A/N: And here it is, the chapter you've all been waiting for! There will be a little more after this so don't worry about some ends not being tied up, I hope the songs are to your liking!
Was she nervous? Ha, understatement!
She'd learned a while ago not to question these things but there was always a nagging feeling she may be doing this so God could have a laugh at her expense. Well, the big creator had to have a sense of humour, otherwise why would he pick little Joan Girardi as his errand-girl?
'Joan!' Helen rushed up. 'There's quite a crowd building out there.'
'Is Luke ready?'
'Yep, and still complaining he has to go first.'
'He's going first because he tried to bail,' Joan replied as she and her mom walked into the gym. Wow, that was a lot of students! Word had obviously spread and Joan felt her fear rising to the surface yet again as she glanced over the crowd. She was calmed to see her dad in the front row, she was going to do this and make him proud.
Luke strolled onto the stage, trying so hard to look cool but failing miserably. Any other guy dressed in a white suit would look suave, sophisticated. He just looked stupid.
Just as the music started up the rest of the 'cast' lined up beside the stage, Glynis shooting little looks at her boyfriend who was grinning awkwardly.
As he started to sing Joan sent up a little prayer. Anything embarrassing happened to Luke up there and it'd be the end of the little 'errands'.
'My defences are down,
She's broken my resistance
And I don't know where I am.
I went into the fight like a lion
But I came out like a lamb.
My defences are down,
She's got me where she wants me
And I can't escape nohow.
I could speak to my heart when it weakened
But my heart won't listen now.
Like a toothless, flawless tiger,
Like an organ-grinder's bear,
Like a knight without his armour,
Like Samson without his hair.
My defences are down,
I might as well surrender
For the battle can't be won.
But I must confess that I like it
So there's nothing to be done.
Yes, I must confess that I like it,
Being miserable is gonna be fun!'
As the gym burst out with applauseJoan was sure she spotted a look pass from Luke to Grace. Not Luke to Glynis.
Anyway, next stop, Glynis.
'I expect every one of my crowd to make fun
Of my proud protestations of faith in romance.
And they'll say I'm naive as a babe to believe
Any fable I hear from a person in pants.
Fearlessly I'll face them and argue their doubts away,
Loudly I'll sing about flowers and spring.
Flatly I'll stand on my little flat feet and say
Love is a grand and beautiful thing.
I'm not ashamed to reveal
The world-famous feeling I feel.
I'm as corny as Kansas in August,
I'm as normal as blueberry pie.
No more a smart little girl with no heart,
I have found me a wonderful guy.
I am in a conventional dither
With a conventional star in my eye.
And you will note there's a lump in my throat
When I speak of that wonderful guy.
I'm as trident, as gay as a daisy in May,
A cliche comin' true.
I'm bromidic and bright as a moon-happy night
Pouring light on the dew.
I'm as corny as Kansas in August,
High as a flag on the fourth of July.
If you'll excuse an expression I use,
I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love,
'I'm in love with a wonderful guy!'
Mmm, not bad. She'd put feeling into it as least. Now for Iris, if she could song there was a definite chance Joan would puke.
'Maybe this time
I'll be lucky,
Maybe this time he'll stay.
Maybe this time,
For the first time,
Love won't hurry away.
He will hold me fast,
I'll be home at last.
Not a loser any more,
Like the last time and the time before.
Everybody loves a winner
So nobody loved me.
Lady-peaceful, lady-happy,
That's what I long to be.
Well, all the odds are,
They're in my favour,
Something's bound to begin.
It's gotta happen,
Happen sometime,
Maybe this time I'll win.'
Oh, damn it! That girl had a voice, it seemed everyone did on the night that mattered, an intervention perhaps? She hoped so as Adam replaced his 'friend' on the stage. This was the bit Joan had wanted to see.
'There were bells on the hills
But I never heard them ringing,
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you.
There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging,
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you.
And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me in sweet golden meadows
Of dawn and dew.
There was love all around
But I never heard it singing,
No, I never heard it all
Till there was you.'
Wow. That's all her mind would say. And it was just in her imagination that Adam had been smiling at her, right? Time for mom.
'Life was a song,
You came along,
I've laid awake the whole night through.
If I but dared,
To think you cared,
This is what I'd say to you.
