SING:
Love ain´t no Crime!
Chapter 25: The man who likes to move it!
Buster´s Pov:
It was time for Gunther to tell some of his personal thoughts and the songs which were chosen were supposed to be performed by him and his best Zumba Class, something which surely will surprise him.
"Alright then, Guys, are you all ready, as soon as the video is over it´s time for you all to take the stage!" I stated, as I asked our Guests in a separate room for the Guest performers, where the Crew had no entry to, to not spoiler the surprises.
"We are ready to go Mr. Moon, just give us the signal and we will give it our best, we owe Gunther so much and if this is a way to repay him than we all are eager to do so, am I right Guys?!" Ricky, one of Gunther´s oldest students and also his roommate, explained, while his co-students nodded.
"That´s good to hear, right now you still have about 15 minutes before it begins, so please get in the outfits which we have given you and mix yourselves under the people, all goes along to the plan, understood?!" I asked and they nodded.
There were still about 20 places free in the Audience and they were all splattered across the hall, but near enough to the stage.
As soon as the music would kick in they would stand up and dance along to the song towards the stage.
"No fear Mr. Moon, we are well aware of the plan and I can assure you it will all become great, we´ve trained like crazy on these Choreographies ever since you asked us if we would like to participate in the show, and we all agreed to do this, no fear we won't mess this up, you better get ready yourself, soon it will be your turn again!" Ricky explained while the others kept on nodding to every word he said.
"Alright, I count on you, well then, it´s soon time, I better check on Gunther, before it´s too late!" I stated as I made my way towards the other Cabin, while outside Gunther´s interview was shown.
Rosita´s Pov:
After my last act I was able to pause for quite a while, before I would have to sing or perform again, i went to relax a little together with my family in their Private V.I.P lounge, luckily for now Gunther´s songs and his Chapter was on, so I would only have to sing after 5 songs of him.
But it truly was interesting to hear what was going on privately beyond Gunther´s bubbly and dynamic surface.
To see the man behind the mask, although I know, thanks to our Anonymous-Performers-interview-round, I knew that at the very least he too had some problems, like all of us, he just didn´t truly showed them to others and rather tried to solve them himself step by step.
"Soon Gunther´s up for the Challenge, I really ask myself what kind of Songs and performances he´s going to deliver!" Norman, next to whom I sat right now, stated as he looked up on the stage while the Kids sat in a group together with us both in the center, here in one of the V.I.P. lounges.
Norman looked with a serious mine at the stage, bassically scanning it off, as to not miss anything that happens down there.
"Well surely something to fit his character, perhaps entertaining, loud and yet spectacularly!" I stated.
"Maybe but for now nothing could top your Performance Honey it was unlike everything I had ever seen!" Norman stated and I nuzzled up to him.
"Geez you making me all blush with your sweet-talking!" I replied.
"I just say the truth!" He stated smiling, as he looked at me and stroke over my head, which made me happy, i had to admit, ever since the Re-opening and my performance before, Norman has been so sweet and caring all the time, but as i knew that it was mostly based on his regret for not having done it before, it also had a slight stab of discomfort in it, which made me uncomfortable, I didn´t wanted him to regret something so deeply, or to suffer on it.
"Oh I guess it begins!" I stated as the light´s in the Hall were dimmed, breaking my trail of thoughts.
"Hi I´m Gunther Strassberger and i´m known as the Dynamo of the Moon-crew, the one who just can´t stand still and well, i´m here to tell you a little about myself, I hope you then understand myself a little better!" Gunther´s video-self introduced himself.
"How did you came to dance and why are you dancing in the first place?!" Manuel´s Voice asked.
"I was dancing since I was 6, I think the first time was to a song of Michael Maxson, I think it was, Vinny Jean or something like this..., I was like dancing through the entire room, annoying my Dad, while my Mother laughed, happy that I showed some interest in dancing.
Once upon a time she had been a famous dancer herself back in germany, perhaps you know her, Lena Strassberger, well that was before she got pregnant and after suffering on a grave accident as she tried a comeback, where she got paraplegic and had to give up her carrier.
Some people though that it was the curse of fame, since the car was driven by the husband of one of my mother's earlier dance-mates, who rose up to new fame after mom had to take a break from the dancing, as she was pregnant with me.
Some people assumed that the colleague tried to remain in the spotlight, securing it, by taking out the concurrence, and the greatest foe she would have had to fight was my mother, as she intended to come back to the showbiz.
