The Concert

The concert.

By

Jonathan Klopper

The car screeched around the corner almost colliding with on coming traffic. It was a 1967 Alfa Romeo GTA in Rosso red. It was being chased by a black Mercedes Benz with three people hanging out the windows, holding revolvers! The Alfa bobbed and weaved around the traffic, trying to avoid being shot at, but the Merc stuck to him like glue. The Alfa took another dangerous turn , slightly swiping a car parked on the side with a scraping spark. The Merc could not make the turn quickly enough and drove into the parked car, sending one of the men flying out the window.

Jim Buttar, laughed out loud as he saw the Merc hit the vehicle in his rear view mirror. He looked at his watch and saw it was a quarter to eight, in the evening.

“She is going to kill me,” he grunted before he pushed down harder on the gas pedal.

A few minutes later he slowed down as he started to search the street signs to make sure he found the correct place. He slammed on the brakes and the car slid to a stop. Down the road he saw the school. He huffed as he turned the non-power steering wheel and reversed to go down the correct street. The street was full of parked cars along the side but he kept going. There were parking attendants in red coats waving to go back but he just waved with a smile. Eventually, he got to the school's main gate where there was a huge attendant whose coat looked like the size of a tent. He stood in front of him with his hand out and forced Jim to stop.

Jim rolled down his window as the man mountain walked to his window.

“Sorry bro,” he sounded stoned, “There is no space inside. Gotta park out side bro.”

“Well no,” Jim smiled, “You see, I'm a special guest. They assured me, a parking inside.”

The man scratched his head, “They never told me about no special guest.”

“Yes, well, it was a last minute thing you see.” Jim replied, “Can't keep the kids waiting.” He revved the car a little, “Show is about to start.”

The huge man scratched his chin, “Okay bro, but I'm not sure where you gonna park,” he looked away, “It's totally full here...”

“Don't stress, I will find a spot.” Jim said, as he sped off as quickly as he could.

The attendant was right though. The parking was full! He drove up to the building stairs and then he noticed a space. It was the delivery bay. That would be alright! There were not going to be any deliveries tonight, he thought smugly.

He parked and looked down at the package sitting on the passenger seat. He decided to take it and placed it in his inner coat pocket. He looked at his watch, it was five minutes to eight! She was going to kill him! He quickly locked the car door and sprinted up the stairs to the main hall. He got to the top and stopped as he saw people through the crack of the partially closed doors. He gathered himself and walked in with one hand in his pocket as suave as he could. The door creaked loudly as he pushed them open enough to get through and smiled as everyone had strangely stopped and gawped at him.

“Jim!” A woman's voice spoke.

He met the stern gaze of his ex-wife, Jemma. She walked up and pulled him to the side.

“You are late!” She whispered angrily to him.

“Technically,” he pulled his arm away from her clutch, “I'm not. I'm five minutes early!”

She looked at her watch and her shoulders dropped, slightly disappointed.

He held her back and looked at her, “You look...beautiful, nice dress.”

She looked down at her black dress, that matched her silky black hair, with a slit down the left side revealing her thigh.

“Oh, this old thing,” she smiled, “Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” he smiled, “Pity about the shoes though. They just don't go with that outfit.”

She looked down at the navy blue high heels she was wearing and felt a ball of fire get stuck in her throat about to snap at him but stopped short as he spoke again.

“Where is Haley?” He looked at her again with a dashing smile.

She lost her anger, “She is getting ready for the show. She is not happy about her part,” she tried not to laugh, “They have her dressed as a...”

“Jemma dear, how marvelous to see you,” a blonde woman said. She was dressed in a tight yellow and silver dress that accentuated her hourglass figure.

“Who is this you are talking to?” Her Botox lips puffed.

Jim smiled and took her hand, “Buttar. Jim Buttar,” he said as he kissed her hand.

“Silvia, this is my husban...I mean ex-husband Jim.” Jemma said irritably.

“I thought you said he was dead?” Silvia smirked as Jim met her big blue eyes with a smile.

“No, I said I wished he were dead,” Jemma replied softly

“Oh dear,” Silvia smirked, “How intriguing. So Mr Butter what do you do?”

