On The Road

On The Road

By Esther Straube

Copyright 2011 Esther Straube

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Acknowledgements

A huge thank you goes to my loving husband Kim. Without you and your endless patience and assistance none of this would have been ever possible.

I would also like to thank my best friend Melisa and my close friend Joeri for taking the time to read the drafts. A special thank you goes to my sister Eva for not only reading the drafts, but also helping to make the printing of the book possible.

To my CND-family I would like to express my immense gratitude for being a big source of inspiration.

Table of Contents

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Five

Day Six

Day Seven

Day Eight

Day Nine

Day Ten

Day Eleven

Day Twelve

Day Thirteen

Day Fourteen

Day Fifteen

Day Sixteen

Day Seventeen

Day Eighteen

Day Twenty

Day Twenty One

Day Twenty Two

Day Twenty Three

Day Twenty Four

Day Twenty Five

Day Twenty Six

Day Twenty Nine

Day Thirty Four

Day Forty

Day One: Getting the Assignment

Skylar, you’re late! What possible reason do you have for being late today of all days?

I’m so sorry, Sylvia! My bus was delayed. I will make it up by staying longer. I say, wondering why she’s so worked up.

Forget your stupid excuses. Just get to the conference room NOW! Ben has called a last minute meeting, so get your ass in there…. Sylvia snaps. I am out of earshot before she can finish that rant.

I work for Rogue Publishing, which is owned and run by Ben Sallinger. The company publishes magazines for teenagers, men and women, so we cover fashion, cars, music, sports and movies. Sylvia Mann is the editor in chief. At my department we write columns and short articles for the different magazines as well as local newspapers. I’ve been at this company for 5 years and aspire to write feature stories. Amongst colleagues you actually only really count when you are a feature writer, because then you get to go out into the world, meet people and do all kinds of cool stuff. Unfortunately even after all this time Sylvia still doesn’t think I’m experienced enough to write a feature. I think she just doesn’t like me and that’s why she won’t let me write them.

Ben is already sitting at the head of the table as everyone starts entering the conference room. I am one of the last people to arrive. Ben looks right at me and smiles politely. I of course smile back and quickly look away feeling uncomfortable.

Thank you all for coming in at this short notice. he starts.

Isn’t he just a lovely man? I think to myself. I still can’t understand why he hires bitches like Sylvia. Maybe he doesn’t want to be the bad guy, so he lets people like her take up that role.

…and that’s why we, or rather, I have decided to buy a seat on a tour bus of the well-known heavy metal band Dreads on Fire to have one of you write a feature about a touring band from a very unique perspective. Ben says.

Look at the smile on Don’s face. It must be him going on that tour. It is right up his alley, since he has been writing about and hanging with a lot of A-list stars and bands.

…and I have chosen Skylar van der Meeren to take the seat on the bus. says Ben while looking straight at me.

In one unison movement everyone in the room turns to look at me. I start blushing and shake my head. Surely he can’t mean me, it is just not possible. He must be mistaken! I’m a column writer! Besides I don’t know enough about bands or music for that matter to write a feature about it.

Yes Skylar, I said your name.

Sir, no disrespect, but I’m not sure if I can do this. I’m very sorry, but I have no knowledge of bands and how to deal with them.

And that is exactly why I want you to go. Seeing the terror in my eyes, Ben then says: Can everyone excuse us? I can see she needs a little more convincing. When the rest of the staff have left the room, Ben asks Sylvia to leave as well. As soon as she reluctantly closes the door behind her, Ben continues: Don knows how the music business works and what to expect. I want it to be…..a fresh, new, exciting, young, inexperienced view of a music-tour. Tell us about your thoughts and experiences while on tour with Dreads on Fire.

I don’t know about this, sir. I’m not sure I am the right person for this job. I respond.

I’m giving you a chance to proof Sylvia wrong and write an awesome feature. And I’m confident you can handle yourself on that tour bus.

