Chapter 19

Back at home, they put the shopping away and Willow went to help Wendy with the laundry. Being Saturday, they went to the club to have dinner and catch up with the villagers. When Ashley was asked about his head, he just told them that he had run into something wooden.

Maisie and Gina came along, so the two friends sat together. Willow told Gina about what Racheal had told her that morning.

Chapter 17

On the short trip to the Luna Park, Gina gave Samantha a medallion that she had in her bag, and they both carefully signed her copy of the Berlin show. They did a loop around to take the road over the bridge, and then another loop on the other side to arrive at the entrance to Luna Park. There must have been about fifty teenagers waiting for them and they cheered as the three got out of the car. Barry was there, with a grinning cameraman, and a sour-looking woman, made up as if she was a teenager.

Chapter 15

After the food had been eaten, Malcolm went to the stage, asked for quiet, and then smiled at the full house.

Chapter 13.

The new neighbours had expressed a desire to see inside Broadcasting House, so it was a big group who were escorted to the studio where the show was to be recorded. It was set up for TV, and the presenter apologised for the change in format.

“Since you were last here, you’ve all gone from strength to strength. This will be a special on both One and Three, as your appeal covers both demographics. If you can go with our make-up girl, she’ll give you the matt skin that looks better.”

Chapter 11

That night, Willow took a little while to drop off to sleep, snapshots of the day in her brain. But sleep she did, and she woke, refreshed, in the early morning. She went to the bathroom, then showered and dressed for school. On the way, the two friends spoke about the strangeness of yesterday, with them hosting the entire orchestra in the studio.

“We’ll need to go in one evening and tidy up”

Chapter 9

Next morning, Jacob avoided looking at her when he got on the vehicle. She wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

“Enjoy the show, Jacob?”

“It was all right.”

“How did your new girlfriend like it?”

Gina looked at Willow, eyes wide. Jacob looked around, his face glowing.

“Her name is Anita. She is the younger sister of one of the Hikers. I was rostered on as her escort, as she wanted to see the show and her brother is in Spain.”

Chapter 7

On Thursday, it was the last of the Music Studies with the Musical. There was some listening to snippets of various performances and discussion on them, with a question-and-answer session that everyone had to be part of. That evening, Willow packed her case and filled a garment bag with her four stage outfits.

Friday, she saw Jill poke her head into the lunchroom so beckoned her over.

“Welcome to the zoo feeding time, Jill.”

“It’s much nicer than the school I went to. What are we doing this afternoon?”

Chapter 5

When Wilhelm dropped them off, it was still mid-afternoon, so Willow walked to the church to check the hymns. It was soothing to be sitting at the keyboard, doodling Bach. She thought about the morning and the joy of having the band around her. They hadn’t played as the full band since the last show in London.

Chapter 3

What was the parking space had been cleaned and painted. There was a girder frame around the walls, supported by uprights on each corner, and across the back wall it supported a pair of steel doors that totally hid the doors to the lane. The single door at the other side had been bricked up. There was an industrial rack to the left, the same as used in the distribution area and big enough to take pallets.

Ending of Book 3

On Sunday, she played the refurbished organ for the service, had lunch in the club and spent the rest of the day sorting out her school uniform for the next morning, along with an overnight case and a garment bag with her soloists outfit for Monday evening in the Albert Hall. The first term of her third year was certainly going to start in a different way to any other term she had known. She wondered if this school year was going to be as momentous as the last one. She knew, in her heart, that she would enjoy it.

Chapter 1

Chapter 22

The Saturday and Sunday shows were equally as exciting. Jill told them, on Sunday afternoon, that the sales of the Kansas DVD had picked up, and the ‘Homegrown’ CD had already reached Gold status, but the presentations would be postponed until they reached London.

Chapter 20

It was a constant stream of customers for the next two hours. Many had brought all three items and wanted all three signed. It did give the band time to answer questions while they were signing. They all signed with only their birth name, to allow enough space for all eleven on the plastic case. After the first few had bypassed the two at the end of her table, Willow got up and got Vivienne to sit in her seat. Being one of those that everyone wanted the signature of, she created a slowing of the line so that everyone had product presented to them.

