Chapter 69

I noticed Sam looking at earrings a few steps away. “See something you like, my dear?” I asked her.

“My whole life I have wanted some diamond earrings. I have never been so close to such brilliance.”

“Pick a pair, you are too pretty not to have diamond earrings to show off.”

“What if Richard wonders how I afforded it?” she said back.

“I used to worry about what people thought of me, but the day I met Jennifer that all changed. Go ahead and pick out something you like. You just got a check from the GSS, you have got another one I haven’t given out yet. You deserve whatever you desire,” I said to her.

She moved from the half carat displays to the one-seventh and one-tenth. I moved her back to the half carat display asking, “Which one, Clarice?”

She pointed at the 1/4 Ct. T.W. Diamond Frame Stud earrings in 10K white gold. The gentleman came over and said, “Excellent choice Mr. Thomas. Let me get that out so you can see how it looks on her.”

“It’s so much money,” Sam said.

“So what?” Jennifer said. “It will look so great on you; don’t you think so Princess?”

“Yes, and Michael always gets his way when you try to argue with him. Especially, if it has to do with spending money,” she added.

The gentleman had cleaned them handing them to me. She put them on and a found a mirror for her to look into.

“Aren’t they ... beautiful?”

“Yes, you are,” I said to giggles from my girls. “We will take them ... same card.”

All done, we drove around to find a new place to eat at. Jennifer found a place called Fred’s Bar and Grill which sounded perfect, since I was lusting for a hamburger or steak. We were seated and given menus by a guy probably in his twenties. He took a casual glance at the three girls and left, not saying anything. If I weren’t so hungry I would recommend we leave, but he came back and took our orders.

“Be back in a minute or so,” he said.

I didn’t know how people like him, so unsocial, could get a job in a place like this. However, he got our orders perfect and gave them to the correct person as well.

Knowing she wasn’t driving, Sam ordered a Michelob Lager beer. Our guy brought it back quickly. She poured it and took a big drink, then started eating. So did we, sharing as we usually did at new places. The food was really good.

I asked about our young man, and was told that he was disadvantaged, but was otherwise a perfect employee never making a mistake or getting angry. I was so embarrassed, I went back to our table and left a nice cash tip.

I was in front with Jennifer driving, while Princess and Sam were talking in the back.

“I didn’t know you drank beer, Sam,” I said.

“Is it any good?” Princess asked her.

“It was just one beer, what’s the big deal?” she said sounding ready to be argumentative.

“It’s not ... I was just asking. You hadn’t ever had one since we have been together. Has something changed?”

“Are you a shrink now, Michael?” she said. “That was my first beer in ... over a year. I was thirsty, that’s all. Don’t make a federal case out of this, please?”

“Sorry, I am just over-thinking like I usually do.”

“Apology ... accepted, the bigger problem is that I am likely to wake up with a big headache in the morning.”

“I have recently read that drinking twice as much water as you had drunk alcohol before you go to bed can help. If you get up. drink more water. I wouldn’t want one of my girls to have a ‘Walk of Shame Hangover’ the next morning.”

“That’s sweet calling me one of ‘your girls’ Michael,” she said. “A nice breakfast in the morning will help as well, if I remember correctly.”

“We can all pitch in and do that,” Princess said.

The next morning, Isabel and I made a light breakfast of some oven-cooked buttered English muffins and scrambled eggs, with ice cold milk to wash it down.

Sam ate it and appeared to have very little repercussions from her single beer the previous night. I got a kiss from her for the effort we went through. She and Izzy hugged each other.

A new day at school, where I was stopped by Principal Summers. “Michael, Mrs. James told me you aced the pre-test she gave. That tells me, that you should possibly take sophomore math instead, or I could give you that class time for purposes of keeping an eye on your musical domain.”

“I would prefer sophomore math, Sir. I still plan to be done with high school alongside Jennifer Guthrie.”

“Go over to Clarice and tell her what you have decided?”

“Yes sir, I will do that. Right away.”

I found Clarice working actively on something, “It appears you have already skipped Freshman math, Michael. I am putting you in tenth Math with Miss Parker as your teacher. She is very nice. You too should get along quite well. She is a pretty brunette, older than I am ... just your type.”