Maybe it was like everybody always said, but Mom didn´t bought it..., or at the very least she didn´t wanted to believe it, she was a woman who had faith in others..., maybe this time she was too faithful.
I always loved my mother..., and perhaps I thought that now that she was unable to do so, I should be the one to make her dreams come true, she had a dream to dance in the greatest show there was, not just for prices or something like this.., no she wanted to express herself, to show other people who she is and what she loves.
Dancing was her life and it broke my heart to know that it had been stolen from her, maybe that's why I never gave up on dancing.
Mom always said she loved me and that she was proud to have given birth to a son like me.
And although I loved her for saying that, didn´t I felt as if I really deserved that praise..., why was this praising given to me..., because I was her son or because I really made her proud..., but with what, just being myself..., no I wanted her to be proud of me with a true reason, due to a real accomplishment I did.
I wanted to find a purpose in life for which she could be truly proud of me, something which would earn her praise because I actually did something worth it.
I often suffered on the thoughts to not be enough for my Mother..., even though she herself always told me, that I did not needed to be special for her, that just being me would be enough for her to love me.
But it was never enough for me.
In my Childhood I was often mobbed because of my shape, I was the fat little boy sitting in the corner of the classroom, trying his best to be left unnoticed by my Classmates and most of the school-bullies, trying to get through this torture as best as I could.
My only joy in life was seeing my mother smiling when she watched me dancing and I hope that today..., when she sees me here before her on stage, infront of this Audience, in front of you all..., she can be smiling from her heart and be proud of calling me her son!" Gunther in the Video stated and his mother who sat in the V.I.P lounge next to ours, being brought here extra from Colonia, cheered him on with Tears of joy.
"However I don´t want you to think, that this is the entire reason why I dance..., no, I dance because I have always been fascinated by it, even before my mother had that accident.
I was fascinated by how fast a body could move, and how agile and supple a body could be, the difficult Choreographies, the jumps they did while turning like a whirlwind in ballet.
The energy needed to dance to a song, the grace they show while dancing in sync with others..., all of that fascinated and still fascinates me and I want to show you my passion!" Gunther stated and maybe also answered a few of the other Questions as well with this.
"What do you like and what do you dislike?!" Manuel asked nevertheless.
"Simply put, I like to move it, either myself or motivating other people to do it..., however I've understood that my teaching methods might be a little insufficient, at least for real dance Choreographies which match towards a real song.
What I do in my Zumba class is more like moving to the Beat of the music, than really dancing, however I´m willing to learn how real choreographies are made.
Well, what I dislike are definitely people who hurt my friends and those who think badly of me without truly knowing me, like those who mock me, upon my shape.
Geez, look at yourself, you aren't perfect at all, no one is, everybody of us has at the very least one flaw and as soon as you become aware of that, you understand that you are just like everyone else, no matter the outer shell.
But if they still think they are so high and mighty, I will gladly show them what I got and dare them to do the same, for I do not feel any shame to show myself, this is me, like it or not!
Some people may have said that I never would become someone important in my whole life and that i should stop dreaming big dreams.
But honestly, i never dreamed so big and i never absolutely wanted to be someone special, all i ever wanted was to do what made me happy, and singing and dancing infront of others was excatly what i had searched.
I often got mocked in school, also that there would never be a girl who would go out with me..., in a way they were right so far.
Even though I am 45 years old now, I cannot say that I ever had a real grilfriend before, at the very least it never held long enough to call it a longterm relationship.
My last Ex even told me that it was embarrassing when i suddenly started dancing out of nowhere, still I haven´t yet given up on it!
Someday I too will find a Girl for life, someone who can accept me just like i am. with all of my flaws!" Gunther´s video-self replied, showing extreme determination to not let himself being undermined and once again I was reminded that indeed some individuals, even in our faint acquaintance did mocked him upon his shape and doing, Mike and Lance for example.
Even some mothers at the school, mocked him with ruthless words, saying that it was just embarrassing to go on stage looking like this and that they never would do something like that, only if they would be thin as a pipe.
Sure they didn´t completely mocked him personally, more what he does, but that is as well as if they mock himself, I would say.
After all, Gunther litterally lived for what he did..., in any case it wasn´t really nice to have to hear it so often.
It made me sad that some people thought that way of him, since Gunther was a real good guy with a lot of courage and passion, no matter how you look at it, he always tried his best and I wished everybody would see his courage, his passion, his talent and that they would praise him upon it, but too often he earned mocks, mostly unjustified.
On the other hand, I also knew a few people who did praised him, he even had a small fanclub around town, as much as Ii know.
