DARE TO CARE - THE CONCERT BEGINS
Written by: Sandie Davis


David, Urs, Sebastien and Carlos stared a moment at the stark contrast of the non-descript trailers behind the stage compared to the mountains and quiet beauty surrounding them. The scene reminded them of what they were feeling – the mountains and scenery the family just out of reach and the boring business of preparing for their performance standing before them. What the girls had said and done moments before still hovered in their minds, looking for a place to land. The guys nonchalantly opened the
door and tossed their bags inside. The slivers of light from the partially closed blinds created an eerie effect that that reinforced their confusion. Dismissing it for the moment, they closed the door and walked around to see the empty stage.

At this point, the first crowds were being contained by the barricade at the perimeter of the concert area. Seeing the eager faces waiting patiently for any sign of the guys seemed to set the concert in motion again. Flanked by the first security team, the guys smiled to each other and walked into full view. The energy from the waiting crowd was electrifying. With each step closer, the bounce in their step strengthened and their eyes glistened brighter, reflecting the buoyancy of their hearts as they met their fans. Signing autographs and posing for pictures with their fans was their favorite pre-concert thing to do… the wardrobe, makeup, sound check, and the rest (what they dubbed wired for stereo sound) was dull and boring. They stayed with the crowd for the next 45 minutes as the decision was made to forego the usual sound check, as the final dress rehearsal had gone so well last night. They also wanted to spend extra time with the fans.

Soon the announcement was made that the fans could start to take their seats by exchanging their ticket for a wrist band made especially for this concert event. The press had already gotten their wrist bands – one color for the reporter, another for their crew/team as there were places in the concert area where photos were prohibited. As the fan crowd started to wander toward the designated area, the first wave of reporters and their crew converged on the guys in a flurry of bobbing microphones. Video crews with various sizes and shapes of equipment competing for footage of the four famous faces. The reporters were politely answered by all of the guys as best they could. As if on cue, security stepped forward and the guys melted from view of all of the eager cameras and video equipment as the reporters tried to finish their pre-concert report wrap-ups.

Refreshed and energized by their fans, David, Sebastien, Carlos and Urs walked to the back of the stage and opened the doors to their trailer/dressing rooms. It took a few seconds for each of them to realize the area wasn’t so dark and dismal after all… or had something changed??? Their eyes scanned the area carefully… slowly… looking for something out of the ordinary… out of place…”Nothing… No, that was there before… no… same… same… remember that… no…” trickled through their minds as each one took a brief inventory. Stepping back, they glanced from one to the other. They could sense it, but not see it… or was it just their imagination???

“Is it me or is something different? “ David finally blurted out. Each of the others voiced the same thought as they came together in a tight huddle. “I wasn’t really paying attention when we first got here, but I swear, there’s something different.”

Carlos, Sebastien and Urs nodded, each trying to figure out what it was that had changed. Staying together, they opened the door closest, which was Urs’ room. Looking around, they tentatively stepped in, each wide-eyed and jittery.

“Had a fan gotten past security and been in here, rummaging through our things?” Carlos whispered. The same thought had crossed the others minds as well, but none of them said anything. Taking another step into the room, but propping the door open slightly for a quick exit if needed, they continued to explore.

“Do you smell something… something nice?” Sebastien said curiously. The guys hesitated, breathing deeply and nodded. “I know that smell… it’s familiar, yet I can’t seem to place it… “

As the made their way to the other end of the dressing room, turning on lights as they went, what they had been looking for had finally came into view. The cot that Urs would try to use to rest between performances had been covered by a warm, cozy quilt of tan, white and blue… the colors that were vivid in his mind the day before. On the pillow lay a note and a single long stemmed rose. Below the pillow rested a garment bag and a small silver box, tied with a red satin bow. On the nightstand beside the cot was a small picture frame, facing the opposite direction, and a plate of still warm cookies.

Looking to the others first, Urs swallowed hard before stepping closer. His eyes scanned the walls first, before he reached for the note with a shaking hand. As he read it, the shaking stopped and a smile appeared on his face. It read:
”Dearest love,
I wish I could see your face as you read this. My only hope is that it brings you some comfort when I can’t be there with you. The hours ahead will be long and hard, but I know the strength and talent you have within you, will help you along the way, in a way I cannot. I’ve left a few things for you to show you that home can be anywhere… it is the love that makes a home, not the shelter. Just as a ring does not make a marriage, the love does. I don’t know how to explain it, other than to ask that you open them and know that no matter what today brings, I love you. Take care my love and know you are in my heart always… Siobhan.”

“It’s from Siobhan.” He said. “I ummm need a minute… alone, please.”