Chapter 40

BOOM!
(More Lightning?)

I was flipping through the ‘Bible’ and a number caught my eye.

“Don’t worry you guys, a little lightning can’t hurt you,” I said to calm down some of those who were reacting a bit nervous.

“Rose and Izzy, your turn. Number 136. It’s from the movie WHITE CHRISTMAS. There is some tight harmony. Do the best you can.”

“We’re taking a break after this number. Settle down everyone, please?”

“Ladies are you ready?”...

BOTH
Sisters, sisters
There were never
such devoted sisters

ROSE
Never had to have
a chaperone, no sir

IZZY
I am here to keep my eye on her

BOTH
Caring, sharing
Every little thing
that we are wearing

ROSE
When a certain gentleman
arrives from Rome

IZZY
She wore the dress
and I stayed home

BOTH
All kinds of weather
We stick together
The same in the rain or sun
Two different faces
But in tight places
We think, and we act as one...

IZZY
Those who have seen us
Know that not a thing
could come between us

BOTH
Many men have tried to
split us up but no one can
Lord help the mister
Who comes between me and my sister
And lord help the sister
who comes between me and my man

(The orchestra took over!)

BOTH
All kinds of weather
We stick together
The same in the rain or sun
Two different faces
But in tight places
We think and we act as one ... uh-huh

IZZY
Those who have seen us
Know that not a thing
could come between us

BOTH
Many men have tried to
split us up but no one can
Lord help the mister
Who comes between me and my sister
And lord help the sister
who comes between me and my man

Sister
Sister
Sister...

Don’t come between me and my man!

I got up and lead the applause getting between them – “Thirty-minute break everybody. You have been fantastic. Next time Lily will sing this with Isabel!”

BOOM!

I went over to Jenn who I thought might be upset, but said, “We have got all day. I will sing when you want me to, lover. Sit down, I will bring you a water.”

I moved to the sofa feeling a body on my lap almost immediately. It was Izzy. Jenn came over and said, “It’s my turn OK, Isabel?”

She stayed close.

Jenn crawled up on my lap and we had a nice kiss. Izzy was giggling. Rose sat next to her and they started talking. Miss Bell got on her other side.

“Jenn,” I asked. “Did you watch that YouTube video I asked you to, from URINETOWN?”

“Yeah Michael, want to do that number?”

“I ... hadn’t thought of that. I was going to suggest Peter. You don’t mind if I join you?”

“We could have fun with it, don’t you think?” running her fingernail behind my ear knowing exactly how it affects me.

“Sure.” I said picking up my water and draining it. “Get up please. I need to go pee.”

Giggles from next to us with Jenn joining them. I went into my room’s bathroom, finding Joan lying on her back on the bed. I ignored her and closed myself inside and took care of business. Not easy when you have got an erection.

I came out and she was up and on her feet. “Hey stud?”

“Joan, don’t?”

“Don’t ... what, Michael?” she pouted.

“I don’t know ... whatever it is you have got on your mind.”

She was too close and said, “How could you possibly know what was on my mind?”

“I have a pretty good idea. I guess I should have included Sam in our group.”

“Sam’s OK, James is better, but it’s you I really want. Kiss me.”

“I don’t think so...”

“Kiss me or I will yell “Rape!”

“Why are you being so slutty?”

A LOUD slap on my face was my answer, bringing Jenn into the room, “What happened?”

“Just a misunderstanding, Jennifer, no big deal.”

Joan left, leaving us alone.

“What really happened?”

“She got a bit ... aggressive, but nothing happened. I promise.”

“Come on, let’s go Michael.”

We came out and nobody noticed. They were all having too much fun.

I addressed them all, “Time to get started again, OK?”

They gathered themselves together; Ally passed two medium-sized trash bags around, one for trash and the other for bottles.

“Nancy, you get the big synthesizer for this number. Try different keyboards sounds if you like. EVERYONE, number 41 for Jennifer and I to perform...”

