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From: "Jim C" <jimc_author@hotmail.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} Lucky Stiff by JiMC (14 of 46)--MF, FF, mc, md, magic, romance
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Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 01:10:04 -0400
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This story is copyright (c) 2003-2005.  All rights are
reserved by the author, including that of publication.
Posting on-line is only allowed when permission is explicitly
granted by the author, and then only for the complete story,
including this disclaimer.  Contact the author at
<jimc-author at excite dot com> for more information,
referring to this story ("Lucky Tickets 2: Lucky Stiff").

I explicitly grant permission to post this story to
StoriesOnline.net and asstr-mirror.org.

The following is a work of fiction and is just a fantasy.
Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely
coincidental and entirely unintentional.  There may be
references to people in a historical context, but they are
not really characters in this story.

This is a story that describes sexually explicit situations
in a fictional universe that only vaguely seems similar to
the one we live in.  Most of the characters in this story are
under aged.  However, the target audience is adults (people
over the age of eighteen) with broad minds.

* * *

This is a sequel to the story "Lucky Tickets," and as such,
you may want to read that story first to get a better
introduction to the characters present in both stories.  Like
a lot of sequels, it's not really meant to be read out of
order.

* * *

Chapter 14--Rehearsals

        And I'm bringing you a love that's true.
        So get ready, so get ready.
        I'm gonna try to make you love me too.
        So get ready, so get ready 'cause here I come.
                -- Get Ready (The Temptations)


    Kristen and I decided to spend the weekend with my
parents for a change.  This ate into the time I hoped that
I'd have to finish doing music arrangements, especially now
that I was planning the entertainment for Kristen's party.

    Fortunately for me, Merry was delighted to have Kristen
around, the big sister that she always wanted and never had.
Merry dragged Kristen to her room to talk girl talk, and I
took the opportunity to go downstairs and make a telephone
call from the den.

    "Hello?" Wendy's mother answered.

    "Hello, Mrs. Jones," I said.  "My name is Jim
Crittenhouse.  I was wondering if Wendy was home, and if so,
may I please talk with her?"

    Wendy's mom seemed a bit surprised at my rather polite
delivery, something my mother instilled in me at an early
age: Politeness didn't cost you very much, and was often
rewarded.  "I'll see if I can get her, Mr. Crittenhouse."

    I smiled and waited and soon Wendy was on the line.
"Hey, Jim!  Long time no see!"

    "Yeah, Wendy," I said, a bit sorry.  "I've got my hands
full at school, you know."

    "I can imagine," Wendy said with a laugh.  "What's up?"

    "I was wondering if you are still seeing Gerry," I said.
"I had an idea, but I don't have his last name or phone
number."

    "Of course, we're still seeing each other, although we're
not dating... well, we're not seeing other people, but we
know that we won't be seeing each other after this summer..."

    I waited.  "Could you give me the information, then?" I
finally asked.

    "Oh, yeah," Wendy answered.  "Gerry Pembroke." She also
gave me his phone number.  "What's up?"

    "I'm planning a birthday party for Kris," I explained.
"I want to invite you and Gerry, but I also wanted to know if
Gerry could get his band together for the Saturday after
next."

    Wendy thought a moment.  "He doesn't have a gig then.
What time?"

    "Starts at noon, and we don't have an end time."

    "Sounds like quite a gig."

    "Oh, he won't be playing all the time.  It's Kristen's
birthday party--having a band will surprise her!  We'll also
have a deejay and I'm thinking of getting the jazz band to
play a few songs as well."

    "Sounds way cool, Oogie!"

    I grinned at the nickname.  "Thanks, Wendy.  I'll give
Gerry a call."

    "He's right here and raring to talk to you."

    Wendy put Gerry on the phone and we talked.  It seemed
that he came up with the same idea, and was thinking of
calling me to do the gig for free.  I told him that he'd be
paid--Kristen's parents were footing most of the bills.

    After a bit of haggling, I pointed out that most of the
other members of his band weren't necessarily Kristen's
friends, and might not be as willing to forgo getting paid.
I could see that Gerry was doomed to live the life of the
poor musician.

