The final performance on the bridge

Posted on Tue Dec 31st, 2024 @ 19:58 by Alastair Temple

Chapter: Besieged
Location: The brigde outside Avalon
Timeline: Post Claire's arrest
751 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

By now word had gotten out about the semi regular impromptu performances by the music teacher. Some guard or nurse had mentioned it to their family, word had spread, and some members of the press had gathered here and there, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man. Staying outside of the checkpoint, on public roads, on the far side of the moat. Telelens cameras to try and get at least a visual document of the musician, for their newspaper articles in the morning.

Alastair for his part didn't even need to promise extra credit when he asked for volunteers to accompany him on his last performance on the bridge. There was enough discontent, enough anger among the students that he had a luxury of choice. And so it wasn't just the music teacher who made his way onto the bridge, carrying his acoustic guitar as always, but also a dozen or so students of all ages, colors and sizes, some obvious mutants, some less obviously so. But all desperate for their voice to be heard.

"We have the chance to turn the pages over. We can write what we want to write. We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older," Alastair's voice rang out over a gently strummed chord progression, his voice matching the energy of the accompaniment. "We're all someone's daughter, we're all someone's son," His voice picked up in energy, in emotion, as did the strumming, as he asked the unspoken question that had been on so many minds. "How long can we look at each other, down the barrel of a gun?"

And now the impromptu choir behind him joined in, a dozen students, holding hands, moving to the music. "You're the voice, try and understand it.
Make a noise and make it clear, Oooooh oh! Oooooh oh!" Thirteen voices ringing out over the bridge, the energy of the performance escalating once more, as they chanted. "We're not gonna sit in silence, we're not gonna live with fear, ooooooh oh! Whooooa oh!"

The chorus silent again as Alastair moved to the music again, putting his entire being into the performance. All that he was, all that he would ever be. "This time, we know we all can stand together. With the power to be powerful, believing we can make it better! Ooh, we're all someone's daughter, we're all someone's son!" Eyes closing as he sang, as he drew all his frustrations, all his decades of struggling, all his anger, and put it all out there, belting the words that hit like a hammer. "Hoooooow long can we look at each other down the barrel of a guuuuun!!"

And once more the whole chorus sang, throwing the words into the air, wishing for a podium, the whole group - all thirteen of them dancing, putting their souls out there in the freezing cold on that bridge. "You're the voice, try and understand it. Make a noise and make it clear, Oooooh oh! Oooooh oh! We're not gonna sit in silence, we're not gonna live with fear, ooooooh oh! Whooooa oh!" Cameras clicked in the distance, reporters taking it all in, as guards and nurses looked at each other. Some with looks of determination, one or two with hints of shame."You're the voice, try and understand it. Make a noise and make it clear, Oooooh oh! Oooooh oh! We're not gonna sit in silence, we're not gonna live with fear, ooooooh oh! Whooooa oh!"

For the final repetitions of the chorus Alastair let the students take the lead, as he remained silent. After all, it was their future that they were fighting for. Their words, their world. As rehearsed, as agreed, the students took over, singing in a canon. The same words of the chorus, first the boys, then a few beats later the girls an octave higher, but all fitting the rhythm. Al simply continued to provide accompaniment, though he knew the students were the focus of the moment, as it should be.

Soon enough though, this performance too was over. The final whoooa oh echoing in the distance, the guitar once more silent, as the tall man simply turned back towards his students. And with a nod, a smile of appreciation and a gentle "Come, let's go get some coco," the entire group headed back inside where it was warm.