Disclaimer: Hotshot, and Mr. and Mrs. Durecht belong to me. The Newsies belong to Disney, and any other characters belong to their respective owners. Any mistakes about religious stuff are also not my fault.
Oh, Hear the Angel Voices
Chapter 3
Hotshot
The preacher's sermon was largely ignored by the choir. They looked in his direction feigning attention, but really talking amongst themselves. Mouse took Specs' hand in her own as the preacher began to mention those they had lost throughout the year.
"You okay?"
"I'll be fine," he insisted.
"But are you fine now?"
Specs looked out over the people sitting in the crowded church. He stared at their friends for a moment, all clustered in one area, before shifting his gaze to Dutchy's parents.
"I am." He said finally.
"You'll be great." She told him before turning her attention back to the speech.
Specs tried unsuccessfully to do the same.
In the pews Ruin grasped Pie Eater's hand tightly. She did not like church, not one bit. There was something about being there that made her feel as though she were being watched and made her squirm. Being there also made her think of Dutchy, a boy she had known long before Specs had. But then, that usually came with growing up next door to someone.
"He had such a pretty voice," she whispered more to herself than to anyone else.
Pie Eater wrapped an arm around her shoulders, earning a glare from his mother who was strictly religious and felt even such displays were not appropriate in church. Pie chose to ignore her.
"I know," he told Ruin.
The preacher's sermon ended and he nodded to the choir director. She stood and introduced the year's program. In one swift movement the entire choir left their seats. They began the first of several songs. The church choir was very selective. They took children grades six up through college seniors. All of the songs sounded wonderful.
Mouse pushed Specs out in front of the choir before the final song. While he had been in the graveyard the entire choir had taken a vote on who would introduce the final song. The vote had been unanimous.
"Umm…" Specs started shakily, "The last song we're going to sing tonight is 'Oh Holy Night.' I- well, no, we want to dedicate it to a good friend of ours. We want to dedicate it to the memory of our friend Alex. No he was Dutchy. He was my best friend. He's had the solo in this song every year since sixth grade. Probably the reason we've played it last every year, so everyone will stay to, umm… hear him sing." Specs took a deep breath, "As you know we, him and me, were in a car accident last year. He, he umm… he died a year ago today. His body just, uhh… gave out I guess. He was in a lot of pain and he just let go. And we… umm… I just miss him a lot. I miss him more than I can express in words." He was trying hard to keep himself composed and not start crying. "Every day I wish it had been me instead of him. He turned the wheel at the last minute and I can't stop blaming myself for it. I love him, and I wish he were standing up here with me right now so it wouldn't be so hard. I miss him, and this is all for him."
He backed up into the line of singers again and the people on either side of him gripped his hands tightly. He was looking at Mr. and Mrs. Durecht both who looked like they would cry. Mrs. Williams, the choir director, gave him a moment before raising her hands.
The choir started to sing.
Oh holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
aah...oooh
Specs took a deep breath and started to sing Dutchy's solo. He opened his mouth half expecting no words to come out. But they did, loud and clear. He knew he was not half as good as Dutchy, no one could match him. They would later tell him he'd done wonderful.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night...divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh holy night
Oh night divine
Oh holy night
Oh night divine
The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
One of the girls took up the second solo at the songs end.
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night...divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine
Oh holy night
Oh night divine
Oh holy night when Christ was born
holy night when Christ was born
People were on their feet clapping when the song ended. Mrs. Durecht was sobbing into her husband's shoulder. They all took their bows and filed offstage. People were still clapping as some gathered their coats to leave. The preacher said his final goodbyes as people began flowing toward the doors.
Racetrack, Hotshot, Ruin, Pie and others who were sitting together walked back to the choir room to meet up with their friends who it seemed had stayed toward the front of the church to say their goodbyes to family members and old choir members.
1
Specs' parents and the Durecht's were the first to approach him. Mrs. Durecht hugged him tightly.
"Thank you for doing that. It was beautiful, Sweetheart." She stopped him before he could say anything about Dutchy, "He would have been so happy."
"I think so too." Specs said, "I miss him a lot."
"Us too," Dutchy's father nodded, "Now, go have fun with your friends. Go caroling like the lot of you used to."
Specs hugged Mrs. Durecht once more before making a deal with his own parents about extending his curfew. Then he took off in the direction of the choir room. It was hard to face the Durecht but he suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted. Talking onstage and singing Dutchy's part had somehow made him feel like Dutchy was still there.
"Specs! Hurry up! Come here!" Hotshot called when she saw him coming down the hall. "Did you see who's here?"
"Everyone's here." Specs told her.
"Exactly." She pulled him into the crowded room and pointed, "Including Skittery."
Sure enough Skittery was seated on a table in the middle of the room, surrounded by their friends. He'd been in Iraq for the past seven months, ever since he had turned eighteen and graduated the year before. They had all gotten a letter or two and everyone worried they would lose him as well.
He got up upon Specs and Hotshot coming into the room and hugged Specs in a common hello. "You did good, kid." He said in reference to Specs' performance. "I watched from one of the wings. He would have been proud."
"When did you get back? You could've sung with us," Specs stammered.
"I only got in this afternoon."
"We at least would have held the wish box for you."
At that Skittery smiled. "I burned a piece of paper with a wish to get home every day for the past month. And after they told me I was going home I started wishing for snow. Damn near got killed for lighting a match at the airport."
Specs managed a smile and a flat laugh.
The party had started around them. Parents and choir members were arguing over the music to be played and the little kids were filling up plates or sweets and fighting over hot chocolate and whipped cream.
"I only have until two 'o' clock before my parents start hounding me to get home, so let's get going," Mouse insisted. Within five minutes Mouse, David, Jack, Shade, Race, Skittery, Hotshot, Magic, Bumlets, Snitch, Lute, Specs and all the others who took part in the wish box were gathered outside the front of the church.
