Springsteen Dream

On July 28, Bruce Springsteen performed in Kilkenny, Ireland. During the song Dancing in the Dark, he invited a young boy on stage to play guitar with him. Afterward, he surprised the boy by letting him keep the guitar. Fans everywhere rejoiced in the generosity of their hero, but like many stories, this one has a dark side.

* * *

28 July 2013

Dear Diary,

Bruce Springsteen is the GREATEST man in the history of the world. You won’t believe it, but he brought me up on stage to play Dancin in the Dark. Usually it’s the girls he brings up, but this time it was me, and not only that but I got to play guitar with him (I rocked it!!) And then he lets me keep the guitar – I couldn’t figure out if he really meant it? Best. Day. EVER.

* * *

29 July 2013

Dear Diary,

You REALLY aren’t gonna believe this one, but guess who came for breakfast? BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. Seriously – Ma was makin eggs and she’s lookin out the window and says, ‘There’s some bum out on the sidewalk.’ So I look and I can’t believe it cuz IT WAS HIM. I can see why Ma was confused though – he looked a little rough without the stage lights and all. And maybe he went out after the show. So I ask if we can invite him in and she says ‘I suppose so, but make sure he takes his shoes off.’ (AS IF I’m gonna tell THE BOSS to take his shoes off!)

* * *

Dear Diary,

You’d think a big rock star would have things to do or a plane to catch, but Bruce has been hangin out all morning. He is so NORMAL. Pa was talkin about how he lost his job and Bruce says he lost more jobs than he could count, so there’s still hope for Pa. I think Pa liked that, cuz he got that look on his face he sometimes does. Then Bruce tells us all about his cars and these girls he drove to the river and kissed their lips and everything – all I can say is, if you know his songs, you know what he’s been through. SO REAL.

* * *

Dear Diary,

I DEFINITELY don’t want to seem ungrateful here, and I’m sure this is like a real privilege and every fan would just love to be me right now, but I had to miss a ball game this afternoon (which we lost so they’re all mad at me) and then I had to skip Jim’s party. I asked Bruce if he wanted to go with me cuz that would have been cool, but he just wanted to stay on the couch watchin soaps. Every time Pa or my Uncle came in with a beer he’d just take it right out of their hands and chug it – and it’s not like he didn’t just have his own. I thought there was gonna be trouble when my brother comes in, all excited cause he won on a scratch-off. Bruce just snatches the ticket out of his hand and says he’s givin it to the food pantry. Which Ma then says maybe we could use it to buy more food for us, cause Bruce has been eatin just about everything in her icebox. He’s probably right – the food pantry is a good cause, and we’ve definitely got enough for ourselves even if Pa is out of work.

* * *

30 July 2013

Dear Diary,

I don’t know how much more of this I can take. Bruce stayed up like half the night playin the guitar he gave me. He kept sayin we should jam but then when I tried to play he kept gettin pissed. Ma tried to get him to leave after dinner by callin his manager to come get him, but he said somethin about Bruce havin an ongoing conversation with his fans and it’s just our turn.

* * *

Dear Diary,

Well, he’s gone. Pa and my uncle said they had a wreckin ball to show him out in the backyard. Ma and I looked at each other but didn’t say anything. That’s rock and roll. I’ve got a game this afternoon, so I’m gonna try to get some sleep before then. Already looking forward to Paul McCartney next weekend.

Hear this piece in Podcast Episode 4

Hear this piece on its own – Moss Island Mini