Episode Ten: Phoebe Struggles at Choir Practice

Getting ready for the last practice, Phoebe was all bubbly.

            “Aunt Helen, just imagine, this is a last practice before the big day. I do hope that Dell, Nancy and mum and dad can make it”

            They were about to leave for the church. Helen said to Phoebe, “Just a minute, dear. Just a little spruce up.”

            Helen gave Phoebe a little spray of perfume about her breasts and another spray well back of her shoulders.

            “Oh, gee, Auntie, that fragrance is magnificent. Now, Aunt Helen, wish me luck.”

            Phoebe and Mr. Gilson were off to the church.

            Mr. Gilson said to Phoebe, “That is nice perfume that you are wearing.”

             Phoebe not to answer right away. Nearing the church, Phoebe said, “Mr. Gilson, I hope that this perfume doesn’t get to me.”

            “Can you explain yourself, Phoebe? Not now but later.”

            It wasn’t long before she could feel the perfume getting to her. She had a wonderful feeling of a great aura fogging all around her person. It was like she was in fairyland. She felt that if she tried to hit the high notes they would be muffled in an aura of scarlet. I must see Mr. Gilson before we go on stage, she thought. I do hope that I don’t have to explain before any of the choir.

            She wasn’t in the cloakroom very long before a senior member of the choir said, “Girls, we had better be taking our seats.”

            As the members filed out of the cloakroom, Phoebe approached Mr. Gilson.

            “I want to talk to you about the perfume, “Phoebe said. Aun Helen gave me a little spray of it, God bless her soul. Now there is an aura of it all around me. I can sing perfectly well with the choir but if I tried the high notes, I’m afraid that they will be muffled in an aura of scarlet. I will tell you more when we have more time.”

            Mr. Gilson was very understanding. “You go ahead, Phoebe, and do not trying your high pitch tonight. I know that Mrs. McWhinney will look after you. I know what your problem is, Phoebe.”

            She went out the door and took place in the choir. She was puzzled by Mr. Gilson’s statement. Just how would he know what her problem was? Then he was like her dad. He was an old hand. After the choir practice, Phoebe, with a little quiver in her voice, confided in Hilot McWhinny.

         “I do not know what came over me.”

            What was she going to tell Aunt Helen who was in the pews listening to the choir?

            Mr. Gilson was well aware of that success is never guaranteed. All he said was,  “Your Aunt Helen tells me that your father and mother maybe coming for the service.”

            “I hope so. I think my father was in Toronto once. I’m not sure if mother ever was in Toronto.”    

               “Well, Phoebe, I’m coming to your place on a Sunday about ten thirty. We have to be at church early as it takes a little time to get things organized before the service.”

                Phoebe didn’t waste anytime getting down to Aunt Helen. Helen was very diplomatic and didn’t question Phoebe about not hitting the high notes.

         “Aunt Helen, I’m ashamed of myself. I don’t know what came over me.”

         “Don’t worry one bit about it, honey. Mr. Gilson knows how to handle these situations.”

         “That is what he told me, Auntie. We didn’t have much time to talk. He said, I know what your problem is, Phoebe. Don’t worry.”

         Even that had Helen stumped.

         About nine forty-five that evening, who should drop into Helen’s but Mr. Gilson. He said that he could not leave this overnight.

         “No doubt, Helen, you observed the performance of this evening.”

         “Why yes, indeed, Sam.”

         “That’s why I came around at this late hour tonight, Helen. You see, Helen, I was complementing Phoebe on the fragrance of the perfume that she was wearing. She told me that it was yours. No doubt it was exclusive. Well, the truth of the matter is, Helen, Phoebe is allergic to perfume. We know that you meant well. It is just one of those situations that comes along in life. I’m glad that I was talking to her before the practice. So don’t feel bad about that, Helen. It happened to me once before some eight or nine years ago at Saint Andrews at their 170th anniversary. The dais and the choir stand were a mass of roses and heather. This girl was a fine alto singer. She took sick and had to be removed. It was found out later that she was allergic to roses.”