“That's Buttar with an A not with an E,” Jim said quickly, “But to answer your question I’m in the import export business.”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice came over the intercom, “You may now, enter.”

Stewards opened up the doors to the concert hall.

Jim held out his elbow for Jemma to take, “Shall we?” he winked at Silvia, “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Jim, why are you being so weird? What's going on?” Jemma whispered into his ear as they squeezed through the doors and entered the hall.

The hall was filled with chairs lined up side by side and in rows that crossed the expanse of the entire room. The stage had massive red curtains drawn, with a single spotlight focused in the centre. Soft music played in the background as parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents and siblings scrambled to find their chairs. Jim kept looking around and over his shoulder as he led Jemma.

“Jim! Wait you don't even know where we are sitting.” Jemma snapped at him, as she stopped.

“Well, as close as possible,” with a roll of his eyes, “Obviously.”

“No Jim. We are not as close as possible. Hals, only told me about this yesterday and I was lucky to get tickets. She didn't want us to come!” Jemma felt herself get teary, “Why wouldn't she want us here? She only told me because I had to sign an indemnity form…”

Jim clenched his jaw and drew her closer to him giving her a hug, “I'm sure it was not intentional.”

Jemma scoffed, “Of course it was!” she pushed him away, “And you! Where the hell have you been? Your daughter needs you, you know! You can't just pitch up once a month!”

The lights began to dim.

“Can we talk about this a little later?” Jim whispered as he noticed they were almost the only other people not sitting. Jim realized the other people not sitting were the men who were chasing him! He ducked down awkwardly around Jemma’s waist.

“Jim, we don't have time for this,” as she walked around in a circle trying to see him.

“Let`s find our seats,” he said while still hiding behind her.

“We are in the middle, over there,” Jemma pointed to two rows down.

He clenched his jaw, stood up and grabbed her by the hand and dragged her quickly to the row. He pushed her in front and made her ease down the row first. He noticed that one of the men had spotted him and was using hand signals to tell his compatriots.

“Ouch!” Jim had stepped on a man`s toes as he eased into the row.

“Sorry. I do apologize,” he said as he kept going. Everyone in the row moved uncomfortably as he and Jemma maneuvered down.

He smiled at the woman he accidentally bumped into with his groin area being extremely close to her face. She was not impressed. He watched the four men narrow in on him like a pack of dogs getting ready to pounce. Jim and Jemma eventually got to their seats as the lights went dark with only the one spot light beaming strong. The four men froze as the curtains began to open. Jim smirked as he saw them all retreat to the outer edges of the hall. He was safe, for now.

Everybody`s attention was now on the stage.

A child walked onto the stage dressed as a pirate. His face adorned with an eye patch and fake red beard. On his hat , a skull and cross bones embroidered in the centre and a stuffed parrot stuck on his shoulder.

“Arr me matey`s,” the boy began, “Good evenin to ya! Welcome to captain red-beards advenchure.” The boy moved closer to the edge of the stage, “But firssst I nee te make ya all pirates, same as me. Now on da coun of tree, if ya wit me say, Rrrr.”

The audience all as one said, “Rrrr!”

“Welcome te da crew,” the boy chuckled.

“Jim,” Jemma whispered, “What is going on? Why were you late? What trouble are you in now?”

Jim whispered back, “First of all. I was not late. Secondly, why must I be in trouble?”

He noticed the four men moving closer along the outer edges. “In my line of work you are bound to step on toes.”

“Your line of work? I've known you for ten years and ,I don`t even know what you do!”

“Shush!” A person said to them with a scowl.

Jim leaned in closer to Jemma`s ear and said, “I`m a secret agent.”

Jemma burst out laughing. She laughed so loud it echoed around the hall. She quickly put her hand to her mouth as people turned to look at her, including another shush.

“A secret agent,” she eventually whispered to him still holding back her laugh.

“Why is that so funny?” Jim huffed, “But yes!” He crossed his arms and turned away from her.

Jemma swallowed her laughter, “Alright, so last year when you missed your mom`s birthday where were you?”

