Chapter 126

“I need to show off some of the most talented young ladies you won’t hear anywhere else. Carla, Anna, Geena, Zoe, Rose, Martha, Sofia and Lily ... Ladies?”

They came out in lockstep looking great. I started one of my favorite of Paul Williams pieces of music...

This looks familiar,
vaguely familiar,
Almost unreal, yet,
it’s too soon to feel yet.
Close to my soul,
and yet so far away.
I’m going to go
back there someday.{br}

(Their voices blended rather nicely)

Sun rises, night falls,
sometimes the sky calls.
Is that a song there,
and do I belong there?
I have never been there,
but I know the way.
I’m going to go
back there someday.
Come and go with me,
it’s more fun to share,
We will both be completely
at home in midair.
We’re flyin’, not walkin’,
on featherless wings.
We can hold onto love
like invisible strings.
There’s not a word yet for
old friends who have just met.
Part heaven, part space,
or have I found my place?
You can just visit,
but I plan to stay.
I’m going to go
back there someday.

I’m going to go
back there someday.

They really sound good as a group. The addition of some harmony that Janice helped them with, polished them quite well. That, along with the cuteness factor, got them quite the cheers and applause. The two smallest, Carla and Zoe stood in front of the other five; They all bowed together.

All though the rest of the show, things went rather well. I took the risk and sang “Moon River” walking over to sing to Cathy, who smiled really big, then got back in time to finish in front of my stool.

The people of Miami Gardens loved me and our Society, as we ended the evening with my sister and my wife singing their classic rewritten version of “Anything You Can Do.”

When done, I moved between them, and said, “Thank you Miami Gardens, you have been remarkable hosts to the Gold Standard Society ... now, we’re on our way to Tampa Bay.”

I walked offstage with my ladies on each arm, and our crowd went very loud and cheered for us. In my ear was, “The record for here was 80,120 ... we got over 82,224 Boss.”

“Come on down here, your wife needs to give you a kiss,” I said.

That got me a quick kiss from Princess, and a big kiss from my wife.

With a check for $9,824,666 having been added to our coffers, I sent a text to all that everyone had officially earned just under $1,300.000 each, with as many places visited as we had left to travel to.

With a four-hour drive to our,

15^th Stop
Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium – 65,618
(Expandable to 75,000)
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel

I woke up as the bus rolled into the parking lot of Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, and Lily Bell was sitting in Jenn’s chair also asleep. She had Jenn’s feet on her lap.

I woke up my lady, and she giggled at Lily being there. She wriggled her leg and that woke up our young friend. After she got up and got her stuff, we got out as well, with James taking our wheelchair out of the bus for me, getting a peck on the cheek from my wife. Carla beat Lily to my lap.

Peter and Charles were waiting for me, and I said, “Do you practice, or is that all the top of your head?”

“We’re not that organized,” Charles said. “We just have an idea and roll with it. So, you liked it?”
“Yeah, just don’t be obscene or belittling, otherwise I’m OK.”

“Cool, so it’s a permanent gig,” Charles said.

“Only until we cross the threshold, Mr. King,” Peter said.

“I’m too young to get married, Mr. Chapman ... no matter how good looking you are,” Charles said.

Jenn, Carla, and I just rolled away laughing at these two crazy guys.

Carla was too quiet, but as we rolled into the elevator, she said, “You have different people sharing your room most of the time, Could Rose and me share with you two?”

Ru-roh?

After getting Rose up to gather up Carla, I gave Miss Cox a kiss on the cheek.

Once alone, I stripped to my boxers to take a nap before breakfast time. Jenn got to a T-shirt and panties and slipped in behind me.

Three hours later, my phone vibrated waking me up. I woke up my wife and we got dressed and went downstairs. She loves being the one to push me in my chair. No one came along to jump on my lap. Hmmm.

We met up with Janice and Brian, who were also heading to breakfast. We sat down together.

“Michael, I’m used to you having many girls around you,” Brian said.

“I have been wanting more quality time, with my highest quality girl, not counting my mother, of course,” I answered.

Everyone smiled at that.

“Michael, excuse me for changing the subject, but we have started to get contacts from professional people wanting to use the Mansion.”

“Really, that means people are paying attention, doesn’t it?”

“You still don’t understand the effect you are having on Vincennes -- do you honey?” mom said.

“I have been hoping for an effect, but I guess I don’t really know what I’m expecting to happen.”

Our server came to us and we all ordered breakfast.

“Michael,” Brian said, “Don’t let this go to your head, but according to the Vincennes Chamber of Commerce and the Knox County Visitors Bureau, there have been over 130 businesses looking to come into town and the growth of the city itself is getting going again, meaning the population is growing.”

