Tuning in...

A wooden hall, one table and a steel fold out chair was where Frank Morrison sat. He was waiting for the second person to audition for his community choir. Frank looked at his watch and sighed.

He had opened the choir up to anyone in Surrey Hills. Being the egalitarian man he was, he wanted everyone to be included, so the choir truly represented the area.

His poster had read:

“Come all ye who want to sing. No matter where you are from or who you are, we want to hear you sing.”

A loud opening of the door was heard and she entered. She took his breath away with her tightly fitting red dress and blood red lipstick highlighting her large lips. Her high heels clapped against the floor as she walked with grace and style. She pushed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and said, “I’m Therese.”

“Oh good, well you’re next on my list.”

“Yes, I am John Black’s son, you know the man who is providing the funding for this little undertaking of yours.”

“Oh right,” he said arranging his paper neatly on the table.

“Congratulations on such a good idea. Where is the choir going to perform?”

“Sydney Town Hall.” He moved in his seat.

“Great, sounds fabulous.” She flashed him the whitest smile he had seen in years.

Her brown eyes looked at him playfully.

“I am going to sing, Silent Night,” she said sounding as if she was doing him a favour.

“Excellent, you have the floor.”

Taking the stage her shoulders were pressed firmly back and her chest was pushed out. Her hands were placed on her abdomen as she took a deep breath in. All of her movements were exaggerated. She opened her mouth and all at once a loud, ill placed, nail down chalk board sound shrieked out of her mouth.

“Silent Night, Holy Night…” The words assaulted the air like someone being tortured, echoing around the empty hall, inescapable. Frank’s assistant, Harry had come out of the kitchen with his coffee to see where the cat screeching was coming from. He looked down at his clipboard and retreated back into the kitchen.

Frank shifted in his seat, hoping to heaven that his face wasn’t revealing what he was thinking. She sang the first verse and then he raised his hand and signalled to stop.

She stopped and looked down at him, smiling expectantly.

“Very nice,” he managed.

“Thank you, I get singing lessons you know. My singing teacher tells me I could be on the big stage.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. When will you tell us our parts?”

“In the next few days, I imagine.”

“Okay, I will hear from you then,” she said in a commanding, not questioning tone.

“Sure.”

Frank was relieved when she left. He found Harry in the kitchen and they both laughed loudly. A hesitant knock at the door interrupted their laughter. Frank opened and saw Spiro his third person, standing tall in the doorway. His unruly, knotted dark hair, black brown eyes, and his two missing front teeth were a shock after Therese had left.

As he walked, Frank could smell that his kaki overcoat, black jeans and sneakers had not been washed for many months. His eyes were fixed on his shuffling feet beneath him and Frank noticed the tell tale sores on his face revealing his various drug habits.

“What are you going to sing?”

“Amazing Grace,” he said, not looking up.

He climbed the stairs to the top of the stage. Standing in the middle of the expansive wood he was a lonely awkward figure. Then his face lifted and he opened his mouth.

“Amazing Grace,” his syllables came out in faultless formation, his voice moved with precision, strength and perfect balance. It was like the angel Gabriel was standing there singing and the heavens had opened.

“How sweet the sound…”

His voice evenly pitched, round, melodic and with a hint of spiritual pain enfolded Frank in a blanket of bliss.

“That saved a wretch like me…” Frank did not want Spiro to stop.

“I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind but now I see.” Frank had closed his eyes and put his hands over his face.

Spiro stopped instantly.

“What’s wrong?”

“That was so beautiful,” Frank’s words were quiet as he wiped underneath his eyes.

“Thanks,” Spiro said, smiling.

“You have an amazing voice. We will definitely be contacting you soon. Thanks Spiro.”

“Thanks uh…Frank,” He said looking evasively in Frank’s direction. Then he turned and walked off the stage he had just lit up.

Frank smiled thinking about how this street man would be the leader over the whole choir, including Therese. And how his voice would enrapture the audience so that for one glorious moment they would really see him. He looked over to the kitchen and saw Harry shaking his head in disbelief.