Page 29 of Real Forever
“Who’s ready to have a good time tonight?” Tuxedo Man shouted in the microphone before turning it toward the crowd who returned a deafening cheer.
“We’ve got an amazing night planned for you—in fact, a little birdie told me…,” Tuxedo Man made a “shh” motion with his finger at his lips and peered side to side as if ensuring no one could overhear his secret. He waited until the crowd was on the edge of their seats in frenzied silence. He continued at an almost whisper. “Tammy will be speaking tonight.”
Complete pandemonium erupted. In fact, it was so loud, Madison jumped and instinctively grabbed for Jake’s forearm, clutching him with both hands and turning her body into him.
He leaned down to her ear. “Are you okay?”
Madison dropped his arm and burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth, but the other two couples sitting at their table didn’t notice, anyway. They were enraptured by the host and the cheering.
“I’m so sorry. That scared the shit out of me,” she shouted back.
“Yeah, this is insane.”
Once the frenzy died down, Tuxedo Man gave a quick rundown of the agenda for the evening which was pretty much as Tiffany had explained—dinner, Tammy, party. Then he led a ridiculous game in which the order they served the tables their dinner was determined by a NorAsana history quiz.Gag.The two other couples at Madison and Jake’s table seemed to have been around the NorAsana block a time or two and knew every answer without hesitation. It wasn’t long before the waiters placed their salads in front of them, which the menu at each place setting described as a mix of locally sourced greens and arugula, house made herb and cheese croutons, sliced pears and grapes, drizzled in an artisan prepared red wine vinaigrette.
As they ate, they chatted with the other couples seated with them. Doug and Rachel were from Robsdale and had been involved in NorAsana for two years. They had three teenage sons, and both worked full time. They boasted they had “never missed a NorAsana event since the day they joined the family.”Family? Ugh.The other couple were younger, Wanda and Rick. No kids yet, but they hoped to have a whole housefull. They seemed sweet. They were also deeply committed to their NorAsana businesses, which broke Madison’s heart a little. Both couples were kind and hardworking folks. Thinking about the almost certain losses heading for them made Madison’s stomach turn.
After dinner, the energy in the room began to build again as the audience anticipated Tammy’s arrival. Wait staff appeared silently to bus away empty plates and silverware and the clinking of forks and knives subsided, replaced by the hushed murmur of scattered chit chat.
“Ladies and gentlemen. I hope you enjoyed your dinner. Let’s get a round of applause for the wonderful culinary team here at the Rosemont.” The MC had retaken the stage and led the crowd in a round of polite clapping. As the applause quieted, the house lights dimmed, and the stage went black.
“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. You know the incredible story of her rise to the top, you know about her record-breaking success, and you know she does it all—wife, mother, proud Christian, yoga fanatic, founder of NorAsana, and your number one Boss Babe… ladies and gentleman, Tammy Archton!”
The crowd erupted as a single spotlight beamed on the center of the stage, and the speakers burst with bass and electronic drumbeats. Standing in the middle of the pandemonium, bathed in the spotlight and applause, arms held wide to the side, stood Tammy. She wore a thin microphone over her ear, a silky long-sleeved tunic, black stilettos, and of course, leggings.
Madison scanned the room in astonishment. She had not been prepared for the reaction Tammy would elicit from the attendees. People weren’t just cheering and clapping. They were screaming. Jumping up and down. She examined her tablemates. Rachel was crying. Wanda’s eyes were closed, her head tilted up to the ceiling, and her arms stretched above her head in exaltation.
Tammy reveled in the adoration. She held one hand to her heart and reached the other out to the crowd, squeezing her hands open and closed as if to mimic squeezing each of their hands. She blew kisses, winks, and waves, all while strutting around the stage to the beat of the blaring dance music.
“Hello,” Tammy exclaimed.
The cheering and screaming intensified.
Tammy laughed. “Awe. You folks sure know how to make a gal feel welcome.”
More cheering. More screaming.
“Thank you. Thank you all so much.” Tammy nodded to someone beside the stage and the music faded. “Welcome. Please, take a seat everyone. I’m so excited to be with you all tonight. I see so many familiar faces in the crowd tonight. So many of your beautiful faces have been a part of our NorAsana family for years now. Folks living their dreams, building their business, reaching their potential. And I see so many fresh faces tonight as well. Those of you that know me, know nothing warms my heart as much as welcoming a new soul into this family. So—those of you attending a NorAsana conference for the very first time tonight, I want you to stand up.”
Several dozen people, speckled throughout the audience, stood nervously at their tables.
Tammy’s voice shifted from exuberant to serious. “I want to start out tonight by speaking directly to our newest family members. You incredible souls have taken a brave step. You have risen up and said to yourselves and to the world ‘I want more. I want more than the nine-to-five rat-race. More than just living paycheck to paycheck.’ And it’s a brave thing to do. But you must know, this won’t be easy. You’re going to need to make some short-term sacrifices to get those long-term gains. You’re going to need hustle and heart. It’s going to be hard. But, hear me when I tell you this,” she paused, allowing the tension to build, the audience sitting in rapt attention, “it’s going to be worth it. And we will be here, walking this path beside you, cheering you on every step of the way. I want everyone in the room to look at these beautiful folks standing up, so bravely, in front of this room full of people, and remember what it felt like when you took those first brave steps in pursuit of your dreams. And I want you to help me welcome these folks into our family by repeating after me—welcome to NorAsana.”
“Welcome to NorAsana,”the crowd roared in response.
“You are strong, smart, and capable,” Tammy shouted.
“You are strong, smart, and capable.”
“We are your family, and we will always have your back.”
“We are your family, and we will always have your back.”
“You are ready to make your dreams come true.
“You are ready to make your dreams come true.”
“We love you.”
