Chapter 112

I found a place to sit, and Lily got on my lap handing me a bottle of water. Princess and Jennifer saw it and gave me smirking smiles.

After a few minutes, I was becoming a little nervous, so I said, “Lily, do you sing?”

“U-huh,” she said taking a sip of her water.

“Do you know anything we know?”

“I have looked through most of the music Mike has brought home ... try me?” this cute little girl said.

“How about that song called, ‘My Daddy,’ that Isabel sang a long time ago?”

“I know that. Do you want me to sing it now?”

“How about I play the piano and you sing; can you do that for me?”

“Sure, no problem,” she said putting her drink down. “Where do you want me to stand?”

“Mike Bell, come over here, please?”

“Whatcha need, Boss?”

“Can you play the trumpet while your sister sings for me?”

“Of course, is this her audition to join us?”

“Hmmmm, it could be. Would you like it to be?”

“I know she can sing, but you don’t. She’s quite good. If she is good enough to join, I may be able to keep Jeff from going on his mission.”

“Ooh, blackmail!” I said rubbing my hands together like an evil henchman.

“It’s more like extortion, actually. What is she going to sing, Bossman?”

“My Daddy,” from the ANNIE sequel that never got off the ground.”

I saw everyone getting back in position, including Nancy to help the littlest Bell with her audition. “Quiet everybody, PLEASE.”

“Just sing...”

This is my very darkest night
A sort of hopeless situation
My daddy’s gonna
come and set me free
He’s gonna know
that she ain’t me

He’ll maybe hear it
when she laughs
He’ll maybe feel it
when he holds her
Or if he up and puts
her on his knee
I’ll bet he will know
that she ain’t me.

What a pure and perfect tone!

My daddy’s
really very bright.

Here is where Mike plays

And knows how
very much I love him.
Well, she can kiss him,
but I guarantee...

He won’t forget
my daddy,
He’ll save me yes
my daddy
Knows me by heart,
my daddy
You can’t outsmart
my daddy,
He’s gonna know...
that she ain’t ... me... !

By the end of this, I was crying, Lily was crying ... even Mike who played his lips off. I held my hand up for quiet.

While everyone loved and cheered and applauded for her, I asked Stuart quietly, “Did you record that ... tell me that you just recorded that, Mr. Holland?”

“There is no crying during recording, although my hay fever seems to be acting up,” he answered. “Damn right I recorded that. Is that how Isabel sounded when she was younger?”

“Even better. That’s another cut of its own. We need to get her parents OK, but I doubt they would mind.”

Things had quieted down, Lily was being hugged by Princess, Tracy, and her brother Jeff, just about everyone.

“OK, since I helped write the rules for the GSS, I can change them. Any sibling of an existing GSS member, despite their age may, upon a successful audition, become a member of the GSS. Do any of my entourage have a GSS necklace with them?”

Clarice did, and went up to her as I said, “Lilith Jeanne Bell, would you like to become our newest member, provided your parents both approve?”

“Wow! Sure ... thank you. I know they will be OK with it. My dad thinks of you like a son and my mom also likes you a lot.”

That generated a bunch of giggles and laughter.

“OK, everybody sit! That was recorded and will go on iTunes as a $1.29 per unit. Let’s go on. Charles, get on up here please. Can I get help getting a copy of the CHICAGO score passed around please?”

Charles was handed one looking eager. He was looking through it probably wondering which song I was going to have him sing. I saw his eyes get big on a song somewhere in the middle

“Charles, I don’t suppose you have seen this show before, what about the movie?”

“I loved the movie, especially Catherine Zeta-Jones ... she’s HOT!”

“I’d like you to sing, ‘Mister Cellophane,’ please?”

“No problem,” he said putting down the score, “I know most of the music because I have seen it so many times.”

“All right then...”

CHARLES (Spoken)
If someone stood
up in a crowd
And raised his voice
up way out loud
And waved his arm
And shook his leg
You’d notice him
If someone in a movie show
Yelled “Fire in the second row,
This whole place is a powder keg.”
You’d notice him.
And even without clucking like a hen
Everyone gets noticed, now and then,
Unless, of course,
that personage should be
Invisible, inconsequential me!{br}

(Singing)
Cellophane
Mister cellophane
Should have been my name!
Mister cellophane
‘cause you can look
right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I’m there!
I tell ya
Cellophane
Mister cellophane
Should have been my name
Mister cellophane
‘cause you can look right
through me walk right by me
And never know I’m there.{br}

****

(Spoken)
Suppose you was a little cat
Residin’ in a person’s flat
Who fed you fish and
scratched your ears?
You’d notice him
Suppose you was a woman wed
And sleepin’ in a double bed
beside one man for seven years
You’d notice him
A human being’s made
of more than air
With all that bulk,
you’re bound to see him there

Unless that human bein’ next to you
Is unimpressive, undistinguished
You ... know ... who... ?{br}

(Singing)
Should have been my name
Mister cellophane
‘cause you can look
right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I’m there

I tell ya
Cellophane
Mister cellophane
Should have been my name
Mister cellophane
‘cause you can look
right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I’m there

Never even know ... I’m there!

