Chapter 4

I spent the night at a local hotel on the other side of Atlanta since I couldn’t see past the headlights. One thing was certain: the highways in Georgia were dark. Since I was night blind and couldn’t see at all in the dark, stopping was a necessity.

The next morning, rays of bright, golden sunshine streamed in through the window, illuminating the room. After a quick bite of a complimentary hotel Cheese Danish and a cup of coffee, I was on my way to Nashville once again in my loaded VW Bug. A few hours later, my heart leapt in my chest as the tall buildings of Nashville came into view. Immediately, I steered my car down Music Row, unable to believe that I was really there. I had waited for this moment my whole life, and now, it was really happening. I was in Music City, USA, the country music capital of the world.

Okay. I have to find an apartment, I thought to myself, looking around. I wanted to live close to Music Row in order to save some money until I found a job. Then I pulled down Broadway.

I knew I was in trouble when I came to downtown Nashville. Restaurants, lounges, and honky tonks bombarded me, heightening my senses. I had to stop when I saw a statue of an angel holding a CD in front of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I parked the car and got out, unable to resist. I walked over to the statue and realized that it embodied everything that I wanted—a music career. It was as if even Heaven and its angels understood. I quickly said a prayer, hoping that my wishes would come true, just like every other singer-songwriter that had ever come to Nashville. I left my car and walked past Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop, and Rippy’s Bar Grill, amazed at how Nashville was able to blend the old brownstone buildings with the new glass skyscrapers, creating a look and feel all its own. Shoots of pink and purple illuminated the darkening blue sky as the Nashville neon lights began to come on. I realized that I hadn’t eaten anything yet, so I stepped into Powder Keg Tavern for dinner.

“What’ll you have, honey?” asked a gum-smacking waitress with bleached-blonde hair, pulled up in a loose bun.

“Hum … I’ll have a Mushroom Swiss Burger, some fries, and a Coke,” I said, closing my menu. I knew it was probably more than I wanted to spend at the moment, but couldn’t resist the atmosphere.

“Coming right up,” the waitress said, smiling as she turned away.

I looked around. It was early yet, so it wasn’t as crowded, but I was sure that in another hour or so, the place would be hopping. “By the way, my name’s Judy if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Judy,” I said, returning the smile.

Across the room, a brunette girl, who was sitting with two guys at a table, laughed loudly, capturing my attention. She looked familiar, but I brushed it off, sure that I was probably letting my imagination run away with me.

“She actually vomited in the wings before she went on, but gave the best performance of the night! Can you believe it?” the brunette said as the two men laughed.

“Sugar, you’d better hurry up and eat,” one of the men said as he pushed her plate toward her. “We have to go.”

“Since when did you get to be so bossy?” she joked, but picked up her Reuben sandwich and took a bite. “Ugh! I can’t eat another bite…”

“Girl, you haven’t even touched it!” the man insisted. “Eat! You need to keep up your strength.” The man was heavily muscled under his tightly-stretched black T-shirt. In fact, both men wore black T-shirts and jeans with cowboy boots. If I didn’t know any better, they looked like bouncers … or bodyguards.

“Here you go, honey,” Judy said as she slid a plate with one of the best burger and fries that I’d ever seen in front of me, along with a Coke.

“Thanks,” I said, glancing over to the brunette girl and her entourage. Judy started to walk away, but I stopped her. “Who is that?” I asked in a low voice, not wanting the brunette to hear.

Judy laughed as she looked across the room. “Why, that’s Tasha Granger.”

“Who?”

“Tasha Granger,” she repeated. “You mean to tell me that you haven’t heard of Tasha Granger?” Judy’s voice was a bit loud, attracting Tasha’s attention just as she was getting ready to bite into her sandwich. “Tasha Granger is just a Grammy winner and has three albums out now.”

“Four,” Tasha corrected from across the room, smiling.

“Is it four now?”

Tasha nodded with a shrug.

“Man, where has the time gone?” Judy asked as the two men with Tasha grinned proudly. “Why, it seems like yesterday when you came in here for the first time, just like this young lady.” Then, she turned her attention back to me. “What’s your name, honey?”

“Alyssa,” I choked out. “Alyssa Collins.”

“I love your first name, but you might want to change your last name,” Tasha said from across the room. “Maybe to Alyssa Case? It has more of a ring to it.” She took another bite, then asked, “Are you a singer?”

I nodded, taking another bite of my burger, unable to believe what was happening. Not only had I just arrived in Nashville, but I’d already met a famous singer and her bodyguards. I was amazed at how down to earth she was. “I sing and write.”

“You have originals?” she asked, intrigued.

“Yes. I’ve been writing songs for a few years now,” I said, taking another bite of my burger, for lack of anything better to do. I was so nervous that I was actually beyond eating. “I have a whole guitar case full.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Tasha asked, laughing as she finished off her sandwich. “You still keep your songs in your guitar case?”

I nodded, not sure if that was a good thing or not.

“Do you have your guitar with you?” Tasha asked, her eyebrows raised.

“Tasha, we have to go,” one of her bodyguards said as he looked at his watch impatiently. “You’re going on in twenty.”

“Do you have it with you?” Tasha asked me again, ignoring her bodyguard.

“It’s in my car. Why?”

“Go get it and meet me at the Double Shot Saloon,” Tasha said, taking one last sip of her soda. “Let’s see what you got.”

“Really?” I asked, sounding like a child at Christmas.

“Really,” Tasha said with a chuckle. Upon closer inspection, she wasn’t much older than I was. I was amazed that she had already accomplished so much at such a young age. “I have to go now, but meet me and we’ll talk.”

“Okay. Thanks,” I replied for lack of anything better to say.

“Tash, let’s go,” one of the guys sitting with her said.

“Okay, Frank. Just a minute,” she said, then turned her attention back to me. “I’ll leave your name at the door. Come backstage.”

I nodded in awe, unable to believe what was happening. “I will.”

“Great!” she said as if she had just invited a top celebrity to a dinner engagement. “I’ll see you there.”

I sat at the table, watching her wave to me over her shoulder when Judy said to me, “Go! You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!”

“Was she serious?” I asked, already getting to my feet.

“Yes, but you’d better get out of here now before she changes her mind,” she joked.

“But, I…”

“Don’t think! Just go! And now would be good.”

“Okay. How much do I owe you?” I asked, fumbling in my pockets for my money.

“It’s on the house, honey,” Judy said as she smiled. “Just remember me when you hit the big time.”

I laughed. “That’s a deal.”

“Now, go!” she said, already pushing me toward the door.

I laughed and hurried out, giving Judy one last wave over my shoulder as I left, unable to believe what was happening as I wondered how this night would turn out.