Disclaimer: I don't own CSI:NY – I'm just borrowing them for a little while and will put them back when I am finished playing. I do own Kelli Taylor and the other characters that you don't recognize – please ask before borrowing. And any errors or typos are all my fault – as I don't have a Beta yet. Also anything in Italics means that my character or someone else is using American Sign Language.
a/n: I meant to dedicate the last chapter to my beloved Nannie Stella Thompson who passed on 18 years ago – rest in peace, we miss you.
And this chapter is dedicated to my beloved brother Ted Zwicker who passed 21 years ago, my father Private Corporal Stanley Zwicker who passed 11 years ago and to my Uncle Robert 'Buddy' Thompson who died a year ago – a talented musician and singer – we miss your presence at our country style variety shows.
Chapter 35 – A Country Style Variety Show
The next morning Kelli introduced Mac to Dennis, Alana's husband before he left to do some work tending his Christmas trees. And also introduced Lynette, the youngest daughter, who was helping out in the dining room by serving coffee.
"I'm sorry that I missed seeing you last night Kelli," Lynette apologized.
"Hey, I can understand you wanting to be with your friends," Kelli smiled at the slender teenager with short, black curly hair; held back from her face with a bandanna. "Your mom says that you're gonna be singing tonight."
"Yes I am," Lynette smiled.
"Mac, you're in for a treat tonight, Lynette is an excellent singer."
"I'm looking forward to hearing you sing," Mac smiled at the teenager, who blushed slightly.
Alana joined them at their table, sitting down in one of the empty chairs. "Lynette, honey, would you get me a cup of coffee for me? And then keep an eye on the rolls in the oven so they don't burn."
"Sure mom."
Alana turned back towards Kelli and Mac. "So what are your plans for today?"
"I thought that we would take some flowers to the cemetery and then go back to Aunt CeeCee's. I know that she wants Harley to do some yardwork. So we're going to go and help him. Aunt Claire and Uncle Buddy are going to visit with some friends before coming back to Aunt CeeCee's for supper before the show."
"Us country folk say supper instead of dinner," Alana explained to Mac, who nodded in understanding.
After finishing breakfast, Kelli directed Mac to one of the florist's shop where they picked up the headstone saddle arrangements that Kelli had pre-ordered and paid for them.
A short while later, they were standing in an old country graveyard, in front of the headstones marking Kelli's mom's, dad's and her brother Guy's final resting places. Mac helped Kelli to fasten the headstone saddles on each headstone and then they stood back, puttinng his arm around Kelli's shoulders, as she leaned her head on his arm; reading the wording on each stone.
"I'm so sorry that that you never got a chance to meet my dad," Kelli sniffled. "You and dad would have liked each other."
"I'm sorry too."
"I'm gonna really miss them on our wedding day," Kelli whispered, blinking thru her tears. "I wish that dad was going to walk me down the aisle and give me away, and that mom would be smiling thru her tears from the front pew. And that Guy would be the one doing my hair that morning."
"I know honey," Mac gently dried the tears that were streaming down his fiancée's cheeks. "They will be watching over you and sending their blessings down from heaven."
"Oh I know, but I can't help wanting them to be there in person."
"They will be there, there in our hearts and in spirit," Mac kissed the top of her head, continuing to hold her in his arms, as she cried.
Eventually Kelli wiped her eyes with his handkerchief and blew her nose and looked up at Mac. "I guess we better go to Aunt CeeCee's and Uncle Stan's before she sends a search party out for us."
Before leaving, Kelli kissed her hands and placed them on the headstones in a silent farewell, and Mac saluted 'Private Allen Taylor's' military headstone.
At Aunt CeeCee's and Uncle Stan's house, they greeted the dogs Nick and Pokey, who were out in the yard with Harley, before heading for the kitchen door. Opening the door, Mac watched bemused as two black streaks tore out thru the open door.
"Hi, Rosaline, Pepper and Bear just went out," Kelli greeted her cousin, a plump woman in her early fifties with brown hair, peppered with grey, who was limping due to one leg being shorter then the other despite the extra heel on her shoe; mixing a cake.
"That's okay; they spend most of their time outdoors. Hi Kelli, Mac."
