Sing Chapter 2
Well so far no love, BUT I am hopeful and will keep uploading.
I hope you enjoy if you've found your way to my story!! Also - I will try to list the songs I've used in each chapter. In this chapter:
Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran
Never Going Back Again - Fleetwood Mac
Also - I don't own rights to any song I reference in the story. 3
Sing Chapter 2A black pickup tore down the city street.
"I'm on my way, driving at ninety down those country lanes, singing to Tiny Dancer!"
The truck swerved around a car stopped to turn left onto a side road. The driver belted out the lyrics while tapping the steering wheel to the beat.
"And I miss the way, you make me feel, and it's real!"
He had a huge grin on his face while he drove, swerving through traffic as if he'd been driving since the day he was born.
"And we watched the sunset, over the castle on the hill!"
His destination was straight ahead, the massive concrete building was a sight for sore eyes. Down shifting to turn left, the vehicle drifted through the turn as if it was flying.
Finally parking and letting the song finish while drumming the steering wheel and howling out the final chorus, he shut his eyes and, for a moment, it was just him and the music.
When the final note reverberated away he opened his eyes once more. Sensing he was being watched, he turned his head and saw a familiar pink face smiling at him from her own vehicle parked alongside his.
"Rosita!" He killed the engine and hopped out of his truck. Trotting over to her door, he opened it and held out his hand like a regular gentleman.
"Johnny!" She immediately pulled the much taller gorilla down and in for a hug. "You're looking great!"
Once she let him go, he stood up straight and smiled. "Yeah, feeling great. You?"
"Good! Really good." She gave a content sigh. "Norman and I have really turned a corner, kids are all healthy too. How's your dad?"
Johnny's smile turned sheepish and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, he's good. As bonkers as it sounds prison is really good for him. Makes him want to focus on the garage more than...yeah."
Rosita gave an understanding smile. "Are you able to visit him?"
"Every week, it's great."
"Does he know about this?" She gestured between themselves and the back door to the theatre.
"Not yet, any idea what he's on about?"
"Buster? Your guess is a good as mine. When did he call you?"
"Tuesday, and was just as stingy with details with you, eh? Any guesses?"
"One, but I have no idea why he's thinking we-"
"HELLO FRIENDS!" A familiar voice rang out, jarring the two from their conversation. "And how is my best dace partner and fellow contestant zis day?"
Before Rosita could even speak, she was swept into the arms of a very eccentric pig.
"Gunter!" Her voice was strained as he squeezed her tightly. "You haven't changed a bit."
"Of course not silly's!" He finally put her down. "It's only been 6 months!
A lot can happen in 6 months, Johnny mused to himself internally. Trailing behind the two as they chatted away - Johnny admired the New Moon Theatre And daydreamed back to 4 days ago.
He was doing an oil change on a client's car, and was the only one in the garage as the hired help had already stepped out to lunch. He was, of course, singing to himself.
"You don't know what it means to win, come down and see me again."
Scooting on the dolly to reach the filter from underneath, he had his phone on the tool box to his right to keep it safe.
"Been down one time! Been down two times. Never going back again."
Humming the instrumental, he paused when his phone went off. Sliding out, he wiped off his hands and answered on the third ring.
"Hello?"
"Johnny!"
"Hey Mr. Moon - how goes?"
"Be here at the theatre on Saturday around 3?"
"Why? What's goin' on?"
"I'll tell ya later, are ya coming?"
"Um...I guess?" He hesitated, then nodded to himself and reiterated more confidently: "yeah, of course, I'll be there!"
"Great! See you then kid!"
And in under a minute - Johnny's entire week changed. Now it was finally time to see the reason why.
After the three entered the building and their eyes adjusted, there was a moment of pause as they admired the remodel.
"Wow, look at this place!" Rosita gaped "I never got to really look around after the remodel."
"Same." Johnny simply answered.
"Mr. Moon! Come out, come out!" Gunter bounded forward, his infamous golden track suit glittering in the lights.
"Up here!" Cried a faint and very familiar voice.
Acknowledging that Buster was up in the office, they climbed the stairs single file and entered the office one by one.
"Come in, come in! Take a seat, just who I was waiting for!" Buster sat behind his desk.
The group couldn't see him at first, as another familiar face blocked their view. The shy quiet girl gave them a small smile.
"Meena!" They all shouted in unison.
"Hey guys."
"Welcome back." Eddie chimed in, he was sitting to Buster's right.
Once they all were settled, Johnny looked around. "Is Ash coming? Seems like you wanted us all together?"
