Part 18
Carmichael had every student gathered in the big auditorium. He was holding a welcoming speech to all of the students. He informed them of rules and after school activities. Wes listened interested from behind the curtain he'd come to Dalton a few weeks after everyone else last year so he didn't know there were that many extra things you could do. The Warblers were all in uniform, Justin was out today so far and the new seniors were wearing black. It was strange to be there without the Warblers that graduated in the summer, Wes was waiting for them to walk in but knew they wouldn't.
"Okay lads", Brad said and everyone gathered round. "We want to have new boys audition for us so we have to show us from our best side."
"Which means first showing off our best singer", Nathan said and nudge Philip with his elbow.
"And then our smallest singer", Charles said and put his hands on Wes' shoulders.
"Oh no", Wes said looking up at him open mouthed. "No way. Do you really think anyone would want to join if they saw a little kid being part of the group?"
"Don't tell me you are getting stage fright", Michael said and looked at the boy shocked. "Wait… this isn't because you're in the 'squeaking-period' is it?"
Wes blushed as some of the other Warblers, that hadn't witnessed his voice squeaking yet, looked at him in confusion. He muttered something no one could make out the meaning of.
"His what", Otto asked confused.
"I'm in the puberty", Wes said and crossed his arms, pouting. "What do you think it means?" At this his voice squeaked again and the Warblers all started to grin or snigger.
"I hate you all", Wes grumbled but was pulled into a hug by Mitch.
"No you don't", the brown-haired boy said and chuckled. "But he's right I'm afraid." He looked up at his friends. "No one will want to join if they see a tiny kid."
"You are all wrong", Brad said sternly. "Everyone at this school above freshman year loves Wes' singing and performances. Dalton is not like any other school and we all know it. The kids here don't think like other high school kids does. We're all kids here Wes, not just you."
"But-" Wes began but was cut off.
"Don't you worry, if anyone gives you grief we'll handle them. We promised. So guys, we'll do Hooked On A Feeling and ABC, Philip and Wes will take the lead."
"But", Wes began to object.
"It will be just fine buddy", Otto assured him. "Everyone will love you."
Otto and Brad had been right… well everyone had loved the Warblers and Brad told all boys that wanted to audition to come to the Warbler hall a bit later that day. Wes could feel all eyes on him, well all freshmen eyes on him. He knew what they were all thinking, who was the runt? What was a kid doing here? Is he a freshman? Why did he sing with the Warblers? Was it some kind of joke? Was he some kind of mascot for the school? A child of some teacher? The principal's kid even? Carmichael wasn't Asian so that was only true if the kid was adopted.
One guy in particular seemed to look at Wes closely as they were all gathered in the Warbler Hall. The freshmen stood in front of the council, Brad, Joseph and Austin, waiting for the council to speak. The other Warblers were sitting around the room. Wes was sitting between Mitch and Justin, Justine was in the closet for the moment. He could feel all eyes on him, especially those of a brown and wavy haired boy that stood in the front cockily. Wes knew he'd seen him before and realized it was the boy he'd met outside of Carmichael's office the other day. Everyone was talking so Brad took the whistle and blew. Wes jumped slightly, as did most boys and a few of them glared at the council head.
"Okay boys", Brad said standing up. "For those who don't know me, my name is Brad Sullivan and I'm the head of the Warbler council this year."
"The what", the cocky boy that kept looking at Wes and at times Philip asked.
"The Warblers doesn't have a coach like all other schools", Joseph explained calmly. "Each year we select at council that lead us. You all got a say if you think something is unjust but it is the council that decides who's in and who's not, who'll get the solos and not."
"We also handle preparing each number, dancing, harmonies and everything", Austin finished. "It is to us you say you want to audition for a solo or not."
"Speaking of auditions", Brad said calmly. "We have quite a few who wants to audition so… all of you who wants to audition for a place in the Warblers, kindly wait outside and we'll call your name. We have mostly freshmen here today but some older kids as well."
All the boys that wanted to audition walked outside and Brad called up the first one, Nathan let the guy know he was wanted inside. The first ten boys or so really wasn't any good and two had too bad attitudes. But then there was a call for a boy named Robert Barton. He was a tall boy and Wes couldn't help but wonder if everyone who went to Dalton was tall… or maybe he was just small. Robert also had brown hair and green blue eyes.
