2 Hands and One Heart

Hanging Out With Ed

We hop onto the stage and walk off the side. "So, Ed, how did that security guard know who I was?" I ask him as we walk down a long hallway. "Well, you didn't exactly leave me with much to work with," he begins with a nervous laugh. As we turn down another hall he continues. "Basically I got your picture from a security camera and had the security guys memorize your face in case you really did come back 2 years later," he rambles, talking fast. "But," I interrupt him, "how long have you had that note ready?" He hesitates. "I, uh, I write a new one before every performance," he admits. "Why go to all the trouble?" I ask. "I've been looking forward to this day ever since the last day we met," he replies, coming to a stop in front of a door, "Well, here we are!"

Joshi has been awfully quiet the whole walk, but now he pipes up. "Your dressing room?" He asks Ed. Joshi's eyes are wide in awe. You could say he's a fan of Ed... Big time... "Yup," Ed replies, opening the door. We all enter the room single-file, first Ed, then me, with Joshi bringing up the rear. I hold my breath as we step across the threshold.

I exhale as I look around the room. It's very normal and cleaner than I imagined. Ed pauses in front of the couch and few chairs in the middle of the room and turns to me. "You guys can sit here. I'll be right back," he says, turning back to a door on the opposite wall from where we entered. He opens the door and disappears into another room. Joshi and I sit a little awkwardly on the couch, not sure what to do and in awe at being in Ed's dressing room.

Ed returns a moment later with two water bottles and two juice boxes, a little smile on his face. He hands a water bottle to Joshi and the two juice boxes to me, keeping a water for himself. I love juice boxes, but how could Ed have known that? I give him a questioning look, but he continues to smile at me as he sits down in the chair across from the couch. It occurs to me that I was enjoying a juice box the last time Ed and I met. Maybe it was just a really good guess...

"So..." I begin, sticking a straw in one of the juice boxes, "What's with the juice boxes?" I try to be casual about it, but it comes out weird. Ed chuckles at me and Joshi smirks. "You really seemed to like them 2 years ago. Has that changed?" Ed asks, still smiling. "Ah, heck naw!" I say, going all black chick on him and waving my finger in his direction. To emphasize my point, I lift the straw of the box to my lips and take a few sips before smiling at Ed. Ed and Joshi are laughing at my display and I join in.

This officially breaks the ice and we go on like we're the oldest of friends. We laugh 'til our sides ache, then laugh some more. After about an hour and a half, the conversation calms down. I'm finally able to finish my first juice box, but I leave the second one in my lap. I sigh and lean my head against the back of the couch. I stare at the ceiling and wonder how I ended up here. There are girls who would probably kill to be in my shoes. Just then I hear Ed speak, "Joshi, would you mind giving us some privacy? I'd like to talk to Mel alone for a bit... If you don't mind..." I look up to see Joshi nod and smile as he stands up from the couch. "Sure thing. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'll just go wait in the car," Joshi directs his last comment to me as he moves to the door. Ed gets up and follows him to the door, shaking Joshi's hand and closing the door behind him. Ed turns back to me.

We are alone.