She gave me the paper and told me where the class was being held. I knocked on the closed door and was told to come in. I walked in and handed her the paperwork I was given, she pointed to a chair in the front row for me to sit.

“Settle down people, just because we have a celebrity in the class doesn’t allow you to make so much noise, I have a test similar to what Mrs. James gave you. Just in case you are too smart for this class, as well.”

She handed me the two-page document and went on to teach the class.

Again, with all the school books I have been reading, I finished it in under five minutes feeling confident. This is my favorite subject!

She stopped and took it and quickly graded it. I saw a large smile on her face. She filled out a form and asked me to come up and take it back to Principal Summers. I waved goodbye to those I knew and headed back to the Principal’s office.

“Again?” he said.

“Study hall would be my choice. I am sorry, Sir. I am not trying to be difficult to deal with. This happened at Jackson too.”

“I understand, there is no problem ... you are a very sharp and brilliant young man, Michael.”

“Thank you, Sir. Did you notice Clarice’s new earrings? I helped her spend some of her Tour money on herself. She is getting more self-confident since I added her to the Gold Standard Society.”

“I have noticed that too. You have seemingly brought back the effervescent freckle-faced redhead that I remember as a little girl. Thank you for that.”

“I have got a class to go to sir, see you later, Sir.”

I blew Sam a kiss as I went to my Earth Science Class with Elizabeth Marvel, who had performed in last year’s Teacher’s Concert. Yesterday we talked about this year’s upcoming Concert and she sounded excited about trying out.

Today things got serious, and we began hearing about reading weather maps, glaciers, the layers of the earth, the layers of the earth’s atmosphere. This is going to be a fascinating class. Miss Marvel is fun, and really enjoys herself when she is teaching. I could tell that energy existed when she so powerfully sang “Don’t Cry Out Loud” last year.

The fact that she is pretty, without being voluptuous, along with a great big smile and light brown hair, brings you to listen to her. She reminds me of an older version of Emma Watson.

She often smiles at me, but it doesn’t come off as flirting. That allows me to be myself. James and Joan are in this class together. He carries her books now, and looks quite Clark Kent-ish with his newer glasses that I am certain she helped him to pick out.

The break for lunch found me waiting for Jenn to take her to the Teacher’s Lounge, which I still had status to use as I wished to.

We saw many of our new teachers there, including Charlie who had his hand up for a high-five as was usual.

The place was more full than usual, so I went up and asked to sit with Mr. White and Mrs. Younger.

“Please do,” she said “You can call me Valerie. We were talking about this upcoming Teachers Concert. Is it correct that auditions are necessary this time around?”

“Yes, Valerie. In response to many teachers who weren’t aware of the event until after it was cast, a true audition with music from the show is happening six weeks before it goes on next February at Lincoln Auditorium.”

“Are there scenes we will need to learn ... for those who are cast?” Justin questioned.

“No, just music to be learned ... it can be done with as few as four people, but I plan to use at least twelve -- spreading the music around. There are over thirty pieces of music, all written by Stephen Sondheim, thus the name.”

A server came over and we placed our orders.

Next, I summarized the music that was in the musical revue. I mentioned the songs, coming from such diverse shows as A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, GYPSY, COMPANY, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and THE FOLLIES.

Our food arrived and the conversation stopped while Jenn and I ate and shared our food. Mr. White spoke saying, “Remember being that much in love, Valerie?” to which she responded, “I have never been that much in love, Justin.”

I wasn’t about to say anything in response to that. For all I knew they were a couple, possibly covertly, if at all.

We finished, said goodbye and left hand in hand.

“Do you think they are a couple?” Jenn asked.

“I was wondering that myself. Paul and Cece kept their love affair under the radar. They did have a few quick looks at each other, but it doesn’t really matter to me.”

With the ringing of the school bell, we parted for the rest of the day. One thing I have already noticed. Barely seeing either of them during the day, makes our time at home together that much more important.

With having ‘Charlie Brown’ rehearsals at the end of the day for the rest of the week, a long Saturday rehearsal will be a great asset with opening night too close for comfort.