(RIII: URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL is a very unique Broadway Event. Google or YouTube would help you understand)

(This musical piece goes back and forth between speaking with music to singing and back again)

MICHAEL
Did you mean what you said? About everyone having a heart?
JENN
Well, sure I did. Do you think you’d be feeling as bad as you do if you didn’t have a heart?

(Piano starts)

MICHAEL
I don’t know. I suppose not.
JENN
Of course you wouldn’t. Because then, you’d be dead.

When darkness surrounds you
And you lose your way
You have your own compass
That turns night to day
And it’s even with you
Before you depart
Be still, hear it beating
It’s leading you
Follow your heart

MICHAEL
Follow my heart? But to where?
JENN
To wherever your heart tells you to go.

MICHAEL
Even ... there?
JENN
Even to the clouds, if that’s what your heart commands. What’s it saying now?

MICHAEL
I don’t know. I don’t know how to listen to my heart.
JENN
You have to listen carefully. Here, let me try.

(She moves her head down to listen to... my heart. There were giggles)

MICHAEL
Do you
JENN
Ssshh! Ah, there it is! It’s saying

We all want a world
Filled with peace and joy
With plenty of water
For each girl and boy

That bright, shining world
Is just waiting to start
No meanness or sorrow
Just cleanness tomorrow
If only you follow your heart

You see there, Bobby. Even your heart knows you should follow your heart.

MICHAEL
“Peace and joy”, “plenty of water”
I guess I do want those things

JENN
There’s something else your heart was saying. Maybe something I shouldn’t have heard.

MICHAEL
There was?

JENN
I think so. It was barely audible but I definitely heard something.

MICHAEL
Well? What was it?

JENN
Let me try again, maybe I can make it out this time.

(Her head went back to listen) (I played it up for the gag)

There it is, so faint ... it’s saying:

Follow, into the open air
Far from squalor and noise
Follow, someone is waiting there
Someone who shares all your hopes
And your joys

“Someone is waiting there?” Why, my heart was saying those exact words just the other day.

MICHAEL
It was?

JENN
Sure it was. “Squalor and Noise”, “Hopes and Joys”. It was telling me about all those things.

MICHAEL
I didn’t know two hearts could speak as one?

JENN
I didn’t either. Until now. Here, listen?

(I did a small take, and then moved my ear to her... heart! There were scattered sounds from boy the boys and girls))

MICHAEL
Someday I’ll meet someone
Whose heart joins with mine
Aortas and arteries all intertwined
They will beat so much stronger
Than they could apart
Eight chambers of muscle to hustle
The love in our heart

BOTH
Love is kind and considerate
Love is peaceful and fair
Love can creep up so suddenly

When you least think of it
Your love is there

We all want a world
Filled with peace and with joy
With plenty of justice
For each girl and boy

That bright shining world
Is just waiting to start
No anger or badness...

Just laughter and gladness
If only I follow your heart

There was laughing and applause from all around us. I gave her a kiss, and she sat down. I went over to Nancy and gave her a peck on the cheek as well.

“I have been wanting to do that number with her for a long time,” I said to a host of cheers. “Any couple, feel free to learn that if you want!”

“Joan and James, you are next. This was a very popular song for Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond, number twelve, please.”

The piano and violins begin this...

JOAN and JAMES
You don’t bring me flowers
You don’t sing me love songs
You hardly talk to me anymore
When you come through the door
At the end of the day
I remember when
You couldn’t wait to love me
Used to hate to leave me
Now after lovin’ me late at night
When it’s good for you
And you are feeling alright
Well, you just roll over
And you turn out the light
You don’t bring me flowers anymore
(They were posing as they sang)
It used to be so natural
To talk about forever
But ‘used to be’s’ don’t count anymore
They just lay on the floor
‘Til we sweep them away
And baby, I remember
All the things you taught me
And I learned how to laugh
And I learned how to cry
Well I learned how to love
Even learned how to lie
You’d think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye
‘Cause you don’t bring me flowers
Anymore
Well, you’d think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye
‘Cause you don’t bring me flowers
Anymore

They certainly got caught up in the moment. There was an ardent and impassioned kiss between the two of them that lasted past the end of the music.

