“We both know you’re as good a singer as I am,” Mikey says. “I mean, I have better pitch, and I can hear things better, but you’re a natural when it comes to sight reading, and we both know you have the better voice.”
Luke doesn’t know about all that. He’s always thought Mikey’s tenor is just about the prettiest thing he’s ever heard. There’s a purity to it Luke hasn’t heard from any other male singer he’s ever encountered. It’s just this side of being high enough to be a falsetto, and it’s still undeniably masculine. It makes a shiver run down his spine every time he hears it.
They’re in one of the practice rooms, so they don’t have to worry about anyone else looking at them. Miss Brenda has been nothing but encouraging of Luke, but even that’s not enough to make him fully get over his self-consciousness.
With Mikey’s confident words in his ears, he starts to sing. He’s decided to sing “Amanda,” by Don Williams. It’s always been one of his favorite country songs, and not just because he’s spent many hours listening to it with Aunt Patty. Williams’ voice is just so rich and resonant and deep…it always stirs something inside of Luke.
As soon as the words start out of his mouth, he’s right where he needs to be. He’s proud of his voice–it’s a good one, a rich, deep baritone/bass–and he feels it through his whole body. When he sings, he’s in touch with something bigger than himself.
He goes into a sort of trance while he sings, just losing himself in the feel of it all, and when he finishes he sees Mikey smiling even wider than usual.
“You. Are. Brilliant,” he says, and even though Luke doesn’t always believe compliments, he finds himself believing Mikey.
He smiles.
“I hope I’ll be ready for the concert when it comes,” he says. “It’s not far away.”
Every summer NACA puts on an end-of-the-summer concert in which the various music students show off their talents. It’s a chance for the various musicians to get their performance chops and to get used to singing in front of crowds. And, as everyone knows, a talent scout or two usually shows up.
Mikey looks around to make sure no one is around, and then he leans in to kiss him. When he pulls back, he gives him a wink.
“Don’t worry, Luke. I think we’re both gonna knock it out of the park.”
With such confidence, how can either of them fail?
The days,and then the weeks, speed by. The tension between Luke and Mikey doesn’t entirely go away–they still have to be very careful they don’t get seen, and they still spend most of their time out on the backroads of Marshall County rather than at each other’s houses–but for the most part it’s in the background. Luke tries to be happy and tries to live in the moment, but sometimes it’s hard.
As the time for the concert approaches, summer starts winding down. The air fills with the sonorous wail of the cicadas and the rhythms of the katydids, and every so often the stray sound of honking as a few flocks of geese start heading south early. It’s a warm August, too, and many of the nearby farms manage to get a second load of hay in.
If it weren’t for the fact Luke was doing NACA, he probably would’ve been enlisted to help but, as it is, his aunt insists–and convinces his parents to agree–his time is better spent in practicing and making sure he’s ready for the concert.
And, at last, it’s the night, and Luke finds he’s not nearly as nervous as he thought he might be. He’s wearing a nice black dress shirt and a pair of dark jeans, along with his good boots. It’s the perfect outfit for the kind of show he plans to put on for the audience.
He spends the hour before he’s set to go up on stage making sure his guitar’s in tune and the strings don’t need replacing; everything is ready. He knows there’s a lot riding on tonight, and he’s not going to screw it up.
He’s decided to sing a mix of both classic and newer country for his act. Along with Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line” and Don Williams’ “Amanda,” he also has Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” Josh Turner’s “Long Back Train,” and Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen.”
They call Luke’s name, and it’s showtime.
Let’s do this.
Luke steps out on the stage, and as the spotlight hits him the nerves hit. The next minute, however, a sense of peace settles over him. He knows, no matter what happens tonight–whether he manages to hit every single note just right or whether he sings off-key, whether he remembers every lyric or whether he stumbles– he’s still right where he’s supposed to be. The stage, in front of these people…it’s home.
He looks out at the audience, his eyes desperately seeking for his parents. His mom is there, of course, because she would never miss her baby’s first concert. He’d hoped his brothers and his father would show up, but they’re not there.
It’s okay, Luke,he reminds himself.You can do this, with or without them.
His eyes land on Aunt Patty. She’s dressed to the nines tonight–she’s even wearing her good earrings, the ones with real pearls in them–and as their eyes meet she flashes him a smile.
For a second he turns his attention back to his guitar, doing one more check to make sure everything’s okay. Then, he looks over to where Mikey is waiting just off-stage, and they share a smile. The doubts and questions are still there, of course, but they’re a muted hum in the back of his mind. He’s not going to let them get in the way of his success tonight, just like he’s not going to let them get in the way of whatever lies in store for himself and Mikey. Whatever comes once NACA’s over, they’ll figure it out. Somehow.
Luke steps up to the mic.
“Hey, y’all,” he says, putting on just a bit of a twang. “I’m glad yinz are here tonight. We’ve got a very special show. My name’s Luke Carter, and I’m gonna be playin’ some country greats. I hope you enjoy them.”
He opens his mouth to start singing “I Walk the Line,” and as soon as he strums out those first few notes the crowd goes wild, and when he actually starts to sing the yells get even louder. And when he hits those low notes…well, it’s clear everyone’s having a good time.
Damn do I love this,he thinks.And I love Mikey Smiles.
