The day my husband's tenth series became a runaway hit.
Mom and Dad rode a bus for ten hours to reach the backstage of his press event.
Clutched tight in their hands was a postcard printed with a still from his show.
"Ebony Winfield's little brother is a fan of yours. He's about to take his college admissions exams. Could you sign an autograph for him?"
He didn't even lift his head from the script.
"The meet-and-greet is in half an hour. Wait outside."
Mom and Dad backed out the door.
Then he spoke again.
"You don't look good standing there. Go wait outside the venue."
By the time I arrived with the congratulatory gift,
Mom and Dad had already been standing in the 99-degree sun for two hours.
Staff and fans came and went, in and out.
No one cared how much longer the two old people had to wait.
I rushed backstage.
"You're clearly done with everything. Why won't you let them come inside?!"
"Two special guests haven't arrived yet. I'm not done."
His private car pulled up at the venue's entrance.
Brendan Stephens went out himself.
Walked right past my parents.
And helped his female assistant's parents down from the car.
He carried the elderly couple's luggage himself.
"You must be worn out after the whole trip here."
Then he personally escorted the two of them to the VIP seats.
Seated them among all the big names in the industry.
Not once, the whole time, did he ask whether my parents were still outside.
After the press event ended.
He stretched a hand out toward me.
"Your parents' postcard. Hand it over."
I tore it to pieces in a few quick motions.
"Thank you, Mr. Stephens. That won't be necessary."
......
The scraps drifted to the floor.
Brendan Stephens glanced at them.
The corner of his mouth curled.
"So proud?
"Don't come back later with a new one and ask me to sign it.
"I have a lot going on. I won't have time to make it up to you."
"Don't worry."
My fist clenched.
"I will never go back on this."
"That's for the best."
He turned around.
His assistant Libby Fox's parents were just walking out of the hall.
Brendan Stephens stepped over at once, supporting Libby's mother down the stairs.
"The climate control broke down in the hall. I'm sorry you had to suffer through that.
"Let me take you to my lounge first. There's air conditioning inside, and fruit. You can rest."
Libby's father and mother widened their eyes in delighted surprise.
"Can we really go in there? Isn't that against the rules?"
"It's fine. I'll say you're my guests. No one will stop you."
"Oh my, our daughter found herself a wonderful boss!"
Brendan Stephens laughed softly.
I stood a short distance away.
Watching with my own eyes as Brendan Stephens ushered the two of them into that lounge marked no unauthorized entry.
The room my parents had waited two hours outside and still couldn't get into.
Someone else's parents walked right in, easy as anything.
My nails dug deep into my palms.
I turned to leave.
A staff member suddenly called out to me.
"Are you heading out? Do me a favor and toss these entry passes in the trash by the door."
And with that she shoved a few hundred entry passes into my hands.
I looked at the staff member, numb.
"Aren't these...really hard to get? How are there so many left over?"
"Hmm? Oh, these?"
She smiled. "Award-Winning Actor Stephens is the star of the press event, after all. He's got plenty of entry passes on hand."
Watching her walk away.
The thick stack of passes crumpled in my grip.
One of them.
Was one I'd fought to get myself.
Camped in front of my computer at midnight.
Waiting for the moment they went on sale.
Clicking the mouse like mad.
I hadn't gotten one.
I'd even had to buy from a scalper at a steep price.
I looked at that pass I'd spent three days fighting to get my hands on.
Then I looked at that shut lounge door.
And suddenly I laughed.
So it turned out that Brendan Stephens could have just handed me any one of them, and that would have been enough.
