Chapter 38

“Very nice, please applaud for her. Just about everyone will be getting some kind of solo with these songs. Joan, please ease up on the hip movements, it’s a bit over the top!”

“Isabel, Jennifer, and Katie please. Everyone, I call her that because I know ... way too many Jennifers. Number 135. This is lively. It would help if you have seen the movie FROZEN. Tiffany, can you give the sound of a knock on wood?” She did. “Good, watch the ladies’ hands so this is in sync...”

I started Nancy on the piano...

ISABEL Elsa? Knocks
Do you want to build a snowman?
Come on, let’s go and play!
I never see you anymore
Come out the door
It’s like you have gone away
We used to be best buddies
And now we’re not
I wish you would tell me why!
Do you want to build a snowman?
It doesn’t have to be a snowman....

ELSA Joan Go away, Anna.
ISABEL Okay, bye...

“Hide somewhere Isabel.”

JENNIFER Knocks
Do you want to build a snowman?
Or ride our bikes around the halls?
I think some company is overdue
I have started talking to
The pictures on the walls!
Hang in there, Joan.
It gets a little lonely
All these empty rooms
Just watching the hours tick by...
(tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock)

“Jenn move away for Katie...”

I have to cut some of this beautiful music.

There was applause when it was finished, “Make sure you all knock in the same place. We want to ‘see’ the door.”

“OK, write it down. These books are yours to keep forever. We may add to or take away music, so always bring them with you ... Always.”

“You all are sounding very nice, and I am not just saying that. You are the best of the best. On to number 99, just Peter and the band...”

“Have you heard of this song before Peter?”

“Yes sir, you want it over the top?” he responded with glee.

“Yes, please ... way over.”

“Jason, you start this...”

PETER CHAPMAN
Oh, one last kiss,
Give me one last kiss,
It never felt like this,
No, never felt like this,
You know I need your love.
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh, give me one last kiss!
(His hips were working it!).
Oh, one more time,
Oh, baby, one more time,
It really is sublime,
Oh honey, so sublime!
You know I need your love.
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh, give me one last kiss

Isabel and a few others, got on their knees in front of him.

Ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-aby-y-y,
give me one last kiss!
Ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-aby-y-y,
give me one last kiss!

The girls started singing ‘Aahs’

Oh, one last kiss,
Give me one last kiss,
It never felt like this,
No, never felt like this,
You know I need your love.
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh, give me one last kiss!

Everybody got a big kick from that number.

I applauded myself. Peter had just enough Elvis swagger to pull it off.

“OK. That was wonderful, including what the ladies did. One more before our first break,” I said turning pages in the music to see what would be good. I stopped at number 72, instructing the orchestra and getting all of my singers. “Alice will sing ‘We Are One’ to start, Isabel will sing the other part. The rest of you adlib, but not too loud...”

ALICE
As you go through life you will see
There is so much that we ... don’t understand. And the only thing we know is things don’t always go the way we planned, but you will see every day that we will never turn away when it seems all your dreams come undone. We will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride. We are more than we are ... we are one.

ISABEL
If there’s so much I must be, Can I still just be me ... the way I am? Can I trust in my own heart or am I just one part ... of some big plan?

ALICE (moves over to IZZY)
Even those who are gone are with us as we go on. Your journey has only begun. Tears of pain, tears of joy, one thing nothing can destroy is our pride, deep inside ... we are one. We are one, you and I. We are like the earth and sky, one family under the sun. All the wisdom to lead all the courage that you need, you will find when you see

We are one!

It keeps going with the sounds of the human forest.

“BREAK FOR TEN. There are two bathrooms available. This is a strict ten minutes’ people.”

Nancy walked behind me stopping to give me a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks,” was all she said.

Jenn brought me a water and said, “Aren’t you being a bit tough on them?”

“I want them to learn a lot of songs before mom’s wedding. They love it. Your mother sang that last song beautifully and she had never even heard it before. I am introducing music everywhere we go, and I want it to be like an infection that circles the globe, Jennifer. I love you.”

“Three Minutes to go.” I said.

They all started to get back in place, “Nancy, try a different keyboard sound the next time we do that last number again please?”

“Yessir Boss,” she said.

Everyone was settled and in place. Looking at my watch, I said, “Very good. Nancy, you have piano during this next number, number 32. I need Isabel center stage and Joan to her left and Jennifer to her right ... one foot behind Izzy.”

“Joan and Jenn, you two need to work up a dance routine while you are doing this. After you do, teach it to Izzy. Everybody ready?”

I pointed to...

