Chapter 131 - Vagabond Kings, Styrofoam Crowns

The two week tour to support Monica's rock - doc was more successful that they could ever have imagined.  

The shows were played in smaller venues, with tickets selling out in just minutes.  Not only did the fans want to see Bon Jovi, they also wanted to see the bits and pieces of the film that would be flashed on movie screens placed throughout the venues.  

As they pack up and reload their bus, after the last show, Monica says to the band of brothers, "Drinks at our house when we get home?"  She looks to each and everyone of them, hoping that they would say yes.  Even though she spent the last couple of weeks with them, in close quarters like the bus, she missed them.  She missed all of them, even her husband.  "I feel like I haven't seen you guys in forever." 

"We just slept together for the last two weeks."  David jokes with her.  "What do you mean you haven't seen us in forever?"  he doesn't skip a beat, tossing his garment bag in the stow compartment of the bus.  

"All we have done is work and sleep.  I miss you guys.  Come on, one drink when we get back home."

"I'm out."  Tico says.  "I need to get into the city tonight, I can't babe.  I'm sorry."

"Same here, I'm out."  Alec adds, "I just want to go home."  

Monica's heart cracks a little.  She has gifts for the guys at the house and she thought that the night that they get home from the road would be a great time to present it to them, now she's second guessing that.  "What about you Richie?"  she smiles at her best bud.

"Mon, I'm pretty beat.  Do we have to do this tonight?"  Jon finally jumps in, walking into her and kissing the top of her head.  "How about we do dinner tomorrow?"

"I can stop by."  Richie mumbles as he steps passed them, making his way onto the bus.  "My dad is grabbing me at the school, so I'll drop him off at home and then I'll come over."  He disappears up the stairs and claims his spot on the bus.  They were only in Philadelphia so the ride home was going to be quick.  Monica knows that they all are very tired, exhausted like they are after real shows on a real tour, but she wanted to see them.  

"Tomorrow, Monica."  Jon demands.  he doesn't want to rain on her parade or upset her, but he's just spent two weeks with these guys non stop.  He needs a break.

Monica looks at him and she can see that he's serious, she can see that he doesn't want anyone over.  So, she just nods her head letting Jon know that she will honor his wish.  She gets on the bus and tells the guys, "Let's just talk tomorrow and we can go from there."  She plops down at a seat behind the driver, pouting a little bit.  "Jon's tired and wants to sleep.  So we can do something another time."

They make their way home, all meeting who dropped them at the school.  The five of them part their ways and head home for a well desired break.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jon and Monica walk up the driveway hand in hand, from where his dad had dropped them off.  As they get closer to the front stoop, they see their mailbox is running over with mail.  Many different colored envelopes of various sizes.  "What the hell?"  Jon says, reaching for the stuff that had fallen out of the box and is laying on the porch.  He sees that some of it's addressed to him, some to Monica, some to Bon Jovi and the other members of the band.  Everyone of them has their home address written on it, so Jon knows it's not a forward from the fan club in Ford's.  "What's going on?"

Monica takes the mail from the box that's on the front of the house, "We've never gotten fan mail here.  What's going on Jon?"  she's just a puzzled as he is, and maybe a little freaked out.  The house that they live in his hers.  She had it prior to marrying him, prior to even being with him.  

"I'm not sure."  he looks around, scooping it all up and directing Monica to get into the house.  

Once they're inside and done with their return home routine, Monica presents Jon with a beer and says, "I'm going to go through that mail.  Do you want to join me?"  Jon is laying on their bed, nothing on but his Levi's and they just happen to be unbuttoned.  His head is off the bed and his long hair cascades to the floor.  Monica looks down at him and winks, "Put a shirt on."

He laughs, "Why?"

"Have you seen the way you look right now?"  he takes the beer from his wife, sits up and takes a drink.

"Have you seen the way you look right now?"

"I'm a mess.  Do you want to got through that fan mail with me?" she starts to walk away, looking back at her husband.

"I'll be there in a minute."

Monica takes that large stack of mail and heads to the couch.  She drops it on the coffee table and takes a seat on the couch, folding her legs indian style.  She tucks her beer between her legs and opens letter number one.  After a few minutes Jon joins her and together they spent their night reading the accolades, the adoration and the threats of fans and non fans from all over the world.

One letter really got Monica's attention, as it was addressed to her.

Dear Monica,

After seeing the work that you have done with Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, I am writing to request your services to work with me.  Enclosed is a check for $50,000.00 - that should be enough to retain your services with additional monies to cover your starting costs.  Please contact my management company at 555-123-4567 with your availability and any additional needs, as I am on the road and time to talk business it limited.  George, my business manager is expecting your call.  

Regards ~

There is a California postmark, but no other identifying marks telling Monica who it was from.  The check is from a management company in L.A.  "Look at this, Jon."  excitedly Monica says, handing him the letter, the envelope and the check.  "Who do you think this is?"

Jon takes the papers from her and reads the letter.  He does the exact same thing that Monica did.  Looks everything over, looking for a clue for who wants to hire her.  "I have no idea?"

"Kind of weird, right?"

"Very weird.  Why are we getting all of this mail at the house?"  Jon sits back, kicks his feet up on the coffee table, paying no mind to the mail that's under them.  

"I wanna know who just sent me fifty grand."  Monica can't help but let a playful chuckle fall from her mouth, "And what they think 50 K will get them."