I remember it like it was yesterday...it was a vacation I would never forget. Not in a million years...
You probably won't believe me if I told you what happened...but I know it did. It would be a day I would treasure for as long as I live.
I guess I should start at the beginning...
You can call me 'Jason'. That's not my real name, but for the sake of my privacy...and hers...I'd prefer it if you stuck with that.
Not so long ago, I was just like you. Normal, went to a job every day, paid my bills and walked my dog. Then, one day, I decided I was gonna treat myself with a well-deserved summer vacation.
I was a single guy and didn't have anyone to answer to, so I could go where I wanted. I decided that it was time for me to have some fun in the sun. After looking on several websites for the best deal, I found out that it was very cheap for me to take a trip out to The Big Orange...or L.A. as most of you know it.
Little did I know, that going to this town would change my life forever.
I arrived in L.A. sometime after midnight, checked into a cheap, but very nice hotel and bedded down for the night. I've been on that plane for the past three hours and I was just ready to relax. So, not much happened when I got here.
And for most of my week in L.A. nothing happened. But, that's just because I haven't gotten to Hollywood yet. I was saving that for the grand finale. But, I saw everything else. The beaches, the mountains, the Crips and Bloods fighting over territory. It was a beautifully strange and sometimes absurd place.
I wasn't a bad looking guy, and that was apparent by all the stares I was getting from the softer sex. And...sometimes from the same sex...(yikes!). But, for the most part, people left me alone. I would get laughs and giggles from ladies who passed me in the street, but nothing more than that. I was ok with that, though. I wasn't there trying to talk to anyone, I was just enjoying myself.
Finally, the day before my flight back home, I finally decided to go to Hollywood. It was amazing. I saw the Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood sign and the Walk of Fame. Goofily, I started pretending I was awarded a star of the Walk . I made a fake acceptance speech and started wiping dry tears from my eyes to a curious crowd. They started clapping and laughing while I bowed. It was at that time that a man approached me.
MAN: Hey, man. That was pretty good.
ME: Oh? Oh man, I was just playing around.
MAN: Still, that was pretty good. You ever thought about taking up acting lessons for real?
ME: Ha ha ha! No, not at all. I don't think I'm much of an actor.
MAN: Don't count yourself out. You never know. Half of the people who are on the big screen these days don't deserve to be there.
ME: Yeah, that's true.
MAN: Look, I know this is gonna sound crazy, but I have a proposition for you. I've been out here all day looking for a guy to help me out in a film I'm working on, and you look like you could play the part! If you're not busy, I'd like to take you back to the studio and see if we could use you.
ME: What's the catch?
MAN: No catch, just a moment of your time.
ME: This is a joke, right?
MAN: This is the real deal, baby. I don't have time to play around, though. If you're gonna sit here and play 20 questions, I can go find someone else.
ME: Whoa, whoa, whoa! I didn't say I didn't believe you. It's just...this sorta thing doesn't happen in real life.
MAN: You'd be surprised. So, what do you say,you in or out?
ME: Well, what kind of movie is this?
MAN: Don't worry about it, just come on. I'll explain on the way.
Well, I found myself going with this man, whom I did not know, to a nearby limo. First of all, I just wanna say that I DO NOT RECOMMEND getting into a car with strangers...even if you are a buff, awesome and handsome dude like me. You never know who you're dealing with. Luckily for me, I chose my stranger carefully.
Next thing I know, I'm pulling up to a giant mansion. This thing was huge and every brick of it just...immaculate. It was like something out of my dreams. I got out to the sound of techno music pulsating in the background. Immediately we were greeting by very curvaceous babes in bikinis. What kind of heaven was this? Anyway, after the man...who's name by the way is Kevin...after Kevin helped me pick my mouth up from the ground, I was introduced and taken inside the mansion.
Inside, it seemed like there was a party going on. Everyone was going this place and that place. There was drinking and laughing going on. The music was loud and everyone seemed like they were having a good time as the California sun draped on the partying crowd. I stood there dumbfounded for a moment and unsure of what to do.
In front of me, there was an indoor pool with everyone jumping in and out of it, swimming, or just relaxing with drinks. There were several beautiful people in the pool and I gotta tell you, though I didn't have any self-esteem problems, I did feel out of place. As another song came on, one Nordic looking guy spied me out. He came over and shook Kevin's hand, and then looked at me.
NORDIC GUY: So, is this the black guy you've been looking for?
KEVIN: Yeah, what do you think?
NORDIC GUY: He's not one of those street black guys, is he?
KEVIN: He was giving a fake speech at the Walk of Fame...what do you think?
NORDIC GUY: What? Ha ha ha!
KEVIN: Believe me, the only thing 'black' about this guy is his skin.
ME: I'm standin' right here!
KEVIN: Well, it's true.
NORDIC GUY: What's your name?
ME: I'm Jason. And you are?
NORDIC GUY: Sven. You doing ok?
ME: Fine...just trying to figure out what I'm doing here.
SVEN: Yah...I'm sure. Before we tells you anything, we have to make sure it's ok with her.
KEVIN: Of course. No point in getting this guy's hopes up.
ME: What...the...hell...man! Will someone tell me what's going on?
SVEN: Calms down, yous. Why don't you go for a dip in the pool and have a drink?
ME: *mumbling* I guess...
Sven and Kevin walked away while I walked towards the pool. I was looking out over everyone jumping around and playing. A girl spied me just standing there and swam toward me.
GIRL: Hey you!
ME: Who?