Chapter 49

“First, some new music, I have announcements, but I want to hear my Society play and sing some music.”

They all gave out a big yell together.

“I need a male singer, so John Mitchell, come up, please? I also need a brother sister dance team. Do we have one of those?”

Chuckles as John and the Newmans got up.

“This is a song about a ballerina, Newmans ... listen and come up with something pleasant, please?”

They nodded as I told the orchestra “Dance Ballerina Dance, please...”

JOHN
Dance, ballerina, dance
And do your pirouette in
rhythm with your achin’ heart
Dance, ballerina, dance
You mustn’t once forget a dancer
has to dance the part

Whirl, ballerina, whirl
And just ignore the chair
that’s empty in the second row
This is your moment, girl
Although he’s not out there
applauding as you steal the show

Jeff & Nancy were quickly doing some spins, and I knew they were the ones for this number.

Once you said his love
must wait its turn
You wanted fame instead
I guess that’s your concern
We live and learn
And love is gone, ballerina, gone
So on with your career,
you can’t afford a backward glance

Dance on and on and on
A thousand people here
have come to see the show
As ‘round and ‘round you go
So ballerina, dance
Dance, dance!

There were twenty-four measures for them to dance to. They were trying a few things including the classic move of him holding her extended hand and she twirls around.

Once you said his love
must wait its turn
You wanted fame instead
I guess that’s your concern
We live and learn

And love is gone,
ballerina, gone
So on with your career,
you can’t afford a
backward glance
Dance on and on and on
A thousand people here
have come to see the show
As ‘round and ‘round you go
So ballerina, dance

Dance, Dance DANCE!

I knew John was right for this, as he hit that final note easily. Our audience and the remaining singers were quite impressed.

“You were on the right track with what I saw you doing, Jeff and Nancy. Practice something to have ready for the next time, please?”

“Mrs. Janice Forrester-Sullivan, please come forward?”

She had a nice dress on. Dad blew a wolf whistle as she walked up. If I knew how, I would too.

“The Age of Not Believing,” orchestra, please? This is a piece Angela Lansbury once sang in the 1971 Walt Disney movie BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS.

I went over to conduct the orchestra...

JANICE
When you rush around
in hopeless circles
Searching ev’rywhere
for something true
You’re at the age
of not believing
When all the
“make believe” is through

When you set aside
your childhood heroes
And your dreams
are lost up on a shelf
You’re at the age
of not believing
And worst of all
you doubt yourself

You’re a castaway
where no one hears you
On a barren isle
in a lonely sea
Where did all the
happy endings go?
Where can all
the good times be?

You must face the
age of not believing
Doubting ev’rything
you ever knew
Until at last
you start believing
There’s something
wonderful in you

The orchestra was playing the underscoring and went into a reprise without her singing.

You’re at the age
of not believing
And worst of all
you doubt yourself
You’re a castaway
where no one hears you
On a barren isle
in a lonely sea

Where did all the
happy endings go?
Where can all the
good times be?
You must face the age
of not believing
Doubting ev’rything
you ever knew
Until at last
you start believing
There’s something
wonderful...
Truly wonderful in you

I gave her a kiss before she left the stage, “Wunnerful, Wunnerful.”

The elder folks got it.

“Let’s do something from before,” I said sitting back down.

“Isabel, Rose, and Geena ... front and center, please?”

“Tuxedo Junction,” I said to the orchestra.

Mike and the horns began it... 30 measures in the singing starts...

ISABEL
Feelin’ low
Rockin’ slow
I want to go
Right back where I belong

ALL THREE
Feelin’ low
Rockin’ slow
I want to go
Right back where I belong
Way down south
in Birmingham
I mean south in Alabam’
There’s an old place
where people go
To dance the night away
They all drive
or walk for miles
To get jive that
southern style
It’s an old jive
that makes you want
To dance till break of day

The girls added some small jazz squares, which looked great!

It’s a junction where
the town folks meet
At each function in
a tux they greet you
Come on down, forget your care

Come on down,
you will find me there
So long town, I am heading for
Tuxedo Junction now

(Jazzy Instrumental break)

It’s a junction where
the town folks meet
At each function in
a tux they greet you
Come on down,
forget your care
Come on down,
you will find me there
So long town, I am heading for
Tuxedo Junction now

That got people off their butts to applaud. These young ladies have melded into quite a unit. I gave each a kiss on the top of the head as they left.

