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Recks arrived early that morning, and began setting up in the decently-sized parkinglot of the shelter. He didn't have a band, and he was pretty much solo, with only a guitar in hand, but he didn't let that deter him. He was trying to get over this little shy slump he waas in, and get himself 'out there' a little more -- other wise where was this career going to go? Of course, the advertisement on LorenzMilton.com had done a number. He felt sorta bad though, that his little bit of fame was attached to someone going to jail. Beggars couldn't be choosers though, eh?

He walked into the shelter after the stage was set up, and the speakers were in place. He wanted to see the animals. He has chosen this place because his parents also ran a shelter, and he was truely a philanthropist at heart. To have his carreer go hand in hand with helping others, and being a good role model. It seemed everyone else was in it for drugs, money, and fame. Recks could care less, so long as he could live a happy, comfortable life.

The Shelter owner acompanied him, and they talked. The owneer said that he had people calling to confirm the time and place of the concert, and Recks couldn't help but feel his heart flutter. people were actually going to be there!
"That's awesome!"

"How will we ever thank you? The shelter recieves well over a hundered animals a year. As a non profit organization, your offer is absolutely amazing."

"A, uh, simple 'thank you' is enough" Recks nodded, and proceeded to tell the owner why he had chosen the shelter. Then recks spotted a dog in one of the kennels, large and white, resembling a pyranese, though probably a mix, considering it looked a good deal larger. However, it had the countenece of one, layed back and regal, toungue lolling slightly out of the side of its mouth as it panted. A dog with such thick furr must of had it pretty hard in a warm place like these, and was probably welcoming the cooler months to come.
"'ey there-" Recks looked at the informationhooked to the kennel- "boy"

"That one there has been here for a long time."

Recks looked up at him, "Well,...if he's not gone by tonight,....I'll take him." he said, the spurr of the moment decision made. Recks had a pretty large apartment, and last he checked, he could have at least one pet. And this guy needed a home.

"Certainly!" the shelter owneer said. "Oh! look at the time! People should be arriving! You know how they start lining up early!" the cheered man said.

"Okay," Recks nodded with a grin, despite his nervouseness. "I'll go finish getting ready."


----


The parking lot lights were on, as the sun began to die, and it was time for the concert to begin. Much to Reck's supprise, the entirety of the lot had been filled.

Stepping onto the stage, recks never expected the applause, and the whooping of the young girls. A blush passed over his tanned face, and he ran a hand through his curly blonde hair.
He took a seat, and introduced himself.


"I wanna thank you all for coming out here tonight. You know this means alot to me, as a young new face, and I not only want to pursue a life doing what I love, but I wanna spread the love to places like the shelter here. As you all know all the money you guys payed is going entirely to the shelter-"
There were cheers.
"-and I know, there are a lot of wonderful animals in there needing a home, so let's not just help the shelter, but the animals, too -- I know I will be." Recks flashed a smile. "So, now what you're all here for!"



Skilled fingers began to play over the strings of his guitar, then his voice, full of youth, sang--

Holding on to a world that seems so slanted
Hoping tomorrow will be a step in the right direction.
You weigh my doubts.
I smile and say your wrong.
Cause in reality I know --
Fallin'-
-----We're all fallin'.
Fallin' from the life we thought we could have.
Mommy dear, and daddy dear told you,
you could be a superstar, a president, an anything you wanna be,
but now it's all fallin'
-----We're all fallin'.
Fallin' from the life we wanna have.
It's not the fall I'm 'fraid of,
it's that landin' when you finally hit the groud.
But ya gotta understand;
where you land is where you belong---
Fallin'-
-----We're all fallin'.
Fallin' from the life we thought we could have.
Findin' your place might not be
the life of a superstar, a president, or any of those other things,
when you were fallin'
-----We're all fallin'
Landin' right where we know we belong.
I leave my life in the hands of a world that's slanted,
Fallin'
Fallin' into place,
And you say I'm blind,
but baybe lind faith is guidin' my fall,
cause I'm fallin'
-----We're all fallin'
Fallin in to place.
I'm fallin'
Fallin' into place.


More songs proceeded this, each followed by growing cheers, and as Recks sang, he felt all his self doubt melt away, till his last song ended.

"I wanna thank you all tonight for coming, I hope you all enjoyed yourselves. I look foward to playing again!" The cheers were music to his ears, and soon enough, they, and the crowed, died down, some entering the shelter, others heading straight home. Either way, it warmed the young boy's heart.

Once he had taken everything down, and loaded it into his old pickup truck, head quickly headed back to the shelter, more eager than he would have thought to get there and see if the pyranese-looking dog he had seen was still there. Now that it was time to pick up the dog, he realized just how much he really wanted it.


Heading down the hall of kennels, Recks saw him, and knelt down. The dog, too, seemed happy to see him, as he placed a paw up to Reks' hand.

One of the female workers saw Recks at the dog's kennel. "May I help you?"

"I'd like to take this one home," he said, looking up at her, with a grin.

The woman hadn't known Recks was the one at the kennel, and with a little gasp, smiled brightly in return, "Of course!" She knelt down and took the ring of keys from around her wrist, and one of the leaches hanging by the kennel. The dog saw the leash, and stood, tail wagging. "His name is 'Buddy'," The woman said to Recks, then proceeded to baby-talk 'Buddy'-
"Hey buddy! Recks here is going to take you home!"

"Buddy, huh?" Recks said, "I think that'll work!" he ruffled the dog's furr, and massaged it's ears as he was finally out of the kennel. Buddy proceeded to lick Recks' face.
Soon, all papers were signed, and Recks and Buddy left the shelter. Buddy jumped into the passenger seat of the old pickup, and they were headed home.
It had been a good night.