My Time with a Future Music Star

Trailer Haven

A young man in his '20s got off a bus in North Bergen, New Jersey, a decent size town. The young man was tall, average sized, and wore springtime clothes. North Bergen was one of those cities, like Hoboken, that was close to the Manhattan district of New York City. The city of North Bergen itself had a reputation for being the friendliest city of all and considered the Miami of the state due to a large portion of the population consisting of Hispanics. It was March 2009 and it was evening. The young man walked to a bar where he knew he was supposed to meet someone.

The bar was called "M Bar". The young man sat in the bar with tables near a stage for live performances. The atmosphere was loud and crowded like children crammed in a minivan. A young lady in her mid-'20s was about to sing. She was blonde and wore a black dress, but no gloves. An announcer came out and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, The M bar is proud to present Miss Lizzy Grant." The people cheered with enthusiasm as the young lady came on stage with her guitar. She started to sing a calm song as her instrument played. "Yayo", Lizzy sang, "Yes you. Yayooo! Let me put on a show for you, Daddy, let me put on a show!" The audience applauded and cheered as if they heard a sweet melody. Her voice is like an angel from Heaven, the young man thought.

After the performance ended, the young man who entered the M Bar came outside. "That's Her!", the man started to say, "That's the girl I needed to see and talk to." As he was about to find a motel, the man heard a familiar voice: "Hey", It was Lizzy in a truck with some guy driving it. She was wearing a Midas bomber jacket over her dress. "You're Lizzy, aren't you?", the man asked. "You heard of any other Lizzy's here in New Jersey?", she jokingly asked, "What's your name?" The man answered, "Ben." "Ben what?" "Ben Thompson", Ben replied. "I can give you a ride to my place if you want", Lizzy offered to Ben. "Serious?", he asked knowing he had to meet Lizzy. "Get in.", Lizzy insisted while Ben got into the truck. "This is Blake.", Lizzy introduced to Ben as he got into the truck, "He's also helping me with my new record." "Nice to meet you, Ben", Blake said. Blake was an average build person with a beard and denim coat. "Thanks for letting me tag along with you and Lizzy.", Ben said. "Always a pleasure to help out an out-of-towner.", Lizzy said. Ben thought, "How did she know I was an Out-of-towner?"

The three of them stopped at a trailer park called "Manhattan Trailer" and Ben wondered if this was where the young singer actually lived. Lizzy and Ben thanked Blake as they got out of the truck. "This way", Lizzy said as Ben was leading him to her adobe. "I really enjoyed that song you performed tonight", he said. "Thanks", Lizzy said. The first trailer they passed was a big one and had yellow tape around it like there was a crime scene. "That's Dixie's trailer", Lizzy said, "It's been like that since I first lived here. I believe her cat is in there too." They continued walking until they stopped at a trailer with big windows. "Here we are", Lizzy smiled. "My humble home! The Royal Executive Suite!", she said presenting to Ben. It was one of those mobile homes Ben heard about, but it was a Manhattan trailer. It was white and had a small porch attached to the trailer along with a garden table and chair and had the number "22" on it.

Ben and Lizzy entered and found out the inside was all spaced out. There was brown shag carpeting all over the trailer. "Make yourself at home", Lizzy said as she went into the fridge. Ben took his shoes off and proceeded to sit on a brown couch. He noticed tapes and CDs on different artists and musicians he has heard about. He also noticed a camera and TV across from Ben. "So", Lizzy began as she shut the refrigerator door, "Tell me about yourself." Ben started: "My name is Ben Thompson, I am 26 years old, and I'm from a place in the south- ". "Mississippi South?", Lizzy interruptedly asked. "No", Ben answered, "Austin, Texas. Despite not having the accent." "Whoa", Lizzy said, "No wonder you're an out-of-towner." "In the truck, you called me that", Ben reminded Lizzy. "Just a hunch", Lizzy answered. "You went to school?" "Yeah, College, A+M, took journalism, music appreciation, and Bachelor of Science." "Ah", Lizzy reacted. "Another scholar of the arts and sciences.", Lizzy smiled.

The microwave in Lizzy's kitchen beeped. "What do you have in there, to begin with?", Ben asked. "Just a surprise", Lizzy answered. "I don't like surprises", Ben declared. "It'll be worth it, trust me", Lizzy assured Ben. "Here we are: Sausages, green beans, fries, and Diet Mountain Dew." Ben looked at her for a couple of minutes. "What, I used to be a waitress.", Lizzy said as she passed a plate of food to Ben. "Thanks, Miss Grant.", Ben said politely. "Just call me Lizzy", Lizzy said.

As Lizzy sat on the couch with Ben, there was something on her mind as if Ben was supposed to be here. "What brings you to good old North Bergen, Ben?", asked Lizzy. "Believe it or not", Ben began, "I was supposed to see someone." Lizzy asked: "Someone important?" "Someone who will be", Ben answered. "Who?", Lizzy asked curiously. "You", Ben answered without hesitation. "Are you being serious with me?", Lizzy laughed, "Whatever for?" "You mentioned something about a record.", Ben explained. "Yeah", Lizzy went on, "Working on one. You came all this way for an interview?" "Pretty much", Ben replied. "I'm a journalist for a newspaper." "You're not the first.", Lizzy said. "I was interviewed by a lady associated with a magazine." "What will the next record be called?", Ben asked. "I'm leaning towards...Best American Record.", Lizzy answered.

Ben and Lizzy finished their food and placed the dishes in the sink. Lizzy took Ben to her room. "This is where I do my music videos and record songs.", Lizzy stated, "All the music videos are homemade by me." Lizzy's bedroom consisted of a bed, a desk with a computer, a guitar rack, and numerous costumes. Something an actress and student would have. In addition, there were lamps, curtains, a few salvaged street, and construction signs, and an American flag hung vertically. "I usually wear leis, scarfs, wigs, minks, and of course, heart-shaped sunglasses.", Lizzy stated. "Heart-shaped sunglasses?", Ben asked. "Kind of like Lolita from the book and movie.", Lizzy said. Ben knew about Lolita and how the movies glamorized pedophilia. Not something Ben was amused about. "I can show you some of the videos I made tomorrow if you want", Lizzy said, "I keep a guest bedroom across the other way. I'm sure Martha, my landlady won't mind having a guest over. She's nice!" "Good to know", Ben said. He has lived in a mobile home when he was a child, so he knew where different parts of said homes were.

Ben was curious about other things concerning Lizzy. Did she live on her own? Did she have any friends? What made her write music? And why a trailer park? Ben thought: "A girl like Lizzy, whom I believe will be successful and famous, deserves something better." "I'm going to bed, Ben.", Lizzy declared. "Goodnight", Ben acknowledged as he closed the door and went to sleep.