From the beginning!
"Okay, from the beginning!" he said and the small town
orchestra played from their big town souls and filled the
auditorium with love.
"How much longer do you think you can do this?" he was asked
one day at rehearsal.
He's thought about that enough recently that he was quick to
answer.
"Until the last song plays in my heart," he replied smiling.
It's been an issue of sorts in recent years. Jack has
conducted that orchestra for more years than most can
remember. It's an issue because there's a few younger folks
who would love a chance at it, too.
"The only reason I've stayed here in this town this long is
to have a chance to conduct the orchestra. If I move to any
of the bigger cities I better have some experience or they
wouldn't even consider me," Jessie said. "But there's no
reason to wait any longer. Jack will never stop."
I don't know if anyone had ever approached him about this. I
mean who'd want to even bring it up?
"From the beginning," Jack said as he raised his baton. It
was the way he started each piece.
"From the beginning. That's how long he's been here," Jessie
said quietly to his friend.
"And until the very end," his friend added.
They had practiced their music for the big show three times
a week for months.
"Everybody attends, you know. It's almost expected," Millie
told one of her customers at the beauty parlor.
So it was. The big night arrived and the auditorium was
filled.
"Standing room only!" the usher shouted to the crowd just
outside the doors.
"But they don't mind. They've stood before. It's certainly
worth it all. For this was the big event in town. The night
of the "Summertime Ball."
Everyone was waiting as the musicians took their places.
"Where's Jack?" one member asked.
"He'll be here. Don't you worry," Jessie said sarcastically.
But the 7:00 curtain call was just a few minutes away.
"You better call his house. He's never late like this."
Just then a young girl entered from the back of the
auditorium. She was sobbing, nearly breathless as she walked
toward the stage.
"It's Jack...he's...Jack asked me to tell you that he is
sorry he could not be here this evening and...asked for your
forgiveness," she said nervously.
The crowd moaned with disappointment.
"What's wrong?" someone shouted.
Pausing to catch her breath she then said, "Jack has left
us. As he was getting ready for tonight..." she sighed
deeply and then continued. "He asked that the performance go
on as scheduled."
"But who will lead the orchestra?" someone asked.
Turning toward the stage she said, "He asked that Jessie
take over tonight."
Jessie stood up and scanned the crowd of familiar faces.
"I know I can do this," he thought to himself.
There was an unusual silence in the auditorium as Jessie
took his place at the podium. He turned to the audience and
said, "This is dedicated to Jack."
Then facing the musicians he raised his hands and said,
"From the beginning."
His friend added, "And until the very end."
"I believe in you!" Bob Perks
Bob@BobPerks.com
Copyright (c) 2003, Bob Perks.
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