A/N: Thanks for the reviews, much appreciated.

'What?!' Helen said, her voice echoing around the kitchen. 'Run that by me one more time.'

'It's a musical extravaganza.'

'Yeah, that part I got. I think I missed the 'why' bit.'

Joan laughed nervously. 'It'll be fun.'

'You want to get your friends up on stage and have them sing songs from the musicals?'

'That's putting it... briefly, but yeah.'

'And... why?' Helen asked finally.

'I think,' Joan lied, it was God who thought. 'It'll bring the school together in a place of fun.'

'Where do I fit into this?' Helen was rightly suspicious.

'I kinda need to ask you a favour.'

'I'm not singing, Joan!'

'I wasn't gonna ask you that... yet. Erm, I need you to talk to Price.'

'What about?'

'Gym rental for Thursday night?'

Helen flopped onto a stool. 'You're serious aren't you?'

She leaned down to hug her mom. 'The gym. Thursday. Gotta go.'

'Girardi, you're sitting on my porch.'

'Yeah, every time I knock at the door your dad loses his appetite.'

Grace plopped down next to her. 'Why are you here?'

'I wanted to talk to you.'

'That's obvious.'

Joan decided to launch straight into it. 'I had an idea for a... well, it's a sort of show type thing.' Grace didn't respond so that left her floundering with no option but to carry on. 'And I think you should... I mean, we should... sing.'

That got her attention. 'You're joking, right?'

'No, not really.'

'What part of me has told you I'd be willing to sing, Girardi?'

Joan shrugged uncomfortably. 'You're my friend.'

'Didn't say that either.'

Okay, time to start the pleading. 'Grace, I really need you to do this.'

'Give me one good reason.'

'Erm... I really need you to do this.'

Then Grace gave her the mother of all looks, it kinda made her want to back off but God had seemed pretty determined on this one. Definitely not gonna get out of this. Time for some serious begging.

'Nice job with Grace,' an old lady with a walker commented as she hobbled down the darkening street.

'She only gave in because I wouldn't stop talking,' Joan argued.

'Still a nice job.'

'Grace thinks I'm insane, my mom thinks I'm insane, why are you doing this?'

The woman smiled. 'I'm not doing anything, Joan.'

'You're making me more of a social reject!'

'I hate that word 'reject', it makes me feel guilty.'

'For inventing rejects?' Joan questioned hopefully.

She shook her head. 'The word, it's so disappointing.'

'Okay, so not helpful.'

'Think of it this way, Joan, Grace was always going to be the most difficult.'

'You think? Wait till I ask Price.'

Mmm, summoned to Price first thing on a Friday morning. Never good. Especially not when she arrived to find her mother there too.

'Miss Girardi,' Price flashed his most patronising smile. 'Your mother informed me of your little request.'

'Request? It was more like a...' Joan trailed off.

'More of a what, Joan?'

Rabbit. Headlamps. 'Um... do I get it?'

'I'm still unclear on the purpose of this little exercise.'

Not only was he waiting expectantly for an answer, her mom was also staring. So no pressure. 'It's main purpose is to unite.'

'By singing songs?'

'Songs from musicals,' she corrected him. 'They mean more.'

'In what way?'

'Er... she tried desperately to think of that example God had used. 'You've seen 'The Wizard of Oz' right?'

'Not recently but...'

'You know it?'

'Yeah, I know it.'

'That song 'Over The Rainbow', it fits so perfectly into the story. Every time someone listens to that song they think of being in Kansas and not seeing any colours.'

Price glanced over at Helen. 'Did you follow that?'

She smiled apologetically. 'Not really.'

'Okay, I know that sounded strange but I really think it'd be a nice night,' Joan smiled hopefully. 'Full of school spirit.'

'How many songs are we talking about here, Joan?'

Joan suppressed a grin as she dug a sheet of paper out of her pocket and handed it to him. 'I made a list of everyone I was gonna ask.'

'My name's on here!'

'Well, I thought...' Joan stammered.

'And your mothers',' he continued.

Uh-oh, that hadn't helped her case. 'Joan! I made it clear I wasn't singing.'

'Why not? You're good.'

'I'm terrible,' Helen replied.

So am I for that matter,' Price interrupted. 'I don't see your name on here, Joan.'

'Me?' she laughed nervously.

'Miss Girardi, I'll make you an offer. I'll sing in this show if you will.'

Helen jumped in; 'Me too.'

Oh, great.