Well it were most likely his students or their Kids..., but also a few of the mothers and friends I know, they actually liked what he does and many of them want to get a share of his courage, whenever they feel like having theirs dragged down somehow.
Especially Johanna, a dear friend of mine, idolized him much.
She had moved to Calatonia a few years ago, all alone..., as much as I knew from her telling, she was an Orphan with no one else to hold onto but herself and her few friends back in the Orphanage she came from, back then as she moved to my neighbourhood she was barely 20 and almost payed all of her money alone for renting an Appartment, next to my maternal grandparents´s house, she often helped them with hard work, when i was in School or working late.
She was a wonderfull and generous, as well as a really kind young girl, she went to the Calatonia Highschool, the same Norman went to, and worked in the evening and during holidays in a supermarket to finance it, however due to that reason she had been a mobbing victim in her class, it was kinda the opposite of what Norman had to endure.
While he was mocked upon being richer than normal, She was mocked for being poorer than the average and instead of helping her, the other just saw her as a bother, I seriously never could understand such people, it all happened during my College years, and since she never told anyone outside of school, it might have going on for even longer, if I wouldn´t have found out about it and made sure no one ever dared to mock and hurt her anymore.
Believe me I can be quite convincing if I had to, and even without violence I had my methodes to state my claim.
Of course she was kind of embarrassed, as she got to know what had happened, but in the end she was thankful and ever since we became even better friends and neighbours, she even went in the same university classes for Architecture which I used to go, once she was old enough, I guess from that moment on, she kind of idolized me a little.
I think, what she always sought for herself, was a way to gain courage, courage to go through life and to make sure she isn´t forgotten so easily, maybe it was due to the fact that she never had much to begin with, as a kid living in an church-founded orphanage.
She sought for someone to understand her and she thought to have find someone like this in Harvey, I even congratulated her for securing herself someone like him, at the age of 25 they married, as she was about to enter college, after working hard to afford tuition there.
But she too had to break of College, same like I did with the University, as we both became pregnant, me with 37 and she with 29, nearly at the same time..., but different than me, she tried to take private lessons to still get a good degree.
However, the luck didn´t lasted long for her, a year later her husband, Harvey Nelson, left her with her quadruplets and she had to break of school completely, in order to care for her children as a single mother, during that time my Grandparents helped her with the nursing of the children, she needed the help, especially as she had to go working again, they babysitted the Kids, which kinda made them their grandparents.
That was now 7 years ago and even thought it has gotten better, could I still imagine how hard such a life must be for them.
Her sons, Alex and Steven and her Daughters, Claire and Violet, are going in the same class like Casper, Edith, Nelson, Mickey and Hannah and they´ve been friends ever since 1st grade, being there for each other, to make sure no one ends up as a mobbing victim, Johanna and I often sit together, when we are waiting for the children to come out of school, and we often speak about our lives.
Since her Ex-Husband left her behind for another woman she had to be strong for her family and she kind of gave up her wish to become someone special, to not be forgotten, today she´s glad to have enough to live with her children for one more month, it was sad and again such a story where someone leaves the other for someone different, because for some stupid reason, it makes me mad to think about it, but i hoped to mistake in my assumption that all Harvey ever has been interested in was Johanna´s looks before she got pregnant and became a mother.
I always was unsure, ever since she knew she was pregnant, Harvey acted different, more distant than before..., I should have read the signs better, but i messed up to save Johanna from a heartbreak, all i could do afterwards was to pick her back up, after she had fallen down.
She sure hasn´t it easy, so fully alone with 4 children, having to do it all on her own..., in contrast to that, I still have Norman to help me sometimes, when he´s free or when he got the time, so you could say that i still had it far easier than her.
Ever since I began to work for the Theater, Johanna said that she admired me, to be able to do something like this, something i liked and something which ensured that i was not forgotten to the world.
But I could only replied to her, that I admired her for her own strength, of handling her life even without so much help as I have sometimes.
I often, when she needed some alone time, offered her to take her kids in for a sleepover at our house, which was always well received by both sides of our kids.
During talking while we waited for our Children, we also landed often on my work and so also on Gunther and how he works and what he does during it, mostly i was complaining about his unrestrained character but I also told her a lot of his good points and although she did not directly told me so, I recognized that she seemed to have gotten a liking in that dynamic man, something about his smile and his passion, his courage to be who he wanted to be and to strive for every bit of light.
Steve told Casper that his mother often smiled, whenever she sees him on TV.
