Time: Friday May 8, Evening
Place: The Fiendish Glow
Follows: Light Cousins Take on a Fiendish Glow
During: Glowing Perspectives
All real people used with permission:
Celtic
Glow Worms: Brenda, Pen;
Dark
Perks: Eric;
Nick-and-NatPackers:
Marci, Cheryl, Jeanine;
Independent:
Randora;
Knighties:
NancyT;
Light
Cousins: Freeschia
Nick's name used with permission of Katrinka. (Thank you, Katrinka!)
Johanna Shea is the Welsh museum curator in the second-season Forever Knight episode, "Queen of Harps"
Brenda, one of the managers of The Fiendish Glow, inspected the hodgepodge group of miscreants, shook her head in disgust, and raised her voice full volume to call, "Pen! Get out here now!"
In response, a slender woman with a piquant face peered out of her office, saw the motley musicians, and hurried out to join them.
"Who-what-are these people?" Pen demanded.
In front of Brenda stood an odd assemblage of people from various factions and instruments not commonly seen together. Eric, from the DP, had a bright shinny harmonica. Representing the N&Ners, Marci brandished a wooden recorder, Cheryl wielded a tarnished flute, and Jeanine held a bright yellow rubber duck in her hand. Randora, known as an Independent, had a battered clarinet tucked under her elbow. NancyT from the Knighties had a keyboard propped up on a rickety wooden stand. Freeschia, a Light Cousin, dangled a set of Indian tom-toms from her hand.
Eric announced proudly, "We are the McCann's Ragamuffins."
Brenda turned to yell at Pen but she was already shaking her head in denial. "I didn't negotiate for you. I was expecting a harpist."
NancyT drew everyone's eyes as she cleared her throat and said, "Johanna Shea from the museum of the Giant's Hand."
Pen looked at her in surprise. "That's right."
"She is coming to North America to raise money for the archeological digs her museum wants to sponsor. She is going to go to different cultural centers, play the Swan Harp, and appeal to various groups for support." NancyT shifted her feet uneasily. "While she is an expert harpist, I understand she is a bit nervous playing her harp before audiences on this side of the ocean. To help her out, Nick arranged through one of the booking agencies you work with for her to play here tonight. She was to simply play without being distracted with the fund raising."
Eric continued, "There was a problem with her flight out of England."
"Wales." NancyT corrected him.
"Whatever. Since there was some doubt she'll be here, Nick asked the McCann's Ragamuffins to fill in for her."
Brenda exclaimed, "You call yourself a group?"
Cheryl fingered her flute "We're not THAT bad."
Marci glanced at NancyT. "Yeah, some of us actually know how to play our instruments."
And Jeanine squeaked the duck.
This did not bode well. Brenda looked beyond them to the crowd that was starting to demand some entertainment. She sighed.
Brenda asked tentatively, "Maybe they play better than they look?
"One can only hope! Okay, go ahead." Pen motioned for them to take the musician's stage with reluctance.
Freeschia said cheerfully. "We won't let you down."
Randora cocked her head. "We'll have them eating out of the palms of our hands."
Eric grinned broadly. "We are going to be a big hit."
Marci groaned. "You know it!"
The crowd quieted as the group of self-styled musicians bumped and bumbled onto the stage. Marci, getting frustrated, took charge. She placed Eric to the right side and told him to stay there. He blew his harmonica at her. Next she pulled NancyT and her keyboard set up to the left side. When the wobbly wooden stand threatened to give way, she had Freeschia sit Indian style on the floor and prop up the loose support with her foot. Freeschia settled the tom-toms happily in her lap. Then Marci pulled Eric back to where she had placed him before, using THE LOOK on him to get him to stay there. He smiled and blew his harmonica at her. She tugged Cheryl into the center, barely missed getting *whapped* by the flute as Cheryl whipped it up to her mouth. Marci looked around and took Eric back to his place. He blew his harmonica at her and grinned. Marci placed Randora by NancyT, gently removed the bottom part of the clarinet from her mouth, turned it right side up, and placed Randora's fingers on the keys. "You put the REED in your mouth, Randora." Randora nodded emphatically, understanding. Marci impatiently pulled Eric back into his position.
And Jeanine squeaked the duck.
Marci sighed and had Jeanine sit ON Eric's feet to keep him there. He blew his harmonica at her. And grinned.
Marci took the center and tapped her foot to set the tempo. "And a one and a two." She barely missed being *whapped* again by Cheryl's flute as Cheryl whirled to the side.
The music that emanated from the group was horrible. Ear-splitting. Stomach-churning. Scream-inducing. A definitely inharmonious harmonica clashed with the syncopated beats of the tom-tom; the tarnished flute produced shrill off key tones. The clarinet squealed and squeaked. The keyboard and recorder produced recognizable sounds, but they couldn't be heard for the cacophony of tortured notes.
And Jeanine squeaked the duck.
The boos and hisses grew in waves. The people at the tables nearest the musicians evacuated immediately. Angela ran around, serving free drinks, vowing to charge them all to Nick for foisting this group on her.
Some of the rowdier ones began throwing peanuts and other objects at the stage. Marci was grateful that nobody had any tomatoes to throw. Then a lime hit Eric square on the nose.
Marci took her recorder out of her mouth and said, "You said we would be a great hit. I would say you've been hit greatly!"
And Jeanine squeaked the duck.
As their number came to a close, a slender lady with ash blond hair and an Irish cable knit sweater appeared by the stage. She carried a large leather bag over her shoulder by sturdy straps. She looked at them with horrified wonderment. "Where's the person in charge?"