    Finally, Gerry insisted, "Jim, that arrangement you put
together for 'Hooked on a Feeling' has been a big hit for us
and has made us a very popular band in this area.  The boys
have already insisted on doing your party for free once I
found out about the party yesterday.  We even canceled a
paying gig... that's how interested they are!"

    I wasn't to be convinced.  "Gerry, you don't know
Kristen's parents.  Her father will insist.  Take the money
and buy her a present, but you won't win against her father."

    "If you say so," Gerry finally conceded.

    "Thanks, Gerry.  Give my love to Wendy, and be sure to
bring her to the party!  Same to the band... invite their
girlfriends."

    "And boyfriends," Gerry laughed.  He had a female who
played bass.  "No problem, maestro!"

    I hung the phone up, satisfied.  I walked out of the den
and passed my mother.

    "How long were you on the phone?" my mother asked.

    "Ten minutes tops," I said, knowing that using the phone
was a privilege that you didn't abuse in our house.  I looked
upstairs and didn't see Kristen around.  "I am planning some
surprises for Kristen's party.  Can you guys come and bring
Merry?"

    "Is it just going to be kids?" my mother asked.

    "No, Kristen's parents are inviting their friends, and
asked me to invite some of the kids from school as well, so
there will be lots of people of all ages.  You guys will fit
in fine."

    "OK.  Do you have any idea what we should get her?"

    "Nothing expensive, mom," I said, grinning.  All of a
sudden, I got an interesting idea.  "I know Kris likes
chocolate covered peanuts.  Do you know that place in the
mall near the food court?"

    "Candy?" my mother asked, a bit astonished.

    "It's one of her favorites, Mom," I assured her.  "I
promise you, she'll love it."

    Our conversation was cut short when we heard Merry
bounding down the stairs.

    "Mommy!" Merry shouted.

    "What's up, dear?"

    "Kristen invited our family over to her birthday party
the weekend after next!  Her parents are inviting some
friends, and wanted you to come."

    "Huh?" my mother asked, completely surprised.

    Kristen descended the stairs a bit more gracefully than
Merry's attempt a moment earlier.  "My dad always throws a
party for my birthday.  It's not a surprise.  He asked me to
invite your entire family.  I know that Jim will be there,
and I'd love the rest of you to come as well."

    My mother looked at me as if the world suddenly turned
upside down.  I just shrugged.  "Kristen's mom likes '_Moon
River_,'" I said.  "The deejay will probably have Andy
Williams."

    It was Kristen's turn to be surprised.  "Um... yes she
does.  How did you know that, Oogie?"

    "I played it for her at your house once, remember?" I
asked, having prepared for the question and wisely not
directly answering it.

    Merry didn't like the fact that the conversation shifted
subject slightly.  "So, how about it, Mom?"

    My mother said, "I'll have to ask your dad..."

    That was Merry's cue to take off and go into the garage
to pester her father.  The three of us laughed at her.

    "We don't have anything else planned," Mom said.  "I
don't see any reason why we can't attend."

    "It will be on Saturday at the American Legion Hall on
Main Street, and it starts at noon," Kristen informed my
mother.

    My mother was about to say something when Merry stormed
back into the living room.  "Daddy said 'yes!'"

    "I guess we're going," my mother said, grinning.

    "Yeah!" Merry shouted, all full of exuberance.

    "Hey, Merry," Kristen said.  "Would you like to go to the
mall?"

    "Sh..." Merry said, and interrupted herself, remembering
where she was and she turned sheepishly to my mother, and
corrected herself.  "I mean, may I, Mommy?"

    My mother smiled and said, "Sure, Merry.  We'll be having
dinner at six.  Can you be back by five so you can help with
the salad?"

    "That won't be a problem, Mrs. Cummings," Kristen
answered.  "Are there any groceries or anything that you
would like me to pick up?"

    My mother looked a bit taken aback.  "I... um... it never
even occurred to me that anybody would..." She stopped and
looked thoughtful.  "Do you think you can pick up some
Italian bread?"

    "No problem," Kristen said.  "There's a bakery near..."

    "Oh, pooh!" Mom said.  "It's cheaper at the grocery
store."

    "But the bakery has better quality.  Your spaghetti sauce
deserves the best, Mrs. Cummings."