Nobody applauded; they were all being voyeurs in the moment. It was Rose and Izzy’s giggling that broke them up.

My problem may be over, and James’ may just be beginning.

They were both blushing, but they did finally get quite the applause, likely for the kiss as well.

We went on until the pizza arrived, and I called ‘LUNCH BREAK!’

BOOM! (It was distant, good!)

My phone rang, it was Cece Crabtree. She sounded like she was crying.

“Hey, what’s wrong Cece?” I asked.

“Flat tire and I have no spare, Michael!” she said, “And it is starting to snow again.”

I put Mike Bell in charge, found out where she was, grabbed Jennifer and we went out to get her.

We found her a distance away but safely parked near a city bus stop. The moment we got out of Jenn’s car BOOM! And a lightning strike hit a tree, dropping a huge branch in the direction of her car. I grabbed her and got out of the line of fire, as the branch dropped on and crushed the roof of her car, just missing Jenn’s...

As we got up together, she said, “My Hero!”

Jenn was rattled, but getting it together as I asked, “Anything in the car we need to retrieve, my dear?”

“Thank goodness I have AAA insurance and a fast thinking handsome student. My 1999 Honda was a handmedown from my sister and was nearing the end of its life.”

I repeated, “Anything in the car we need to retrieve?”

“Insurance! In my glove compartment is my car insurance paperwork.”

Jenn took hold of her and I had easy access to the contents of her glove compartment, and we got her settled in the car.

“Why didn’t you call Paul?” Jenn asked from the front seat.

“He is taking personal emergency leave! His Aunt Cassandra, who raised him after his mother died when he was only two years old,” the lovely Cece Crabtree explained.

We took her to her place, and the power was off. I suggested she pack up and moved in with us. After giving me a look, Jennifer agreed!

“I don’t want to be any trouble,” she said.

“You won’t be” I said. “Janice has moved out, Alice and her beau are cozying up at his new place, leaving plenty of room for my favorite teacher.”

BOOM!
That was somewhere south of us, possibly Evansville.

We pulled up to the house, hearing the beautiful sounds of my Gold Standard Society coming through the front door.

That put a big smile on Cece’s face, as we all walked into the house together. Everything and everyone stopped, and they exchanged ‘Hellos’.

Jenn took her to Janice’s ex-room while I took back over the Gold Standard.

“It’s snowing again,’ Rose Newman proclaimed.

“OK, Gather up your things. I want to get you home to your parents before dark,” I announced.

An hour later, everyone was home. The snowing wasn’t accumulating, and Katie, Jenn, Cece and I were sitting down to a hot meal. Cece was passing on the story of how I came to her like a knight on a white horse. Jennifer agreed with every element of the story.

All through the meal, I was getting wanton looks from our guest. It appeared what she wanted from me, but I was concerned if I could satisfy her these days. Besides that, my fiancée had a voice in the matter... “I’ll clean up,” my girl said. “You two need to make up for old acquaintance, don’t you think?”

She took me by the hand and walked me around to place it in Miss Crabtree’s saying to her, “He’s all yours until morning!”

I don’t know who I love the most, but the weekend with Miss Stapleton and Cece came fluttering through my mind.

She pulled on my arm, causing me to leave my reverie behind.

Going through the door that once was is mother’s, I smelled a few of the fragrances that reminded me of Janice.

The door slammed, and he watched as she began to undress herself, until she only had panties on.

Standing up, she removed my belt, let my pants drop and I got off my shirts. I stepped out of my slacks, and simply gazed at this magnificent au natural blonde only a step away from me.

“Michael, what is it you want from me?” she asked.

“Let’s start simple, Cece, and work our way through our options,” I answered amazed I was going to have her all evening. “I remember you like to be on top!”

