April 24, 2010
This negotiation shouldn’t have had to happen, Kerri thought, crossing her arms over her chest and giving the bodyguard her best sulky look. She was the client. He was supposed to be serving her, not dictating where she could and couldn’t ride her bike.
Hell, it wasn’t even a negotiation. Just a body guard laying down the law.
“No one wants you to turn up dead,” Gene said. He slumped in his chair and unbuttoned the cargo pocket on his pantleg, pulling out what looked like a random romance novel. Kerri knew better. There was nothing random about Gene’s romances.
Clearly, she realized as he curled the cover back and started reading, the conversation had ended. Somehow, she’d lost. No more riding her bike all over town, at least not without Gene. Maybe, she thought, Tony would hire someone new to be her bodyguard. Someone who rode bikes.
Gene was kind, almost doting, when he brought her to Fit Riverview and showed her how to set up a spin bike. He made a point of bringing over the instructor as soon as she walked in the room and introducing her to Kerri — who wasn’t surprised when Gene asked her to be low-key about who Kerri really was.
“Not a problem,” she said. She had a brusque way about her that made Kerri think she was annoyed by the request. Then again, this was Fit Riverview. Everyone who was anyone worked out here, including people with bigger names than Kerri Voss.
Hmm, Kerri thought as she stepped up onto the bike and tried to get comfortable. The handlebars were too far away, compared to her bike at home. No brakes, no gears. Just a knob.
At least pedaling was the same.
The class had a neat ebb and flow to it, Kerri thought as she followed along. Hands here, stand there, and pedal, pedal, pedal. The room was dark and the fans maybe sort of moved the quickly-heating air around.
Biking outside was more fun — until the instructor started playing air guitar. A few of the women near the front piped up and volunteered to be backup singers. As they pedaled away, they shimmied their upper bodies, did the hand motions to the old-time Motown song.
“And Gene?” the instructor asked. “Bodyguard duty?”
“You betcha!” he called over the noise of the rap or hip-hop or whatever was just starting. Kerri wasn’t sure she could make it to the end of this song without hurting someone. Gene was on top of her list.
He caught Kerri’s eye. He winked and mimicked an air guitar.
She shook her head, unable to stay angry with him. Everyone wanted to be a rock star — everyone but her and Gene.
They knew better. They were close enough to the real things to know what it was really like. So much more than air guitar and shimmying shoulders.
Kerri envied her classmates their freedom. She closed her eyes and pedaled some more, wishing she could pedal right out of the studio and onto the street.
.
.
This was my first stab at Three Word Wednesday. And, of course, is part of the Weekend Writer’s Retreat. All these fun writing sites these days!
bethanie
April 24, 2010 9:17 am
Love it — Kerri rocks! And Gene is pretty interesting… is there more on him somewhere?
.-= bethanie´s last blog ..What To Do, What To Do… =-.
ThomG
April 24, 2010 9:20 am
Welcome, Susan, to 3WW. I’m glad you’ve decided to come and play.
This was a great slice-of-life piece that really went very far in describing what it’s like to be famous. It’s got that “caged animal” feel to it that you deftly write, but don’t hammer us over the head with. We know she’s famous, we know she wants her freedom.
Dee
April 24, 2010 9:56 am
Awww I like her. I can picture her sharing a look with Gene, and sympathize. Definitely not the same as being out IN the scenery 🙂
http://www.delenemartin.com/2010/04/21/negotiations/
.-= Dee´s last blog ..Wolf Moon Begins =-.
Melisa
April 24, 2010 12:07 pm
AWE to the SOME! (that was corny. Whatev.) Well done!
And I could tell that you write about spin class from experience (even though I knew already) because of the part about the fans “maybe” moving the air. haha
.-= Melisa´s last blog ..Get To Know Project Runway’s Laura Bennett =-.
Julia Smith
April 24, 2010 12:25 pm
‘The room was dark and the fans maybe sort of moved the quickly-heating air around.’
LOL! Wonderful piece about the way life changes in ways a person thinks they’re ready for, but never are.
.-= Julia Smith´s last blog ..Weekend Writer’s Retreat – 4 =-.
Ann (bunnygirl)
April 24, 2010 3:22 pm
This is good. I don’t think you’ve delved much into this aspect of rock stardom before, or what it means for those like Kerri, who love a rock star but just want an ordinary life. This is nicely, subtly, done.
.-= Ann (bunnygirl)´s last blog ..New Steal Tomorrow Flash =-.
Alice Audrey
April 24, 2010 3:25 pm
I have on several occasions gotten into arguments with people who are convinced celebrities are over paid. I disagree. When you can’t walk down the street because of your fame, then you deserve the money necessary for bodyguards and fancy houses with good security systems and such. Even then it might not be worth it.
.-= Alice Audrey´s last blog ..Add Diction =-.
Julie
April 24, 2010 6:16 pm
Golly my poor aged brain would have enough on its mind just doing the cycle class that alone having to keep up a visual conversation AND play air guitar!
Good writing in evidence here. I dont have any sympathy or interest in rock stars or famous people, but I enjoyed reading your piece about them. It worked …
.-= Julie´s last blog ..114. Contemplating his navel =-.
Tumblewords
April 25, 2010 12:57 am
Interesting characters and surely a timely topic. Enjoyed the read!
Forgetfulone
April 25, 2010 9:24 pm
Great post! Glad you shared your talent.
.-= Forgetfulone´s last blog ..The Dinner Chair =-.
Jay Thurston
April 26, 2010 8:14 am
Welcome to 3ww! Your story is well written and entertaining! A good account of the sort of captivity that comes with fame… hope to see more from you. Thanks for sharing!
Bobkat
April 26, 2010 5:31 pm
Brilliant as always. In just a few paragraphs you have covered how much her life has changed and what it has meant to her and how the perception of others can differ so much.
This is why I make time to visit here (though I know I am far too infrequently here right now – my loss). I usually blog during my lunchtime but the M&G will not load at work and so I have made time to come now. Glad I did! 🙂
.-= Bobkat´s last blog ..One Year Old! =-.
Thomma Lyn
April 30, 2010 1:57 pm
What an excellent read. I felt like I was right there with Kerri. Love the irony in your piece — her classmates wanting to be rock stars or famous, while Kerri is wistful for the freedom of anonymity.
.-= Thomma Lyn´s last blog ..Tadpole Rap =-.