Chapter 10
Gage knew it would take time to get used to starting his day at the high school at eight in the morning, although he did not have a class until later in the afternoon. But as a faculty member, and now an acting department head, he was required to clock in and out. He had emailed everyone involved in the school’s concerts about a meeting, and fortunately they indicated they were all free to meet for lunch. He had visited the faculty lunchroom and ordered a salad plate and water, then returned to his office before the others arrived. Minutes after noon the art, drama, and choral teachers strolled in, carrying trays. Only the director of the marching band was missing. He’d emailed Gage earlier indicating he had a family emergency and would not make the meeting.
Gage pulled out a chair for the drama teacher, who smiled at him over her shoulder. He waited for the two men to sit before taking his seat at the round table. “Thank you for coming. Even though I never would’ve imagined I’d be sitting here taking over for Louis, I hope with your help, the transition will be a smooth one.”
Karla Holcomb pressed a tissue to her nose. “I still can’t imagine someone running him over and then leaving him bleeding in the street.”
Gage met the drama teacher’s tear-filled light-blue eyes. “I spoke to his wife earlier this morning, and she said he’s still in ICU, but she predicts he will be moved into a private room by the weekend. She’ll let me know when he’s ready to receive visitors.”
Karla sniffled loudly. “That’s encouraging.”
Bobby Mays rested a hand on Karla’s back in an attempt to comfort her. “My brother-in-law who’s a cop told me they have the license plate number and a pretty good description of the vehicle they were able to pull off a couple of traffic cameras.”
Gage nodded with the art teacher’s disclosure. “It shouldn’t take the police long before they identify the driver.” Then he changed the subject. I called this meeting because I need your feedback on some ideas I have about the spring concert.”
“Like what, Toussaint?” asked the choral instructor.
He gave Cleveland Brown a direct stare. The students in the mixed chorus said Mr. CB was cool with them because he liked rap and hip-hop. “I was playing around with the idea of putting on a production chronicling the journey of music from human chants, drumming, classical, blues and jazz, R and B and to today’s hip-hop, rap, electronic techno, and electro-funk. Not only would it cover different musical genres, but also dances from countries around the world.”
Cleveland was grinning from ear to ear. “I like it!”
“Me, too,” Karla agreed. “But how will the musical theater students be involved?”
Gage exhaled a breath of relief. It was apparent they were warming to his idea. “Several of them will be narrators, while others will have to be taught various dances to accompany the music genres.”
Karla nodded, smiling. “That’s not a problem. Is there money in the budget to rent costumes?”
“I’ll check with the school’s business manager,” Gage said. “Once we decide which time periods we want to highlight, then we’ll have to come up with a figure for costumes and other incidentals.” He wanted to remind the drama teacher that the school charged admission to offset the cost of putting on the production, but decided it wasn’t the time to bring it up.
“What about set decorations, Toussaint?” Bobby questioned.
“I don’t believe we have enough time before we go into rehearsal for the art students to build all the sets, so I thought maybe you could create computer generated images and project them onto a blue screen like—”
“Yes!” Bobby shouted, startling everyone at the table with his effusive outburst. “I know a few students who are into graphics. They can design images of whatever you want.”
Gage laughed loudly. “We’ll start with an African landscape and the a capella group singing Swahili. There will be no drums, just voices. Can you work with your chorus to accomplish this, Mr. Brown?”
Cleveland ran a hand over his neatly braided shoulder-length hair, his dark eyes filled with laughter in an equally dark face. “My students can give you whatever you want. Give me a list of the songs you want them to perform and they’ll bring it.”
“Bragging, CB?” Karla teased.
Cleveland winked at the attractive blond teacher with a fashionable chin-length bob. “Of course. You should know by now my kids are the best in the city.”
A flush suffused Karla’s fair complexion, and Gage wondered if something was going on between the two. Even though the principal frowned on his teachers forming personal relationships, there was little he could do to prevent it.
“Before you start crowing, CB, let me remind you that the orchestra and jazz band can also bring it when need be,” Gage countered.
“Damn, Toussaint. Why are you trying to throw shade?” Bobby asked. “Because I happen to have the most talent of all of you.”
Karla shook her head. “Why is it men always have to resort to a pissing contest to see who can pee the farthest?”
The three men exchanged sheepish looks. “On that note,” Gage said, “we’ll conclude this meeting and get together next week, same time and same place, to go over what I’ve come up with. If any of you have any ideas, please put them in my mailbox or email us in advance.”
Bobby stroked the full sandy beard that matched his long ponytail. “I must give you credit, Toussaint. You’ve come up with something completely different from the Broadway productions we’ve been putting on in the past.”
“I agree,” said Cleveland. “Maybe one of these days we’ll put on a performance ofHamiltonfor those who will never get to the Broadway show.”
“Hamilton,Cats,Phantom of the Opera,andThe Lion Kingare my personal favorites,” Karla said.