    Again, my mother was impressed.  "If you insist..."

    "I insist," Kristen said firmly.

    Kristen, Merry, and I walked out through the foyer and
outside.  As we approached the car, Kristen turned to me
"Jim, I was thinking of taking Merry to Martin's."

    Martin's was an upscale dress store in the mall that
Kristen was particularly fond of patronizing.  That kind of
shopping didn't really appeal to me, and Kristen's
explanation was a cue to me that I might not want to go with
the two of them.  I said, "I have some arrangements that I'd
like to work on, if you don't really need me."

    Kristen apparently expected my response.  She gave me a
quick kiss on the cheek and told Merry to sit in the front.

    I felt a little disappointed that I wasn't with Kristen,
but maybe Kris and Merry wanted some private time together.
I wouldn't deny them the opportunity, and I did have quite a
lot of work that I made for myself that I needed to get done,
especially with a deadline in less than two weeks.

    After the Camaro left, my step-father noticed that I was
still in the driveway.  "Kristen left you?"

    "She's taking Merry to the mall.  I have some music to
arrange."

    "Will she be around for dinner?" he asked, thinking that
there may have been something wrong.

    "They'll both be here at five," I assured him.

    "OK, son."

    I smiled at him, and thought about our relationship.  I
liked the man, and he was a good husband to my mother.  He
doted on Merry and although he thought that teenage boys
should have a firmer hand guiding them than I preferred, he
was ultimately fair.

    His daughter, Merry, and I were much closer.  I actually
enjoyed being around her.  I could even say that I loved her.
I wondered why I couldn't apply that verb to my relationship
with my step-father.  Somehow, we never really clicked that
way.  As I said, he was a decent man, but I would never call
him "father." There was just too much bad history with
another person with that title for me to apply it to any warm
blooded creature.

* * *

    My plans for a few hours' time alone writing music were
dashed when the doorbell rang about an hour and a half after
Kristen left.

    My mother answered the door, and then came upstairs after
she found herself unsuccessful in arousing me.  I was in my
bedroom with my headphones on with my electric piano on a
stand that my step-father and I put together with spare
lumber in the garage during my Christmas vacation.

    I was startled when somebody tapped my shoulder, and I
turned around quickly, startling my mother.  "I'm sorry, Jim.
You have more company."

    I ran downstairs to see Camille and Patty in the living
room.

    "Hey, Jim!" the girls said.

    "Hey you guys.  What's up?"

    "Is Kristen here?" Patty asked.

    "No. She's at the mall with Merry.  Were you looking for
her?"

    Both girls seemed relieved.  "We thought so," Patty said.
"We didn't see the Camaro and were hoping you'd be home.  We
rarely see you without Kristen on weekends."

    "What's up?"

    Camille noticed my mother coming down the stairs.  "Can
we go for a ride?"

    I looked at my mother, who only shrugged at me.  "I need
to be back before five."

    "Shouldn't be a problem," Patty said.

    I was intrigued and wondered what the two girls were up
to.

    Camille's red Corolla was parked in the driveway.  Patty
indicated that I take the front seat, and she sat behind me.

    Camille backed out of the driveway and said, "Jim, the
two of us would like to thank you for your efforts to bring
Patty and I closer together."

    I shrugged.  "I didn't do much."

    "Bullshit!" Patty said, laughing.  "You're modest, and
that's what we all love about you.  We spent all day Thursday
just talking.  It's as if we became best friends all over
again!"

    "You did it yourselves," I said, not wanting to take the
credit.

    "Anyway, that's not why we kidnapped you," Camille said.

    "Kidnap?" I said.  I saw humor in Camille's eyes, though.

    "Wendy called Cammy and told her about Kristen's party,"
Patty said, ignoring Camille.  "We wanted to know if we could
do anything to help?"

    "I was trying to write some arrangements for some rock
and roll and Henry Mancini songs for the jazz band to play at
the party when you girls kidnapped me!"

    "Oh," Patty said, suddenly thoughtful.  She seemed as if
she was ready to say something, but held her tongue.

    I sighed, figuring that I might actually have to end up
staying up late a few nights to get them done.  There were
only two weeks, and two Thursday afternoons for the band to
practice.  There was also the problem of keeping Kristen from
those practice sessions.