ISABEL (JEN/JOAN)
All the single ladies (All the single ladies)
All the single ladies (All the single ladies)
All the single ladies (All the single ladies)
All the single ladies
Now put your hands up
ISABEL
Up in the club, we just broke up
I am doing my own little thing
You decided to dip but now you wanna trip
Cause another brother noticed me

I am up on him, he up on me
don’t pay him any attention
Cause I cried my tears, for three good years
Ya can’t be mad at me

They were all breathing hard, but when they were finished I told them how fabulous they were ... everyone approved. I gave Izzy a big hug for her effort.

“Number 107, for Alice Guthrie, please?”

She came up, turned to the song and gave me a huge smile. “I know this song, Mr. Thomas.”

“Are you all ready...”

My brass sounded excellent.

MS. ALICE GUTHRIE
Goldfinger
He’s the man, the man
with the Midas touch
A spider’s touch
Such a cold finger
Beckons you to
enter his web of sin
But don’t go in
Golden words
he will pour in your ear
But his lies can’t disguise
what you fear
For a golden girl knows
when he’s kissed her
It’s the kiss of death from
Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl beware of this heart of gold
This heart is cold

(We will need more deep brass before we travel anywhere)

Golden words he will
pour in your ear
But his lies can’t
disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows
when he’s kissed her
It’s the kiss of death from
Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl beware
of this heart of gold
This heart is cold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold...

She blasted out that last note almost like Shirley Bassey does. She gave me a hug and a kiss.

“Oooohhhhhh,” the crowd said.

“Excellent Mr. Bell and Miss Slaughter. Nice teamwork.”

“Next is the number Jason auditioned with. It’s not in the book. Let him get in front, please?”

“Can you perform this standing up, Jason?”

“Yessir Boss.”

“Whenever you are ready,” I told him.

I sat and listened to “Malaguena” again. It’s quite entrancing. (The Roy Clark version)

I applauded as he went back to his other position. “That was magnificent. Next up, are Miss Stapleton and Miss Guthrie doing number 78.” There were titters from the group.

“Michael, are you sure...” I cut off Katie and said, “Yes, I am. Now both of your give me all you have got or I will give it to someone else.”

“Orchestra ready...” “Jenn, you start this.”

I got up, Nancy moved back over...

JENN
I have known about you for a while now
When he leaves me, he wears a smile now
As soon as he’s away from me
In your arms is where he wants to be

KATIE
But you are the one he rushes home to
You’re the one he gave his name to
I will never see his face
in the early morning light
You have his mornings, his daytimes
And sometimes I have his night

(I am directing them both!)

JENN (KATIE)
But does he love you (Does he love you)
Like he loves me (Like he loves me)
Does he think of you (Does he think of you)
When he’s holding me
And does he whisper (Does he whisper)
All his fantasies
Does he love you (Does he love you)

BOTH
Like he’s been loving me

Key change.

Dear God ... the emotions they both finished the song with seemed totally unbridled. The hugged each other while everyone applauded them.

I got a hug from each of them, including a tight embrace from Katie. “I will be waiting up for you.”

“Wasn’t that fabulous everybody?”

And, we went on for another ninety minutes, when I said, “Break for forty minutes. We don’t have lunch today, but there will be the next three days.”

“Michael,” Ally said. “You don’t invite people over and tell them there is no lunch.”

She and Katie went into the kitchen and pulled out of the oven steaming hot dogs and hamburgers. There was a large plate of matching buns and a tray of condiments they pulled from the refrigerator.

Katie opened the garage door and had me bring in the oversized igloo basket. It was full of cold water bottles.

I got myself some food and found a place to sit. Izzy found the one next to me, and Jenn was on the other side. “I am having a great time Michael, whether I get to sing much or not. Everyone is so good. Wow, Miss Stapleton has got such a beautiful voice ... and she is so beautiful. I would love to have a figure like hers when I grow up.”

“Talk to her about that. She told me that all the boys figured she was ... easy and willing to ... be really nice to them.”

“Are you talking about sex?” Izzy said.

I had to finish my mouthful before I could say anything. “This is not a discussion for us to have. You and your mother need to talk about things like ... sex and stuff.”

“My mom and dad both talked to me about sex when I was eight-years-old. I started having periods and they explained what they are and everything and I should be very careful around boys my age and older guys who might like ‘little girls’ like me too much.”

“Wow, you are very sophisticated for your age young lady. Don’t grow up too fast.”

I took another bite of my food, as did both Jenn and Isabel. It stayed quiet as everyone was eating. Isabel did look at me often and smiled.

Two hours later, I only kept Isabel and Joan.

We actually went through thirty-seven pieces of music. I was very proud of them, which I had told them often. Ally, Katie, and Jennifer were very satisfied with the songs they had been given. I was truly impressed by how quickly they all rolled from one song to the next.

