Chapter 9

When Willow and the conductor followed the orchestra after the tuning, she saw that the place was as packed as it had been on the two previous nights. For her, it was sit and repeat; for the audience it was all new and wonderful. There was good applause with each item, and her passage back to the Yamaha was much easier without all the cables.

The symphony was as good as before, with the last movement as strong as the Saturday night. The encore and the anthem did what it needed to do. When the four friends got in the transport, Willow gave her flowers to Emerline, who had softened enough to give her a hug. Gina asked Jack if they had been invited to the party on Friday, and he said that he hadn’t.

“Willow and I both turn fourteen this coming week and have decided to have a joint party at the Community Club on Friday evening. There will be G-Force entertaining us, but we can’t promise not to want to be on stage. No presents needed. Let your partner in the other people mover know that he’s invited as well.”

After Gina had been dropped off, Willow pointed out the club as they passed. Saying goodnight to the couple, she got out and went inside. He parents were still up, and she stripped and got ready for sleep, then joined them for a hot drink before going off to bed.

Monday morning, she found it hard to wake up, but was ready to go when Sebastian arrived. He was almost too chipper but made her smile when he told her that she had sounded like the thunder god on the organ. Gina was also bleary-eyed, but Jacob was as bright as a button. Gina asked Willow what she was doing on her actual birthday. Willow told her that they would probably go to the steakhouse for dinner.

At school, Miss Russell told them to go to the theatre and wait with the others there. They found several of the orchestra sitting in the seats. There was some hi-fiving and they waited until the rest of the orchestra and the choir joined them, joined by the teachers and the Head, who stood in front of them.

“There were some representatives from the Proms concerts there on Saturday evening, and they were very impressed. We will be working on a number of popular classics for our spot, all of which you already know. The feature piece will be the ‘Organ Symphony’ you did last week, and I know that the Grieg, the Rodrigo, and possibly one other will be the first half. It starts at seven-thirty. It will show the school in a good light and will also give us time to start on the Messiah, which will be filmed and shown on Christmas Eve. There will be a rehearsal in the Albert Hall one day before the end of this term. Keep up the good work and you’ll all be getting solid marks for your music speciality. Now, your first lesson is waiting for you. Good work on the weekend and thank you for your dedication, all of you.”

They all went off to their first lessons, where there was a smattering of applause in several classrooms. Lunch was another party, with a lot talking and smiling. The afternoon was as normal as usual. On the way home, Wilhelm came out of the farmhouse when they arrived. He put his head into the vehicle.

“I’ve made an offer on that property. I offered one point one, based on the cost of remediating the cool store. I’ve also been onto my farm insurance agent, and he has quoted me for the landlord insurance on the first property, which was good, and I paid. I showed him the papers for the one in Leicester and he’ll get back to me.”

“All good Mister Epstein. Just email a note to the syndicate and add it to the balance sheet.”

When she got home, she asked her parents what they had planned for the next day.

“But you’re having your party Friday, darling. We haven’t planned anything.”

“Not even dinner out at the steakhouse?”

“Well, I suppose we could do that, couldn’t we, honey bunch.”

“Didn’t you ring them on Saturday when I mentioned it?”

“Oh! Yes, I did. I forgot all about it. Sorry, love. We do have a reservation there.”

“Oh! You teasers! You had me going then.”

That evening, before dinner, they watched the TV show that had been recorded. Willow had to laugh at some of the comments from the compere during the breaks. What was interesting was that during the break, they replayed some of the Christmas show, the last movement of the Choral. She was named, on air, as the organist, as well as being a stand-in at the Cathedral. No mention was made of Summer Rose. After dinner, they sat to watch Band Spot, which was all Summer Rose and a lot of well-known stars talking about the wonderful new sound out of Coventry.

Tuesday was Gina’s turn in chapel, with Reg telling Willow how proud he was of her performance at the concert, especially the encore, which he said was played with a delicate touch that would attract a lot of attention from other organists.

At the orchestra session, they were told that the Proms evening, being restricted to three and a half hours, would just be opening with the Rodrigo and then the Grieg that they had already practised. The second half would be the Saint-Saens, as it’s uplifting finale fitted what the Proms was all about. They played the Rodrigo and were given an early finish.

The four of them sat in the reception area to wait for Sebastian. Jacob was excited.

“I can’t believe that we’re doing the Rodrigo on TV this summer. It’s a dream come true.”

“Have you noticed that three of us have leading spots? Jacob up first, Gina with the Greig, and me on the organ in the second half.”

Miss Russell joined them.

