Chapter 9

Next morning, Jacob avoided looking at her when he got on the vehicle. She wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

“Enjoy the show, Jacob?”

“It was all right.”

“How did your new girlfriend like it?”

Gina looked at Willow, eyes wide. Jacob looked around, his face glowing.

“Her name is Anita. She is the younger sister of one of the Hikers. I was rostered on as her escort, as she wanted to see the show and her brother is in Spain.”

“Pull the other one, young fellow. I saw her all over you as you came into the theatre. There’s more to it than just escort duty.”

“All right. She was at the party that Rick took me to last weekend. We hit it off in a way that you and I don’t anymore.”

“That’s nice for you. I don’t like being lied to, but I won’t stand in your way. At least she knows about the music business from her brother. Make sure that you let us know before you elope, so we can work out a set without you.”

When they arrived, he was out of the vehicle before Max could move.

“That got him, Willow. I saw them meet up in the foyer, and was keeping my mouth shut, but she was all over him when she arrived. I wonder how long he’ll be travelling with us.”

The two girls got off, and Gina linked her arm in Willow’s.

“So, what happened? You’ve been getting on so well.”

“We were all right until Paris. He was a bit moody that I noticed, and the last time we went to bed he was ‘wham, bam, thank you, ma-am’ and left me hurting. I think that he’s been given bad advice from the Hikers when they’ve been practising in the barn. They’re all a bit older and have had a different upbringing. I refused him in Berlin, because he had hurt me and I just didn’t feel like another round, and he uses that against me. As they say, there’s plenty of fish in the sea and we have a bucket full of bait left.”

They went in for the Friday classes, with the two of them allowed to finish early to prepare for the performance. Gina checked over all the costumes, while Willow went on stage and tested the microphones. When the bell signalled the end of classes, the cast and helpers all came in to make sure everything was ready. Gina and Willow were sitting with the twins when Willow got a text.

She read it and showed it to Gina, who nodded. It was simple, but long.

‘Am using Uber for transport now. Will not be playing triangle next week. Thinking about the rest of things. Will let you know. JE.’

There wasn’t much to be done now but get on with things. After tea, the cast all went to get changed, with the stand-ins singing tonight. Willow and Gina made sure the costumes were properly buttoned up and all the singers had their clip-on microphones on and tested. They went around and gave hugs where needed as they could hear the audience arrive. Willow looked out and saw the attendants closing the doors, so she went to a microphone and welcomed everyone to the performance, stating that the cast will, tonight, have the stand-in singers, but that it did not detract from the performance.

Tonight, the two friends left the stage by a back door and went around to the foyer, slipping into the back of the hall as the overture was finishing. They stood with the attendants for the entire show and applauded the performance. They were beckoned up on stage and bowed with the others.

That evening, there was just the two of them in the vehicle on the way back home.

“So, young Willow. Love doesn’t run smooth.”

“It doesn’t, Sebastian. This is the second loss. The first was whisked away by his mother, and the second by a blonde bombshell. I’m not going to get him out of this one, as it looks like he was sober at the time.”

“Not even going to try?”

“Nope! Not bothered. I thought that he should be given some chances to be manly, and then he turned all neanderthal. Mind you, it was in Paris and Berlin, so he could have been channelling his ancestors who may have lived close by. My mother thought that he was following my lead, but now I know that he’s too easily led. It’s having Rick and the Hikers so close.”

“So, what’s next?”

“Next, good Sir Sebastian, is the last performance of ‘Wicked’, with many dignitaries in the audience for a Saturday night out. Then, next week we record the Messiah, and then we have the shows in the school and the Cathedral. After that, it’s revision and exam time. Who knows where we’ll be over Christmas. Tomorrow, my parents are taking us to the school, so we’ll see you Monday morning.”

That night, she revisited her ‘Fractured’ song, adding a verse about when you say ‘no’, it’s not always for ever. She did shed some tears then, but not for long.

On Saturday morning, when she checked her emails, there was one from Racheal asking if she would like to visit the farm for lunch, with Wendy. She answered that she would be happy to. She told her mother about it before walking to the church to check the hymns for the next day. The Reverend was pottering around in the new kitchen when she walked in.

“Good morning, Willow. How are you?”

“All right, I think. Have you seen the show yet?”

“We’re going tonight. Hilda tells me that it’s a bit different but has about as much to say as one of my sermons. I’m not sure if that’s a complement or an insult.”

“It’s set in modern day, so relates to modern times, about good and bad, rich and poor. Taken out of the fantasy world, I agree that it does sound like what you might say in a sermon. I believe we’ll have the crowd from the Cathedral tonight.”

