Do you remember me Kate?

'I love you so much, you're beautiful and you sing like an angel. Could you sign this? And can I have a picture with you?'

'Sure, of course.'

Snap.

'Say hello Bree. Say hello to Kate. Say hello. She's a bit tire- Say hello Bree. Say Hi Kate! Say Hi. She's your biggest fan. Your songs have actually helped her through some really hard times. Get your picture taken with Kate Bree. Well somebody's a bit grizzly this evening. Seriously though, she's been going through a really hard time and your songs have helped so much.'

Bree is three years old. At a stretch. I think maybe its Mummy who's been having a rough time.

Snap.

'Can you sign my ticket stub please?'

'Sure, of course.'

'I already have all of your merchandise. All of it.'

'Oh, great, thanks.'

'And if I could just get a quick -'

Snap.

'Well done Kate, I liked the set tonight. I think its the best set you've done.'

'Oh, thanks so much.'

'I approve of those songs in that order. Just keep doing that from now on.'

'Oh, right, okay.'

'Just like that.' She thrusts a camera at me. 'Can you take a picture please?'

Snap.

'Hello Kate.'

'Hi.'

'I'd like to begin by saying how much I enjoyed your show this evening.'

'Thanks so-'

'I made you a gift.'

'Thank-'

'But I forgot to bring it.'

'Oh that's o-'

'So I made you this.'

I brace myself. Its actually a rather lovely origami butterfly made out of a napkin. It has the theatre logo on it. He flies it across the table to Kate in slow motion so she can see the wings move up and down.

'Wow that's lovely.'

His mother interjects;

'What time were you born?'

'Uh, I'm not sure.'

'You were born on November 16^th 1981. What time was it?'

'I'm really not sure.'

She is glaring.

'You're a scorpion but I can't do your chart if I don't know the exact time.'

'I – I'm sorry.'

The son:

'Before we go, may I just ask, what is your favourite colour?'

'Um, I think, I guess, blue...?'

'What shade of blue?'

'Azure?'

'Light or dark?'

'Dark.'

'Thank you again for an exquisite evening.'

'…..my pleasure.'

'Oh. My God! I am like your biggest fan. Seriously. What's that song about the fat kid getting bullied again? I want that CD. Can I get a pic?'

Snap.

'Come on then! Give her your Cd's to sign.' Two shy slightly chubby pretty girls inch forward. The mother turns to me:

'Have you got anything that'll fit these two? Anything at all?'

Kate chats to the girls. The mother cuts it short.

'Okay now, don't bother her! Can they get a quick pic with ya Kate?'

Snap.

As she marches them off, a quiet mumbled:

'Thanks mum.'

'Come on stop dragging your heels!'

'Hey Kate! How're you going?'

'I'm good, how are you?'

'Great. Can we take our pic with you?'

'Sure.'

'And can we do four faces?'

'Er...sure.'

'Okay -Happy Face!'

Snap.

'Sad Face.'

Snap.

'Confused Face!'

No rehearsal needed, immediate-

Snap.

'Thoughtful Face!'
Pause.
Snap.

'Hi Kate, the show was incredible. You're incredible. I just need to tell you, my Dad/Mum/Uncle/Cousin/Second Cousin/Poodle died and we played Last Day On Earth at the funeral. It was incredible.'

'I'm sorry to hea-'

'Can we get a pic with you holding a pic of Mum/Dad/Greg/Michelle/Mr Snuggles?'

Snap.

'Hey fellow Scorpion.'

'Hi.'

'I bet you don't believe in star signs right?'

'I'm afraid not.'

'Typical Scorpion. I'm going to get a picture with you now yah? Because we are sisters. Soul sisters. But you know that. You know.'

Snap.

'Ohmygodohmygodohmygod-'

Snap.

A lovely couple approach with a massive box of home made chocolate muffins.

'Hey, how are you?' Kate smiles.

'Good good. Great to see you.'

'We made you these.'

'Wow they look wonderful. Are those straws?'

'Yeah well Can't Shake it is my favourite song so I made them to look like Milkshakes.' The woman grins.

The husband turns to me deadpan:

'We're not crazed stalkers.'

Kate laughs.

'Ha! No, these are friends of mine.'

'Hi. I better hide these from Keir.'

'Hi Kate this is my daughter insert any one of fifty names here she sings just like you.'

'Oh great, you're a singer huh?'

'Yes she is. And she's just like you. She sang Caught In The Crowd at school assembly.'

'That's great.'

'You're her idol. Here honey take the camera. Can I get a quick pic with you?'

Snap.

'Hi Kate. Do you remember me? We met in 2004 at that festival in that place and you were drunk.'

'Um.'

'Here's a picture of us.'

'Oh yeah. I was drunk.'

'Can I just...'

Snap.

'I made this for you.'

'Wow. Thanks.'

Its a painting of Kate. Stroke victim Kate. I'm mean. Kate is not.

Snap.

'Wow you were just so, it was like, I mean you totally, and I was like, and its just the most...can my friend take a pic of us?'

'Of course.'

'Okay, hold the button down or it won't –

Snap.

'No, I had my eyes closed. Do it again.'

'My hands are shaking.'

Snap.

'Did you get it? Did you get it? Let me see? Okay. Thanks Kate, you were so. Like, really.'

'Hey, are you the blog lady?'

'Nope.'

'Hey Kate how're you going. This is my son Danny. He loves you. He said when he grows up he wants you to be his girlfriend.'

'Mummmmm Noooooooo! Don't say that to her!'

'Do you want to get your picture taken with me?'

'Yeah, please.' Glares at mother.

'Put your arm around Kate sweetie!'

'MUMMMMMMMMMM!'

Snap.

'Hi Kate, great show. Can you write your name on my arm?'

'Sure.'

'I have an appointment to get it permanently tattooed in the morning.'

'Oh! Well now I'm nervous about writing it wrong. Do you want the whole name or just the initials?'

'I was thinking initials would look good. Round about there?'

'Okayyyy...' shaky handed Kate writes her initials.

And just a quick-

Snap.

'I love you Kate.'

'Aw thank you.'

Tiny girl;

'I love you Kate, can I get a hug?'

'Of course you can! Come here.'

Snap.

'Your songs really help me Kate. Thank you.'

'Its my pleasure, really.'

Snap.

'Thanks Kate.'

Snap.

'Caught In the Crowd is so special to us. Thanks.'

Snap.

'Kate I love your voice. Keep up the good work.'

Snap.

'Caught in the Crowd helped me.'

Snap.

'...Last Day On Earth when he proposed.'

Snap.

'...Last Day On Earth for the service.'

Snap.

'Just Bliss.'

Snap.

'So happy.'

Snap.

'Thank you, really.'

Snap.

And slowly the queue dwindles to nothing. And we pack up the gear. And we pack up the car. And we make sure we haven't left anything behind, especially not the drawings, the origami, the muffins, the pictures, the kind words.

I watch Kate struggle down the metal steps with her suitcase and her two bags, he big red scarf wrapped around her neck.She climbs in to the back of the car and smiles at me. She won't talk now until tomorrow so her voice can get some rest.

She falls asleep.

I get out my iphone and switch on my instagram.

Snap.