Chapter 28

I got to the middle of the piano seat, saw two of the nicest butts I could remember and fell over...

I woke up in the same ER I had been in before. Dammit. I had on a mask with oxygen. At least I didn’t have that stupid tube down my throat.

My eyes fluttered open... “He’s awake -- Michael is awake!” That was my Jennifer.

“Michael, can you hear me?” a doctor asked.

I took Jennifer’s hand as I clumsily answered, “Yes.”

She squeezed my hand and said, “I love you, Michael.”

“I know,” I said, moving to take the oxygen mask off my mouth.

“Uh-uh-uh, leave that on, Mister Thomas,” the same doctor said moving it back in place. “Do you know what happened to you?”

I cleared my throat and said, “I felt faint for a split second ... then, I woke up here. I thought I ... I thought I may have over-exerted myself somehow.”

“All of your vitals are good, including your blood oxygen. Have you been anxious lately?”

“He’s a fourteen-year-old boy, with a shit-load of responsibilities,” Alice said. “Of course, he’s anxious. Do you think this was an anxiety attack?”

“Fourteen is rather young, but it could be that. Michael, can you answer a few questions for me?” the doctor said.

I nodded in the affirmative.

“Are you constantly tense, worried or on edge?”

“Sometimes,” I said.

“Does your anxiety interfere with school or family responsibilities?”

“I wouldn’t say interfere.”

“Do you believe that something bad will happen if certain things aren’t done in a certain way?”

“Constantly,” I said, hearing chuckles from those around me.

“One more ... Do you feel danger and catastrophe are around every corner?”

“More like insecurity and misfortune,” I answered.

“Sounds like a fourteen-year-old boy to me,” Janice said protecting her cub.

There was a clatter of noise somewhere in the distance. Katie, Jennie, Paul, and Cece came in. “Is he alright?” I heard Paul ask.

“Where have you been?” I asked seeing them all.

Katie said, “Jeremy stood up and said, ‘Let Michael’s family take care of him. The Teachers need this rehearsal. Nobody leave until you are finished singing ... got that?’ He really stepped up.”

“Good for him,” I said as well. I was able to take deeper breaths.

“Nurse, take him off the oxygen. Let’s check his respiration without it,” the ER doc said.

A moment later, the nurse said, “It’s still high at twenty, but that’s down from the 26 he had coming in. His BP is down to 119 over 77. That’s returned to normal.”

“He’s not normal ... he’s my Michael,” Jennifer said to giggles and a snort.

“We need to keep you here until your respiration gets below twenty,” the doctor said. “Could everyone go and sit down? He needs some calm.”

Jennifer wouldn’t let go. He nodded at her, and she stayed where she was.

The trip home was uneventful. I suppose the doctor would approve of that. When we turned the corner to head to our house there was big batch of people with handwritten banners that said, ‘GET WELL SOON’ and many, many students and teachers were lined up to pass by on the way inside. Such love!

Jeremy was first to greet me. I said, “I understand you took control of things, young man. Thank you for that. I am very proud of you.”

Rose, Izzy, Peter and most of the LES MISÉRABLES cast along with half of the teachers were there. The two principals greeted me. What a marvelous reception of support. Jennifer led me to the doorway. I had to turn and say something to them all.

“I have additional lyrics to the Epilogue in LES MISÉRABLES for Geoff and James. Gentlemen ... be ready to come back from the dead at the next rehearsal. Thank you all for your love and support. I need to relax ... don’t worry, I will be back.”

I walked in, as they all were quieted by my remark. Maybe, there is a way to keep calm.

I was feeling all right, although I had a Jennifer on each arm. I refused taking any medicine from the doctor, but mom gave me a herbal supplement called Valerian Root as I crawled under my covers. She told me it would relax me. I was wary but didn’t refuse it. Jenn went to climb in, but was asked to leave me alone for a while. I vaguely heard her whine a little. She gave me a kiss on the cheek.

Five hours later, I woke up hungry and feeling stronger, so I climbed out of bed and walked to the kitchen.

“Hey Tiger,” Katie said. “Are you feeling rested?”

“Yeah! I sure do feel stupid, fainting like that. I thought only girls fainted.”

“As sexist as that remark is, you are mostly right. Are you hungry?” she asked.

