TEASER

“C’mon, you guys. Don’t you think it would be interesting to check out?”

“Kev,” AJ sighed, looking across at the strangely exuberant expression on the elder’s face. Kevin looked as giddy as a school boy, “It’s North Dakota. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure it’s a great place, but...” AJ lowered his sunglasses, his brown eyed gaze locking on Kevin’s face, “It’s North Dakota. There ain’t much there, man.”

“Remember the concert we had there?” asked Nick, setting his portable CD player aside on the hotel bed he sat on while plucking the little ear phones from his ears. He looked at Brian, who sat beside him leafing through the brochure Kevin had given him, “First time we ever went there, brand new stadium. We were the first musical act to perform in it, remember? The stadium was pretty nice, but...” Nick tilted his head, remembering, “There wasn’t anything to do. Atleast, nothin’ we could do with the little time we were there.”

“And it was cold!” AJ put in, shivering.

Howie smiled and leaned against the wall, speaking as if AJ hadn’t even spoken, “Yeah, nothin’ like cruisin’ around Grand Forks, North Dakota!” Howie shook his head, “I’m sure we would of enjoyed checkin’ the place out, but we just didn’t have the time.”

“And it was cold!” AJ again supplied, determined to make his opinion heard.

“But guys,” urged Kevin, also ignoring AJ. He pointed at the brochure in Brian’s hands, “This is on the other side of the state. It’s a historical place, and the land has been preserved.” Kevin quirked an eyebrow at them, “Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of the Badlands.”

Brian shook his head as he flipped through the brochure, “We’ve heard of it Kevin, and it does look kinda cool to see.” Brian suddenly stopped on a page. “Hey Frack,” Brian nudged the blond beside him, pointing at a picture, “Check it out.”

“Buffalo?” Nick asked, taking the brochure from Brian and glancing up at Kevin, “They’ve got a herd of buffalo? Or should I say bison? What’s the right name for ‘em anyway?”

Kevin shrugged, “Generally, I think the correct term is buffalo...” Kevin’s brow furrowed, “Or is it bison?” He shook his head, “Let’s just call ‘em buffalo.”

AJ’s head suddenly appeared between Nick and Brian, sunglasses now resting on top of his head as he gazed at the pictures in the brochure, his problem with the climate momentarily forgotten, “Hey, they’ve got all kinds of animals: wild horses, wolves, coyotes, prairie dogs, badgers, cougars, bobcats, elk, deer, and...” AJ’s face scrunched up, “rattlesnakes.”

Howie now stood beside Nick, his back hunched as he leaned down to look at the pictures. Kevin smiled at the four now interested young men.

Howie pointed at the brochure and looked up at Kevin, “Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I think I’ve heard of it, from school and stuff. Roosevelt lived there after his mom and wife died, was there for a long time before he got into the Presidency. He credited a lot of his success to living out there, said his great accomplishments as President came from his time in North Dakota.”

Kevin nodded and elaborated, “The park is there as much as in tribute to President Roosevelt as to protect the land and wildlife. Medora is a staple of the park. It’s an old west type of town that re-enacts and provides information on the old days out in North Dakota. Ever heard of the Medora Musical?”

Nick raised his eyebrows at Kevin, “Kev, we’re musicians. Of course we’ve heard of it. I remember it as one of the things I took interest in when I was younger, but I didn’t really think it was for me.” Nick shrugged, gazing at the picture of the outdoor theater carved into the hills of the Badlands, “It seems cool, though.”

Kevin looked around at them, “So... are we goin’?”

“Sure, why not?” answered Brian, “It’d be somethin’ different, ya know? I mean, it couldn’t hurt.”

“These animals would be somethin’ to see,” added AJ with a smile, sitting indian style on the bed behind Nick and Brian, brochure in front of his face, “Says here they got a herd of 500 buffalo, just roamin’ the park. Hey, they got trail rides, too! You ride horses through the park. That’d be fun.”

“AJ,” toned Howie with a grin, “Have you ever been horseback riding before?”

“Well,” contemplated AJ, lowering the brochure, “Technically... No. But they say here that no previous experience is required. So-” AJ stuck his tongue out at Howie.

Howie rolled his eyes, “Your level of maturity astounds me, AJ.”

AJ just grinned stupidly at him. Howie sighed, letting a smile form over his own face. Nick grabbed the brochure from AJ, opening it to a certain page, “I’d like to just see this landscape. Just look at those hills, they’re amazing. It’s almost like they were carved out of the earth.”

Kevin let his hope show on his face, turning to the last member, “Howie?”

Howie smirked at Kevin’s expression, “I’ll go. That whole wild west old time thing sounds interesting.”

Kevin threw an arm in the air, “Wahoo!” He froze at the four stares he received, he quirked an eyebrow, “What? I really wanted to go!”

“Hey,” AJ suddenly piped up, his memory returning, “What about the cold. It was cold last time we were there! I don’t like being cold!”

Howie and Brian rolled their eyes. Nick buried his face in his hands. Kevin sighed loudly.

AJ straightened, “What?”

“AJ,” toned Kevin dryly, “What time of year is it?”

“Summer. Why-” realization dawned on AJ’s face, immediately changing hues to a bright red of embarrassment. “Oops. Forgot.”