Sing for Their Supper - 24

"Guys, ladies, this is my husband, Brent," Tuck said, when everyone had gathered along the retaining wall behind one of the pianos. It was just past noon and the kids were in the process of devouring the sandwiches Tuck had brought with him.

"Bribery," Ricky had said as Tuck handed them out.

"Sustenance," Tuck had countered. "I don't want any of you fainting from hunger before we start."

Brent saluted, then waited for Tuck to introduce him to everyone individually. With that accomplished, Tuck told them that they would be able to move out to the theater the next day.

After the expected cheers, Roma had two questions. "How will we get out there? And is there a piano?"

Brent took the floor. "We've hired a van. Do all of you know the car rental place three blocks over on Union?"

A couple of the kids didn't, so Sam offered to show them once the meeting broke up.

"As to a piano, Roma," Brent said, "we're in the process of finding one. We'll need it for rehearsals, and it may be the only instrument we'll have for at least the first show."

That, of course, had the teens asking what the show would be.

"How many of you know Oliver!?" Tuck asked. DJ's and Evie's hands shot up immediately. Roma nodded that she did, as did Sam.

"I've seen the movie. Does that count?" Ricky asked. "I mean, movies sometimes change things a lot."

"In this case, the movie was very true to the stage version," Tuck replied, "so it counts."

"Good," Sam said, "because I've seen it too. It's about kids like us."

"More or less," Tuck agreed, "but in the Victorian Era." He glanced around to see if any of them had a clue when that was. It didn't seem as if they did, so he told them, "The story takes place the eighteen thirties. It starts in a workhouse, which is like an orphanage. The kids are treated badly, so Oliver runs away and ends up on the streets." He went on to give them the barebones of the plot.

"Poor Nancy," Dena said when he finished. "I'm glad that Sikes guy got killed."

"And that Oliver finally found his family. Well, his grandfather," Jolie said.

"It is sort of like us." Mace seemed to be bothered by that.

"Which is why I want your input about our doing the show," Tuck told him. "If any of you think it will remind you of things you'd rather forget, or if it hits too close to home, I'd rather know now than when we're in the middle of rehearsals."

"Well, none of us were in an orphanage, I don't think," Sam said. "So that's different."

"And none of us have done anything illegal." Jolie looked at the other. "Have we?"

"Umm…" Ricky puffed out a breath. "Does selling weed to make some money for food count?"

Tuck looked at him. "Are you doing that now?"

"Uh-uh. It was right after I ran away. I almost got caught a couple of times and decided it wasn't worth it. If I'd ended up in jail, they'd have called my father, and I wasn't about to be dragged back home."

"I hear you on that," Mace said quietly.

Tuck wondered what his story was—and all the other kids', as well—but now wasn't the time to find out.

"I don't have a problem with it," Sam said. "I think it suits us—and what you're trying to do, if that makes sense."

"It does," Tuck replied. "So, if everyone else agrees, Oliver! will be the opening show." None of them said they objected, so he asked if they had any questions. No one did, although he was certain they would in time. This was going to be a big change from what they'd been used to, after they'd ended up on the streets. "Okay. Then Brent and I will meet you tomorrow morning at ten at the rental place."