*I never thought it would be like this. If I knew what would have happened, what is happening. I never would have mixed with them. I never would have even looked their way.*

1964 

"Hey Ruby, hurry up will you? You're late!" 

My boss screamed at me while I rushed to the room where we would all discuss next weeks performance acts. 

I patted my bangs as I entered the stuffy little room, I always patted my bangs when I got nervous or new I was going to get in trouble. Ed Sullivan, the man I worked for, was standing in front of a black board as the meeting room filled slowly. I took my seat and put down some papers I had been carrying under my arm, on those papers were next week's acts that were to come on The Ed Sullivan Show. 

"Ok" 

Mr. Sullivan clapped his hands together to call the meeting to order and everyone snapped their heads to attention.  

"Ok people" He repeated, 

"Ruby has the acts that are going to come" 

Ed gestured to me, I held up the papers, and he continued. 

"Everyone knows what to do? The show for tonight starts in a couple of hours and everyone knows where they are supposed to be?" 

We all nodded and I looked down to read the papers in my head. 

Regular. 

Regular. 

New. 

Regular. 

Regular. 

That's usually how it went and it wasn't any different for next week either. 

The new act was called The Rolling Stones, I hadn't really heard of them, I hope they were better then who we usually got. Who we usually got was for older people, but me being 21, I still liked the boy bands and the oldies, like Chuck Berry or Muddy Waters. 

This new act, The Rolling Stones, they sounded young so that could be a plus. Ed talked about what we were supposed to do and if anyone had any questions. There were a couple, we'd just hired some new cameramen, so I bet they had questions. What angle should the camera be? 

Should I do lots of close ups on you, or the acts? 

I wrote down some notes about what Ed said before he adjourned the meeting, saying it was time for the show. 

"Ruby, are the cameras ready?" 

I was sort of like Ed's right hand man..er...girl, maybe it was because I was his niece.  

"Ya, they're ready!" I call over to my uncle as he turns to face the audience. The cameramen count down and that voice announces that Ed can come onto the stage now. I watch from behind the glass as Ed Sullivan walks enthusiastically onto the stage, big smiles all 'round.  

"Hello, and welcome to The Ed Sullivan Show!" 

The other people behind the glass were fiddling with buttons and gears, adjusting the camera so that the audiences in their living rooms could watch comfortably. 

The audience applauded when necessary and laughed at all the comedians. 

My uncle, as always, was amazing with his introductions and his mouse comedy sketch for the little kids. At the end, Ed did the normal sign off, and then added what acts would be next week. 

"Now, now next week, we have a fairly new group coming from over in Britain" 

He paused, and somebody yelled out "The Beatles?!" 

"No, not The Beatles" he smiled, The Beatles had come on the show before, they were absolutely magnificent! 

"The new group that will arrive next week is..." 

The "The"  

Rolling "Rolling" 

Stones? "Stones!" 

Haha, a smile came on my face as I mimicked the way Ed announced things. 

A couple girls from the audience screamed and started to cry.  

Were they really that popular? 

The show closed. The audience left. Ed came offstage, wiping the sweat from his forehead. 

"Another success, eh Ruby?" 

I smiled and nodded toward my uncle, who went over to the water cooler to get a drink. 

"Hey, uncle?" 

I started toward him and asked with curiosity, 

"Do you have a record of The Rolling Stones? I'd like to hear them" 

"No, sorry Ruby, but I bet if you hurry, you could get to a record store before they all close" he said helpfully 

My smile widened, "so I can go now?" 

"Yes, have a nice evening"  

Ed walked over to some of the technicians to discuss the show and I hurried off out the door.

**********************************************************************************

I ran up to the record store at the end of the street, praying that it was open.  

It was. 

I pushed the door and entered the shop, heading to the counter. "Could you please point me toward any of The Rolling Stones records?" I asked and the guy at the counter turned around. "Uh, over there" he pointed, "in the corner" 

"Thank you" 

I headed over to where he'd pointed to and picked out a random record, it ended up being a Rolling Stones record.  

I looked at the front, and five sullen faces stared back. 

There was no title. Just five mad looking guys infront of a blackish-blueish background. 

Two had brown hair, two had black hair, and the last one had shiny blond hair. It was sort of longish compared to the guys I knew. 

I walked up to the counter an laid the record down, "I'll take this one please". 

The guy turned back around and sighed, deflated. 

"Another Stones fan right?" 

"Um" 

"Whatever, a dollar seventy five" 

"I actually never heard them before" 

I said as I handed him the money. 

He rolled his eyes as he took the change, 

"Somebody...having not heard of The Rolling Stones?" 

"Yes" 

"Well" 

He paused, 

"You're in for a surprise"