Chapter Three- Wheels in Motion

We had been running the show in London for a week now. We were all very comfortable in our role and the show itself by now and then Jack tossed that all into the air. He gathered us all after one of our matinee performances. We were all still in costume.

"Another brilliant show guys, well done. Apostles, we are going to work on the lighting behind the cross so you guys aren't blinded so much!"

"Cheers, Jack!" yelled one of the Apostles from the back. We laughed.

"However, I have some big news. Whilst we are in London, we are going to have a visit from the man himself, Mr Lloyd Webber!"

A ripple of gasps and whispers spread around the group. Holly looked at me and I at her. She looked so excited, like she had been told Christmas was coming early.

"Y'all gotta be kiddin', right?" she asked, her southern accent filling the room. "Andrew Lloyd Webber is comin' here?"

"Yes, he is." Said Jack, smiling at us. "He's coming to our evening performance tonight. And I know that doesn't give you time to prepare but just perform like you do everyday and you'll be stellar!" he smiled at us all. "Meeting over. The time is yours to do what you will."

We all broke off into our separate groups. Holly grabbed my arm and pulled me to one side.

"Can you believe it?" she asked me, excitedly.

I shook my head. "It's his show. I suppose he wants to see how we're doing?"

"I know right. But it's gonna be so excitin' to perform for him tonight!"

I smiled at Holly. She never let anything stand in her way. I on the other had was slightly worried. I hadn't been playing Mary M for long and I was still getting to know her. And now it felt as if I were being put on trial and my performance was to be judged.

Irritatingly, 7pm came all too soon. I was more nervous than I had been before when performing but I tried to keep that hidden. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful. Luke, who was playing Herod, noticed me in the side wing chewing my nails. He came over.

"Hey, Keira, you alright?" he asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I looked up at him. I nodded. "I'll be fine." I smiled.

"If you're worried about Webber, then you shouldn't be. He's usually not that interested in what we do. Half the time, he just comes to check that we aren't messing it up big time." He smiled again.

I smiled back, feeling a bit calmer. "Thanks." I said. Just then, the five-minute call came and Abi came rushing past. I looked at her oddly.

"Literally got here half an hour ago. Anthony refused to go to bed without me tonight and then he took forever to go to sleep." She explained breathlessly. "Didn't think I'd make the beginning."

I put my hand on her shoulder as she doubled up, trying to get her breath back. "It's ok. You're here now. And Jack would have understood if you missed the beginning."

She smiled. "Where's Holly?" she asked.

I pointed to the curtain. "Scanning the audience."

"For Lloyd Webber?" she asked.

I nodded. "She's so excited about it."

Abi laughed, "Sounds like Holly alright. What about you?"

"Terrified, nervous, excited all at the same time."

Abi smiled. "Sounds like Keira!"

Just then, we heard the orchestra start up and the company rushing to the wings to begin. Holly came back from the curtain, smiled cheekily at me and grabbed Abi's hand pulling her away. This was it. The show of our lives was about to begin. I wasn't on until the second song in. So I stood in the wings and watched Alfie as Judas insult the other Apostles and talk about how he saw through Christ and then I was ready to go on. Singing with Lee took away all the worries and fears that I had before. For all I knew, it was just us on that stage and no one was watching. As Alfie picked me up by the arm and threw me across the stage in an angry protest at my friendship with Christ, it was the one and only time I ever looked into the audience-because they were right on my eye line. As I looked up, my eyes fell onto Lloyd Webber and my heart skipped a beat. But rather than look at me sternly or full of contempt like I had expected, he smiled at me, a twinkle in his eye. I couldn't break character and smile back but I think he understood. I turned round and was greeted by Lee, who picked me off the floor and began to tell Judas off. With the Apostle's wives surrounding me, I was able to quickly smile at Holly and Abi before carrying on with the show.

When the final curtain came down, I was looking up to the ceiling, Lee was 'dead' and Alfie was crouched by his head, like normal. As soon as the curtain hit the floor, we all had to get up and take our positions for the closing. I wiped away my tears and exited the stage. Abi and Holly rushed over and hugged me but almost immediately had to rush back on stage.

We finished the show and Jack assembled us back on stage.

"That was amazing guys, well done!" he said smiling. "You really outdid yourselves tonight and you should all be very proud. How was the lighting this time Apostles?"

"Great, Jack. We weren't blinded as much!" Shouted Josh from the back.

"Good. Now Andrew was supposed to becoming back stage. Lee, why don't you go and get cleaned up?"

Lee nodded and ran off stage. I went to find Lucy, who was our make-up person and got her to wipe the blood from off my cheek and touch up my make-up from where it had run from crying and then it was back to the stage. We were all stood in groups. I was stood with Holly and Abi, like normal, chatting away. I was just busy telling them about my plans for my day off with Matthew when a hush fell over the room. I turned around to see Andrew Lloyd Webber walking across the stage. I've never met royalty but I imagine how this is how it must feel, just that giddy, awe-inspired feeling. Andrew was literally stage royalty, everyone who worked in the industry knew his name and revered it.

He was so lovely though. He stood and chatted with us for a while. He obviously knew Lee, he gave him his first role as Joseph and then he proceeded to chat with the rest of us. He shook my hand when he came towards me.

"So, you're playing Miss Magdelene?" he asked.

I nodded, "That's correct, sir." I replied, blushing slightly.

"You have a marvellous voice." He said softly, "Just the right one for the role."

I was stunned. I could retire, right here and now on that comment. I found my voice quickly. I could feel Abi's hand on my shoulder. "Th-thank you, sir." I stammered.

"The way you sang 'I don't know how to love Him' was just inspired. You really captured how she was feeling in that moment and it was just beautiful. Brought a tear to my eye and not many people can manage that. So well done." He smiled, softly.

"Thank-you very much, sir." I smiled, stunned.

He took my hand again. "I wish you all the best for the future, young lady. And good luck with the tour."

I nodded and smiled. Then I turned to face Abi with my eyes wide and a big grin on my face. She smiled back, her eyes full of tears and she put her thumbs up. I would never forget anything from tonight. Dad wouldn't get it, Greg would be proud, Uncle Sherlock would smile and Aunty Molly would cry, probably. But the person who would truly get what this meant is Matthew. He would be so jealous but incredibly proud and happy.

A few days later, we were packed up and on the road to Southend-on-Sea. I was sat on the coach next to Holly and she was busy filling in what she had been up to during our time apart. She had stayed in Broadway but had worked on shows like Joseph and Anything Goes. I told her about my life here, about Matthew, about Abi and Dan's new baby and that Dad and Greg were going to have another baby. Life was exciting for us here, new adventures on every horizon.

The bus fell quiet for a while, conversations stilled and calm descended. I had my head pressed against the window, waiting for a text from Matthew. Then beside me, I heard Holly whisper;

"We're off to visit Southend, the wonderful Southend-on-Sea."

I looked at her. She smiled widely and then sang loudly;

"We're off to visit Southend, the wonderful Southend-on-Sea!"

People turned around to look, smiling. I joined in with Holly. "We're off to visit Southend, the wonderful Southend-on-Sea!"

Soon, the whole bus was joining in, singing and harmonising, Eventually, we came up with a whole new version of the song.

"We're off to visit Southend, the wonderful Southend-on-Sea. We hear it is a wiz of a place, if ever a place there was. If ever, oh ever, a place there was, Southend-on-Sea is one because, because, because, because, because, because- because of the wonderful place it is. Do-do-do-do-do-do-do. We're off to visit Southend, the wonderful Southend-on-Sea!"

And we all fell about laughing.