Chapter 15

[Disclaimer: This story reads best in LANDSCAPE MODE on a smart phone or any other mobile device.]

This sounded like trouble for me. I told her, “You should have heard the orchestra today. They are going to be excellent for LES MISÉRABLES.”

“Was I ugly enough for you on Saturday?”

“I never would have recognized you, but I did eventually recognize your real voice. You might want to work on that. The Thenardiers are the high end of the lower classes in France at the time.”

“Should I effect a French accent?” Miss Prefontayne said looking at me differently than I had ever recalled.

“No Joanie, I don’t want any accents in the play. That is more than I want you guys to worry about. I am cutting the short scene between you and Cosette after she sings, ‘Castle on a Cloud.’”

“Why are you doing that?” she asked, sounding ticked off.

“I want the two little girls singing that to get their own big applause. You still have lots to learn and memorize, my dear.”

I saw my girl coming towards me. I couldn’t get Joan out of there without Jenn seeing her leave. She walked in, caught a glimpse of Joan’s over-exposed thigh, and sat upon my lap. They both glared at each other as Joan got up and left.

“Thank you for ... everything, Michael,” she said.

“What did she want?” Jennifer quizzed.

“She came in to get her LES MISÉRABLES musical libretto and stayed, and we talked about her character.”

“I think she lacks any character going after another girl’s guy,” my young lady said giving me a kiss while holding my face in her hands.

“She didn’t try anything until after we were a couple. I think it’s all a game to her,” I said.

“Well then, I don’t want her getting the grand prize,” Jenn said. “Let’s go to lunch, I’m hungry.”

She got up and grabbed me by my lapels, squeezing her entire body up against mine.

“That’s not fair,” I said.

“No shit, Sherlock.”

“You are so hot,” I said as she pulled me out of my office. I barely had time to say ‘bye’ to Clara.

After finding out at lunch that she had gotten a full bra size bigger, I wandered over to Lincoln High School with my LES MISÉRABLES conductor’s score. With my confidence on high alert, I asked where the Teachers’ Lounge was.

Clarice excused herself from the front counter and walked me there. She opened the door, and I saw Jen, but no one else knew who I was. Miss Stapleton waved me to her table, and I excused myself as I walked through the ladies and gentlemen.

She stood up and introduced me. “Everybody, this is Michael Thomas, the musical conductor at Jackson Heights.”

Now, they seemed to understand why I was there. I remained standing.

“Thank you, Miss Stapleton. Coming up this next school year, we are having a Teacher’s Concert at Jackson Heights. Would you like one of those here at Lincoln High as well? You could have a separate concert, or we could mix things up?”

The slight noise from before got much livelier.

“How about I post a sign-up sheet to see how much interest there is? You could sing by yourself, or as a group. We have a teacher at Jackson Heights, Martha Janeway, who plans to sing from an opera. There is no limitation, as long as Principal Summers approves of the music.”

Just then, Richard Summers walked in saying, “Are you asking my teachers to join your cult, Michael?”

Figuring he was joking, I managed to say, “The Kool-Aid is better over at Jackson Heights.”

A lively looking silver-haired gentleman started to laugh, egging on those around him. “I knew Reverend Jim Jones back in the 60s, young man. Anybody’s Kool-Aid would be better than his.” The room exploded in laughter.

Suddenly, I remembered reading about him, and what happened in Johnstown, Guyana, so I put my mind in overdrive to come up with something clever. “Did you know he was born in Indiana, a small town called Crete on the border of Indiana and Ohio. In my defense, you won’t need to travel to San Francisco. Maybe you could sing ‘Helter-Skelter,’ Sir?”

Charley blasted out a big laugh again, “Sign me up. I like this kid. He has big balls coming in here!”

I sat down to applause, and some laughter. Jen leaned in and said, “You handled Charley pretty well, Michael.”

“Thank you, Jen. OK if I call you that?”

“I haven’t had anyone call me that since Paul and I were a couple. Do you like his fiancée?” she asked.

“That’s like asking how often I beat up my mother! I think all I can say is that Paul has a type, and the two I have met are both very pretty.”