"You met Pepper last night. Bear, the short haired black cat was hiding; she's not a people cat," Kelli explained to Mac as they sat down in the kitchen chairs. "Where's Aunt CeeCee?"
"She's back helping Nana getting washed up and dressed. And dad is out for his morning walk."
"What are you making?"
"A chocolate cake for tonight. We're going to be auctioning off cakes and pies during intermission."
Mac looked down when a multi-colored cat with shades of black, brown, orange and grey fluffy hair, twined around Mac's ankles, purring. "And is the third cat in this household?"
"Yup, that's Hobo, Becca's cat, she was holed up in Becca's room last night," Rosaline explained.
"Now, you've met all the animals," Kelli quipped.
"Good thing Don isn't here," Mac smiled, as he scratched under Hobo's chin.
"Why?" Kelli asked.
"Because he is allergic to cats and he sneezes his head off whenever he's around them," Mac smiled.
"Is that why Danny teases him about the tigers at the zoo?" Kelli asked curiously.
"Uh huh," Mac nodded.
Kelli looked out the window and noticed that Harley had the garage doors open. "Come on Mac, we'll go help Harley with the mowing."
Soon Kelli was steering the powerful, ride on mower around the large yard, as Mac pushed a gas mower; trimming the grass around the trees, shrubs and flowerbeds. And Harley was wielding a gas-powered whipper snipper in the inaccessible areas by the regular mowers.
Up on the veranda of the house, Becca was grooming the two dogs while Nana Stella watched and chatted with Becca.
Lunchtime, they all took a break and ate a delicious meal of corn chowder and fresh rolls.
"This is delicious, thank you CeeCee," Mac said to Aunt CeeCee.
"Yes, thank you Aunt CeeCee."
"It's the least that we can do for you helping Harley with the mowing," Aunt CeeCee replied.
"Yeah, usually it takes me all day to do all the mowing, even with Becca's help," Harley smiled at his blonde headed, sixteen year old cousin.
"What are you talking about? You know that I'm scared of using the mowers," Becca retorted, digging her elbow in Harley's ribs, who retaliated by tickling her in the ribs.
"Okay, okay, uncle," Becca gasped, weak with laughter.
"Were you two over in the cemetery this morning?" Uncle Stan, looked at his niece.
"Yes we were. I had ordered some flower arrangements and I wanted to show Mac their final resting places," Kelli answered.
"You know that your family would be so proud of you, proud at how well you are doing?" Aunt CeeCee said quietly.
"I know," Kelli smiled at her aunt.
"So Father Lawson Aulenback will be marrying you." said Nana Stella. "Mac, .did you know that Father Aulenback married Alana and Dennis 39 years ago?"
"No I didn't," Mac replied.
"Father Aulenback was the minister here in our church twice; for several years each time. We were sad to see him leave each time," said Aunt CeeCee.
"I was mad at him each time," Nana Stella stated. "And I told him so. I said 'you son-of-a-bitch – what are you doing leaving us nice people'."
Mac blinked and asked. "Did you really say it just like that?"
"Oh yes she did," Aunt CeeCee said, shaking her head ruefully, as everyone else laughed.
After lunch, Kelli and Mac helped Harley to finish up with the mowing, which was soon finished with their combined efforts.
They headed back to town in order to get a quick shower and to change, promising to be there for a light supper before the show.
Back at Aunt CeeCee's and Uncle Stan's; Kelli and Mac enjoyed a meal of potato salad and cold baked ham, along with fresh baked brown bread and white bread rolls.
At the hall which had previously been a one-room school house for the community before the large elementary school had been built. Kelli and Mac staked out a couple of chairs to watch the show, then began introducing Mac to old friends and neighbors, amongst the sounds of fiddles and guitars tuning up.
As 7 pm approached, everyone began finding their seats and several performers took to the small raised stage and a tall, slender man with thinning grey hair approached the mike. "Good evening and welcome to tonight's Variety Show. We hope that you all will have a toe tapping time tonight and our first performers are an old favourite – let's put our hands together for Buddy Thompson and his friends Bonnie and Clyde."
Buddy and the brother and sister swung into a bluegrass tune called "Suppertime" followed by several more songs before leaving the stage.
"Are you enjoying the show?" Kelli said quietly as they clapped for Buddy and his friends, as Harley stepped up on the stage, moving the microphones out of the way, as Becca stood offstage next to a boombox.
