Chapter Two
Kennedy—Nashville TN.
“LET’S GO AND CHECK OUT the town, once school starts I won’t have a life.” My little sister Stacy said as she looked at a map of the town.
“We need to stay here and unpack your clothes and movies. Your roommate will be here in a few days and you want your stuff put away.”
“Kennedy, I want to go out and have some fun with you, before you go back to Texas in a few days. I am so happy to be out of that little town.”
“There isn’t anything wrong with Mason. I love that it’s small and that you know your neighbors. Plus, our family is close by and I love working with the Johnson’s and their horses. I don’t understand why anyone would want to move from the Hill Country of Texas. I think the rolling hills and the peace and quiet are romantic. This place is crazy!”
“I can’t wait for this new adventure, school, new friends and the possibilities that are here in Nashville. I still can’t believe I got into Vanderbilt University.”
I walked into the small kitchen to grab a water. “I can, you’re beyond a 4.0 and everyone knows it. Soon you will be a Nurse and then a Doctor.” I looked at my baby sister and sighed. “Fine, let’s go to Music Row and I want to see the Ryman, and, maybe some country stars. Then we can try and eat at Florida Georgia Lines new restaurant for dinner.”
“Really? You mean it?” Stacy smiled.
“Why not, like you said I’ll be leaving in a few days and you will be so busy with school, you won’t get a chance to see anything.” I walked into her room and changed out of my sweats and put on shorts and a t-shirt. Then I grabbed my cowboy boots and cowboy hat.
“You’re wearing boots and a hat?”
“What? This might not be Texas but it’s still country and I want to feel comfortable.”
“Fine but let me do your makeup.”
“What? No, I like how I look. Why add or do something that isn’t me.” I tried to move out of her way.
“Kennedy, please let me do this. It will be months before we can do anything like this again. And I’ll probably be too tired anyways.” I sighed. Damn.
“Alright but not too much.” Twenty minutes later she had my makeup done and she tried to curl my hair. But I stopped that by just putting it in a pony.
***
We walked down the famous road and the thought of all the stars that had walked on these streets brought chills down my spine.
“Look there’s the Ryman Auditorium.” My sister said as we walked arm and arm down the sidewalk. “They call this the Mother Church of Country Music.”
“Did you know that Nana saw the Grand Ole Opry Live, here when she went to school at Vanderbilt? Pawpaw brought her back on their trip to the Smoky mountains fifteen years ago.” I said, looking up at the grand building.
“I didn’t know that. I would love to hear her stories about it, she has been telling me all about her time at Vanderbilt.”
“I’m sure she is very excited that you’re following in her footsteps.” I said thinking of our grandmother who was enjoying retirement in Florida with her sister.
“Well, I figured if she could do it sixty years ago with a husband and kids at home, while working on the farm, then why can’t I do it when I’m single?” I squeezed her arm.
“I like how you think.” We bought tickets for the backstage tour, so we could see where all the great singers like Garth Brooks and Hank Williams waited for their turns on the famous stage. “Look, there is Minnie Pearl’s hat with the price tag on it.” She pointed to the glass cases. “And Johnny Cash’s Black Hat, this is such an amazing place. Can’t you just feel the magic and history walking through the halls?”
“I guess so, you’re more into this kind of stuff than I am. You always have been, the music, the stars that sing the songs.”
“Hey, let’s go see Buzz Brainard’s radio show. Please! It’s at Margaritaville.”
“Fine, then its shopping and dinner.”
While we walked over to the show we looked into the buildings and bars. “It’s Noon and the bars are full.”
“Just like at home people drink all the time. Do you want to check some out?”
“The only one that I would like to see is FGL house. Now do we have to see this show?” I protested.
“You love listening to him, come on, it will be fun. Then we can shop and eat. I promise.” Damn, she’s right, I do like to listen to him. I am just not one of those people who are good with small talk or with strangers, unless we are talking about horses.
“Kennedy, they are giving away a free recording session in the studio where Carrie Underwood records. You should try and win it.” She said as she grabbed my hand and dragged me with her.
“Why, I haven’t sang since high school.”
“Mrs. Ross always said that you had the voice that could make it.”
“No, I don’t sing anymore, and you know that. I like breeding and raising horses. I don’t need fame, so just let someone else have it.”
“You really are no fun. If I win you’re doing it for me and to commemorate your trip to Nashville.” I just looked at her. Doesn’t she ever listen to me?
“Whatever.” I exhaled in exasperation.
***
Sitting in the famous Margaritaville Restaurant on Music Row, I felt like I was in Key West. “Let’s share the Asiago Crab and Artichoke Dip and the Caribbean Chicken Egg rolls.” I said
“Sure, and how about the Crispy Coconut Shrimp.”
“I love Coconut Shrimp. I’m going to have a Watermelon Margarita.”
“I think I am going to have the Blueberry Pomegranate Margarita.” She winked at me.
“Oh, I want to try that.” I smiled and nodded.
“So, I guess we eat and then we can go up to his show.”
“Well the show only lasts two hours so if the food doesn’t come soon we will miss it.” I said
“That’s why I wanted appetizers, so it wouldn’t take that long.” Of course, she has it all figured out.
Once our food and drinks were served, we ate and talked about when classes start and when she has to go to the hospital to start her receptionist job. She is doing that on the weekends until she starts the nursing program.
“Mom wanted me to make sure you have pepper spray and that your door has extra locks on it.” I laughed.
“Of course she did. My roommate’s dad is a police officer. I’m pretty sure the apartment will have an alarm before the weekend is finished.” She said as she finished her drink.
“We need to figure out how to make these.” I said pointing to the drinks.
“Yes, we do because this is my favorite one so far.”
“Ready to go up.” She asked as I paid the check.
“Sure, if it makes you happy.”
Once upstairs we were all standing around as Buzz talked to several people while on the air. Then during a break, he walked over to us.
“Hi ladies, where are you from?”
“Mason, Texas.” Stacy said.
“Welcome.” He turned around and looked at his sound engineer who said something into his ear piece. “Alright, well we have a contest going with one of the recording studios here in Nashville, and it’s time to pick a winner for a free recording session, no strings attached.” He turned and looked at his computer and smiled. “And it looks like the winner is Kennedy Drummond! Congratulations.”
Damn. I looked at my sister and she was smiling from ear to ear. “Did you have anything to do with this?”
“No, just your lucky day!”
Sure it is. I took the papers and put them in my purse. After the show I started to leave, and my sister stopped me.
“Kennedy, you need to schedule your session before we go shopping. Why don’t you do it before you leave on Thursday.”
“Why are you pushing me on this?” I asked, incredulously.
“You don’t understand how good you really are. I know you would rather be on the land with the horses, but you will regret not giving it a try.”
“Fine. But then after I do this God damn session will you drop the whole singing thing?”
“If that’s what you want.” She said with a sad smile.
“It is.”
She nodded and walked beside me. I closed my eyes and tried to stay calm. Why won’t they just leave me alone about singing?