“I overheard you realising our master plan. You’re right, Willow. Of all the Proms that I’ve seen, very few have a soloist from within the orchestra. We plan to have three. Each of you have just the one job on the night, and that’s to do your part as best as you can. We will expect you to be wearing something to make you stand out from the orchestra, who will be in blue for this.”

“What about the choir, Miss?”

“After you have rehearsed the three items, I believe that you’ll be auditioning for additions to the choir for the Messiah. We’ll see if we can boost the choir for both events, seeing that we have a lot of current first-years who haven’t put their names forward to join. The Head has sent out a message to the best of previous choirs, asking for volunteers for the tenor and bass soloists. This year has been one of the very few that we’ve had without male voices. And there’ll be a new crop of firsts next term, a lot of young ladies with pure voices. The applications to study here have been the most we’ve had, mainly due to the exposure that you and the band has given us.”

The people mover pulled up, and the friends went and got in. On the way to Brent’s house, Jacob joked that it was unfortunate that the great masters never composed anything with a drum solo. Brent laughed.

“That may be so, but while you only get one spot each, I’ll be there in all three. However, I will miss my friend beside me on the triangle.”

On the way south, Max asked what spots they were talking about.

“We’ve just been given the plan for our performance at the Albert Hall. It’s the Monday evening of the last week of the Proms in September. Jacob is playing a guitar concerto, Gina is on the grand piano playing Grieg, and I’m on the big organ with the Saint-Saens.”

That evening, Willow and her parents had a nice meal at the steakhouse. They gave her a necklace and earring set with emeralds. The post had brought a card from her grandparents with a loving message, but nothing, as usual, from Oxford. When their waiter found out that it was her birthday, he gathered the other serving staff around their table and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her, much to her embarrassment and the resulting queue of other diners coming up to wish her a happy birthday as well as getting selfies.

Wednesday was a normal day, with the choir in the club that evening. Tom was getting them singing more complicated items, with a lot of hilarity and satisfaction when they got it right. Gina and Willow shared the organ duties.

Thursday, Willow was given a sheet of instructions for the netball carnival during the holidays. It would be held at the Mosely Tennis Club in Birmingham, with the four grass courts covered with a temporary wooden floor. The clay courts will be covered in a tarpaulin and marquees erected for changing rooms and eating areas. They were warned that the shower facilities were not large, so expect to end the day being smelly.

The team would be playing four games a day, in a round-robin format with a point for a draw and two points for a win. There were thirty-two schools entered, so they would have played half the number. The top four from each half would be playing off in the finals. As there were five classes by school year, that would be a lot of games being played at once. Willow was in the second-year team. They would leave the school by coach at eight-thirty, so Wendy would have to start work a little early for a couple of days.

That evening, Gina was going to Birmingham for dinner with her grandparents from her father’s side, who she really only met on her birthdays. She confided to Willow that they would find a very different fourteen-year-old this visit. She also confirmed that a hundred and fifty pendants had been delivered.

Friday was the music class, and the first time with the Gamelan instruments. There were a lot of percussion choices, and they spent most of the time trying out different drums and bells. Mister Jamieson explained the differences with Gamelan structure and normal orchestra structure, and they all had a session in playing a four-four beat, led by Brent. At the end of the session, it was explained that they would play a simple piece based on the basic rhythm, but then would overlay it with their own input.

“Most of you are musicians, so I expect that by the time we end this segment, at the beginning of July, you will be able to play an original piece to the Head and other teachers. Every piece that has been produced by these classes has been original, so I expect that you’ll add things that only you can create. Now, have a good week and wish our netball teams every success in Birmingham.”

That afternoon, the three friends were dropped off, all saying “See you tonight” as they arrived home. Willow went in and went upstairs to strip and shower. Tonight was going to be a big event for her. It was her first proper birthday party and having over two hundred invited guests made it very special. She had put on her underwear when her parents arrived home and dressed in the white dress with blue edging that she had worn before, last year. It made her feel special. After she had brushed her now full hair, applied make-up and put on the new necklace and earrings, she went to see how her parents were in getting ready. When Wendy saw her, she smiled.

“You look more like sixteen than fourteen, love. Just try and make sure that you don’t spill drink or ice cream on that dress. Are you excited?”

“I am, Mum. It’s a big event for me, my first real birthday party. I hope that it will be a lot of fun.”

The family walked to the club. Malcolm was setting up.

“Fabulous show on Sunday, Willow. We were absolutely blown away by the second half. I’ve heard you play here on a Sunday, but that organ was something else again. It made my insides shake. It must be satisfying to play.”

“It is, Malcolm. The sound isn’t so bad at the keyboard, as the pipes are directed outwards, but I have to admit that I’ll miss playing it after next Sunday.”