"Yes I am," Mac nodded.
Harley stood there with his back to the audience and a girl's voice hollered. "Shake that booty." The crowd laughed as Harley did a little shimmy. Becca hit the power button and Alan Jackson's – 'Chattahoochee' blared out and Harley spun around, dancing and singing.
Mac said. "Your cousin is a good singer."
"He's not singing. He's lip synching, Harley can't sing 'cause he's hard of hearing like me," Kelli laughed.
Harley was followed by the emcee Bruce Oakes playing an accordion and singing old songs like 'Bird of Paradise' and 'Goodnight Irene'.
Then Dennis played for Becca and Lynette as they sang 'Love Can Build a Bridge' – a Judd's song; singing in perfect harmony.
"They are really good singers," Mac said.
"Yes they are."
The two girls also sang a Terri Clark song – 'Girls Lie Too' before stepping down amongst the crowd's applause.
Two men stepped up on stage, both in their eighties, one carrying a fiddle, the other a guitar. Mac looked over at Kelli, noticing her changing into her clogging shoes. "What are you doing?"
"That's Herbert Wile and Larry Maugh – the yodeling fool."
Up on stage Larry started to sing and then stopped. "Whoops, I forgot to take my teeth out." Slipping his false teeth out and grinning a gummy smile as he dropped his teeth in his shirt pocket as the crowd roared with laughter, Kelli giggled and Mac stared.
Larry yodeled his way thru a couple of songs. Then Herbert started playing a jig on his fiddle, as Larry provided back up with the guitar. Kelli stood up and started clogging in time to the fiddle music to Mac's surprise. The two older smiled in encouragement as Kelli doubled-stepped, rock-stepped and grape-vined around the front of the hall and down the middle aisle of the audience – who clapped in appreciation.
The song ended and Kelli bowed before sitting down amongst the applause and smiling. Larry yodeled his way thru 'Sweet Baby Doll' and then Herbert started playing another jig. Kelli spotted her Aunt CeeCee's foot tapping, so she got her aunt up with her and the two women two-stepped around the hall with everyone clapping in time to the music. The song ended and the two women hugged each other before returning to their seats.
Then Leigh Anne stepped up on the stage, her dad carrying a keyboard and setting it up for her, and she sang a Billie Holiday song 'As Time Goes By'; accompanying herself on the keyboard. She followed up with 'Someone to Watch Over You'.
The emcee stepped up to the mike – saying. "Thank you Leigh Anne. Now next we have something called an Intermission, oh right that's our time for a break. The canteen has coffee, tea, soda, sandwiches, mmm mm – yummy cinnamon rolls, along with some fudge. And we will be auctioning some cakes and pies as well."
Kelli switched back to her sandals, and Mac stood up and stretched.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Mac?"
Mac turned around to see Aunt CeeCee standing there. "Yes I am. Your granddaughters are really talented singers."
"Yes they are," Aunt CeeCee replied.
"Mac, I'll be back shortly, I'm just going to the washroom," Kelli touched Mac's arm, getting his attention.
"Okay."
"I'll keep him out of trouble for you," said Aunt CeeCee.
"Your mother and Stan are not here tonight?" Mac looked around the crowd.
"No, mom finds it too tiring, and Stan hates sitting for this long a time."
Mac and CeeCee talked until Kelli came back from the bathroom. "Hey, do you want anything from the canteen?"
"I'll go. What do you want?" Mac said.
"A diet whatever and a ham sandwich. Aunt CeeCee, do you want anything?"
"No thank you, I'm not hungry."
Kelli talked to various friends, who complimented on her clogging. She was talking to Herbert Wile and his wife Sadie when Mac returned with their sandwiches and her soda and his coffee.
"Herbert and Sadie, this is Mac Taylor, my fiancé. Mac, this is Herbert Wile and his wife Sadie."
"I'm pleased to meet you both, Mr. and Mrs. Wile," Mac replied, shaking their hands.
"Oh please, it's Herbert and Sadie," Sadie smiled.
"Mac, Herbert builds his own violins and sells them," Kelli said.
"Really? That's impressive," said Mac.
"The one that you are playing tonight – is it one of yours?" Kelli asked.
"Uh huh, I just put the final coat of varnish on it last month. The new owner will be picking it up next week," the soft spoken man replied.