“You look like you’ve had a bad night.”

“I’ll look better later on, when I’ve sat at my vanity. It could be the amount of work I’m doing at the moment. Getting the show to this stage has been good, but adding the work that we’ve all put into the Messiah has added a lot more stress. We’re taking the orchestra and choirs into a studio next week to lay down a recording of the work. That has added some more complexities to the mix.”

She sat at the organ and played through the hymns, then sat for a good twenty minutes playing Bach. The Reverend knew better than to disturb her while she was settling her nerves. He knew that there was more to her problems than schoolwork.

When she went home, she joined her mother in selecting something nice for visiting, but washable in case of baby spill. They told Ashley that there was ham in the pantry for a sandwich, and Wendy drove them to the farm. When Racheal opened the door for them, there were hugs and air kisses, and then they had to inspect little Rebeccah in her crib.

“She’s just had a feed and is settled, so we can wait until she wakes up before you can have a cuddle. I’ve made a stew, so come into the kitchen and tell me what’s happening. Rick is busy with band stuff and rang from Spain this morning to tell me that the shows have been going well.”

They sat and talked, some about the tour in Europe because Jacob had been tight-lipped about it. Some was about the ‘Wicked’ show. When Wendy mentioned the Messiah shows coming up, Racheal smiled.

“Oh, yes. Jacob made me laugh when he told me that he had a very important part to play and showed me his triangle.”

“Not any longer, I’m afraid. He texted me that he was resigning from that instrument, so all the Messiah concerts will be without him.”

“Did he give a reason? He has appeared a bit angry, lately.”

“Her name is Anita, and I believe that she is a sister to one of the Hikers.”

“Oh dear! I saw them talking at the going away party last week. Come to think of it, they did disappear for a while. She’s seventeen and Alex, her brother, has given her a car. I saw it in the yard this morning, very early, but isn’t there now. Alex is a bit wild, a hard drinker when he gets going. He also dabbles in weed and has asked Rick if we could plant some on the farm. I put my foot down with that one.”

Wendy looked at Willow.

“Is this why you’ve been a bit down the last couple of days?”

“He was at the Thursday performance with her, and she was all over him. I helped him last time, but this time he’s going into it with his eyes open, so he’s on his own. I’ve decided that I’m my own woman, and I can get through this.”

Both Wendy and Racheal gave her a hug. Wendy then turned to Racheal.

“What do your parents think of this?”

“They won’t be happy, especially when they find out that she’s been sleeping here with him. But what can they do? He’s grown up in the last six months to the point where he can act like an adult and has the money to just walk away from the farm if he wants. I have no control with his life. If he wants to throw it away, that’s his to do. Just lately, if I offer a suggestion, he just tells me I’m not his mother.”

“He said the same thing to Gina the other day.”

“How does this affect the band?”

“I’ve thought about that. If we move towards a more ‘hard rock’ set, then he won’t be missed if he’s not there. The only ones that would miss him would be some female fans. When you get to see the DVD that was shot in Berlin, you’ll see what I’m talking about. If we do any of the old songs, Roy can play a semi-acoustic to get the sound. It may make things complicated for your father, Racheal, if Jacob isn’t part of the syndicates, and Peter will have to separate income with a ‘Jacob playing’ and ‘Jacob absent’ division.”

“That’s a bit cold blooded!”

“That business, Mum. The band is fun and makes money, but it can change overnight. There’s hardly a band in the world that’s been the same line-up throughout their time.”

They heard the baby cry, so went to the crib and Racheal lifted her out. They took it in turns to cuddle the baby while Racheal ladled out the meal. When the baby was quiet, once more, she was put back into her crib and it was put next to Racheal at the table. They ate the meal, had a cup of tea, and cuddled the baby again before they left. On the way home, Wendy turned to her daughter.

“Are you really all right, love?”

“Yes Mum. It does make the future that we were talking about a lot easier. I should be getting the keys of a building in London soon. That one I told you about near the London University. Perhaps we can go down to see the Christmas lights this year. It all depends on what state the apartments are in.”

“That would be interesting. Didn’t you say there was a restaurant on the ground floor. All we’ll need would be breakfast makings. Can we go and have a look before then? We could do it in a day, if we can’t stay overnight.”

“I’d like that, Mum. Two women with money in London on their own. What can go wrong?”

That afternoon Willow took her time getting ready, and then the family went to the steakhouse for a meal, before going to the school. Her parents mixed with others in the theatre foyer while Willow went backstage to see the cast, meeting Gina making sure that all the costumes were correct.

“Looking good, Gina.”

