Perhaps the real thing about the Pam story is related to the emotions involved. If Pam was in a love story, the real thing could be the true nature of her feelings - whether it was genuine love or just infatuation. Or if it was a story about a conflict, the real thing could be how she really felt towards the people she was in conflict with, and what led to the resolution or continuation of that conflict.
One possible interpretation could be that the 'real thing' is the underlying truth or moral of the story. If it's a story about Pam facing a difficult choice, the real thing might be the lesson she learned from it.
It could also be about the authenticity of Pam's actions in the story. For instance, if the story is about Pam helping others, the real thing might be whether she was truly selfless or had some ulterior motives. Another interpretation is that the real thing is the key events that shaped Pam's story, like a turning point in her life that made her who she is in the story.