“Are there more than us two?” this beautiful blonde said to me.

“That’s not what I meant to infer, Jen. I ... had better just shut up.”

“Are you staying for my orchestra class today?”

“Of course,” I said.

“You mean you didn’t come here just for me?” she flirted.

“In this particular room, I had better be quiet about that.”

“Sorry Michael. You are so very ... mature for your age,” she said looking at me directly in my eyes.

“So are you, Miss Stapleton,” I said back to her.

The bell rang, she smiled at me and we both got up. Charley waved at me, I waved back to him.

As we headed towards her classroom, she said, “Charley never likes anybody he just meets. You made some points today.”

“I will bet he likes you too, Jen,” I said. “I know I do.”

“Are you openly flirting with me?”

“Am I doing something wrong, Beautiful?”

“No, I am a ... turned on,” she admitted.

“I guess I just do that to ladies named Jennifer.”

We walked into the classroom, and the orchestra was ready.

“Hey guys,” I said.

“Hey Michael,” they said as one.

“Wasn’t Saturday fun?” I asked.

“Damn right it was,” Archie, the first violinist said.

“All right, how about music #29, from the beginning?”

They all quickly turned their pages to where I had asked.

I took the time to get out my baton and raised it accordingly. I began the “Epilogue” with Valjean starting it. I sang along to help them. This is one of my favorite melodies in the show...

MICHAEL THOMAS
Alone I wait in the shadows
I count the hours till I can sleep
I dreamed a dream Cosette stood by
It made her weep to know I die.

Alone at the end of the day
Upon this wedding night I pray
Take these children,
my Lord, to thy embrace
And show them grace...

God on high, hear my prayer
Take me now to thy care

Where you are. Let me be
Take me now. Take me there
Bring me home. Bring me home

Jen took over the singing with me, singing Fantine’s part. She sings so beautifully. She also sang the Cosette part, and I took on Marius, which was written even higher, causing Jennifer to bring out her head voice for Cosette.

(Picking things up at measure 90)...

COSETTE
You will live, Papa,
You’re going to live too soon,
Too soon to say goodbye
VALJEAN
Yes, Cosette,
Forbid me now to die
I will obey - I will try

On this page
I write my last confession
Read it well
When I at last am sleeping.
It’s the story
Of those who always loved you
Your mother gave her life for you
Then gave you to my keeping
FANTINE
Come with me
Where chains
Will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you.
Lord in Heaven
Look down on him in mercy
VALJEAN
Forgive me all my trespasses
And take me to your glory

VALJEAN, FANTINE, & EPONINE
Take my hand
And lead me/you to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting.
And remember
That truth that
once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of god

The music transitions to “Can You Hear the People Sing...”

I plan to have all living featured characters on-stage singing this as one voice until they break into twelve-part harmony for measures 153 to the end!

We applauded the twenty-one of them for making such a marvelous sound. Many teachers came in to listen to them, while Jen and I were singing our hearts out. Everyone of them broke into spontaneous applause.

A few members of the orchestra even had tears on their faces, particularly our female double-bassist. She was crying. I went to let her cry it out. I knew she was Brigitte LaPierre, asking her, “Are you all right, Brigitte?”

“My direct blood relatives were part of the resistance back then. This music is very emotional to me. Thanks for being so understanding, Michael,” she said. She has a slight French accent of her own. She seemed like she was getting back in control, and I let her go giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“I’m sorry, Brigitte. I didn’t ask you first.” All she did was blush and got it back together and ready to play the next number.

“See what you guys did. You made one of your own cry. Good Job.” I said punching the air like Tiger. They all chuckled, including Brigitte.

“One more number,” I said, “I think we should let your teacher sing to us all, ‘On My Own.’ That’s number 18 in your scores, start from the beginning. Miss Stapleton ... Come in at measure 91.”

“Ready, my dear?” I said to her. She nodded.

I started them up, and she looked nervous. I wondered why?

I smiled at her and she smiled back...