“Yeah, maybe some chili, if there’s any left?” I said. “Where is everyone?”

“It’s only you and me while they go shopping for the trip.”

“Oh,” I said. “How about joining me in the spa, Katie-Bird?”

“I am not supposed to get you excited. I promised your mother.”

“You excite me fully dressed, much less in one of your itsy-bitsy teenie weenie bikinis.”

“Maybe later, stud.”

The microwaved dinged and she handed me the plate of chili. “Get your strength back. We were all very worried about you. However, Jeremy had an iron fist and kept us teachers on track. It was a very good rehearsal.”

“That’s what I heard. He stepped up, didn’t he?”

“He doesn’t have your charisma, but he does have your drive to succeed.”

I started to eat, hmmmm ... it was good chili, such a satisfying meal. I asked for seconds and she gave me another half helping. I got a kiss on the lips as well.

I moved from the breakfast table to in front of the TV.

“What are we watching, Michael?”

“The final RENT performance from 2008. I am looking at ideas for staging it. I may copy parts of what they did.”

“Can we cuddle and watch it together Michael?”

“You know that I can’t turn you down, Katherine.”

She jumped over the love seat and scooted up right next to me. She wasn’t watching as closely as I was. She was playing with my hair and kissing me on the back of my neck.

“Michael, I was so worried about you. You just fell down. I hope I am not causing too much of your anxiety. I care so deeply for you.”

“I know you do. Come on up to my room. Let’s shake some sheets.”

“Ooh, Michael ... you are so sexy.”

We started with her giving me one of her famous blowjobs and finished with me pounding her pussy with my insatiable dick. I heard a door open and close but kept on pounding until I felt her cum on my dick again.

“Michael,” I heard my girl sing my name out, “Where are you?”

My door opened, the three of them saw us. Money changed hands between Jan and Ally. “I am sorry ladies,” Katie said.

“We understand dear,” my mother said. “He is irresistible at times. Did you two eat something?”

“I fed him some chili, then he fed me some...”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” my giggling girlfriend said. “I know what he fed you. I have had the same meal more times than I can count.”

I scrambled to my feet and pulled Katie up. “We will be out in a few minutes. We need to shower,” I said.

Fifteen minutes later, I covered Katie as she went to her room to change into fresh clothes. She sometimes acts like a teenager instead of a woman in her 30s.

I smelled spaghetti and meatballs. Man, I love my mother’s cooking. After helping the Jenn’s to their seats, I went over to give my mom a kiss to the ‘Awws’ of the other ladies.

“Sit down Michael, I have some news you and Katie don’t know.”

I pulled out her chair and sat down. “What is it, Mom?”

“Brian called me to tell me his mother was very ill. She might not make it until Christmas. Our trip has been cancelled.” She broke into tears.

“What is it mom? Is this his way of breaking things off?”

“It may be honey. I used the ‘My mother is sick’ before myself.”

“Well ... let’s not cancel the trip, let’s go to the other coast. A couple of weeks somewhere in California would do us all some good,” I immediately countered.

“See Janice,” my girl said. “I knew Michael would come up with an idea like that. I suggested Northern California somewhere.”

“Maybe somewhere on the coast. I could use some tanning,” Katie said.

“It doesn’t matter much to us ladies. Getting out of the cold weather of Indiana sounds really good to us old broads,” Alice chimed in.

“I love old broads myself, and thirty-something’s and girls just older than me with really big smiles. So, you went shopping for California?” I asked.

“Yes. Maybe you and Katie could go out sometime this week to shop for warm weather yourselves?” mom said.

“If my girl will let me out of the house without her?” I said. “The food is getting cold ... let’s all eat some balls.”

I chowed into the food on my plate as I heard giggles on all sides of me. It tasted so good. There wasn’t any side dish. This was comfort food as far as my mother was concerned. I hope that this doesn’t mean they are irreparably broken up.

I was getting to like Brian. Not just because he provided us with heavily discounted musical materials either. I thought he was exactly what mom needed. I am not sure if I am ready to call anybody ‘Dad’ again?

After dinner, we all talked about different places to go on our ‘family vacation.’ We decided on staying in the Salinas area of California and renting a vehicle to whatever beach we wanted to go to. Katie made notice that there were some ‘clothing optional’ beaches not too far away. Of course!