We went on, with Peter singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” I heard many ladies sighing during it.

I called up Jennie Robinson to watch this next number for any help.

“OK, new song for all of you. Line up in one line, boys mix in with the girls. This is from A CHORUS LINE, one of the all-time best Broadway Musicals. Miss Robinson is going to look it over and possible give some of you some business, to help you look like a dancer.”

“For now, I want this as all boys sing when I raise one finger, all girls sing, when I raise three fingers. Look over the lyrics for a moment everybody.”

I spoke to Stuart, “Mr. Holland, I would like a few different colored spots on everyone. They won’t need to move. I just would like something other than all white lights.”

In my ear, “Understand, Mr. Thomas.”

“I also plan to add in the future, the entire opening number, where everyone has their own spot, if that was possible.”

“Good to know,” he said back.

With them all singing as one voice, it sounded quite good. I wasn’t sure how much I might cut or change before we finally include it, but you have to start somewhere?

(They finished it as well, getting into a choral groove.)

“OK, that was just all right. It will need a lot of work before we can include it... “TAKE A BREAK.”

My little redhead brought me a water and sat beside me on the stage floor. I moved down next to her. “Have you three been watching some old Andrews Sisters clips? It sure looked like it.”

“Yes, we all did so we could copy some of their stuff. I really like it when they all use their shoulders, fingers or hands completely in sync like they did. How did we look?”

“Fabulous,” I told her. “You know I can’t kiss you in front of all these people?”

“Yeah, I can wait until we get home, Big brother.”

“WE START UP IN EIGHT,” I yelled from where I was.

She reacted a little to it. “Are you all right, Isabel.”

“I-I am fine. Especially when I get to sing, Mr. Thomas.”

I got up to say, “Reminder we have a March event in three Sundays. 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.”

“It will be an ‘up and back,’ but bring a change in case. By the way, it came from a person at our Valentine’s Day event, so people are talking about us.”

“The next piece of music will be performed by Sam Choate.”

Everyone started to get up from where they were and tossed their trash in a bag my mom was holding for them.

They were ready as I said, “We now have some music by the group Chicago, a rock and roll band with brass from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Mr. Choate will be singing the song “Saturday in The Park.”

He got up. “Sam, have you ever heard of this song?”

“Yeah, my dad sings it when my mom’s not around.”

“Well, we all want you to sing it, you don’t have to sing very loud. That is what the microphone is for. Just articulate like you did, earlier.”

“Yes Sir, I will.”

I started the piano part, as the brass and Tiffany was quickly in a groove...

SAM
Saturday in the park
I think, it was
the fourth of July
Saturday in the park
I think, it was
the fourth of July

People dancing,
people laughing
A man selling ice cream
Singing Italian songs
“Eh Cumpari, ci vo sunari”

Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I have been waiting
such a long time
For Saturday

(There were some nice instrumental moments!)(Tiffany was having a blast!)

Another day in the park
I think, it was the fourth of July
Another day in the park
I think, it was the fourth of July

People talking, really smiling
A man playing guitar
And singing for us all
Will you help him
change the world?
Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I have been waiting
such a long time
For today

Slow motion riders,
fly the colors of the day
A bronze man,
still can tell stories his own way
Listen children all is not lost
All is not lost, oh no, no

Another nice instrumental moment, with a cool rhythm change as the brass come back in.

Funny days in the park
And every day is
the fourth of July
Funny days in the park
And every day is
the fourth of July

People reaching,
people touching
A real celebration
Waiting for us all
If we want it,
really want it
Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I have been
waiting such a long time
For the day...

Out of the mouth of a fourteen-year-old sounding practically as good as Robert Lamm, the founding member and lead vocalist of the rock band Chicago. Everyone loved him. I saw Mary Mitchell giving him the once-over.

We went for about forty-five more minutes and took another break. Jeff Newman came over to tell me that he and Nancy had worked out the song from WHITE CHRISTMAS.

We took the break, I moved to a chair in the auditorium. Jenn and Isabel surrounded me as usual.

After a moment, “What was the other song from A CHORUS LINE?”

“Did you read my lips, Jennifer?”

“Kind of, Sweetie.”

“The opening number, but I won’t expect much dancing. It’s much too complicated to learn before our next concert.”

“That’s a good idea, Michael,” she said, getting up and moving to my lap. We kissed for a little, and then I asked her to get up.

“OK everyone, one more new number and I am sending you home. I will have a set list, in order, by our next rehearsal on Saturday, back here.”

