Chapter 23

It was about two-am when we got back to the McArthurs. Since they all had fresh go bags, my ladies and I went on home to our house, including Sarah.

I went straight to the sofa and lay back, thinking back to earlier in the evening...

... What an evening! After Michael came back from his break, He, Claire, and I all performed “Marry You” and then the orchestra played a jazzy style version of “Bad Romance” which we did the Six-Pack to.

Michael, my ladies, the orchestra, and I performed all the songs and dances we had prepared.

As we all had started to leave, Michael came over to our table, shaking everyone’s hand and giving Claire and Kallie each a great big hug. He nodded to me and said, “Thanks for letting me join your party everybody, I had a blast. I went to Cotillion myself, but it didn’t stick ... so I became singer instead.”

Everybody chuckled at that, although Mom cut loose with a snort. Michael walked over to her and said, “Mrs. Newman. These are the finest young adults I have ever been around — and they are not bad dancers either.”

I saw a look on my mom’s face. She was swooning over being so close to Michael. He turned towards me and asked, “Can I give your mother a hug, Charles?”

“OK by me,” I said shrugging my shoulders.

You could barely hear my mother say, “Me too,” as Michael put his arms around her and hugged her like she hadn’t been hugged before. She started to slowly put her arms around Michael, but he turned to go, and said, “You are right Charles, your father was an ass, to let her go...”

... Back on the sofa, I realized that it was very late, however, everyone had changed from his or her date clothes and we all sat around to discuss the offer, but first I needed to bring Kalista up to speed. I told her about what Michael had said and what he had offered. She was shocked.

“You mean, he wants us to travel around with him, and dance all the time — What about school?” She asked as her eyes were still glittering from the events of earlier in the evening.

Sarah said, “Well, Annie and I could get your school work messengered to us, or we could get a tutor to travel with us, but that would cost money, although I don’t know how much?”

I had an immediate idea of Sarah becoming a short term home school teacher, but I kept that an internal idea for the time being.

“And he would really pay us to dance?” K repeated, still not believing me.

“Yep,” I said. “He offered each of us kids, $5,000 a week to start, and it could become even more. My guess is that it would be for a year to a year and a half. Now, here comes the complication, everybody. The moment we accept the money, we lose our amateur status, all three of us! We can still dance at the NDCA, but only as professionals,” I explained.

“Will you and I be able to dance in competitions together professionally, Charles?” Kalista asked hopefully.

“Annie, have you looked that up yet?” I asked.

Annie responded, “It gets rather confusing, guys. If Kalista stays an amateur, and Claire and you become professionals, then you can dance with Kalista in what are called, Pro/Am events, and with Claire in Open Professional events. If Kalista declared herself a professional, then she could become a Pro/Am Student Dancer, who would dance with her Teacher/Mentor, but it mentions that she can’t dance for compensation in any style of Ballroom Dance.”

“So, why don’t we all just become ‘full-plugged’ Professionals, and take the money and run?” Kalista wondered aloud.

That caused great big belly laughs amongst us all.

“The term is full-fledged, K,” I said bringing her to my lap.

Sarah suggested, “Annie, why don’t we set up a Trust Account for each of these kids, pardon me, young adults, and have their income, direct deposited? Then we put them on a very liberal pay-day schedule that we all agree to.”

“Wouldn’t that also keep the money away from prying hands,” I pointed out, “Like my father, or Randall.”

“Excellent point, Charles,” Sarah said. “It’s all on the up and up, Daniel and I have a trust for each of Claire’s brothers and sister for when we pass on. It’s all very common these days.”

“Speaking of Daniel,” I said. “What do you think would be his reaction to all of this, Sarah? He knows nothing about any of this yet, does he?”

“No, not a bit. He never even said he liked my dress, and I bought it just for tonight.” She put her head down in despair.

I slowly walked over to Sarah, getting a nod from Claire as well as Annie. I took Sarah’s hand and I said, “Young lady, apparently your bushel was very well-lit tonight, but Daniel didn’t see you for the beautiful woman that you are. I was a little obnoxious early in the evening, but I got your attention, and your dress ... certainly got mine.”

We gave each other a light kiss. Sarah wiped her lip-gloss off my lips with her finger. Annie and K giggled.

Claire said, “Somebody find a ring for Sarah — She looks branded and tagged.”