Our location was decided, next was how many rooms did we need? Mom suggested three, Jennifer suggested two, I stayed out of the discussion, for obvious reasons.

Mom explained her reasoning, “One for Ally and Me, one for Katie, and one for the young lovers.”

Jennifer elucidated, “Michael will end up with either me or Katie, why spend money for a room she will barely use. We could co-exist in two double beds.”

“Michael,” Alice said, “Do you have an opinion?”

“I think anything I say will only cause me grief at a later date. I will do whatever the group wants.”

With Katie and Jennifer taking me by the arms, Jenn said, “We can share him, Mother. If you two both want him for a night, that’s all right with me.” Katie joined in with a nod of her head.

Mom and Ally huddled and spoke very quietly. Ally spoke, “We will get two rooms of two queens. Michael can have whomever he feels like on a nightly basis. How does that sound, Michael?”

“Oh, boy!” was all I had to say.

“That sounds like a positive response to me,” Jennifer said.

“Mom, if Brian calls me for any reason, how do you want me to respond? I am thinking about hiring a hit man right about now.”

“Michael,” she said with a chuckle. “Be nice to him. He may be worried about how fast we were going. No hit-men, at least, not yet.”

“All right but say the word. I am certain I could find somebody on Craig’s List to do the job really cheap.”

Mom walked over to me, took my face in her hands and gave me a moist and very satisfying kiss, in front of them all. I couldn’t resist putting my hands on her back and pulling her into me. After a few minutes of this, she said, “I don’t need Brian ... I got you, don’t I?”

“Anytime, anyplace ... anywhere Janice.”

“Damn, that was hot,” Katie said.

“I will have him ‘back’ in about hour ladies. We need to re-connect,” she said pulling me into her room and closing the door.

My mother is so incredibly arousing; I wouldn’t let her give me a blowjob. I wanted her just as bad. She stripped, and after about thirty seconds of allowing me sucking on her pussy, I stripped and started to pound away at her very wonderful mound.

She was grunting with each stroke in. I was grunting between strokes. We were kissing like a couple of teenagers. “Mom, I love you.” I said as often as I could.

“Oh, dear Michael. Your father was never as good as you already are. I know you have many choices these days, but please remember that your mother loves you both as a son, and as a lover.”

That’s it ... the dam broke! I couldn’t believe how much I was cumming inside my own mother. Her shriek was alarming, but quite satisfying. I was prepared for the other ladies to burst in and do or say something, but it stayed just us two.

I rolled off, gasping for breath. She took and cleaned me off, and then climbed on for seconds. We had thirds and fourths. We took closer to two hours fulfilling each other’s needs. Brian is such an ass!

Along came the evening of the Teachers Concert. Only one night, so it had to be great. My orchestra arrived looking very nice. The two-dozen choir members who were backing up a few of the teachers arrived. Cece showed up to warm them up.

Every teacher performing checked in with me, as I had requested. The outfits they were wearing were all appropriate. Some of the men wore suits. When you are used to that, it’s no big deal. A few put on hats to help with their characters. I told them to point the brims up so people could see their faces.

Miss Janeway had on a beautiful sky blue flowing gown as befits an opera singer. Teachers not performing arrived mostly sitting in the front rows. Although not completely surprising, I did see Brian arrive. He and mom had a platonic looking hug. It would be interesting to find out how his mother was? He did have a large satchel with him. Probably the last batch of free music we will be getting from him.

I checked my watch and the pre-show announcement came on...

“Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. We usually are showing off our students on this stage, but tonight we all thought we should give those who work hard to teach our students the same opportunity. Please no flash photography of any kind. These are mostly rookies up on stage tonight. To lead them this evening is the combined orchestras of Jackson Heights Primary School and Lincoln High School plus the best conductor in Southern Indiana, Michael Robert Thomas Junior.”

I turned to the audience and took a bow with a spotlight on me.

Katie and Cece were on stage in position, and I began the music...

Whistles pervaded the auditorium, mostly because of the tight clothes they were wearing. The new lyrics were being listened to and appropriate laughter was heard all through their number.

The crowd loudly appreciated them when finished.

