The Backstagers and the Theater of the Ancients by Andy Mientus

Author:Andy Mientus [Mientus, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2019-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

Jory leaned to see his reflection in the car’s side mirror. He couldn’t believe the cool guy looking back at him in the reflection was the same kid who’d boarded that plane hours ago. He was in Niko’s world now, and he absolutely loved the view.

“Let’s go!” Niko shouted, pounding excitedly on the side of the car like he was commanding a horse to gallop. Aleka turned the key in the ignition and they sped off.

The inconceivably ancient ruins of the Parthenon. The beautiful art and architecture of the Acropolis. Historic neighborhoods of winding stone streets that hid discreet restaurants serving unimaginably delicious things. Gorgeous views of pale white stone structures framed by lush greenery against the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean Sea.

As promised, Jory saw and tasted and explored the best that Athens had to offer in an unforgettable day. He also took enough photos to keep his Instasnap full of fresh content for weeks. Aleka took a perfectly framed photo of Jory and Niko posing like the towering statues that held up the roof of the Erechtheion, and when Niko posted it and tagged Jory, Jory’s follower count shot up exponentially. Then they saw a street performer imitating an ancient stone statue so precisely, it made even Aleka crack a smile. Jory was very, very happy.

The three of them settled into a lovely outdoor table with a perfect view of the city as it turned to gold in the setting sun. The server brought them a pitcher of iced tea that was so beautiful, Jory had to add it to his Instasnap story, and the three of them sipped in contented peace.

“I really can’t thank you guys enough,” Jory said. “The flight, the sightseeing, the meals, all of it is beyond anything someone like me normally gets to enjoy. It’s like a dream.”

“I appreciate your gratitude, Jory,” Niko said, “but you shouldn’t think like that. What do you mean ‘people like you’? You are extraordinary, and that’s why Thiasos selected you! A lot of people think that influencers are silly, that we don’t deserve to have this kind of lifestyle just because we take nice pictures or whatever, but I think that is a defeatist attitude. The truth is, all of life’s pleasures are everyone’s birthright, and if people like us get handed those pleasures because we know how to see and highlight the beauty in them, where is the harm in that? Look at my feed—sure, I have a few pictures of a fancy car or some designer clothes, but the majority? The sea. The sun. An iced coffee. Avocado toast. Things that aren’t luxurious at all, until you decide to see them that way. And that point of view is a service we provide to people. They shower us with gifts and attention and, yes, sometimes actual money, because we remind them of the luxury of simply being alive.”

Dinner arrived, colorful plates piled with even more colorful cuisine, and Jory felt his whole worldview changing with every bite.

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