Chapter 47

EVENING of DUETS CONCERT

All of my performers showed up on time and dressed like they were going out on the town afterward. Some of the older girls like Nancy Newman, Emily Clarke, Joan Prefontayne, and Olivia Wright, and of course Jennifer Guthrie were dressed in beautiful dresses. Not to be outdone, Isabel, Paula Scott, and the Michael’s twin sisters were dressed to the nines as well. I got to pick Isabel’s dress for the evening. We should have had a red carpet put out front as they arrived.

I was back in my tuxedo, as I turned to the audience.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome to our first ever ‘Evening of Duets.’”

I paused and there was a nice applause.

“These are sixty of the most talented students from Jackson Heights and Lincoln High. It’s been my sincere pleasure working with them. No flash photos, please...”

I took my baton and had the trumpets began, then Lorenzo and Isis began. The tempo stayed right on until the end.

The applause started and they bowed in return.

From that point on, it was a magical and musical night. Everyone was at the top of his or her game, voice wise.

Joan and John, Jennifer and James, Chloe and Brick plus Nancy and John all evoked love for each other during their romantic love songs.

The hit of the evening was the Isabel and Rose version of “Does He Love You?”

When it was over, I had the orchestra playing an instrumental version of David Bowies “Fame” as they came out in reverse order to applause and loud cheers from the entire audience. I announced each pairing as they came out finishing barely ahead of the final measures of the song.

“GOODNIGHT!”

I stopped everyone cold followed by a total blackout. Lights back up and the night was over. No more auditions for the rest of the school year made me a happy camper. Jeremy is getting the Evening of Overtures in March, followed by three nights of my GOLD STANDARD SOCIETY in April with WICKED in May to finalize my commitment to Jackson Heights.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t terribly tired as was usual. My working out is finally giving me some of the endurance I had been hoping for.

Both principals, with their plus ones, came up and shook my hand. Clara wasn’t with Harold ... instead a woman I never met.

“This is Loretta Henry. The mother of Andrea, one of your cellists, Mr. Thomas.”

I took her hand and kissed the back of it, saying “How did you like our evening of music, Ms. Henry?”

“It was fabulous. I never knew that elementary and high schools could sound so good. You are excellent at what you do. My Andrea, was not doing well in school until she joined up in orchestra. Now, she is a solid B student. Thank you for all you have done Mr. Thomas.”

“Your daughter improved greatly when I started having competitions within each section of the orchestra. As soon as she was around others who could help her, it has been marvelous to see her progress since then. Is it safe to assume she is going to Lincoln in the fall?”

“Oh, yes ... she has an ambition to get in your Gold Standard Society before she graduates,” she said.

“At the moment, I am out of room, but a spot could always open up. No guarantees though. Of my five non-society cellists she is in a strong third position as of right now. Practice, practice, and more practice is all I can tell her right now.”

“Thank you for your time Mr. Thomas ... again, everyone sounded fabulous.”

“Thank you.”

Clarice was on her uncle’s arm and she just gave me a monster hug. “It’s amazing what you get out of these youngsters Michael.” She had on her GSS necklace. All dressed up, she is a babe ... with freckles.

“Excuse me, please,” I said.

Jenn and Isabel had come out changed. I rushed in to do the same, bumping into Peter and Katherine. She was on his arm, and he was being very cool about it.

I came out changed into jeans and a red T-shirt.

Stu was down from his perch, “What’s next, Boss?”

“Not sure. But, don’t worry; you will be one of the first to find out. Everybody will get his or her next payday on Friday of next week. I will be working with the WICKED cast, while Jeremy works with the orchestra. See you next week.”

I had Jenn and Isabel in hand as we went to her car. After we got in, Isabel asked, “How much did we each make from the Carmel performances?”

“The orchestra, singers, and Stuart, over $400 each.”

That got me a nice kiss from Izzy.

I was only a little tired, and a lot hungry.

We drove by and got $50 worth of KFC Chicken, and took it home. Expensive, but extremely satisfying.

After eating, I was still so energized; I changed into a swimsuit and jumped into the pool to swim some laps. The water was chilling, but I quickly got used to it as I swam.