(Spoken)
“I hope I haven’t taken up, too much of your time.”

They were waiting for my hand to drop; Shirley Neff came to him giving him a really big kiss. That made Lily giggle a lot.

“Are they a couple?”

“Yeah, there are a lot of them in here. Some need to be kept secret so, don’t tell anyone outside of this room what you see or hear from now on, can you do that?”

“Sure can ... thank you so much, Boss.” There were giggles again.

We went on for another ninety minutes, then the line formed, and dad handed me each check as I handed them out. Many were quiet, but there were a few screams when they actually saw the check in their hands. As I went from performer to orchestra member and back, I recommended they put this check in a brand-new account to make interest.

Stuart Holland, Jennifer Guthrie, and Michael Thomas refused their check so it would go in the general fund of GSS. Princess was in Stuart’s arms dumbfounded.

That caused me to explain what interest was to the youngest of them. I got a kiss on the cheek from the girls and firm handshakes from each of the guys. Stuart got emotional and gave me a man-hug.

“When’s our next rehearsal?” most of them asked.

“Can I get a hand up from everyone who is moving from Jackson to Lincoln in three weeks?”

I was surprised, seeing orchestra members, Joe Abbott, Mike Bell, Teddy Cruz, Jeff Jackson, Shirley Neff, Emma Reed, Jett Reynolds, Jason Stottlemire and Stella Van Kirk all raising their hands. “I welcome you to join the existing Lincoln orchestra as well. Put your hands down. Remind me which of you is leaving for college or somewhere else?”

Only Archie, Dolores Elam, Charles Alexander and Marjorie raised their hands.

“Jeff Bell ... has something changed?”

Still wiping his eyes, he explained, “I’m staying ... to see my sister grow up and become a star. My parents may not like it, but I’m staying in Vincennes and with the GSS ... if you will have me?”

“You could be ostracized by your parents,” I said.

“Let me be the one to deal with that, Boss,” he said. “I’m very proud of my little sister. She can help me.”

“I will do what I can to give you two a chance to sing together ASAP,” I said.

“Cool,” Lily said. “Thank you, Michael.”

“Let’s get in the buses everyone. We will meet again here on Saturday’s until school starts. I will keep you all informed.”

We caravanned the two buses and took more than the usual amount of time for the reveal of the checks. Ken and Mary Bell were very nonchalant and were surprised, but supported Lily’s involvement. I told them about her audition, which caused Mary to cry, and Ken to even tear up a little. I also told him I would be in touch about some of the up and coming building ideas. I kissed her hand and shook his. Lily, although only about three and one-half feet tall, pulled me down and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Mary pulled her away and said ‘Goodbye’ to us.

After we were down to Mom and Dad, Brian and Ally, Stu and Princess, plus my courtesans, everyone dispersed to their homes.

The moment I went into our place, my phone rang.

“I’ll get the alarm,” Tracy said.

“Hello, this is Michael?”

“Hey Boss, this is Jeff ... Jeff Bell.”

“Yeah, what’s going on?”

“Right after you left, while they were still in the good mood, I dropped the bomb on them.”

“What happened, are you OK?”

“I’m fine. My dad really surprised me telling me that it was my decision, not his, that I went on a mission. I explained my new love of performing, and my family. I also told them I could keep an eye on Lily, protecting her from any ne’er-do-wells.”

That made me laugh, and I asked, “Anyone in particular?”

“I had thought of mentioning a couple of guys, but that wouldn’t be very fair to them. Please remember she’s very young. Mom said to tell you not to let her sing anything too risqué.”

“I can do that, Jeff. Welcome back. See you this coming Saturday.”

“All right Boss, Seeya.”

“Take Care.”

I wasn’t sure what physical need was calling me harder, hunger or rest. I looked in the refrigerator and saw some thawed hot dogs. I got six of them, sliced them lengthwise, and toasted some sourdough bread with mayo, mustard and some slices of cucumber, making myself two big sandwiches. I got two bottles of water and sat down to start watching a movie or TV show. I checked, and our DVR was full, mostly from MythBusters, Modern Marvel, How It’s Made, Dirty Jobs and How Do They Do It.