    Suddenly, another idea formed.  "Patty, Cammy... could
you hijack Kristen for the next two Thursday afternoons?  I
would like the band to play some special music for her party
and we need to practice."

    Camille frowned.  "Cheerleader practice on Thursdays..."

    Patty said, "I can come up with a couple of ideas, but
she will be suspicious if I do it two weeks in a row."

    I agreed.  "You're probably right.  Maybe just the
Thursday after next."

    "I can come up with something," Patty said.

    I turned to look at Patty and saw a sly grin on her face.
"Anyway, both of you are invited, with your boyfriends, if
you have them."

    "You hinted that the jazz band will be there," Patty
said.  "That's who I would have invited."

    Camille smirked.  "You're dating the entire band?  That
sounds like one of my tricks!"

    Patty and I laughed at that.

    I was still confused about where Patty and Camille were
taking me.  We were heading toward the center of town.

    Camille found a parking spot on Main Street.  I was
familiar with that area, but didn't have any idea what their
intentions were.

    Patty and Camille led me to a door that read "American
Legion."

    "This is where Kristen's dad is having the party..."

    "He hired it this weekend, too," Patty said.

    "Huh?"

    "Go upstairs," Camille directed.

    Upstairs, a good majority of the jazz band, as well as a
couple of extra people from the chorus and some other friends
were assembled.  There were some instruments.  Even Amy Grant
was situated behind an old upright piano that looked as if it
was part of the legion hall.

    Toby walked over to me and said, "Hey, Jim!  Mr. Swift
rented us the room for the next two weekends so we could
practice here before the party."

    "Huh?" I said, still not comprehending.

    "Hey, son!" came a voice behind me.  It was Kristen's
father.

    "Mr. Swift?" I asked.

    "In the flesh," Kristen's father answered.  "Your friend
is correct.  I rented this hall for the next couple of
Saturdays."

    "Why?"

    "One thing we've never told you was that Charley was a
musician when she was younger," Mr. Swift explained.  "She
suggested rehearsing at the site so you can get a good
feeling on how the hall 'sounds,' or something like that."

    "Cool!" I said, thinking that it was an excellent
suggestion.  "How did you get the band together?"

    "I called your school, asking for your music teacher.  He
managed to contact most of the students, and others contacted
the ones he couldn't.  We didn't get everybody, but we should
have everybody here next week."

    Wendy came over.  "I called Camille, and Patty was over
at her house.  I explained and they decided to see if they
could wrest you from Kristen."

    Kristen's father smiled.  "How did they pry the two of
you apart, Jim?"

    "Kris went to Martin's with Merry.  I was working on
arrangements for the party..."

    "Do you have them?" asked Gerry.

    "Unfortunately, no," I said, sadly.  "I wasn't told where
I was being taken."

    "Cammy and I thought we'd surprise you," Patty said,
apologetically.  "I didn't realize you were working on stuff
for the party already."

    "Is there a phone here?" I asked.

    Kristen's father nodded, and pointed downstairs.  "You
can use the one in the office.  They'll know you're with me."

    "Camille?  Can you drive back to my house and pick up
some stuff from my mother?"

    "Sure," Camille said.

    Camille followed me as I ran downstairs and called my
house.  I got my mom and asked her to get some music books
and the stuff that were on my keyboard in my room.  I would
have Camille stop by to pick them up.

    "I think I have things under control, Mr. Swift.  Thanks
for making the effort!"

    "No problem, Jim.  I need to run."

    "OK.  Thanks!" I shook his hand and looked over the
students, who more or less set up their seats much the same
as if they were in the music room.

    I told the people to reorganize the chairs toward the
front of the room where they would be playing.  If we were
going to be learning the acoustics of the room, we should do
so in the same area where we would be performing at the party.

    I found Sam, who played the string bass, and asked him if
he knew the Peter Gunn theme.  He wasn't sure, so I went over
to Amy's upright piano and started playing the theme from
memory, choosing the key of G. BUM-bum BUM-bum BUM-bum
BUM-bum...

    Sam recognized the tune and picked it up almost at once.