JENNIFER JOSEPHINE STAPLETON
And now I am all alone again
nowhere to turn, no one to go to
without a home without a friend
without a face to say hello to
And now the night is near
Now I can make believe he’s here
(Wow, she is awesome!)
Sometimes I walk alone at night
When everybody else is sleeping
I think of him and then I am happy
With the company I am keeping
The city goes to bed
And I can live inside my head

On my own
Pretending he’s beside me
All alone I walk with
him till morning
Without him
I feel his arms around me
And when I lose my way
I close my eyes
And he has found me
(She is truly remarkable! So much raw emotion)
In the rain
The pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness,
The trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me
forever and forever

(What a singer ... what a body!)

(As she went on, she was looking at me now quite intently!)
(She’s got tears in her eyes.)
I love him
I love him
I love him
But, only on my own.

With tears streaming down her face, she clearly wanted me to ... something, but I couldn’t ... not in front of the class? She turned away to clear the tears she had evoked.

Was this about Paul?

We only had a bit of time left in the class, so I said, “Go ahead and get on to your next class, everybody ... beat the rush.”

That was good enough for them, and they were out pretty quick.

This talented and beautiful female turned and cried on my shoulder. “I am sorry, Michael. This isn’t about you. This ... was Paul and my song. I sang it for him many times. He told me he loved me, but he’s – he’s marrying her instead!”

“I am sorry, Jen, what can I do about this ... anything at all?”

(RK: From this point on, JENN means Ms. Guthrie while JEN means Ms. Stapleton)

“You are already doing it. Hold me for a moment, please?”

She was just wailing, getting my shirt moistened in the process. Being so physically close to her caused my dick to get hard. I hoped she didn’t feel it!

I thought and spoke, “You need to find someone to love. You are too pretty to not have a hunk on your arm. Maybe Charley?”

She went from crying to snorting, just like that. She did look at me for a moment, but turned away. “You had better leave, Michael. I am rather vulnerable right now.” she gave me a light peck on my lips. I backed away from her and left the room.

Man! If ... I was only ten years older? Maybe twenty?

I said goodbye, headed straight to the nearest bathroom, then headed back to Jackson Heights.

Should I say something to Paul about what she told me? That could only hurt Cece. I went to my office and just sat down.

Clara came to my door. She must have seen I was in torment.

“Michael ... is something wrong? You seem in turmoil. Is it Jennifer?”

“Hmmmph, yes, it is!” I answered. Just not the Jennifer she assumed. Her opinion could be helpful.

“Clara, I am torn between a friend and that friend’s current and former significant others. I know something, but it’s only going to hurt all who hear it. Should I just sit on it and hope it goes away, or should I say something to somebody?”

“With such generic persons involved, it’s hard to come to a conclusion that would make everyone happy,” Clara said. “I assume that is your goal ... to make all of those involved glad they found out whatever it is?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I have begun to think that I can always make things better, but you can’t always do that, can you?”

“That’s growing up, Mr. Thomas,” my favorite ‘grandma’ said to me. “You’re only thirteen, but you seem to be carrying the world around with you all the time. To quote a movie slightly before your time:”

“Perhaps the best choice is to not play at all?”

“Don’t tell anyone anything and let the chips fall as they may,” she went on to say.

“But a good friend is involved. I can’t let him down. He’s my ... best friend,” I said with tears all over my face.

“Oh dear -- that means someone is going to be hurt before this is all over,” she said to me.

“Yeah, big time.” I said. “Thank you for listening. I have work to do. You are exactly right. I can’t fix everything or everyone. All I can do is ... all I can do.”

“A difficult choice has repercussions, Michael. I know you will dwell on this for a while,” Clara said as she left my doorway.

I stayed in my office for a while. I wasn’t doing anything, just avoiding the world. I saw the end of the day coming along, and we were having our run-through without stopping of ANNIE over at Lincoln High’s auditorium. I put everything in my backpack and went outside to wait for my girl to go over together.

Her lovely smile broke my reverie, and we locked arms and made the trek. As soon as we entered the auditorium, she left to the restroom.

My headset was waiting for me, and I put it on and said, “Is anybody there?”