"Hi", he said grinning. "I'm Robert Barton but I go by Rob and nothing else and I'm a freshman."
"I see", Brad said. "And what are you going to sing for us today Mr. Barton?"
"I'm going to sing She by Charles Aznavour."
"Okay… Go ahead."
Rob nodded and started to sing. He had a deep voice, clearly a bass and he was good, the best so far. Wes grinned and looked at Mitch who looked back, he was also smiling. When Rob was done all eyes turned to the council. They looked at each other.
"All those in favor for Rob joining us", Brad asked and both boys beside him raised their hands as did Brad himself. "Decided then. Rob Barton welcome to the Warblers."
The Warblers all cheered and Rob grinned and walked over to sit in a chair that was free.
A few more boys auditioned but none was as good as Rob. Then Brad called out for a Brett Everett and Nathan opened the door and told the boy. But Nathan's eyebrows climbed up and he moved aside as two identical looking boys entered. They were African-American with long black hair that they had in loose pony tails. The only difference between them was that one of them had a scar underneath his left eye. One of them was carrying a guitar and the other a pair of bongos.
"Okay", Brad said confused. "We asked for Brett Everett."
"That's me", one of the boys said. "But my brother Eric and I are a package deal and always audition together."
"Two for one if you like that better", Eric said smiling, he was the one with the scar.
"As you wish", Brad said and put his pen down. "Let's hear what you can do then."
The twins looked at each other and started playing and singing:
Oh Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Oh Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Up in my bedroom (making love)
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed
Someone's taken my place
The boys were good and some of the Warblers started to snap their fingers or clap their hands in rhythm. Wes noticed Austin tap his feet in time to the music and how Joseph played on the things in front of him, using his pens as drumsticks.
Oh Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing,
Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing
The Warblers all cheered and Brad just shook his head in amusement. The twins took that as the sign of acceptance and plopped down in seats that were made free for them. Eric happened to end up beside Wes. He grinned at the kid and ruffled his hair fondly, no one objected.
"Okay", Brad said a while later… after many failed auditions and some had been really, really, really bad. "We've had a rough couple of hours so far…" Everyone glared at him, some in annoyance, some in anger and some just thinking: really?! Wes was one of the last ones.
"But I have high hopes for the next boy", Brad continued. "I heard him singing on my way here and I think he is lead singer material."
"Oh finally", Philip said in honesty. "I'm so tired of being the only one with 'lead singer abilities'."
"Don't forget Wes", Justin pointed out.
"Don't drag me into this", Wes said and crossed his arms. "I'm just glad to sing so shut it."
"Someone's getting cranky", Otto teased and dodged the three shoes aimed at him by Wes, Lucas and Mitch. "Hey!" Brad blew the whistle and got glared at but he just smiled.
"Nathan get us Jesse St. James please", he said.
"That name has to be taken", Eric whispered to Wes and Wes sniggered. Eric kept giving small funny comments and quite a few times it had gotten the two of them glared at by Brad, Austin or Joseph.
The boy with brown and wavy hair entered again, but now he had it gelled back and he was walking inside with confidence and as if he owned the place. He looked around at all the Warblers and Wes felt something when the two of them locked eyes. He felt bad to the stomach and had a very bad feeling about this boy.
But the guy just grinned and turned to the council and started singing before Brad could even ask him what he was singing. Wes didn't know why but he had somewhat hoped that the guy would have a bad voice… but he didn't. Brad was right, he was lead singer material. He wasn't as good as Philip but the older boy had more experience than this Jesse had. Wes didn't like the way Jesse strutted around acting as if he was much better than all the others that had auditioned… and everyone sitting in the room right now. When Jesse was done singing he looked at the council and cocked an eyebrow.
"Frankly I'm disappointed", Austin said while he was making notes and Wes felt his eyes go big. Austin was never the first to speak and never said something negative! "I thought that we'd hear and see leading material but you…" he looked up. "Just looking at you I know you have a problem with your attitude."
"Excuse me", Jesse asked shocked.