I heard giggles from all corners.

Annie said, “It’s three o’clock in the morning people, let’s all get to bed.”

I was still holding Sarah in my arms. Her head was leaning on my shoulder. I got up, holding her tight and gave her a kiss on the forehead and sent her to her room. I went to Kalista and Claire’s room, giving them both a hug and a kiss goodnight.

I did the same with Annie, knocking first. She came out to me and said, “Honey, you were magnificent tonight. I am so proud of you and whatever happens, I love you.” She kissed me and went into her room.

I knocked on Sarah’s door and she said, “Come in, Charles.” She may have only been wearing an oversized white t-shirt to bed. After noticing, I quickly turned around, facing the door, and asked, “Sarah, would Daniel keep Claire or Kalista from doing this? Even if they both told him they wanted to do it?”

“He’s Claire’s father, Charles, and Kalista’s legal guardian. He has the final say so in the matter. Why are you turned away from me?” She must have looked down and saw how she was dressed, and quickly said, “Oh, I am sorry Charles.” I heard her put on another shirt. “You can turn around now, my little gentleman.”

“Am I safe in here with you, my dear?” I said with a smile.

“I don’t know, Charles. Am I safe from you?” she said. I smiled in return. “You know Charles, I became a ‘Road-School teacher back when Kenny was ten years old and wanted to go on an ‘Around the USA Trip’ private bus trip. There is a chance that is still valid to use on Kalista, Claire and you. Would you like me to check on that, Sugar Bear?”

I probably blushed.

“Michael,” she continued, “All we can do is present our case to Daniel as soon as we can schedule it, possibly the day after tomorrow. Everyone can come over, he’ll cook, he’ll eat, I’ll let him have something to drink, and maybe if we soften him up just right, we can move him to the good side of the Force.”

A Star Wars reference? Maybe I should buy another ring?

I started to walk out, and I said without turning around, “I’ll never admit this to anyone but you Sarah, but you were the most gorgeous woman there tonight. Thank you for all you have done so far. We have quite a task ahead of us. You may need to use that dress again on your husband to distract him, sort of a diversion tactic.”

“I used to turn a lot of heads when I was younger, Charles,” Sarah said with a reminiscent tone in her voice.

I turned back around to her, walked back alongside the bed and said looking directly into her beautiful eyes, “Well, you certainly turned my head tonight. If either Kalista or Claire becomes as beautiful a woman as you are ... I am going to be one lucky young man. Goodnight Sarah, I love you.”

I went to up my room and fell forward on my bed and slept.

I woke up, my face hurt, my legs hurt, but I was deeply satisfied. The date went better than I had hoped. The offer from Michael Bublé was overwhelming, and the ramifications of it are equally wide-ranging.

My idiot father could decide, anytime, to stop sending us any money at all. Granted, we could take him to court, but in the interim, we could be in real trouble, financially speaking. That’s just one of the 5,000 reasons to think about this tour of Michael’s.

I got up and took a hot shower, purging thoughts of my despicable father from my brain, as best I could. After changing into something presentable, I walked to the top of the stairs, hearing many voices coming from downstairs? Oh goody, another dream ... just what the doctor ordered. I wonder whom I might be married to this time, maybe Sarah? That got me instantly.erect.

I walked downstairs and saw my group of ladies, Daniel and ... and Michael Bublé? I have got to admit for a dream, this one’s starting out pretty cool.

“It’s about time you got up, sleepyhead,” Claire’s voice said. “Come sit by me.” I scooted in between her and Kalista.

“So, what’s happening?” I asked.

“Charles,” mom said. “Sarah called Daniel ... and Michael, Mr. Bublé, showed up about thirty minutes ago. Believe it or not, we are discussing a deal.”

“Charles,” Michael said getting up and shaking my hand, “Nice to see you this morning. Your Mother, along with Sarah and Daniel, talked me into coming by, and sitting down and discussing in greater detail, the offer from last night. Sit down, take a load off.”

Oh Wow, this isn’t a dream – focus, Charles. Take a deep breath.

I didn’t sit down. “What offer is on the table?” I asked. “For the three of us to give up our amateur status, I would have to guess the ante’s been raised somewhat?”

Mom, Claire, and Sarah looked at me, realizing I had started a negotiation directly with Michael Bublé. Daniel kept quiet but was watching carefully.

