Dreams of Stardom (Hollywood SI)

I was walking from the Immigration zone towards the waiting area, dragging my red suitcase, my eyes taking in every face looking for two particular ones that I wanted to see more than anything else at the moment.

"Troy!"

I turned my head towards the familiar voice. Standing right there were Steve and Kathy. I picked up my pace as I almost ran towards the couple, balancing the suitcase carefully. As soon as I reached them, Kathy opened her arms for a hug and I literally rammed into her and hugged her for dear life.

I never knew when I got so attached to these two people, but I did.

"I missed you, Mum, Dad," I whispered into her arms, but I knew Steve was close enough to hear me out. Within a moment, Steve engulfed the two of us in a family hug.

"Whoa, if I didn't know any better it would seem as if you didn't enjoy yourself in Hawaii at all," came out a boisterous male voice.

We separated only to see Melinda smacking her husband on the chest, "You just ruined a perfectly good family moment!"

Evan looked as if he was confused about whether to laugh or be embarrassed at his parents' antics.

I turned towards John Spader who was a man in his early 40s and had a strong physique with graying dark hair. He was usually a very serious, no-nonsense kind of guy, but the vacation led me to see a totally different carefree side.

"Dear John, I had loads of fun and would definitely love to do that again sometime. But that doesn't mean I cannot miss my family at the same time." I answered with fake sincerity.

Melinda and Evan burst out laughing at that inside joke of ours while John had a mock hurt expression on his face.

"Dear John?" Steve mouthed to me at the same time as Kathy asked, "Are we missing something?"

Melinda took the opportunity to explain with a straight face, "Troy thinks that had John been a soldier, he would be getting a 'Dear John' letter from me."

Steve barked out a laugh while Kathy looked torn between laughing and rebuking me. Finally, she settled on the latter.

"Troy Armitage! That's so rude!" Her stern expression made me avert my eyes as I looked away at the other travelers in the terminal.

"It's all good Kathy, cut him some slack," John said placatingly, "It was all in good fun. We were both poking fun at each other the whole time."

Kathy didn't comment any further and seemingly the matter died down.

The thing is, most people cannot wrap their heads around the fact that I can exchange witty remarks with people four times my age and still come out on top. That is considered disrespectful by Kathy. Steve is more laid back and hardly ever reprimands me for it.

Still, I wouldn't ever change anything about Kathy because I know she loves me and is doing whatever she is doing to help me become a better person.

Bidding our farewell, we parted ways with the Spader family and sat in Steve's car as we drove home.

"So how was your vacation? Did you have fun there?" Kathy asked after we all sat down in the living room.

I nodded with a smile, "It was amazing. Wish you were there too. John taught me how to swim and I learned it within an hour! Then we went kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, trekking, you name it. I have taken many photos and videos on the camera you packed, I'll show you at home. And the food was to die for. Especially the prawns, I loved them."

"That does sound like fun," Steve remarked.

"What about you?" I changed the subject, "Are you done with the movie?"

"Filming has been done, yes," Steve replied, "Just a few scenes are to be shot in September. Post-production has begun. We will be done with assembling the director's cut within a few weeks. Obviously, barring some of Michelle's scenes. We have given the footage to HBO and soon you'll find the trailers airing on Warner TV channels."

"I'll have to find a new school, won't I?" I asked dejectedly.

While I didn't hate the idea of school, I didn't love it either. The only reason I didn't want to leave school early was because I'd be bored out of my mind if I did that. Can you imagine getting out of school early only to do a kiddy role in some blasted Disney movie that primarily caters to preschoolers?

Yeah, hard pass on that one.

Kid movies can be good, but it's not like I'd have watched all of them in my past life to decide which one to choose from. It's not like I'd have the option to choose either.

Unless I'm at Macaulay Culkin's level, I hardly think anyone would want to give me a script to read and decide. Child stars at the end are exactly that, children. Even if my parents have accepted me as a genius anomaly, other producers and directors won't.

So school it was. Just keep getting good grades and maintain the status quo for an intelligent child of my age. That was my ultimate decision for my schooling. And finally, when I got used to the monotonicity of an American public school, I would have to change to a private one.