"I could see on your face that you thought yourself better than any of us in here. Tell me honestly, do you think you are better than anyone else?"
"I… No. No I don't think that! I was just… it helps me to perform pretending that I am the best, better than everyone else. It gives me confidence and keeps me loose."
"It gives you the air of arrogance kid."
"I didn't mean to! I'm sorry."
"Do you mean it?"
"Of course I do! What kind of question is that?!"
"I-"
"Austin", Brad said sharply, cutting his council fellow off. "Enough."
"Fine", Austin said. "A vote then. Who wants Jesse to join?"
"He has a good voice and can make a great addition to us", Joseph said. "And with some practice he'll be as good as Philip."
"Maybe even better", Brad said.
"Until Wes 'grows up'", Otto piped up and Brad gave him a look. "Sorry."
"I want him in", Joseph said.
"As do I", Brad said and then looked at Austin. "Austin?"
"No", Austin said and Jesse glared at him.
"Well Brad has two votes", Joseph said. "And taking his second one in count we still outnumber you. So Jesse…"
"Welcome to the Warblers", Brad said and Jesse smiled and sat down in a free seat beside Otto and Nathan. The trio started to talk a bit, but Wes noticed Austin never stopping glaring at the guy when he thought no one was watching.
The last person to audition was a freshman named Isaac Newton and the first thing he said when he entered was:
"Spare me the jokes, I've heard them all."
They could all see that this was a troubled soul. His eyes were kind of dull and empty, he was pale, he was thin and he looked as if he was in misery just being there… until he sang. When he did he came to life so to speak. His eyes shone, he didn't look as pale and his entire being was just happy. Wes felt eyes on him from the older Warblers and he understood them… it was like watching him from last year. He was like that when he wasn't singing. But knowing how the Warblers worked… Isaac would be his singing self 24/7 soon enough.
"Is this a private party or can anyone join", a voice asked from behind Wes and Lucas as they sat in the library working on their first homework a few days later. Wes' face split into a grin and he flew around.
"Alvaro!" he shouted happily and hugged the older boy. Alvaro grinned back and hugged Wes to him.
"Hey Shrimp you've grown!" he said. "Soon you're as tall as me!"
"You have another 20 cm on me or something", Wes said happily. "I haven't seen you at all until now? What have you been up to?"
"Truth is I got some stomach bacteria and couldn't come back here until right now", Alvaro said and pulled up a chair. "So what did I miss?"
Lucas told him of what had happened the first few days at Dalton. Much hadn't happened… yet. The boys abandoned their homework for a bit and talked about their summers. Lucas and his siblings had been travelling all around the country, even stopping by at Harvard to say hi to Jerry and Richard. Both boys were fine. Alvaro had been to Spain to visit some relatives and had stayed there all summer. Wes told them about his summer too and they laughed when he told them about all his ghost stories and pranks.
"Our little kid is starting to grow up", Lucas said fondly. "Soon he won't need us to protect him anymore."
Wes just smiled and returned to his homework, the other two followed suit and then they heard something… it sounded like a guitar. All the boys looked confused and got up and followed the sound. They got to one of the small work rooms in the library and found a blonde boy sitting on a chair playing on a guitar. The song wasn't familiar to any of the boys and the boy started singing:
Judy min vän vad du är tankfull,
Varför Judy min vän?
Judy min vän du är tyst och sorgsen,
Varför Judy min vän?
Börjar du inse nu att vi båda jag och du
Kanske aldrig kan bli lyckliga tillsammans,
Judy min vän
Judy min vän du älskar saker, villa TV och bil
Din väg är kantad av lyx och prylar
Det är inte min stil
Våra mönster går isär låt mig säga det såhär:
Jag kan aldrig bli den man som du behöver
Judy min vän
Gudarna, ja låt mig förklara,
Lever för stunden när drömmarna varar
Detta är min filosofi, jag vill jämt känna
Jag är fri
Judy min vän din dröm om pengar
tycks mig liten och trång
Min dröm är drömmen om gröna ängar
vinterns lek och en sång
Kanske jag ändrar mig
Då hörs jag av
Då ska jag presentera mig som din
mister medelsvensson
Judy min vän där går vår korsning
kanske ses vi igen, då får vi se
vad livet har gjort med oss
Judy min vän
Gudarna, ja låt mig förklara,
Lever för stunden när drömmarna varar
Detta är min filosofi, jag vill jämt känna
Jag är fri
Judy min vän där går vår korsning
kanske ses vi igen, då får vi se
vad livet har gjort med oss
Judy min vän
Judy min vän, Judy min vän...
