Room Of Plastic Flowers

It was now the beginning of May and the Lifehouse tour bus turned into the venue in New York. The guys began to do sound check and jam away. After awhile, they became quite thirsty and needed some refreshments. Jason grabbed his trusty water and gulped it down.

Jason: Ahhh...refreshing!

Ben took a swig of his special tropical ripe mango supreme juice that he had concocted one night at three in the morning.

Ben: Tasty!

Bryce grabbed a six pack and went to sprawl out on the back lounge couch.

Bryce: Don’t judge me!

Rick walked away from his drum set and strolled back to the refrigerator. He opened the door and stared blankly into it. He quietly shut the door and walked back out to the front where the guys and the rest of the crew were.

Rick: Guys...

Guys: Yes, Rick?

Rick: I want to ask you a question and I want an answer.

Guys: Um...ok.

Rick: Good.....Who took my Peach Snapple?!!!

A hush fell over the men as they stared at one another accusingly.

Jason: Now come on, Rick, it’s not that big of a deal.

Rick: Not that...not that big...not that big of a deal?! You know how much my Peach Snapple means to me ever since the time I was a young boy and I almost died from that snake bite and a Peach Snapple saved my life!

Jason: I remember the Snapple story, Rick.

Rick: Well, then you know how much this means to me!

Ben: Rick, chill out. We’ll just go to the store after the show and buy you a whole case of Peach Snapple, ok?

Rick: Ben, you don’t understand my NEED for the Peach Snapple.

Jason: He can get violent.

Bryce: I’ve seen it happen once. *shutters* That was enough.

Rick: *claps his hands* Crew people!

Crew: Yes, Rick?

Rick: You must locate the nearest Snapple supplier and...

Crew: But, Rick...

Rick: Silence!

Bryce: I’m scared.

Jason: Me too.

Rick: You will do it and you’ll like it.

Crew: Absolutely, Rick, whatever you say.

And so the crew and the guys went to change their pants and came back in time to start the show. Rick was especially aggressive with his drums. He actually broke 3 sets of drumsticks before the concert was over. After the show, the guys piled on the bus.

Rick: Ok, did you get me the Snapple?

Crew: Well, you see...we looked high and low for Snapple and we got you some excellent flavors, lemon ice tea, fruit punch, berry...

Rick: But did they have peach ice tea?!

Crew: ....no...

Rick: Wha...what?!

Jason: Rick, calm down you’re hyperventilating. Here breathe into this paper bag.

Rick: *breaths in and out*

Jason: *turns towards Ben and Bryce* Guys, we’ve got to do something. We’ve got to find a Peach Snapple for him.

Ben: This is ridiculous, I mean I’ve had some pretty strong cravings before, but nothing like this. I just don’t understand.

Bryce: Um...well this is Rick...

Ben: That’s true...

So the men of Lifehouse searched the world for a Peach Snapple. They went to the Snapple factory, but the manager was no help.

Manager: I can tell you right now that I’m not gonna be much help to you gentlemen (haha told ya).

Rick: You are the god of Snapple, and you’re telling me you can’t help my addiction?!

Manger: Well you see, our machines have been on the funk as of late, and the Peach Snapple has stopped producing.

Rick: What?! *goes for the manger’s throat and starts straggling him*

Jason: *pulling Rick off* Stop it, Rick! You’ve gone insane!

Rick: Omg...what has happened to me?! What’s....happening...to...me?!!! *cries*

Ben: I have learned what destruction can come from a Peach Snapple. It is an evil substance that could change the most gentlest of drummers into a hated beast!

Rick: *looking up * ...Well, I wouldn’t say I was “hated.”

Jason: This has gone on long enough...Rick, I’m signing you up for “Peach Snapple Anonymous.”

Rick: No wait, Jason, you can’t!

Jason: I have to Rick. I can’t bear to see you destroy your life like this anymore...all those late night Snapple games, Snapple shots...you’ve worked too long and hard to throw it all away.

Rick: I can change! I can change!

Jason: No Rick, it’s gone beyond that. You need others to help you now. *turns away* I blame myself.

Rick: No, Jason, this was my fault. I shouldn’t have let it carry out like this...I’ll get help.

Jason: You will?

Rick: Yeah, bud, I will. *hugs Jason*

Ben: This is really random and really sappy.

Bryce: Yeah, it must be a Maureen story. *both nod*

And so, Rick went to “Peach Snapple Anonymous” where he found others like him and had the courage to stand up and admit his problem. A few nights later, the guys performed a sold out concert in honor of Rick’s recovery.

Bryce: I’m really proud of you, Rick.

Ben: Yeah, man, I didn’t give you 12 hours without a Peach Snapple.

Rick: Well, the steps work.

Jason: We’re going out to meet the fans, you coming.

Rick: Yep, I’ll be there in a minute.

Jason, Ben, and Bryce proceeded to leave the room and Rick grabbed his jacket and walked out. On his way to the bus, he was stopped by a familiar aroma. He looked frantically around the room until he spotted an old woman sitting at a table drinking...a Peach Snapple!

Rick: Excuse me, where did you get that?

Old Woman: Oh, you mean this delicious Peach Snapple? I bought the very last one out of that machine over there.

Rick: Omg, lady, I’ll do anything to get that Peach Snapple!

Old Woman: Anything? *winks*

Rick: Anything but that!

Old Woman: Alright...I want your drum set!

Rick: What?! You can’t have my drums! That’s my livelihood! No! Never, never!

Old Woman: Suit yourself. *begins to slowly move the bottle to her mouth*

Rick: Ok, wait.

Old Woman: Yes?

The guys were waiting outside as Rick came bouncing out the doors.

Rick: Well, I’m ready to go!

Jason: Um...are you ok?

Rick: Better than ever! Why?

Jason: Oh, nothing, but you seem like your old self again.

Rick: Oh, that...well I’ve just had a boost of self assurance, that’s all.

Ben: Good for you, Rick.

Rick: Thanks.

So the men gather onto the Lifehouse tour bus one by one. The bus pulled out of the venue and rolled down the street.

Rick: *from the bus* Um...guys, we might have to stop somewhere and get me a new drum set.