Marigold probably thought I would laugh or at least smile. I wasn’t in the mood for either. Typically, after I walked the children to the bus, I returned to my room to prepare for the next day. I didn’t do that. After waiting for the bus to pull away, I ensured all my walkers had safely crossed the street, then went straight to my car. I didn’t want Camilla coming back trying to pitch that horrible idea again.
“I didn’t like the feeling of being tossed to the side for someone who’s not as good as me. That music teacher position was my position, and everyone knows it! I wanted to be the one to teach the children about music and how important it is.”
“I hear you but usually, the doors that close aren’t the ones you’re supposed to go through, anyway. Remember when we were in school, and you decided to pursue a music education degree as well? Why?”
“Because I already had a lot of the credits for that program, so why not?”
“But music production and performance were your things.”
“It just seemed like a good idea.”
“Yes, and look where it got you. That music teacher door closed but opened you up to so much more. Because you had that second degree, they could easily move you into the kindergarten teacher position without losing a thing. You were the teacher of the year. They featured you on the news for how the kids were learning to read at such a high rate. You might not understand why it happened, but you were born to teach those kids. Embrace that and stop worrying about what might have been. Just like you keep saying to your mom, “We’re here now. Let’s deal with what we have.”
“You really, really get on my nerves.”
“Yep, the truth frustrates us at first but let it sink in, then make your decision. If you really don’t want to do it because of you, then fine. If you don’t want to do it because of him… then no.”
CHAPTERTHREE
TIBERIUS
Walking into the auditorium, children and adults were milling around, working on dance moves, painting the set, or practicing their parts for the production. Speaking to everyone as I made my way to the stage, I heard someone playing music on the piano.
“I know that’s not…” I thought to myself as I approached the woman with blond hair sitting at the piano.
“Ms. Stevenson?”
Madalee looked up from the sheet music and twisted her face into a menacing scowl.
“Vesey,” she replied. “I was told to be here to run through the songs with the students?”
“Uh, yeah. I have a couple of soloists coming in. Then, tomorrow the choir will go through the full performance. You are playing for the choir too?”
She took a deep breath, “I told Camilla I would do it for the kids. So yes, I will play for the choir too.”
I would’ve lost all my money in a bet because I was positive she would’ve said no.
“I have all the sheet music here. The song I wrote for the scene at the end of act one is not written out. I have a recording of Fred playing it, though.”
“It seems like that would’ve been one of the first things you had done after you wrote the song.”
“I came up with it at the last minute. Fred and I were supposed to get it on paper in the next few days.”
Madalee shook her head.
“Please don’t tell me I’m walking into some half-produced amateurish crap.”
“The kids aren’t professionals, so…”
“Mr. Vesey, last I heard, y’all needed me. I don’t have to do any of this shi…” she paused and looked around. She started again in a lowered tone, “Stuff. I don’t have to do any of this stuff.”
“Ms. Stevenson, I didn’t ask you to participate. Apparently, you’re doing it for the kids,” I used my quotation fingers.
“What the hell? What are the quotes about?”
“You said you’re doing it for them, but you started with me as soon as I came in.”
“You know what?” Madalee took a deep breath and paused. “It’s not about you. It is about the kids.”