Since they had to return to their assigned rooms, the Mickey Mouse Club members revealed their names as Britney Shakespeare and Christina Aguilera before leaving.
“Goodness. Britney and Christina? Were those two from the Mickey Mouse Club?”
Jaesung didn’t know it well, but the Mickey Mouse Club was already famous as a launching pad for stars.
Britney, who showed interest in Jaesung, was born in a rural town called ‘McComb’ in Mississippi, grew up in southern Louisiana which was also rural, and showed interest and talent in dancing and singing from a young age.
She auditioned for the Mickey Mouse Club in Atlanta but failed because she was too young at 8, but caught an agency’s eye, moved to New York, and went around auditions to become a singer.
Finally in 1992, she was selected for the long-awaited Mickey Mouse Club, active from 1993, but became unemployed(?) when the program ended in 1995.
Disney sent the Mickey Mouse Club members, who couldn’t spend much time with peers due to focusing on filming, to the trustworthy Walmart summer camp before returning to everyday life.
Personally, I like Christina’s singing more, but Britney’s influence was absolute!
Britney Shakespeare debuts in 1998 and immediately gains explosive popularity and recognition.
She becomes the dance singer who enjoyed the most popularity after Michael Jackson or Madonna, inheriting their nicknames as Emperor of Pop and Queen of Pop to earn the title Princess of Pop, exercising legendary influence and popularity.
She sells over 25 million copies of the album released at 17, and cumulative album sales exceed 50 million far beyond by age 25.
In the later activities, she becomes a sexy icon, but in the early 1st and 2nd albums, she monopolizes Americans’ love as the girl next door (national daughter).
Having future stars join the summer camp—Walmart is amazing.
They hadn’t grown into legendary singers yet, but the Mickey Mouse Club members were already objects of admiration among American kids.
With the Mickey Mouse Club joining, the kids at Walmart’s summer camp were in utter chaos.
“Wow! Did you see Christina singing? She looked just like a doll.”
“I thought Britney was so pretty when she danced.”
The kids, whose afterglow from the Mickey Mouse Club stage hadn’t faded, excitedly chatted.
“I thought the Asian girl who came up to the stage last was cute. It was a dance I’ve never seen, but cool.”
“Come to think of it, wasn’t the boy who danced with her in our dorm?”
Returning to the dorm, kids swarmed asking how he danced so well and who the girl he danced with was.
“She’s my sister. We came to camp together, and since she likes dancing usually, I learned from her.”
“Britney and Christina talked to you at the end, right?”
“Really? Awesome. What did they say?”
Even Sam Walton’s grandson was completely smitten by the Mickey Mouse Club dancing and singing cutely right in front of him, asking Jaesung what they talked about.
“There wasn’t time, so not much. They just asked where I learned to dance, and I said from my sister.”
“Jenny did dance well.”
The grandson whose name he didn’t know hadn’t talked much with Jaesung who was busy working during last year’s holiday season, but seemed to get along quite well with his sister.
Come to think of it, Jaeeun taught kids dance back then too, taking them over.
Listening, when a kid named Alex acted like he knew his sister, the kids’ interest shifted there.
As attention scattered for a moment, fatigue rushed in, and dealing with energetic kids was harder than working.
Looking for a timing to escape, the instructor brought a new boy.
“One Mickey Mouse Club member is assigned to each dorm, and this is the friend who’ll be with you—greet him.”
At the words Mickey Mouse Club member, chaos erupted again.
Jaesung looked at the peer-aged kid with slight interest, but strangely, he looked familiar.
“Hi, I’m Brian Gosling. I’m from Canada, and now I live in Orlando, Florida.”
Ugh~! He looks like Brian from La La Land and The Notebook that you must watch when dating? Was this guy from Mickey Mouse Club too?
Brian Gosling, who becomes famous for extremely restrained minimalist acting mastery and unique gaze, was still a shy, awkward teen boy.
With Brian appearing, attention focused there, and thanks to that, Jaesung gained freedom.
While kids bombarded somewhat-celebrity Brian Gosling with questions, Jaesung lay on the bed resting, and after moderately finishing conversation, he spoke.
“You danced well. Where did you learn dance?”
“From my sister. You saw her on stage earlier? She’s my real sister.”
Expecting to hear the same question infinitely at this camp, Jaesung decided to direct all interest to his sister.
“Those moves were new, cool.”
“You danced well too. But I think musicals or acting suit you more than performances.”
Knowing Brian Gosling’s future veering into acting unlike Christina or Britney, he roughly said so.
“Thanks.”
For a future star, quite shyly answering, Brian Gosling, and Jaesung chicly nodded and turned over.
He’s going to become hugely famous anyway—should I get close? What to say?