Pen bustled forward. "I'm here."
"Uh, I think I'm supposed to play here tonight."
Cheryl dropped her flute, barely missing Marci's head. "Are you Johanna Shea?"
Eric leaned forward over Jeanine's head. "From England?"
NancyT crashed her hands on the keyboard. "Wales!"
"Whatever! Are you?"
The blonde nodded. "Yes. Nick arranged for me to play my harp here tonight." She indicated the large leather bag.
NancyT and Cheryl almost mowed down Freeschia, Randora, and Jeanine as they moved toward Johanna and her leather bag.
Cheryl demanded, "Is that IT?"
NancyT begged, "Can we see it?"
Johanna grinned widely, more relaxed now. "Yes." She propped the bag up on a nearby table, its previous occupants among the first to flee when the McCann's Ragamuffins had "played." She unzipped the bag and opened it to reveal the Swan Harp that Nick had rescued from the villainous la Barre. It stood in all its ashwood glory with the brightly colored images across the harmonic curve and the carvings down the pillar and the soundbox. The wires glinted with promise under the brilliant spotlights of the pub.
The room sighed in collective wonder at the beautiful instrument.
Brenda, respectfully and reverently, asked. "Would you play for us?"
Johanna smiled. "It would be my pleasure."
McCann's Ragamuffins startled and fell over each other to leave the stage so a REAL musician could play. Freeschia helped NancyT move her keyboard stand. Randora almost stepped on Jeanine and the rubber duck. The duck was safe. Cheryl managed to *whap* Marci with the flute as Marci tugged on Eric who was standing stock still, his mouth hanging wide open. "Are we really going to hear the Swan Harp from England?"
"Wales!" Marci, Cheryl, NancyT, and Freeschia chorused.
And Jeanine squeaked the duck.
Pen brought Johanna a stool and the Welsh lady quickly made herself comfortable and settled the lap harp on her knees, the sound board against her right shoulder. Cheryl had seen harps in all sizes, shapes, and strings, but never had she seen one as beautiful as the Swan Harp.
Johanna began to play. Pure joy poured from the strings, enchanting and captivating the entire audience.
Marci forced the enthralled figures of NancyT and Cheryl into seats by the front tables. They were mesmerized by every move Johanna made on the harp, the way her fingernails caught on the wire's edge, the way she dampened certain strings and allowed others to keep ringing long after the others had been silenced. Freeschia closed her eyes dreamily.
Eric joined Rainey at the next table, entwining his fingers with hers and giving her a light kiss on the nose.
Johanna started playing a new piece.
NancyT stirred and murmured. "Caitlin Triall."
Cheryl agreed. "Oh, yes. Turlough O'Carolan."
A tall dark-haired male with pale skin from the next table sighed deeply as well, drawing their eyes. "Turlough O'Carolan. I knew the blind harper well."
His companion hit him. "Shhh."
Marci whispered to Cheryl. "O'Carolan lived in the late 17th century. That must be a vampire."
"Well, I believe this place prides itself on being vampire friendly."
Freeschia tugged on Cheryl. "Look at that."
They turned to Eric's table. He was kissing Rainey rather passionately, just as the music was swelling in an ardent moment. Like true N&Ners Marci and Cheryl sighed, "If only that was Nick and Nat."
Johanna played on, segueing from ancient airs to modern tunes with expertise. At one point, she motioned Marci to join her on the stage and together they produced a wonderful duet, the recorder beautifully counterpointing the harp's melody. Marci's face shone with delight. She had played with many other skilled musicians but never had she had the honor of playing along side of a harp from the 13th century.
As Marci sat down, Eric nabbed the tarnished flute from Cheryl's fingers and hopped up on stage beside a startled Johanna. With relish, Eric began to play The Ash Grove with a simple but beautiful tone. Johanna joined in quickly and the graceful, nostalgic song soon had the more sensitive members of the audience in tears. Randora was audibly sniffing.
As Eric sat down, Freeschia leaned over and whispered, "I didn't know you could play the flute."
Eric drew breath to answer. Marci eyed him levelly. "If you say, 'You didn't ask' I will have to *thwap* you with a trout."
Eric just grinned.
Johanna gladly took requests from the audience, playing other O'Carolan tunes as well as favorites like Greensleeves and Scarborough Faire to the delight of all. Still, all too soon the evening ended and Johanna announced she had to leave.
Eric was the first to stand. "A toast to the best harp player in England!"
As a room, everyone groaned and cried, "Wales!"
Not phased, Eric grinned. "Whatever! May your fingers always strike true!"
With that the room broke into a standing ovation and the harpist accepted their praise gratefully. As it died down, she joined the knot of people who were waiting for her.
Johanna said, "I believe I can handle the fund raising now."
NancyT grasped Johanna's long hand. "You did a great job. I just wish Nick could have been here to hear you."
"That's all right. This has been a splendid evening."
Brenda groused, glaring at Eric. "It turned into one, anyway!"
"Hey, you got to hear two great acts tonight! Do you think she would have gotten such a wonderful response if we hadn't warmed them up first?" Eric blew his harmonica.
Marci *thwapped* him with her recorder, barely missing being *whapped* herself as Cheryl swatted him with her flute. That knocked Eric's harmonica loose and NancyT grabbed it. Freeschia ground it underfoot and Randora swept up the pieces. Brenda smiled in satisfaction.
And Jeanine squeaked the duck.
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PARALLEL STORY: GLOWING PERSPECTIVES
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