Free Totally Unrelated by Tom; Ryan Page A

that I’m going to experience this moment with my family.
    Dad pulls up in front of a large gate and jumps out to talk to some security guards, then quickly gets back behind the wheel while they open the gates. As simple as that, we’re in the backstage area. We park and get out of the bus. It’s insane back here. The stage is huge, like nothing we’ve ever played before, and people with clipboards bustle about in all directions.
    Molly squeals and points to a huge bus parked off by itself. The side of the bus is dominated by an image of an American flag blowing in the wind. Vince Beach’s big grinning face is superimposed on top, sideburns, cowboy hat and all, and American Saloon Tour is written in a giant swoosh of glittery letters across the bottom. Two giant burly guys with goatees and sunglasses flank the doors to the bus.
    â€œWow,” says Johnny. “His bus makes ours look like a tin can on wheels.”
    â€œI bet he’s in there right now!” says Maura.
    â€œDon’t get too excited,” says Shamus. “By the looks of those bodyguards, you won’t get within spitting distance.”
    Dad calls out to a young woman who is hurrying past us, talking a mile a minute into a headset. She stops in her tracks and glances over at us impatiently.
    â€œHi there,” he says. “I’m wondering if you know where I can find Martin Teasdale.”
    â€œHe’s with the local promoter?” she asks.
    â€œThat’s right. We’re one of the opening acts. The Family McClintock.”
    Her eyes do a quick scan of us, clustered together beside the bus. “I believe the local promoters have a table set up over there somewhere,” she says. She points to the other side of the stage and then hurries away without asking if we need anything else.
    â€œLet’s you and me go find him,” Mom says, putting her hand on Dad’s back.
    â€œYou guys hold tight,” says Dad to the rest of us. “We’ve got to grab the contract and find out from Marty what time we go on. We’ll be right back.”
    â€œCome on, girls,” Gran says to the twins. “No reason why we shouldn’t get the two of you dressed for the show. It’ll save us all a bit of time later on.”
    She and Kathy hustle them back onto the bus.
    â€œYou guys want to check out the sound setup?” asks Shamus. Johnny and I follow him through the chaos, making our way toward the stage. Next to a metal staircase that leads up to the back of the stage, three guys wearing Vince Beach T-shirts are standing around, laughing and smoking. They’ve got rolls of tape in different colors hanging from their belts, and one of the guys is talking into a walkie-talkie.
    â€œI think those guys must be roadies,” says Shamus. “They’ll know what’s going on.”
    He walks up to them, and they stop talking and turn to look at him.
    â€œHow’s it going?” says Shamus.
    â€œCan we help you?” one of the guys asks.
    â€œWe’re one of the opening acts,” says Shamus. “I was just wondering when we should start setting our gear up. Can we back our bus up here and unload?”
    The guys stare at him for a second, then burst out laughing.
    â€œGear?” says one of the guys, a bald dude with a tattoo of a snake on the back of his head.
    â€œYeah,” says Shamus, who is beginning to sound unsure of himself. “Our amps and cables and stuff.”
    The guys look at each other, amused. Two of them flick their cigarettes to the ground and walk away.
    â€œListen, man,” says the tattooed guy. “You won’t have to worry about your gear. Who did you say you guys were?”
    â€œWe’re with the Family McClintock,” says Shamus. “We’re one of the opening acts.”
    â€œYeah, well, you’re not the only one, so get in line, Mr. McClintock,” he says. “We’ve got more important