On the big high-resolution screen, we have got, Kari Byron is even hotter. She often is the only voice of reason between Adam and Jamie or Tory and Grant. When she was pregnant, she was even hotter, at least to me. Scottie, Jessie and Christine are also pretty, but nothing like the naiveté and sex kitten appeal Kari exudes.

I was skipping through commercial breaks, getting through an episode in under twenty minutes sometimes. Not every myth was that interesting to me.

Four episodes in, Tracy came down and sat by me. “I love this show; Grant is a real hunk. I suppose you think Kari is hot?”

“She’s not nearly as pretty as any of you are, OK?”

“Calm down Lover, I know you like redheads better. Isabel is beautiful, I was a redhead for a while back in high school.”

“I can imagine how pretty you were back then. I’m not really sure what started my redhead fetish, but it’s thriving these days.”

“Fetish?” she said, “Do you have any others I should know about?”

“I’m quite certain, you could satisfy any fetish I could think of, but this discussion has just crossed the line of being comfortable talking about. Watch with me if you’d like, but I would appreciate quiet at the moment.”

“Sure thing, everyone else is in bed so it’s just you and me,” she said leaning against me.

Together, we watched four more episodes of MythBusters and a few How It’s Made! Nowadays, I’m particularly noticing when a musical device is being designed and made on the show, with my favorite to date being the two-parters on pianos, and Electric guitars.

I yawned and turned off the TV, and she took me by the hand, and we went to her room. I reminded her that I was quite tired, but she giggled and we got down to our civvies and fell asleep, with her arm on my chest. She is quite the young lady.

Brigitte and I walked over to my mom’s the next morning. I wanted to talk to Janice about the NFL Stadium Tour and Miss LaPierre volunteered to come with me.

I knocked, and Mom opened the door, “Hello, come on in,” and Brigitte was clinging tightly on my arm.

“Don’t be nervous, Miss LaPierre. You’re quite safe with him.”

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. O’Sullivan. I do feel really safe around your son. With my parents not around, my interaction with adults has been very sparse. Of course, your son treats me like a princess and of course being a member of the GSS has me much less, how you say ... fidgety around other adults like yourself.”

“I had a french suitor when I young, he spoke little English, but he might have been the first boy I had kissed,” my mother remarked surprising me as much as she just had Brigitte.

“I would love to hear the rest of that story someday, Mother, but I’m here to go over the likely route of our NFL Stadium Tour so you can get rolling on the Four and Five–Star hotels we will be staying in. I have a potential problem about this that I need your help on.”

“All right, do you want something to drink, I have Coca-Cola or just bottled water?”

Brigitte looked at me and said, “Water, please?”

“Same with me, Mom.”

We all settled in, I opened Brigitte’s water for her. She smiled at me.

“OK, where are you wanting to start this from?” she asked. “Indiana, Washington State or maybe New York?”

I looked at her for a moment and she added, “I know where all the teams are. Your father insisted I knew, or I couldn’t sit by him watching football on Sundays.”

“You continue to amaze me, Janice,” I said. “I have looked at starting in Washington, but that calls for thirty-three straight hours of driving from Vincennes before we have our first concert.”

“It will be next June, and except for driving through some mountain passes, the weather should be fine. Realistically, those thirty –three hours would be more like forty, what with stopping for gas, food, and such. We probably need more drivers to be rated driving a bus. What about you Brigitte, do you like to drive?”

“No thank you, I know how, but would not like to drive for such a long time.”

“We do have eighteen teenagers old enough to drive,” I said. “If all we did was drive, gas, eat munchies and not stop otherwise, it would take, like you said, nearly forty hours. The question is do we want to do that before the rest of the tour or after we were all done? What do you say to that Mom?”

“I’m one of those drivers, you are not. Maybe you should become one, then you have set the model to the others you want to help out as well. You have always been a great believer of being an example to others.”

“That sounds like a good idea. So, now ... should we deal with the Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota stadiums before we made the straight shot to Washington?”

“You forgot Indianapolis, dear,” she said.

“No, I didn’t. Going west means that the Colts Stadium could be our last before coming home. It’s the closest thing we have to a home court advantage.”

“That is very smart thinking, Michael.”

“Yes, it is,” Brigitte said giving me a kiss on the cheek.

Smiling at us both, mom had given her logical opinion about performing then taking the long monotonous drive, proving she is still smarter than me.