I had started listening to downloads of the music I will be conducting in late September with the Boston Pops. The only way to do that was to turn on the music and listen, then conduct it.

My ladies all watched me as I used my baton to do this while they were working on dinner together. The first one I did was the Concerto No .2 in B-Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op 19 II Adagio. This is exactly the kind of piece I want the Gold Standard Symphony to be playing whenever that transition happens. I was listening to the Nuremburg Symphony Orchestra playing it, facing the back yard so the ladies wouldn’t break my concentration.

After almost eight minutes, it was over, and my arms rested. They all applauded for me, with a ‘Yeah Mikey’ from Princess.

With them settling down, I began the Romance No. 1 in G Major for Violin and orchestra, Op. 40, a significantly more upbeat piece of music than the first. This was being played by the Russian State Symphony Orchestra who also sounded larger, but they may have only been instructed to play louder by their conductor. Their first violinist was amazing, playing the eighth notes very measuredly.

When it was over, I raised my hands up and coincidently they stopped cold. The applause came out again and a soft “Dinner” was announced.

“Michael, honey,” Jennifer said. “Those musicians in the Boston Pops will have no idea what hit them. You will be magnificent.”

“Who exactly are you bringing with you?” Isabel asked.

“Mom, Dad, Ally, Jeff, Jennifer, and Isabel. That leaves me four more choices. I am thinking Nancy Starr, Mike Bell and Jason Stottlemire ... and I make number ten.”

“Sam, will you be content staying behind and watching the place for us?” I asked.

“I’d love to Michael. Thank you for trusting me to do that.”

We sat down to a fancy dinner of Pork Chops with Raspberry Sauce with rice on the side. A beautiful meal.

“Your music inspired us,” Sam said. “After hearing that pretty music ... grilled cheese sandwiches just would not do.”

I sat between her and Jennifer, for a change. Isabel smiled at me telling me she was OK with it.

“Uncle Richard actually noticed my new earrings telling me how pretty they looked on me. I can’t remember the last time he said something like that to me,” Sam said.

“Maybe he really has a crush on you like I first thought when I met you for the first time.”

“That’s so strange to hear, do you really think so, Michael?” she giggled.

“You are talking to the strangest, my dear,” I said. “If you knew the volume of ... events that have occurred in the last three years of my life, you would be flabbergasted.”

“Well, that was the best pork chop I have ever had. Thank you ladies for making such a delicious dinner. I need to get back to my Boston Pops musical pieces. We will be back to performing after dinner in a day or two, if that’s alright with the three of you.”

No objections were heard, as I gathered up everyone’s plate taking it to the sink. Only after I had the table clear and dishes in the dishwasher, I went back to my practicing.

There were five more pieces of music I needed to practice conducting.

I hadn’t yet informed Jennifer that she was singing, if the time could be found. I did have my choice for her down to three possible numbers; “I Will Always Love you,” “I Dreamed a Dream” or “Let It Go.” If we have a strict sixty minutes, the seven Beethoven pieces just fit that. If it is all right to go over, then I can be comfortable picking one of those three pieces for her. Next time I speak to Mr. Lockhart; I plan to ask that specific question.

After conducting the other five pieces, my shoulders were tired and Princess gladly helped me out, first having me take my pill then getting shirtless for her rubdown.

She has outgrown her giggles and now was seemingly more adult about helping me through times like these. We did this in her room, so we could just fall asleep afterward. Her hands are so smooth and her touch is so gentle, I find myself making up reasons for her to put some menthol rub on me. She probably realizes that, but is being understanding because she likes it as well as I do.

SATURDAY
Charlie Brown
RUN-THROUGH

The vehicles went out and we got everybody in the GSS for our first run-through of the play. We didn’t have the set pieces of course, but I knew what they would be and my three set movers would be knowing of what and where they went.

The set will be rather barren except for Snoopy’s doghouse and a series of two foot by two-foot wooden boxes painted very brightly. They will be turned into Schroeder’s Piano, the risers for their Book Report Number and however else we want to use them. The only other ‘real’ set piece is Lucy’s “The Doctor is IN.”

Stuart is developing a Kite that will drop out of the sky on cue. He’s remarkable at what he does.