Chapter 18

They stopped for a quick kiss before going into class, with Jacob giving the teacher a note from the nurse. Towards the end of lunch, Miss Russell came in and asked the two of them to go with her to the nurse’s room. When they got there, the nurse showed them the pathology result.

Chapter 16

The four girls had the same room as before, so settled down easily. For Willow, it was like having a slumber party without late night movies, her second in a week. In the morning, they had breakfast in the dining room and then went to get ready. Back in the reception, the band looked as if they were about to perform. The outfits were great, fitted well, and made them stand out from the crowd. Jim Jamieson was non-plussed. He hadn’t been to their shows and had never seen Summer Rose play except for the school concerts.

Chapter 14

At Monday lunch, the first person that Willow saw was Vivienne, who came over and hugged her.

“Thank you so much for your comments and ideas, Willow. You’re right, as usual. I’d been scared at putting myself forward and kept the song simple. I see why you thought it unresolved. I’ll work on it between now and the practise at the club. I’m honoured that you think it worthy of an album.”

Chapter 12

There was a table set up for them in an adjoining room, and they went and sat for a meal.

“What do you think of those keyboards, Willow?”

“They’re great! I think that we could do with a pair of those in the studio. I did see them when I bought my Nord. They were close to five thousand, but I guess I can afford one now.”

“What do you guys want for the studio, Herb?”

“Something small, like the Marshalls we use at the club, and something we can get used to, like two hundred watts, Gina.”

“What about you, Brent.”

Chapter 10

As they were driving to Birmingham, where the girls wanted to visit the Bullring, Wendy asked them if they had enjoyed the party.

“It was fabulous, Mum. So many friends and so much cake. I don’t think I could face another slice.”

“Well, there is some left over, which Malcolm will probably have out as dessert tonight. Did you know that the label was going to be there?”

Chapter 8

The orchestra started to sort themselves out, get comfortable and tune up. The school choir came in, having stayed to the end of the day and being brought by the two people movers. When Yvonne was heading for her place, she stopped by Willow.

“I just met your driver, Sebastian. He’s quite a hunk, you lucky girl.”

“I’ve never noticed, Yvonne. He is very helpful and could be described as good looking.”

“Says the girl who he takes home at night.”

“But, Miss Yvonne, he has a chaperone in Max. We’re never alone!”

Chapter 6

Willow was still sitting at the kitchen table when her parents arrived home. She was swept up in hugs and kisses from both of them.

“Fantastic show, darling. It was a real treat. I saw the Bishop with the Russell’s and the Head, and they all had big smiles. The comments that I heard from others was all positive. A lot were shocked but excited by the last song. Did everything go all right with you? What did Gina think of her outfit?”

Chapter 4

After seeing the Head, they went to their first lessons. The day was as normal as it could be, with a lot of the students looking at them and giving them shy waves. Lunch was, once again, like a party, with Zara and the Gees coming to have a chat. They were looking forward to seeing the theatre on Thursday evening and finally playing to paying customers.

Chapter 2

The three friends went back to the house and helped tidy up and put leftovers in the fridge. Jacob said that Racheal was back from the honeymoon and was going to bring him to the morning service at St. Marys. The Roses went home to have a quiet cup of hot chocolate before bed, Willow still wondering what the week ahead will bring.

Chapter 23

It was early in the morning when Willow’s phone alarm woke her. She was slightly disorientated to wake up in a strange room. She looked around and remembered that she was going home in a taxi with her father today. She went to the bathroom and prepared for the day. When she came out, wearing one of the hotel dressing gowns, her father was waiting to go in.

Chapter 21

When they had dropped Jacob off, with the box for Rick, Maisie told Willow that they would be getting the keys to the new home at the end of the next week and thanked her for suggesting it. There would be a housewarming on Easter Saturday afternoon. When they stopped at Willow’s they helped carry the last boxes in.

Chapter 19

Willow smiled at Malcolm’s statement.

“I told you that there were others who can take our place. Now, tomorrow, there will be at least twenty others. What’s the chance of putting on some food, even something light, between the end of the recording and the time that the choir get here.”

“It will be simple. I could do pie and chips, sausage and chips, egg and chips or chips on their own. With some bread and marge, you could always make chip butties.”