“Cool,” was all I could think to say. “So, who’s shown interest in playing our big house?” I said.

“Beyoncé is the top name on the list so far,” he said straight-faced.

“What percent of the gross would she want?” I asked.

“Only 60%, Michael. She likes you and wants you to succeed and that includes letting you record her collection for only a dime per copy, per song. She has a proviso however.”

OK, here we go.

“She wants the GSS orchestra to back her up. That’s why her rate is what it is.”

I was overwhelmed. Jenn took my hand and said, “Are you all right, Michael?”

“ ... Sorry, that was unexpected. Is there anybody else on the short list?”

“Kristin Chenowith, Audra McDonald, Nathan Lane, and Sutton Foster! Also, country phenom Danielle Bradbury ... she’s a bonafide star after winning season four of the Voice a few years back, also willing to let you provide the orchestra. Her people want only 40% ... how does that sound, son?”

“Oh, do any of them have an up-front fee before their percentage kicks in?” Jennifer asked. That’s my girl.

“As a matter of fact, yes dear. It’s a million dollars, but depending on what we charge, that’s rather minimal,” Brian answered.

“So, who else?” Jennifer said as our food was being delivered to us. I said, ‘thank you’ and she left with a smile.

“Garth Brooks, Lady Antebellum, Pentatonix, Clay Aiken, Fantasia, and Katherine McPhee ... those last three were on American Idol. I figured you wanted to put on the first musical production, but I have some touring shows interested down the road.”

“Wonderful,” I said this time. “Pentatonix is awesome. You are right about me wanting the GSS to put on the first big show, and I haven’t made a final decision on what that show will be.”

“What shows are you considering?” my mother asked.

“TITANIC: THE MUSICAL, PETER PAN, INTO THE WOODS, EVITA or maybe THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.”

“Gilbert and Sullivan?” Janice said, “That’s very difficult to get right, honey?”

Instead of replying, I got into my breakfast, as did the others. After eating for a while, I stopped taking a drink of my milk and said, “Does that mean you aren’t interested in being my Musical/Choral Director for the GSS productions we put on at the Mansion?”

“I never said that, Michael,” she said back to me. “It’s difficult, like I said. If you cast it, I can do my very best to get them to your very high standards.”

“Your very best is the best,” I said to her. “That isn’t my first choice to be the number one show, only of my ideas.”

“Which show are you leaning towards?” my wife asked looking at me for a tell of some kind.

I looked back at her trying to hide my thoughts.

Slapping her hands, she announced, “It’s EVITA.”

I broke into a big smile, but said very seriously, “If you want the role of Eva Peron ... you will have to audition for it. I’m deadly serious. There is the role of Eva and Peron’s Mistress, you would be spectacular in either role.”

“What about the role of Che?” Janice said.

“Thinking of only people currently in the GSS, I see a few guys as possibilities ... Charles King, Rich Mitchell, James Allen, Jeff Bell, Carlos Patterson and Peter Chapman. We could get someone who joins the GSS between now and then, it’s hard to tell right now.”

“Aren’t you going to double the size of the singer/performers in the GSS?” Brian asked.

“Yes, I do. That will start in September, along with adding to the orchestra.”

“You certainly seem on track for this, son ... If I haven’t said it enough, I am very proud of you.”

I finished my food before it was completely cold, then took my wife and said ‘goodbye’ to them both.

We were in the elevator alone before my wife said, “Who else would be suitable for Eva?”

“You won’t push me down a stairway if I answer that honestly, will you?”

“No, of course not.”

“For the roles of Eva and the Mistress, I think I would be deciding between you, Isabel, Shirley Neff, Kaylee, Harmony, Rose Newman, Mary Mitchell, Karen Rodriguez and ... Nancy Newman. Again, there are some ladies that I expect to be adding to the GSS that I may consider as well.

“Like who?” she asked as the elevator got to our floor.

“Jennifer, I know you want Eva ... I have got to be as fair as I can, otherwise, there won’t be any reason for ladies to audition for the shows we do put on. I love you, and I can’t just give you parts once we are performing at the Mansion.”

She straddled me in the wheelchair and kissed me ... only breaking away to tell me, “I understand completely. I know you love me.”

A voice clearing their throat came in the elevator, “Can’t you two get enough of each other?” It was Charles with Shirley on his arm.

“Wait until you are married, Mr. King ... you will undoubtedly be the same way. Never wanting her to be anywhere but by your side,” Jennifer said.

I heard Shirley giggle and Charles saying, “I believe I already have those kinds of feelings, Boss. If you two will leave, I can talk to my girl about this ... alone.”

With her still straddling me, I powered my chair out of the elevator, saying goodbye to the young lovers. When they first started hanging out together, she was over a foot taller than him. She’s still taller, but he’s getting taller and is closing in on her height and her heart, it appears.