Our adults, plus Jennie, will be our audience today since only Sam is in the show. She didn’t want the pressure of making the sound ‘Mwa’ so Bonnie, our first Trombone will be making the sound while she acts it out on stage.

“OK everyone, my hope is to get completely through this once without stopping at all. We go on for only a single night. Only something major like something falling out of the sky and landing on you will keep this from happening.”

I started the first piece of music, which goes right into the Main Theme...

Their collective sound was very good. These are the best of the best after all! Jennie’s simple choreography is really nice. John Mitchell, carrying a picture of Woodstock to denote his character, is just as into it as anybody else.

Things went well as Scene 2 moved on.

James moment to define himself as Charlie Brown was next.

We got hold of a larger sized brown paper bag, which made his voice clearer.

That got a wonderful applause from everyone listening in. Next up was Scene 3...

CHARLIE BROWN
I shouldn’t be here.

RUBY
Two please.

PEGGY JEAN
Gee, thanks Ruby.

RUBY
I bought it for Lucy. She will pound me if I don’t.

PEGGY JEAN
Oh ... one please.

CHARLIE BROWN
I should get out of line and go home.

SALLY
Bet I can hold my breath longer than you can.

CHARLIE BROWN
I feel guilty about going to the show today ... I should be home helping my mother...

VIOLET GRAY
You’re turning purple...

MOLLY
Yikes

LINUS
Breathe Sally.

LUCY
If you die while we’re watching you Sally, I will kill you.

FRIEDA
If I don’t like the movie, do you think I can have my money back?

CHARLIE BROWN
I have schoolwork to do too ... I have a book report to write and about ten pages of arithmetic...

FRIEDA
One ticket. But I want my money back if I don’t like it, k?

SCHROEDER
One please.

PEPPERMINT PATTY
Two please.

MARCIE
Thank you, sir.

CHARLIE BROWN
I feel awfully guilty. I can’t really enjoy a show when I feel guilty about going to it ... I should just get out of line and go back home...

4
One please...

CHARLIE BROWN
One please

LINUS
Good ol’ wishy-washy Charlie Brown, three please.

Paul and his lovely bride really like that, laughing quite loud over the nice applause everyone else had provided. Next was the lead-in scene to Lucy singing “Schroeder.”

LUCY
What do you think, Schroeder, if some day you and I got married and we were so poor you had to sell the piano to buy me saucepans?

SCHROEDER
Saucepans?

LUCY
Well, sure, you don’t expect me to set up housekeeping without a good set of saucepans, do you?

SCHROEDER
Saucepans?

LUCY
Well ... girls have to think about those things. Boys are lucky. Boys never have to think about things like saucepans.

SCHROEDER
I can’t stand it! I just can’t stand it!
{br}

(Piano begins – Peter is doing a good job of faking it to Nancy’s playing)

LUCY
D’ya know something, Schroeder?
I think the way you
play the piano is nice.
D’ya know something else?
It’s always been my dream
That I’d marry a man
who plays the piano.

At parties he’d play
something nice like
“April Showers.”
I am sure you could play
something nice like
“April Showers.”
Or even “Frere Jacques.”
Beethoven’s nice too.

Just imagine
What would you think
if someday you and I
should get married?
Wouldn’t you like that
if someday we two
should get married?

My aunt Marion was right, never try to discuss marriage with a musician!

We all applauded as the ‘piano’ was taken out and Snoopy’s doghouse was brought forward, by our movers.

Scene 4 begins...

TEACHER (Clarice plus Bonnie!)
Mwa mwa mwa mwa mwa.

SALLY
Audio visual ma’am?

TEACHER
Mwa mwa mwa mwa mwa.

MARCIE
Yes, Ma’am ... my friend, who sits in front of me, needs your help.

TEACHER
Mwa mwa mwa mwa mwa.

MARCIE
No, she’s not experiencing academic difficulties or having trouble relating to her peers ... her hair is caught in her binder again.

TEACHER
Mwa mwa mwa mwa mwa.

PEPPERMINT PATTY

Yes, Ma’am ... my binder is stuck in my hair.

TEACHER
Mwa mwa mwa mwa mwa.

