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"BackStreet Boys' Tails"


Note: This is Jamelet's writing partner. Yes, here's another story by us. I hope that you like it. If it's possible, please review. It makes me feel this wasn't a crazy idea. Now, there may be some similarities with this story and the other we wrote, "Not Too Young." I hope it doesn't discourage you from reading this story. This chapter contains lyrics from some songs. The songs belong to the people who wrote them. Thank you.


**The Legend of the Wishing Tree**


Kevin sighed tiredly, as he and the rest of the BackStreet Boys, sat down in the lounge area of their tour bus. They had just came back from a conference with the producers of their record company, and they were exhausted. The guys were exhausted of all the meetings, signings, and the rest of the chores they had to do. The BackStreet Boys just wanted to relax, to have a real vacation. However, they could never have a real vacation like a regular person. There will be someone who will recognize them, and the vacation will be ruined. Plus, it seemed vacation time was something rare to them now.


"Man, that was a waste of time," A. J. said. Howie laughed a little hearing that.


"Well, it had to be done," Howie said. "Just be glad that it's over."


"I am," Brian said, laying down and then closed his eyes. "Wake me up in about 5 hours."


"Say Kevin, I thought you were going to talk to our manager about some vacation time," Nick said to Kevin.


"I did. However, he hasn't answer my calls," Kevin said.


"Do we have anything important to do this afternoon?" A. J. asked.


"I don't think so," Howie said, running through today's schedule in his mind.


"Good. I don't know about you guys, but I need a break," A. J. said, and started to get up. "The first thing I'm going to do is-"


However, before A. J. could finish, the BackStreet Boys heard the sound of someone walking towards them. A. J. sat down again, as Brian got up. In came their manager, looking over his day planner, before he looked up at the guys.


"Oh, there you are. So the conference is done? Good," their manager said, and then he looked at his organizer before he talked again. "Okay. This afternoon you have interviews with these magazines, a photo shot here, a press conference to attend, a meeting with-"


Their manager stopped when he heard a groan from one of the guys.


"Is there something you would like to say?" he asked.


"Yes. We would like to talk about some vacation time," Kevin said.


"I got your messages. We'll talk about it tomorrow," their manager said, and went back looking over the schedule. "Now after the meeting-"


"Now," Kevin said, sternly.


"Fine," their manager said, and closed the organizer.


"How soon can we have vacation?" Brian asked, with a little bit hope in his voice.


Their manager looked through his day planner.


"I would say ten months from now," he said.


"Ten months?" The Boys exclaimed.


"That's it! If I don't get a break soon, and I mean today, I'm going to go crazy!" A. J. exclaimed.


"I don't think that's possible," their manager said.


"You're giving us too much to do," Howie said. "We're going to collapse if we don't get a break."


"Well, that's business for you," their manager said.


"Listen, if we don't get a break soon; one day you'll find that we went on our own vacation, without telling anyone," Kevin said. "You won't even find us, no matter what you did."


Their manager looked sort of nervous. Kevin sounded quite serious. Their manager didn't want to take the risk that Kevin might put his words into action.


"Okay," their manager said, and looked through his day planner. "I suppose you can take an hour or two break today."


"An hour or two?" A. J. exclaimed.


"We'll take it," Howie said. A. J. gave Howie an odd look.


"It's better than nothing," Howie whispered to A. J..


"Starting now," Kevin said.


Their manager closed his day planner, seeing that his discussion with the BackStreet Boys was over. He then left the guys alone. When their manager was gone, Kevin stood up.


"Where are you going?" Nick asked.


"We have some free time, remember?" Kevin said. "Do you think I'm going to stay here?"


The rest of the guys agreed with Kevin, as they stood up. After they found some items to conceal their identities with, so people won't recognize them, they left their tour bus.
~*~


After the BackStreet Boys did a little exploring, they decided to find a place to rest. Soon, the guys found a huge tree in the park to sit under.


As the guys relaxed, they watched an active event in the park. The town they were in, was having a 'pet fair.' In this pet fair, people were sharing stories, buying stuff, playing games, or just having fun, with their pets. The BackStreet Boys watched on, enjoying the sight.


"They have the easy life, don't they?" Nick said. The other guys looked at him. "Pets, they have it easier than people."


The other guys looked at Nick, wondering if all the stress really gotten to him, and he really did went crazy. Nick noticed this.


"Think about it," Nick said, trying to explain his reason to the others. "Pets can do almost anything they want to. They can sleep anywhere, play anytime, get free food, and get all the attention they want. In return, people get the love of having a companion. A pet's life is basically a life of vacation."