I’ve never written a feature story before and am not sure if I can bring you back an interesting enough story. Plus, I don’t really like the band.

Maybe after three weeks you’ll become their biggest fan. Who knows what will happen? I can’t wait to read the end result. he says with a confident smile.

With an overwhelming feeling of incompetence I start leaving the conference room, not knowing how to convince Ben to choose someone else.

Then I turn and ask: When will the tour start? And where?

In four days. You will be picked up from your home at 6:00 a.m., so be ready to go then. It takes about half an hour to get to the bus and it’s supposed to leave at around 7:00 a.m. says Ben. I nod reluctantly and just as I step out of the conference room, he says: I’m sure you’ll have a great time.

I give him a weak smile and walk to my desk. I barely sit down in my chair, when I’m ambushed by Don. How in the hell did you land this job? And why? For fuck’s sake! You are just a column writer, you don’t know the first thing about writing features.

Taken back by his bluntness I say: I…I don’t know. He said he wants a fresh take on tour life. It’s...

Are you sleeping with the guy or something? Don interrupts me.

Now I get offended, glare at him and get up from my seat. Go fuck yourself Don! I didn’t ask for this job! Maybe Ben just got bored with your old school, dime a dozen way of writing.

He is so blown away by my outburst that for the first time ever he doesn’t retort, stares at me in disbelief and just stalks off to his own desk. I start blushing as I notice the whole office is staring at me, even Ben. I catch his eye for a moment and he gives me a little impressed look. Before I blush even more I quickly sit back down.

I can’t seem to focus on my work, because the idea of leaving home to go on a tour with a bunch of unfamiliar guys is hard to get my head around. When I receive an e-mail from Ben with the details of the tour I check the schedule and see that part of it is in Europe. Totally blown away by this I feel the dread coming up and my mind going into overdrive. Feeling overwhelmed by the whole deal I make my way to the bathroom. As soon as I close the door from the stall behind me, I fall back against it and sigh deeply. How did I end up in this? I want to write feature stories, but why couldn’t I start with something not so far out of my comfort zone. Maybe I can still change his mind before Friday. This simply can’t be happening. Three weeks??? I can’t be away from home that long. Wait, maybe I can use dad as a valid reason, because I need to help him with his groceries and stuff. I’ll call him as soon as I get home and talk to him about it. Kind of relaxed by the possible out I go back to my desk and focus on my assignments until my best friend and colleague Beth comes over to pick me up for our daily lunch date. After my lunch with Beth I manage to get back to work long enough so by the end of the day I’ve finished all my assignments.

The minute I get home I quickly punch in the numbers to call dad and when he picks up I sigh deeply. Oh good dad, you’re home.

Of course I’m home. Where else would I be, silly? But why are you so relieved to find me? What’s up?

My boss has given me a feature-writing job. I tell him.

That’s great! Fantastic! Finally they see what you are capable off! Congratulations, Sky! dad says, completely beside himself with pride.

Wait, dad. The job is to write a feature-story about being on tour with a heavy metalband for three weeks.

And you are not at all happy about this? Isn’t this what you always wanted to do? he asks. He is clearly puzzled by my begrudging sound.

I did…I mean, I do. It’s just that…I don’t know…I have a bad feeling about this. I don’t really know anything about this band or what to expect. And I have to go to Europe with them as well! What if I can’t get along with them?

Are you crazy? I’m sure they will love you. You have always been able to connect with people very easily. Why would this be any different? This is an opportunity of a lifetime! You will just have to keep an open mind and enjoy the experiences as much as you can.

Will you be able to handle things without me? I mean, I really won’t go if you need me to stay. Who is going to help you do your weekly groceries? And who will call you every night to make sure you are OK?

Do you remember Darren and Jax? You know, your brothers….. They can help me with the groceries and only live 15 minutes away from me. Please, don’t worry about your old man! Have some fun out there! I’ll be fine! dad says. I sigh heavily and then say goodbye to dad and hang up the phone.

