Next stop-Wrangler jeans shoot

The next morning Jess woke early to find his bus stopped at a ranch in west Texas. It was hard to remember on these long road trips exactly where he was going and why, so he checked his planner in his phone to see he was scheduled to do a photo shoot for Wrangler jeans, one of the primary sponsors of his tour. If it went well he would also have photos for his next album's publicity and cover.

His driver was asleep on a bunk, so he poured himself a cup of coffee and stepped out into the dry desert-like air.

It was early, but the ranch was already awake. In the distance he saw cowboys riding fence rows in pairs. Closer at hand others were riding among the Texas Longhorn Cattle, while others were working in a corral with a young, unbroken horse. It was much like the world he had grown up in, which is why his publicist had thought this shoot would be a good idea.

After a couple of minutes he was greeted by a gender neutral LA-type in dress slacks and a blouse, with a girl's short haircut, makeup and a nose ring. He...she...it????...wore a cellphone on each hip and was followed by an equally Hollywood-esque entourage.

"Jess, its good to see you," the person said with an equally gender neutral voice. "I am Steph...but I am sure you already knew that!"

Nope, he thought to himself. He had no idea who or what "Steph" was. As a closeted gay man, he was fine...encouraging even...of people openly being who they really were. He just preferred to be able to tell exactly what it was they were trying to be.

"Nice to meet you," he said, shaking an outstretched hand.

"Wardrobe is set up over here," Steph said, turning to lead him towards a curtain that was stretched out between two buildings. "Your wardrobe person got here about an hour ago and has been working with my people. They should have your clothes picked out. Get changed and we can get started."

"Thank you!" Jess said.

He slipped behind the curtain and was greeted by the same intern who had dressed him at last night's show. She looked up from her phone and smiled.

"Good morning, sir," she said. Today she wore a short plaid skirt. Luckily today she was wearing a name tag that identified her as Andi, otherwise he never would have rememberer her name.

"Hi Andi, did you have a good trip?" he asked, wishing that he could remember her name.

"I drove all night, slept in my car and had to get dressed in a barn," she said, but kept smiling. "I love my job though, so its worth it."

"You slept in your car? You mean the label didn't at least get you a hotel?"

"Oh, no sir," she said. "I get paid a flat fee regardless of whether I get a hotel or not. If I start getting hotel rooms, I might as well be doing this internship for free!"

"I will see if I can get you a better deal than that!"

"Oh no, sir, I don't want them to think I'm complaining! I'm fine. Totally fine."

Again he stripped naked in front of the barely legal young girl and she quickly and expertly dressed him for the photo shoot, in tight cowboy cut wringlers and a long-sleeved button up western shirt.

Once he was ready, he headed out to get photographed doing all of the chores he once did as a kid.