The other guys relaxed, agreeing with Nick's words, as they continue watching the pet fair.


"Pets sure have all the fun," Nick said, as he watched pets being loved by their owners. "Don't you wish our lives were as fun a pet's life?"


"Well boy, if you want to make a wish, you're at the right place," an old woman's voice said.


The BackStreet Boys turned to see a dark-skin old woman standing next to the tree they were under. The old woman's eyes were as dark as ebony. She wore a simple dress, a kerchief that covered her hair, and she held a cane.


"What do you mean, Mrs.-?" Brian asked, wondering who was this old woman.


"Phyllis Tapestry, at your service," the old woman said proudly. "You don't need to introduce yourselves. I know who you boys are."


The guys looked at each other.


"Um, who would that be?" Howie asked, hoping that Mrs. Tapestry didn't truly recognize them.


"Why, you're one of those music groups," Phyllis said. "Can't think of your name right off. I do know you sing wonderful music, and you can actually understand the songs. Not like those horrible songs that you can't make sense of."


Seeing that their cover was blown, the BackStreet Boys started to get up to leave.


"Oh, there's no need to worry," Phyllis said, seeing the guys standing up. "I'm old enough to know when to keep a secret."


Mrs. Tapestry's words reassure the guys, so they sat back down.


"So what did you mean when you said this was the right place to make a wish, Mrs. Tapestry?" Brian asked.


"Well boys, this tree you're sitting under is a very special tree," Phyllis said, smiling. "This tree here is the Wishing Tree. Stories say if someone makes a wish under the Wishing Tree, that wish may come true. Quite an interesting legend behind the origin of the Wishing Tree. If you boys don't mind hearing an old woman telling a story, I'll be happy to tell you."


"We don't mind," Kevin said. He rather spend his time listening to Mrs. Tapestry, than their manager. The other guys nodded in agreement, and Phyllis smiled.


"Okay then. But first, I better sit down, or else my bones are going to stiffen," Mrs. Tapestry said.


The BackStreet Boys understood what Phyllis was saying, and got up. They then offered her a place to sit under the Wishing Tree. Some of the guys took off their jackets to make a seat for Phyllis, while the rest of the guys helped her to sit down.


"Ah, such polite boys. Just like I thought," Phyllis said smiling, as she sat down, and made herself comfortable. The guys sat or stood around her, like students awaiting a story from their teacher. "Okay boys, the legend goes back many, many years. It goes back before I was born. So you can guess how old the legend is."


The BackStreet Boys laughed hearing that, as Phyllis chuckled to herself.


"Long ago, this town was in trouble. Crime was everywhere, and corruption ran through business and the government. The citizens were being used until they had nothing left," Phyllis said. "Just before the townspeople gave up hope and lose faith in ever finding goodness, a group of heroes appeared. The group was called The Five."


"That's original," A. J. said, sort of sarcastically. The other guys scolded A. J. of his criticism. Mrs. Tapestry noticed that.


"Well, the group wanted to be called 'The No-Brand Heroes,' but they thought that was a mouthful for the townspeople to say," Mrs. Tapestry said. Everyone laughed at that. "Anyway, the group consists of five young men."


"Like us?" Nick asked.


"Well, not exactly," Phyllis said. "They didn't look anything like you. However, they were like you, sort of. To paraphrase the old song: 'Boys say, "When they will give us some room?" Girls say, "God, I hope they'll come back soon.'"


The guys laughed at that part.


"Yes, The Five were good boys. Although there were times when some of the boys did something wrong," Mrs. Tapestry said, looking at A. J. and Nick. "Their hearts were still good, and that's what matter. The Five halted crimes, and put an end to corruption."



"Let's see," Phyllis said, trying to remember the members of The Five. "There were two brothers. Both magicians; animals followed them. A warrior and a weapon master. The last one, his power was different . . . what do you call them? Oh yes, he was a psychic. He was quite smart, in my opinion."


"Why do you say that?" asked Howie.


"Well, he didn't want to make money off his power," Phyllis said, and the guys laughed. "Anyway, I could tell you stories about The Five, but I think I'll stay with The Five's involvement with the Wishing Tree. If that's fine with you."


The BackStreet Boys nodded back.


"All right then," Phyllis said. "Like I said before, The Five was like you. Some people questioned their friendship. They criticized The Five's friendship was an act. In truth, The Five were the best of friends. They were very loyal to each other, and would do anything for one another. As proof of their friendship, they made a bloodoath to each other."