“Well, son – Charles, putting it that way, I would have to raise my initial offer from $5,000 a week each, for the three of you, to... $10,000 a week for Charles & Claire each, plus $8,000 a week for Kallie. You would be under contract for eighteen months, starting this upcoming Labor Day Weekend.”

Everyone went quiet.

I asked, “Would we maintain complete creative control of our dances?”

Michael was squirming in his seat.

I walked over and stood behind my mother, putting my hands on her shoulders. She reached back and put her hand on mine.

At that point, I said mustering up as much fervor as I dare, “Here is our ‘only’ counter-offer, Mr. Bublé, considering we would be giving up, not only our amateur status, but the opportunity to dance in the Olympics, which could happen within the next twelve years, according to the World Dance Council Website. I promised my mother that I would win the Gold Medal for her, one day in DanceSport, as it is often called.” I squeezed her hand and she squeezed back.

A single tear came down my face.

Moving forward, I added, “A one-year contract, $15,000 a week each, for myself, Claire, and Kalista — Plus, $45,000 upfront, as a signing bonus within the next forty-eight hours. We will provide our own travel arrangements, provided you keep us up to date with a detailed daily, weekly and/or monthly itinerary, that includes all pertinent information.”

“This offer is on the table for the next fifteen minutes. I will consider your handshake — your promise!”

I expeditiously turned and walked off, into the kitchen. Claire and Annie followed me in. After the door closed, Annie came up to me and quietly asked, “Did the World Dance Council really release that statement, Charles?”

“Mom,” I said breaking into a great big smile. “Being mad at Dad really does have its benefits, doesn’t it? Do you think I oversold it?”

Claire said, “That bit about promising Annie the Gold Medal was inspirational, X.” She gave me a peck on the lips — then wiped it off.

Annie mentioned, “The tear was a nice touch, Charles.”

“Yeah,” Claire said. “Where did you go to bring that up?”

“My love for all of my girls filled me with emotion, I was unable to completely suppress,” I responded with a devilish smile.

I watched the clock in the kitchen, five minutes passed ... ten minutes ... then I heard a voice from the living room, “Charles, please come back in?”

It was Mr. Bublé.

The three of us all walked back in, the girls sitting down; Michael was standing up. I saw Daniel looking back and forth at the two of us.

“Considering your counter offer, I’ll have to say... ‘You have got yourself a deal!’ Your Mother will have to co-sign any contract, due to you being only fourteen.”

“Excuse me for a minute, Michael,” I said walking over to Claire’s father.

“Daniel ... Sir, Claire, my girlfriend and your daughter, along with Kalista, my soul mate and I, really want to do this. You can stop this deal, if you so choose. I’ll bear you no ill will if you do — however, (Now, I was unable to stop the tears from falling) this is the opportunity of a lifetime for the three of us. As my future father-in-law, and grandfather to my children, I offer you this promise: Ab-so-lute-ly no hanky-panky of any kind will occur on this tour.”

“With Annie and Sarah coming along, as mothers, managers, public relations, tutors, referees and chaperones. They can verify that up to this date in time, nothing other than kissing, has occurred between myself, your daughter and Kalista.”

I turned to each of the girls and they stood up and made the same promise to Daniel. Then, Annie and Sarah came up on either side of me and promised they would expect the same high standards that they have seen, to date.

Sarah walked up to her husband and spoke to him in hushed tones for a couple of minutes, then Daniel came over to me, shook my hand, and said, “To be honest, I am worried about Kalista’s education, Charles; but Sarah tells me you discussed a method for all of you finishing school. She plans on implementing it with all three of you, during your time away from school.”

“Good luck to you all, on this most perilous sounding adventure you are all going on. Both Sarah and I will most proudly sign whatever’s necessary, when the appropriate papers have been drawn up.”

Michael stood back up and shook my hand, then my mother’s, and then Sarah and Daniel’s, saying, “We have got a deal, Charles. You’ll get the paperwork to sign with-in the next four days, and as for your signing bonus, I am going to increase it to $60,000, because I believe that you are the finest young man I have met, bar none. Is that all right?”

Michael leaned into me and said loud enough for all to hear, “I admire you and your high ethics, young man. I would proudly sing at your wedding, if asked, when the time comes.” His eyes were now moistening. I glanced at Claire and K.