A few key performances were outstanding that night ... Paul never sounded more righteous and clean.

Stuart Barry was on his game as “Boy For Sale” was sung excellently.

Miss Janeway rocked the joint with her La Boehme aria, with Virginia Schraeder, along with the choir; sounded brilliant singing “Feed the Birds.”

The final performance of the evening, with the two principals, was hilarious. They had added some physical business to their rendition of “Hakuna Matata.”

The teachers in the audience all stood up to lead a final ovation to their compatriots. I turned first to give my orchestra a round of applause, and then I took mine.

I said, “Thank you for coming everyone. We plan to do this, every year from now on, please drive safely.”

I took off my headset and walked down to mom, Ally and Brian. I gave him a look, causing him to avert his eyes. As the place thinned out, I pulled him away from the ladies.

“Brian, I am disappointed in you. That might be tough for you to hear, but it’s the truth.”

“Michael,” he said getting emotional, “What I did, and how I did it, is inexcusable. My mother is fine. I love your mother. More than I have ever loved any woman in my entire life.”

“Then why... ?”

“I received a call. I was told that for national security purposes I needed to break up with your mother. I didn’t understand that at all. After the last time we all saw one another, I got a visit repeating the same message. They were wearing suits, plus I detected they had guns in shoulder holsters, along with earpieces. I needed to be here to tell you this in person. My phone may be bugged, for all I know.”

“None of that makes any sense to me,” I countered. “Thank you for coming in person. We’re changing our plans and heading to the left coast for a few weeks. Please forgive how this sounds, but does your ‘threat’ keep you from supplying us any more ‘five-fingered discounts?’”

That made him laugh. “Michael, as long as I can get away to come to these remarkable musical events of yours, I will also continue to provide you with materials to do so.”

“Here is an idea,” I said. “From this point on, send the school an invoice explaining what the materials ‘would have cost’ and I will let them know that the days of ‘free materials’ are limited.”

“That is an excellent idea, Michael. Here are the most recent scores you requested. I can’t wait to see LES MISÉRABLES next month. Your mother doesn’t know the real reason. Let her know if you’d like.”

He walked out first giving Janice a light peck on the cheek.

She came to me and we hugged. She was very emotional.

A few days earlier, we had celebrated Jennifer turning sixteen. Her favorite meal was Roasted Chicken Breast with Marmalade. I helped Ally make it while the other ladies lounged about.

I had no previous knowledge of what Marmalade even was. Sounds like a topic for ‘How It’s Made?’ Ally explained it as we worked together in the kitchen.

For the first time in a very long while, I got to announce, “DINNER.” to the ladies.

“Michael was very helpful in the making of this meal,” Ally boasted of me.

“When breasts are concerned, he usually is quite helpful,” Katie said. She and Jenn high-fived one another.

We had a marvelous time all eating together, enjoying one another’s company. I sat between Mom and Jenn.

“Hmmm, this tastes fabulous,” Jan said to me.

“It was made with lots of love,” I said giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

“I am actually getting a little nervous with our concert coming up,” Katie said.

“Don’t be, everybody will love you ... just like we do.” I said.

“That helps, a little. I haven’t performed in front of a paying audience since Cece and I both attended the University of Southern Indiana together.”

“What shows were you in?” Jenn asked her.

“LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, I played Audrey. It was a blast. I got to play a dumb blonde. My inspiration was Vivian Blaine from GUYS & DOLLS.

“What else did you do, any non-musical theatre?” Janice asked.

“The female version of THE ODD COUPLE. Cece and I met during that show. Instead of poker, we played trivial pursuit on stage. It was lots of fun, and we became friends for life, until our falling out over Paul. I miss him still, but I got, with Jennifer’s approval, a new guy in my life.”

After dinner, the presents came out. I had her open my present first. It was a necklace that had her name and the words ‘Sweet 16.’ She loved it giving me a nice kiss.

Katie got her a nice makeup kit with a promise to help her as asked. Again, a kiss was exchanged between the two of them.

Mom got up and handed her a box. “This is from both your mother and me,” she said.

She opened the box and found a set of keys. She looked at me and squealed. It wasn’t her mother’s keys. We all followed her out to see a bright watermelon red four-door Toyota Matrix, with the license plate “JENN.”