I think she said something about coming here today with her kids, but I haven´t yet seen her yet, still in any case, I would wish that from this show, maybe especially from mine and Gunther´s part, she would be able to gain some more courage as a woman, courage to strive to become who she wanted to be, after all the kids were old and mature enough, to care for themselves already, and if I, with 25 children, could do it, then she, with only 4 children, definitely could achieve it as well.
In this case I had to agree with the Twins, housewifes could gain some courage to express themselves, by learning from someone like me.
I wish for her to find her luck soon, she had her fair share of misery I would say.
Constantly hearing about such stories, like Johanna´s and Harveys, or Ash and Lance´s, or even Miss Fernandez and her Ex-Husand´s rose-war, makes me a little nervous about being left as well, although I cannot imagine it myself, especially not after 16 years..., I really hope Norman does never do something like this to me, and not even thinks about it, I don´t know what I might do if he would..., sure our life wasn´t always easy but it was liveable.
"No I should not even think about such a possibility either, Norman wouldn´t go towards another woman, that i´m sure of, after all he stood to me alll the time!" I thought to myself as I shook my head, to erase these thoughts and doubts and focus on Gunther's interview, which meanwhile has landed on the last questions.
"What are you plans and dreams for the Future?!" Manuel´s voice asked.
"To raise the world´s biggest flash-mob ever and to make my Zumba School known throughout the world, so that everybody who ever has mocked me sees what I have gained, by not giving up on my dreams or to listen to their mocks, that way i wish to inspire other people to do the same.
Also I want my Mother to be as proud as she possibly can be, so that I can go to her and tell, this is me, this is what your son can do with the life you gave him!" Gunther stated.
"Is there something you want to tell the People out there?!" Manuel demanded to know.
"If you sad, if you are happy, if you suffer and if you are about to heal, no matter what you do..., if there is music, and you are unable to control it, then just let it loose and start to move your Body!
No matter what kind of power you keep locked inside of you, just unleash it!" Gunther´s voice stated, but not out of the Video but from real.
Suddenly the Canvas was rolled up again and the lights began to dimmed, suddenly music was played, some popping electronic sounds, most likely by the twins.
The curtain opened and there stood Gunther, and although I thought he would wear his usual dance-get-up, was I surprised to see him in a black tux with white shirt and black shoes, looking quite classy this way.
As soon as the spotlight hit him and revealing the twins behind him with their masks still on, he began to sing and dance.
(Original: Turn up the music by Chris Brown)
Gunther:
"Turn up the music, cause this song just came on
Turn up the music, if they try to turn us down
Turn up the music, can I hear it til the speakers blow
Turn up the music, fill your cup and drink it down!"
Suddenly some people began to rise from their seats in the Audience, scattered all around the hall, and as if on call they all danced in sync.
Funny thing was that they all were dressed the same, Black tuxes, black shoes, white shirts, black ties and black hats.
Gunther´s Class (The twins):
"If you're sexy and you know it put your hands up in the air
Put your hands up in the air, guys, put your hands up (Hands up 3x)
If you're sexy and you know it put your hands up in the air
Put your hands up in the air, guys, put your hands up...!"
Although Gunther seemed quite surprised by the sudden appearance of these people, he just went along, going with the flow as usual, even as those people began to march towards the Stage and were just let through by the security.
Still, by then I knew that that was one of Busters schemes, most definitely some Background dancers which were hired for the following performances, at the very least I was a flash-mob, as much as I know about that, which made Gunther smiling brightly while dancing and singing.
Gunther (The class):
"And turn up the music (just turn it up louder)
Turn up the music (I need it in my life, yeah)
Turn up the music (just turn it up louder)
Turn up the music (I need it in my life, yeah)"
All (The twins):
"Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh (turn up the music)
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh (turn up the music)
(T-t-turn up the music
T-turn up the)
While he kept on singing, the people, man and women alike, stood behind him and as soon as everybody was on stage, they began to copy his dance, creating a performance of synchronic dancing which made the choreography all the more impressive.
Gunther:
"Turn up the music, cause the sun just came up
Turn up the music, if they try to turn us down
Turn up the music, cause I'm trying to hear the speakers blow
Turn up the music, fill your cup, and drink it down!"
The class (The Twins):
If you're sexy and you know it put your hands up in the air
Put your hands up in the air, guys, put your hands up (Hands up 3X)
If you're sexy and you know it put your hands up in the air
Put your hands up in the air, guys, put your hands up
Gunther (The class):
"And turn up the music (Just turn it up louder)
Turn up the music (I need it in my life, yeah)
Turn up the music (Just turn it up louder)
Turn up the music (I need it in my life, yeah)
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh (turn up the music)
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh (turn up the music)
(T-t-turn up the music
T-turn up the)!"