Shit, he won’t be any help getting taken off this assignment. After trying and failing to think up other excuses for not being able to go on this tour, I throw in the towel and accept Ben’s decision. To get my mind off it I make myself dinner and watch some TV. When nothing is on, I decide to prepare myself for the upcoming adventure as best I can by googling Dreads on Fire and learn as much about them as possible. If I at least already know the names of the band members, how they got started and who the most important people on the tour are, I might avoid embarrassment.

Interesting, these guys have been successful for 5 years, but the band was started 10 years earlier. Bass player Jason Hannigan and lead guitarist Dom Marino created Dreads on Fire after having just left their previous bands. The other guys in these bands wanted to go more mainstream, while they wanted a heavier sound. When Jason and Dom shared a stage with their bands, they got along so well that they became friends. Soon they knew they had to start a band together. It didn’t take long to find the other three guys either, since everyone knew each other already. Apparently, when you’re in the scene, it is a pretty small world. Especially when you haven’t made it big yet, you often run into the same bands in your local scene.

Eventually, it was an old re-recorded track that was their ticket to success. The song Raw Emotions was accidentally put on the album by a misunderstanding between band members and management. Within months they gave up their day jobs to go on the road for a year nonstop. After a break of about a month they went right back on the road. A year later they released another album, which was also a big success. The album after this wasn’t as big as the first two, but it did pretty well. Most recently they have decided to go on a 3-week-tour through the US and some European countries. It doesn’t really say why, but I guess I’ll find that out for myself.

So in the band there are Jason, the bass player, Dom, the lead-guitarist, drummer Stephàn Koschenko, singer Yuri Guran and Reagan Smith the second guitarist. Besides the band members there are a few people that were with the band from the start. There is Gino Sarinelli the light technician, Moe Jameson the drum technician and Connor Derby, who came along with his friend Jason to rehearsals and eventually became the tour manager. About a year ago they were joined by Jordy MacIntyre the sound technician and Paul Jones the guitar and bass technician.

Hopefully they will let me into their tight group; otherwise there won’t be much to write about. I wonder aloud.

Day Two: Coming to Terms with the Assignment

At the sound of my alarm clock I jump up from the couch in shock and look out the window. It is morning already! I run to my bedroom to turn off the alarm and for a second I consider calling in sick, but that’s just no option right now. There is still so much to do at work, especially if I have to leave for three weeks. So I take a shower, get dressed, have breakfast and after putting my plate in the sink, I leave for work earlier than normal to make sure I have enough time today to get as much work done as possible. Strangely enough today everything goes so smoothly that I arrive half an hour earlier than expected. There are only a handful of people at their desks. Silently I take my seat and turn on my computer. When I head over to the coffee machine for a nice big cup of strong black coffee, I run into Don who is apparently ignoring me. I couldn’t care less, since I didn’t like him in the first place and have way more important things to worry about. In my mind I go through a to-do-list for the day. I will have to finish the columns for this week and also try to work ahead as much as I can. The rest will have to be picked up by my colleagues. To make sure of lessening the burden on them as much as possible I hurry back to my desk and get started. Only when my friend Beth taps my shoulder to ask me to lunch do I notice that it is already 1:00 p.m.

Could you please bring me back a sandwich? I still have so much to do before I have to go on this tour. I’m really sorry! I plead. Disappointed but understanding Beth heads for the door and I get straight back to what I was doing.

What feels like minutes later, Beth says: Here’s your sandwich. I picked your favorite! She puts the ham and egg sandwich in front of me and sits down on the edge of my desk.

Thanks so much! How much do I owe you? Will $5.00 cover it?

