Part IV
Medda's backstage area was in an uproar. Medda herself was pacing back and
forth in a frenzy.
"Medda, what happened?" Illusion asked, following the older lady's steps. Medda turned to her with a tired look and sighed.
"We don't have a singer for tonight.zee other girls cancelled" she admitted. Illusion sighed and her face creased with worry.they were all talented in their own ways, but help was short that night and they needed Frizz's and Doll-Face's help serving and seating and keeping the peace.
"I can sing." a voice came from behind them. Both whirled around and faced the newcomer with a slight interest. Claire stepped forward, "I used to entertain my father's business partners as they played cards or drank.before my mother left us.she taught my brother and I a number of ariettas." she continued. Illusion glanced at Medda, who nodded, and then took Claire to one of the back room.
"Sing" Illusion demanded, not out of spite or hate.but out of the desire to fill the empty stage and please the growing crowd. Claire took a deep breath and began to sing an old lullaby that her brother used to sing to her when they were younger. Illusion stood awed at the performance and she reached out and hugged Claire right in the middle of it. Claire smiled and laughed a little.
"I take it that means you like it?" she asked. Illusion nodded and dragged her to the dressing room, throwing skirts and shoes and lacey dresses at her. Claire took a dark-burgundy one and disappeared behind the divider provided.
** Gin pulled Blink through the rows of chairs and seats, almost to the front of Irving Hall. He let himself be dragged and pushed into a seat, then almost had to grin when Gin collapsed next to him. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"What are ya smilin' at?" she questioned. Blink held up his hands in mock defense.
"Nothin'.you'se just so cute when you'se tiahed and worn out" he said slyly, leaning over and landing a quick kiss on his girlfriend's waiting lips. The pair grinned at each other, then turned to watch as the lights dimmed and the stage curtains swung open. A rather nervous looking girl made her way onto the stage, glancing around and clearing her throat as the music began. **
Claire took a deep breath and closed her eyes, feeling the music surround her.she began to sing:
A time for us, some day there'll be When chains are torn by courage born of a love that's free A time when dreams so long denied can flourish As we unveil the love we now must hide A time for us, at last to see A life worthwhile for you and me And with our love, through tears and thorns We will endure as we pass surely through every storm A time for us, some day there'll be a new world A world of shining hope for you and me And with our love, through tears and thorns We will endure as we pass surely through every storm A time for us, some day there'll be a new world A world of shining hope for you and me A world of shining hope for you and me
to see her eyes...her eyes would tell him what he needed Claire kept her eyes shut as her voice faded, leaving a stunned and silent audience. She turned and curtsied slightly, then ran off the stage and almost collided with an estatic Illusion.
"You were wonderful!!!" Illusion cried, grabbing Claire into a deep hug. Claire grinned back at her, sighing with the joy of having found new friends.
**
Blink sat at the edge of his seat, ignoring Gin's tugging at the back of his shirt. The girl that had just been on stage.she looked.familiar.
"Dat goil looked an awful lot like you Blink." Race commented from the other side of them. Gin nodded, as did many other newsies that surrounded him. Blink nodded slowly, piecing together what he couldn't put his finger on.the blonde curls.the narrow face. He had to know.
"Medda, what happened?" Illusion asked, following the older lady's steps. Medda turned to her with a tired look and sighed.
"We don't have a singer for tonight.zee other girls cancelled" she admitted. Illusion sighed and her face creased with worry.they were all talented in their own ways, but help was short that night and they needed Frizz's and Doll-Face's help serving and seating and keeping the peace.
"I can sing." a voice came from behind them. Both whirled around and faced the newcomer with a slight interest. Claire stepped forward, "I used to entertain my father's business partners as they played cards or drank.before my mother left us.she taught my brother and I a number of ariettas." she continued. Illusion glanced at Medda, who nodded, and then took Claire to one of the back room.
"Sing" Illusion demanded, not out of spite or hate.but out of the desire to fill the empty stage and please the growing crowd. Claire took a deep breath and began to sing an old lullaby that her brother used to sing to her when they were younger. Illusion stood awed at the performance and she reached out and hugged Claire right in the middle of it. Claire smiled and laughed a little.
"I take it that means you like it?" she asked. Illusion nodded and dragged her to the dressing room, throwing skirts and shoes and lacey dresses at her. Claire took a dark-burgundy one and disappeared behind the divider provided.
** Gin pulled Blink through the rows of chairs and seats, almost to the front of Irving Hall. He let himself be dragged and pushed into a seat, then almost had to grin when Gin collapsed next to him. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"What are ya smilin' at?" she questioned. Blink held up his hands in mock defense.
"Nothin'.you'se just so cute when you'se tiahed and worn out" he said slyly, leaning over and landing a quick kiss on his girlfriend's waiting lips. The pair grinned at each other, then turned to watch as the lights dimmed and the stage curtains swung open. A rather nervous looking girl made her way onto the stage, glancing around and clearing her throat as the music began. **
Claire took a deep breath and closed her eyes, feeling the music surround her.she began to sing:
A time for us, some day there'll be When chains are torn by courage born of a love that's free A time when dreams so long denied can flourish As we unveil the love we now must hide A time for us, at last to see A life worthwhile for you and me And with our love, through tears and thorns We will endure as we pass surely through every storm A time for us, some day there'll be a new world A world of shining hope for you and me And with our love, through tears and thorns We will endure as we pass surely through every storm A time for us, some day there'll be a new world A world of shining hope for you and me A world of shining hope for you and me
to see her eyes...her eyes would tell him what he needed Claire kept her eyes shut as her voice faded, leaving a stunned and silent audience. She turned and curtsied slightly, then ran off the stage and almost collided with an estatic Illusion.
"You were wonderful!!!" Illusion cried, grabbing Claire into a deep hug. Claire grinned back at her, sighing with the joy of having found new friends.
**
Blink sat at the edge of his seat, ignoring Gin's tugging at the back of his shirt. The girl that had just been on stage.she looked.familiar.
"Dat goil looked an awful lot like you Blink." Race commented from the other side of them. Gin nodded, as did many other newsies that surrounded him. Blink nodded slowly, piecing together what he couldn't put his finger on.the blonde curls.the narrow face. He had to know.