PEPPERMINT PATTY
Really? That’s interesting. Never in all your years of teaching, huh?

Miss Newman is really getting inside the character of Peppermint Patty. Jenn as Marcie is deadpanning her lines perfectly.

The transitions between the scenes and the music were getting better. I had told them that Stu would be bringing down the lights to help establish the end of one scene and another.

When we reached the end of ACT 1, I called a twenty-minute break. We had plenty of cold water to disperse as needed. Jenn got me one and Princess handed me a pill.

“Thank you girls, how do you think it’s going so far?”

“Jeff is really good at Snoopy, isn’t he?” Princess remarked.

“This coming week, we rehearse at Thomas Auditorium with the real set pieces. He will have a functional doghouse to act, sing and dance on. That should be even better,” I asserted.

“I am enjoying the brother sister interaction between Mary and Richard Mitchell,” I said. “I am glad I put a real set of siblings in those parts. Could I get another water, please?”

Isabel got up, allowing Jenn and me to kiss a little, while she was gone. She caught us, but giggled instead of getting upset.

I got up to visit the bathroom, and then came out refreshed and ready to go. Jeff was ready to be the World War I flying ace. He got a cap that his great grandfather wore, putting it on backwards.

“OK, let’s start up. Woodstock you will be sitting behind Snoopy, but not too close, please?”

“I understand, no ‘bird on dog sex’ in this show,” John Mitchell said. That made Jeff laugh very loud for a moment. Then, he scooted forward a little.

SNOOPY: Here’s the World War I flying ace high over France in his Sopwith Camel, searching for the infamous Red Baron! I must bring him down! Suddenly anti-aircraft fire, Archie we used to call it, begins to burst beneath my plane. The Red Baron has spotted me. Nyahh, Nyagh, Nyahh! You can’t hit me! (Actually tough flying aces never say Nyahh, Nyahh) I just ah ... Drat this fog! It’s bad enough to have to fight the Red Baron without having to fly in weather like this. All right, Red Baron! Where are you? You can’t hide forever! Ah, the sun has broken through ... I can see the woods of Montsec below ... and what’s that? It’s a Fokker triplane! Ha! I have got you this time, Red Baron! Aaugh! He’s diving down out of the sun! He’s tricked me again! I have got to run! Come on, Sopwith Camel, let’s go! Go, Camel, go! I can’t shake him! He’s riddling my plane with bullets! Curse you, Red Baron! Curse you and your kind! Curse the evil that causes all this unhappiness!

Here’s the World War I flying ace back at aerodrome in France, he is exhausted and yet he does not sleep, for one thought continues to burn in his mind...

Someday, someday I will get you, Red Baron!

He was making all of his own sound effects, sounding pretty good, while John was protecting himself from the Red Baron making whimpering sounds.

Doing all of this gave me the zany idea to add all three Snoopy/Red Baron songs to the GSS song list.

After this was the very sharp and well-practiced, “My New Philosophy” starring my sister and her ‘other’ brother.

Lucy’s timing at the end was perfect, setting up for Sally’s sarcastic, ‘Clearly, some philosophies aren’t for all people. And that’s my new philosophy!’{br}

The applause, as usual, was deafening.

The scene before the Baseball number went well, as did the number. Jennie plus Peter made it look really good. Snoopy wore a cap, while Linus had his blanket.

The sequences and the musical numbers were on a very even keel, then the final scene and musical number “Happiness”, staring from center stage.

LUCY: Well, I don’t know, Linus, it looks like an airplane to me the way the lights are blinking on and off. Schroeder, is that an airplane or a star?

SCHROEDER: I believe that is a star. But it could be a planet, you know ... or maybe even a satellite.

PEPPERMINT PATTY
It could be a satellite.

MARCIE
Hmmm...

SALLY
I wonder.

LINUS
Well, we will never find out by just sitting here.
(He starts walking to stage left)

LUCY
Where are you going?

LINUS
I am going over here to get a closer look.

SNOOPY
I like to sit up here after suppertime and hear the sounds of the night. But something seems to be missing. (Makes a coyote sound) In my opinion, that’s exactly what it needed.