“Thank you, Michael, it has been a pleasure meeting you, dancing for you, and now, working for you — But not until Labor Day Weekend. Charles & Claire have to plan a Retirement Tour, don’t we ladies?” Claire and Kalista giggled and came up to me and we all hugged.

“Michael,” I added, “Could we get a copy of all your recorded music, please? That would give us something of a running start for Labor Day.”

“Sure Charles, anything for my new Dance Act,” he said with a smile. “I can also accommodate most of the music you have previously used, so you don’t have to learn quite so many new routines right away. Bye everybody.”

After Daniel left for work, Sarah sat us all down and explained that her records as a Hone/Road Teacher were still valid and the paperwork would arrive as a choice of DOC or PDF file format

“So, math guy,” Annie said. “Exactly how much did you just get for the three of you?”

“Is it OK to mention this in front of everyone, Annie ... Sarah?” I asked.

“Sure!” each of them said.

“Well, not accounting for the signing bonus, for working between Labor Day this year and Labor Day next year, which is 366 days, Claire, Kalista and I will each make right around a total of just under $795,000 each, or $2,178 a day, each. Can we get a slightly used eight to twelve seat van using the signing bonus, Sarah?”

“Did you say $2,178 for each of us, a day, Charles?” Claire said. She came at me and gave me a real knock-your-socks-off kiss that apparently Annie and Sarah pre-approved.

Sarah responded, “Charles, I am certain we could get a real nice twelve-seat van, possibly a motor home, using that money along with Charles & Claire’s notoriety. I would suspect, that if we found the right dealership, we could get a vehicle donated to us, for a year — no expense, except insurance and gas. When we must travel by plane, we go commercial, with a van rental on the other side. We would do the schooling in it as well.”

“Charles,” Kalista finally asked. “I don’t understand about big amounts of money really well. Could you please explain to me a little better how much money that is we are getting?”

“OK, Princess ... how many days in a week?” I asked.

“Seven — I am not stupid, Charles.” This made everyone chuckle.

“I know Princess, if you spent $100 dollars a day, what would you spend in a week?”

“$700 dollars,” K replied with a raised eyebrow.

“Perfect, now if you spent $200 dollars a day, how much money would that be?”

“2 times 700, or $1,400 a week,” Kalista bragged.

“Perfect again, $300 dollars a day?”

“3 times 700, or $2,100 a week.”

“OK, K, now — we have spent twenty-one hundred dollars in one week. Spending three hundred dollars a day. Could you spend that much money in a day, Princess?” I asked.

“Gosh no, Charles, unless Claire and I went shopping for clothes and shoes together all-day long.” There was a group chuckle ... plus a snort.

I didn’t really mean to, but I had drawn everyone in, helping K to understand this principle regarding money.

“OK, then Princess, you spent all that money; now, how much do you get for the next week?”

“Twenty-one hundred dollars!” she said beaming.

“Exactly, well this money deal we just did, will give you, that twenty-one hundred and fifty dollars, every day, to spend on clothes and shoes, with Claire.”

“That’s a lot of clothes and shoes, Charles,” Claire said straight-faced.

All the ladies laughed at this wonderfully simple statement about spending money.

“What about paying Sarah for being our teacher?” Kallie wondered aloud.

“I would be paid by the State School Board,” Sarah answered. “About $50,000 a year, although it costs about $1,000 for each different school year being taught

“I don’t know about anybody else, but I am terribly hungry,” I said. “Can we go get some food and come back and dance? My feet don’t like standing still, especially with all these hot babes standing around me.”

That got me a slap on the chest from Sarah, a slap on the back of my head from Annie, a tweak on my ear lobe from Kalista; along with a giggle, and a rock-em sock-em kiss, from Claire.

After eating lunch at the nearest Weinerschnitzel, we all came back and settled in. Sarah likes Chili Cheese Dogs ... amazing!

“Annie, when is the next event for Charles & Claire?” I asked.

“Well, on Tuesday you have Cotillion, then a competition on the Saturday after that. Then Cotillion again on the following Tuesday, a competition on that following Friday. That’s the next two weeks, Honey-Buns,” mom said with a flirty smile.