I grab the bill out of my wallet, give it to Beth and after a quick smile return to my work. A moment later she probably realizes I don’t even have time for a quick talk and leaves. I feel guilty for ignoring my friend like that, but I don’t have a choice right now. There are only 3 days to finish up the work I would normally have a lot more time to do. The next time I look up from my work most people have left to go home and I am one of the last in the office. I’m about to call it quits as well when Ben walks over to my desk. As I sit back down, he asks with a smile on his face, So, have you recovered from the shock yet?

Yes, sir! Now I’m just trying to finish up things before I have to leave. I answer.

When are you going to stop with the formalities? I know I’m a few years older than you, but really I’m not old enough to be called sir. Ben says jokingly.

Oh, right! Haha, sorry sir…ehm…Ben. I say.

So if you need any help preparing for the tour, I’m happy to give you some pointers. When I was younger, I was in a band too. I could tell you a bit of what’s to come.

Well, I don’t know anything about bands or touring, so I could really use the help. Thank you! I accept gratefully.

You want to grab something to eat and talk things through now or do you have plans for tonight already?

I was going to start packing, but that can wait till later. But don’t you need to get home to your wife?

Err, no I’m not really expected anywhere anymore. Stella decided she had enough of the long hours, so she left me two weeks ago. he says lightly.

Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Are you OK? I ask concerned.

It’s OK. No one here knows about this. I’m fine though. It was actually a relief, because it got harder and harder to go home at some point. We just grew apart. God, listen to me telling you my life story. I’m sorry for boring you with this! I’ll stop now! I smile and pat Ben on the shoulder.

I get up, grab my bag and coat and say: Shall we?

We’ll go to this great little place I know. It’s only a ten minute drive from here. he says.

So we go down to the underground parking lot and leave in Ben’s car to the restaurant. When we arrive we’re escorted to a table near the back. Ben orders food and drinks for both of us and while we are waiting for everything we start talking about Ben’s experiences with touring. He gives me a lot of useful tips; the absolute dos and don’ts, the hierarchy on the bus and what to pack. You know so much about this stuff. Why don’t you go on this tour? It sounds like you really miss being in a band and on the road. I ask.

Yeah, I do miss it, but it’s not for me anymore. When you get to my age…and I’m not saying I’m old. Let’s just say there is a time for everything and my touring days are over. Ben explains.

Besides I wouldn’t have the fresh look I envision for this feature story.

We finish our food, end it with some coffee and Ben pays the bill. As we leave Ben asks if I’d like to be dropped off at home since there aren’t any buses at this time of night. I gratefully accept, since I was also wondering about how to get home. He asks for directions, I lead him to my house and get out of the car. He rolls down the window and I thank him for the pointers and dinner. He asks if I’ll be ok and I nod while taking my keys out of my bag. I put my key in the lock, open it and turn around to see Ben drive off. I go inside and close the door behind me. To make sure I don’t forget any of the tips Ben gave me I take out my Blackberry and write down the dos and don’ts. I throw my bag on the kitchen table and hang my jacket over one of the chairs. After turning on a few lights I sit down on the couch and try to remember what he said. Oh yeah, he said not to piss off the tour manager, because he can really make your life on tour miserable.

I write that down and then go over what else Ben said: ...It is important to make friends with at least one of the band members as soon as possible. It will make things a lot easier if you have one person on your side… The best way to win over a group of guys is by getting them a few bottles of their favorite drink… Pack enough deodorant; you will not be able to shower every day... Get yourself a bunch of earplugs; you don’t want to get hearing damage... Most importantly, never forget that you are there to do a job.

After writing all this important stuff down I make myself a shopping list of things to get for the tour and also a list of things to pack. I sort out my laundry, put a load in the washing machine and turn it on. Then I put on my pajamas, make myself a hot chocolate and watch some TV to try and get my mind off things. Nothing on TV catches my attention, so I turn it off and go to bed. After about an hour and a half I’m still not asleep, so I get out of bed to hang my laundry out to dry and get back in when I’m done. Several hours later I’m still wide awake, I just can’t stop worrying about tomorrow. Will I be able to finish all my work before the tour? What if I can’t? Sylvia will be all over me, though Ben might keep her away since he told me last night he doesn’t expect me to do anything but prepare for the tour.