She moved to sitting directly on my lap as my strong arms got us to our door. She got up, opened it and held it for me. The room was empty, and since I always eat too much, I suggested we rest for a bit.

As before, neither of us were interested in doing much except kiss. To me that meant our love was real, true and forever. I sent a quick gang text reminding them we had a performance and be ready to leave by five pm.

“Hello to Bartle’s & Jayme’s Stadium,” Charles said.

“That’s Raymond James Stadium,” Peter said to a big bunch of laughs. “And you are only thirteen years old ... what do you know about Bartle’s & Jayme’s Wine Coolers?”

“Great taste ... less filling,” he said again to some even bigger laughter.

“That’s Budweiser Lite, dufus,” Peter responded. “And I’m almost old enough to drink.”

The crowd made a sound to back up Peter’s remark.

“Hello to Budweiser Lite Stadium,” Charles said in defiance, “In beautiful Tampa, Florida home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”

That got the cheers going.

With the stage going dark and from behind my synthesizer, I said, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, The Gold Standard Society wants to say to you, A Big HELLO!”

After a single measure of music, the show began ... and the ‘Elders’ were awesome all through the BOOK OF MORMON music.

I get to pick my number between it and the FROZEN music, and tonight it was a very pretty song from PIPPIN... (Morning Glow)

Why won’t my hands stop shaking
When all the earth is still
When ancient ghosts are waking
So many steps need taking
So many plans need making
I think I will
I think I will
Morning glow, morning glow
Starts to glimmer when you know
Winds of change are set to blow
And sweep this whole land through
Morning glow is long past due
Morning glow fill the earth
Come and shine for all you are worth
We will be present at the birth
Of old faith looking new
Morning glow is long past due{br}

(Everyone offstage started singing with me)

Oh, morning glow,
I’d like to help you grow
We should have started long ago
So, morning glow all day long
While we sing tomorrow’s song
Never knew we could be so strong
But now it’s very clear
Morning glow is almost here

Morning glow by your light
We can make the new day bright
And the phantoms of the night
Will fade into the past
Morning glow is here ... at last!

Morning glow by your light
We can make the new day bright
And the phantoms of the night
Will fade into the past
Morning glow is here ... at last!

Why people love an inspirational song like that, and you hear that fewer people go to church, seems oxymoronic. However, these people really liked it, as I said, “Ladies and gentlemen ... picture yourselves in the Kingdom ... of Arendelle...”

The lights changed as we started the instrumental “Whiteout.”

I transitioned to the stool in front of the orchestra, with Cathy taking my place. the segue took us to the boys singing “Frozen Heart.”

Waiting for the crest of the applause to drop we went from number to number until the “Reindeer Remix” which ended our first act.

Being in the middle of a football stadium, didn’t give us anywhere to go, but we had food brought to us again, as the lights went up for the crowd to get their own food.

We were on our way to our DAY OFF in Atlanta, with another cool $8,837,000 in our coffers. We had another full day off before the exact midpoint in our schedule, The Georgia Dome.

I excused myself from Jennifer and found Steve Neff sitting by himself.

“Hey Michael, how are you?”

“You stole my line. I was coming to you to find out how you were doing?”

“I’m OK ... like everybody else I wish had some more singing to do?”

“Perfect, because I have some singing for you, but first I need to ask you something?”

“Go ahead, I’m an open book,” he said to me.

“I have been thinking on adding some music from RENT to the show ... what do you say to that?”

“Off hand, it surprises me. The GSS has an image and it seems to not include really daring music, like that show has. Why?”

“You remember how I didn’t know who you were at first at auditions?”

“Yeah,” he said obviously remembering, “When I told you, you looked like you might just wet your pants.”

“I practically did ... but, since you surprised us and the people who came to see that show, what do you think about 50,000 people watching you sing like that.”

“You’re shitting me, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely not, I’d like you to relearn “Today 4 U” and a song from LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, called “I am What I am,” along with a song or two to sing with your sister Shirley.”

“Can I hug you, Boss?”

“I don’t see why not?”

I knew he felt left out, even though he was included in a lot music chorally.

“I brought my wig, but I need to go shopping for some ... other stuff. Thank you,” he said on the verge of tears.

As I went back to Jennifer, he pulled his sister from a conversation to tell her what had just gone down. She gave out a minor shriek, of joy, I hope.

“What just happened?” my love asked me.

“There is a new star ready be released by the GSS, Steve Neff.”

“That’s risky lover, but another reason to love you.”

“Good, help me decide what songs already in the GSS would be good for him and his sister to sing together, please?”

“How about “Somewhere Out There?” she said almost immediately.

“One more reason to love you,” I said giving her a kiss.