“I was in Tokyo,” he said with a nod of his head.

“Doing what?” She crossed her arms, raising her brow.

“I can`t say,” he lost eye contact with her.

“Of course you can`t,” Jemma scoffed, “National security?”

“No,” he met her gaze again, “My mind was wiped.”

“Your mind was wiped!”

“Shush!”

“Oh whatever!” Jemma snapped at the person before moving her attention back to Jim.

“So how come you remember you were there?”

“They only wiped what was needed,” he replied softly, quickly changing the subject, “When is Haley going to be on?”

“Her part is only at the end of the play,” Jemma replied, “I was telling you earlier before we were interrupted by Silvia.”

“You really don`t like her do you?” Jim smiled.

“No, she is pompous...” she met his smirking face, “Don`t change the subject!”

Jim noticed the four men had eased themselves to either end of the seating row he was in.

“Jemma, I need you to take this.” He reached into his inner coat pocket and took out the parcel.

“What is it?” She said taking it gingerly.

He met her gaze, “It`s a log book.”

“A log book for what?”

He leaned in closer to whisper in her ear, “I still love you.”

“What!” Jemma shouted out loud.

The lights suddenly came on and everybody started to stand up.

It was remission.

Jim jumped up and scrambled over chairs towards the stage blending into the crowd as best as he could.

He reached the side stairs of the stage and quickly ran up, slipping behind the curtain before the four men could spot him.

Back stage, there were kids running around dressed In different costumes like pirates, English sailors, mermaids, animals there was even a kid dressed as a tree. He saw what looked like a teacher. She was extremely confused as kids ran around her. Jim smiled, and moved closer to the woman.

“Mrs Wright,” a boy said to the teacher, “How come I gotta be a tree?”

“Because, that is where your talents lie George,” she said softly, “You are a tree person. Now move along!”

The boy scratched his head as he walked away trying to understand her comment.

Jim met the woman's gaze, “Did I hear correctly? Are you Mrs Right?” He smiled, taking her one hand.

She was taken back at first as he lifted her hand and kissed it gently.

She slid her hand away and narrowed her eyes, “Do you often take strangers hands and put your germs on them?”

Kids close by laughed.

Jim stuttered, “Ummm…no…sorry…” he cleared his throat, “I'm looking for Haley?”

“And who are you?” she crossed her arms impatiently.

He held out his hand, “Oh yes sorry. Buttar. Jim Buttar. I'm her father,” he smiled.

“Like a margarine?” she raised an eyebrow to him.

“With an A not an E,” he replied.

“I see,” she didn't lose eye contact for a while before she replied, “She is by the effects board over there.” She pointed, “And please tell her to get into costume. Her part is coming up soon.”

Jim moved away quickly and found his daughter tucked away in the shadows by the control board for the curtains, lights and effects.

“Hello, Pumpkin!” He said as she turned to see who was coming closer.

“Dad?” She smiled happily.

His daughter was beautiful with her long light brown hair tied back in a single pony-tail and bright grey eyes shining youthfully. She ran into his arms and he swung her around giving her a big squeeze.

“I've missed you!” she whispered into his ear.

“Ahh sweetie, I've missed you too.” He held her back, “What is this nonsense about you not wanting your mom and me to come and see you tonight?”

“I don`t even have a part!” she scoffed, “They have me doing the effects and then right at the end I have to walk onto the stage...and that is the end.”

A boy walked by in a squid costume, with the tentacles bouncing up and down awkwardly as he moved.

“This is a very strange concert,” he smirked at her, “What the hell is it about?”

She laughed, “You are telling me! It`s about the pirate Red-Beard and his search for his good-luck charm. It`s his favorite bird,” she checked her watch. “We are about to go on again.”

“Can I stay and watch from here?” He gave her a puppy face.

“You will have to ask Mrs Wright,” she replied, “Where is mom?”

“Ah, yes I left her on her own. She will be safer if I`m not with her,” a strange accent drew his attention. “I will be right back.”

Jim moved away from her and used a curtain to camouflage himself as he saw one of the men talking to Mrs wright.

