Next morning, Helen called up Trevor Hazelton. “Say, Trevor, could you take the time? We would like to discuss your invitation to Phoebe. I’m Phoebe’s host and guardian while she is in Toronto.”
“Very well, Mrs. Forester, I think that we should. You are at 25 Riverside Crescent?”
“Yes.”
“I think that you should also meet my fiancé, Joanne.”
It wasn’t long before Trevor and Joanne pulled up at number twenty-five. They were a bubbling couple, dressed up in casuals, driving a Dusenberg. All the introductions and formalities were over.
Trevor said, “It took us some time to get up the gall and nerve to ask Phoebe to our engagement. See, all through the church service and Phoebe’s singing, we were overwhelmed with her talent and personality and found out that she was from out of town. I said to Joanne, ‘Here goes.’ Now, Mrs. Forrester, we have no designs whatever on manipulating Phoebe to sing for us. This is purely our admiration that we have for Phoebe. Also my parents and Joanne’s parents will be there. Also my grandfather will be present as he was a founding member. “
“Now, Trevor, so far so good. Something that concerns us is dress. I’m sure your members will be all dressed up in all your finery and jewels. Phoebe does not possess such coming out finery and by no means of the imagination would I allow her to be present and to have an inferior complex.”
“For us members, Mrs. Forster that is a prerequisite. Now for our guests, that is all null and void. No doubt there is a dress code. I do not think any member would invite a guest dressed up in jeans and spiked hair. Phoebe will be one of us, in every respect and form. Now Phoebe won’t be the only guest. There will be others. I think that Mrs. Campbell will have as her guests her daughter and son-in-law. I believe that they are from California. I’m quite sure they will be dressed informal. Before the entertainment, Mr. Pelky will announce all the visiting guests.”
Helen said, “Trevor, this all looks respectable to me. I’m embarrassed to ask you this, but could Phoebe and I have time to discuss this in private and say we get in touch with you after dinner?”
“Okay, Mrs. Forrester. I would call it all off if I thought for one minute that you were uncomfortable.”
Joanne, who never said much during the conversation, said, “Phoebe, would you be kind enough to let us know how you feel about the situation.”
“Well, Joanne, I feel pretty good about the whole setup. I would like you and Trevor to try and overlook Mrs. Forester’s concerns for me. You say, Mrs. Forster has had to give her word that I would be safe in Toronto. To me it was nothing short of a pledge in order that I would sing in the church. I hope that you both will understand. You see, Joanne, my parents are strictly rural and they have heard some weird tales of Toronto. If they had objected, I would not have been here. This is my first time to visit Toronto so there is lots that I could learn.”
Helen felt frustrated and hobbled. “I can see that Phoebe feels self-assured and confident and it is very appreciative of your generosity. How about us all shaking hands and I will leave it up to you three young people to lay your plans and schedules.”
Trevor said, “Mrs. Forester, I think that we understand each other very well. Phoebe, how would it be if Joanne and I picked you up say, about seven-thirty tomorrow evening.”
“That will be fine, Trevor,” said Helen.
It wasn’t long before Helen was on the phone with Isobel Campbell.
“Isobel, I gave consent for our Phoebe to appear at your club tomorrow night. Did I do the right thing?”
“Who is her host?”
“Trevor Hazelton and Joanne Arliss.”
“Helen, you haven’t a worry in the world.”
“Isobel, I’m concerned about her being dressed informal.”
“Helen, that is very normal for guests. I’m taking my daughter and son-in-law and they will be dressed normal.”
Oh geez,” said Helen,” that is great.”
“Would I be hurting your feelings, Helen, if I could squeeze in a song out of her?”
“Isobel, she is a big girl and that would be up to her. I would be careful, Isabel, how you approach her.”
Apparently, they at the club all seemed to know each other. The Campbell table was only a short way from Trevor and Joanne. Isobel felt that she must not delay in making herself known to Phoebe.
Trevor said, “Phoebe, this is Mrs. Campbell, another member of our church.”
“Yes, Phoebe, Mrs. Forester and I are members of the church auxiliary. Phoebe, would you come with me. I would like you to meet my d daughter and son-in-law. Phoebe, this is my daughter, Emily, and her husband, Robert Lyness. Emily, this is the girl that kept our church on edge last Sunday with her solos.”
Isobel said, “Phoebe, would it be possible for us to have the pleasure of hearing you in song here tonight?”
“I do not think that is possible, Mrs. Campbell. You see, I do not sing for private clubs, weddings or for a large donation by a private individual for any purpose. I just like to put my soul and body in song for a worthy purpose.”
“Well, Phoebe, can you think of any worthy cause at this time?”
“I’m sorry but at the present time I can’t, Mrs. Campbell.”
Mrs. Campbell ushered Phoebe back to Trevor and Joanne’s table. Mrs. Campbell was stumped. Crying out loud she thought, why can’t I think of something.
Mrs. Pelkey came out on the platform to announce the guests and their hosts for the night.
“Dr. Jake Zairah has as his guest nurse Inez Wurtz.’
The Doctor said, “Say a word, Inez.”
“I have nursed the aboriginals in the Australian outback for twenty-five years and they are tops.”
Then she sat down. That was large applause.
“Now we have Captain Finlay and his guest, pilot Harold Rogers who was lost in our northern woodlands for three weeks last winter.”
There was a thunderous applause. Captain Finlay gave the pilot the nod. The pilot looked spiffy in his new uniform. The pilot said he was very lucky in finding a hunters’ cabin.
“In cold-weather it was frozen stiff but I was fortunate enough in having my survival gear so it all worked out well.”
Again a thunderous applause.
“Now we have Mrs. Campbell and her guests are her daughter and son-in-law from California.”
There was polite applause.
“Our final guest is hosted by Mr. Trevor Hazelton and his fiancée, Miss Joanne Arliss on the occasion of their engagement. I think that we will see more of the happy couple before the night is over. Anyway, Trevor and Joanne have as their guest Miss Phoebe Croiner who was guest soloist at the Ashcroft United Church on the on occasion of their 175th anniversary.
Phoebe realized that she had to say something.
“This is my first visit to Toronto. I enjoy the church anniversary. I am pleased that I could add a little cream to the coffee. I also excited and thank Trevor and Joanne for the invitation in bringing me here tonight.”
There was a slightly better than polite applause. Mr. Pelkey told everyone to have an enjoyable evening. Mrs. Campbell was stumped as to how in the world could she think of a way or manner to get a song out of Phoebe tonight. Mrs. Campbell took herself off to the office by a side door. She called Helen.
“Helen, would you approve if I can talk Phoebe into rendering us or favouring us with a song? Can you think of any charity that she is interested in?”
“Yes there is and do not be fooled. She is quite conscious of it. Everything for tonight is out of my hands, Isobel. It’s up to her. Take my advice and handle her with gloves. Her charity is that they had a small fire that did a lot of smoke and interior damage to their little church. Isobel, I wish you luck.”
Isobel felt that she had tumbled onto a good cause. She was talking to Mr. Pelkey.
“Well, Isobel, that would all depend on what her song was all about and also what was her motive. If Charity is her motive, Forget it.”
“Could you work her into your program if I could persuade her to sing? You won’t be sorry, Mr. Pelkey.”
“Like I told you, Isobel, rules are rules.”
“I’ll see you later, Mr. Pelkey. Maybe we could put a small bend into them.”
“Isobel, I will try and work her in if the rules are followed.”
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