“I need Joan, John, Jenn, Rich, and James as a quintet while the dancing is going on. Jeff and Nancy will be singing and dancing to my favorite number from WHITE CHRISTMAS, “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing.”

That got applause all by itself. Cool!

I walked up to the orchestra and began the intro...

JEFF
The Best Things Happen
While You’re Dancing
Things that you
would not do at home
come naturally on the floor

For dancing...
Soon becomes romancing
When you hold a girl in your arms
that you have never held before.

They dance so effortlessly.

Even guys with two left feet
Come out all right
if the girl is sweet
If by chance their
cheeks should meet
While dancing
Proving that the best things
happen when you dance.

There is a lot of good music for them to dance to. While they are still dancing, there is a repeat

QUINTET
(JOAN, RICH, JOHN, JENN, JAMES)
The Best Things Happen
While You’re Dancing
Things that you would
not do at home
come naturally on the floor

For dancing...
Soon becomes romancing
When you hold a girl
in your arms that
you have never held before

JEFF joins back in;
Even guys with two left feet
Come out all right
if the girl is sweet
If by chance their
cheeks should meet
While dancing
Proving that the best things
happen when you dance

(Some more dancing, until... )

Proving that the best things
happen when you dance

Jennie Robinson applauded for them. “Aren’t they a fabulous couple?”

“You have no idea, Jennie.”

“GO HOME! Do your homework, get good grades ... our next rehearsal is on Saturday at ten am. We may be adding some dancing at that time, so wear comfortable shoes.”

I took off my headset and sat while everyone else was doing his or her thing. Brian came over and sat by me. “You certainly know how to get everything possible out of a person. Where did you learn to do that?”

“When my mother was giving lessons, like all the time, she was always giving them positive reinforcement, even the ones who weren’t improving as quickly. They left feeling just as good about themselves as the more talented ones did. She was, and still is, my driving force. Thank you for not taking her away from me?”

“That will never happen, Michael, I promise you that! Besides everything else, there is a rather large construction getting ready to start. Do you know how quickly he will have his architectural plans for us?”

“I don’t know how, but he talked about having them by Monday. You can ask him yourself, if you’d like?”

“It’s just you have a closer connection to him than I do, Son. I am not trying to be difficult about this. You should have heard him when I came over to tell him he had been selected to be both the architect and General Contractor on the biggest project to hit Vincennes since South Knox High School was built.”

“Wow, that’s impressive! Maybe the school district itself will want a contract to perform at the new place from time to time.”

“Now, that is the kind of idea I like to hear from my brilliant son,” he said. “When people find out about our musical facility, Vincennes will be the place to move to. That would mean new schools will need to be built.”

“Aw shucks, pa,” I remarked.

He slapped me on the back of my head, like the girls all do.

“Let’s go home, I have a spa calling my name,” I said.

“You also have both Jennifer and Isabel calling your name, only under different circumstances.”

I quietly got up, shook his hand and saw my two girls waiting for me.

“What was that all about?” Jennifer asked as I approached them.

“Talking about the new project and having some quality time together,” I said.

“Michael,” Isabel said. “It sounds like both of your fathers are really wonderful, but I was the one who got a piece of shit for a father. Don’t worry ... I have a dollar in my pocket.”

She handed me a dollar as we walked to Jennifer’s car.

Back at the house, despite being hungry, we all changed and went to the spa. Unfortunately, Ally, Jeff, Katherine and Peter were already in there. I don’t know if we all could fit, but Jennifer got in, then me. Isabel had her hands on her hips ala Janice and I picked her up and put her on my lap. If she had been the size of Jennifer, I don’t think she would have fit.

I had Jenn right next to me. With her help, I got one good jet flowing right on the small of my back. I had wrapped my arms around Isabel so she wouldn’t fall off me. She was giggling so much. I think she was enjoying herself too much. I had yet to start growing underneath her. Even if I were to, I would hope she wouldn’t overreact.

“How about a song,” I said to everyone? Jeff, do you sing?”

“Nothing like Ally does, but ... I can sing a tune if I need to.”

Now to think of something we all can do acapella.

Isabel broke out, all by herself...

I’d like to build a world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
Others jumped in
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

Everyone was singing. Jeff didn’t sound so bad. Isabel’s swaying side to side started the leviathan to awaken. I tried to stop her, but she insisted. She was going to learn a lesson in biology if she wasn’t careful.

