pocket of her dress. Her cell phone. She reached for it, turning it over in her hands as she looked at the screen. A message was there from Alejandro.
Where are you?
V
She frowned, wondering how to respond. She pressed several buttons but nothing happened. It asked for a lock code, and she couldn’t remember what Alejandro had told her the number was.
“Stupid thing,” she mumbled, starting to stand up so that she could try to find him. She certainly didn’t want to cause him any unnecessary worry.
It vibrated again.
I see you.
Stay where you are.
I’m coming.
V
She looked around, wondering how he had found her. But she didn’t question his instruction, so she sat down, the cell phone back in her pocket. She really needed to get him to spend time with her so that she could figure out how to use it.
“What are you doing sitting here by yourself, Princesa?” he asked as he emerged from the hallway behind her. He smiled as he crawled over the seat and sat next to her. “Wow,” he said, looking around. Kicking his feet up so that they rested on the back of the chair in front of him, he put his hands behind his head. “I don’t see this vantage point too often!
Impressive.”
She followed his gaze. He was staring at the massive stadium and the seats, empty now. The stage was large and oppressive in such a setting. Later, when the seats were filled and Viper was dancing and singing on it, the stage would be exciting and powerful.
“This is all for you,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact and without a hint of bravado. “I wonder, though, how that makes you feel.”
He frowned at her question, his eyes narrowing as if in deep thought. “I ask myself that question frequently,” he admitted. “Grateful? Appreciative? Humbled?”
“Really?” She turned to face him, for his choice of words had surprised her. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. “Why is that, Princesa?”
For a short moment, she looked around at the stadium. In her mind, she could imagine the people cheering for him as he entertained them. While this was a whole new world for her, she also could sense the dangers that came with it. “I can imagine that all of this attention could really change a person,” she said. “Maybe some people take it for granted after a while.”
“Hmm,” he replied, nodding his head slowly as if thinking about what she had said. “It has been known to happen, sí.”
Suddenly, she turned to him, facing him as she asked the burning question on her mind. “So how do you keep it balanced, Alejandro? How do you stay humbled?” The question was asked with innocent curiosity, and she could see from his expression that he wasn’t exactly certain how to respond.
Finally, he did, with two simple words: “I remember.”
“You remember? You remember what?”
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Everything, Princesa. I remember everything, and that keeps me focused on doing what I do for the people who love the music.” He stretched his one arm over his head and laid it casually across the back of her seat. His eyes continued to study the empty arena. “I remember the struggles. I remember the poverty. I remember how hard my mother worked to put food on the table. I remember the street fights, the hustling, the things I don’t ever want to tell you about.”
“You can tell me anything,” she said softly. “I’d never judge you.”
“Not these things,” he said firmly. “But I also remember that one thing got me through all of that. One thing got me to where I am today. One thing is all that matters above all others.”
She waited for him to share that one thing with her. But he remained silent. “What is it, Alejandro?”
He chewed on his lower lip, casting a quick glance at her before he nodded his head, as if agreeing with himself to share it with her. “God.”
Chapter Eight
The MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas was unlike anything she could have ever imagined. It was large and bright, with lights and sounds and people everywhere. With security guards walking beside them, Alejandro guided Amanda through the lower lobby and casino to the elevators. People were sitting at the slot machines, feeding coin after coin into them before pressing buttons. Lights rang, bells chimed, and voices surrounded them.
Some people looked up and noticed the small entourage walking through the casino. Others didn’t bother. They were too interested in the blinking lights and clanging beeps of the machines before them.
A few people approached Alejandro, begging to take a photo. He obliged a few of them, posing with the fans flanked on either side. Amanda waited patiently beside the security guards and simply shook her head when people asked to take her photo. Some respected that. Others paid her no attention and took the photograph anyway.
The night before, they had arrived at Las Vegas at three in the morning, having taken a private jet from San Francisco right after the show. Faced with a seven-hour drive ahead of them on the bus, Alejandro had preferred to fly to Las Vegas, especially later at night when they would be less noticed by the guests at the hotel.
He had all but carried Amanda from the car to the hotel. She was exhausted, leaning against him. She had never stayed up so late nor had she ever felt the bone weariness that overcame her body.
They were staying in the Skylofts, a private two-floor loft with sweeping views of the city. He had led her up the stairs to the bedroom, and she collapsed on the bed, curling her legs up as she nestled into the pillow. She had heard him chuckle as he took off his tie and tossed it onto the lounge chair next to the bed. She simply didn’t care. She needed sleep.