You were meant for me,
And I was meant for you,
Nature patterned you and when she was done,
You were all the sweet things rolled into one.
You're like a plaintive melody
That never lets me free.
But I'm content, the angels must have sent you
And they meant you just for me.'
Usually Joan balked at anything slightly romantic between her parents but just the way Helen had looked into Will's eyes. That almost made her cry. Almost.
Now for what would be the student highlight of the evening. Price.
'Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Cream coloured ponies and crisp apple strudels,
Doorbells and sleighbells and schnitzel with noodles,
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
Silver white winters that melt into springs,
These are a few of my favourite things.
When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favourite things and then I don't feel so bad!'
The laughter was good. To be fair, he'd given it his best shot. At least he'd given the students something to laugh about for the next three months. It was Grace next, this time Joan was praying for no public statements, despite her hatred of the song.
'Somewhere over the rainbow,
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, then, oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh, why, can't I?'
She'd sung it and she'd sung it good. Who'd have thought Grace Polk would do that willingly? It had to be His doing. As Luke joined Grace on stage Joan remember the duet. It should be interesting to watch anyhow.
'G- Why do they think up stories that link my name with yours?
L- Why do the neighbours gossip all day behind their doors?
G- I know a way
To prove what they say
Is quite untrue.
Here is the gist, a practical list of 'don't' for you.
Don't throw bouquets at me,
Don't please my folks too much,
Don't laugh at my jokes too much,
People will say we're in love.
Don't sigh and gaze at me,
Your sighs are so like mine,
Your eyes mustn't glow like mine,
People will say we're in love.
Don't start collecting things,
Give me my rose and my glove.
Sweetheart, they're suspecting things,
People will say we're in love.
L- Some people claim
That you are to blame
As much as I.
Why do you take
The trouble to bake
My favourite pie?
Granting your wish
I carved our initials on that tree,
Just keep a slice
Of all the advice you give so free.
Don't praise my charm so much,
Don't look so vain with me,
Don't stand in the rain with me,
People will say we're in love.
Don't take my arm too much,
Don't keep your hand in mine,
Your hand feels so grand in mine,
People will say we're in love.
Don't dance all might with me
Till the stars fade from above,
They'll see it's alright with me,
People will say we're in love.'
My brother and my best friend? Definite chemistry, probably too much judging by the look on Glynis's face. Moving on swiftly Joan realised it was her turn. Oh, why was she doing all this? Just as she stepped on stage there was a bleep and Will Girardi rushed out of the gym. Hmm, one down and she hadn't even started.
'Goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight, my love,
Sleep tight, my someone,
Sleep tight, my love.
Our star is shining,
It's bright as light,
For goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear,
If dreams there be,
Sweet dreams to carry you
Close to me.
I wish they may
And I wish they might,
Now goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight.
True love can be whispered from heart to heart,
When lovers are parted they say,
But I must depend on a wish and a star,
As long as my heart doesn't know who you are.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear,
If dreams there be,
Sweet dreams to carry you
Close to me.
I wish they may
And I wish they might,
Now, goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight.'
Was Adam crying?! It certainly looked that way from where Joan was standing. They locked eyes for a moment until Iris barged onto the stage for the finale. Her duet with Adam.
'AI- When you're in love,
When you're in love,
There is no way on earth to hide it.
When you're in love,
Really in love,
You simply let your heart decide it.
With every sigh,
With every glance,
With every heartbeat you confide it.
You want the world to know it too,
When you're in love,
As I'm in love with you.'
They locked eyes again.
('My Defences Are Down' from 'Annie Get Your Gun', Irving Berlin.
'Im In Love With A Wonderful Guy' from 'South Pacific', Rodgers and Hammerstein.
'Maybe This Time' from 'Cabaret', Kander and Ebb.
'Till There Was You' from 'The Music Man', Meredith Willson.
'You Were Meant For Me' from 'Singin' In The Rain', Freed and Brown.
'My Favourite Things' from 'The Sound Of Music', Rodgers and Hammerstein.
'Over The Rainbow' from 'The Wizard Of Oz', Arlen and Harburg.
'People Will Say We're In Love' from 'Oklahoma', Rodgers and Hammerstein.
'Goodnight My Someone' from 'The Music Man', Meredith Willson.
'When You're In Love' from 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers', Mercer and de Paul.)