None of the boys had ever heard the song and they didn't even know what language the boy sang in, but they did know that he was good… good enough to join the Warblers. Lucas and Wes looked at each other and nodded. Lucas knocked on the door and the boy looked at them blushing a bit.
"Oh… sorry did I disturb you", he asked a bit shyly.
"No", Lucas said. "You didn't… we're the Warblers."
"The boys that sang at the meeting in the… um what's the word… the big room with all chairs?"
"The auditorium?"
"That's the word… You are part of that gang right? I mean… I saw the boy there." He nodded at Wes.
"Well yes we're part of that 'gang'", Lucas said. "Well Wes and I am but not Alvaro here."
"'S up", Alvaro said.
"The roof", the boy said with a soft smile.
"What was that song", Wes asked curiously. "And what language was it?"
"The song? Um Judy Min Vän… it means Judy My Friend."
"You wrote it yourself?"
"No… it's by Tommy Körberg."
"Tommy what", Alvaro asked.
"Swedish singer", the guy said and put his guitar back in its case.
"Oh so you're from Sweden then", Lucas asked and the guy nodded. "Well I'm Lucas Bedford. This is Alvaro and Wes."
"I'm Kim Johansson", the blonde boy answered and got up. "My dad moved here because he met an American woman…I didn't want to go but I couldn't stay all alone in Växjö."
"Where?" Wes asked confused.
"A small town in the south of Sweden", Kim mumbled.
"Kim", Alvaro asked. "Isn't that a girl's name?"
"In Sweden it's not a man's or a girl's name… it's neutral…"
"Kim means Cyneburg's field", Lucas said thinking through his knowledge of names and their meaning. "In Korean it means gold."
"And in Swedish it means the just or seeker of truth", Kim said and slung his bag over his shoulder and took the guitar case. "Excuse me." He walked out of the room.
"Do you want to join the Warblers", Lucas called after him and the boy froze and turned around.
"How", he asked.
"Just sing for us later today, an audition."
"Like Idol?"
"No, no… well yes but we're not as mean as Simon Powell."
"Austin was to Jesse", Wes said and Lucas gave him a look but Kim just smiled.
"Okay", he said. "I'll show up."
With that he walked out and Wes and Lucas high fived. The Warblers would surely get a new member now right?
TBC Sorry for the LONG wait but I've been abroad and I've been studying really hard... and kinda have my plot bunnies taking a vacation on me... but now they're back :)
Answer to non-members' (or not signed in members') reviews:
Rachel - Sorry but not yet, not in a while.
Lissi47 - I'm happy that you like it and that you're not the only one ;) And it is a bit funny that it was the first thing that popped into your head.
Translation of the song Kim sang:
Judy my friend how you are thoughtful
Why Judy my friend?
Judy my friend you are sad and quiet
Why Judy my friend?
Are you starting to see that we both, you and I
May never be happy together
Judy my friend
Judy my friend you love things, house, TV and car
Your road is boarded with luxury and stuff
That is not my style
Our patterns move apart let me tell you this:
I can never become the man you need
Judy my friend
Gods, yes let me explain it
Live for the moment when dreams last
This is my philosophy I always want to feel
That I'm free
Judy my friend your dream of money
Seems to me small and crowded
My dream is the dream of green meadows
winter's play and a song
Maybe I'll change my mind
Then you'll hear from me
Then I'll present myself as your
Mister Average-Joe
Judy my friend there is our crossroad
Maybe we'll meet again, then we'll see
What life has done with us
Judy my friend
Gods, yes let me explain it
Live for the moment when dreams last
This is my philosophy I always want to feel
That I'm free
Judy my friend there is our crossroad
Maybe we'll meet again, then we'll see
What life has done with us
Judy my friend
Judy my friend
Judy my friend