Lap after lap I swam wondering how far I can take this love of music and performing. Being fourteen has its advantages, but what about my goal to have my own orchestra and having people coming to me instead of trekking around the country to crowds of various sizes.

My arms finally were telling me to finish up. I had lost track of my count somewhere around 25 or 26. I got out grabbed my towel and went inside.

Isabel was waiting for me already dressed for bed. I covered myself as she said, “I counted 40 laps Michael, that’s a lot.”

“Really, I lost count somewhere in the middle. Thanks, I will be out in a moment, Tinker Bell.”

“OK Peter Pan,” she giggled.

I came out in only sweat pants. I got the usual catcalls from the ladies. Izzy got on my lap quickly. I knew we were being watched so I kept her at bay.

She lay her head on my bare chest, “Wasn’t tonight amazing, big brother?”

“Yes it was, and you and Rose got the biggest applause of the night, just barely more than Jenn and James,” I said.

“I think our applause was more than hers,” Jennifer said sitting down next to me. She and Isabel shared a smile.

“I will let you two fight that out while I watch,” I said.

“You would like that, wouldn’t you?” Jenn said.

“Not really ... I care too much about you two to see either of you hurt.”

“Michael,” Isabel said turning back to me. “Tell me about sex, please?”

Jennifer exploded in laughter as my face contorted to figure out what just happened.

“You were right Jennifer, his face nearly exploded ... that was fun!”

“So now, you two are conniving against me?”

“Maybe?” my little sister said getting a quick touch kiss from me.

My shirt pocket hummed.

“Hello, this is Michael Thomas, and home of the Gold Standard Society. We perform over 70 years of music. What can I do for you tonight?”

“You did know this is Brian, didn’t you?”

“I was trying out a new way to answer the phone. What do you think, Pop?”

“Not bad sonny boy. I got a possible job in March. Can I come over and give you the pitch?”

“Sure thing, bring Janice and Peter if you would like.”

Five minutes later they all showed up. Isabel ran to her brother to get a hug, and then he walked over to Katherine. She smiled perkily at him!

All settled, Brian began, “So, I got a call after the Valentine’s Day concert. It’s up in Indianapolis on the third Saturday in March. It’s at the Old National Centre, which used to be called the Murat Centre.”

“Cool,” Isabel said.

“It’s at their performing arts center and it holds 2,600 people.

“Cool,” Ally mimicked.

“What are they offering to pay us?” I asked.

“Well, they plan to charge seventy-five bucks a head...”

“That’s $195,000,” I quickly calculated. “Could we fill the place?”

“I don’t really know the answer to that Michael. We have to make a choice of a flat $85,000, or a percentage of the gross.”

“What’s the percentage?”

“Twenty-five.”

“With a full house, that would be $39,000.”

“Isn’t he so very smart?” Isabel said hugging me.

“Even if we only put 1,600 butts in the seats, that’s still 120K.”

“How much is that per person Michael?” Jennifer asked.

“Somewhere ... around $1,350 per person.”

“Cool,” Katherine said.

“Make it so,” I said to Brian.

“You haven’t asked for any music lately, Michael. Anything I can get you?” Brian said.

“I can have a list in a few days,” I told him.

“Alright, anything else, Son?”

“Excuse me everyone, I need to talk to my father in private.” I took him outside closing the door moving out of sight of everyone else.

“What’s with all the drama, Michael?”

“I have a really expensive idea ... tell me if it’s stupid if you want. I trust you.”

“All right, go ahead,” he said.

I took a big breath, “You have purchased outright all of Ed Chapman’s car dealerships and lots, correct?”

“Yeesssss,” he drawled out.

“Are you keeping all of them?”

His face turned into a smirk. “Until I have a reason to do otherwise? OK, spill it. I see something in your eyes.”

“I propose a Multi-purpose building that has at its core a 15,000-person capacity theatre that would be the home of the GOLD STANDARD SOCIETY but could be rented out for anyone else.”

“Do you have any idea how much that would cost Michael?”

“In Evansville the Ford Center opened in 2011 at a cost of $127 million,” I said. “Maybe a little more than that?”

That got him laughing really loudly, “How much money do you think I have Michael?”

“Why would it have to be only your money?”

“You mean, get some investors?”

