Page 69 of Light Up
Corey’s confidence was leaking like a slow puncture. He might have made Tal see stars but maybe not the right stars or enough of them. So this was it. Corey had done all he could, gone as far as he could and he still wasn’t right.
Okay, then.Well, he could learn. Tal just had to give him a chance.
He’d decided earlier what he was going to sing.Runby Snow Patrol. It had been written before Corey was born. He’d only discovered it a few years ago and fallen in love with the lyrics, words which were perfect for now. It was about caring for someone, no matter what. A promise to always be there. The importance of coming to terms with your own identity and learning to live.
But even though it had an encouraging message, it was also sort of sad and this Christmas event was supposed to be fun. He’d thought about singingHotel Californiabut maybe not. Nina Simone’sFeeling Goodwould be better orHallelujah.
Jefferson came over to their table and put a sheet of paper in front of them. “Running order.”
Corey looked at it and gulped. “I’m on first?”
“I have a feeling about you.” Jefferson smiled.
“I’ve only just learntTwinkle Twinkle.”
The manager laughed. “That’s fine.”
When he’d moved to another table, Corey groaned.
Tal squeezed his fingers and let go. “This is your chance to shine.”
The only person he’d wanted to shine for was Tal. But apart from the brief squeeze of his fingers, Tal was showing no interest in him.
Corey still hadn’t made up his mind which song to go with when Jefferson went up onto the stage.
“Good evening, everyone. I’m very pleased so many guests have signed up to perform. Please be kind! Not many of you have been in the spotlight before.” Jefferson moved so he was standing under the spotlight and everyone laughed. “I’m delighted to welcome our first artist. Please put your hands together for Corey Jenkins.”
Everyone started to clap and Corey made his way through the tables onto the stage.Feeling Goodit was, then. He sang the first few lines without touching the guitar, then started playing.He wasn’t nervous. He didn’t often play in front of anyone but even when he did, he still only played for himself. Though tonight, he was thinking about Tal and risked a look at him. The words were so perfect. The concept of a new day starting, a new life beginning…and Tal was smiling.At me!
The song finished, the applause started and it was loud.Nowhis nerves kicked in. He gave a little bow and was about to head back to the table when Jefferson came up and spoke into the mic.
“We need more, yes?”
The audience cheered.
Corey playedFix Youby Coldplay and stared at Tal as he sang. Lights had guided them here. Maybe they could fix each other.
He came off the stage while he was still being clapped and made his way back to Tal who stood up and hugged him.
“Your voice,” Tal whispered in his ear. “I am so hard.”
Corey laughed.
They sat down as the next act was introduced. It was a group of four singingMaster of the Housefrom Les Misérables with one guy playing the piano, followed byEmpty Chairs at Empty Tables.
“You were perfect,” Tal said when the quartet had done. “You have the most amazing voice. And you look fucking fabulous. That jacket. Your hair. Your nails. Perfect.”
“Your turn next.”
“Hmm.”
“Are you nervous?”
“No.”
Corey had no idea what Tal was going to do with maths as he walked up on the stage. Corey took his phone from his pocket and took a picture of him as he stood in front of the mic. He wished he’d taken ones when they’d made the polar bears, iced the biscuits and painted, but he knew why he hadn’t. He’d been thinking ofafterwhen Tal wasn’t in his life anymore and Corey had decided he didn’t want to have the reminder on his phone. Now he’d changed his mind. He shouldn’t be defeatist.
“Good evening,” Tal said. “If you could access the calculator on your phones, please. I’d like to ask my lovely assistant to come up and join me.”