"What's that?" asked A. J..


"Well, one of them took out a dagger, and slice his palm with it. The other boys did the same thing," Mrs. Tapestry said. Some of the guys grimace hearing that. "When that was done, The Five placed their wounded hands next to each other, so each boy's blood ran through the other boys. The Five then vowed that now they were now brothers in blood as well as in spirit. They vowed to be always to be friends and help each other out. Where their blood fell to the ground, a tree grew. The Wishing Tree."


"Wow," Brian said.


"Years passed, and The Five mysteriously left as they came. Legend say if The Five particularly likes a person, they'll appear and help that person. The same goes for people making a wish under the Wishing Tree. The Five will surely make a wish come true, if they particularly like someone. I know that's true. I have made a wish under the Wishing Tree," Phyllis said with a smile.


"What did you wish for?" Nick asked, then saw the other guys staring at him. "Sorry."


"No need to apologize," Phyllis said. "I wish to see The Five."


"And it came true?" Howie asked.


"You bet," Phyllis said, smiling. "Man, those boys were fine! Very good looking!"


The BackStreet Boys laughed at that.


"Say, what time is it?" Mrs. Tapestry asked. Howie told her the time. "Whoops! I better go. It's almost time to meet an old friend of mine. We play card games together."


As Phyllis started to get up, some of the guys helped her to stand, while the other guys got their jackets.


"Such nice boys," Phyllis said to herself. She then started to leave.


"Oh boys," Mrs. Tapestry said, as she turned around so she and the guys could face each other. "You don't need to say your wish out loud. If you think your wishes, the Wishing Tree will know your wishes. I personally think if you made your wish under the Wishing Tree right now, it will come true. You're the kind of people The Five likes. Although, sometimes the results of a wish from the Wishing Tree can be . . . creative. Just a reminder though, don't blame The Five if the outcome a wish didn't come out as you wanted. The result of a wish is not the will of The Five. I think that tree has a mind of it's own!"


"Thank you for telling us the story, Mrs. Tapestry," Kevin said, as the other guys thanked her too.


"My pleasure," Phyllis said, smiling. "You boys take care now."


The BackStreet Boys and Phyllis said their good-byes to each other. Mrs. Tapestry soon left to meet her friend, as the guys stayed under the Wishing Tree.


"That was nice," Brian said.


"Different as well," Howie said.


"Yeah," A. J. said. "That legend gave me an idea."


"Oh no. That's not good," Howie teased.


"Funny," A. J. said sarcastically. "My idea is this: for our next album release, we'll do a bloodoath. What do you think?"


"We'll . . . think about it," Kevin said, as Brian and Howie groaned and moaned.


"Come on, it's a good idea," A. J. said, but saw he wasn't going to convince them. "It will shut up the critics. What do you think Nick? Nick? Nick?"


A. J. turned around to see Nick looking up at the Wishing Tree, lost in his own thoughts.


"Nick, what are you doing?" Brian asked, making Nick turn around to see them.


"Making a wish," Nick said, smiling.


"You actually believe that story?" Howie asked.


"Why should you care? I'm desperate for a vacation. So maybe a wish could work," Nick said. The other guys still gave Nick odd looks.


"You really think wishing will work?" Kevin asked.


"It won't hurt to try," Nick said.


The other guys thought it over, and decided to take a chance with wishing. The BackStreet Boys then thought up their wishes:


`. . . I wish for a vacation . . .`


`. . .nobody could recognize us . . .`


`. . .to have fun, like a pet can . . .`


`. . .to relax, as pets do . . .`


`. . .to have it easy, like pets . . .`


Their thoughts were broken, when they heard a noise. They turned to see a bunch of girls, whispering and watching them.


"Looks like we been discovered," Howie said with a sigh.


"Yeah," Kevin said. "Let's go back to the tour bus before we cause a commotion."


The BackStreet Boys reluctantly exited, seeing that their break was over, as the wind blew around them. Just before they left, they heard something that made them stop and look back at the Wishing Tree. However, no one was there. The guys went back walking, wondering where the sound came from. Because the sound they heard was of five guys, who weren't the BackStreet Boys, laughing in joy.
~*~


After numerous tasks, the day was done, and night had fallen. The BackStreet Boys, worn out, went straight to bed.


That night, they had fantastic dreams. Each guy's dream was different, yet the same. In their dream, they were free from their work, and they could relax now. No one recognize them, and that made it better. They were now free to have fun. This dream was their wish come true.


Their dream was only the beginning of their wish.
~**~


**~To Be Continued...~**