I took off my boxers and she removed her panties, showing a light bit of fuzz. She pushed me on my back and my erection suddenly felt and looked two feet long!

“Oh, Michael, I forgot you were so magnificently developed,” she said barely touching my upper thighs that caused me to throb. I didn’t want to cum, please, don’t cum yet, I was willing myself. as her hands moved from my thighs to the base of my erection. “Are you ready, Michael?”

My groan was my answer as she lifted up. I watched her take a grip, got me at her pussy entrance, smiled broadly and terribly slowly, filled herself with my bigness.

“You are so tight, what happened?” I asked.

“You stretched me out, and when that tryst was done, it didn’t take long for me to only have Paul, who isn’t as thick or as long as you are,” she said now about halfway down my twelve inches.

All the while we were doing this I had the GSS playing in my head. It was a beautiful orchestral piece to the tempo of our copulation. I heard violins, reeds, brass, just about everything.

Her body laying across mine was the best feeling I had suffered in quite some time.

We exchanged positions, and by the time we couldn’t do any more, the musical piece was finished.

A knock upon the door, woke us up, with Katie saying, “Breakfast for the lovers is ready! It is a school day!”

To save time, we took a very quick shower together, changed and joined my fiancée, and her best friend for a healthy breakfast

I received a phone call while at school, “Hello, this is Michael Thomas.”

“Hello Michael, this is Ed Chapman.”

“Yes sir, what can I do for you?”

“I have talked my wife into going on a second honeymoon to the Pacific Northwest.”

“Very good sir, it should be beautiful up there this time of year. How can we help?”

“Well ... I have had a great year and want to take three weeks off work.”

“And ... neither Isabel or Peter want to go along, do they?”

“You are an intuitive young man, Michael. With your mother married and out of the house, you have an available room for her, don’t you?”

“Yes sir, we do. Let me put Ms. Stapleton on the phone to try to work things out,” I said handing the phone to Katie who had followed me in to Lincoln High.

I moved away, so I couldn’t hear the conversation.

A few moments later she said to me, “In three days, we are taking care of (babysitting) Isabel Chapman for three weeks. She will get Alice’s old room. Any questions?”

All eyes went to me. “I am all right with it if everyone else is,” I said. “What about Peter?”

“He is staying at a friends’ house, according to their father,” Katie said.

“It sounds cozy,” Katie said.

“You ladies need to be modest around her,” I suggested.

“You mean no running around in just a T-shirt and panties?” my lovely teacher said.

“Along with a few other things.”

Back in school, I spent the whole day at Lincoln High. At both orchestra and choir there were some new students checking out the school before they started in August after summer vacation. Many of them had siblings starting at Jackson as well ... Yay!

At orchestra, were new sets of brother and sisters, the Farnsworths, Nesbitts and the Calkins. There was also the oldest sister of three Scoggins, the other two are at Jackson. They all mentioned they moved or transferred due to the burgeoning musical arts programs at the two schools.

On to the choir ... where seven new kids showed up. A few of the newbies had siblings at Jackson as well. They each tried out for me, so I knew about their voices. Many could use work, but I wasn’t about to deny anyone access unless they sounded like a sick goose. I did many eons ago!

The following day, I asked Miss Stapleton if she could cover for me at LHS so I could be at Jackson Heights for the day. She appreciated being asked.

I walked into the auditorium where I saw Cece taking care of Paul’s charges.

“Hey there, almost married woman,” I said. “I understand you got a whole bunch of kids wanting to join the orchestra. I met some older brothers and sisters yesterday. We will have forty-seven people in a very balanced orchestra at Lincoln in August.”

“Congratulations on your engagement Michael. I think we both have quite lovely fiancées, don’t you think?”

Oh yeah, back in early April, the Guthrie’s, O’Sullivans, Katie, and myself had a lovely dinner at Red Lobster, down in Evansville. After a splendid dinner, I walked over to Jennifer, who was sitting between her mother and mine, and asked her to please stand.

