Phoebe was so overwhelmed at the law and order of the place, the waiters and their well fitting uniforms and the waitresses that were so neat and tidy in their black and white uniforms with white lace collars. Edmond Hazelton put something into a waiter’s hand and told him to send it to the manager from the patrons at table fifteen who wanted him.
The waiter seemed flustered. “Sir, I hope that things are okay at this table.”
Edmond said, “Everything is fine at our table.”
Down came the manager and said, “What can I do for you Mr. Hazelton?”
Edmond said, ”We hardly know how to go about this. We have a fine young lady as our guest from out of town. Father and mother would love to hear her sing for them as would us all. Now the problem is the music. Have you piano?”
“Yes, we have but I doubt if we have a good pianist to play it.”
Everybody seemed stumped. The manager stood thinking.
“Listen, I see Mrs. Thomas Conley over at table twenty-nine. She is a well-known pianist around here. I’m sure she would oblige. What do you say?”
Nobody had much to say. Lori Arliss said, “I know Eileen Conway fairly well. They run Conway Textiles out west of Dupont. You tell her that Steven and Lori Arliss are with the party. Be sure to tell her that none of this was planned. It is all impromptu.”
The manager went over to table twenty-nine and explained the situation to Eileen Conway. He told her that Steven and Lori Arliss were part of the company. Mrs. Conway said that she would after she had a talk with them. The manager told her to come over to their table at her convenience. After a little while, Eileen Conway came over to the table. Steven and Lori Arliss stood up and shook Eileen’s hand and said, “Long time no see. How have you and Albert been keeping?”
“Fine, Lori.”
“Now Eileen, you know the Hazletons.”
“Well, Lori, I know all of them.”
“Eileen, this is Mr. and Mrs. Hazelton Senior and this is Edmond Junior and his wife Deirdre. This is my daughter Joanne. She and Trevor Hazelton are engaged to get married in June.”
Eileen said, “Well congratulations to you both.”
“Now Eileen, this is Ms. Phoebe Croiner from down east and the village of Dunadry. She is the guest of Trevor and Joanne.”
Edmond Hazelton got up out of his chair and told Mrs. Conway to have a seat. Edmond went over to a vacant table and got himself another chair. Mrs. Conway asked Phoebe what kind of songs she had in mind. Phoebe concentrated for a few seconds.
“Well, that is up to Mr. Hazelton Senior. What would he like? ‘When You and I Were Young, Maggie’ or ‘Mother McCree’. I was thinking, Mrs. Conway, by the end of the song that we put a little zip into it, say Harry Lauder’s ‘I Love a Lassie’, ‘When I Get Drunk on a Saturday Night’ or ‘Lanigan’s Ball’. This is only a suggestion. It is all up to Mr. Hazelton.”
Mrs. Conway said, off-the-cuff, “Phoebe, are you the girl that sang at the Ashcroft church?”
“Mrs. Conway, you could be confusing me with someone else but I did sing at the Ashcroft church only for one Sunday.”
“Different people have been telling me about you Phoebe.”
Phoebe said, “Now, has Mr. Hazelton made up his mind yet?”
Mr. Hazelton said, “It all looks good to us, Phoebe. It’s entirely up to you and Mrs. Conway.”
Mr. Steven Arliss sheepishly said, “Boy, Phoebe, what would I give to see you give us a brief step dance.”
“That it is possible, Mr. Arliss. Now, Mrs. Conway, the rest is up to you.”
“Well, Phoebe, I think that I’m familiar with the songs that you suggested. Get them to me in the order that you are going to sing them. And by the way, Phoebe, if you’re going to give them a step dance, I can tingaling along with you there as well.”
The manager was brought back and given instructions. A lot of the patrons are taking notice of the goings on at the Hazelton table.
The manager said, “Now you ladies follow me.” They followed him around to the side entrance to the platform. ”Ladies and gentlemen, this young lady is a guest of Trevor Hazelton and Joanne Arliss. She wishes to stay anonymous. She has volunteered to sing a song for Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Hazelton Senior. She is visiting Toronto and Mrs. Eileen Conway has volunteered to supply the music.”
The manager told the patrons that this was all impromptu, not been planned or rehearsed.
Mrs. Conway made her way over to the piano. Mr. Archer followed her to see that the seat was okay. He lifted the cover of the piano for her. Mrs. Conway took her seat and sounded a few notes for practice. Phoebe in the meantime was sometimes facing the audience, sometimes turning to face Mrs. Conway. She looked like a film star. Her movements so smooth, for dexterity it was so appealing.
Finally, Mrs. Conway looked around and gave Phoebe the nod. Mrs. Conway struck the chord and Phoebe was off like a girl in a trance. Her voice was, as they say, only one-of-a-kind. As she sang you could see at the tables heads getting together most likely whispering in amazement. When she finished In the ‘Long Long Ago’, as planned, Mrs. Conway lost no time in switching to ‘Mother Macree’. In the meantime there were those who wanted to clap hands. There Phoebe was again, up in the clouds. There was Mr. and Mrs. Hazleton inadvertently holding hands, smiling as they did on their first date.
The audience didn’t have a chance to clap their hands as Mrs. Conway switched to ‘I Love a Lassie’. Then all heck broke loose. Feet were tapping the floor and the audience all joined in on a lower key. When Phoebe and Mrs. Conway were finished, Mrs. Conway came over to Phoebe and both gave the audience a graceful bow. There were shouts for more. The audience kept up the ovation. Finally, Mrs. Conway made her way back to the piano. She brought Phoebe back with her and gave her a sample of what to expect.
Phoebe, with a low laugh, said, “I Think we can hit it off.”
Mrs. Conway, in a jubilant mood, said, “Here we go, honey. Give it to them with both feet.”
Mrs. Conway played the notes fairly sharp and clear and boy did that girl give the audience something that they have never seen before. She was stepping in and over like a heron on the hot griddle. Phoebe finally gave a couple of long leaps and stood of laughing her head off. By now Mrs. Conway was by her side with her arms around Phoebe. Both had their hands clasped, holding them high in the air and laughing themselves to tears.
The audience gave them a standing ovation. Mrs. Conway and Phoebe made it to the Hazelton table. Edmund Hazelton offered Mrs. Conway a seat.
“No, no, I will have to get over to Albert.”
The whole party was congratulating Mrs. Conway, including Phoebe. Mrs. Conway was about to leave when she partly bent over the table and said. “You better believe it! That girl has what it takes.”
She bade come them goodbye and was off.
Edmond said, “I had better get father and mother home. It looks like it’s past their bedtime.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hazelton shook Phoebe’s hand and said that it was the best evening out that they could remember.” Mr. Hazelton told Phoebe in a tired voice, “You beautiful girl. I will be in touch with you at a later date.”
Mrs. Forester was not worried but she was wishing that they would show up. After the senior Hazeltons left, Stephen Arliss ordered a last drink for the party. In the meantime, as the others left, there were some that came over and shook Phoebe’s hand.
Trevor said, “Maybe we had better make tracks and get Phoebe home.”
After they were about to depart, Lori Arliss called Phoebe to one side and whispered into her ear, “Do you think you will come up to the wedding and sing?”
Phoebe turned to Mrs. Arliss and whispered in her ear, “That is possible if I’m asked.”
Steven Arlen said, “Break it up you two conspirators.”
When Trevor reached Mrs. Forster’s place he said, “I’m taking you to the door, Phoebe, to explain about our late hours.”
Mrs. Forster’s home was all lighted up. Trevor opened the car door for Phoebe.
“Phoebe said, “Joanne why don’t you come along as well Joanne. We can stay for a little anyway.”
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