Helen called Mr. Gilson and informed him that Phoebe was in town. Mr. Gilson asked Helen if he could come around tomorrow after lunch and take Phoebe and her up to the church. He was very anxious to make Phoebe familiar with her surroundings.
“We will be looking for you, Sam. Do you want to have a word with her now?”
“Absolutely, Helen.”
Phoebe picked up the phone and quietly said, “Hello.”
Sam said, “Did you have a good trip, Phoebe?”
“Yes, indeed I did.”
“Well, Phoebe, I intend to pick up you and Aunt Helen after lunch tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes, it is okay with me.”
After one o’clock, Sam Gilson pulled up with his Hudson. He explained to Phoebe what he had in mind. At the church, Helen went up to the very front seats and sat down. Sam took a Phoebe by the hand.
“I hope, Phoebe, that you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine, Mr. Gilson, providing we don’t get lost in here.”
They went first past the pulpit and on up to where the choir sang.
“Now, Phoebe, take your time and have a good look around you. Just visualize all those pews filled with the congregation.”
“I’m trying to see.”
“Phoebe, this is the choir platform. Now follow me.”
They entered the side door to the choir cloakroom. Sam and showed her all the hanging cloaks (choir gowns).
“There are twenty male singers and twenty female singers. But this Sunday there will be twenty-one female singers including you. Now, Phoebe, is there any questions in your mind that you would like answers for?”
Phoebe was getting to feel more at home with Mr. Gilson.
“Well there is. Would you bring me to where the choir will be actually singing?”
He took Phoebe over to the exact position of the choir.
“Now could you take me and place me as near as you can too where I will be in relation to the congregation?”
“You will be approximately here in the front row of the singers. You will be between two other sopranos, a Mrs. Hilot McWhinney on your right. On your left will be a Miss Betty Lawson. Now as I have told you, if for any reason, as we say you fade, Mrs. McWhinney will be keeping an eye on you. If you feel that she should take over for you just take your right hand off your hymn sheet. Let your hand down slightly by your side thing gradually take hold of your hymn sheet. Now, Phoebe, do you follow me and understand what I am trying to tell you? It is very important to me that you do.”
“Yes, Mr. Gilson, I clearly understand you and know clearly what is at stake.”
They descended to the church floor. Mr. Gilson said to Helen, “You might as well come along and we will have a look at the organ.”
When they got there, it was a coincidence. Roy Dennison, the organist, was in there in his overalls up by the pipes with a rag in his hand. When he saw the company in his midst, he called down.
“Just getting her ready for the big show on Sunday, Sam.”
Sam introduced him to Helen Forester.
“And, by the way, Roy, this is our soprano soloist for Sunday, Phoebe.”
“Pleased to meet you, Phoebe.”
Roy had a twinkle in his eyes. He reminded her of Ducky Duncan.
“Hold it a minute, Sam.”
Roy climbed up to his seat in front of the organ and played a bit of Harry Lauder’s ‘When I Get Drunk on a Saturday Night’. He switched it off and came down to the company.
“How’s that, Sam? Damn it all, Sam, the old girl is going to be perked up for the Sunday bash.”
Helen stayed very quiet all the time. Roy was in conversation with Phoebe. He soon realized that she was a country girl. He said to Phoebe, “If I start her up, do you care to have an impromptu practice here and now?”
Sam look at Helen and sheepishly asked Helen if she approved.
“Well, Sam, it would be better if you asked Phoebe.”
Phoebe had that little mischievous smile on her face.
“What do you say, Phoebe?”
Roy was standing by waiting for a reply.
Phoebe said to Mr. Gilson, “Sometimes after our practices at home, we crowd around the piano and have what we call a jam session. We sing and play the latest to the oldest. Maybe that does not apply here. One evening when we had the church to ourselves, the Rev. Little inadvertently dropped by and what do you know, we were lifting the roof with ‘Did You Ever Visit an Irishman’s Shanty Where Water was Scarce and Whiskey was Plenty’. I don’t know if that would apply here or not.”
Aunt Helen was discreet and reserved. She thought that maybe Phoebe could open up if she was with a bunch of jolly singers. Mr. Gilson would have enjoyed hearing her regardless of the Irishman’s shanty.
Roy, the organist, said, “What will it be, Phoebe? ‘Paddy McGinty’s Goat’?”
“Would you have the music to that?”
Roy said, “If I don’t, I will darn soon to dig it up.” He opened up a big music book. It must’ve been around ten inches thick. “Oh, here she is. You come up beside me, Phoebe.”
“Phoebe asked, “Does everybody approve”
Aunt Helen said. “I can’t see that there is anything wrong with that. What do you think, Sam?”
“I think that it’s just great.”
Two hops and the skip and Phoebe was at Roy Dennison’s side. Roy was a professional organist. He gave Phoebe the signal to be quiet. He gave a few notes that sounded like thunder. He the dropped down to a low and sweet pitch. He gave Phoebe the signal and she was off. Her every word was distinguishable. It was marvelous, it was daunting and witty and humorous. The way Phoebe could lilt it was something. Helen and Sam were laughing. Helen just couldn’t resist the funny side of the street.
After they finished, Roy came to Sam and said, “Sam, you have got something here. She is really superb. She could have a job at one of them posh clubs downtown.”
Phoebe shook her head and said, “No clubs for me.”
Mr. Gilson told Phoebe how he enjoyed it. “You did that very professional.”
Roy told Sam, “She certainly knows how to put a zip and life into her song. I guess the party is over.” Roy looked at his watch and said that the wife is supposed to meet him down at the guild.
It is kind of naïve to say, but clap very very hard if you have seen or heard Phoebe Croiner at her utmost best. She will sing normally really outstanding, but she has the lungs and stamina to amaze the most expert critic.
Mr. Gilson suggested that they go down to the Oval for a coffee.
Helen is said, “I don’t think so, Sam. It is too close to suppertime. Do you care to come over to our place and have a bite with us?”
“Well, thank you, Helen, but I told Laura that I would be home for supper.” On parting, he said, “Now, Phoebe, don’t you get kidnapped because I’m looking forward to seeing you in practice with the full choir tomorrow evening.”
That evening, at choir practice, Phoebe felt like a fish out of water. Everyone was so kind. It was embarrassing. There were a lot of fine young and elderly men and the same went for the ladies. Phoebe was very much impressed with the choir robes. They were classy and dignified. With a deep-seated grin, she thought that we in Dunadry would be glad to accept them robes anytime that they were contemplating on throwing them away.
The choir now in position, she must concentrate on her part in the program. The two hymns for the morning service for her to solo were ‘Before the Sun in Order Stood’ and, secondly, ‘Amazing Grace’. Phoebe felt that they were right up her alley. For the evening service the hymns were “What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ and ‘The Church has One Foundation’.
Phoebe thought to herself, well, it’s getting closer to the crucifixion. Inwardly, she felt up to the challenge. One more full choir practice and that would be it. She must uphold the silent cedars of Dunadry.
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