“Now you are quoting from 1776?” the voice on the other end said.

“No, not intentionally. I have been thinking of that show a lot recently. There are lots of historical inaccuracies in it. Otherwise, it’s a fine show.”

“Who cares about inaccuracies? It’s the story of our country. So, what if John Adams wasn’t the prick everybody harped about during the show. It makes for good drama and has some nice music.”

“Yeah, yeah ... I know. Have you been told about my lights and microphone requests for LES MISÉRABLES?”

“Yep, I have seen the purchase orders. It’s all coming next August. You’re emulating the 25th Anniversary show, correct?”

“Yes. However, I am cutting some music for time purposes. The second act is rather blah and all of those ‘Musical moments’ aren’t necessary as far as I’m concerned. If I could get away with it, I wouldn’t have Javert commit suicide. I would need a new song to reposition him for the finale.”

“Then write a new song, Michael! You could do that; you have plenty of time. Don’t tell anyone, in case it doesn’t work, but don’t tell me you haven’t thought of writing that number?”

“I know, but it would be rather dramatic, wouldn’t it?”

“Who are you talking to?” a voice directly in front of me said. I looked up and saw it was Stu.

“I – I —I thought I was talking to you?” I said.

Geez, I thought to myself. Now, I am talking to ... ghosts. Jenn came out from the bathroom, with her hair in a ponytail and looking so very pretty.

All of my people arrived, cast, choirs, and orchestra. It was set up like I wanted, with the risers split, creating a large staging area for the cast to do their acting, singing, and dancing.

“Michael?” I heard in my ear. It startled me.

“Yeah Stu,” I responded.

“Does everything look OK to you?”

“Yep ... seven mics on seven mic holders.”

I got out my score and my baton, moving into the pit. Fifteen minutes later, everyone seemed to be here. I asked Stu to be piped through.

“Hello everybody. We’re going through the entire show tonight and tomorrow, in what is called a stumblethrough. Nothing short of a medical need or a fire will stop tonight’s rehearsal. Wednesday will be the whole show adding in full dress and all props, and Thursday is our FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL with the works.”

“Our performances are Friday and Saturday, with a full house, both nights with people in the orchestra seating section paying $100 a ticket, which means the two schools may be splitting about $300,000 between them.”

“No pressure, just be your best. Friday night is our leads performance; with the understudies falling into the chorus. Saturday night will be the understudies getting their night to shine. More about that as the week goes on.”

“Everybody ready?” I said raising my baton.

The lights lowered on everyone except my orchestra.

The overture began...

I saw Jan and Ally walking in and they sat down. They had the costumes with them.

I started on time. They - were late. They’ll figure it out. The orphans had gotten to their opening position and performed their lines and our Annie sang the first song of the show.

Ally and mom walked up on stage and into the wings, with armfuls of clothing. Janice looked pissed ... too bad!

Anna was sounding wonderful as she found the nearest microphone to sing from. Joan came in and did a fabulous job of berating the girls prior to their singing of ‘Hard Knock Life.’

Anna and the orphans were great.

The first person in costume was little Isabel, who was so cute as Sandy the dog. She and Anna worked together very well during “Tomorrow.”

Dialogue, then music was moving along well. The next time we saw the orphans, they were dressed appropriately. Half of the ‘Herbert Hoover’ people had changed.

Joan appeared suitably frazzled, as I had asked for in her Miss Hannigan persona. From this point on, everyone was in appropriate costumes for their character. Jan and Ally were finally up to speed.

I was letting Stu make his own choices regarding lighting and coloring, simply asking him for consistency through the end of the shows run.

Everyone was sounding good to me. That’s all I was caring about. Learning to pull back when you are used to making all the choices is as difficult as Clara inferred it would be.

Everything was really going quite swimmingly ... actors were where they were expected, the lines were close to word perfect; the orchestra was fabulous, and the costumes looked nicer than I had expected.

Next was “Little Girls” and then Paul sang his heart out for “NYC” with his coming off the stage and back again. He will get the final say-so if he wants to or not.