She walked through to the back room and stopped in her tracks. There were streamers all over, the tables all had a big candle in the middle, surrounded by covered plates, except for a few near the stage. She walked over to look. On one, were three boxes with fifty pendants each that Maisie must have brought over today. On another was big stacks of plates and eating utensils. But, between them were two tables that had full-size copies of the two Yamahas, even down to the white and black keys. Malcolm came up behind her.

“What do you think? One of our helpers has a daughter in the city who specialises in custom cakes. The base is a straight sponge and cream layer cake, and the icing is dyed to suit, with one set of keys made from white chocolate and the other with dark.”

Willow turned and gave him a hug and kissed his cheek.

“I love it! As well as the rest of the room. I think that we’ll have some fun tonight. I see that you pulled out both organs. Do you expect some of us may want to have a play?”

“I know you, young lady. Any chance you get to play never passes you by. We’re having a little party here on Sunday morning, straight after church, to watch the stream of your last turn in the Cathedral.”

“Never say ‘last’, Malcolm. Who knows what’s around the corner. I know that I’ll be playing violin the next time we have a concert there, but the original organist is back, and he doesn’t have any holidays left. When we get to cut the cake, we’ll be handing out pendants to all the ladies in the room, so make sure that all those in the kitchen come out to get one.”

Gina and Maisie came in, with Gina in a stunning black dress with sparkles. Maisie commented that when they stood together, they looked like a black and white keys on the piano. Slowly, people started to arrive, and the room filled with talk and laughter. Brent and Gina stood and kissed, followed, not long after, by Willow and Jacob when he arrived with his parents.

Zara and G-Force arrived and went onto the stage to set up. The Hikers all arrived after Rick and Racheal. All four of the security detail came with their wives, followed by the school group; the Head, all three Russells, Mister Bamborough and Mister Jamieson with their wives, with the Bishop with Tom, his wife, and Sally. All of the band arrived, in dribs and drabs, with their parents, as well as a large contingent of schoolfriends with their parents. The last to come in were the Village Choir, Margaret and her two friends, and, finally, Peter and his wife. Ten minutes later, three men walked in who Willow didn’t know had been invited. She wasn’t about to ask Clive, the CFO and the CEO of the record label to leave.

When she did get to talk to them, they all congratulated her and the school on one of the best concerts that they had been to, especially the drama of the last movement, followed by the quiet air of love that followed it.

The covers on all the plates were taken off, to reveal nibbles, crisps, small cakes. The girls from the kitchen brought out hot pies, pasties, and sausage rolls for everyone to grab. The bar was handing over free drinks and the party was a lot of eating, talking and laughing. Eventually, Malcolm, acting as the emcee, stood by the cakes and called for silence.

“Thank you for coming tonight. On behalf of Willow and Gina I must say that it’s a good turn-out. I call for the birthday girls to come forward and each cut one of these cakes.”

The two came forward and picked up two knives. Xavier, who had been snapping photos most of the night, took up pride of place in the midst of a lot of phone wielding friends. They cut through the center of both cakes and the crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’ including both names. There was a line-up to be served a portion of cake.

When everyone was quiet, Clive walked out to the front of the stage and put a suitcase where one cake used to be.

“I think that there are some in this room who know what’s coming. On the soundcheck evening before the three great shows, we had the great pleasure in giving all of Summer Rose and the three from the technical team Gold Records, one of which I saw nicely displayed behind the bar. I would like to take a few minutes of your time. We have the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer to make an announcement or two. Those with cameras should be ready.”

He stepped aside as the other two came and stood beside him. One opened the suitcase and the other spoke.

“Good evening, I’m the CEO from the record label that all three of the bands in this room are contracted to. Last time I was in their presence, I gave out gold records to Summer Rose. Since then, G-Force and Rick Sacks and the Hikers have released albums, with a very good showing on Band Spot a few weeks ago. I’m happy to announce that G-Force now have their album passing the number of sales to give them a Gold Record. Please come forward and receive them.”

There was applause as the four Gees, Jim and Zara went to the front to get their awards, with Clive taking pictures. Willow was standing behind Zara’s mother, who turned to her.

“This is good, isn’t it?”

“Very good. Just make sure that you and Zara are sitting down when Peter emails you her first statement.”

When the band had received their awards and sat down, the CEO smiled.

“We have another set of Gold Records to hand out tonight, the album from Rick Sacks and the Hikers achieved Gold status during this week. Come on and get them, lads.”

When Rick was handed his, he turned to the room.

“I have to thank Willow who turned an ordinary song into a world-wide hit with her organ overdub. That allowed us to clean up our act and write the new songs that featured on this album.”

