In the summer of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the band had established a routine of weekly group phone calls through their messaging app. One Friday evening, they were deep into their usual conversation when Christine received a message from her assistant Jenn, someone she had grown close to during the last tour. Jenn and Christine had begun their own weekly calls, and tonight, Jenn was checking in to see if Christine was free to talk.
Christine glanced at the message and then addressed the group. "Hey, everyone, I need to go. My nephew just arrived to work on our project," she said, using their code word for the new album they were secretly working on.
Mick responded first, "Alright, Christine. We'll catch up next week."
"Goodnight, Christine," John added.
"Goodnight, Christine," Stevie chimed in. "Take care."
With a chorus of goodbyes, Christine ended the call and quickly dialed Jenn. The phone rang only once before Jenn picked up.
"Hey, Christine!" Jenn's cheerful voice came through.
"Hi, Jenn. How are you?" Christine settled into her favorite chair, ready for their weekly chat.
"I'm good. How are things over there in the UK?"
Christine sighed. "It's a bit chaotic, to be honest. The lockdowns have been tough, but we're managing. How about you in the States?"
"It's pretty much the same here. Everyone's just trying to stay safe and sane," Jenn replied. "How's your back been?"
"On and off," Christine admitted. "Some days are better than others. But enough about that. How's your family?"
"They're doing okay. Actually, my sister just got engaged!"
"That's wonderful news!" Christine exclaimed. "I wish I could visit and celebrate with you."
"Yeah, it's tough not being able to see loved ones. But we have to stay safe," Jenn said. "So, what have you been up to lately?"
Christine laughed. "Well, besides the usual, I've been trying to write more music. It's been a good way to pass the time."
"That's great to hear. I'd love to listen to your new stuff sometime," Jenn said eagerly.
"Of course, once it's ready," Christine promised. "How about you? Any new projects?"
"Actually, I've been taking an online course in digital marketing. Figured it was a good time to learn something new," Jenn said.
"That's fantastic. Always good to keep learning," Christine said approvingly.
"Yeah, and it's been interesting. I'm thinking of starting a blog, maybe about music and travel, once things get back to normal," Jenn added.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. You could share your experiences from the tours and all the places we've visited," Christine said.
"I was thinking the same. And speaking of tours, do you miss it? Being on the road, performing?" Jenn asked.
"I do, a lot," Christine confessed. "There's something magical about performing live, the connection with the audience. But I also enjoy the quieter moments, like writing new songs."
"Have you been in touch with the rest of the band often?" Jenn inquired.
"Yes, we do these weekly calls, as you know. It's been good to stay connected, even if it's not the same as being together in person," Christine replied.
"How's Stevie holding up?" Jenn asked.
"She's doing alright. Keeping busy with her own projects. We all miss the tours, but we're finding ways to cope," Christine said.