She hugged her mother so very tight; it was lovely. She moved on to Jan again with a motherly hug.

“It was Michael’s idea to get you a car of your own since girls are safer drivers. It’s in your name, although I expect you and Michael will be in it together,” Ally said. “The back seat looks quite comfortable.”

“Now, we can take Katie to school, can’t we Michael?” my girl said.

“Only if she wants to.”

“That is a beautiful car. I thought they discontinued the Matrix?” Katie said.

“We made the Toyota dealer an offer he couldn’t refuse,” my mother said. “There are tons of leg room. You can hook in your phone for music. This is a 2012 model, but it should follow you through high school, college, and beyond.”

“I suggested getting a red car. That way everyone would know to stay away when you are on the road,” I said.

Instead of her usual slap on the chest or the back of the head, she wrapped her arms around me ... grinding up against me tight.

After a most spectacular kiss, she said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this. I promise I will never have an accident or even a ticket in this car.”

We all went inside, very happy.

On our trip home from the concert, I explained word for word what Brian said to me. It started a lively discussion, but to no conclusion.

Mom seemed bummed out, so I suggested a late-night spa for the five of us. While it was cold outside, we got warm and chummy in the glow of the water. I held my mother tight. I felt her hand go inside my suit.

We began a light kiss that seemed to last forever. “Michael, I guess now it’s just you and me, and these wonderful ladies. Are you up for us all?”

“To purposely misquote Caesar, ‘I who am about to love, salute you.’” I gave her another hard moist kiss as she started a hand job underneath the water.

I felt more than one hand on me after Jan took me out of my tight suit. They were all going to share this together. It didn’t take very long for me to shoot straight out of the spa. They tried to catch it with their tongues. The second spurt Katie and Jenn shared. I leaned back and watched them all fighting for my cum. Wow!

I thought I was done, but mom leaned over and licked my cum off all of their faces and tits ... a real free for all.

We got out, dried off and changed. After a late supper of leftovers. I had heard a phone ringing earlier, so I suggested we all check our phones for messages, it was for me.

I listened to it causing my eyes to go big, and then, I said, “Listen to this...

“I got your email Mr. Thomas — the one about putting on my show WICKED in eighteen months. Your idea intrigues me. To let a high school put it on before it finishing on Broadway. You must have read that a movie is in the discussion phases as well. I would like to hear a three or four song interpretation from you as soon as possible. I go out of the country for the winter holidays. Call me back to arrange a specific date you could do this, very soon. I await your call.”

“Who was that?” Jennifer asked.

“Mr. Stephen Schwartz. I sent an email directly to him about two weeks ago. I am as surprised as you are. We need to arrange something before we put on LES MISÉRABLES.”

“Holy Shit,” Katie said. “Michael, I am really impressed by this.”

“Do you have the songs on iTunes?” Ally said.

“Yes, Jenn can you become a blonde again then go back to Fantine?”

“Absolutely Michael. We need an Elphaba ... I would gladly be Galinda. That leaves us needing a Wizard. What songs should we include?” she asked me back.

“What is This Feeling,” “Popular,” “I am Not that Girl,” “No Good Deed,” and either “A Sentimental Man” or “Wonderful.”

“You’ had given this some thought, haven’t you Michael?” Mom remarked.

“Yeah, but I am still a little shocked. I guess I need to call him back to get a score. Do we pick the other people, or have a mini-audition?”

“Calm down,” Mom said. “This is very exciting. Would you use the entire orchestra or just Lincoln High?”

“Lincoln High only. I may need Jason Stottlemire, his nickname is ‘Strings.’”

“As your Musical Czar, I can make that happen, Michael honey,” Katie said. The other ladies giggled.

“OK, who would be the best as Elphaba? They must be fourteen or older. I want everyone’s opinion ... Jennifer?”

“Either Joan Prefontayne or Shirley Wicks,” she said more quickly than I expected.

“Ally?”

She thought about it for a while, and said, “Joan would be good ... yeah, Joan is my choice.”

“Katie, who do you pick?” I said.

“I think Shirley has a better voice, but Joan would bring her attitude with her. You need that ... I pick Joan.”

“Ms. Janice Forrester, what do you think?”