Good at persuading or seducing engineering students or startup CEOs, but making friends with ordinary peers was the hardest for Jaesung.
The noisy first day passed like that, and the next morning at the cafeteria, he received an unexpected gift.
“Why is this here?”
“James, what’s this? Jeyuk? It’s Korean food?”
“It’s called stir-fried pork, a Korean pork dish.”
“There’s weird pickle too.”
“There’s cucumber kimchi?”
Kimchi was probably hard for foreigners to try, and too much for kids, so less spicy and familiar cucumber-made cucumber kimchi was in the breakfast buffet.
“Oppa, there’s Korean food here.”
“Must be Uncle Jim put it in. I’ll thank him next time we meet.”
Jim Wharton, who visited home before and enjoyed grilled pork belly party, afterward often enjoyed Korean food trying various menus.
Plus, last holiday season, Mom stayed at Sam Walton’s house making various Korean foods, and pork stir-fry and tonkatsu drove American men crazy.
Various vegetable side dishes were liked by women, and among them, cucumber kimchi was most popular.
With Jaesung and Jaeeun joining summer camp, Sam Walton or Jim seemed to have taken special care.
“Wow! This is really delicious. A bit spicy, but eating with potatoes makes it okay.”
After Yoo siblings’ impressive stage last evening, even kids not trying new foods got interested in Korea and ate stir-fried pork and cucumber kimchi.
Kids who weren’t going to eat, seeing friends fussing it’s delicious, bravely tried and ate with wide eyes.
Seeing kids eat Korean food makes me proud for no reason.
Mood improved by thoughtful consideration, Jaesung eating breakfast when a group of boys approached.
“You danced a bit yesterday. Jenny’s your sister, right?”
Looking up, the curly-haired boy who was clingy to sister yesterday led the group and spoke.
“My sister taught me. I don’t know dance well.”
“Jenny said you made the moves? She bragged you’re a genius.”
Proud yet slightly embarrassed hearing spoiled sister praised him.
“You danced well too. You look familiar. What’s your name?”
The boy who played main dancer on stage yesterday also had a familiar face.
Plus, hearing he was dating Britney sparked curiosity.
“You don’t know me, so you don’t watch Disney Channel. I’m Austin Timberlake.”
Distinctive looks and curly hair—thought so, but indeed Austin who succeeds as *NSYNC center and solo singer.
What is the Mickey Mouse Club that all future stars are gathered?
Emitting talent all over, face full of mischief, Austin Timberlake naturally took over the atmosphere and sat in front of Jaesung speaking.
“Good at singing? You debuting as singer too? Seeing you dance yesterday, not bad, but hard for Asians, right?”
“I’m not interested in entertainment industry. I invest in movies, but don’t know music well.”
Aiming to get rich investing in future big tech companies, Jaesung naturally didn’t think of entertainment.
1995 American market, hard to survive even for rhythm-groove-born blacks without heavenly talent, still 30 years too early for Asians.
In 30 years, you’ll be pushed by Korean idols too. Even if I tell how much K-pop grows, no one believes now.
Seeing Jaesung show little interest, slightly offended Austin brought up sister.
“You live in Seattle, right? Far from Orlando, but camp has a lot left, so we can get close while here.”
“Weren’t you dating Britney? If you get close to my sister, girlfriend might not like it?”
“Talented colleagues should get along. In my eyes, your sister has potential.”
“Still, hard for Asians to be active. I won’t let my sister be a singer.”
As Austin showed interest in sister, annoyed Jaesung stood up.
Showing impressive on yesterday’s stage, no discrimination toward Asians anymore, but conversely too much attention made him slightly tired.
“Oppa! All kids here are nice, and like dancing! Britney came to our room!”
Jaesung tired of kids’ attention, but conversely sister was type who gained energy more attention.
After meal, asked Jaeeun if anything happened, and though only one day passed, sister answered camp was so good.
“That guy Austin or Timberlake said your dancing is not great. In my eyes, he’s a playboy, so ignore if he talks.”
“Really? He was a bit clingy yesterday. Heard he’s dating Britney, weird.”
Always bright sister, but inheriting parents’ genes, smart and sharp-eyed.
Usually not badmouthing people, but when Oppa said ignore, she answered okay.
Still kids so probably nothing, but cared for sister anyway, but Jaesung didn’t imagine this would ignite Austin’s competitive spirit.
“From today, we officially start summer camp education schedule.”
After breakfast, as kids about to get rowdy, at perfect timing instructor appeared and proceeded schedule.
“I’m the teacher who’ll teach you how to survive in the wild. I’ll teach techniques learned from Navy SEALs.”
Walmart invited top experts even for kids’ programs, and chose a Navy SEAL veteran instructor to teach fire starting and tent pitching.