The Christmas Concert

The first mention of the xmas concert by the teacher really caused the GIRLS from the rented house(see blog) to perk up. Their forte was acting and the words "shy" or"modesty"were not even in their vocabulary. They immediately volunteered to help out in any way, even to make up the costumes. Of course, they expected, and got, some leading roles. They even talked teacher into including a slightly risque English play they had a copy of.

Throughout the fall, Vallee and Cole often mentioned that as soon as their father became "established" at his shipyard job they would be moving, probably after Christmas. The GIRLS continued their teasing ways with the big boys, and the local girls, seeing the attention they were missing, began to emulate a similar approach although they could not hold a candle to the real thing. In other words the tone of school changed, never to quite return to the staid old ways.

There was a persistent rumour that circulated in the community saying the GIRLS sometimes "entertained" house guests from town at their parents' parties by putting on singing and dancing shows complete with costumes (a la Jon Benet Ramsey?) and accompanied by the oldest boy who could play guitar. The rumour said they expected and got paid for these performances by passing the hat amongst the partiers.

Rehearsals for the Xmas concert went very very well. As usual, every kid had one part or another to play, but the difference that year was the GIRLS were helping the teacher and they would not stand for anyone not knowing their part perfectly. This meant staying after school if necessary.

By the night of the concert, word had gotten around that it was going to be special. Everyone in the farming community was there,even if they didn't have a kid in school. The concert went off as smooth as silk and the parents could not believe the acting ability of their own children! The English play featuring the GIRLS was brash and sassy and the costumes were rather brief(causing some old farmers eyes to pop) however the skit was very funny and went over well.

At the end of the concert, the GIRLS, accompanied by their brother on guitar revealed some real singing talent, doing several Carols. When they tried to end the concert the crowd wanted more and Vallee said they were out of Christmas songs, but could sing something else. They sang a couple more popular songs and then did a tear jerking rendition of Danny Boy in which the brother produced a flute! The audience still did not want the show to end. The GIRLS put their heads together, giggled a bit then Cole said "we don't have any more decent songs, would you like In The Clover?"

Never having heard "In the Clover", the crowd cheered and clapped until it started.
In The Clover

This is number one
And the fun has just begun

Chorus
Roll me over
in the clover
roll me over
lay me down and do it again

This is number two
And he doesn't know what to do

Chorus

This is number three
And he has got me on his knee

Chorus

This is number four
And now I am on the floor

THATS ENOUGH! a farmer shouted from the audience and someone else turned off the lights momentarily. When the lights came back on, the teacher had closed the curtains and the concert was over! The farmers never heard the other six verses of that little ditty.

I never saw the family from the rented house again. By the time school started again after Xmas holidays, they had moved to town as Vallee had maintained they would. About a year later, one of the local farm girls mentioned she had run into the GIRLS in town. they had both left school after grade 8 (as was usual in the 1940s). Vallee was working in the 5c & 10c store and Cole was heavy with child.

NEXT-- The Gamewarden

"To err is human;
To forgive, divine."

--Alexander
Pope