“Kalista, at our Final competition, just before we go professional working for Michael Bublé, if Claire and I win that competition, I would love to do the encore piece with you, to ‘Lady in Red,’ with you wearing that beautiful dress you wore last night.”

“Sure Charles, whenever you want to make that routine, I am ready,” said Kalista, looking straight into my eyes, heart, and soul.

“I thought we were going to make a routine to that number “Saying Goodbye,” Charles?” Claire said.

“We are, Claire-Bear, it’s just going to be the comp routine and not the encore routine,” I said.

I am not sure why, but I saw Claire coming at me with both lips on high-alert. Nobody was stopping her, and she practically knocked me over, getting her lips on mine.

If we hadn’t been in front of everybody else, I might have let myself go, but I needed to be in full control, of all regions of my body, especially my arms and hands.

After the kiss was over, Claire leaned in and asked, “Who told you that was my nick-name as a little girl; Sarah? Daniel? Maybe Josiah?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked dumbfounded.

“You just called me Claire-Bear, and I am asking — Who told you?”

Chuckling I said, “Nobody told me that was your nickname, Claire-Bear – it just seemed to just come out of my mouth — you likee?”

“I love it, and I love you.” Another kiss, although not quite as hot as the first one.

I came up from this dazed and confused, smiling and in need of something to drink. I looked up and saw K, Sarah, and Annie all laughing and crying at the same time. Of course, Annie let loose a couple of her patented snorts, which of course, started everything all over again.

“OK, gang – competition in five days, I think we should scrub all of our music and routines, except the two just mentioned, and go out and find something unique for these last few months of our Amateur competition.”

“We also need to get from Michael a copy of all of his music. Sarah, could you follow up on that, please? I would ask Annie to do it, but I won’t be there to catch her swooning over him the next time.”

“Hardy-Har-har, Charles. It was the alcohol, not Michael, that made me faint. It had been a long time since I’d had champagne,” she giggled.

“I understand, Annie — if that’s your story, then stick with it,” I said with a big smirk on my face.

“All new music, Charles?” Kalista said. “But we still had some music we had never performed to?”

“Just a minute K. Mom do you think we should let Jimmy know right away, or could we wait until the night of our next Cotillion?”

“I think the sooner the better we tell Jimmy, along with all the Newmans, McArthurs, Charles, and Williams,” mom responded.

I wondered, “Sarah, you gorgeous woman you, how soon, could there be scheduled a massive BBQ, inviting the all the families that my beautiful mother just mentioned?”

“Oh, Charles ... Daniel will love you for this, how about this coming Sunday? That’s in three days; soon enough for you, X?”

I started, “Absotively...”

“Posilutely,” they all said together in response, laughing it up a bit.

“Do we need to notify the NDCA, Mom?” I asked.

“I don’t see why, Charles – Unless you want to, as a courtesy to them,” Annie said.

“I think I do, Annie. It feels like the right thing to do, and you always told me that what feels right, is right.”

I found myself tearing up for no good reason.

Sarah came up to me and gave me a real big bear hug from behind me. “Loverboy, you really are unique in this world of people who are only out for themselves.”

I blushed at her kind words.

“Special K, I am sorry I got so far off track. The reason I want all new music, is because we have shown our hand to the other NDCA dancers, and now I want to change it up, and be maybe quasi-traditional, until our Swan Song routines in late August.”

Sarah jumped in, “Charles, why don’t you use the dances you have pegged for the next competition? Then, that gives you almost eleven days to dump and retool for your ‘Retirement Tour’ as you called it.”

“Exactly, what was my last list of routines, Annie?” I questioned, embarrassed that I had to ask.

“At your last competition, your list prior to it, was ‘At This Moment,’ ‘Sway’ and ‘What a Wonderful World’ ... and the encore was slated to be ‘Six-Pack,’ Annie responded reading the list from her phone. Smart lady!

Claire said, “We used ‘At This Moment,’ along with ‘Hate on Me’ for your and Kalista’s encore.”

“OK, Thank you. Our ‘A’ routine is going to be our new and improved Quickstep, to a brand-new version of ‘Putting on the Ritz’ ‘B’ is ‘Sway,’ which I want to adjust and ‘C,’ if needed, will be ‘Have you Ever Really Loved a Woman’ Our ‘A’ Encore is ‘What a Wonderful World,’ ‘B’ Encore is ‘Six-Pack.’