“And you, friend. I suppose we have to sit in front again, with the VIPs.”

“As expected of the director and costume manager. I wonder what the reception will be, tonight. So far, it’s been good. I did see Bruce on Thursday night, so it looks like there’ll be something in the Observer.”

As they were getting the cast settled for the final performance, Mister Jamieson joined them, raising his voice to be heard.

“I have come backstage to tell you that all of the cast and helpers will be getting full marks for this production. The first two performances have been recorded and filmed, so there will be a DVD available through the school website, marked Cast A and B. The CD that you made has been selling like wildfire, and we’re likely to have sold out tonight, with another thousand to be ordered. There will be some important people in the audience tonight, supporters of the school, but I’m sure that Willow can tell you that they’re just more people who are there to be entertained, so just do what you’ve done before, and you’ll be the topic of conversation in households other than your own. Good luck tonight.”

While the theatre was filling, the twins stood with Willow, peeking through the curtains and asking who certain people were. Willow was quite surprised that she could name most of those who stood out. Ivy asked her if this was like going on stage in front of huge crowds.

“It’s not the size of the crowd that counts, girls. It’s how happy they are to see you. You have to remember the one constant in entertainment. The audience has paid good money to be in those seats. They have done that in order to be entertained by you. They have already made the commitment to be your friend, so you’re more than halfway to making them happy. You, and your band, made me and the teacher happy back at the beginning of term, the cast made a lot of people happy when you recorded the soundtrack. When you bow, tonight, to applause, you would have made four and a half thousand people happy over the three nights. It just gets more exciting the bigger the crowd. We played to audiences of sixty thousand in the summer, but the thing was that we did what we would normally do playing to six. Now get yourselves ready for the overture.”

She stayed by the curtain until it was just stragglers coming in and the doors were being closed, then went to a microphone.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this performance of ‘Wicked’ by the first-year students here at Blue Coat School. Please make sure that all mobile phones are set to silent. There will be an after-show party in the lunchroom when the cast have changed into normal clothes, so please stay and congratulate these talented boys and girls.”

She left the stage as the band started with the overture, the twins giving her a big smile as she left. She found her seat next to her parents, with Maisie and Gina and most of the senior teachers and the Bishop with his party. The show was smooth and professional. Willow thought that if they hadn’t got full marks already, this one would have nailed it. When the cast were all on stage, making their third bow, the Head stood and pulled Willow and Gina up on stage with her, finding a spare clip-on mic and attaching it to her dress, holding the sender in one hand. She took the two friends to the edge of the stage.

“Ladies, and Gentlemen, distinguished guests. Tonight, you have seen a performance which has smashed several records for this school. Usually, the first term musical has been something traditional. This year, it was a leap of faith to offer the first years the ‘Wicked’ show. Not only did they accept something that takes months for a professional cast to master, but they gave it a modern setting and, doing so, made a powerful statement about the world of good and evil, something that this school has a lot of interest in. Not only that, but they never sought the help of any of the teachers, and followed their Director, Willow Rose, to produce something outstanding. Normally, we have to go begging for costumes, but these, on stage, were supplied by Madam Francesca without any need to ask her. Our thanks to Gina Summer for this. Lastly, they wouldn’t have known this, but every musical put on, in the past, has been to a backing track, pre-recorded by the school orchestra. This is the very first time that the performance was totally live, and we have to give a special round of applause to the Vines for the music.”

There was applause, and Willow could see the Vines parents with big smiles.

“Now, as Willow told you at the beginning, the cast will be circulating when they have changed. Finger food and drinks are available in the lunchroom.”

The curtain closed and the cast all set off to change, leaving the Head with the two friends.

“Looks like you two have done it again,”

“Just doing what we were asked to do, ma-am.”

“More than was asked, Willow. I know how much you’ve put into this, giving the cast tips and hints, without yelling at them. With that, alone, you will make an excellent teacher, if you want to go that way. And you, Gina, I am fully aware that you paid for the costumes, but we do have to make our outside supporters feel good. The CD is almost sold out, so we don’t have to order more, but we will, for the website. Our thanks to you for the use of the studio, it really made a difference. I’ll be joining you with the recording of the Messiah, I’ve heard so much about how good the studio is, I have to see it for myself.”

“It will be interesting as we try to fit everyone in. The biggest crowd there has been the cast, so we’ll have to be very inventive to get the orchestra in. We don’t have the space that Abbey Road has. We built it for pop groups.”

“You’ll all have to be very friendly, then. Now, let’s go and press the flesh with the happy parents and even happier guests. I know that the Bishop was impressed by the way you all turned a vapid, but entertaining, show into a moral observation.”