Day Three: Wrapping Things Up

When my alarm clock goes off, I wake up feeling even more tired than I did when I went to bed. With absolute dread I get up, shower and leave for work without having had any breakfast. Luckily the travel to work goes smoothly and when I enter the office hardly anyone is there. Slowly I walk over to my desk and put my stuff down. I turn on my computer and go to the coffee machine. I look over towards Ben’s office. Hmm, his door and the blinds are closed, so he probably isn’t in yet. I was hoping to ask him some more questions, but it will have to wait. I bring a cup of coffee back to my desk, sit down and start working on the articles I need to finish today. Shortly afterwards, everyone starts pouring in. When Beth comes to pick me up for lunch, I realize that I still have to speak Ben and decide to check if he’s in when I get back from lunch.

I’m sorry, Beth, for ignoring you yesterday. I was really busy, but I could have talked to you for a while when you were nice enough to bring me back a sandwich.

That’s OK! I understand. So, are you ready for Friday? Beth asks while we get on the elevator.

What? Oh, yeah…well, getting there. I’ve sorted out my stuff at home, but I still have some laundry to do. And the article for the Boston Globe still has to be finished, among several others. So I’m afraid I can’t be out for long today, but I’ll make it up to you when I get back.

After having had a quick sandwich and conversation about another one of Beth’s failed short lived relationships, we turn back to the office. I go straight back to work and after an hour I hand in the article for the Boston Globe to Leon, the editor of the newspaper. By the end of the day I also manage to finish an article for Blast, a column for Dig and another article for the Improper Bostonian, which I put on Sylvia’s desk. Since I am leaving Friday morning Ben gave me the day off tomorrow to get ready, so I send an e-mail to all three of my colleagues giving the last of my assignments to them with a huge apology. I check one more time if I’ve covered everything, then turn off my computer and leave to go home with a detour to the grocery store.

At home I start preparing the food I got on the way and put another wash load in the machine. Luckily, the clothes I washed yesterday are already dry, so I put them on my bed. After dinner I turn on my favorite music, sing along and fold the clothes. When the washing machine is done, I hang up the clothes and start putting stuff in my suitcase. I turn up the sound of the stereo and loudly sing along to the music when all of a sudden the doorbell rings. I lower the volume again and walk over to the door to open it. When I see my neighbor at the other end of the door I am surprised, because I really didn’t expect to see him.

Could you please keep it down? My wife and I are trying to have a romantic dinner and your singing is kind of ruining the mood for us. he asks politely.

Oh, of course! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bother anyone. I’ll keep it down.

I shut the door again and continue folding my laundry. After putting all the dry clothes as well as my toiletries in my suitcase and some books, tapes and batteries for my voice recorder in my backpack, I go to bed. By now I am so tired of the lack of sleep the last few nights, I’m gone within minutes.

Day Four: The Day Before

The next morning I am so well rested and happy, I decide to get a move on early and go outside for some last minute shopping. After doing my own shopping, I decide to get the band a bottle of Jack Daniels and Jägermeister to try and win them over. Hopefully Ben is right about bringing a few bottles of liquor to the tour, because I need to make a good first impression. It starts raining as I leave the liquor store and it is a good ten minute walk to my house, so I decide to go for a coffee instead. I order a tall latte and take a seat by the window. This way I can easily see when the rain stops and I finish my coffee right around the time it does, so I hurry outside and quickly walk home.

As I open my front door, I hear my phone ring. By the time I reach it, I’ve missed the call. I wonder who it could have been, because no one really knows I am home today. Oh well, if it is important they will call again. I take off my coat and unpack my stuff. I decided on a healthy dinner for tonight; a big green salad and some fruit. Who knows what kind of food we’ll get on the tour? I put the Jägermeister and Jack Daniels in the fridge.

