Final Paper!!!

To Be An American Pop Princess-the extended version

Backstage Jessica could hear the roar of the crowd. The noise of their hands colliding together and their voices straining for volume in order to get her back on stage was deafening. They chanted, “Encore, encore, encore!” Jessica could feel the exhaustion aching in every one of her muscles, but she quickly caught her breath before the various people controlling the show’s logistics acting as her shepherds, maneuvered her back onto stage like she was one from their flocks. She pasted on her million-dollar smile as she skip-ran back to her adoring fans. As she returned to center stage, Jessica saw hundreds of signs all saying the same thing, “I love you Jessica Spears!” or “I’m your #1 fan Jessica!” She gave her signal to the band and dancers, the drums began to rattle, the fans started to scream, and Jessica’s angelic voice started the first line of the last song.

Jessica Christina Spears, born some two decades ago, had always been told that she had the voice of an angel. Upon hearing her sing, friends and family would immediately be floating euphorically on a cloud somewhere high in the heavens. Just as marvelous was, and still is, her unparalleled beauty. Her blonde tresses were just like brilliant rays of sunlight, and her dazzling blue eyes were a portal for anyone who made eye contact with her, to the crystal blue sky or shimmering sapphire waters of the sea. Jessica definitely had a passion for singing, but it wasn’t as grand as the passion her parents had for her to become the most famous singer possible. Fast forward to today, and Jessica is at the tenth concert of her third world tour, and she’s the most famous pop “princess” from the USA, thus fully realizing the dreams of her parents.

Jessica stepped off the stage for the last time tonight and was whisked away to her dressing room by her team of people. She was dripping wet and her clothes stuck to her as if her sweat and make-up had fused together to become a permanent glue. Her faithful assistant, Candy took on the arduous task of continuously yanking at Jessica’s Dolce & Gabbana leather pants until they would finally release their grip from her perfectly toned thigh muscles. After she had been helped out of her performance clothes Jessica refreshed her aching body with a cleansing shower. While showering, she wondered to herself how she ever got to this place in life. Concert after concert, interviews after interviews, nightly show appearances. Life never seemed to stop and ask her what she wanted any more.

While under the soothing beads of the hot shower her mind took over, slipping into a fanciful state where she thought about her deepest, unfulfilled dreams: going to college; friends she wished she had, but was never in one place long enough to make; places in the world she wanted to go to and not remain a captive in the confines of a hotel room. Realizing her mind had run away with itself, Jessica shook her head in order to fling those fanciful ideas out of her mind, got out of the shower, got dressed, and braced herself for the hoards of people she still had to deal with in order for her night to be over.

Just as she was applying the pale green and brown eye shadows that were supposed to highlight her much admired blue eyes, her manager, Jonathan rattled the hinges of the door as he stormed into the room. He informed her that there were already critical reports surfacing that Jessica had lip-synched through the entire concert. Her eyes started to well up from the inside out, as if the weak damns in place were going to let the floodwaters break through. Jessica was so weary of these types of scandals always being brought against her. And for what…so that some ridiculous source could profit by slandering her reputation as an artist. Jessica had always been able to confront the press using her charm and self-confidant image to whole heatedly negate the accusations against her. Jessica exuded confidence to everyone around her, but inside she knew these criticisms constantly being brought against her didn’t help with her inner issues of self-consciousness. She felt like everyone-her fans, her family, her manager-presumed to know her, when she didn’t even know herself any more. Jessica’s world had become increasingly confusing to her as the years progressed.

Seeing that she was upset Jonathan started to caress her neck and weave his fingers through her golden locks. Jessica shrugged her shoulder indicating to him that it was even more upsetting for him to continue his ways of seduction. She turned around giving him an all-knowing glance so he would know it was over. She knew that he was taking advantage of their cozy little situation of mixing business with pleasure, by giving himself extras shares of her earnings when he thought she didn’t know. He needed to know that she didn’t need him to fix her problems any more. She was always the one charming her way out of these scandals the media kept projecting onto her. Things were finally starting to seem clear, after having been so unclear for so long. Jessica knew what she needed to do. Her mind, body, and heart ached from all that she was enduring just to appease the public that demanded everything of her. She wanted to fulfill those dreams she had fantasized about for way too long.

The week after that, Jessica had a television appearance schedule for an interview and a performance. Inside she felt unsettled about the allegations that she would have to address. The pit in her stomach ached like there was a firey coal that was burning inside the depths of her gut. A lot of stress tended to have this effect on Jessica. She had been dealing with stressful situations for so long, considering that she had to worry about things that were well beyond her years because of the business. Jessica had been anticipating this appearance a lot, especially in relation to her new found purpose of living her own life. After much contemplation and anxiousness, Jessica decided on a plan for herself. She was going to make her big move, the one that tells the world I am my own woman, I live my life for me and I will not be controlled any more.

