Chapter One:
Nashville, Tennessee
1 December 2013
Hunter's P.O.V.
"Yeah, sure. I just firmly believe that this song we're talking about needs to be simple. Flow easily, speaks to the soul. Okay, yeah. We'll talk tomorrow. Have a good night, bye."
Oh Dear Lord, I cried out in frustration. When will they hear me and understand what I'm saying? I continued silently praying these thoughts and so many more. I decided that I needed to send my mom a quick text.
Hey mom, I just wanted to ask for you and dad to add me into your prayers tonight. I'm getting extremely frustrated. I'll be home in a couple of days. Love you and dad, can't wait to be home!
-Hunter
I could not wait to see my parents. Living up in Nashville so I can work on this record is a struggle for me at times. This is my life long dream, but sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. Of course I'm thankful and I love the music and everything else about this city. I love the fans and tours but most of the time I feel lonely.
Not expecting to get a text back any time soon, I set about fixing some supper so I can try to unwind as well. Pouring a glass of wine and deciding what I want to eat, I find myself lost in my thoughts once again. I wonder if it would be possible to go back home and have the equipment necessary to work from home so I can stay in Louisiana. Then just make trips up to Nashville every couple of months for a week or so to do whatever can't be done from home. Maybe I should think about doing that. I like Nashville but I want Breaux Bridge a lot more. That's where home is and that's where my family that the good Lord gave me is, that's where I want to be.
Sitting down at the kitchen table, I move some random papers aside and pull my laptop in front of me. Letting that power up real quick, I shuffle through the papers which are mostly music. Quickly opening up the browser and setting up to send an email to my manager to throw my idea out to him and hope he gives a good response to that. After I'm finished, I get up to make some chicken and potatoes. Delicious and yet still simple. Right now, I wish I had someone to talk to. My best friend, Liam is probably with his girlfriend, Addison. Not my most favorite girl in the world, but I still try to be supportive of Liam. He's been there for me the last six years, ever since he left his own home in Pennsylvania to move to Breaux Bridge in hopes of helping musicians write songs. He's helped me with some, I love collaborating with him. He always listens to what I have to say. I want to write with him a lot more in the future that's for sure. Him and I need to get together soon after I get home so we can do that, maybe even start a real songwriting partnership. Something to ask Dan after Liam and I get a chance to talk about it.
Getting a glass of water, since the wine was gone pretty quickly, I finally sit down to eat supper. After finishing that up and getting the dishes cleaned up. I decide to try and find some comfort within the words of my Bible. Right before I open it up my phone starts ringing and I see it's my mom calling.
"Mom! How are you? I miss you guys so much!"
"Hi sweetheart, we're doing well. Oh honey, we miss you too and can't wait until you get home. It doesn't sound like you're doing very well though. What's wrong?"
"Oh, just the same old stuff. I'm trying to explain the meaning behind songs I've written, songs the label wants to record for the album, but some people don't want to listen to how the songs are suppose to sound. They want to change them, and not for something better either."
"Oh my sweetie. It certainly does sound like you're having a hard time right now. Was this label the best one for you then? Are you beginning to have second thoughts about what you've decided to do for your life?"
"Oh not at all. No second thoughts on anything Mom. This was the best label, they came to me after five others did and what this one had to offer felt right. It still feels right. I just wish that they would listen. I have an idea that I emailed my manager about tonight before I had supper. So I'm hoping to hear back from him soon."
"What's your idea Hunter?"
"I'll tell you that when I get home and if he says yes and I hope he does. Just know that I would be home a lot more."
"Oh, that would be wonderful! You're dad will be so happy to hear that. What are you doing right now?"
"Talking to you of course," I said with a smile. "I was sitting down to look for some encouragement from my Bible right before you called."
"Well, I'll let you get back to it then honey. We are praying for you and we both miss you very much and can't wait until you get home."
"Alright mom, thank you and I really appreciate it. It was so good to hear your voice. I miss you both so much too."
"Okay honey, it's good to hear yours' as well. I love you Hunter Easton, very much. We are both so proud of you."
"I know you are Mom, thank you so much. I love you too, and dad!"
Putting the phone down, all I can do is smile. I love hearing my mom's voice, it helps to calm me down a lot after I've been upset or frustrated. I really do miss them a lot. Looking over I decide to check my email and see if I've gotten a response.
Five minutes later, after scrolling through a lot of junk mail and fan mail and separating all of it into other folders, I finally see a new one from my manager in response to the one I sent earlier in the evening.
Hunter-
I've thought about your proposal and I think that it is something we can work with. It's definitely not something that is common but it's not unusual. I understand the concerns that you have and I'm willing to work with you on this.
We'll come up with a schedule for when you'll need to be in Nashville over the course of the year. For now I think it would be best if you just go home and get some much needed R&R, you've been working extremely hard and I know that certain members of the team haven't been hearing you out very much the last week. And I will be sure to have a word with those people. So go home, get some R&R and then we will talk about what equipment you can get down there so you can keep working and send us some demos while you're there.
