Sing for Their Supper - 16

"Do they have to be kids?" Ricky asked, glancing at Lady Roma.

Tuck caught his look and replied, "No. I was here because I wanted to talk to her. There's also a trio—two guys and a girl—that I've asked to join up. They haven't said yes, so far, but the girl suggested I talk to Lady Roma."

"Does the girl have curly hair, and one of the guys plays guitar?"

"Yes. You know them?"

"No, but I saw them here one time. They sang with Roma. They were good."

"They are," Tuck agreed. "Do you know…Roma? They always use her full name, or, probably, street name."

"I sort of know her. I'm around here all the time and we've talked, mostly about music."

"Could you introduce me?"

Ricky smiled. "Sure."

Lady Roma glanced at Tuck and Ricky as they approached her. When they got to the piano, she said, "My favorite paper dealer. How are you, kiddo?"

"Alive," Ricky replied with a slight grin. "Roma, this is Tuck Williams. He wanted to meet you."

Lady Roma lifted an eyebrow. "And why would such a handsome young man want to meet me?"

"I think he's got a proposition for you," Ricky replied.

"Oh really? Your place or mine, Tuck?" She said that without blinking, then broke into laughter. "Presuming Ricky worded that wrong, just what do want from me?"

Tuck laughed, too. "To start with, you have a wonderful voice."

"Thank you. And?"

Tuck rested his arms on the top of the piano, debating how to reply. Lady Roma wasn't a kid. She had also, according to what Jolie had told him, turned down the trio's request to join up with them. He knew it could have been the age difference. Or, it could be because she preferred working alone. Only one way to find out.

"I'm—"

"He's starting a theater," Ricky broke in excitedly. "A real one. And they're going to do musicals. And he wants to use us—I mean homeless kids—for his actors."

Lady Roma studied Tuck. "Really? Well, for starters, I'm not a kid. I haven't been for too damned long."

"You're not old, either," Tuck replied. "Yes, we're primarily looking for street kids but with a voice like yours…"

"I'm hardly the ingénue type," she pointed out somewhat sourly.

"We need more than that."

"Like the wise old lady who's everyone's mother?"

Tuck shook his head. "You hardly fit that mold, either. I think… Do you know Oliver!?"

"If you mean the musical, I remember seeing it way back when—the movie, that is. Is that the show you're planning on?"

"Perhaps. We haven't made the final decision yet." Tuck replied. "If we do choose it for our opening show, I think, from hearing you sing, you might be a very good Nancy."