"It's for your own good. I know you don't care much for your education," Kathy raised a hand when I was about to protest, "Don't even deny it. Steve and I discussed it at length when you were in Hawaii. Your coursework comes easily to you so you don't care for it much, but art is unique as every person has their own expression and you clearly want to go in that direction."

I just looked at Kathy silently as she and Steve exchanged another glance.

"I won't lie," She continued, "I don't like the idea of you working at your age. Steve and I have had many arguments over this. You shooting short films at home was one thing, but taking it to the studio is a totally different thing."

"Do you want me to stop acting till I grow up?" I asked bluntly.

She shook her head, "Seeing your performance and the joy it brings you, I cannot deny you that. All I can request from you is this, don't be in a rush to take up too many projects in a year."

I smiled at her, "Relax Mum, it's not like I'll be getting too many offers on the basis of just one role."

Steve, who was a silent observer for some time, said, "I won't be too sure of that."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked curiously.

"Just wait for the movie to release and you'll know the answer," He said mysteriously.

I decided to change the topic, "So when can I see it?"

"Not anytime soon!" "When you are 15," Came the reply from the two parents who then looked at each other and smiled.

Kathy confirmed Steve's words, "15 seems to be a good enough age to watch the movie."

"That's so unfair!" I crossed my hands over my chest, "I have acted in most of the scenes, I know the content of the script completely but you don't want me to see it?"

"Yes." Kathy and Steve said in unison.

I sighed in defeat. I just knew they wouldn't let me see it at any cost. They haven't taken a subscription to HBO so I won't be able to see it at home. CDs and tapes won't be released until next year at the earliest and among my friends, Evan would have the same problem as me. Well, then there's Bobby.

Yes! I could always convince Bobby to help me out. Although we weren't as close as Evan and I, Bobby was the cool older brother who sometimes bent the rules for you.

"There's one more thing we have to discuss," Steve looked down at me with a contemplative gaze. I nodded to show my attentiveness.

"Of the amount of your salary of $75,000, 30% has been deposited in the Coogan account," Steve explained.

I nodded in understanding. Coogan account is a safety account for minors working in any performance industry in California, be it music, movies, TV, theater, or anything else. It saves them some money so their parents don't blow away everything before the children come of age.

Jackie Coogan was the first child superstar who earned significant money from his movies. However, most of that amount was used by his mother and stepfather. He even had to involve the authorities to get some amount back. That led to the passing of the Coogan Act that mandated a portion of the earnings of child actors to be deposited in a trust account till they came of age. This amount is decided on a case-to-case basis by a judge, which in my case turned out to be 30%. From what I remember, this amount would be fixed at 15% in a few years.

Steve had explained the legislation to me and how it worked. We had opened an account with a Mutual Fund company to invest money in high-quality funds. That way, any of my funds would be able to beat the inflation at the very least.

"From the balance 70%," Steve continued, "I've paid your initiation fee of the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA which came out to be around $2,500."

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is a film actors' union that protects our rights. Similarly, AFTRA is the union of TV Actors. Although the initial price of $2500 may sound steep, they offer a lot of protection for actors regarding pay and work conditions. Like health insurance and in the absence of an agent, SAG negotiates actors' contracts for them.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more benefits and most big productions don't even let non-SAG actors audition for them. Joining it was inevitable.

"Next is your taxes. Right now, after all financial planning, your taxes come out to be somewhere around ten grand. So after deducting everything your balance money would be around $40,000."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked after taking all that info in. "I mean, I'm grateful that you are sharing this with me but you can use that money to pay for my schooling or something. I don't need to know the details."

Steve shook his head, "As your parents it's our responsibility to take care of your needs and wants. We'll bear all your expenses including schooling, clothing, hobbies, games, whatever you need. You save your money for your future, like, if you wish to set up a business or maybe invest in someone else's business."

Those words struck a chord within me. Investing in someone else's business seems to be such an amazing idea if I could get some future stock knowledge.

"You can use this money now if you want, but you must give us a good reason for using it. I won't let you waste it away on meaningless things." He finished his speech.

I was evaluating my options when I asked, "Would you let me invest in stocks?"

"If you can give me a good enough argument as to why you want to invest in a particular stock," Steve answered.

"Alright," I nodded in acceptance, "give me a few days to research."

"On another matter," Kathy interjected our financial talk, "we have booked an admission interview for you with the principal of Crossroads School, next week. It's nearby so commuting won't be a problem when you are accepted."