The morning of the appearance, Jessica showed up to her make-up room looking like her perky, happy self; the way that everyone is accustomed to seeing her, the way everyone expected to see her. However, something was different this time, whether the people around her noticed it or not. She had a gleam in her eye that looked like a witty secret that only she understood; there was a spark of happiness and vibrancy in her demeanor that had not been present for as long as she could remember. Interestingly enough, no one had seemed to notice the strain in Jessica recently. No one cared any more about how Jessica was inside, so long as the outside looked primped, cute, and she danced while wearing the most fashionable outfit.

A person on the backstage crew came to Jessica’s dressing room to let her know that she need to be ready to go in ten minutes. She smirked and gave it her cutest, “Ok thanks” that she could. Jessica grabbed her bottle of high-end, imported water, took a swig to ready her vocal cords, and started heading out of the room with her whole face beaming at the thought of what she was about to do. She approached the stage, as it was time to get all set up.

Regis hollered to Jessica from his station, “How you doing sugar? Good to have you back on the show.”

Jessica replied, “Thank you for the opportunity. It’s great to be back.”

Kelly chimed in, “Oh sweetie it is so good to meet you finally. Ever since I joined the show I’ve been telling Reg that we just had to get you on so I meet America’s sweetheart.”

Jessica cringed inside at the thought of Kelly coming over and squeezing her cheeks like the endearing old grandmother type that can’t seem to pinch enough to her satisfaction.

“Oh, well it’s great to finally meet you too,” Jessica said, as she chuckled at Kelly’s own exaggerated sweetness.

“Five minutes people!” shouted one of the cameramen.

“Alrighty, let’s get ready to do this,” Regis clamored.

The cameramen gave the signal and the red recording light starting flashing. Regis jumped started the production by giving the same introduction that he gave every show.

“And as our special guest we have Miss Jessica Spears,” motioned Regis with his hands in the most celebratory way. The crowd screamed with excitement. Jessica smiled to herself.

When it was time Regis and Kelly began their interview, or rather their interrogation with Jessica. Of course the most recent scandal of lip-synching accusations was addressed, but Jessica managed to keep her cool, use her charm, and smooth over the situation quite painlessly; the way she always did.

Kelly asked, “So Jessica what else is new with you? Any boyfriends we should know about, recent movie offers that you’re thinking about, a new album even? What’s next for you?”

Jessica took a deep breath to psych herself up for what she was about to announce. “Well…I’ve actually made a big decision for myself recently. I…I…” Jessica paused to just for a second to make sure she really wanted to go through with what she was about to declare to the entire American public. Mentally scolding herself for even hesitating at all, Jessica passionately continued; she knew what she wanted and this was her chance to take it.

“Yeeeesssss,” Kelly said, thinking she was going to hear some great scoop about Jessica’s new love interest.

“I have decided that this tour is going to be my last tour. I’m going to retire from singing and acting in order to go live out my dream of going to college and traveling,” declared Jessica.

A gasp came from Regis and Kelly, the entire audience, as well as all the crewmembers.

“Wh…why? Is it because of the accusations? Why?” questioned Kelly.

“It’s not because of any of the accusations, or scandals, or because of anyone in the industry. This is just something I have to do for myself,” said Jessica proudly.

Once the hosts of the show had recovered from the shock of Jessica’s announcement and managed to wrap up the show, she headed backstage feeling weightless; her body could have floated effortlessly into the clouds because of the stress that had been lifted from her. Jonathan was backstage even though she had told him to back off; he still seemed to slither nearby since people were still under the impression that he was her manager.

“What are thinking? Are you crazy?” Jonathan screamed at her.
“Stop it,” she instructed. “You are not my manager any more, you don’t make my decisions for me, or help yourself to my money. This is my decision and it doesn’t concern you. I am going to do what I need to do for myself.”

With that Jessica’s fate had been sealed, for better or for worse. She applied and got into a good college. Jessica was happy. Her life was finally starting fulfill her deepest desires. She went to freshmen orientation, got a couple a funny glances and finger-pointing, but everything seemed to be going fine. No one seemed to bug her about who she was and her previous career. She moved into the dorms with one of her really good friends who was already attending the same college.

One day Jessica was sitting under an inviting cherry blossom tree that was parading its newest spring blossoms. A guy started to approach Jessica and she became nervous for a split second that it was going to be just another undying fan wanting to harass her for something. The guy was now standing in front of her now and he said, “Hey, I think we have Modern Political Theory together. Are you reading that book for Mackin’s class?”

She replied excitedly, “Yes…yes, I’m in that class.” Jessica smiled to herself.