Gunther (The class):
"Save my life (just dance with me)
All I wanna do is party, so DJ turn it high!
Girl, dance with me (just dance with me)
Girl, can you do that
I really want you to do that
Baby can I get that (t-turn up the)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn up the music, (just turn it up louder)
Turn up the music,(I need it in my life, yeah)
Turn up the music,(just turn it up loud)
Turn up the music,(I need it in my life, yeah)
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh (turn up the music)
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh (turn up the music)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
T-t-t-turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
T-turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn it up (just dance with me)
T-t-t-t-t-t-turn it up (just dance with me)
Turn up the music!"
As the song faded out they all stopped in the same pose, but neither the curtain nor the lights seemed to move before the next song was played.
"I didn´t know and i´m quite suprised, but one thing is for sure, it is an honor to introduce you to my Zumba students, the best of the best, i hope you can keep up with our passion, so tell me, are you ready dear guests, for turning up the music is not all we can do, to get so real wild, you guys got to find something in yourself to let loose and Celebrate, therefore here we go...!" Gunther nearly shouted in his microphone, while the twins began to raise something in the air, which I identified as small Drones.
They began with a different beat to which soon also the trumpeters of the Orchestra began to play.
(Original: Celebrate by Pitbull)
The Twins:
"We are streaming this worldwide
So my people, let's celebrate.
Here we go, one, two, one, two, three, four!"
Gunther:
"I just wanna celebrate
I just wanna celebrate
Tonight we're making history
I just wanna celebrate!"
Manuel:
"We've been around the world, say ain't so
Work hard, play hard, all day long
All the continents get jealous over me
You can see me 3D overseas!"
Maurice:
"If you know me then you know where to find me
Off to the Bahamas with the play room behind me
Now live it up, live it up, live it up
Baby pick it up, pick it up, pick it up
And we going...!"
Gunther (The twins):
round and round and around the world
round and round, no kidding girl
round and around
That's the way we like to play
(We going)
round and round and around the world
round and round, no kidding girl
round and around
That's the way we like to play
(What you want to do?)
I just wanna celebrate
I just wanna celebrate
Tonight we're making history
I just wanna celebrate
(Turn it up
Turn it up)!"
While all three, Gunther and the Twins are singing , the Background Dancers danced to Gunther´s movements, indeed like a faithful class to their teacher and they all watched towards Gunther instead of looking at the Audience, but perhaps only a few of the guest really got that fact.
Manuel:
"Well I've been patiently waiting for you to shake and shake it
Make it or take it, the point is we made it
Quarter by the game, call us Tom Arcady
And it's not our fault that we have all the ladies!"
Maurice:
"But it's hard to see these ladies, when your middle name's Equator
All around the globe, matter fact see your later
They're great, we're great as global dance dominators
And we're also some smooth operators, and we going...!"
Gunther (The twins):
round and round and around the world
round and round, no kidding girl
round and around
That's the way we like to play
(We going)
round and round and around the world
round and round, no kidding girl
round and around
That's the way we like to play
(What you want to do?)
I just wanna celebrate
I just wanna celebrate
Tonight we're making history
I just wanna celebrate
(Turn it up
Turn it up)!"
While the performance was taking place, the entire room shook under the might of the cheers and stomping, some guests even stood up and danced along, since the song was indeed really catchy, even my children danced along and I could only look at them with a smile.
They sure liked Gunther and his bubbly behavior, more than once they complimented him for our first performance 2 months ago.
Norman, on the other hand, sat still in his place and watched the performance.
To be honest he looked almost entirely at Gunther, just as if he tried to print the sight into his mind..., could it be, that he was trying to create himself a way in his mind, to dance just like Gunther?
At the very least his wrinkled forehead indicated that he was concentrating really hard to follow Gunther´s performance, his eyes almost danced along.
"Oh Norman, you don´t need to be so jealous..., Gunther´s is not going to steal me away from you..., and I would not go with him either!" I thought in my mind but I had to admit, a little it made me happy that Norman would go to such lengths, as to learn how to dance like this, in order to satisfy my needs.
But then again, i also had to admit,t hat i understood his feelings sinc ei harbored some of them myself, maybe it was because we loved each other so much, that we constantly asked us what would happen if we would be left by our partner, even without it ever coming true, the fear of loss was what glued us so strong together.