    Without a cue from me, at the right time, one of the
trumpet players and Bill, the best trombone player in the
school, automatically joined in on the third phrase.  Soon,
the drum kit came to life, and you could hear the entire room
shake as people started to join in.  Amy was even duplicating
the bass line that I originally started.

    "Hell, who needs arrangements?" I giggled to myself.

    Patty, Wendy, and a lot of the chorus members were
looking at me with their mouths hanging open.

    I cued the band to start the song over.  This time, Gerry
plugged in his guitar, and I asked him to join in on the bass
line, which was being overpowered by the rest of the band.  I
explained how I wanted the theme to get louder (crescendo)
and softer (diminuendo) for each phrase, and showed Toby the
correct fingering of the triplets near the end of the phrase.

    Back in front of the band, I said we'd be doing eight-bar
solos for the third repeat, with only the people doing the
bass line maintaining the song.  I asked for volunteers and
assigned solos.  I was surprised when Amy volunteered and
gave her a spot in the solos.

    Patty tapped me on the shoulder.  "I'm sorry to interrupt
you, Jim.  But is this the first time they played this?"

    "They didn't even know the name of the song before I
started playing the bass line," I said with a grin.

    "Not true," Bill said.  "I've played this before."

    "Do you have any arrangements?"

    "Not in this key."

    "Shit.  Which key?"

    Bill thought a moment.  "One full step down."

    "F?"

    "On a trombone."

    I nodded.  "Which instruments do you have music for?"

    "Two-part sheets for trombone.  I think there's a
three-part sheet for trumpet and three-part for sax."

    I asked the group.  "Would one step down be easier?"

    There were general nods all around.  Amy looked confused.

    I smiled at the junior and showed her the bass line.  As
I did, Sam and Gerry played along.  Once again, the entire
band joined in, much better this time.

    I was glad that Bill told me the right key.  I made a
mental note to ask for help next time before going off on my
own.

    I cued the band through two repeats and the solos began.
Bill was great, as I expected.  Following him was a sax solo,
and then Gerry switched from the bass line to a lead guitar
riff.  Amy followed, a bit shaky, but doing a great effort
for her first time.  She was followed by a kick-ass drum solo.

    We played the song two more times, and the solos
significantly improved.  I told the band to take five, and
looked around the room.  I knew that I'd need some additional
music to allow the chorus members to be useful, and I found,
to my delight, that Camille arrived with the stuff that I
requested.

    "Camille?  Did my mom give you any music books?"

    In response, Camille held up a stack of books.

    I walked over and quickly found "_Moon River_" and placed
it on the piano.  The same book also contained the love theme
from '_Romeo and Juliet_' as well.  Both were Mancini tunes.

    I rejected another Mancini song, "_Baby Elephant Walk_,"
since I didn't have a piccolo or calliope, which was more or
less essential for that song.

    One of the books I owned was a "fake book," which just
was music with a melody line, chords, and lyrics.  There was
also a music notebook with "fake" arrangements that I wrote
myself for other songs.  I figured that we should play a few
more "standards" and quickly found an old Jack Jones song,
"_Lollipops and Roses_." I thought of the lyrics and figured
it would satisfy the old people and might mean something
special to my special blonde Goddess.

    I went to the singers and asked for soloists for the
three songs that I selected.  I got volunteers for the
Mancini numbers, but nobody seemed to know (or want to sing)
the "_Lollipops and Roses_."

    "You sing it, Jim," said Roy, a friend of mine with a
voice that people said sounded like mine.  "If you want, I
can help you double track it the way we did on '_Hooked on a
Feeling_.'"

    "I don't know if it's in my range," I said, looking
cautiously at the notes.

    Roy looked at the fake book.  "It definitely is, Jim."

    "It's not my style."

    "Bullshit."

    One thing about my band: nobody hesitated in calling me
to task if they disagreed with me.

    "OK.  I'm afraid that people would..." I let the thought
hang.  I was about to say that I was afraid of making a fool
of myself, that people would laugh.  I knew that this was
never a good excuse not to participate.  Roy himself was
shaking his head at me.

    "OK.  I figured we'd do the Ouga Chaka song..."

    "We could do that one, also.  Bill told me that Mr.
Proilet made them practice that a couple of weeks ago."

