Nelson On Tour: A Growing Up Nelson Short

Chicago Stroll

  "Carlyn? Carlyn? Wake up my love we're here." I heard my dad's baritone voice say as he gave me a gentle shake.

Letting out a yawn and stretching my arms I looked out the window and could see the tarmac and the airport beside me.

  "Oh good! Ground!" I said as grabbed my carry on from the empty seat next to me.

  "Well hey there sleeping beauty! Enjoy the flight?" Uncle Andre asked as he was carrying a still sleeping Joey in his arms with his spider man bag on his back.

  "Guess he was tired too huh?" I asked him with a smile.

  "Oh this little guy just went to sleep! He was awake the entire flight. Me and your old man hand to keep him busy just so he wouldn't get out of his seat! Skip I don't know how you do it at home man. He's a ball of energy!" Uncle Dre said passing my dad in the aisle.

  "He keeps me on my toes. You should see me trying to keep up with him outside the house when I need a break from working." Daddy replied as he ran his hands through Joey's hair.

He planted a kiss on his forehead then grabbed the carry on which I never knew what he had inside. I was dying to ask but wasn't sure if it was even my place. Daddy always said that I shouldn't go sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. Following close behind him and Uncle Dre we walked off the plane and into the airport. I thought there would be a sea of fans crowding around us but to my surprise there wasn't! Uncle Dez met us at the gate and told us that Tony was outside waiting for us in a limo.

  "Hey pumpkin! How's my favorite girl?" Uncle Dez asked as he greeted me with a hug.

  "I guess I'm doing ok. What are you doing here?" I asked him.

The moment he saw my face he could tell that something was up even though I was trying not show how I was really feeling about this trip.

  "What's with the face little one?" he asked as he put his arm around me and pulled me close to him.

  "Uncle Dez.....I just don't wanna be on this trip. It's stupid." I grumble.

  "Oh boy. Teenage anxt alert. We'll talk more at the room huh? How bout it? Grab a little something to eat and chat before the show tonight. Sound good?"

  "Yeah. Sure." I said giving him a big smile as he hugged me again.

  "Chin up my sweet. We'll talk soon." Uncle Dez said.

He went to catch up with my dad and Uncle Dre to get to the car and I dragged myself behind them until the smell of grilled deliciousness hit my nose and made my sense perk up with happiness. Over to the left of me was a bar and grill spot and the cook searing what looked to be some burgers.

  "Ahhhhh meat! Where have you been recently?" I asked myself as I found myself drifting over to the mini airport restaurant.

The chef was busy cutting onions and peppers when I had arrived and took a seat that the bar watching in amazement. When he turned back to the skillet he looked at me with a smile and continued working his culinary magic. He soon went and quickly cut up some carrots and dropped them in another skillet along with some scallions and what looked like freshly cooked rice noodles. I could feel my mouth salivation wildly as I watch. My stomach felt like it was doing backflips and eating away at myself because everything smelled like heaven. The man looked up at me again and gave me another smile while pulling out a white plate and placing the meal on it and sliding it my way. I went from a happy spectator to a vary confuse and refusing teenager. I nervously pushed the plate away from me and shook my head.

  "Oh no sir. I'm not ordering. Thanks though." I said to him.

The man simply smiled at me and pushed it back to me along with a can of Pepsi.