Gunther (The twins):
"Live it up (Live it up), don't let life live you (Live you)
It's a good time (Good time), so we give you (Give you)
Now live it up, live it up, live it up (Live it up 3X)
(What you wanna do?)
I just wanna celebrate
I just wanna celebrate
Tonight we're making history
I just wanna celebrate
Turn it up
Let's celebrate
Turn it up
Let's celebrate!"
And as the song ended they all posed again, before the audience burst in cheers.
"Well that sure was something else my people, you are soon there where I want to have you, it only needs a little more, anyways for the next performance, let´s try a little game.
I have here two bottles, with the entire numbers and letters of all the seats and rows in this hall.
As you might know has each seat a number and each row, from one side to the other side of the hall, has a Letter.
I want you to take out your tickets and look which seat and in which row you sit.
Once your number has been chosen, I want you, if you are able to, to come up on stage and help us a little out for the next performance, we need at the very least 8 or 9 people, if you cant do it, we will chose from anew.
But remember well, once you are on stage we want you to make sure you move it, no matter how you do it, but we want you to dance as best as you can, in the end it´s just for the fun, it hasn´t to be perfect.
Well then, I beg of your silence now, can I get a drumroll please!" Gunther asked as he chose from both bottle while closing his eyes.
"So let´s begin, the first guest up on stage is...: Seat number 30, Row L, would you please stand up!" Gunther asked and a loud surprised shout was echoing through the hall, instantly the spotlight was searching for the voice before it had it.
It was an elder man, a buffalo, sitting next to a Gazelle.
"Well, well, you are our first contestant, what´s your name and are you up for the challenge Sir?!" Gunther asked and the old man nodded.
"I am Ian and of course I am participating, I still got it in me, I´ll show you young folks!" he stated as a microphone was reached over to him by one of the stage-hands.
"That's good to hear, well then on to the next one, let's see..., Seat 90, Row E, would you kindly stand up?!" Gunther asked and a teenage giraffe stood up to his imposing height.
"Well if that Isn´t Daniel, haven´t seen you for a long time, ever since the Audition 2 months ago, right..., anyways are you up for that challenge?!" Gunther asked and indeed, now that I looked at him, I recognized that it was the same voice and Giraffe as the boy who sang at the Audition against Johnny and Pete the Camel.
"I think I pass on that, I sing better than I dance, at least so my girlfriend said!" Daniel replied to Gunther's question.
"I see.., well we didn´t wanted to force anyone so it´s not a big deal, but still, thank you a lot for coming to watch the show Daniel.
Well then on to the next Candidate!" Gunther stated, not getting discouraged at all.
"We have here seat 50, row R, would you please stand up!" Gunther asked.
And next stood up a female Pig.
"Well young lady, are you up for the challenge?!" Gunther asked.
"Uhmmm..., i´m not really sure, if I should, I mean i´m here alone with my Children..., I would like to but..., I..., I ...!"
The woman stated stammering and it hit me like a brick.
"Isn´t that ..., Johanna?!" I asked myself, as I looked and listened and indeed the woman who was called out, was none other but my Mother-friend from School.
"This is her chance, a once in a lifetime chance so to say, she wanted to meet him but was always too shy, and now she might have the chance to dance with him on a stage!" I thought.
In secret She told me that she found Gunther really awesome and I thought she might have a crush on him, at least a little, she even told me that if she ever would have the chance to meet him up close she would absolutely do it.
"Norman, can you watch the kids for a second?!" I asked touching his shoulder and the same woke up out of his trance.
"Huh, uh sure, no fear they are safe with me!" Norman stated and although I was not so sure about that, since he seemed to be too focused as to even be aware of his surrounding, nevertheless i decided to set it all on the game to help Johanna a little out, I was still only gone for a few minutes.
"I will be gone for a short while kids, but remember, if you misbehave in any way, i will make sure you wont watch TV for the rest of this month and the entire next months as well, you understand?!" I asked intimidating looking especially at Casper, my little troublemaker and as intented they nodded gulping.
I rushed down the stairs and nearly threw over one of the ushers as I rushed towards Johanna before she could decline.
"I...-, i Huess i have to,..., decl...!" She was about to stammer as I reached her with wheezing, astmathic breaths.
"Johanna, no fear, I will take care of the kids, just go!" I stated, as I pushed on before I stood next to her, supporting myself on her, i never ran so fast in my life.