“Isn’t that how things get built? Using other people’s money?”

“Are you sure you’re only fourteen?”

“I get that a lot, sir.”

“Why build this, when you have the new auditorium at Jackson Heights and Lincoln High?”

“We could stop traveling and have people come to us instead. I could also add more kids to the orchestra and the singer pool, maybe even double them. It would be our facility to rent out, as we wanted.”

“You have thought this out more than just a little, haven’t you?”

“I am not expecting anything built right away. We still have got to become more popular. Maybe ... by the time I am out of high school, in three years.”

“Let’s say for a minute that the money isn’t a big deal, but it is,” Brian said. “You would put it in one of the spots that is currently one of my dealerships?”

“Anywhere with decent access to US 41, US 50 or 61.”

“Let me look into all of this Michael. Let’s keep this on the down low until we can talk again?”

“Sure thing, Brian,” I said slapping him on the shoulder and opening the door to go back in.

“What was that all about?” Jennifer asked me the moment I stepped inside.

“Need to Know, at least for now. Don’t ask me please?” I said.

I felt fingers starting to tickle me, it was Isabel. “Tink, please?”

“That goes for me too, Janice,” Brian said. “This is really important that you don’t know anything until there is something to tell.”

“It’s already Sunday morning, let’s go home honey,” he said to Janice.

“Come on Loverboy,” mom said to Peter who was getting a nice kiss from Katherine.

She turned him around and slapped his bottom and the three of them left. His smile was almost as charming as Isabels’.

“I’m hungry again,” Izzy said.

Ally gave her a water saying, “Eating this late at night can make you fat. Water can help you better.”

I got a kiss from everyone and took Jenn to bed with me.

Around eight am, I got out from underneath her and decided to work out. I stripped down and put on a suit and sweatpants.

It was time to increase some tension and weight to my routine. After doing that, I began. Oooh, my arms felt both good and bad, but I knew it was for the best to get as buff for my girls as it was to get strong and able to increase my endurance for all the concerts we have scheduled.

I don’t know how crazy my idea for the edifice I envisioned and talked to Brian about. Maybe it’s just a dream to have to keep me going and improving my skills at playing piano, conducting, and the occasional percussion moment. It was the core of the dream I had weeks before I had yet to explain to anyone.

Of course, at that point, I started thinking about all the instruments we don’t yet have in the GSS that we could justify in our own facility; Marimba, Triangle, Timpani, Tuba, Oboes, French Horns, an Ocarina, a Recorder or two, Harp plus many more. I guess I want a full and complete orchestra ... with somewhere around seventy-five to one hundred players. Possibly more!

Finishing my routine, I saw a cutie-pie waiting for me in the spa. I stripped off my sweat pants and got in to my neck. She did the same move and we were face to face in the spa. Her long hair was up on the top of her head and looked marvelous.

We just stayed just like that for an interminable amount of time. I couldn’t stand it, so I leaned forward and we touched lips ever so slightly.

I put my hands on either side of her face, which she reacted to with a shiver that went all through her body. She smiled at me with so much love. I pulled her body up close to mine and said, “I love you Isabel Annabelle Chapman.”

Her reaction was a simple, “I know Michael. I love you too.”

“Hey guys, can I join you?” Katherine said coming through the door in a modest bikini.

What can we say?

“Sure thing young lady, you look very nice.”

“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”

I now had my arms tightly around my little sister. Eww, that doesn’t sound how I meant to say it.

“We were just ... cuddling,” I said to our uninvited guest.

“Looks like fun,” she was quick to say.

“You can’t have Michael, he’s mine ... and Jennifer’s,” Isabel said with some authority in her voice.

“I can see that. Don’t you love me anymore, Michael?”

“I don’t love you any less, but just wait ninety days, then Peter won’t be in school any more. You two could go out together, like on a date.”

“Ninety days is like a lifetime Michael. Isabel, will you mind if I date your brother when he is out of school?”

“No problem, you are good for him Katherine. He is being charming, different from when I saw him around other girls.”

“Do you mind that I am older than he is?”

“Nope, for the same reasons I just said,” Isabel said making a valid point.

“Time to get out Tinker Bell?”

“OK, Peter Pan,” she said taking my hand. She handed me a towel.

