Isobel joined Phoebe at their table. Trevor and Joanne were sipping weak red wine. Phoebe had a ginger ale in front of her. Isabel had to be very careful how to break the ice.
“Phoebe, Mrs. Forester tells me that you had some fire damage to your church.”
“That is quite a true, Mrs. Campbell. We may be down but we are never out. Our little church will rise again. You see, we have our ways and means of raising funds. We have euchres, plays, pioneer suppers and box socials. Most of them are a blooming scream. We can usually topple some social climber off his high horse down to the cow path or force some county damsel to eat with a bearded bachelor from the back forty.”
“Well, Phoebe, I was speaking to Mr. Pelkey. I told him that you only sang for charity or a worthy cause.”
Phoebe turned to Trevor and Joanne. “What is your opinion?”
Well, Phoebe, you are our guest and we would not be guilty of influencing you to do anything that you did not feel like doing. I do not know if is against club rules to promote the collection of funds without the sanction of all club members.”
Mrs. Campbell reached across the table and held Phoebe’s hand between her too hands. “Phoebe, could you give me some commitment or condition that we could hear you in song? How about a little promotion for your church renovation?”
“No way, Mrs. Campbell. I could not do that. I am not here as a gold digger or to beg for my church in strange territory. I’m not saying, Mrs. Campbell, that I wouldn’t sing if conditions were satisfactory.”
Joanne said to Mrs. Campbell, “How would…”
Trevor horned in, “Joanne, we are supposed to be members.”
“It was only a suggestion, Trevor.”
“Joanne, let’s have it,” said Mrs. Campbell”
“I what was going to suggest that we do it like we do at the badminton club. When we want to raise a little funds, we place a container in the hallway and asked the members to drop a few coins in it as they leave. That’s way nobody goes broke.”
“That is an excellent idea, Joanne. What do you say, Phoebe?
“I think that it is still embarrassing.”
“Phoebe, look at it from a business angle. Phoebe, there are lots of members here. Look what they’re getting for little change; a singer that is one in a million. You know, Phoebe, if you collected fifty cents each, you and have a nice little contribution to your fund.”
Phoebe seemed to be in a dilemma, not knowing what to decide. Finally, she asked Joanne.
“Joanne, what would you and Trevor’s honest opinion be?”
“Phoebe,” said Trevor. “I’m sitting here on pins and needles. I say go for it.”
Finally, Phoebe said, “If you could make the arrangements on the condition that you outlined, I will cooperate. But, Mrs. Campbell, the emphasis is on small change. Bear that in mind. “
The tables next to the Hazelton’s felt that there was something cooking under the Hazelton’s table, observing that Mrs. Campbell was frequently slipping in and out of the side door.
Mrs. Campbell said, “Phoebe will sing for us.”
Phoebe had that surrender expression on her face. She told Mrs. Campbell, “I’m throwing all caution to the wind. Sink or swim.”
Mrs. Campbell made a beeline for the side door. She soon returned.
“Will you come with me, Phoebe? Mr. Pelkey would like to have a word with you.”
Mr. Pelkey said, “Miss Croiner, have you any motive or purpose that you want to sing here?”
Phoebe retaliated, “Who told you that I wanted to sing here? Didn’t Mrs. Campbell inform you of the conditions that we agreed?” Phoebe was getting her Irish up. “Mr. Pelkey, I would like to sing here on the strength of Mrs. Campbell’s recommendations but, Mr. Pelkey, I don’t have to.”
Mr. Pelky was a business man. He looked Phoebe right in the eye. Then he turned to Mrs. Campbell.
“That’s what I like to see in a girl, a little spunk.”
Mr. Pelky told Phoebe to go over to the pianist and see if he had music to what she may sing.
To Phoebe that was a curious expression of speech but she took it with a grain of salt.
“Yes, he has it all.”
Mr. Pelkey asked Phoebe what was her first name.
“I must apologize to you, Phoebe. This has to be sanctioned by the membership before we can carry on. That is why I wanted you to have your music lined up. I feel sure that all will be well.”
Mr. Pelkey, Mrs. Campbell and Phoebe faced the members on the front of the platform. Mr. Pelkey addressed the club members.
“Mrs. Campbell here, a valued member of this club, has approached me concerning this fine young lady. Apparently this girl is leaving the city before the weekend. Mrs. Campbell advises me that we should make a special effort to hear her sing for us tonight. Mrs. Campbell says that she is another Jeanette MacDonald with dark hair.”
Mr. Pelkey explained that the rules of the club are, “that we sponsored no charities or any other causes. This young lady is going to have a few words with you and some of the suggestions that she put before you came for me.”
Phoebe stood up erect with that expression of, I’m in command.
“Ladies and gentlemen, members of this club, I’m here visiting Toronto. I’d like to sing for you. I have discussed this with Mr. Pelkey and Mrs. Campbell. Apparently, the club has rules concerning charity. Well, our little church down east had a fire. We got it under control before it got into the walls. We were burning green wood that creates a lot of creosote that’s very flammable. We have around two hundred feet of stove pipe in the building. Anyway, they caught fire and got so hot they fell on the floor. Now there is a lesson to be learned here. Never expect the Lord to do for you what you are able to do for yourself. I do not sing for my own gain or private clubs weddings or for a private sponsor who may have made a substantial donation to any cause. I am not here as a gold digger or to beg for our church. Down our way, we may be down at times but we are never out. If a family loses a home or farmer loses a barn, we are all to the rescue. We let off a greasy pig in the pasture. At twenty-five cents each, you can imagine a hundred people trying to catch the critter for the winter’s pork. Very often, the pig is the winner. Now if the club is willing to shell out a little change. Say if I were to bring home maybe twenty-five or fifty dollars it would be very well received by our restoring committee.”
Mr. Pelkey stepped forward. “Now, members, you have heard the pros and cons of this proposition. Are we breaking the rules or are we putting a slight bend in them? Personally, I do not think so. I think that is a good deal. What I’m going to ask you is all members for the deal say, ‘Yea’ and those that disapprove of it say, ‘ Nay’. Now I ask you, how many say ‘Yea?””
As far as Mr. Pelkey couldn’t see, every hand was up.
“Now all of you the disapprove, if any, say. ‘Nay’.”
Mr. Pelkey took his time and scan the members. “I declare the motion carried.”
Three of the ushers and the pianist wheeled the big piano towards the front of the stage. There was a silence while the musician and Phoebe sorted out some of the music sheets.
Phoebe said to the pianist, “Hadn’t we better have the piano a little more sideways? I think that it would make us more presentable to the audience.”
“Just whatever you think. You are the singer.”
Phoebe took hold of that piano and rolled it sideways all of three feet. The crowd stirred in wonder. The pianist took his seat. Phoebe faced the members.
“I would like to sing for you ‘Danny Boy’. I hope that is suitable.”
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