I'm sure this is the news that you really wanted to hear tonight, especially after the last week you've had. We will talk soon. Have a good and safe trip home.
-Dan
Yes! I thought, I want to dance around and jump, but I refrain due to it being late in the evening and because of my neighbors in the apartment below me. I'm so overjoyed and happy. God heard my prayers and came to the rescue as He always does. I throw up a million thank you's to God and quickly respond back to Dan expressing my gratitude. I decide to not tell my parents and to surprise them when I get there. I'm tempted to pack up and leave tonight! I think I should, I'm going to.
I set about packing up my suitcases and the cooler with food and whatever else I don't want to leave in the apartment. An hour later and I'm finished. I turn off the lights and lock up, checking the mail quickly since I forgot to earlier and pack up my truck and get on the road. I'm so happy and excited to surprise Mom and Dad, I can't wipe the smile from my face and begin belting out lyrics with the songs playing through my radio.
Hamburg, Germany
1 December 2013
Sofia's P.O.V.
I need to get away. I have to get out of this house and quickly.
"Sofia! Get back in here right now young lady!"
I can hear my dad yelling at me from the door as I take off running down the dirt road. I have to stop quickly because I didn't tie my running shoes up. Thankfully as soon as I do and I start to run further I can see the barn come into view. Normally I wouldn't ride in my running clothes, but right now that's all I can do to keep from breaking down.
My problem, it's not even a problem except to my parents, is that I love gymnastics and I love horses and riding. They supported me in the activities when I was very young but once I started talking about making the two things a career and lifestyle for myself, they immediately began pushing me to pursue other more "appropriate" careers. I just turned 19 years old in November, it's been almost a month. I've been saving my money for as long as I can remember. I'm planning to move to America, to the state of Louisiana. I've already been offered a job at a gymnastics studio and they were able to find me a really cute but still cheap studio apartment close by. There are a ton of horse farms around the area as well, so I'm hoping to find another job working at one of those.
That's why my dad was yelling at me. I dropped the bomb on them about all of this and they aren't to excited about it. They really are lovely people but they are very religious and pushy people. Oh and not supportive of my passions and dreams at all, like I already said. But anyway, I told them that I was moving before Christmas, actually I'm getting on a flight to America tomorrow. I've said things about it before, but they didn't think I was serious or that I actually really would do it. So as I said, they aren't very excited about that. My mom is actually really upset and was crying, I hate to see her cry and I didn't do it on purpose. That's one of the reasons my dad was yelling at me as well.
I've been riding for almost two hours and it's beginning to get dark so I decide to get back to the barn and get my horse, that I recently sold to a very sweet little girl, put away and get home. Hoping to be given the chance to actually talk about this whole thing. After a short walk home I'm coming in the door and call out, kind of quiet, while walking through the house.
"Mom? Mom where are you? Please I want to talk to you guys?"
"In the living room Sofia."
Walking in, I can see my mother, red and puffy eyed. I immediately walk over and envelop her into a hug. "Mom, I am so sorry. Please don't cry anymore. Can I please talk now? I want to try and explain."
"Sure honey, go ahead." My mother responds but my dad still looks like he could just about kill me.
"Okay, here it goes. I know you guys have never really liked the idea of me spending the rest of my life on a farm, caring for horses. But please understand, that's what makes me happy. I truly believe that's what God wants for me. Please, I'm not trying to rebel or upset you or hurt you at all. I can't make my dreams come true here, I need to go to America. That's where a need for rescues is, that's where a lot of horses are being killed daily and for no reason at all. It's sad and I have to help as many as I can. Please understand. I'm not asking for anything but for you to understand. I'm sorry I'm leaving so soon, but the gym wants me as soon as possible and it's an awesome position. They're going to let me coach and also help me develop my skills more and you know the gymnastics only helps make my riding better. I love both and I've been given a wonderful opportunity, please understand where I'm coming from."
"If that's what you want then okay. Go for it, but when you fail, don't come crying back home. Got it?" My dad is the first to reply and without any hesitation.
Well at least he let me finish. I just nod and walk away to my room. I can't believe he just said that. I'm heartbroken, they haven't given me any confidence or support. I don't feel loved. They've pushed me so much that I'm not even sure where I am with my faith or if I even believe in it any more. I don't understand it anymore and I'm just confused by it now. They've never cared how I acted, just as long as I don't embarrass them in public, no structure, no friends or relationships of my own.
I'm almost finished packing, I'm ready to leave. I want to be able to be myself without being judged and ridiculed and put down all the time. I have a new fire in me to succeed and prove them both wrong, especially my father. As I finish packing, I lay down and almost immediately fall asleep and dream of new adventures and a new life and a fresh start waiting for me the moment that I step foot on my flight tomorrow.