*******

CHARLIE BROWN
(Spoken)
I am so happy. That little redheaded girl dropped her pencil. It has teeth marks all over it. She nibbles her pencil. She’s human! It hasn’t been such a bad day after all.

(Sung to a single violin)
Happiness is finding a pencil.
SNOOPY
Pizza with sausage
LINUS
Telling the time.

SCHROEDER
Happiness is
learning to whistle.
LINUS
Tying your shoe
for the very first time.

(The Orchestra comes in Full)

SALLY
Happiness is playing the drum
in your own school band.
CHARLIE BROWN
And happiness is
walking hand in hand.
(Sally takes his hand)

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream.
LUCY
Knowing a secret.
SCHROEDER
Climbing a tree.

CHARLIE BROWN
Happiness is five different crayons.
SCHROEDER
Catching a firefly.
Setting him free.

CHARLIE BROWN
Happiness is being alone
every now and then.
ALL
And happiness is
coming home again.

CHARLIE BROWN
Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and night time too.
For happiness is anyone
and anything at all
That’s loved by you.

LINUS
Happiness is having a sister.
LUCY
Sharing a sandwich.
LUCY AND LINUS
Getting along.
(She gives him a light shoulder slap)

ALL
Happiness is singing together
when day is through,
And happiness is
those who sing with you.
Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and nighttime too.
CHARLIE BROWN
For happiness is anyone
and anything at all
That’s loved by you.

(The cast filters offstage, waving “Good night” to Charlie Brown, but Lucy stays, and stands in silence for a moment before finally saying)

LUCY
You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.

[Note from the Author: I was in this play, two times, first as Charlie Brown, second time as Linus. Even with an entire cast of adults, this musical play was one of my favorites, especially from Charlie Browns’ POV!]

He smiles, and it’s a BLACKOUT!

Everybody stood up and applauded for everybody else.

“Not bad everybody. Next week we do this all again, but we move into Thomas Auditorium. Oh, just a minute I have your paychecks for our last tour and something else.”

I handed out each envelope getting “Thanks,” handshakes, and kisses. Brian brought out a box I had been sitting on for a while. Isabel and Jenn knew what it was. With my constant additions to the Society, I had to wait until I had enough for everybody and I finally did.

I told everyone to sit down for a moment.

The girls pulled a shirt out that said Trumpet, “Mr. Bell, this is for you.”

He took it and put it on. It looked good, “Another one ladies ... Cello, that is for Miss Henry.”

She came up gave me a kiss and put hers on. “Again ladies ... Saxophone, Miss Elam please?”

This went on until everyone, including the adults had a shirt. When done, I was surprised by Mike’s starting an applause for me. It being extremely heartfelt as I saw many faces with a tear of two on their faces.

“Let’s get you guys home,” I said with more emotion than I had expected.

We were on our way quickly letting off the Society, as many as four at a time, until everyone, but Peter and Kit-Kat drove home in their Savana and Brian had us heading to the dealership to show us something he had gotten his hands on.

We pulled in and there it was a long sleek all black coach bus. We all got out and he pointed a key fob and the doors opened. Princess and Jennifer quickly got inside Jenn looking around and Isabel counting seats.

“It holds 56 people Michael.”

“It’s got leather seats, big windows and the seats recline,” Jennifer said leaning back.

“It has the look and feel of a private jet, doesn’t it honey?” Mom remarked.

“Plus GPS, on-board Wireless Internet, overhead storage plus some other amenities,” Dad said. “Do you like it, son?”

“So, this would become our main bus, wouldn’t it?”

“Exactly, we buy back the one you have been using and sell it as used. That means you still need a second coach, correct?”

“Yes Sir, that is correct,” I replied.

“Right over here, is the twin sister to the one you are looking at. It also holds 56, with all the same benefits.”

The girls rushed past me and went inside it doing the whole “Wow,” thing again.

“That means we have room, potentially for 127 total people, including adults and the room in the fifteen seat Savana, Which would be our lead vehicle.” I said out loud.

“No you don’t,” Jennifer and Princess said coming at me. Princess added, “The new twenty-four people are all there will be, or both of us will never have sex with you again.”