Going Solo (New Song) Read Online Free
Author: Brenda Barrett
His mother usually turned it up high to wake them up before she left for work. They even put an impromptu flair in it, as if they had been singing together for a while.
When the group had finished singing, he opened his eyes slowly. Mercifully, there was not even a hint of a snicker. The class was silent. When his eyes met Alice's, she gave him a thumbs up.
Sister Kirk had a shocked expression on her face and Pastor Keen stood in the doorway nodding contemplatively.
"I want to see the six of you after church, in my office," he said, smiling. "Good job."
"Well you... er... did very well," Sister Kirk said reluctantly, as if it pained her to admit it. "There was actually some harmony there, for a group of twelve year olds who love the devil’s music," she tacked on. "Now remember Psalm 96 whenever you are tempted to give your singing talent to someone else. Sing a new song to the Lord."
She ordered them back to their seats. It took her a while to find where she was in the lesson. She looked up at Carson over her glasses and shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
*****
"I spoke to your parents," Pastor Keen said, looking at the boys in front of him. "Every single one of them agreed that putting you in a band would be a good idea."
"A band?" Carson frowned.
"Yes," Pastor Keen said. "I have been toying with the idea of dusting off the musical instruments that we have in the basement and using them again. We have several down there but we have no one to play them. Meanwhile, the old organ that we have in the main sanctuary is on its last, and as you can hear, Bro. Stokes does not play as well as he used to. Old age will do that to you." He shook his head. "But you guys are young. Today when I heard you singing, it was like the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, 'these are the future of music in this church.'"
"He did?" Jayce asked with his eyes widened. "What did He sound like?"
"It's just an inner voice, a certain knowing," Pastor Keen said hurriedly, Jayce looked like he was ready to grill the pastor with questions. The pastor did not want to entertain him any further because that could take all night.
"I have worked out a plan. All of you will learn to play an instrument. I have three dedicated teachers who are willing to teach you this summer. Everyday at ten, I want you here at church."
Carson and Xavier groaned. Carson was enjoying hanging out at Petey's Mechanic Shop and Xavier followed his mom to work at the Knight's mansion, where he could get to watch television, eat the most delicious foods, and participate in tea with Farrah Knight and her dollies. Nobody expected Xavier to do anything much because of his crossed eyes.
"So it's a done deal," Pastor Keen said, smiling at them. "Lunch will be provided. You will have a good time. You may go now." He paused and continued, "One more thing: I like the theme of the verses from Psalm 96 that Sister Keen had you read today—A New Song. If you guys ever become a band, you can name your band that."
He ushered them out, watching as they raced through the church hall, pushing and shoving each other. He really hoped he was doing the right thing in getting them into a band. He could not see how it would work but surely the Lord knew the future.
*****
When Carson and Xavier found their mother, she was outside talking to a group of ladies. She frowned at them when they barreled toward her. They stopped at a polite distance from her and waited.
They looked around for their friends in the meantime. The Cedar Hill churchyard was a boy's paradise to run and frolic in after church. It was situated on the top of a hill, on about five acres of land. At one section of the property were a preparatory school and a high school that were run by the church. In another area, there was about an acre of mango trees. There was also a view of the pier where cruise ships docked.
"Don't you dare move!" Delores looked at her boys. She had taken them to church
When the group had finished singing, he opened his eyes slowly. Mercifully, there was not even a hint of a snicker. The class was silent. When his eyes met Alice's, she gave him a thumbs up.
Sister Kirk had a shocked expression on her face and Pastor Keen stood in the doorway nodding contemplatively.
"I want to see the six of you after church, in my office," he said, smiling. "Good job."
"Well you... er... did very well," Sister Kirk said reluctantly, as if it pained her to admit it. "There was actually some harmony there, for a group of twelve year olds who love the devil’s music," she tacked on. "Now remember Psalm 96 whenever you are tempted to give your singing talent to someone else. Sing a new song to the Lord."
She ordered them back to their seats. It took her a while to find where she was in the lesson. She looked up at Carson over her glasses and shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
*****
"I spoke to your parents," Pastor Keen said, looking at the boys in front of him. "Every single one of them agreed that putting you in a band would be a good idea."
"A band?" Carson frowned.
"Yes," Pastor Keen said. "I have been toying with the idea of dusting off the musical instruments that we have in the basement and using them again. We have several down there but we have no one to play them. Meanwhile, the old organ that we have in the main sanctuary is on its last, and as you can hear, Bro. Stokes does not play as well as he used to. Old age will do that to you." He shook his head. "But you guys are young. Today when I heard you singing, it was like the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, 'these are the future of music in this church.'"
"He did?" Jayce asked with his eyes widened. "What did He sound like?"
"It's just an inner voice, a certain knowing," Pastor Keen said hurriedly, Jayce looked like he was ready to grill the pastor with questions. The pastor did not want to entertain him any further because that could take all night.
"I have worked out a plan. All of you will learn to play an instrument. I have three dedicated teachers who are willing to teach you this summer. Everyday at ten, I want you here at church."
Carson and Xavier groaned. Carson was enjoying hanging out at Petey's Mechanic Shop and Xavier followed his mom to work at the Knight's mansion, where he could get to watch television, eat the most delicious foods, and participate in tea with Farrah Knight and her dollies. Nobody expected Xavier to do anything much because of his crossed eyes.
"So it's a done deal," Pastor Keen said, smiling at them. "Lunch will be provided. You will have a good time. You may go now." He paused and continued, "One more thing: I like the theme of the verses from Psalm 96 that Sister Keen had you read today—A New Song. If you guys ever become a band, you can name your band that."
He ushered them out, watching as they raced through the church hall, pushing and shoving each other. He really hoped he was doing the right thing in getting them into a band. He could not see how it would work but surely the Lord knew the future.
*****
When Carson and Xavier found their mother, she was outside talking to a group of ladies. She frowned at them when they barreled toward her. They stopped at a polite distance from her and waited.
They looked around for their friends in the meantime. The Cedar Hill churchyard was a boy's paradise to run and frolic in after church. It was situated on the top of a hill, on about five acres of land. At one section of the property were a preparatory school and a high school that were run by the church. In another area, there was about an acre of mango trees. There was also a view of the pier where cruise ships docked.
"Don't you dare move!" Delores looked at her boys. She had taken them to church
Readers choose
G. C. Scott
Ruth Clemens
P. A. Bechko
Annie West
Laurien Berenson
Patrick Rothfuss
Once Upon A Kiss
John Farris
Legacy of the Diamond
Tom Birdseye