    Bill was close by.  "The song sounded eery without the
chorus, but Mr. Proilet told the clarinets to play the melody
almost half a beat behind, making it sound as if the brass
was dragging the winds behind them."

    "Really?  That sounds weird," I said, impressed.

    "We have enough for the chants today, though," Roy
pointed out.

    Bill looked at the fake book.  "'_Lollipops and Roses_'
looks like a piano, bass, and drum song with a soloist."

    I sighed, having hoped that song would have been
forgotten.

    "Jim's going to do the solo," Roy decided.  "Maybe Stacy
can do the second.  I've heard the song, I think.  The bridge
follows, and should be a duet.  Final verse should be Jim,
the bridge is repeated as an instrumental solo, and the
repeat of the final verse could be a duet."

    "It sounds as though you want to arrange it," I said
dryly, shaking my head.

    "I can arrange that," Bill said.  "I could arrange that
for the three parts and allow a couple of four-bar solos for
the second bridge.  Do you have a copy of the record?"

    I thought my mom might have one, but Camille answered.
"My mom has that one.  Come over my house and I'll loan it to
you tomorrow."

    "Sounds great," Bill said, grinning.

    I sighed.  I was just drafted to sing a solo.  I hoped
that my voice did justice to the song.  I called the group
back together, and we started to work out the songs that I
picked out, intentionally avoiding "_Lollipops and Roses_."

    At least there was somebody else helping with an
arrangement.

* * *

    I saw Kristen's car in the driveway when Camille dropped
me off at my house a few minutes past five.  I asked Camille
to hold my arrangements for me until I could come over and
get them, and she agreed.

    "So, you went out on a date while Merry and I were buying
dresses?" Kristen said, smiling, as I entered my house.

    "Double date," I answered.  "Patty and Camille."

    "My Romeo!" Kristen laughed, kissing me fully on the
lips, not minding that my family was in sight.

    I was a bit taken aback by Kristen's calling me Romeo,
due to the fact that one of the last songs we rehearsed was
the love theme from the movie.  I wondered if Kristen
suspected what I was doing.

    There were no other questions asked about where I went,
though.  The meal was quite nice, and Kristen spent the night
in my room.

    Sunday, Kristen and I visited the flea market, and
afterward, there was little difficulty inviting my parents
and Merry to Vaughn's for lunch and Merry's Belly Buster
dessert.

* * *

    I spent the rest of my spare time that week writing
arrangements for the various songs for the jazz band.

    On Thursday, after school, Amy and Kristen found me and
told me that they needed to go somewhere and that Amy
wouldn't be able to attend rehearsal.  I didn't ask Amy to
hijack Kristen, but I knew that was her intent.  I told her
that I didn't mind and that I'd do her solos for her.  As
they left, I was glad that Amy did this for me.

    My music teacher, Mr. Proilet, was in the music room as
the band started out playing the "_Peter Gunn_" theme.
Almost immediately, Mr. Proilet signaled me to stop.

    "What's wrong?" I asked.

    "This isn't the first time these people have played this.
I know that Bill and a couple of the saxes played this last
year, but that was in competition.  When did they find time
to rehearse?"

    I smiled.  "Kristen's dad rented the Legion Hall last
Saturday and next Saturday to allow us to rehearse on site."

    My music teacher looked impressed.  "Would you mind if I
attend next Saturday's rehearsal?"

    I shrugged.  "It may help, especially if I can't get away
from Kristen."

    Almost immediately, Mr. Proilet looked at the empty
piano.  "Where is Amy?"

    "She's running interference with Kristen today."

    "Think you can handle this without your muse?"

    I ignored my music teacher's remarks as well as the
snickers that accompanied it.  "'_Peter Gunn_,' from the
top," I said, playing conductor again.

    The song didn't sound as good without the piano, so I
signaled Mr. Proilet to take over as I took Amy's place
behind the piano.

    I almost missed my cue for the third solo, thinking it
was Amy's part.  I recovered quickly, though, and the song
went to the end.

    "Pretty good," commented Mr. Proilet.  "Piano solo was a
bit weak."

    This caused everybody to laugh.  Apparently, any sign of
weakness on my behalf was appreciated by most everybody.

