I am a busy busy boy! But I guess that's what college should be about. Having a great time learning about all the things I missed out in high school. Have I mentioned yet how much I love all the input you guys give me? I just resolved some issues that have been sapping time, so I will definitely try to get these chapters out faster. Happy Halloween!
Sublimation- Chapter 8
Andy's hand wrapped around the thick knob. He grasped it and felt its unusual contours.
"Come on Andy. You can do it" Seth encouraged.
He nodded and grunted in exertion as the head went into the slot.
"That's it. you got it"
He felt the uncomfortable resistance of the strange position, but responded with equal pressure.
"Yeah. all right!" Seth was very excited now.
He tensed for a moment until finally he felt a pop. The rest was easy. Seth sighed with contentment.
"Thanks so much for unscrewing that light bulb for me. I never could reach the stupid thing even with a ladder," Seth told Andy as he climbed down.
"You're never going to be able to totally take care of this place by yourself you know" Andy informed him.
"I know, but I plan on the assistance of friends of high standing" Seth replied.
"Oh haha, very funny- you know how old those jokes get?"
"Then you should learn some better comebacks"
"True" Andy considered.
The two friends climbed down the ladder stairs from the loft to the main room of Seth's cabin home. Andy had continued to have difficulty believing that Seth really did own his own place. He did realize though after seeing the cabin that Seth could barely afford to keep it. There was running water, a septic tank, and minimal electricity for lighting and heating in desperately cold weather. Seth didn't seem to mind, and somehow he kept it in good condition. He'd decorated the place with the few materials he had, and was content with it. He'd told Andy that he didn't worry about it too much- he needed to spend as much time as he could out in the world. It was just a place to sleep. Andy admired Seth's dedication to being financially independent, but he discerned that underneath the frugal exterior, Seth hated the Spartan lifestyle.
Seth glanced down at his watch. "Quarter to 8. We should probably head for the concert." Andy realized with a smile that somehow Seth had managed to distract him ever since school got out, completely displacing his worries about performing that night. "Urghhh" he thought to himself. "How does he do that?"
The boys grabbed what they needed, headed out the door and down the street towards the school. They bantered back and forth as they went, enjoying the cool air of autumn and the spray of moonlight that God blew from above. Both of them cherished the way they could just relax around each other, something that seemed so wonderfully new and relieving. Yin loved Yang, and Yang loved Yin, even if he wouldn't admit it.
They arrived at the school gymnasium and met up with the rest of the choir. Megan remarked after the class donned their gowns that they all looked like angels, and the class was inclined to agree. The school colors were yellow and blue, and they had selected robes of a deep royal blue accented by a v-neck of shimmering gold. Around their necks each member wore a gold chain and a beautiful if simple pendant of an animal. The animals were their totems, as Megan had led them to discover, and represented their life and their approaches to it. Andy's was a proud lion; Seth's was a mysterious raven.
Megan gathered the group together in a small circle and smiled.
"Bruthas and sistas!" she spoke as a southern preacher, "do you feel the spirit?"
"We feel the spirit!" the choir replied.
"Do ya feel the love?!"
"We feel the love!"
"Do ya feel the power?!"
"We feel the power!"
Megan laughed with joy. "Let's do it" ***
The gymnasium darkened and the crowd went quiet almost immediately. There was a great number of people present that night; the choir was much more popular than Andy or any of his friends had realized. The anticipation of what new delights Megan and the class had prepared for this season was sufficient enough to command the silence. Nick smiled from within the seats- he could tell it would be a wonderful night.
From the various doorways that led into the great room, the choir slowly entered, holding candles within their hands. As they walked with their lights they chanted in beautiful and varied voices the ancient and powerful hymn of the Kyrie Eleison. They converged into a spiral formation, circling the center as their chanting grew stronger. It was if they were casting a great spell upon the audience. At last they arrived in the center, walking up small spiral staircases to the stands. As they did, their chanting expanded into longer and longer held notes, until at last there was one great emanation that penetrated all. The harmony only subsided as the band, which had slipped in unnoticed in the cloak of darkness, began to play an accompaniment.
Andy's deep baritone echoed as he sang the first verses of the song.
"The wind blows hard against this mountainside Across the sea into my soul It reaches in to where I cannot hide Setting my feet upon the road"
Seth's voice followed as the band increased the rhythm.
"My heart is old, it holds my memories My body burns a gemlike flame Somewhere between the soul and soft machine Is where I find myself again"
The audience smiled in amusement as they finally remembered the song. The choir joined all together and resounded in the chorus.
"Kyrie Eleison, down the road that I must travel Kyrie Eleison, through the darkness of the night Kyrie Eleison, where I'm going will you follow? Kyrie Eleison, on a highway in the light"
The high school choir was not famous only for their voices. It was famous because it was a group of people who truly believed in the power of music of all forms. Megan could reach across all of history all pull forth inspiration of all ages to bring to light. The young men and women of the choir were talented, passionate, and fully alive. And it was the nurturing of that unique spark within all of them that made them renowned as masters of music, and masters of spirit.
The rest of the night was a cornucopia of delightful sounds. Solos and harmonies, loud and soft, soprano and alto and tenor and bass- music of every era, genre and emotion told once more a piece of the great story that filled the heart of every man and woman- the story of humanity.
Halfway through the concert, Nick found himself leaking tears to his surprise. He couldn't rationalize it in any way. It was only a group of sine waves bouncing off his eardrum. So many of the sounds had no bearing on animal instincts. There was no explanation for why a wondrous shuddering moved out from his solar plexus and filled his arms, legs and face. The human experience was rarely a logical thing. But it was a powerful force, and as Nick's psychic reception soaked up all the emotion of the music, he could do nothing but swear to himself that never again would he feel ashamed of his abilities. ***
"Andy, Andy. What a gift you have"
It was far from the first time he had heard the compliment that night, but now it came from a source much closer to home. Andy's face glowed with happiness as he embraced his grandmother.
"Who would have thought, huh Gram?"
A pair of sopranos looked on at Andy from the corner. One "awwwed" at the good of the situation, another giggled at how despite it, 7 foot tall Andy couldn't help but look somewhat silly embracing his 4-foot grandmother.
The gentle lion then looked up as his raven friend came to greet them.
"Wow. You were great Andy"
"You were pretty spectacular yourself"
Seth blushed slightly. Rachel extended her hand out to him.
"You must be Seth. How nice to finally meet you. You have quite a reputation young man"
"Me? Nah. I just be myself. It seems to be a foreign concept in this country"
Rachel nodded. "Well, I guess you guys will be going out to celebrate then"
"Oh we will?" Andy replied, happy his grandmother approved.
"Well you certainly deserve it. You must have worked very hard to get those beautiful melodies to come out so perfectly"
The two smiled and laughed with pride.
"When should I expect you back then Andy? The wee hours, or tomorrow afternoon?"
Surprised at her liberal gesture, Andy looked over to Seth. His eyes spoke of mysteries yet to be uncovered, and hours yet to be cherished for life. Andy could not say he knew what would come next on this strange journey he was on, but he trusted Seth to lead him along the path.
"I'll be back tomorrow afternoon Gram. We have a lot we need to celebrate."