She is smart enough to realize ... I pulled a Zale’s box from my pocket, dropped to one knee, opened the box to show an Italian Cut Wide Dome Ring in 14K Gold. A perfect match to the gold in her GS Necklace.

I never heard her yell so loud, except in bed, and Ally took her arm and said, “Give Michael an answer, or I will!”

“Yes, Oh yes, God Yes, Oh Wow! OMG, my god, Yes!”

I took her hand and put it on the ring finger of her left hand, while most everyone was applauding for us. I also took the moment to give her a most elegant kiss. That got its own cheer from the crowd.

“When are we getting married, hubby to be?” she said between kisses.

“Early December,” I said sitting down, and having her on my lap.

During an evening, a few days later, that had Peter come over for dinner and singing, Brian asked us for a picture of the GS Necklace that can be put on the sides of any vehicles that become GSS property.

So, we couldn’t be accused of any kind of property infringement, we started with a picture from the internet, made a number of slight changes, then created the words GOLD STANDARD SOCIETY, trying several fonts until we came across one called Necklace.

Destiny was on our side as we printed out three beautiful originals and gave Brian two of them.

“What you two did in fifteen minutes, some people charge $1,000 for,” Brian said. “We could miniaturize it enough to put on a T-shirt of something like it. Think about that, Michael?”

“You mean like shirts pre-printed and selling them when we have a job somewhere?” I asked.

“Or just sell them, but I think you guys need to be more popular before doing something like that.”

“How do you suggest we do that, Sir?”

“Maybe create and put some videos of your own on the Internet. Don’t tell anyone I said that, because rights are violated very often when people do that.”

“I understand that, but if we did that and got a lot of hits before we were ordered to take it down, it could still generate the popularity you are talking about, correct?”

“You certainly pick up on concepts quickly, young man.”

“Thank you, Sir ... it was your wife that helped that happen.”

“I recognize that. She is smart and beautiful ... an exciting combination.”

“I agree. Could I ask you a personal question?”

“Go ahead Michael.”

“Are you OK with her performing as a GOLD STANDARD member, or are you wanting her to cut back?”

“I see her light up when she sings, with you, Ally or anyone else, for that matter. She can perform for as long as she wants. I will continue to be your manager for as long as you want me to. I just don’t want to hold you back.”

“That’s not likely, Brian, thank you for your advice. Goodbye.”

“Bye Michael.”

The Duet and WICKED concert both turned people away at the door making me upset we hadn’t scheduled more performances.

That won’t happen again!

With Cece staying and Isabel moving in, it was summertime and we started to have lots of rehearsals for the events coming up

After singing together for a while, we took a lunch break.

Cece and Katie had made Pita Nachos for the group, putting them out on trays with napkins next to them. I asked Izzy to get me a few. I took the time I had to give Jennifer a kiss.

Isabel fed me a nacho covered with grated cheddar cheeses and broiled until the cheese melted. After a bite I determined there was sliced green onions on it as well.

After we had one each, Isabel looked at me and asked, “Why do people kiss?”

Jennifer, who had been listening in, giggled. “Yeah Michael, why do people kiss?”

I was at a loss about this subject, but I found my laptop and opened it.

“Isabel, it says here that scientists haven’t conclusively explained how kissing began. They do have some general theories about it.”

“There is an argument among scientists about if kissing is learned or instinctual. That means do you do it because you have seen others do it, or does something inside you make you want to kiss someone? If you can answer this quietly, why do you kiss?”

“Well, when it is Peter or mom and dad, I think it might be learned. No matter where you go you always seem to see someone kissing. I have seen you and Jennifer kiss a whole bunch. You both have such big smiles on your faces, I could tell that it must be something spectacular to do.”

“The first few times we kissed, one of us was always doing it on the other one’s cheek. I wanted to feel what Jennifer felt, so that’s why I kissed you that first time on the lips. It was everything as good as I had hoped. Also, after the first time we kissed on the lips, I felt something. I am not sure what to call it. Since then, I let a few older boys kiss me, but it wasn’t the same as when you and I kissed.”