"Don't you mean if I am accepted?" I asked with a grin. Of course, I know I will be accepted. There's nothing that a teacher can throw at me that I can't handle.

"No." The single word was enough to show her confidence in my ability.

"And what about Evan? He told me he would follow me to whichever school I chose."

Kathy snorted softly and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'minion'.

"I'll talk to Mel and John. I'm sure they won't have an issue booking an interview themselves with how artistic that kid is."

Evan loved making sketches and cartoons. Whenever free he'll make these small caricatures for everyone he knows. His family, me, my family. You get the point, right? Crossroads, being a private school heavily geared towards Arts, should be good for a kid like Evan.

(Break)

I carefully read the list of stocks and their prices as shown in the latest issue of the Wall Street Journal. I had thought that I would get another set of memories as soon as I looked at a list of stock names but no such luck.

I looked at all the big stocks carefully, be it General Electric, Microsoft, or Pfizer, but no future knowledge came back to me. It's as if I didn't know what was going to happen about their future stock price.

One thing that came to me is that Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, would remain one of the richest people for at least two more decades. The problem is that he already is at the top, so his wealth won't be growing by that much as compared to those who have yet to establish themselves.

Let's say, we know that Bill Gates' wealth will grow tenfold in the next 20 years. Seeing that you may think that it would be better to invest in Microsoft, right?

That's where you're wrong. 

Now suppose, there is a fledgling company whose stock is still considered penny stock, priced below even $1. But their future growth is tremendous and may even reach $100 within, say, 10 years. Such a company would be much better for anyone to invest in. These are those companies about whom you read in the news and regret not investing at the right time.

I was about to turn the page away from the already established Fortune 500 companies to move towards the list of other emerging companies when I caught the name of one particular tiny little name sitting at number 150.

Apple.

As soon as I read the name a plethora of information came to me about the future. Their Macbooks, iPads, iPods, and most importantly: iPhones. The product revolutionized the mobile phone market and created a new sub-segment of smartphones. Later on, their new products like Apple Watch and AirPods sold innumerable units as well. One of the most profitable companies from the future perspective.

I also remembered something that I didn't for any other stocks in the Fortune 500. Apple was one of the most profitable stocks in the future and I remember doing a project in my past life (college perhaps?) on a few stocks and their life cycle of stock price.

I sat stunned at the goldmine I'd just discovered. From what I remember, Apple had the potential to increase your wealth hundreds of times if invested at the right time.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I picked up the notebook I had brought along for this purpose and carefully wrote the name under the definite buy category.

Putting the notebook back down, I read each and every name very carefully. Again. I was just about to give up when I saw Apple. It would've been a disaster had I accidentally left it out. I couldn't let this happen to another such company.

It took me the better part of an hour, but I looked at each and every name of the top 500 companies, but no other name came to my recollection. Then I turned the page to the emerging stocks and started reading each of them carefully.

Luckily for me, I found two more names that I had knowledge of. Yahoo and Amazon.

Amazon was the one of other most profitable stocks in the future report of my other self. It was also on the list of most profitable stocks for anyone to invest in if done at the right time. I wrote it down under the must-buy category.

Last but not least is the stock of the year: Yahoo.

Yahoo was the biggest emerging stock currently for having increased its value tenfold within two years of listing. It was the biggest shock to the whole market when the prices of Yahoo fell sharply after reaching the closing peak of $475 in the first week of the year 2000.

Currently, it's priced at $48.60. I know the stock will split multiple times before hitting its peak, and if I invest in it right now, I could definitely increase my wealth by multiple times in less than two years.

Now, if I was of legal age and had some sort of creditworthiness to my name, I could've easily used this knowledge to make myself millions with the $40,000 I have. Unfortunately, I'm not. And while Steve may allow me to invest in a stock with potential, he will not let me speculate anything that much riskier.

With that in mind, I decided to be satisfied with what I could get.

Of the other options of Amazon and Apple, I knew they were the safer option in the long run, but currently, they cannot give me tenfold returns that Yahoo can.

With my mind made up I went to Steve and presented my idea.

______________________________

AN: I thank you all for all the kind words you have shared with me in the reviews. It keeps me motivated to write the story. Also, keep sending them powerstones.