We worked on the main WICKED songs, then I sent Izzy and Joanie home.

We did the same thing every day, wedding music in the morning, WICKED music in the afternoon. I gave Lily a wonderful song to sing from long before she had been born, “Old Cape Cod.” Miss Starr got her GS Necklace kissing me on the lips.

School had started, and I reminded the Gold Standard Orchestra to be dressed in black pants or skirts, with a multi-colored top of some kind. I carefully asked all the ladies to wear undergarments since this was a wedding. Those performing needed to wear something comfortable and easy to move around it again, wearing all applicable underwear. That generated some giggles, but they understood.

I gave Lily, Isabel, and Joan a kiss goodbye.

I was worn out, but I still moved enough stands around to sit comfortably on the sofa.

Katie sat next to me and said, “Let me give you a foot rub honey, that should help.”

She pulled off my shoes and socks and started it. “You know, Michael, after the first day of your Golde Standard training, I was going to tear you a new butt for the way you were treating everyone, but ... on the second day, people were responding to your methodology quite well. I can’t wait to see how you do during your six months in the deep end.”

“I have been at this for a while, Katie. Six months is another thing altogether. That feels really wonderful ... thank you.”

On the 31^st, we got up early enough to load all the music stands plus the electronic piano in the Matrix. There would be a piano there, we were told. We took our change of clothes with us and headed out to the hall on Hart Street. The door was open, and we started taking things inside. There was a nice stage for us with a piano I checked it and it was tuned. There were tables and chairs set up in rows, I presume to feed the people.

It took several trips to get it all inside, then I got our clothes and Katie re-parked the car. Things officially started at eleven am, but I asked the Gold Standard Company to be there at ten.

We washed up, changed and I got out my new baton. Jennifer came out in a blue dress that looked marvelous.

Through the door came the people to set the tables and deliver the cake. We watched them work as Jenn turned to me and asked, “How big of a wedding do you think we might have, Michael?”

“I don’t know, for everyone we know it would take one of the school auditoriums maybe.” I saw our people and Tiffany start bringing her drum set. Peter and Isabel came up looking very sharp and sat on the edge of the stage by us. I had the electric piano setup for Nancy with a cord for Jason and his instruments.

Rather quickly all my people were there. They all were wearing their Gold Necklaces and all of them were carrying their tome of a music book. With Ally being mom’s Maid of Honor, we would lose her for a while, but not very long.

I got up and made sure they were ready. The GSO took my suggestion to heart and had a cornucopia of shirts and blouses. Joan arrived with her hair dyed blonde. She looked very different. I got some chairs for my extra singers to sit down on when not singing. I saw plenty of chairs in the back of the hall. Everybody should be all right.

The last musical number we practiced at home was the usual walking to the minister piece of music. It was Katie, Peter, Isabel, and Jennifer singing, “There is Love.”

After a dozen quests arrived, I got up and began, “Ladies and Gentlemen, please find a spot to sit. We are the ‘Gold Standard Society’ and will be playing for you today.”

“Number 131 please...”

“Moon River” began to play while I directed them. Everyone was sounding very nice. At the end of the instrumental verse, Blonde Joanie stood up and began to sing...

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I am crossing you in style, someday,
Oh dream maker, you heart breaker,
Wherever you are goin’,
I am goin’ your way,

Two drifters, off to see the world,
There’s such a lot of world to see,
We’re after the same rainbows end,
Waitin’ ‘round the bend,
My Huckleberry friend,
Moon River, and me!

(Mike played a nice trumpet solo for four measures.)

Oh dream maker,
you heart breaker,
wherever you are goin’,
I am goin’ your way,
Two drifters, off to see the world,
There’s such a lot of world to see,

We’re after that same rainbows end,
Waitin’ ‘round the bend,
My Huckleberry friend,
Moon River, and me!

There was a polite applause causing Joan to beam and then sit down.

We didn’t get the microphones I had asked for, so I got up and said, “We have been hired for the next three hours. Food will be available after the wedding ceremony which will happen in about forty-five minutes.”

“Number 85, everyone.”

Isabel got up to sing. She quieted the crowd a bit by smiling really big ... we had the Glenn Miller version, which started with the band.

This got Izzy swaying and began...

Somewhere over the rainbow,
way up high
there’s a land that I have heard of
once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow,
skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
really do come true.
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
and wake up where the
clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
away above the chimney tops,
that’s where you will find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow,
blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can’t I?

(A musical break to show off the orchestra.)

If happy little bluebirds fly
beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?