                  Come Saturday morning, Helen told Phoebe that she was going down to Elaine’s to have her hair set. Did Phoebe care to come along? “If there is anything that you care to have done to your hair now would be a good time to have it done.”

         Helen had to be careful giving advice on matters of this nature.

         Phoebe said, “Well, if I made a drastic change in my hairstyle and mother didn’t approve of it, I would feel self-conscious when I go to sing. There must not be any doubt in my mind because tomorrow is that big day. I must not let Mr. Gilson down and especially you, Aunt Helen. Then there is Nancy and Dell. For my mom and dad, they will accept anything that I have to offer.”

         Helen and Phoebe approached Elaine’s salon. Phoebe was really impressed. In bold pink scroll letters the sign said ‘Elaine’s Exclusive Hair Stylist’s Salon’. Inside, there were about six cubicles. When Aunt Helen and Phoebe were inside, a tall, businesslike lady said, “How are you today?”

         “I’m fine,” was Helen’s reply. “This is my adopted niece, Elaine. By the way, she is going to be our guest for soprano at church tomorrow.”

         When Helen is introduced Phoebe to Elaine, it was written all over Phoebe’s face that she was a country girl. They chatted for a while. Elaine said, ”This being the case, we have to celebrate now that we will be seeing this fine young lady soloing in our church tomorrow.”

         Elaine turned to Phoebe. “Now, honey, whatever would you like us to do? Just say so and it will be all on the house.”

         One of the girls came over and said, “Mrs. Forester, we have a cubicle waiting for you.”

         Elaine led Phoebe over to what looked like a semi-private cubicle. Elaine brought over a folder that must’ve been six inches thick.”

         Phoebe said, “I’m sorry but I have not heard your full name.”

         “My name is Mrs. Elaine Preston. You can call me Elaine.”

         Elaine started to turn over the selection of hairstyles from which Phoebe could choose.

         “Mrs. Preston, I don’t want a hairstyle that makes me look sophisticated because if I go home to Dunadry like that they will say I am a snob coming from the big city.”

         Elaine I said, “How do you get along with Mr. Gilson?”

         “He is a gentleman. We get along fine. I have had two practices with him so far. Oh, here is one, Mrs. Preston, that might suit my profile. What I would like is that my hair will be quite full on top of my head curving partly down my forehead above my right eye. You can groom my ponytail to your discretion. Then I think the ponytail with a red bow tied neatly around it would be suitable. What do you think of that?”

         “Well, Phoebe, you have beautiful healthy black hair.”

         Elaine went and picked up another folder and turned over the pictures and stopped.

         “Now, Phoebe, was it something like that that you had in mind?

         Phoebe studied the page very carefully. “It is very similar but could you do it as I described?”

         “I certainly can, Phoebe, and I’m going to do it myself.”

         “Do you think that a red bow would be suitable, Mrs. Preston?”

         “I do indeed. Red always goes well with black hair.”

         By this time, Helen had her hair all set and came over to the cubicle where Elaine was working on Phoebe’s hair. They chitter chatted. Most of it was not familiar to Phoebe but when they were discussing the affairs of the church it was getting Phoebe’s interest. Most of it was concerning the visit of the moderator. They couldn’t recall when he was here before or was he?

         Elaine said to Helen, “This is a great honor for our Phoebe.”

         Helen replied, “Well, I should think so.”

         Elaine said, “I’m hearing, via the grapevine, that they are going to record tomorrow’s evening service.” Elaine told Phoebe, “I guess we will be hearing you on the radio one day.”

         Phoebe replied, “We can always dream. It’s the waking up.” With a little taunting laugh she went on. ”Well, seriously, Mrs. Preston, for Aunt Helen and Mr. Gilson, I am going to give it my best shot. Also Dell and Nancy. For mum and dad, they will accept whatever I have to offer.

               Continued in Episode Eleven