They went through to the lunchroom, with the Head telling them to stick with her, and met up with several civic dignitaries, a couple of local politicians, and the Bishop, who hugged all three of them and told them that they were all wonderful. The cast started to come in, to be hugged and kissed by parents and friends. The Vines family came over to Willow and the others.

“Headmistress. I wasn’t going to let my girls attend this school in the early part of the year, but they were insistent about coming to where their favourite band were students. Tonight showed me that they were right. I’m totally happy with the way things are done here and will recommend the school to anyone who asks. My girls, and their friends, have shown everyone how good the environment is here. Anytime you’re looking for help, just call.”

“Thank you, Mister Vines. Your girls impressed our Head of the Music School in the first week they were here and haven’t disappointed since. I can tell you that if they do reasonably well in the end of term exams, they will both be ‘A’ students, along with Willow and most of the other music students. It’s something about learning to play music without it in front of you that improves the retention of facts in other subjects.”

In the meantime, the twins had introduced Willow and Gina to their mother, who gave them both a hug. There was more talk and then the room started to thin out. Gina was talking to her mother and Frankie, and Willow was waylaid by Tom.

“Just asking, Willow. This recording studio. I don’t know of any in Coventry that are big enough for an orchestra.”

“It’s in Leicester, Tom, and I don’t know if we’ll all fit in. The internal space is thirty-seven wide, by seventy or so deep. It should be all right, and we have microphone jack points down the whole length, so it’s only getting the seating right. We’re getting over a hundred seats in.”

“We?”

“Well, yes. You’ll see on Wednesday. It’s a new studio that we’ve developed in an industrial site. The whole site is owned by the band. It’s not a commercial venue, so don’t ask to hire it, but it will be available to friends, say, a choir wanting somewhere to sing church music for an album.”

“Since when have you been able to read minds! That was something that crossed my mind, with our organist. Do you have any organs there?”

“We have two Nord Stage Three keyboards which can emulate a pipe organ. If you have a copy of the show soundtrack, it was recorded there a couple of weeks ago. We have twenty-four track on the desk, and plan to use some small mixers to give us a full mix with the orchestra and choir.”

Eventually, Willow caught up with her parents and they made their way to the car and Ashley drove them home. It was late when they arrived, but they changed into nightwear and had a hot chocolate before going to bed. Ashley had a copy of the soundtrack, which he got Willow to sign, then put it with the others in the music centre.

In the morning, Willow was showered, dressed, and had breakfast before she walked over to the church with her parents, arm in arm, and their breath clouding in the cold morning air, the first cool snap of the winter. In the church it was warm and cosy. Willow went up to the organ as the bells started, playing Bach and thinking about the night before. Especially the fact that the Head had introduced them to all of the dignitaries that had stayed, as ‘my two brightest students’ and not as the founders of Summer Rose. It made Willow wonder if, indeed, she could make a career as a teacher of music and theatre.

After the service, they all went over to the club, where an urn of hot water had replaced the icebox. The Reverend was quite sure that the original premise of the play and the film was that dark magic is to be avoided and found it hard to believe that very little change had been made to the school version to turn it into a modern parable. They had lunch there, and Willow asked her father if he could take her to the studio, so she could start moving things around. Gina wanted to come as well.

When they got to the site, Willow produced a set of keys that Mervyn had given her. One opened the padlock on the gates, and one was a universal one for the office and both sheds. They opened the side shed and slid the doors so that there was light inside. The pallet racks had all been taken out, just leaving screw holes in the concrete. There was, however, twenty-four stacks of five plastic chairs and the tables leaning against the wall. Before going further, she relocked the gates.

In the studio, they switched on all the lights and the air. The studio, itself, was as they had left it after the soundtrack was recorded. Willow went to the end and opened up the sliding door and then the double door to the store. Gina was unplugging the amps and the cables to the speaker boxes. They had a sack truck with a wider than usual base, so were able to take the speakers to the storeroom and stack them in four piles of three, adding a stack of the six amplifier heads. The extra guitars and other instruments went out on the pallets. The two keyboards stayed where they were for the moment.

Some of the stacks of chairs were carefully brought in, with negotiating all the twists and turns taking time. Gina and Willow discussed how the orchestra should be laid out. The best positioning for the choir would be across the back, and there was only one way to do that, and that was along the side wall. So, a line of forty chairs were set out. The cello and basses were usually to the conductors right, so they set out six chairs for the cellos. The double bass players would need to bring their stools. Willow made a note for those to be in the truck. She also made a note that the conductors rostrum would have to come.

Marianne Gregory © 2025