Peter said, “Who did you let kiss you, Isabel?”

“Chill out, big brother, it was nobody you know!”

“So, I caused you to start kissing my boyfriend?” Jennifer asked her directly.

“Yes, I would have to say that is true. I hope I haven’t caused either of you any trouble by saying these things. You did ask me, Michael.”

“Yes, I did, it’s at times like these that I feel you are older than eleven. Maybe even twelve or thirteen.”

“Do you want another Nacho, Michael?” she asked.

“Yes please.”

“Jenn, how many Necklaces do we have in stock?”

“Only five, I think. Why, are you about to increase the GOLD STANDARD SOCIETY again?”

“Cecelia, who is the next best Violinist there is from either school?

“Liz Minder, she’s sixteen.”

“And the next best Flautist?”

“Chester Wallace, thirteen.”

“And trombonist?”

“That one is easy ... Jeff Jackson ... he’s twelve,” he replied.

“Isabel, who is the best singer of the bunch at Jackson Heights that is your age or younger?”

“Geena,” she said.

“Geena Prefontayne, is that who you mean?”

“Yes Michael.”

“Jennifer, who is the best girl singer not already in the Society?”

“Nancy Newman.”

The same question, but male instead?”

“Her step-brother Jeff,” Katie answered just before Jenn did.

“But, we don’t have room for all of them, Michael,” Isabel said.

“Can you all keep this secret, Isabel?” I asked giving her a kiss on the lips.

When Millie and Ed dropped her off, they were very happy at the fact that her daughter was getting her own bathroom. I do know how to assuage mothers.

Mrs. Chapman went into her purse and got out a folder saying, “Here is a complete list of our itinerary plus all the personal phone numbers and emails you should need. Try Peter first if you need anything. He will either take care of it or contact us. You can contact us without going through Peter if it is something immediate or an emergency.”

Millie went so far to say that it was OK to spank if necessary.

“MOTHER,” Isabel said turning very pink in the process.

Right after the door had closed, Izzy pulled me to her and kissed me. “I had to get that out of my system Michael ... you looked very kissable.”

“Your mother just gave us permission to spank you ... don’t give me a reason young lady.”

“I remember that Isabel once said that she liked everything, so I plan to try out some new dishes while she is here,” Katie said.

“That sounds wonderful,” the little girl said.

That was three days ago, no spanking ... yet!

Maybe while you are here you could learn how to make some of your favorite meals,” Cece said.

“My mom is always shooing me out of the kitchen. Sometimes I think neither one of them likes me. Peter and Billy, the boys, were nicer to me than my mom and dad ever were.”

“Now, don’t talk like that about your parents Izzy,” Katie said. “They both love you, and Peter.”

“I am sorry Katherine. All I know is what I hear from them when they think I am supposed to be asleep,” she said.

“Come on girls, let’s find something new to sing,” I said as Jenn took my hand, and Izzy grabbed the other one. I had a pretty girl on either side of me. I had our GOLD STANDARD bible open in front of us.

“There are at least 27 songs in this book we have yet to sing Michael. Why is that?” Isabel said.

“I just didn’t think they were right for us. I have music to replace them with, when I have the time,” I explained.

“Let’s try some of them out, Jennifer and I can alternate singing with you. Let’s start with number 53, “The Girl That I Marry.”

“Have you memorized the entire collection of music, Miss Chapman?” I asked this adorable eleven-year-old blonde.

Putting her dimpled smile to work, she said, “Maybe.”

I started to play ... and sing...

MICHAEL
The girl that I marry will have to be
As soft and as pink as a nursery
The girl I call my own
Will wear satins and laces
and smell of cologne

Her nails will be polished
and, in her hair,
She will wear a gardenia
and I will be there
‘stead of flittin’, I will be sittin’
Next to her and she will purr like a kitten

A doll I can carry, the
girl that I marry must be