TADD BARTON (Character from "A Safe Place to Land")

 

 

Four Years Ago

Denver, Colorado

"Good luck, Tadd," the pretty red-haired girl wished him as she handed him a card. "Don't forget me, okay?"

Tadd Barton tried to ignore that everyone at his going-away party was probably staring at the two of them. It was no secret, at school or at church, that he and Eve had liked each other for awhile. But they were only in eighth grade, so their parents had not allowed them to go on dates alone.

"Of course I won't," Tadd replied, sincerely looking into her blue eyes. "Don't forget me, either."

"How could I? You're going to be famous! Everyone will know who you are before long."

Tadd shrugged and laughed. "We don't know that. It's just a few commercials and a guest part in a TV show so far," he replied modestly. "I could end up being a flop."

"I don't think so, Tadd," she assured him sadly. "Your parents wouldn't leave behind your life here to move to L.A. if they weren't pretty sure you're gonna make it big."

"We don't have any way of knowing, though. The three of us feel like the Lord is leading us out there to try. I might come back in a year as a big failure," he laughed.

"No way. You'll be a star. The only time you'll come back here is to see your grandparents."

"I don't know. We'll see."

Tadd felt awkward again in front of his friends and family. He didn't know how to say goodbye to this special girl.

"My parents are waiting to leave," she said, and stepped closer to hug him. He returned her hug and held on for a few seconds.

"I'll pray for you," she whispered close to his ear.

Tadd let go and stepped back. "Thanks. E-mail me, okay?"

"Sure. Bye, Tadd Barton. See you on TV soon," she said with a wobbly smile.

He grinned. "Yeah. Sounds good."

She walked toward her waiting parents, turning once to wave at him. He waved back and looked around at the other well-wishers, relieved to see that most people had had the courtesy to mind their own business, or at least to appear that way.

Tadd couldn't believe how many people had turned out to say goodbye to him and to his parents. It made him second-guess their decision to relocate themselves to a big city where they knew no one. Was it stupid to leave this much love and support? The great school he attended?

For the first time since they had started talking about this move, Tadd Barton was beginning to wonder if he wanted to endure what it would take to become a household name.

 

Find out how Tadd's career has progressed over the past four years--My new eBook, A Safe Place to Land, will be available on Amazon Kindle August 11, 2015!