Choosing America's Next Superstar by Jeff Erno Page A

theme song from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . The shuttle bus was packed, and nearly everyone joined in, including Sam. Corey sat there grinning, thinking about Jimmy with a golden ticket. He joined in on the chorus:
    “’Cause I’ve got a golden ticket. I’ve got a golden chance to make my way, and with a golden ticket, it’s a golden day….”
    When they got to the hotel, it was pandemonium. The lobby was bustling with people, all fellow contestants pouring in from the shuttle buses. Corey looked around at all the happy faces, realizing that it would be very soon that the numbers would begin dwindling. Within the first three days, half of the competitors would be eliminated. After that, there would be two rounds of group competition, followed by one final round of solo performances. By the end of the two-week process, there would be only twenty contestants remaining. He looked around at all the people and did the math. Only one out every twenty would survive. It was scary.
    He stood in line with Sam, waiting to register.
    “You got your paperwork?” she asked.
    “Yup,” he said confidently, pulling a file folder from the side pocket of his suitcase. He began leafing through the documents. “Indemnity waiver, nondisclosure clause, code of conduct agreement, rights to my first born….”
    She cracked up. “No shit. I wouldn’t be surprised if they asked for a blood sample.”
    “Or urine,” he said, more seriously. “They could do drug testing.”
    She guffawed. “God, I hope not. I’ll be on the next flight out. Last night I was so freaked about the competition, I smoked a big fat one.”
    “Really?” he said, laughing. “I never got into it. Weed, I mean. I don’t like the taste… or smell.”
    “Well, I could like use a good buzz right now.”
    “I know what ya mean, but we can’t even drink.”
    “Bull shit ,” she said. “I read the rules. We can drink… ‘in moderation’. And believe me, I’m gonna very moderately get my ass wasted, just as soon as we’re checked in.” She winked at him.
    “Oh, that’s right. You’re older and more worldly. I’m not old enough to even be served.”
    “Well, there’s such a thing as a liquor store, ya know. I can get us a bottle….”
    “We’ll see,” he said. As much as he liked Sam, he was not about to go get drunk or stoned, especially not on his first night there. Getting through the competition was going to be challenging enough on its own without complicating things. He knew if he were lucky enough to make it through the elimination rounds, there’d be plenty of opportunity for celebration afterword.
    When they got to the head of the line, Corey turned in his paperwork and was given a packet containing the itinerary, a name badge, and a voucher for his return flight. He pulled the voucher from his packet and held it up. It looked so ominous, a bleak reminder that he was only one screw-up away from complete failure.
    After they’d registered, they had to go to the front desk to check into a room. “I wonder if we’ll be assigned roommates,” he said.
    “Let’s see if we can room together,” Sam suggested.
    “I’m sorry,” the desk clerk informed them thirty seconds later, “room assignments have already been made, and we have strict orders not to make changes.”
    “Oh, come on,” Sam pleaded. “Who’s gonna find out? There are so many people, they’ll never know.”
    “Oh, they’ll know,” the dark-skinned male clerk assured her. “All roommate assignments are same-gender. If I put a guy and a girl together, that’d cost me my job.”
    She rolled her eyes in disgust. “So I’m getting stuck with some chick I don’t even know? What’s the difference if I room with a girl or a gay guy?” Her voice was getting loud as her tone became more argumentative.
    “Sam, just chill,” Corey said. “I’m in the same situation… I’ll be with someone I don’t know….”
    “Dude, these rules make no sense. They