After working that out, the rest seemed to go quickly, doing the same thing with any distances of length. We briefly discussed the placement of the twelve days of rest with her suggesting we have a few back-to-back evenings, only when the distance is the most minimal. Her examples included Oakland and San Francisco and the two stadiums in Maryland.

It got all worked out, so, I got up to leave, but Brigitte said, “That is a beautiful piano. Michael, why don’t you sing us a song?”

I pulled her up with me, to sit by me and I began to play...

I have heard there
was a secret chord
That David played,
and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really
care for music, do you?

It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king
composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

“Sing this with me, Brigitte”

Your faith was strong
but you needed proof
You saw her bathing
on the roof
Her beauty in the
moonlight overthrew you

She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne,
and she cut your hair
And from your lips
she drew the Hallelujah

(She was singing low harmony to my melody)

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room;
I have walked this floor
I used to live alone
before I knew you.

I have seen your flag
on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and
it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time
when you let me know
What’s really
going on below
But now you never
show it to me, do you?

And remember
when I moved in you
The holy dove
was moving too
And every breath
we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I gave her a nice, but short kiss as mom was wiping her eyes with a tissue.

“That was really beautiful ... how come I didn’t know you could sing, Brigitte?” she questioned.

“I was hired ... for my Bass playing ... Janice.”

“Michael, you can always find another bassist, but she has that marvelous singing voice. It reminds of Claudine Longet; she was married to Andy Williams for a time in the late 60s – early 70s.”

“I know who that is,” Brigitte said. “Thank you very much, Janice. Let’s go Michael, please?”

“Thanks for sticking around, that really was marvelous. Your piano playing may be better than mine, nowadays,” Janice also said.

“That is blasphemy, dear mother of mine. What are you doing with your million dollars ... anything crazy?”

“I have been trying to think of something outside the box, but I’m drawing a blank so far. Help me think of something? In the meantime, I will assume everything else will happen, so I plan to get the reservations for your NFL Tour started before school starts.”

I got up, and gave her a kiss, after which she and Brigitte hugged one another, and we left.

On the walk back, Brigitte said, “Your mother is so sweet. Especially saying what she said about my singing. I’m content being a bassist in your orchestra, so do not worry about me. You have done so much already for me.”

“She is correct ... you do sing very nice. Would you like to spa with me?”

“Of course I would, I would do anything you ask of me, Michael?”

“Change into something sexy, please? I will meet you there.”

“Dans amoment, Michael.”

We went outside to find the others all in one spa, so we got in the other one by ourselves.

“Hey! There is room in here with us,” Tracy said.

“He wants to be alone with his french consort,” Jennifer said.

“Let’s just ignore them, my dear. Pretend we are all alone out here,” I said to Brigitte. “Sit on my lap, and we can cuddle.”

“Are you sure it is all right to do that?”

“Everybody loves you ... and so do I,” I said quietly to her putting my arms around her and leaning back against an especially essential jet to my back.

It didn’t take long for the five of them to get out of their spa and walk by us to go inside the house. I feigned sleep.

“Aww, isn’t that sweet?” Liz said.

I let them go in giggling a little. “Brigitte,” I whispered, “Take of your bottoms please?”

“Un tel Scélérat!”

“Yes, I know I am,” I said as she removed them and lay them on the corner of the spa. I did as well asking her to pull herself straight up a little. My hand was on my hard erection as I found the spot so she could lower herself down softly.

“Oooooohhh, Michael ... you are always so big. It feels wonderful when you are inside me.”

“I like it too,” I said, getting my hands inside her top and cupping her bosoms tightly.

“You do this so well I suppose I’m not the first you have fucked in the spa?”

“No, you aren’t, but you are the tightest and that is saying something. You feel so incredible. I cannot understand why parents do the things they do. Peter and Isabel’s parents emotionally abused both of them and yours leave you alone like a puppy in a car. Have you called them to let them know you are living here?”

“No, that reminds me, I need to go get the rest of my things sometime today. Can you help me do that, please?”

Thrusting up inside her first, I said “No problem, my dear sweet Brigitte.”

I started going faster as I had hold of her so she wouldn’t slip off me. She lightly moaned as I felt myself release inside her.

Getting my breath back, I said, “Magnificent, my dear.”

“I cannot seem to get enough of you Michael, thank you for loving me the way you do,” this truly remarkable brunette with the bedroom eyes said to me.

She got off me, putting her bottoms back on, and I did as well. I added the necessary chemicals and put the lid on the spa we used. We dried off a bit, I gave her a nice kiss and we separated to our rooms.