Notice: This is a fictional story of friendship, commitment, love and trust. It is not a sex story. However, this story deals with love between male teenagers. If you are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, why are you at this website. There may be some sex scenes in this story; however, sex is not the main theme. If you are under age 18 or 21 or it is illegal to read this story where you live, don't read it. Reproducing this story for distribution without the owner's permission is a violation of that copyright. Author's Note: Hey Peeps! No special effects sorry. This is the next to last chapter. Sam Lakes Sam (sam_lakes@hotmail.com) |
Rock OperaScene 1 Jonathan Petri I peeked out through the curtains. It was standing room only. I've taught here at Worthington High for the last ten years and never has there been anything near a crowd this big and this is the last performance of five. It's been a total sell out for each of the previous performances. Of course it helped that one of the more popular radio station morning show's hosts attended a dress rehearsal and fell in love with the show and the two main performers - sixteen year old Matthew Eastman and sixteen year old Lucas Baxter. Evan Maxwell, my lover, and his co-host Jessica Bertram at my invitation came to the Saturday morning dress rehearsal of 'Rock Opera'. Now Evan decided to bring his friends from the local Fox, NBC, ABC and CBS affiliates and they of course brought their cameramen. "How's it look, Mr. Petri?" asked Luc. "Sold Out!" "Yes!" exclaimed Luc as he closed his fist in the typical 'yes' gesture that kids do these days. "FIVE MINUTES, guys," I say. Luc does a little dance over to Matt Eastman. As he's talking to Matt he continues his little dance shaking his butt in a cute manner. He giggles. Matt's grinning and starts tapping the snare drum in sync with Luc's wiggle. "Shake it, Baby! Shake it!" shouts Joey Benson. Luc exaggerates his butt wiggle. "Sexeeeeee!" say Melissa. Luc wiggles his eyebrows and laughs. "Okay guys, Places!" I say. Luc learns over to Matt and gives him a peck on the cheek. The cast says "Awwwww!" The audience can hear but can't see. Now the stage is set where the orchestra is at the back except for Matt and his drums which is center stage right in front of the conductor. Lights are brought down the stage is dark. The curtain rises and the opening scene when the lights come up is a spot on Luc who is in pajamas sitting on a bed in front but to the right of Matt's drums. Luc has a book. The orchestra starts. Matt's tapping a beat on the side of a drum. The two of them begin to sing: < get the full effect play 'Hero' - Phil Collins while you read the lyrics> Well it was one of those great stories And the reason that she loved him "You're my hero Luc," Matt says. Shadows and shape mixed together at dawn And the reason that she loved him And we wonder, yes we wonder Well it was one of those great stories Luc gets under the bedcovers, puts the book on the night stand, turns out the bed lamp snuggles his pillow. The lights come down. The audience applauds. The lights come up and you see a bunch of teens fighting and yelling. Calling each other names like Nigger, faggot, Kike, jew, pepper belly. You see an old man knocked over and a beggar begging, a scientist pouring chemicals down a drain and another bunch of teens off to the side of them ignoring it all like it wasn't happening. Behind them are picture of oil spills, starving children, riots and fighting were being flashed. Anthony walks on stage and screams, "STOP! STOP! STOP THE HATE! IT'S KILLING US!" The actors on stage freeze The spotlights fade except for a spotlight on Anthony. Matt takes his position at the grand piano. He begins to play as the violins play, Anthony begins to sing: In my dream children sing a song of love for every boy and girl Chorus joins in singing whys <Anthony sings to the audience his voice is so awesome> Tell me why does it have to be like this <his actions movements are compelling. The audience is hooked and mesmerized>. Everyday I ask myself what will I have to do to be a man Tell me why does it have to be like this Chorus : Why Why Why <Anthony moves the the otherside of the stage to address the audience on that side> Chorus: Chorus: why why do stand and stare Chorus: why why do the dolphins cry Anthony: Tell me why Chorus: why why do does it never end
Anthony runs off stage. The audience is stunned. A few people caught up in the emotion are crying. There is hardly a dry eye in the audience. Moments go by then the applause starts and continues. Anthony runs out center stage take a bow to a now standing ovation. He turns to Matt and beckons him over. Matt gives him a brief hug. Matt and Anthony beckon the chorus to come forward and take a bow. Matt tells the orchestra to rise and take a bow. Lights come down the stage is dark. People are still applauding. Eventually there is relative silence. You hear Matt say, "Ready." "For what?" giggles Luc. "The next song, silly," answers Matt. "You know Anthony got such an applause I thought the show was over," laughs Luc. You hear a crash of some things. "Hey! Can I have some light?" yells Luc. Orchestra starts playing and lights slowly come up and we see Luc in dressed royal blue silk suit with a white silk shirt (he's so hot looking) lying down with over turned chairs and stuff. < get the full effect play Through My Eyes - Phil Collins while you read the lyrics and this part of the story> It's never where you think you'll find it You could look everywhere Matt starts playing his drums and they both harmonize. They are so good together. You'll see things different when you look thru my eyes Luc jumps off