Chapter 4 Announce
Christine Booth walked to the middle of the stage, faced the audience of expectant parents, paused, and announced, "And now for your enjoyment, entertainment and edification, the students of Jefferson Elementary School present their annual talent show."
She gave a little bow, hurried off stage, and soon reappeared alongside Michael Vincent Hodgins.
He turned to the audience and announced, "We will perform Abbott and Costello's 'Who's On First?"
The two children produced baseball caps from behind their backs, plopped them on their heads, and launched into the famous 1930's play-on-words comedy routine. Their delivery was impeccable. Parents and guests were soon chuckling, guffawing, giggling, and howling so loud that the pair had to pause until the laughter died down. They received loud applause as they left the stage.
Next, Michael and one of his best friends came out and performed the Monty Python "Dead Parrot" routine, which also garnered numerous laughs from the appreciative crowd of proud relatives.
These acts were followed by several dramatic readings, nursery rhyme recitations,, song and dance numbers, and a patriotic choral medley.
Booth had driven up to Willow River Retirement Center earlier in the week, and brought Pops back for a brief visit. The old man sat beside Brennan, laughing till the tears rolled down his cheeks. He wiped them with his handkerchief, but it did no good, since he just kept chuckling at the antics of the students on stage. Seated on the other end of the row, next to Angela, Billy Gibbons removed his signature sunglasses and did much the same, having come to D.C. for a concert at the perfect time.
After the talent show ended, the two families went out for ice cream. Pop announced that it had been years since he'd laughed that hard.
Billy Gibbons grinned at Michael Vincent and declared, "If laughter is the best medicine like they say, I'm gonna live a long time, thanks to you and Christine, kiddo!"