When she had awoken in the morning, she was surprised to find him sleeping next to her. Somehow he had managed to remove her shoes and get her under the sheets. But she was completely dressed in the long skirt and white silk blouse that she had worn the day before. He, however, was wearing a sleeveless white undershirt, his one arm over his head as he slept.
She had watched him for a moment, her heart swelling at the sight of Alejandro asleep in the bed next to her. She noticed his tattoos on his arms, so many of them. Words in Spanish, musical notes, and even an image of a snake. She reached her hand out to touch them, gently tracing a line along the dark-blue ink. She hadn’t remembered him joining her. Frankly, she knew that there was another bedroom, and she wondered why he hadn’t slept there.
Quietly, she had stolen out from under the sheets and got out of the bed. She glanced at the clock on the dresser, surprised to see that it was almost noon. She felt guilty for having slept away half of the day. She wondered if she should wake up Alejandro but decided against it. Surely he was overly tired, too.
She had wandered around the suite, peeking over the railing to the open sitting area beneath her. Everything was very large and grand but also very contemporary. Another first, she thought. She wasn’t certain if she liked that type of decorating, being used to more country furniture, which was comfortable and homey. She felt as if this room looked cold and sterile.
By the time Alejandro had awoken and hustled down the stairs, she had already showered and changed and was snacking on a platter of fresh grapes that someone had left on the long table in the dining area. He smiled at her as he straightened his red handkerchief in the pocket of his black shirt. “You slept well, sí?”
She had nodded, smiling back at him. “Sí,” she teased.
“¡Ay!” He had laughed and walked over to her, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “You are beautiful this morning, Amanda.”
“Afternoon,” she had gently corrected.
He had responded by glancing at his watch and caught his breath. “I see that. We must go before we are late.”
“Go?”
“Sound check, quick rehearsal, dressing, then the VIP meet and greet,” he had said, hurrying to a leather bag on the sofa. Amanda hadn’t noticed it there earlier. He opened it and reached for his phone, quickly checking the text messages.
Now, as they walked through the MGM Grand, Amanda couldn’t help but stare at the strange people and machines, seeing the lights blinking and listening to the noises. There were no windows in the casino, and most of the people sat alone. She couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to use those slot machines, relying on chance.
The room over the barn was filled with people, all of their eyes focused on the five men standing before them. Just the week before, one of their ministers had passed away. It had been unexpected, a simple heart attack in his sleep. A peaceful way to be called home to the Lord.
At the next church service, the members were selecting a new minister. Each member had walked up to the bishop and whispered into his ear the name of a person who they recommended for the task. A short tally would produce five to seven candidates who would be called to the front of the room.
The bishop had five books on the table. The Ausbund. It was the hymnbook used by the church for singing, the oldest-known hymnbook in existence. Inside one of the books was a slip of paper. The five candidates had to choose a book and peer inside. The one who found the paper was now the new minister,
a lifelong position that affected both him and his family. It was often a position that was met with tears of humility at the great burden that lay ahead.
Amanda had sat next to her mother, peering at the men. Each one was sweating and pale, nervously shifting his weight as, with a trembling hand, he reached out for one of the books. The first three men opened the book and nothing fell out. There was a sense of relief on their faces while the other two men began to glance at their wives.
The fourth man reached out to take a book, hesitated, and changed his mind. He grabbed the other book and opened it.
A single piece of white paper fluttered through the air and to the ground.
Silence in the room.
The new minister had been selected by God. It was his will that had led the man to select that particular book.
The new man fell to his knees and covered his face, weeping.
The rest of the afternoon passed no differently from the previous day in Los Angeles. At the VIP meet and greet, Amanda stood to the side of the room, looking at the lines of people who had paid hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars just to meet Viper and have their photos taken with him. She couldn’t help but watch with a mixture of amusement and curiosity as Viper greeted each person individually and shook their hands, asking them for their names. He addressed them by their name during the rest of the conversation and answered any questions that they had. Some of the women would jump into his arms, kissing his cheeks and holding his hands. Viper would laugh, hugging them back, and on two occasions, he kissed them back, chastely on the lips.
The shyer people, mostly younger fans, would stand in silence before him, their mouths hanging open as they faced their favorite singer. For those fans, Viper would ask them questions such as where they lived and what grade they were in. When they walked away, three of the younger girls had tears of joy streaming down their faces.