“I like Sarah Kent, but I will make Joan my pick to make it unanimous. Talk to her tomorrow, Michael. Call Mr. Schwartz and request the score for your orchestra too.”

“Yes Ma’am, I certainly will. Another question everybody? Should I play them as independent musical numbers, or as a medley?”

“Let’s all think about that. We need to get to bed. Young Mr. Thomas has a busy day tomorrow,” my mother said.

I stayed long enough to give her a rousing kiss goodnight.

You talk about a busy day. It was that.

Jenn drove us to school, first dropping off Katie, then parked away from any other cars. It was a longer walk, but she was grinning really big. I gave her a kiss and went to my school.

The first thing I did was recall the number that left the message.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mr. Schwartz. This is Michael Thomas from Vincennes, Indiana. You left me a message. I was calling to return it this morning.”

“Thank you, Michael. So, you are fourteen, a conductor of music for two separate schools?”

“Yes, a private elementary school and an adjunct public high school right next door, Sir.”

“Is it the high school where you propose to put on my show?”

“Yes, that is correct. We are putting on SOUND OF MUSIC together this coming May, and then, after the summer break, RENT in November, and your show the following May.”

“Do you select the shows you perform by yourself?”

“I have been, but my commitment to the elementary school ends this coming May. We have had over a year of doing things together. Now, we are splitting up to gain our own identities ... musically speaking.”

“I understand that Michael, I suppose you need a score or two for my request to happen?”

“Only if you would like to hear our very talented orchestra while we perform about five to seven songs that have already been selected by a committee of local talent.”

“Very good, give me the address of where you would like it sent. Do you have a day selected for me to come and listen to it?”

“Not quite yet Sir, but I will have that done in the next 48 hours. Let me give you our address...”

We concluded our conversation, and I started to wander about for several moments. I took a deep breath and asked Clara to speak to Principal McGowan.

I explained the plan, just to hear his reaction. He sounded impressed. Although I suspect she had listened in, I also gave Clara a heads up.

I went over to Lincoln High and spoke to Clarice and Richard. She was practically giddy over this possibility. He was calmer but appeared excited over the hope of being selected for such an honor. He asked if he could announce it, but I wasn’t willing to give that go-ahead quite yet.

Separately, I asked Clarice where I would find Joan Prefontayne? She told me with a big smile.

I found the classroom, knocking on the door. It was one of Miss Janeway’s classes. I asked to speak to Joan, who was allowed to come outside the classroom with me for a moment.

She looked very nervous, wondering what was so important to pull her out of class.

“Joanie,” I said, causing her to break into a smile, “You have been selected to be part of an audition Lincoln High is giving to put on WICKED in eighteen months. Are you interested in singing the role of Elphaba to Jennifer’s Galinda?”

“Are you fucking serious?” she said, much too loud.

“This is only for the audition. It doesn’t necessarily mean the part is yours if and when we put it on. Everyone thought of you first, including Jennifer.”

“Yes, of course I will do it. Just let me know where and when you want me?” she said, turning on the charm, but Miss Janeway opened the door.

“Oh, Joanie, keep this to yourself, for now, please?”

“I will try Michael,” she said. “Thank you, Ma’am,” I added before I turned and walked away.

I found Katie in her room, burst in and asked, “Who would be your first choice for the Wizard?”

“How are you this morning Mr. Thomas? You know Jennie Robinson?”

“What’s going on, Michael?” she asked. “What about the Wizard?

I brought her into our niche and brought Katie up-to-date, including the conversation I had with Mr. Schwartz.

“That certainly took a good amount of moxie, don’t you think so, Jennifer?” Miss Robinson remarked.

“Moxie is one of many things Michael is full of,” she said. “Have you thought about anyone in particular yet for the Wizard?”

“I don’t want him to have ... too pretty of a voice. That leaves out James Allen and Geoff Cooper.”

“What about Sam Choate?” Katie said. “Maybe even Steve Neff.”

“Either one of those is a great choice, Miss Stapleton. I will talk to our ‘committee’ about them tonight. Thank you, see you later, ladies.”

I left them to their conversation I must have interrupted. I had lunch planned with my girl, so I stayed over at Lincoln. I put in my ear buds and listened to the playlist I made of the seven possible songs. I was just wandering around.