Chapter 9:
Mr. Big Ben… Part 1
February 16, 2005
Comcast Center
Boston, MA
I stopped strumming my guitar and threw it in the
couch behind me. I looked down at my wrist to check the time, it was still an hour
and a half before sound check. I was really bored to death and didn’t know what
else to do. It had been two weeks since Patty crossed over, but I still miss
her.
This was definitely one of the those times I wish
I still share the tour bus with the guys. I grabbed my phone from the table and
thought of calling the guys, maybe they were in the mood to hang out with me. I
thought who to call first; Leighanne was still on tour with us so Brian would
definitely decline my offer. Same goes for Howie, his girlfriend Leigh joined
the tour yesterday, they might be making up for the lost time. AJ might be
flirting with our opening act, and since I believe she was so young for him, I
don’t want to hang out with AJ when she’s around. I let out a deep sigh, threw my
phone back to the table and decided to go inside the concert venue. Kevin might
be there ironing out the small details before soundcheck.
Our tour busses were parked at the back of the
concert venue, and since it was just a couple of meters away from the back door
entrance of the arena; I didn’t feel the need of informing my bodyguard where I
was going. I was slightly disappointed when I found out Kevin wasn’t on the
stage, but smiled when I saw the drums were already set up. It had been months
since the last time I played it.
“Strolling around without a bodyguard; when will
you learn, Nick?”
I stopped walking when I heard that familiar
voice. I looked behind me and found out it came from a man who was leaning
against the wall while watching the roadies set up the stage. He was probably
in his mid 40s, taller than me by around two inches, and have a muscular body I
would love to have. A smile slowly formed in my lips when I remembered who it
was.
“Hey there, Big Ben!”
Benjamin Jackson, or Big Ben as we fondly call
him, was the head of our security group since 1998 until the Black and Blue
days. I even wondered why we didn’t hire this guy when we started the Never
Gone tour. You wouldn’t see him around us but he had the final say when it
comes to security matters concerning us. It was his decision that Josh, Marcus,
Q and the rest of our bodyguards would obey.
Instead of returning my smile, his head was
creased in confusion. He held up his right hand to stop me from approaching
him.
“You can see me?” He sounded so surprised that I
wasn’t able to answer him right away.
“Nick!”
I was ready to answer ‘of course’ when I heard
Josh called out my name, and saw him running towards me.
“It’s a good thing you’re here, Josh, or I would
have received a long lecture from Big Ben.”
I smiled when I remembered that one incident from
the Into the Millenium tour. We were in South America and I couldn’t remember
exactly where. I wanted to go shopping but my designated bodyguard, Marcus,
wouldn’t let me. I sneaked out and was found at one of the shopping centers
after three hours. Poor Marcus had a very long lecture from Big Ben for hours,
I was relieved the guy wasn’t suspended because of me. I wouldn’t forget what
Big Ben told me.
“If you are expecting a lecture from me, you’d
be disappointed. It is not my job to tell you not to sneak out, Nick. But it is
my job to make sure you wouldn’t succeed to sneak out. A lot could happen in
those three hours, and I would hate myself forever if something happened to
you. You are old enough to know what is wrong and what is right, but still I
will make sure this won’t happen again.”
“What did you say about Big Ben, Nick?” Josh asked
and snapped me out of my thoughts.
I looked at Big Ben, he had his finger on his lips
while shaking his head.
“Nothing,” I said; I think I was confused as Josh
was.
“You remembered him too?” I nodded “Maybe because
we miss him and this was his hometown. May his soul rest in peace.” Josh
whispered the last part but it was loud enough to make my head spin.
“What did you say?”
“This was his hometown, so maybe we all think of
him subconsciously.”
“No, the last thing you said. May his souls rest
in peace? Was that what you said?”
“Yes. Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”
“Didn’t know what?” I looked at Big Ben again but
he just shrugged his shoulder.
“He died two years ago, Nick. Heart attack.”
It felt like everything was spinning around. I had
to step back and leaned against the wall, with both my hands in my head. The news
about Big Ben’s death wasn’t easy to take and his presence in front of me made
it all crazier.
“It’s ok, son.” Big Ben whispered to me
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was actually surprised that you could see me.”
“We told your management, Nick. It was during the
break of the band and you guys were doing your solo things, so we let your
management relay the bad news to you. We thought you all knew.”
Big Ben and Josh answered the same time, I guess I
didn’t make it clear to whom my question was directed to.
“I need to rest, and inform the group.”
I turned around and walked towards my tour bus. I
texted Howie, Kevin, Brian and AJ to meet me at my tour bus, and I had an
important news to tell them. Josh was the one who explained everything to them.
We spent the next hour crying and talking about Big Ben, how he meant to us and
how we loved and appreciated him. Big Ben was there listening to us, and he
looked happy and overwhelmed upon hearing everything we said.
I smiled at him, and this time he returned it with
a warm smile.
“Tell your bandmates I loved all of you as my own
sons.”
“We know.” I mouthed at him and he nodded.
***