They loved her, applauding twice as loud as for Joan.

We played several more numbers, and then I saw the Reverend, Brian and Janice standing at the white runner and ready to begin the walk onto the stage. I began “There is Love” and ran down to escort my mother onto the stage. The four singers were sounding lovely.

I put my arm out to my mother, who looked fabulous as everyone stood up for her. We took a lovely walk until I released her to Brian, and then I went back to my place as the conductor. We finished the song to silence.

“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and angels, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love.”

The Reverend went on and they said their vows to each other, both in tears, as was I. The reverend asked them to join hands and asked them the inevitable question, to which they both answered, “Yes.”

Brian actually jumped the gun a little, but they were announced and presented at “Brian Patrick O’Sullivan and Janice Thomas-O’Sullivan” and it was my turn to conduct the music “Sentimental Journey” jazz style as they walked down and smiled at everyone.

After they left, Ally joined us sitting down as the orchestra played the song to its conclusion. Having never been at a wedding before in my life, it was quite fun to observe the shenanigans of the toasts, cake cutting, bouquet, and garter toss.

Joan, Jenn, Katie and Ally joined the other single ladies’ eager to catch the bouquet and Joanie actually caught it. She giggled so much ... she dropped it twice running back to the bandstand.

I was pushed, and Peter came along for the garter toss. My mom still has great legs, which were showed off as Brian slowly removed the garter, and then turned around and shot it back over his head. One of Brian’s friends caught it and his date gave him a big squeeze.

I got my orchestra ready for the first dance, “Number 102 everyone,” and Katie stepped forward while the violins started, and she began to sing...

When I fall in love,
it will be forever,
or I will never fall in love.

The dancing began, and I saw mom smiling so brilliantly in Brian’s arms. We followed that up with Peter singing the Sinatra classic “All Of Me” and the afternoon went on.

An hour later, the happily married couple left in a limousine, causing the place to start emptying out. I was approached for a business card, which I never would have thought of in a million years.

Jenn quickly mentioned our website, which I didn’t know we had. She recommended we would be working on that the moment we got home.

Our final song was “Colors Of The Wind” with Katie singing lead. The few still there stayed to listen to her wonderful voice. I said goodbye to those remaining and we got a nice applause.

I turned to my Society and said, “Thank you everyone. It was indeed a pleasure. See you at school on Monday.”

Unexpectedly, they started applauding with Mike Bell getting up. “Mr. Thomas, the pleasure was all ours. Can we help you pack up?”

He came out and we hugged. Just like his dad ... what a young man!

Ally left us to speak to someone about something. She came back excited saying, “We have a ton of food to take home. Party at our house, you are all invited.”

That sounded great to them. We packed up Jennifer’s car and had something of a caravan back to our house.

We left her car full. She ran to change clothes, while I took off the tie and coat I had on. I left the door open and indeed the party had moved back to our house. Alice, Katie, and Peter brought in the food. He seemed to have a crush going on Katie.

I wonder if I should warn him? Or her?

Izzy burst through the door giving me a kiss. “Michael, that was amazing! Singing in front of real people we didn’t know like that. I want to do that for the rest of my life ... instead of school. Please let me sing with the Gold Standard Society for the rest of my life? Singing is so much fun.” She was up on my lap by the end of her breathless remarks.

The place was filling up. Jenn went to get paper plates for everyone to have some food. Miss Chapman was not letting me up. Jenn got us each a plate of food and sat by us. “That was a lot of fun, wasn’t it Isabel?”

“Yes, it was, Jennifer. I think I understand why you love to sing and perform so much. It gets inside you and you find yourself anticipating the next time you get to perform. I love it ... I absolutely love to sing. And, I know I am not supposed to say this out loud, but (she got quiet) I love Michael too.”

“I completely understand those feelings, Isabel. You are correct that saying that out loud can get you and Michael in a whole lot of trouble. Even if you feel that way, you need to learn that most of the time you can’t say that out loud. I guess, if you were alone, nothing would be wrong with saying that. Doing anything more than the cute little kisses I see could really mess up Michael’s future, OK.”

“I understand that, Jennifer. Thank you for not being mad at me. He is so cute and so good at everything he seems to do,” the young lady on my lap said. “I love you too, like the older sister I used to have.”

“Excuse me for a moment, ladies, I need to use the restroom,” I said.

Isabel reluctantly got up; I put down my plate and headed to my own bathroom. On my way out Joan got me in her clutches and wrapped herself around me. There were enough people there to have nobody notice what was going on. I told myself that next time she got this aggressive, I would reciprocate, so I stuck my hand down the front of the pants she had changed into. She was as hairless as Jenn.