"Astute observation, Johnny. As well as a correct one." Buster wagged the pen between his fingers in his direction. "As for Ash, I'm working on her. She's been working her spines off trying to secure a loan to record her demo."
"So, what's this all about then?" Rosita asked.
Buster placed both palms flat on his desk and made eye contact with every single animal in the room, all while sporting a an open mouthed grin.
"I want all of you to star in the New Moon Theatre's grand re-opening show!"
There was a pause, as the group stared in silent questioning.
"So, like another singing line up?" Meena offered first.
Buster drummed his paws on the desk and hopped out of his chair. The group couldn't seem him fumbling on the ground with something, but eventually he came out from behind holding a large poster sized cardboard sign. It was backwards, so the group just waited.
"Pause for effect." They heard Buster mumble, but his back was towards them so they were unable to read his face. "And... viola!"
In one dramatic spin the front of the poster was turned and now faced the group. There was another pause as they absorbed the new information.
"I knew it!" Rosita excitedly squealed, clapping her hooves together.
"All right!" Gunter joined in with her excitement.
Meena was too stunned to speak and Johnny was flabbergasted. He looked around the room to find someone who would talk sense and found Eddy staring at them with his arms crossed and posture slouched.
"He's serious?" Johnny pointed to the poster.
"He's Buster Moon, when is he not trying to pull off something impossible?" Eddie nodded the affirmation.
"Don't encourage him Johnny." Buster had meanwhile propped up the poster against a wall and was searching in his desk. The group could hear papers shuffling. "Listen, I know you guys have what it takes. It's a big step, but I've managed musicals before, we've got this in the bag."
"And I suppose you have our parts already chosen for us?" Johnny added in.
"Of course - agreeing to come was your verbal contract. No turning back now! Just gotta get Ash and we will have a huge chunk of our leading cast."
"Who says we can even act?" Johnny again, Rosita and Gunter were too busy chatting away and Meena seemed to retreat into herself. "The last time I was on stage I banged on a keyboard for 7 minutes and that was it!"
Buster came around his desk again, holding was appeared to be a pile of scripts. He was quiet for a moment, keeping eye contact with Johnny, thinking about what he was going to say. Until finally: "if I didn't think you had it in you, you wouldn't be here in my office right now." He fanned his gaze over all of them now. "All of you are priceless to me, without doing what you did, I would be in some gutter right now, without a penny to my name. And now look, this theatre is back and better than ever, I am indebted to each and every one of you. That's why I want to give you this chance of becoming even more than a group of singers, if this show takes off who knows what doors could open here. I won't force you, that verbal contract was just a joke, but I won't let any of you miss out on an opportunity that could change your lives."
He paused for a moment before adding: "So, how about it? Are you in?"
"Yah!" Of course Gunter was first.
"Me too." Rosita followed shortly after.
"Piggy power is back in the house!" Gunter chanted while twirling his fists.
"Yeah, I'm in." Johnny decided with a smile and a nod.
The room went quiet then, and everyone turned towards Meena, who was staring a hole into the floor.
Feeling all eyes on her, she inhaled, held it for a moment and spoke: "I really don't want to do this." She confessed.
A few started to frown.
"But..." her eyes came back up and started glancing around, "that's exactly why I need to do it. I'm in."
There were many sighs of relief before the excited chatter picked back up.
"Alright alright alright!" Buster laughed through the fray. "Your scrips are here. I'll give you a week at home to start memorizing them. I want you all back here by Saturday 8:00 sharp so we can start direction. By then coreography and costumes should be here and settled."
Buster took some steps back as each of the animals started glancing through their scrips and admired the reactions.
"Work hard, eat and rest well. I'm giving us 8 weeks before opening night, which is more time then most rehearsals."
Buster then extended his right paw out, the moment caught the eye of the rest of the group.
"To a tale as old as time." Buster started once everyone had a hand, hoof or paw into the center.
"True as it can be!" Gunter added.
"Let's knock their socks off!" Buster concluded before breaking the formation.
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When Johnny got home after the meeting with Buster, he barely registered removing his jacket and shoes at the entryway.
The script was still clutched into his hand, as if he feared letting it go would make reality come flowing back and he would wake up. Pressing his back against the door, he slid down the sturdy frame and onto his knees.
Taking a deep inhale, he brought the script back into his line of sight. He'd been avoiding eye contact with it ever since he read the title, a mixture of both bewilderment and anxiety.
In big bold print the front page read:
Beauty and the Beast
Johnny
"The Beast"
"The lead - I've got the bloody lead." He mumbled to himself, groaning afterwards and covering his eyes.
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Until we meet again 3