    I alternated conducting and piano with Mr. Proilet with
the other Mancini numbers until Roy pointed out that we
didn't do the _Lollipops_ song yet.

    "_Lollipops_?" Mr. Proilet asked.

    "The Jack Jones song," I admitted.  "We haven't practiced
that one."

    "Why not?" the music teacher demanded.

    "Jim's afraid of doing the solo," Roy explained.

    I sighed.  "'_Lollipops_,' everybody," I said, biting the
bullet.

    Bill handed the conductor's score for the song to my
teacher.  I knew the melody, but was surprised when Bill
handed me a completely different arrangement for piano.  Only
the voices would be carrying the melody except for the
introduction.

    I was behind the piano.  There wasn't any microphone, so
I simply played the solo introduction and started to sing.

    After the first line, Mr. Proilet tapped his baton,
signaling me to stop.  He instructed Roy to bring a mike over
to me, and to double-track me live.  There was also another
girl set up to back Stacy in the same way.

    Once again, he signaled me to start.

    When I heard Roy accompany me, I felt much better.  The
band came in, and I was surprised at how good the song was
going.

    I almost forgot that the second verse was the female
solo, but Roy saw that and quickly signaled me before I made
a fool of myself.  It was much easier playing the piano
harmony when it was backing Stacy than when I was singing
melody.

    The second verse was followed by our duet bridge, and Roy
and I took the final verse.

    Toby took the first four-bar solo, and did rather well.
The rest of the solos followed, followed by Stacy and I doing
the final duet.

    "Great arrangement," Mr. Proilet said, looking at me.

    "Roy actually came up with the concept, and Bill did the
actual arranging," I pointed out.

    "Great work, all of you," the teacher said.  "Can we try
it again from the first bridge?"

* * *

    I was able to attend Saturday's rehearsal, because
Kristen's parents ran interference for me.  We brought the
sound systems this weekend, and we decided to play a complete
set one time through in order to get a feel of what the
program would be.  Patty and Camille were assigned as our
official timers, and they were given stopwatches and told to
indicate the start and end times for each song.

    "We're not going to stop for mistakes," I told the band.

    "Who's going to announce the band?" Roy asked.

    I didn't think of that.  "Mr. Proilet?" I asked, looking
at my music teacher.

    "No problem."

    I turned to Patty and Camille.  "Time the intro as well."

    "What do we call the band?" Mr. Proilet asked.

    That was another thing we never discussed.

    Without missing a band, Camille answered, "The Oogie
Woogie Impromptu Jazz Band."

    This was greeted by laughter by everybody.

    "How appropriate!" my music teacher said, laughing.

    There was a curtain behind the stage set up, and we all
were back there with our chairs, stands, and instruments.
The chorus members helped out with some of the equipment as
well.

    Using the backstage mike, Mr. Proilet took a deep breath
and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention?
I have the privilege to introduce to you, fresh from their
successful engagement at the high school Christmas concert,
Jim Crittenhouse and the one and only Oogie Woogie Impromptu
Jazz Band!"

    That was our cue to come on stage and set up quickly.  I
took my spot behind the podium, facing the audience.  It was
Camille's job to get the signal from Mr. Proilet and to
signal me when the group was ready.

    I started my prepared speech.  "Thank you, everybody.
Our first four numbers are standards that everybody should
know from the inimitable Henry Mancini.  Those will be
followed by a love song and our final number will be
something that will really rock the house.  Those of you over
the age of thirty have been warned."

    Camille gave me her nod and I smiled.  I turned around
and tapped my baton four times.

    Amy, Sam, and Gerry started playing the "_Peter Gunn_"
bass line and I smiled.  Things were sounding very nicely.

    When Roy took the solo for "_Moon River_," it actually
brought tears to my eyes.  His voice wasn't the same as Andy
Williams', but he handled the lovely Johnny Mercer lyrics
just fine.

    Stacy did the lead for "_Romeo and Juliet_," and Lynn
joined her in harmony for the bridge, their voices
intertwining beautifully together, like angels.

    For the next song, "_Pink Panther Theme_," I signaled Amy
to start the song.  The woodwinds really liked this
particular number, and I got a very funky rendition.  It was
our most polished piece, since the band played this many
times before.