I had wondered if she had noticed my being at half-staff.

She ran into her room giggling.

I quietly entered my bedroom seeing Jennifer still asleep. Instead of taking a shower I stripped naked and climbed back in bed. There was a quick grip of my erection.

“Who caused this to happen?” her voice said softly.

“Isabel, but Katherine gets a little responsibility too.”

“What happened, exactly?”

“I worked out, and we shared some time together in the spa.”

“Did you ... touch her?”

“Only her face and lips.”

“Did she touch you?”

“During our kiss she pushed her body up against mine.”

“And...”

“I got an erection. Getting out of the spa she may have caught a glimpse of my extended suit.”

“Listen, Lover, I don’t really understand little girls. I don’t know what she knows about penises and erections ... and I am not about to be the one who explains anything to her.”

That made her giggle.

Women!

I emailed Brian a list of the music I wanted. I got an email back a few moments later saying he had received it.

There will be some great moments in our upcoming GSS Concerts, including a medley of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons letting James Allen cut loose with his near perfect falsetto. It doesn’t hurt that he has an old-style haircut. I think he may have Italian heritage, just a guess?

It might mess up some of the group, but I am going to make a new book of all the songs in my GSS set list on my phone. That’s a big job for either Clara or Clarice. Maybe, I should farm it out to a printing company?

I got a call.

“Hey Brian.”

“I ordered the music asking for a rush on it. You could have it by Wednesday. The publishers all said, ‘No Problem.’ I have a question about our Black Ops project?”

Funny he should use that term...

“What is it?”

“Since this will be a private venture between whoever ... why stop at it holding only 15,000? The biggest indoor arena in Indiana is the Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, its 20,000. It was built in ‘97 for what is now $240 million.”

“Apparently, you like the idea of this more than I first thought, Brian.”

“It’s growing on me son. Quick question what cola drink do you prefer, Pepsi or Coke?”

“Why?”

“If you were on a deserted island, with only Jennifer and you, and could pick only one of the two, but, you would get all you wanted for the rest of your life?”

“I can see right through that Brian ... I wouldn’t mind if either brands’ logo was on the building as long as it meant we were getting a shitload of money from them.”

“I can’t remember the last time I heard you swear, Michael,” he said.

“That’s because I don’t see a reason for it.”

At breakfast the next morning, I asked, “Do we have any necklaces left Jennifer?”

“Who are you adding?” my almost little sister asked.

“The cellist Andrea Henry. Since I have added a double bass, I wanted a cellist also.”

“Do we have room for her?” Alice asked.

“We will make room. Do we have any necklaces left?”

“I know of two, how about you Katherine?” Jenn asked.

“I have got one extra,” she said.

“Fantastic. Let’s get to school, gang.”

I attended Jackson Height’s orchestra to hear how they were sounding. They were working on some of the overture pieces and were finishing up the TOMMY piece.

“Excuse me, Paul, I have an announcement to make,” I said holding up a necklace. The auditorium went silent.

“Mike Bell and Andrea Henry, please step up?”

They did, he took her hand and stopped a step behind her.

“Becoming the FINAL member of the Gold Standard Society, (for now!) I present Miss Andrea Henry ... Mike, would you do the honors, please?” I said handing him the necklace.

She was in tears, like she had won a big-time award. I guess her mother was correct about how much she wanted to become part of it all.

She came over to me and gave me a nice hug and a careful kiss on the lips. Paul performed the peremptory slap on the back of my head.

I told both her and the rest of the Gold Standard Society about a rehearsal after school on Wednesday at this same auditorium. I made the same announcement at both choirs and the Lincoln orchestra.

My lunch mate was Clarice, while Jenn had other plans.

She is very charming, plus I know she can sing quite well.

“How are you enjoying being a member of the GSS, my dear?”

“It’s a real blast Michael. I haven’t had as much fun since I was in some of my high school musicals.”

“Such as?” I asked.

“BYE BYE BIRDIE ... SOUTH PACIFIC ... GUYS & DOLLS, along with a long list of others.”

“Whom did you play in BYE BYE BIRDIE?”

“Kim MacAfee, the Anne Margaret role in the film.”

“Would I have loved to see you in that! All sweet and innocent and that beautiful red hair of yours,” I said.