I check if the clothes hanging to dry are ready to be folded, which they are. After putting them in my suitcase, I double-check if I have packed everything and then close it. For the millionth time today I check if the company credit card I received from accounting yesterday is still in my bag. I better not lose this, or I’ll be in a world of trouble (as was explained by Mark, the head of accounting). I check my work e-mail for the last time before turning off my laptop and putting it in my backpack. With it I also pack the USB cable, so I can synchronize my Blackberry with my laptop and also the power cord to charge the battery.

I circle around the room and when I don’t know what to do next I lie down on my couch. As I look around the room, I realize that I am really going to miss everything here. I grab the remote control to my stereo and turn on some music. It is only 1:30 p.m. at this time, so I kick off my shoes and decide to relax for a while. I pick up my book from the coffee table and start reading. After having read a few pages without actually taking in any of the words, I put down the book. I’ve done everything I have to do, packed my suitcase and am basically ready to go. While picking up the phone I glance at the clock and see that it’s too early to call anyone to say goodbye, so I put it back in its station. I am still holding the phone when it starts ringing. I almost drop it on the floor. Before answering I look to see who it is, but the number is blocked.

Hello?, I say.

Yes, hello. This is Tyler from Less is More. Can I ask you if you are happy with your phone service? We have a fabulously cheap deal especially for you, only valid today.

Thank you, but no thanks!

Really, this is the best deal anyone will ever offer you!

I doubt that. I say, and I’m really NOT interested. I’m perfectly fine with the service I have now. So thank you for calling and goodbye.

I hang up before he can get in another word and put the phone down. This must have been who tried calling earlier. I walk over to the bedroom, lie down on my bed and stare at the ceiling for a while.

When my phone rings again I pick up the one next to my bed and say: Hello?

Hi. It’s Ben.

I sit up at once, as if he’d hear it if I was lying on my bed, and say: Hi. I just wanted to check if you had any more questions, since we didn’t see each other yesterday.

Oh yes, I do. I was wondering if I should have someone’s phone number in case of an emergency. Also who should I report to tomorrow morning?

I think it’s best if you contact me to keep us in the loop, in case of an emergency or for any other reason, since you don’t really get along with Sylvia. I’ll send you an e-mail with my details. The manager of the band, Vaughn Muster, will be at the bus to meet you tomorrow morning. Anything else?

Ok, thank you. No, there’s nothing else I can think of right now.

Ok, then we have to go over the ground rules for in the field-work. Normally there’s the no drinking rule, but that is virtually impossible on a tour with a busload of guys. So I would say drink but don’t get drunk, always remember that you are there to do a job. Mark’s already told you about the daily limit for the company credit card. Keep checking in with us regularly, so we know how things are going. And some personal advice…keep things strictly business, if you know what I mean.

Thank you for letting me know all this. I think I’m as prepared as I could be in this short time, so I’m just going to take some time to relax before I have to leave. I’ll probably miss this quiet time once I’m on the tour bus, going by what you’ve told me at dinner the other day.

You are welcome! Call me if you have any more questions or need advice. Have a great time on the tour, see you back at the office in three weeks.

I hang up the phone after saying goodbye to Ben, lie back down and close my eyes for a few minutes. I wake up in shock frantically searching for my alarm clock to see what time it is. Phew, it’s only 5:00 p.m. I get up and go straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner. When I’m done eating I get the phone to call my dad.

Hi, dad! I just want to check with you if you are going to be home tonight. I’m leaving tomorrow morning and want to come say goodbye to you.

Hey Sky sweetie, of course you can come over. Should I call your brothers as well?

No, I’m only going away for three weeks. I’ll see them afterwards. I respond.

Ok. What time will you be here? Dad asks.

I’ll be right over. I hang up the phone, get my coat and go out the door.

Ten minutes later I arrive at dad’s. I’ve been living on my own for 5 years already, but only when I come to dad’s house do I