Country at Heart Book One: Adventures in DollyWood

Part I: Meeting Dolly, Chapter 1 - Planning

                                                            PART  I—MEETING DOLLY

Hi. My name is Erica. I wanted to tell you about my experience with Dolly Parton. It really is a pleasant little story, and I think you will enjoy reading about it even though there are no aliens, not much bloodshed and not a whole lot of out-of-this-world drama. It's just my own little story.

                                                          CHAPTER ONE—PLANNING

“Please be sunny today…” I trailed off as I opened my curtains and looked out my window. Of course it wasn’t sunny, it had been raining for the last two weeks straight and by now I was honestly shocked that there wasn’t any flood warnings or anything. I stalked downstairs in my pajamas and poured a bowl of Frosted Cheerios for myself, thinking that I would probably end up messing around on the computer if the sun didn’t hurry up and come out.

“Honey, Dolly is on TV!” My mother called from the living room. I left my cereal on the counter with a sigh and headed out to see what could possibly be showing on TV that I hadn’t already seen reruns of. I caught a glimpse of the blonde hair, pale pink mini dress and pink pumps before Mom could say anything, and realized I had never seen this outfit before. Maybe this was something new. I sat down in my father’s old recliner chair to watch the show, and took a piece of my mother’s toast.

“…Go on my official website for some more information about the meet and greet session and book-signing…” I heard Dolly say to the host of the show. Before she’d finished her sentence, I had my Laptop out and was typing in her website address. I logged into my Dollyite account to see what was going on, and read the page over. So Dolly would be in Pennsylvania, in a week or so for a book signing. Well I’d have to see about going. But the lines would be huge, I could have bet you anything.

“…Specially chosen Dollyites can check their Emails for a special pass…” I heard Dolly say in the background as I was typing. I clicked into a new tab and checked my Email. I found an Email from Dolly’s website and clicked ‘open’. The Email read ‘As a Dollyite, we offer you an exclusive pass to meet Dolly. Print this page and arrive at the book signing about twenty minutes early to redeem this pass, and you won’t have to wait in the lines! We hope to see you there! –DollyPartonMusic Staff’. I gasped to myself and immediately set my computer to print that page.

“…Hope to see so many of you at the book signing…” Dolly finished her speech as a commercial came on and she stood to go change into something super-glittery for the song she was going to sing. I threw the printed out paper to my mother with an excited gasp, and went back to Dolly’s website to get the directions and details. Whether Mom could take me or not, I would be going to meet Dolly next week. This would be the best week of my life. I pulled out some glittery glass beads, some elastic strings and various clips and hooks and clasps. I was going to make something for Dolly.

“Honey, do you really want to go to this? I would be happy to take you over if you really want to go…” My mother said, her eyes twinkling a bit. I grinned and nodded. The meet and greet was on a Saturday, so my summer job wouldn’t get in the way of anything. I could spend all day at the book store, watching Dolly sign autographs and talk to her fans, if only for a few moments each. But would I spend all day there? Probably. I threaded a pink and silver sparkly bead on to each of the two earring hooks I had spread in front of me, and sighed happily. This could be it! My chance!

“’Course I want to go, Mom. You shouldn’t even have to ask,” I gasped out as I stared at the beads on the coffee table in front of me. I was intent on the perfect pattern. It had to be sparkly, and possibly pink. Well pink I could do. Pink and silver seemed to fit the color requirements that I’d made for myself. I threaded more beads onto the strings in front of me, tied off the earrings, and brushed a bit of pink nail polish over the knots to prevent them from coming undone. Now for the bracelet, I would use the same pattern, but more beads.

“…You asked me not to wear cologne…” I heard Dolly singing on TV.  Now, Cologne was one of my favorite songs on her latest album, Backwoods Barbie, so I focused in on it as she sang, paying attention to the sound of her voice, the expression on her face, and the emotion she poured into every word. Dolly really seemed to mean every word she wrote in each of her songs, and even words to songs she sang but didn’t write. That was the mark of a true artist-understanding of the songs and their writers’ meanings. I looked up to Dolly a lot; she was one of my heroes.