“You certainly are charming for fourteen years old. You don’t have an older brother, I suppose?”

“No, Clarice ... all there is, is me,” I said softly putting my hand on hers. “I am turning fifteen in June.”

Pulling her hand away, she said, “We need to get back to our jobs. Thank you for lunch, Michael.”

She got up and left. Shit, I did it again.

Despite that bit of stupid-ness, I ran into Isabel.

“Hey Bro,” she said with a grin.

“Hey Sis,” I replied. “I have got an idea and I wanted to ask you about it.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Since in WICKED, Jenn is blonde and Joan is a brunette, would you mind becoming and staying a redhead for both that and the GOLD STANDARD?”

“That sounds like fun, if Jennifer can help me I would be glad to be a redhead for you,” she said.

How did that turn back to me, I wonder?

“We will stop by the Walgreens after school. We will find just the perfect color for the most perfect young lady I know.”

She gave me a light kiss on the cheek, and I got a rap on the back on my head from Tiffany as she walked by.

After school, we all went into the Walgreens and were pointed to the hair color section of the store. You’d think you were purchasing a car. There were thousands of colors in dozens of brand names.

I let Isabel get ahead of me, while Jenn and I lay back just walking behind. “You could have done this online Michael,” my blonde girl said to me.

“I figured as much but letting her look through her choices seems to make her happy,” I said.

“That’s funny Michael, sometimes you treat her like a daughter while other times I feel very threatened by her adorability.”

“Don’t be. We are like siblings with kissing benefits, SKB for short.”

Isabel came up to us with two choices in her hand, “Which one do you like better, Michael ... Jennifer?”

I couldn’t decide, neither could Jenn so, “Get them both ... you can try each of them to find which you like better. After that, we can get more online.”

“OK, thank you both.”

We got to the counter, where I paid for it. The young lady seemed to notice our necklaces. “Are you with the Gold Standard?”

“Yes, we are,” Isabel said. “Michael is the founder of the group.”

“Oh, I went to the Valentine’s Day event down in Evansville. When are you performing in Vincennes again?”

“The end of April at Jackson Heights Auditorium,” Isabel answered.

She rang it up and smiled as we left.

“Isabel,” Jennifer said, “We need to keep a closer eye on Michael. Did you see how he was looking at her?”

“Yeah, and she didn’t even have big boobs either,” Isabel said in return causing them both to laugh at my expense.

“How does that explain why I like you so much, Tinker Bell?”

“Because you either hope or expect me to end up with big boobs.”

We got home and they went in to do some hair coloring. I went to the fridge to get myself a bottle of water. I was as nervous as ... I don’t remember being so nervous?

I went over to the synthesizer and started making noise with my fingers. I picked up halfway through the magnificent song “Soliloquy.”

MICHAEL THOMAS
... My little girl
Pink and white
As peaches and
cream is she
My little girl
Is half again as
bright as girls
are meant to be!
Dozens of boys
pursue her
Many a likely lad
Does what he
can to woo her
From her faithful dad
She has a few
Pink and white
young fellers
of two or three
But my little girl
Gets hungry ev’ry night...
and she comes home to me!

Jenn came out with both of them wearing a plastic cap

I got to get ready
before she comes!
I got to make
certain that she
Won’t be dragged
up in slums
With a lot o’
bums like me
She’s got to be
sheltered and
fed and dressed
In the best that
money can buy
I never knew
how to get money,
But, I will try,
I will try! I will try!
I will go out
and make it
or steal it
or take it ... or die!

I finished it with my best glissando ever while looking at Jenn and crying over Isabel. They were crying too.

“That was magnificent, Michael,” Katherine said. “Every bit as good as when John Raitt sang it.”

“I am not that good of a singer. I just know how to sing from the heart. That’s all I can ever do ... it’s all I can expect from anyone else.”

“Only fifteen more minutes, and then I will be a redhead Michael,” my little accomplice said. Jenn ushered her back in to the room they came from.

“So, that’s what has you so worked up, Isabel is becoming a redhead. If you like redheads that much I can go ginger myself if you would like me to,” she said sitting alongside me and brushing her hefty bosom against my arm.