stage down to the audience You may need help to find your way home Brad Summers is behind Luc as sings and moves to the rhythm. It's sort of funny to see big Brad dancing as he follows Luc. The road you take is full of hope or sadness People are reaching out to touch him he touches their hands and their hearts as he sings. Other members of the football team fall in behind Brad and Luc. But you're not alone in there The team is getting members of the audience to get in the line as Luc weaves their way through the auditorium. You'll see things different when you look thru my eyes The line is getting really long. People are joining in and having fun. No one warns you of the heartache Though no one tells you how Suddenly it's clear, what you seek is near Brad and Gibson Gordon pick Luc up and put him back on stage, does a little Luc shake butt dance over to Matt. Brad and Gibson continue to weave their way around the auditorium. Luc and Matt harmonize Its never where you think you'll find it The song ends and the audience go crazy. Luc bows. Matt comes out from behind his drums and bows. This is not per the script. They both bow. Oh, God! What is he going to do now? I am literally dying here standing in the wings watching Luc as he grabs Matt's hand moves center stage and squats down Indian style pulling Matt down with him. Madison Ayres, the conductor looks at me. I make a gesture like I have no idea as to what's happing and I don't. Crazy Luc Baxter was at the helm no telling where we'd end up. "Cool, look there are people! Was that fun or what!" said Luc in a giggly voice. "Whew! Fantastic, Luc. Now I know why you're so skinny, little bud," laughs Gibson, "You shake off any fat." Gibson gives looks totally worn and exhausted. Luc laughs. "Yeah, thanks to the best football team in the state! You guys are the best! YEAH! Guys stand up. Give them a hand." The audience applaudes. "Hi! EVERYBODY!" shouts Luc. "HI LUC!" the audience shouts back. "Luc and I decided we'd change from what we've done in the prior performances." "Yeah, Mr. Petri is back there 'going oh my god! What are crazy Luc and Matt going to do?'. Hehe, hehe," giggled Luc. "Well, we've had a great week," said Matt to the audience. "The best!" exclaimed Luc, "TV interviews, packed houses. AWESOME! AWESOME audiences!" "We thought we'd throw in something extra tonight, spend a little time getting to know you and letting you get to know us," said Matt. "Not us two but US!" Luc made a gesture to include all the people on the stage. "It takes a lot of people to put on a show like this. A lot of people have put in a lot of time and effort to make us look good, sound good for you and we wanted for you to meet them. Each person is awesome in their own right," said Matt to the audience. "Guys as we call your name come sit down beside us one on this side the next on that side and so on," Luc told the others behind him. They proceeded to call each person in the orchestra, each stage hand and so on until they had the whole cast and crew. I felt a little disappointed that neither I nor Sandra Ellis the drama teacher who had worked as many hours as I had on this production. Then they asked for questions from the audience and spent a good ten minutes letting the cast and crew answered most of the questions. Finally, Luc and Matt stood up and the rest followed suit. I hadn't noticed but Alicia Morris and Joey Benson the two students who worked as producer and director for the production had slipped off stage while everyone seemed to be moving back to their places. Matt walked off stage. "Okay there is one final thing before we continue with the show. They say that finding a good teacher these days is a matter of luck and finding a teacher who involves himself or herself with the students, who goes way beyond the call of duty is nearly an impossibility. If that is the case which I seriously doubt then we are the luckiest students in the universe." Joey Benson walked out on stage carrying a bouquet of flowers and a plaque. "Joey, you have the stage." Luc walked off stage. Joey made a fantastic presentation to Sandra Ellis. It brought tears to my eyes. The house lights were brought down. The stage lights were brought down. A single spot was on Matt. He had changed to a light blue suit. He held a single rose. "There is one teacher who I am honored to call a best friend, a mentor and the best music teacher I have ever had. If it weren't for him I would not be here today. Mr. Petri, I am not the only student who feels like this way. I have here a single rose. You can ask Luc, Joey and Eddie and they will tell you that it took me an hour to pick out this rose. It had to be perfect." Matt held out the rose. I walked on stage and accepted the rose. The orchestra started playing. I started to leave but Matt grabbed my hand, saying softly, "Stay" Matt smiled, "This is for you." Luc was on the drums. Matt began to sing: Somehow you reach in and you touch our hearts Eyes wide open, looking at you The music played. Matt and the whole crew sang: Somehow when you smile our day seems brighter He pulls me out to center stage And in our darkest hour, you'll hold out your hand for us It was really hard not to start bawling I could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks as they continued to sing Someday we will find everything we look for Evan my lover comes up and places his hands on my shoulder When you smile at us we will feel the things we could be Eyes wide open, looking at me Somehow you reach in and you touch our hearts Matt hugged me and the lights came down. "I love you," whispered Matt. Then I felt a gentle kiss on my cheek. Evan moves me back to the wing and the show continued. |