"Huh, Rosita, what are you saying..., where did you even come from and...!" she wanted to go on while the res to f the Audience was confused but not more than Gunther, who looked at me strangely.
"Johana listen to me, i will take care of the Kids, just go with him on stage!" I stated after having calmed my aching lungs.
"..., Are you sure?!" Johanna asked dumbfounded and uncertain.
"Of course i am sure, my kids are here as well together with Norman, we have a separate lounge because we are so many, no fear it will work out, just get yourself a good time for once, okay.
Kids, are you okay with coming along, Casper and the others are here too, i bet they would love to meet up with you?!" I asked the kids and they nodded, but looked at their mother.
"Okay, I guess you are right, this is a chance which might only come to me once in a lifetime, if I blow it, I will forever regret it, Kids please listen to Rosita, until I return, got it?!" Johana asked her kids.
"Yes Mommy!" They answered in unison.
"I see, so am I right to assume that you participate, dear lady?!" Gunther asked in the microphone, looking not evne in the slightest annoyed, no he rathe rlooked amused and also..., something i couldn´t really describe, something like longing.
"Yes, I´m Johanna and I would love to participate!" Johanna replied with a bright smile.
"Alright that´s what I want to hear, well then come on up on stage Johanna!" Gunther stated with a bright smile and Johanna nodded eagerly.
"Go make yourself a good time, you deserved it!" I stated to her, as she walked past me and the kids.
"Thank you very much, as I said, kids, don´t bring shame over me, be nice and listen to Casper´s mother, i will be soon there again and be sure to face grave consequences when you mess up!" Johanna stated again with serious mine and her children nodded shivering.
"We are on the second V.I.P. lounge next to the stairs, if you don´t find it then please ask one of the ushers to bring you to the Lounge of the Ford family!" I explained to her.
"Alright I will get them once I am back!" Johanna stated as i decided to just bring her towards the stage before she would decide against going.
"Sure but Gunther won´t have a performance for 2 more songs after the last one of his chapter, so until then you can speak with him, why don´t use the opportunity given to you, to get to know him a little better, when you are already at it?!" I stated to her.
"You think I should do that..., what if he feels annoyed by it?!" Johanna asked unsure.
"Believe me when I say, that it need much to make Gunther get annoyed of something..., just be yourself, you are an awesome and beautiful woman Johanna.
Geez if I were a lesbian I might fall for you...,but since i´m not I can only tell it to you this way.
You are strong, far stronger than I might ever be, you raised your 4 children for 7 years all alone, if that isn´t a major achievement, then I don't know what is, and Gunther is someone who is drawn to people who either want to achieve something, so he can motivate them to not give up, or to those who have done just that, which he honestly compliments.
He might look like a big child sometimes, but he is a good and reliable man, I must know it, I have almost every day to do with him, as his performance partner.
I mean even Norman is jealous about him, but I bet he wouldn´t be anymore, if Gunther gets a girlfriend and I don´t see any reason why it shouldn´t be you..., of course only if you want to?!" I stated unsure if I might not lean myself far too much out of the window here.
"Well I would lie if I say I haven't harbored something stronger than simple admiration for him, I mean his whole self, so full of energy, the way he laughs, full of heart and the way he performs, whitout any shame nor reluctance, if only i had a slice of that courage it might change me to a great deal... seing him on stage..., it showed me that you don´t have to be a model to be wonderful!" Johanna stated blushing as she looked aside all shy.
"Harvey never truly said anything about my appearance, neither nice nor mean, I guess for him I was just..., just there..., you know...!
I really ask myself when it happened, when he lost interest in me, i did my best to be beautiful enough for him, i changed the way i spoke, just so i could please him, i put on make-up even though i always dispised it, i even trie dto chang emy eating habits, It was almost as if i tried to create myself completly anew for him..., and then..., he just left me for someone else..., why..., what was it that i did wrong, what made him running away from me?
I don´t understand it, evne after 7 years..., was it as my belly began to swell, or because I became pregnant at all, because I wasn´t beautiful enough for him anymore..., sure it came surprisingly fast, I mean we were only married for half a year before I became pregnant, but still..., I never really felt myself ugly during that time..., or was I!?" Johanna asked me unsure and I took her face in my Palms, gently piching her cheeks after we reached behind the curtain near the stage.
I didn´t minded th elooks her Children gave me as i played around with their mothers face, befor ei lightly smacked her cheeks, sighed deeply as i drew he rclose rin my embrace and carressed the back of her head, just like my maternal Grandmother used to do.