Joan, John, and Jennifer brought the place to a frenzy with “Easy Street.” Again, Paul sang with high emotion, the beautiful piece of music called, “Why Should I Change a Thing?”

The First Act ended with the scene and “You Won’t Be an Orphan for Long.”

I never stopped for anything, and the first act lasted 82 minutes, with applause from the parents and siblings who stayed to watch. First Acts of two-act musicals should always be longer than the second act.

After just enough time for costume changes, we plowed right into the second act. I decided to wait and design the curtain call the next night.

Stu said, “Nice job, Michael, but I do expect that from you these days.”

“Thanks Stu, see you tomorrow.”

Jenn ran to me, and we kissed. Janice was pacing stridently towards me with Ally at her heels.

“You could have waited for the costumes to arrive before you started, Michael,” she said getting in my face a bit.

“You could have been here on time, but you weren’t!” I said remonstrating her. “I promised these kids we wouldn’t be here all night, and I keep my promises!”

“Don’t you raise your voice to me, young man?” she said with more than a little hostility.

“I will do whatever it takes for this show to be its very best, Mother! Whether it’s costumes, microphones, wigs, or whatever else. I run this show; you don’t ... get over it!”

I got a hard slap on my face. Jenn went towards me, but I brushed her off. I didn’t move, I didn’t cry, I didn’t flinch. Janice slapped me again, but I stayed firm in my resolve.

“You should have waited for us,” she repeated.

“You should have told me you weren’t going to be here on time...”

I saw Stu coming from his room of mystery. “How were the lights, Michael?”

“Great, don’t change a thing! The tap dance couldn’t be heard, what can we do about that?” I asked him still steaming over the argument with Janice in front of all these people.

“We have a pzm-30D pickup mic for that. I didn’t think of it until I saw the dance number. Sorry about that, Michael. I will have two in place by tomorrow night,” Stu said.

“Sure thing, Stu ... thanks for all you do. Remember, next year when my girl is on this stage, light her well, or you will have me to worry about.”

“Sure thing, Boss,” he said, slapping my back.

“Ladies, I am in the mood for a spa later tonight. How about you?”

“Michael,” my mother said looking at me funny, “Something about you ... is different, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

“You better not, or Jenn may have something to say about that,” I grinned, going up to her and giving her a big hug and a nice kiss.

“I am so sorry I yelled at you, Mom,” I said breaking from my embrace with Jen to do the same with my Mom. “This show is really important to me, and I don’t realize that not everyone is as focused on this being our best ever as I am. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. You always come through for me, and we clearly, became Mars and Venus for a moment, didn’t we?” (A Library book I read a few years back)

“You still have a mark on your face from my hand, Michael. I was being a bit foppish, wasn’t I?”

“What a great word! Much better than foolish or silly, don’t you think?”

She reacted by giving me a lingering kiss on the same cheek, leaving a different kind of mark on my face as we all got in the car to head home.

The trip was quiet, as Jenn and I held each other tight. She must have seen a look on my face because she said, “What is it, Michael? Janice was right. There is something different about you.”

“Nope, I am the same old thirteen-year-old I was when I woke up this morning. Only now I have got less on my mind to worry about. I have decided that the world doesn’t revolve around me anymore.”

“Whom do we have to thank for that?” mom asked from the drivers’ seat.

“The wisest person I know, Clara Jepson, with an assist by the music teacher from Lincoln High School,” I answered.

“Jennifer Stapleton?” my girl asked. “The blonde teacher with the big tits?”

“No -- the loving music teacher who cares about everyone and everything. She is not just a pretty face, despite your crass description of her.”

“Hold me, please?” she said opening her arms for me.

“Any time pretty girl ... any time at all.”

We pulled up to our home.

Jennifer walked with me and put me to bed, then joined the ladies, who had decided to get naked in the spa. I wonder how you can dream on purpose?

Waking up next to her, I realized that we will have, with any luck, a lifetime of music, concerts of all types, and Broadway Style Musicals for the rest of our lives together. We will clear up the details as we go.

I saw her eyes fluttering open and I said, “I am not any different today than yesterday, but I do love you more each day.”

