Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Two

Out of Nowhere, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Two, Update

 

The family got busy on the work of settling into the Cantrell House. Built on top of the hill, the view from there was astounding. The residence  was not only a Historic Place but was also on the list of sites to see when taking a tour of Del Sol Valley. A constant stream of people walked in front of it. Every now and again a few Paparazzi showed up, but that was due to Louise’s fame, they quickly decided.

 

Going through Old Joe’s paperwork, Joseph discovered the place had not only been brought up to code, but the wiring had been redone over the centuries, as well. This surprised him when they had a kitchen fire of their own. Joey was attempting to cook when the island on the opposite side burst into flames. “Not haunted, eh?” Joey shouted. Thankfully, the teen was unscathed, except for his fright.

 

 

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

 

As time went by Louise found herself having bouts of nausea. Sometimes she couldn’t hold it in. She was overly tired, had difficulty sleeping at night and in general didn’t feel well. The hot flashes were unbearable, might as well be back on Vulcan. When asked, she told her husband, “I think I just have a case of the flu.” Since she was in her early fifties, now, other symptoms she experienced suggested her time to have babies was basically over. So, when Joseph urged her to see a physician, the two came back from the visit nearly in shock.

 

They sat the kids down and broke the news to them. Brianna furrowed her brow and said, “I don’t mean to sound selfish, but does that mean we have to give up that fabulous game room upstairs?”

“We won’t be needing it, Bree,” Erik said, then turned to his parents. “A baby? Fine time for the four of us to go off to University. The kid won’t even know us.”

“I promise we’ll take pictures, lots of them.” Joseph said. “Besides, we expect to see you every Sunday, as usual. So, you won’t be total strangers, either.”

 

“Okay,” Erik said. “Better than nothing.”

 

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

 

Later on when Erik was able to get his father alone, he said quietly, “Dad, has Mom gone off of her meds?”

“Temporarily, doctor’s orders.”

“Really? But what about her — condition?”

“Well, that’s a rather antiquated term for it. Your mother is pregnant. She’s fine, the baby is fine and, yes, it has taken us both by surprise. We didn’t think it could happen anymore.”

 

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

 

Erik loved taking long, thoughtful walks.  He felt lighter on this planet for some reason. He even considered jumping into the air to see if he defied gravity. Then decided, that wasn’t the kind of publicity he wanted and gave up the notion almost as soon as it crossed his mind. 

 

Apparently, the gravitational pull wasn’t nearly as powerful as that of Vulcan’s. He made his way easily down the hill, the road a long, lazy curve, winding into the city below. He checked out the Orchid-A-Go-Go Lounge; his mind already planning how he might set about making himself ‘known’, which was required if he was ever going to make it as a Musician. So very caught up in his own thoughts and plans, he was gone longer than he intended.

 

The climb back up the hill was tiring and his muscles started to scream at him.  Once again a Paparazzo was standing outside of their front gates. “Hi,” Erik said cheerfully. “If you’re waiting for my mother, I’m afraid it’s going to be a long wait. She’s prone to naps, these days, and then she rises to make dinner.”

“Wait, you’re one of Louise’s kids?”

 

“Erik. Erik Cantrell,” the teen said, extending his hand the way his father had instructed them. “I’m Brad Fischer from Sim Beat Magazine. You know, I would very much like to take a few pictures of you. I’m doing a piece on your mother and having pictures of at least one of her kids would make a nice addition. Show the other side of the artist, as it were. The family side.”

 

Erik felt his cheeks warming, knew he was blushing. He inclined his head to the side. “You want pictures of me? Sure, so long as it’s done here at the house with my parents present.”

“You’re one smart kid. We’ll be more than happy to accommodate you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

 

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

 

The crew came over to the house one evening. Focusing mostly on Erik, the two makeup artists applied powder and not much else to his face. Flanking him as he sat in a living room chair, he gazed up at them, bewildered. Both of these human females were lovely. And he had to confess he really didn’t mind their attention.

 

 

The photographer was very pleased as he examined the digital images. “Hey, kid, you’re a natural. These pictures are amazing.”  When that edition of the magazine came out, Louise was quick to snatch up a few copies of it, before the rest went flying off the racks wherever they were on sale. Erik received multiple requests for him to do a photoshoot, and an interview, after that.

 

Again, he was perplexed, as they informed him he was one hot commodity.  He sold magazines. “Face it, kid, you’re now a Notable Newcomer. Before he’d sung a single song, he graced many a magazine cover. The fact that he had learned how to model didn’t hurt, either.

 

 

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

 

Erik spent time writing songs, playing his guitar, violin and piano regularly. He sang often to the dismay of Aaron, who would never confess to his brother, that Erik had one fine set of pipes. His fussing was just to help his younger brother keep his hat size. Erik didn’t care. He earned a tidy sum for his first photoshoot bumfuzzled by the fact they wanted him to grace the cover of Sim Beat magazine when he wasn’t even famous, not even close. Is this how stars are made?

 

He was astounded, in fact, when he went to the market for his mother for just a couple of items and saw his image staring back at him as he waited in the checkout line. Even more was the reaction of teen girls grabbing at the magazine and the two who nearly destroyed the last copy on the stand, playing a for keeps game of tug-a-war. He blushed. This is crazy.

 

“It’s you!” one of them suddenly shrieked at him, as she took a place in the line behind him, what was left of the magazine, clutched tightly to her chest. “Erik, you’re name is Erik, right?” Erik turned slightly to give her his attention. She took a look at the battered cover of the magazine, for confirmation, “Oh my God you’re even better looking in person! Take a Selfie with me my friends are not going to believe this.”

 

“Believe what?” he asked.

“That I ran into you at the market. What are you doing at the market?”

Up went a shoulder. “My mom needed a few things. She sent me, is all. Why does that seem strange to you? Don’t you do things for your mom?”

 

“He has a mom, Everybody, he’s got a mom!” She shrieked, turning toward the other shoppers who had stopped at the top of the nearest aisle to see just what all the commotion was about.

Erik shrugged his broad shoulders, a grin playing on the edge of his mouth, “What’s the big deal about that? Doesn’t everybody?” Humans he found himself thinking, grateful he’d kept that thought to himself. Instead he just shook his head.

 

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

 

Realizing he didn’t want to be just another pretty face, Erik took some of the money he’d earned and rented some time at a recording studio, Taygeta, over in NewCrest.  With permission, he traveled there and began recording fifteen songs, all self-written. Already a Notable Newcomer, according to the last Sim Beat magazine cover, with his released album, which shot up in the charts, he was now a Rising Star. Seemed every day his status changed. This is one crazy business.

 

All for now, thanks for reading!