Chapter 20

A week later Wes, Nick, Trent and Thad were doing final rehearsals on their auditions.

Jeff and David sat in the auditorium with the children. At 5 months of age, Sophia was babbling coherently and Jeff was having a convocation with her. Nick rolled his eyes and chuckled as he kissed him for good luck. "When's your audition Jeff?"

"Three weeks. I have to do a solo and choreograph a group number. The dance group are helping me out."

"Well, if you need any extra dancers just ask."

"Thanks. How's things?"

"It still hurts, I think it always will, but getting better. Thanks for asking, most people are afraid to."

"I know, when my sister was in her accident people were afraid to ask, only Nicky and talking helped." The examiner was shown to her seat with a desk. "Is that?"

"It is."

Carmen Tibideaux.

"Nick Duval." Nick took a deep breath and walked onto the stage.

"Good morning, My name is Nick Duval and today I shall be singing I'll Cover You Reprise from RENT. With my good friends and fellow auditionees singing the backing. (Nick/Others)
"Live in my house
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover and I'll cover you, yeah

Open your door
I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
I'll be there and I'll cover you, ooh

I think they meant it
When they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease you are my love
On life, all my life

I've Longed To Discover (oohh)
Something As True
As This Is, yeah

So with a thousand (525, 600 minutes)
Sweet kisses (If you're cold and)
I'll cover you (You're lonely)

With a thousand

Sweet kisses (You've got one nickle only) (525, 600 moments so dear)
I'll cover you
With a thousand
Sweet kisses (When you're worn out (525, 600 minutes)
I'll cover you (And Tired)

With a thousand 525, 600
Sweet kisses

When you're heart has expired

Oh lover I'll cover you(yeah)
Oh lover I'll cover you (Ohh lover I'll cover you)

525, 600 minutes
525, 600 seasons of love
I'll cover you ooh

"Thank you Mr. Duval, that was wonderful I was watching a performance of RENT three weeks ago and I dare say you could one day be Collins. Well done, Thad Harwood."

"I am Thad Harwood and I will be singing Purpose from Avenue Q with my friends as backup."

(Thad/Others)
PURPOSE,
IT'S THAT LITTLE FLAME
THAT LIGHTS A FIRE
UNDER YOUR ASS.
PURPOSE,
IT KEEPS YOU GOING STRONG
LIKE A CAR WITH A FULL
TANK OF GAS.
EVERYONE ELSE HAS
A PURPOSE
SO WHAT'S MINE?
Oh, look! Here's a penny!
It's from the year I was born!
IT'S A SIGN!
BA-BA-BA-BA
DOO-DOO-DOO-DOO-DOO
I DON'T KNOW HOW I KNOW,
BUT I'M GONNA FIND
MY PURPOSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE
I'M GONNA LOOK,
BUT I'M GONNA FIND
MY PURPOSE.
GOTTA FIND OUT,
DON'T WANNA WAIT!
GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY
LIFE WILL BE GREAT!
GOTTA FIND MY PURPOSE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

HE'S GONNA FIND HIS PURPOSE

I'M GONNA FIND MY PURPOSE

HE'S GONNA FIND HIS PURPOSE

(Overlapping)
I'M GONNA FIND MY PURPOSE (MAYBE MORE...)
COULD BE FAR, COULD BE NEAR (AT A JOB, OR SMOKING GRASS)
COULD TAKE A WEEK, (POTTERY CLASS)
A MONTH, A YEAR (WOULD BE COOL...)
AT A JOB, OR SMOKING GRASS (YES IT COULD!)
MAYBE AT A POTTERY CLASS!(SOMETHING GOOD!)
COULD IT BE?(YOU'RE GONNA FIND)
YES IT COULD!(YOUR PURPOSE...)
SOMETHING'S COMING,(GOTTA FIND YOUR PURPOSE...)
SOMETHING GOOD!(PURPOSE IS A MYSTERY)
I'M GONNA FIND MY PURPOSE(GOTTA FIND IT!)
I'M GONNA FIND MY PURPOSE(YOU'RE GONNA FIND)
I'M GONNA FIND IT.(YOUR PURPOSE)
WHAT WILL IT BE? WHERE WILL FT BE? (YOU'RE GONNA FIND)
MY PURPOSE IN LIFE IS A MYSTERY(YOUR PURPOSE)
GOTTA FIND MY PURPOSE (WHOA, WHOA, WHOA...)
GOTTA FIND ME. (YOU'RE GONNA FIND)
I'M GONNA FIND MY PURPOSE! (YOUR PURPOSE)
PURPOSE PURPOSE PURPOSE! (WHOA, WHOA, WHOA...)
YEAH YEAH! (YOU'RE GONNA FIND)
GOTTA FIND ME. "

"Interesting, Mr. Harwood that in all my years as Dean of Admissions I have never seen that song, I congratulate you, it was wonderful."

"Thank you."

"Trent Nixon."

"Good morning, today I will be performing Being Alive from Company
Someone to hold you too close
Someone to hurt you too deep
Someone to sit in your chair
And ruin your sleep
And make you aware of being alive

Someone to need you too much
Someone to know you too well
Someone to pull you up short
And put you through hell
And give you support for being alive-being alive
Make me alive, make me confused
Mock me with praise, let me be used
Vary my days, but alone is alone, not alive!

Somebody hold me too close
Somebody force me to care
Somebody make me come through
I'll always be there
As frightened as you of being alive,
Being alive, being alive!

Someone you have to let in
Someone whose feelings you spare
Someone who, like it or not
Will want you to share a little, a lot of being alive
Make me alive, make me confused
Mock me with praise, let me be used
Vary my days, but alone is alone, not alive!

Somebody crowd me with love
Somebody force me to care
Somebody make me come through
I'll always be there
As frightened as you to help us survive,
Being alive, being alive, being alive, being alive."

"As with your friends Mr. Nixon, wonderful, a wonderful voice and performance. Wes Montgomery."

Wes breathed and pushed the folded picture on himself and Christopher into his trouser pocket. "Good morning I am Wes Montgomery and I will be performing Left Behind from Spring Awakening.
"You scratch you head and wonder why, he was your little gem,
Were you really so blind, and unkind to him?
Can't help the itch to touch, to kiss, to hold him once again.
Now to close his eyes-never open them...

A shadow passed, a shadow passed, yearning, yearning
For the fool it called a home.

All things he never did are left behind.
All the things his mama wished he'd bear in mind,
And all his dad had hoped he'd know.

The talks you never had, the Saturdays you never spent.
All the 'grown-up' places you never went.
And all of the crying you wouldn't understand.
You just let him cry, 'make a man out of him.'

A shadow passed, a shadow passed, yearning, yearning
For a fool it called a home.

All things he ever wished are left behind.
All the things his mama did to make him mind,
And how his dad had hoped he'd grow.

All things he ever lived are left behind.
All the fears that ever flickered through his mind.
All the sadness that he'd come to own.

A shadow passed, a shadow passed, yearning, yearning
For the fool it called a home.

And it whistles through the ghosts still left behind.
It whistles through the ghosts still left behind.
Whistles through the ghosts still left behind."

David had had to give Tristan to Trent and needed to have a minute standing at the back to watch the performance.

"Mr. Montgomery, that was very moving and wonderful, the context of the song is the death of a loved one, there was such emotion it makes me wonder where you summoned it from, was it recent?"

"Yes and no ma'am."

"Would you care to explain?"

"When I was younger I lost my little brother called Chris and recently someone else with the same name who I was close to passed. I want to dedicate the performance to them."

"Dedicated. Boys, you will be hearing soon. Good day."