“I know you do. Is everything all right? You seemed so reserved before, but lately you seem much more confidant. Has something changed?”

“I have just recently decided I don’t want to change the world. All I want is already within my grasp. That includes you, Lovergirl.”

“Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Well, I loved you before, and I still do.”

There was a knock on our bedroom door.

“Yes?”

“Just checking, Michael. Is Jennifer in there with you?”

“Yes!” she answered.

“OK, Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Thanks Mom, love you.”

“That is so sweet, the way you and your mother care about each other,” my lover said. “I need to take a shower.”

She took two minutes, then I did, and with our backs to one another, we got dressed and raced to the breakfast table.

“Don’t run in the house, kids,” Janice said. “My, it’s been a while since I have said that to anyone.”

Scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, and sourdough toast were before us. I let Jenn serve herself before I dug in.

“Mom, I am sorry about how brusque I was with you yesterday. I had a lot on my mind,” I said.

“You have been stressing a lot, honey. We will be there in plenty of time tonight; I promise. Didn’t little Isabel look wonderful as Sandy the dog?” Janice said.

“I thought so,” Jenn said eating too fast.

“To be honest; I can’t wait until ANNIE is over,” I admitted between bites. “I have decided that Javert will appear as a ‘ghost’ during Valjean’s Confession. I also expect a large enough reaction to LES MISÉRABLES for the show to go on for two consecutive weekends. That would give the understudies, at least two performances. I firmly believe this show could possibly generate an influx of families into Vincennes. I know that sounds over the top, but I truly believe in it.”

“Come on Jenn, let’s go.”

She was drinking a glass of milk and said goodbye, and we went through the door.

We saw the bus and it was coming right at us, opening its door. “Get in, you two. I know better than to leave without you,” Lisa said.

She used our cul-de-sac to make an easy U-turn and headed to the remaining stops she had. What a wonderful lady. I gave her a peck on her cheek and she went along.

She broke into a wonderful smile and said, “Sit down, Honey, I need to make up some time.”

We still got to school before it started. Jenn and I kissed and separated. I headed straight for my office to work on my idea for Javert’s Return, or whatever I decide to call it.

I had been listening to the second act of the music of the show. There was the piece called “Javerts Arrival” and later “Javerts Suicide.”

The movie that comes out this coming Christmas Day, has Russell Crowe as Javert, a horrible casting, as far as I was concerned. Much more intimidating as Javert would have been Hugh Jackman (who is playing Val Jean) with possibly Patrick Wilson or even Hollywood bad boy Robert Downey Jr. as John Valjean. Yes, they both can sing!

While on the subject, while Amanda Seyfried’s performance in MAMMA MIA, was Ok, her playing the role of Cosette seemed inappropriate. Either Ali Ewoldt or Scarlett Johansson would have been a better choice. I will wait and see if I am right, when I take my household to see it. Anne Hathaway as Fantine should be magnificent! I have loved her since her breakout role in THE PRINCESS DIARY. Apparently, Hugh Jackman suggested her for the role of Fantine.

Instead of writing a whole new piece of music, I looked and listened to the music that happens after the ‘Suicide’ number.

What jumped out at me was “Valjean’s Confession,” so I looked at the score, while I heard it being sung.

I believe I found a place to interweave Javert’s Recanting as counterpoint to Valjean’s recollections, when he was confessing to Cosette and Marius.

I heard the bell, and ran off with baton in hand and both scores to the orchestra room at the far end of the school building. I arrived as the bulk of the orchestra started showing up.

“Paul, I need to speak with you after class, if you have the time?”

“Certainly, sounds serious.”

“It is ... it concerns ‘your’ Jennifer.”

I put the ANNIE score on the music stand and I told them we were doing only the second act, but will stop for any problems.

I began with the Entr’acte...

We went straight through the “Maybe” from the Radio Show, straight on to ‘Never Fully Dressed’ and its reprise.

The rest of the musical numbers had few problems, but they did occur. I stopped and corrected them and we went on, leaving twenty minutes for LES MISÉRABLES music.

I started at the ‘Prologue,’ and we were going straight on until a bell rang.