Last Friday, I had just arrived at work and my supervisor Ty told me to follow him to “a thing” (he was very specific). I grabbed my water bottle and went with him. I thought maybe a meeting was happening and I just didn't see the email, but we went to the lobby and there was a photographer there. Then they started talking about beer and I got excited—free beer is my favorite kind (unless it's not craft, then keep your dirt juice away from me)!
Fate had other plans. Instead I was going to be interviewed with Ty about new breweries in town which meant no free beer. We went outside and stood in front of the office and as the photographer set up, I noticed a chill in the wind and remembered the one other time I've knowingly been on the news 12 years prior.
I was ten, my Mom brought me to a community gathering. It was about a sex offender that was moving to a place near our home. It was intense but I didn't listen to any of it. I likely sat on her lap the entire time wishing I was home. I was uncomfortable being in a school after hours and the place was packed. I didn't understand why we were there. There wasn't anything more to learn about the man or the situation that hadn’t been reported on television. I knew the guy was bad, but it's not like anyone could stop him from moving there.
After the meeting, when everyone was eating snacks, my Mom was interviewed by a local news station. Since I was with her—she was my ride, after all—I stayed by her side during. I remember at the end of her interview, the reporter asked me a couple questions not pertaining to the event (in retrospect, maybe it did a little) like where I went to school and what I liked to learn about. I think he poked my belly but maybe I'm imagining that. I've never really enjoyed being the center of attention unless I’m making a joke (or I’m waiting for a bartender).
The following day at school I remember kids (popular kids!) telling me they saw me on the news and that I looked good, all of which was foreign to 10-year-old Megan. I was on cloud nine. I felt famous. During the interview with Ty, I couldn't tell if I was in the shot so I slowly tried to edge my way out of it. I didn't say anything till the cameraman/reporter said I had been quiet and asked if I had anything to add. I did have a few words, and they misquoted me in the write-up. No one talked to me about it afterwards, but that's fine, because you're reading about it now and that's all the fame I need.