“Play something else ... you really have become an excellent pianist. Especially, for someone who never had any professional training, outside of Janice.”

“I wish I could pick it up like you do. That’s quite a talent.”

“Michael, you have plenty of other talents, so don’t worry about that. You will always have me around to help.”

“How soon is dinner?” I asked.

From the kitchen Ally said “Ten minutes. Wash your grubby hands, Mr. MacRae.”

I went to my room out of habit and found my girls harmonizing some WICKED music. “Dinner in ten ladies.”

“Thank you, ten,” came from Isabel along with a big smile.

I went in and washed my hands coming out after drying them. Jenn got up to do the same. She came out asking, “I looked at your purchase history and wondered who you would be giving the Pussycat Dolls song to?”

Isabel got up and washed hers.

“My first idea was to give it to the older ladies. If you have another idea, I am willing to hear it.”

“DING!”

“Get out Michael. We need to wash our hair.”

Being shooed out was getting regular to me and I closed the door.

“Katherine, why don’t we ask Peter over for dinner sometime?”

“Are you trying to start trouble?”

“No ... not at all. I thought it would be nice for Isabel to see her brother outside of school and rehearsals. That’s all,” I voiced. “And, the fact that you two seem infatuated with each other ... is another good reason.”

The door behind me opened, Jenn came first ... and then a drop-dead redhead came out behind her, with her hair not only a new coloration, but Jenn did some styling and this young lady looked like a four-foot-seven-inch tall version of Angie Everhart ready for a runway somewhere.

“Oh my goodness Miss Chapman. I didn’t think you could be any prettier, but it’s happened.”

Katherine slapped me. I turned to her... “It’s for what you are thinking,” she added.

I took her hand and led her to the kitchen table, like the ‘Princess’ she has just become.

Katherine had followed her every step, giving me an occasional glance.

My Jennifer was playing with her exquisitely brighter blonde recoloration of hair, while mouthing, “I love you!”.

We were all sitting when Ally brought forth a big pot of Chili to the table.

“Oh goodie,” the new redhead said.

I served those nearest me, and then gave myself a big helping. As I started eating, Jenn asked, “So, Michael ... who do you have planned to sing, ‘Buttons,’ if not the Gold Standard Quartet?”

After eating a big bite and washing it down, I said, “My first idea was Janice, Alice, Katherine, Cece, and Clarice. After thinking about it I have changed my mind to all the younger girls.”

“You mean Geena, Rose and me too?” Izzy said with a partial mouthful of chili.

“Yep, adding Nancy, Joan and Jenn,” I added.

“So, what are we ‘older’ gals getting to sing?” Ally asked using air quotes.

“Among other things, ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls.”

“Who’s that?” Isabel was quick to ask.

I had surprised Katherine and Ally, it appeared.

“That was a girl group from the ‘90s,” the most buxom woman at the table said.

“That sounds like a blast,” Ally added. “What about the boys?

“Just a minute Alice ... I also have a medley of songs for Isabel, Geena and Rose to sing that the Supremes recorded. Isabel, that is a girl group from the ‘60s.”

“Thanks Michael,” I heard practically in harmony.

“I have a few ideas brewing for the boys, including picking James Allen plus three more to do some Franki Valli & the Four Seasons music. I have a song from the group One Direction, plus a few solo pieces for Peter and James.”

“Will these be part of our repertoire, Michael?” Isabel said to my surprise.

“Yes, Brian is rushing my last order, but I am only planning to include five to ten of the new stuff. The rest you will have to wait and find out at our Friday rehearsal.”

“With a cello and a double base, we don’t have the room to fit them all, do we?” Jennifer asked.

“No, I don’t think so, but I plan to talk to Principal McGowan about using the new auditorium.”

“You mean the Thomas Auditorium,” Katherine said.

“Yes, I didn’t think they were going to do that at the time, or I would have talked them into some other name.”

We all ate for a while, and then Jennifer said, “I think you are worthy of having an auditorium named after you. You have accomplished a great deal in a rather short span of time.”

“I agree completely with that Jennifer,” Miss Stapleton said. “Among other things, I would still be working at Hooters and might never have encountered the ‘Great and Powerful, Michael Robert Thomas Jr ... my savior.”