    During the "_Pink Panther_," Roy came over with the
microphone.  I originally hoped that I could sit and hide
behind the piano as I did on Thursday, but it wasn't to be.
Besides, I couldn't take Amy away from her rightful place
behind the ivories.

    Mr. Proilet took over the conducting for "_Lollipops_,"
and Roy and I sang the first verse.  Unfortunately, our mikes
weren't live, but that was quickly fixed by somebody in the
sound crew.  We kept singing anyway, knowing that the set
needed to be done in one take no matter what.

    Toby's solo during the bridge was extremely nice and
melodic and I was secretly proud of him.  The duet on the
repeated final verse sounded very nice to my ears as well.

    After that song, I was ready to take over the podium when
Mr. Proilet abruptly signaled the chorus, which started the
"Ouga Chaka" changes.  I forgot that Mr. Proilet told me that
he was going to conduct during my solos.

    During "_Hooked on a Feeling_," Roy kept looking at me
strangely.  For some reason, our voices weren't as together
as they were during "_Lollipops_." Both of us knew there was
a problem, and it took me a few moments to realize what the
problem was.

    I closed my eyes, but kept looking where I knew Camille
and Patty were standing.  Instead of them, however, I
imagined Kristen standing there, smiling at me with that
loving look in her eyes.

    During the final verse, Roy and I were together again.  I
felt infinitely better and we finished the song very strongly.

    As soon as the song ended, I signaled to Camille and
Patty to stop their watches.  They did, and came up to me.

    Before they arrived, Mr. Proilet said, "I'm glad Kristen
showed up, even if only in your mind, Jim."

    I knew exactly what my music teacher was referring to.  I
simply nodded.

    "Twenty-six minutes, Jim!" Patty and Camille said.

    "Cool.  Just under a half hour.  A standard set is, what?
Forty five minutes?  That gives us time between numbers." I
turned to my music teacher.  "'_Hooked on a Feeling_' sounds
better with the winds dragging, Mr. Proilet.  That was a
great suggestion!"

    "What do you have when they ask for an encore?" Mr.
Proilet asked.

    "Huh?" I asked.

    "When you do a set like that, you must always be prepared
for an encore.  Even if you're not asked, it's best to have
something ready."

    Gerry, who came up to the podium, agreed.

    "Hmmm, most of what we've been doing last semester was
Christmas music," I said.  "Most people don't associate
'_Linus and Lucy_' with Christmas, but..."

    Bill offered a suggestion.  "The orchestra is doing
'_Porgy and Bess_' later this year.  We have a few members of
the orchestra and some of the chorus people know the songs as
well."

    "Hmmm," I considered.  "How about '_Summertime_?' Wrong
season?"

    "Not bad.  Pretty jazzy, actually," Mr. Proilet said.
"I'll see if I can get copies of the orchestral version to
you on Monday.  How about Cole Porter?  The band did
'_Anything Goes_' a couple of years ago."

    I actually forgot about that.  At the time, I was "on
loan" to the high school band for that performance where Mr.
Proilet originally thought of me as a prima-donna.  "Cool," I
said, smiling.

    "Sorry, dude," said one of the seniors that was working
the sound.  "I accidentally kicked out the cable."

    "You fixed it quickly, though," I said, smiling.

    "You can be damn well sure it will work next weekend."

    "Cool," I repeated.

    I was looking at the timings that Camille and Patty
compiled.  I noticed the longest gap between songs was when
Mr. Proilet took over before "_Lollipops_."

    My music teacher was looking over the timings as well.
"Do you think we should put a couple of the Mancini songs
last?"

    "No," I said, shaking my head.  "They are all part of a
matched set, so to speak.  Even though I'm not behind the
podium at the end, I think we should end with the rocker."

    Most of the people with me agreed with that.  I think Mr.
Proilet thought it would have been better with me behind the
podium at the start and finish of the set.  I didn't think it
was that necessary.  This was just a small gathering of
friends and relatives.

    We did the set a couple more times, each time playing
through from start to finish.  Camille and Patty checked the
timings, but the set didn't vary by more than a minute either
way.

--
jimc_author@hotmail.com

JiMC is only a pseudonym.  Respect my privacy and I'll respect yours.

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