Hunter
The day after our opening night Jen called a band meeting to discuss pending issues with the reality show. Once business was reviewed, without any preamble whatsoever, she told us of Paula and Shane’s story. That’s how Jen rolls.
Paula has Stage IV breast cancer. She’s been through chemo and had a double mastectomy. Unfortunately, it has spread to her lymph nodes and she’s no longer willing to spend her days in and out of hospitals. For her, the decision to travel the globe with her son was an easy one. The hard part was asking her friend, Jen. They finally reconnected after having lost touch. Paula didn’t want Jen to think the reason she called was for this favor. It took a long time for Paula to reach deep within herself and swallow her pride to ask for Jen’s help. Without close friends or family to speak of, she is facing this alone. She’s doing all that she can, while she can, to make all of Shane’s dreams come true.
After Jen left us, we all sat staring into space. How do we not let this affect us in a profound way? To say the mood in the room took a nosedive is an understatement. Jack admitted that Jen filled him in before the show. He kept it from Leila and us. Leila was visibly shaken as she listened to the details. She asked question upon question while Jack held her hand.
Leila was the first to speak, “We need to do something.”
She’s right. That little dude deserves as much happiness as he can get. Paula is a very brave woman. I can’t imagine putting on a happy face, pretending everything is perfect while knowing you’ll be leaving your child alone in the world.
Later that night when I told Mandi, she handled the news just as I knew she would. She remained very quiet while I relayed the details. The only emotion was evident in the occasional tear that rolled down her face. We spent the night talking about ways we could help both Shane and his mom.
When the band met up the next day, we brainstormed on what we needed to do. We decided to immediately set up a college fund for Shane, with a percentage of each show’s profits being donated. Leila’s stepmother fought breast cancer. It’s already a charity she actively contributes to. She and Jack decided to pick up all of Paula’s medical bills. Trey has volunteered to give him private guitar lessons a few times a week, since Shane will not be able to have his lessons at home these next few months. Mandi and Patti went shopping for his favorite toys. Play dates are scheduled with the twins at every juvenile attraction in every country we’ll visit. These are all great ideas, but the elephant in the room, or at this rehearsal at least, remains to be Shane’s future guardianship.
“Leila and I decided we’ll take him,” Jack blurts out as soon as we get backstage. He looks over to his wife, and she nods in agreement. “We plan on talking to Paula about it tomorrow.”
“That’s huge, man. You guys discussed it at length?”
He nods at my question. “Yes. There’s no way we can let him go into foster care. Now that we’ve met him, now that we’re getting to know him, we want him. There’s a reason he came into our lives.”
“Between the eight of us, he’ll have everything he’ll ever need.”
“Except his mother,” Leila mumbles, but we all hear her.
“He’ll have you. He couldn’t ask for a better mother,” Trey speaks for the first time since our rehearsal.
Leila smiles at his comment. “Thank you, Trey. You don’t have to say that.”
“I’m just being honest. He’s a lucky kid to have found you guys. He may have been dealt a crap hand, but it’s what comes of it that counts.”
There is so much truth in his statement. He’s most definitely speaking from experience. His mother isn’t dead, but she may as well be. He lived his life without her by choice. Shane may not have a choice. If he did, it wouldn’t be what his future holds. Having Jack and Leila as parents is the best scenario that could come from this tragedy.
An uncomfortable silence falls over us again. We have a few hours before we go on, and we need to improve our moods. As band manager, I’m taking matters into my own hands.
“Why don’t we bring Shane on stage to play with us tonight?”
All eyes turn to me in disbelief.
“What?”
“Are you insane?” Scott asks what they are all thinking.
“Hear me out. He has his tiny bass. He’ll stand beside Trey, but he won’t be plugged in. He’ll be our special guest. Have him perform a song or two. He’ll love it.”
They process my words for a few seconds. Leila nods slowly, “That would be amazing. We’ll have to ask Paula, of course, to be sure she is ok with it.”
“We don’t have much time to get this done. I’ll have to run it by Jen. Wouldn’t want the lawyers freaking out.”
“I’ll handle Jen,” Jack says, dismissing my concern of any problems she may throw at us.
Over the next few hours we do whatever is necessary to get this done. Paula was thrilled with the idea. Surprisingly, Jen was also on board. We got the little dude a very rock star looking outfit. Leila even got him his own pair of shades. When we told Shane he would be playing tonight, he literally jumped in place like a monkey.
The smile on Paula’s face was blinding. She explained to her son that he would play the first two songs with us, and then he had to go back to the hotel with her. It would be way past his bedtime, and he needed to be rested for our plane ride tomorrow. I’m not sure he heard any of that. He continued to jump around during most of his mom’s speech. In fact, as we stand off stage waiting for the house lights to dim, he’s still jumping around.
Trey squats before Shane and says something quietly. Shane nods, smiling wide. They bump fists as Trey winks at him.
Leila looks on like a proud mama, and not just toward Shane either. Trey notices the dopey smile on her face and moves to whisper something in her ear. Based on the slap he receives on his arm, even in the dark I can tell whatever he said has her blushing at the moment.
Upon our cue, Trey lifts Shane and carries him up to their spots on stage. The rest of us follow and wait for Jack to make his usual opening remarks. On the dimly lit stage, I can see Trey helping Shane with his miniature version of the same bass guitar his idol uses. All pairs of our eyes are focused on Shane’s little silhouette. Leila has the arena recording his performance so he can watch it over and over again. It was a great idea. I doubt he’ll remember any of this once it’s over.
“Good evening, Barcelona!” Jack calls into the dark arena. The screams explode with such force that Shane startles. I wish I could see his face right now.
Jack continues to engage the crowd with his normal banter. When the stage lights go on, he introduces Shane immediately. The building is vibrating from the noise level. Jack asks Shane to take a bow. Like a little pro he steps forward and bends at the waist. His tiny bass rests on his back. The dude looks awesome. His hair is spiked, his clothes and tiny Doc Martens all scream rock star. Leila did a fantastic job prepping him for his debut.
During our first song, Shane mimics Trey move for move. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. He’s a Mini Me to Trey, but much more likeable. We may have to add him to our band officially, based on the reaction he’s receiving.
After our second song, Jack brings Shane front and center and has him bow again. He gives Jack a high five and waves to the fifty thousand people watching him, as if his audience consists of only a few people. The kid’s a natural. He lifted our moods, giving us the rush we needed to finish our show…to finish it in true Devil’s Lair style.