1
Magic and Racetrack started off the festive caroling as per tradition. They strolled across the street and into the town common. They probably walk around it several more times as well as swinging down near the high school before they went home. The rest of them joined in as well, not all singing quite as loudly. Jack even started to dance, despite Shade's promise that she would dump him if he did not stop being so embarrassing.
Hotshot took Specs' hand as they started singing 'Jingle Bells.' She poked him in the side and nodded toward Mouse and David who were walking along holding hands as they sang. Specs bit his lip in a simple grin.
"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way!" Race sang at the top of his lungs.
"…Oh what fun, it is to ride, in a one-horse open sleigh!" Skittery chorused back.
"Hey!" They all yelled.
Specs started laughing as Skittery and Race started the verse over again as they started running across the common, kicking up the snow already on the ground and sliding on the ice.
"I swear, one day they are going to get us arrested." He said.
Lute, Snitch, Jack and Shade were following Race and Skittery's example. Mouse was as well, dragging a reluctant David along with her. Blink and Mush were starting a snowball war, and Magic was trying to get Bumlets to dance with her.
"You know it isn't really your fault, right?" Hotshot asked.
"If he hadn't turned I would have died and he would have lived. It would have been better that way."
"Specs, if he hadn't turned the wheel you both would have been dead in that kind of impact. The police said so."
"I was so scared right before it happened."
"I thought you didn't remember?"
"Not right after it happened, but I started remembering things around when school started."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
Specs shrugged, "You want to know that the last thing he said to me was?"
She stopped walking, "Only if you want to tell me."
"We'll be okay."
She bit her lip and hugged him. "He turned the wheel because you were his best friend, Specs. He loved you, and he didn't want
anything to happen to you. I don't want anything to happen to you either."
"I'm not going to hurt myself if that's what you're worried about."
"I know you well enough to know you won't, but I want to see you happy. He does to."
"Does?"
"You know, in heaven."
"I thought you didn't believe in God."
"I don't. But Dutchy did and you do, and I don't believe that Dutchy would ever let himself die unless he could watch over you and
make sure you were okay."
Specs kissed her and smiled as he pulled the gift Dutchy's parents had given him out of his pocket. He turned the box over in his hands.
"Is that from Dutchy?"
"Yeah."
"I'm going to go join the others then."
"You don't have to."
"Yes, I do."
She walked away, toward the growing snowball fight, without another word.
1
Specs stared at the gift for several moments before ripping off the wrapping paper. There was a plain white box with no hint to its contents. He ripped the tape that held it closed and slid out the picture frame that was inside. In it was a picture of Specs and Dutchy less than a week before the accident, a close up of the two of them in the student parking lot taken for the yearbook. He knew they were sitting on the hood of Dutchy's car and it killed him to know such. He smiled though, remembering the moment perfectly. It had been nearly sixty degrees that week, with the fickle New England weather playing another cruel trick. They both had huge grins on their faces, laughing at something Skittery was telling them had happened the week before at a party he'd gone to.
He knew then, this picture would always be with him. It would sit on his table at home, and when he went off to college the following fall. There would of course be a copy to put in his office or cubicle, or whatever when he decided to get a job. When he got married and had kids that picture would still remain in the center of the mantle, despite his wife's protests. Though, if she understood him at all she would not protest.
There had to be a letter.
Specs checked the box and sat down on the nearest bench, undoing the clasps on the back. Sure enough a piece of folded paper was inside. Dutchy's rather neat handwriting covered the entire page. Specs took it out as though it were a lifeline of some sort.
Dear Specs,
Well, let's see. I have no money so this is as close to a gift as I can get this year. I stole the frame from my mom's office, but don't tell her and she won't notice. This will probably be at the bottom of your closet by the week after Christmas but I thought it was a good picture. We are going to have so many good times in that car over the next year an a half, unless of course, you buy a better one. In that case I call shotgun.
I know it's still sort of far away but my parents and I met with a financial guy about college stuff last weekend. It hit me that the year after next we're going to go away to college and not see each other everyday. Seriously, I almost cried when I realized that.
And if you're laughing right now, shut up, I'm serious. You're my best friend man. I know that's sort of stupid to say right now because we'll probably go to different schools and make new friends and I'm going to meet tons more people in my life, but you truly are. No one else knows us better then we know each other. I would give my life for you, and I know you feel the same. You've said it a thousand times.
I love you, Specs. Matt, you're my best friend. Do me a favor and don't forget that.
Live free,Die proud.
Have fun,Play loud.
-Dutchy
1
There was water on the picture frame and Specs assumed that it was his tears. He reached up to wipe them away. To his surprise he felt nothing wet on his face. He actually felt a small grin covering his face.
"SPECS!"
The yelling that had been echoing for several seconds was finally comprehended by his brain. He turned around to see everyone looking in his direction.
"What?" he called.
Hotshot shook her head and pointed to the sky. "Specs! It's snowing!"
Sure enough, he then recognized the large flakes falling from the sky. His smile widened. He folded the paper, put it back in the box and returned it to his pocket. He ran to join his friends in running around like little kids in the snow. They were all yelling and screaming. He was certain someone would call the cops on them, but for once he did not really care. This was Dutchy's way of talking to him. This was his closure.
He scooped up some snow, patting it into a solid, round ball, and pelted it hard at Race's face.
TheEnd
A/N: So, that was sort of a long time coming, but my timing was not half bad if I do say so myself. But there, it is done. I doubt anyone even remembers it but it is finished. Any mistakes I made about religious stuff just ignore, because, like Hotshot said in this story, I do not believe in God and I do not go to church. I do hope you all liked it though.
R&R Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays all!
Hotshot