The Legend Of Callie Phoenix

1,000 Words

“Callie, Callie!” My fans were shouting my name; it was time for me to take the stage for the first time in a very long time. Butterflies hit my stomach; what if I wasn’t as good as I used to be? My mind floated longingly to the way that I used to deal with nerves, a few lines of coke and nothing mattered.

Ah yes. My good friend, always there when I needed it, always in perfect lines. It wouldn’t be hard for me to a get a hit, I’m sure one of the other ‘Divas’ had some. Most of the time they would also be willing to share, especially with someone of my stature, well former stature. My CDs still sold a lot but after I almost died, no one wanted to work with me and eventually I fell off the radar. This was supposed to be my big comeback, like Cher’s farewell tours, but with more hinging on this. If this tour with the other women didn’t go according to plan, then I would be just like Rod Stewart and shilling standards.

My dressing room door opened and a stagehand peeked in. He was scrumptious, with his spiky blond hair, biceps bulging out of the sleeves of his tight shirt. In my younger days I would have had my way with him and then sent him packing but not now. No now I was a happily married woman or something like that. He had a soft southern accent which made him even more desirable, “Miss Callie, you’re due on stage.”

“Thank you. I’ll be right there.” I took a deep breath and opened the door all the way. My stagehand was wearing trousers that were tight enough to reveal every asset that he had. Every diva is late to her concert; I thought to myself, every married woman has affairs. Especially when the marriage isn’t a real marriage but something that was cobbled together after it was determined that I couldn’t make my own decisions.

“My mama showed me the clips of you singing on ‘American Voice’ and you have a real purdy voice.” American Voice was where I got my start. It was a reality show that was supposed to launch the careers of the talented performers, instead it was a place where former hitmakers went to try to revive their careers and destroy the ones with more talent. Some might question my bitterness towards the show that gave me my start but honestly if they knew the full story behind it, then they would understand. “I’m so honored to be able to see your perform after all these years!”

“After my set, maybe you would like to accompany me back to my dressing room and I can give you a very private, special performance.” It was fun to know that there was still a sex kitten hiding inside of me. His cheeks flamed red with my offer and his trousers became even tighter. “I bet you’ll help me hit notes that I haven’t been able to in years.”
My manager walked up to me but I held my hand up. He was going to want me to do a greatest hits set, something to remind the fans as to why they fell in love with me in the first place. As if people didn’t know why they became a fan of a celebrity in the first place, it was as if agents thought ‘common people’ were idiots. “Callie, we need to talk about your set.”

“There is nothing to talk about, Max. I know what songs that I am doing, and it is a mix of new and old.” He went to speak again, so I held my hand up to silence him. As I did that, I realized that I didn’t really care for the man who was in charge of my career at all. “You’re fired. Don’t be around after my set or I will have security escort you out.”
The termination wouldn’t stick, I knew that. Yet there was something very freeing, liberating about firing someone again. In less than 10 minutes I had hit on someone young enough to be my younger brother and fired my manager. It was as if the good old days were back again and I was on top of the world. Nothing could stop me now, no one would want to.

“Ladies and gentleman, you have been waiting to see this performer take the stage again and tonight for the first time in almost 15 years, Callie Phoenix is here.” The deep voice was drowned out by the screaming of my fans. I was the reason they had paid so much for the tickets, the other women were just icing on an already incredible cake. Yes, they all loved me!
My head started to spin, the audience blurred in front of me. Somewhere my old dealer was smiling, thinking that he was right when he said I couldn’t perform without a noseful of the candy he gave to me. Last time I had been on stage I was more cocaine than woman, and stumbled across the stage until I collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

The music started playing and when I opened my mouth the words flew out of my mouth. It was as if I were a robot programmed to sing
that song. The audience was on their feet singing along with me. This was the way it used to be, this was the way that it had been in the beginning. I never wanted this feeling to end; it was like the first time all over again. As the music segued into the next song, I felt my heart pounding in my chest. A veil of sadness had been lifted over my eyes and I could see clearly again.

All of the issues of my past were behind me; this was the end of that chapter. That ending gave me a chance to start anew.