ON TOUR (Part 1)
This is the first part of the third story in the WHIRLWIND series. They are unrelated stories with a common theme; each one is based on a short, slightly unusual courtship, with a primary female character who believes that she cannot find love for some reason -- and a primary male character determined to prove her wrong. There is some sex in this part.
Dictionary definition:
MADRIGAL: 1. A part song usually for five or six voices, making abundant use of contrapuntal imitation. 2. A lyric poem suitable for being set to music, usually short and often of amatory (pertaining to love, lovers, love-making) character.
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Lead article, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT section of the UNION HERALD newspaper:
MADRI-GALS OFF TO A SOLID START DESPITE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
The Madri-Gals kicked off their 2010 tour at the Aurora Theater last night, and I was pleasantly surprised. The lead singer, Amy Sears, continues to delight audiences, as she sparkles on stage. Her singing is moving and heartfelt, and her two attempts at song-writing, which she performed, form definite connections with the audience, young and old. Leila Enders turned out two credible solos of classic John Denver hits. Kathy Krell, with her long, dark hair matching the sharp, deep, and haunting ballads she cast over the audience, was quite available after the performance for autographs. Marrisa Leffner epitomizes injured innocence, and her laments conjure memories of adolescent wrestling with disappointments, real and imagined.
Christa Mavin, stepping out as boldly as her hair is red, got the audience moving, clapping and stomping. This is the group's fourth tour, and follows the release of the CD of their first three efforts. The disc has done well in local markets, and finds enthusiastic buyers after performances. In my opinion, a DVD would sell better, as it would showcase both the songs and singers to good effect. They aren't stars yet, and only time will tell if they have staying power, but I wish them success. There were some annoying technical glitches which detracted from the performance and were definitely distracting... sound system fading, poor timing and misdirection of lights, even one feedback squeal which put everyone's teeth on edge. I hope these are only teething problems and that they are resolved quickly. I understand that this tour, dubbed 'Unexpected Love', uniquely, will have slots set aside for the singers to experiment with new numbers, so it is possible no two performances will be the same. I bid the Madri-Gals good luck on their journey.
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Chapter 1: Setting the stage
Amy Sears sat, steeping in melancholy like a forgotten pot of tea, and gazing out the back of the bus at the receding scenery. Not for the first time she reflected on seeing perfectly where she had been, but having no view of where she was going. A deep sigh fluttered her lips and she leaned her arm against the leather cushions.
Even after three years she still felt like the newest singer in the group. The group was the Madri-Gals; currently on tour. She was also generally the most popular. This did not endear her to all of the other four girls, and sometimes she felt isolated and left behind by life.
The compartment at the back of the bus was singers only, and referred to as Sanctuary, since that meant NO one else, especially managers, publicists, and mothers, Amy spent as much time as possible here. In her case all three were one person hell-bent on making her career an unparalleled success - and her personal life an empty shell.
More scenery flowed endlessly into the past.
The city that loomed on the horizon in front of the speeding Madri-gal caravan contained the temporary offices of the group's business and personnel manager, Bernie Stafford. He was a grumpy, stoic man, with long years of experience in the merciless entertainment business. With a waistline advertising an overly fond, health negligent attitude toward gravy and cheese on his fries, and a dark stubble like a mask on his face even right after carving the last of the shaving cream off, he wouldn't inspire confidence in any one by his looks, so he had to settle for a reputation that blended the business savvy of a hungry shark, the frugality of Scrooge, and the ruthlessness of an IRS auditor. He had fired the group's technical support staffer yesterday for allowing one too many glitches in the last three performances, and was now interviewing a replacement. The group was due in late tonight and the first performance tomorrow night. No pressure. He looked at the small stack of paperwork in front of him and gave the applicant what might be called a not too unpleasant scowl.
Evan Grant sat in a rickety chair across the table from his future employer. He was tall, muscular from rugby, with rugged good looks, also from rugby. His eyes looked like melted milk chocolate and he had black hair so dark it seemed to suck in the light around it. He kept his face carefully neutral. His advisor at the Institute had informed him somewhat sardonically that his usually disdainful expression was not a good selling point. He had used that advice in all his successful interviews and discarded it in all of his unsuccessful ones. He needed this job, so he played along.
"You say here you toured five summers with five different groups."
"That's right."
"So, what did you do in all the off seasons?"