"He always plays it several times to assure that it has the proper sound and tone before he finally sells them," Sadie explained.
"Herbert has been playing ever since he was fourteen years old," said Aunt CeeCee, as she joined the four of them. "And he has been playing for dances since he was sixteen."
They all looked up when Bruce Oakes, the emcee spoke into the mike. "Now this pretty little girl is holding a delicious looking walnut chiffon cake. Do I hear one dollar, one dollar? One dollar for the lady down in the back, do I hear two dollars?" And he continued his spiel as Buddy came out from the front of the hall and tapped Mac on the shoulder. "Hey Mac, can you come with me? I want to talk to you."
Kelli watched Mac leave with her uncle before turning to her aunt – asking. "What's going on?"
"I don't know what Buddy is cooking up," Aunt CeeCee shrugged.
Kelli talked with family and friends, while wondering what Buddy and Mac were talking about as the cake and pie auction continued with some pies going for ten dollars and one or two cakes going as high as twenty dollars.
Everyone settled back in their chairs as Bruce announced that Harley was going to perform another number. Kelli looked up when Mac sat down next to her. "Hey, what did Buddy want?" She whispered as the music blared out from the boombox and Harley bopped to Dan Seal's 'Bop' – pretending to play a saxophone.
"I'll tell you later," Mac replied.
After Harley's performance, Leigh Anne stepped up on the stage with an older gentleman name Burleigh Oickle and both of them were carrying violins, and they began play an country waltz. Mac stood and bowed to Kelli, asking. "May I have this dance, Miss Taylor?"
Kelli blushed, as her Aunt Claire nudged her arm, urging her to accept. "You may, Mr. Taylor." Kelli stood up and they walked to the front of the hall, where he swung her into his arms and they began waltzing as the crowd applauded showing their approval. And Leigh Anne smiled at the older couple dancing.
The song finished and Kelli and Mac bowed before returning to their seats as Leigh Anne and Burleigh began playing another song.
Herbert and Larry stepped up on the stage to yodel his way thru a couple more songs, before Herbert swung into another jig; prompting Kelli to do some more clogging for the crowd's enjoyment.
When Kelli returned to her seat, she saw that Mac was not in his chair. She shrugged, thinking that he probably was in the washroom. She looked up with surprise as Bruce with his accordion, Buddy with his guitar and finally Mac carrying a bass walked on stage. They were joined by Leigh Anne, Lynette and Becca who began singing some Stevie Wonder songs accompanied by Bruce, Buddy and Mac.
Aunt CeeCee looked over at Kelli, saying. "Your Mac is quite good on the bass."
"Yeah he is," Kelli agreed, pleased by the crowd's reaction to Mac playing with Bruce and Buddy.
Finally Bruce announced that everybody was invited to join in with the singing, as all the performers were asked to come up front for the final song.
"Come on Kelli, you too," Buddy stepped down, catching his niece's hand and pulling her up from her chair.
"Buddy, you know that I don't sing," Kelli protested.
"You can sign, can't ya?" Buddy retorted. "Come on, we're closing with 'Amazing Grace'."
The music started and everyone began singing the familiar hymn. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me," Kelli joining in with dancing hands, signing her favourite hymn.
The song ended, and the crowd began leaving, the performers began packing up their equipment, whilst chatting amongst themselves. Kelli helped to serve slices of Aunt CeeCee's brown bread to the performers. And Alana, Rosaline and Aunt Claire, along with the girls and some of the ladies from the community began washing up the dirty dishes, and sending leftover sandwiches and food home with different people.
The men stacked the chairs before putting them away, finally sweeping the hall floor.
"So Mac, what did you think of your first country style variety show?" Buddy asked, clapping his large callused hand on Mac's shoulder.
"It was a unique experience which I thoroughly enjoyed," Mac replied, smiling at Kelli, her family and friends.
"So will we see you all in church tomorrow morning?" Kelli asked.
"Yes, you will," Aunt CeeCee replied firmly, looking around at everyone, who nodded or said. "Yup, you betcha."
Kelli's eyes twinkled as she looked at some sheepish expressions. "Well good night all, see you in the morning."
a/n: And so Mac survived his first country style variety show. What's in store for Kelli and Mac….stay tuned….