When the cheering died, and the Hikers had all sat down, the three men all had broad smiles.

“The last set of awards are for the headline act at the Belgrade. We gave them Gold Records then, and last week ‘Journey into Womanhood’ album achieved Platinum status for selling a million CDs. It has been one of the fastest to reach that point since the sixties.”

There was a lot of cheering as Willow, Gina, and the rest of the band went to collect their awards. All eleven were individually given them, with Clive taking pictures. Afterwards, Xavier received a Platinum Record for his recording work. As he was walking away, the CEO, smiled again.

“These were for sales of the CD. The DVD is selling steadily, and we expect that we will need to hand out Platinum Records to the band and all three technicians for that then. Thank you for your time, and we will stay on, if you don’t mind, to hear the bands tonight.”

Clive took the empty case out to their car, Malcolm and Ashley moved the cake tables away, and Willow led Gina to the other table.

“Tonight, has been the best birthday party in my whole life. Gina and I decided that this would be a birthday where we give back. We have these pendants that are available through the website, and we would like to give one to every female in the room. If you have one already, pass one on to another daughter or friend. Come on, girls, let’s see you all wearing one.”

As the queue formed, G-Force went up on the stage and started playing an old song from the sixties, about the girl who wears his ring around her neck. When the line had ended, Gina put the remaining box, with some pendants in, on the floor next to the stage, as Malcolm and Ashley removed the last table. Jacob and Brent came over to the girls and they started dancing as Zara began singing a love song. Before long, the dance floor was crowded.

In the course of the night, the Hikers took over, and then Summer Rose did some numbers. G-Force played out the evening with old-time twelve-bar and it was a tired, but happy, party who started to leave, thanking the girls for a great party.

Willow sat with her parents, Gina and Maisie, Brent and his parents, and Jacob, Rick and Racheal, as the casuals started to tidy up. Malcolm sat down with them.

“Are you going to let me have the next award for the DVD for the wall?”

“Of course, Malcolm. You have the Gold, it’s only right that the Platinum goes alongside. I’m hanging on to this one, though. Thank you for all the work you put into tonight, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Yes, you can. I’ll tell you how much tomorrow when you come in.”

Maisie looked at him.

“Split the cost with Gina. It’s been a fabulous night, and we’ll pay our way. If the CD has gone Platinum, I expect that the next statement is going to be interesting. It will be your first from Peter, won’t it, Rick?”

“It will. My mind may be playing tricks with me, but gold is a quarter of a million sales, right?”

Willow laughed.

“Not a quarter of a million, it’s a half a million. If you’re on four pounds a sale, the Hikers have just earned two million pounds. You’ve already been through that, but this will be the first time Zara and the Gees have seen this kind of money. I hope that they don’t let it go to their heads. Remember, your DVD must have been selling, but hasn’t reached the threshold yet, so there’ll be more on top.”

They finished their drinks and Malcolm told Ashley to go home. There was a general hugging session, and Gina, Brent, Willow and Jacob went outside for the goodnight kisses. Wendy and Ashley came out and collected Willow to go home, with Wendy clutching the award and Ashley carrying the box of remaining pendants.

“That was a lovely gesture with the pendants, love. All the girls will be wearing them now.”

“We just thought that it would be a nice highlight of the evening, Mum. I never thought that we would all get awards. I’m sure that the Head will have something to say about it when we get back in school. I saw the Bishop enjoying himself. Miss Russell picked up two and gave him one.”

“Well, he does wear a dress for his work.”

The girls were still giggling as they went into the house and got ready for bed.

On Saturday morning, Gina knocked on the door a little after eleven. She sat with Willow in the kitchen with lemonades.

“That, friend, was the best party I’ve ever had. I wonder if there’s any left-over cake. The black keys were so rich.”

“We’ll find out tonight at the dinner dance. It was great going Platinum, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m happy for the wind section. This will be their first statement as band members. They will get a minimum of sixty thousand, each. Zara will be happy if she gets a sixth of two million. She’s a lovely girl who now has managed to drag herself out from under her mother’s thumb.”

“I told her mother to be sitting down when she reads the statement.”

“I think that we’ll need to do the same. You do realise that the syndicate will have another seven hundred thousand in it next month. If we get that property, we’ll still have enough to look for more, or just do the conversion and hold off for a month.”

“I’d like to get moving on the conversion. New doors first, air conditioning and a professional inspection of the walls. Then we can bring in the interior experts. Xavier is keen to run the board for us. I think that we’d better get Mum and head for the city. Time for shopping, lunch, and seeing what we’re told at the Cathedral. I’m going to be sad at not going there to play.”

Marianne Gregory © 2025