"Now listen here Johanna, whatever you think off, it was not your fault..., you did nothing wrong, you had just been yourself and if that wasn´t enough for Harvey, than he never deserved you in the first place!
I don´t know why he suddenly left, i it really was just the woman or not, fact is that not every men is like him, and i know that Gunther is definitely not the Cheater type, he´s rather the keeper type I would say, if you gain his love, than you have it for good, unless you would do something unforgivable to him, but i guss that counts for everybody, men as female, if you just be yourself, i know that Gunther will absoulutely adore you.
I know for a fact that Gunther is not superficial at all, he would be the last one to mock someone upon his/her looks, he doesn´t care how someone´s physic is, big boned, skinny, short, tall, dark skinned or even pale, as long as they are happy the way they are, Gunther accepts them all..., and that is his major plus!" I explained and she nodded.
"I guess you are right, Rosita!" She stated as she tried to smile, and i cuped her fac ein my hands.
"Johanna, you are still young, you are ten years younger than I am, so don´t think that now that Harvey is gone, your life is over, your Children are old enough to understand when you are unhappy and when you seek for some fulfilment in your direction, why do you think they didn´t said something like `we don't want that´ or `you cannot do that´ as you asked them, if they were okay with you going to dance!?" I asked her as she looked at her Children.
"Is it really..., okay for you..., even if Mommy intends to find a new Father for you?!" Johanna asked them.
"Mommy, we want you to be happy, if you are then we will be too, that i´m sure off, am I right guys?!" Alex asked and Violet and the other two nodded in sync.
"Oh my dears, but are you really, really okay with it, I won´t do it if you have second thoughts?!" Johanna asked again to be really sure she had the blessing of her Children..
"As we said already, as long as you are happy we are too and Mr. Strassberger seems to be a nice guy, at least he is entertaining!" Violet explained and we all nodded.
"Well I thank you dearly, for your kind words, dear kids, anyways dear Miss Johanna, we are soon ready for the next performance, you are still in aren´t you?!" A voice behind us stated and both, Johanna and I, jumped blushed deep red.
"G-Gunther..., how long are you standing there?!" I asked him.
"What do you mean Rosita...,, I just came and heard the little girls Compliment..., anyways we will begin the performance in about 5 minutes, Buster says we should not wait for all too long, so when you are ready we better hurry behind the curtain!" Gunther stated, unaware of what was spoken before, or does he just fake to not have heard it, sometimes i just cannot see behind his happy-go-lucky mask.
"Of course, well then excuse me for a bit, be polite and nice and listen to Rosita and her husband okay, bye, bye see you soon!" Johanna stated as she rushed after Gunther.
Bye, bye moommy, we wish you luck!" The Kids echoed after their mother who laughed.
"There she goes, I hope she makes the most out of it!" I stated as I looked at them, i was sure that Gunther would , at the very least, not hurt her psychically and he would even dare to hurt her physically, that i am sure of..., i was certain that he was not like most men..., but who am i to evaluate a person just from the outter appearance, i had never an idea what was going on in Gunther.
"I just really hope he stays polite and tones his crazyness a little down, for romance sake!" I though to myself, but by what i saw, my worries diminished a little.
Gunther, like a true gentleman, opened up the door to the stage for her and looked at her with a benevolent smile.
"If only I could understand what is going on in that mind of him, would he even understand Johanna's infatuation..., could he perhaps feel something for her soon, it would be nice I guess, i mean Johanna definitely is a woman you could easily present to your Parents as future wife, and she did suffered enough in her life, if someone deserves love than it´s her!" I thought, as I shook my head, it would not help me to think about it anyways.
"Well then kids, let´s go on! "I stated as we made our way to my family´s lounge, to not miss the next Performance.
To be continued...
A/N: and another one down, this story is slowly evolving to the right direction.
I inserted Johanna, since I came to the conclusion that it is kinda sad that, even in the movie, Gunther is so different from all the others, since he doesn´t seem to have any kind of problems, in the story I already told that he had many problems he doesn´t really show and tends to solve them anyways.
In this chapter we see that he does suffers under mobbing from time to time and that he too searches for someone to share his life with.
Johanna is a young mother who tries her best to get through life with the little she has, having been left by her Husband after nearly a year of marriage and 8 years since her pregnancy and although she does not truly says it she does wishes to find a new father for her Children.
Someone she can rely on no matter how rough things are getting sometimes.
Hope you tune in or the next Chapter.
Sincerely, yours truly, the Storyteller and his books