“First thing we need to do, is to make a brand-new Fast Waltz routine to Bryan Adams, ‘Have you Ever Really Loved a Woman.’”

I asked K to play the song off my phone, turned all the way up. I took my ‘future’ in my arms and we easily and quickly put together a marvelous new waltz. Despite the flamenco elements of the song, we kept it a traditional Fast Waltz.

Applause and sobs came from all around us.

They all agreed, that should be our ‘A’ routine, so we adjusted the list.

They equally loved my new version of “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” by a large all male acapella group called Masters of Harmony. After practicing that and the rest of our upcoming competitions music for forty-five minutes or so, I smelled something wonderful coming from the kitchen.

I saw Sarah, Annie, and K bringing out some tacos. I escorted Claire to the table, getting the chair for both her and her mother, and then I sat down.

Kalista was sitting next to Annie as we dug into the food, barely leaving any leftovers.

“Sarah,” I asked between bites. “Your help in getting all of those cameras, NBC and such, to the Palace Restaurant makes me wonder if we shouldn’t release a statement very soon about the three of us going on tour with Michael Bublé.”

“Maybe mention The Bradshaw Family Cotillion and the NDCA, just to make everybody happy. It could mention something about dancing in general. I think we have an opportunity, if not a responsibility, to promote dancing as a source of fun and entertainment.”

“That is an outstanding idea, Charles. I will work on that and have something to look at within the next hour or so,” Sarah replied between.

“Princess, do you want to work on our ‘Lady in Red’ routine for a bit tonight? I see it as a Slow Samba,” I asked seeing her eyes light up with the advent of my request.

“Sure Loverboy,” Kalista responded with glee.

“After that, Claire-Bear, you want to work on our private number?” I asked.

“Sure Loverboy,” Claire answered.

We all got up and cleared our stuff to the kitchen, and K ran to her go-bag to put on her dancing shoes.

Annie came up to me and said quietly, “Sarah and I vouched for you today, Charles – So be gentle with your dancing partners, OK?”

“Mom, after all I have said today, you think I am going to let anything happen now? We still need to practice, and I am not changing how I talk to or dance with anybody. It’s gotten me this far, I can keep things from escalating — I have to!”

“In less than three months, the five of us will be traveling together, rehearsing, living, eating and sleeping together. Don’t look at me like that, you know what I meant. We can and will maintain a moral distance when not dancing, but when we are dancing, it may be literally cheek to cheek.”

“I need you and Sarah to keep things going, when things stall, and keep us on task, so we don’t miss a thing while we’re tooling around the country in a Winnebago or whatever it is we get. But, please remember, if I go off the reservation, feel free to whack me on the back of the head, OK?” I said.

I turned to Kalista and I felt a thump. I turned back to Annie who was grinning and said, “Just checking, Loverboy!”

Sarah came from behind and gave me a big hug saying, “Can I hit you too, Loverboy?”

I leaned back into her ... bounty, and cautiously and quietly said, “You can hit me anytime with anything you want, Sweet-Lips?” That surprised her, so she thwacked me on the top of my head with her hand but giggled nonetheless. “I may get a paddle in case your school grades drop at all!

“Princess are you ready?” I said rubbing the top of my head as I went to her.

After going through all the previous Samba steps, we had previously covered, I decided to crank up the difficulty. I showed K the Criss-Cross Boto Fogos, which she got on the first try. I also added the Criss-Cross Voltas, and even Claire saw how easily K had picked up those complicated steps.

It was time to put the routine together, so I nodded to Claire to start the song, “Lady in Red,” covered by the Countdown Singers;

“Ready, K?”
“Yes, I am, X.”
“Then, let’s dance.”

I have never seen
you looking so, lovely
as you did tonight,
I have never seen
you shine so bright.

I have never seen
so many men ask you
if you wanted to dance,
looking for a little romance,
given half a chance.

From that point until the end of the song, K and I were trying different things in different places, but we agreed that the end of the song should be spins, so we added triple reverse turns to each of the final, “Lady in Red’s” changing directions with each set, as the song fades out.

Princess gave me a kiss when it was over, while we were still in the dance position. I saw Annie and Sarah get a disapproving look on their faces, so I pulled us apart, to Kalista’s dismay.