The song finished and she loved that everyone sang with her.

Of course, the original Gold Standard Quartet sang “Mr. Sandman,” minus Jan to wet applause.

Katherine started to sing...

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother
What will I be?
Will I be pretty?
Will I be rich?
Here’s what she said to me

Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be

Of course everyone except Isabel knew this song, but they picked up the chorus very quickly.

That was a lot of fun. I just noticed that I hadn’t seen Peter’s hands since we arrived. What might he be doing under the water?

“Peter, do you remember ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables?’”

“Yes, but acapella?”

“Why not?”

“It’s been a while, but it can’t hurt anything except my pride,” he said to giggles from his sister and his ‘girl’...

PETER CHAPMAN
There’s a grief that can’t be spoken.
There’s a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone.
Here they talked of revolution.
Here it was they lit the flame.
Here they sang about tomorrow
And tomorrow never came.

It all came back beautifully, the tone, the power and the eloquence. Plus, his emotion was more rampant.{br}

From the table in the corner
They could see a world reborn
And they rose with voices ringing
I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On this lonely barricade at dawn.

He went on to the end. His confidence has grown significantly. I wouldn’t doubt Katherine had something to do with that.

“Bravo,” Katie said, first alone, then others joined me. “How about doing that at a Gold Standard event, Hot Stuff?”

“Sure. Hey, we got a crapload of singers from LES MISÉRABLES! We could do any of a number of songs from it, couldn’t we?”

“Sure could,” I said.

“You owe him a dollar,” Isabel said to her brother.

“What?”

“You cursed,” she insisted,

“That’s only during rehearsals ... isn’t it?” Peter said.

“You owe him a dollar,” Katherine said to him.

“OK,” he said. “Can I pay you after we get out of the spa, Michael?”

“Fine with me.”

“Why didn’t Brian and Janice join us?” Isabel wondered.

I whispered in her ear, to her replying, “Ooohhh, all right.”

Laughs and giggles were rampant, and people started to get out. Jeff did first, helping his girl out. Peter and Katherine were next. I got out, and then helped my two ladies out as well. I wrapped a towel around each of them, then myself. No expansion ... this time!

They all changed and left together in pairs. Leaving the girls and I alone for a while, I would guess.

I fixed us some quick lunch, and we listened to music on TV. That might sound counter-intuitive, but there are multiple channels of different genres of music to choose from. I listened to the Top Ten for a while, and Shazamed anything I liked with my phone. I also did it with Orchestra, Broadway, Gospel, Easy Listening and Country. I got over 80 songs I can listen to before I have to buy them.

Whenever I do this, I only end with a dozen or so that I actually purchase. From $ .99 to $1.29 a song, it doesn’t seem like that much money. At least until I get the email from iTunes that says, ‘Thank you for your recent purchase” and the total is over $100.

I need to cut back ... I may be an iTune-aholic!

Part of my usual Saturday after a rehearsal is to take a nap. The girls didn’t seem to mind, actually insisting on joining me. Go figure?

Isabel came into our room in an oversized T-shirt and panties, as was Jennifer. This seemed dangerous to me, but I had on sweats over boxers. I was cuddling behind Jennifer, so Red got behind me. She has always liked to touch my bare skin, so she was happy. I had a hand firmly inside Jennifer’s shirt and over the top of her right breast. She was enjoying our naughty moment with Isabel in the room.

“Got room for anybody else?” the voice said. It was Katherine.

I awoke and said, “Didn’t Peter keep you company?”

Her blush was so deep I realized where they must have been.

“Five more minutes,” Isabel said keeping her eyes closed.

I waved Katherine out of the room. Out of habit, I turned the other way and pulled Isabel up against me. She lightly giggled, then moaned a little. I put my hand on her tummy and fell back to sleep.

An hour later, I heard Izzy say, “I guess I am getting up. See you guys in a little while?”

It didn’t take long to hear her shower running. Jenn and I got up and took one ourselves. She got out before me, and I turned it to cold water for a minute. That really woke me up.

We met up in the living room, with Isabel at the synthesizer controls. “Teach me how to play, Michael, please?”

“I don’t think so, Red. I have way too many things going on in my life at the moment. Be content as a pretty girl who can sing better than most girls much older than you.”

“OK, let’s sing something, together.”

“Something you already know, or something new?”

“Surprise me,” she said.

I turned the new book to CABARET, the title song, “Can you see OK, Red?”