I was in a pickup quartet we appropriately named Heart Sent, with 15 paid deliveries. The day's really special delivery started with the librarian at Union Mine High School. There were dozens of students studying at tables and several assistant librarians that listened in with lots of applause for each song.
As we walked away I suggested we visit the new vocal music teacher and sing her a song. At her door stood a boy student whom we greeted, only to discover that he attended our recent Youth Harmony Camp and that he had started a quartet at the school. WOW! In the classroom was a girl's chorus and the teacher brightened and asked if they could sing for US? Well, sure!! It was nicely done with two-part singing. Then we asked to sing for them and the teacher sent a girl to the next room to invite more students in. Of course we sang Let Me Call You Sweetheart to around 20 young women who smiled and giggled the whole time.
We only got 30 feet from the building when another girl stopped us to ask us "professional singers" if we would be willing to listen to her girl friend sing. The singer is going to audition for a part soon and she wanted some coaching. We listened and our tenor just happens to be a retired singing judge, so he gave her some hints about feeling her music and letting it "move" her. And to relax and enjoy her singing. We could hear and see the improvement the second time through.
Then the basketball coach showed up and hired us to sing for his wife just before tip-off of the big game that night.
So now we're almost off campus, but decide to look over their theater. Half way down that walk we meet a very charming, upbeat girl who tells us that she and her mom formed a duet and are taking gigs in the area. Terrific, another teen singer.
In the theater we met the Drama Teacher and chatted a bit. Then Kirk, the student that formed a quartet and who had been following us everywhere, asked if we would sing to his girlfriend. So down we go to her class where the teacher pointed her out. Kirk didn't come in with us, so the girl was vacillating from small smiles to kind of an OH OH look. Then Kirk came in and she suddenly brightened. Oh good. When the applause died down the teacher smilingly complained that she was jealous. So we said we'd sing to her too. But first she had to gather three more teachers, who all beamed through the song.
Wow, what a time that was. We took off for our other gigs, then returned at 7pm for the basket ball game. We had to wait for one game to finish and the warm-up time for the next game. Then the announcer grabbed the mike and introduced us. Next he asked the coach's wife to join us on the floor. The moment we stared singing the gym went pin-drop quiet and you'd have thought just the five of us were there. And the applause at the end was like we'd just made the winning score at the end of a game.
Our driver for the day decided to stay for the game and he handed me his car keys. We were almost back to where the rest of us left our cars and a policeman pulled us over. The first thing he said was "Did you guys just sing at the police station?" I agreed that we had and I started worrying that we were going to be arrested for embarasing the officer. But no, we had a headlight out and he sent us on our way.
What a terrific day. Is there any better job then out delivering love?
Keith Eckhardt for Heart Sent
Placerville, CA