“Excuse me sir, you are not allowed back here,” Mrs Wright snapped at the man.

“Itsh fine, I`mn just luuking for man,” he replied in a heavy eastern European accent.

“There are no men here!” She replied, “Please leave.”

“I`mn going to luuk aground,” he said as he pushed past her, ignoring her completely.

Jim moved a little out of the shadows and got the man to spot him. He then moved deeper into the back stage making the man follow him.

The man stopped right where he wanted him.

“Vlad,” Jim smiled, “How is it hanging?”

“Vear is buuk?” Vlad stepped forward, “Mr Pushkin, say deed or galive!”

“Wait!” Jim said making Vlad stop in his tracks before he loosened a rope and made a bag of sand drop on Vlads head. Jim then began to climb a ladder to the top scaffold.

He looked down and saw that Vlad had gotten back to his feet again, a little dazed. He looked around but spotted Jim as he ran along the scaffolding.

Jim wanted to climb down the opposite stairs but saw one of the other men, named Filip, had appeared. He was a small angry man with a balding head and deep black mustache.

Jim was trapped as each man started to climb up either side. In the background Jim heard the play.

“Shiver me timbers! Arrr,” and then the sounds of fighting!

Jim looked at either end of the scaffold and watch the two men draw closer to him.

“Come on guys, I`m sure we can talk about this!”

“Deed or galive!” Vlad sneered as he pulled out a revolver and pointed it at him.

“If you kill me, you will never find it!” Jim held up his hands, making sure he watched both men at the same time.

“It wit girl, probaably,” Filip said with a smile and pointed down.

Jim peered over the edge of the scaffold and noticed Jemma with the book in her hands.

Jim clenched his jaw as both men started to laugh but Vlad had come close enough for him to pounce!

He did a swinging round house kick and smacked the gun out Vlad`s hand. He then ran forward and slammed into Filip, lifting him off the ground and pushed him off the scaffold! He landed on a pile of ropes with a thud!

Vlad jumped forward with his bear claw hands but Jim was too fast. He jumped off the scaffold, grabbing a rope before he shimmied down to the bottom stage again.

“Jim,” Jemma snapped at him, “We need to talk!”

“You need to get out of here Jemma!” Jim grabbed her by both shoulders.

“Mr Buttar,” a smooth voice said.

Jim stepped in front of Jemma and grabbed a fencing sword prop, swishing it in front of him.

A thin man with teabag eyes moved into view wearing a completely white suit.

“Mr Pushkin, how nice to see you,” Jim mocked.

The thin man took a sword as well and checked the point of it as he circled around Jim and Jemma.

“I vas fencing champion in my youff,” Pushkin smiled, before he went into a pose and started attacking Jim, “On guard!”

Jim and Mr Pushkin began to duel! Left! Right! Forward! Back! They clashed sabrestogether! Suddenly they burst out into centre stage with beaming lights on them! The children on stage all froze from their own play of fighting and gazed at them confused.

“Gi loved gyou like a soon!” Pushkin huffed, as they fought.

“Sorry, Pushky!” Jim replied as he laid an attack on the man, “I`m the good guy!”

Jim was a lot fitter and he could see Pushkin was getting tired as he swung his sword. He started to play with him and make the audience laugh. Smacking Pushkin hard on his ass as he leapt out the way of his attacks.

“Get off the stage!” Mrs Wright tried to whisper loudly to them.

Jim waited for the right moment and kicked Pushkin back stage disappearing out of view. Jim then faced the crowd and did a bow before he disappeared himself.

Pushkin had landed in some cardboard props tumbling over. He gingerly got to his feet and dusted himself off, holding up his sword again.

Jim did not attack, “It`s over!”

“Yesh, it is,” Vlad said from behind, “Put knife down!”

Jim turned to see Vlad had Jemma! His revolver was placed to the side of her head.

Pushkin began to laugh as he went to stand next to Vlad holding Jemma captive.

“Its called a sabre,” Jim said as he met Jemma`s frightened gaze.

Vlad grabbed the book out her hand and gave it to Mr Pushkin.

“Leet me keel ghim,” Vlad said.

Jim noticed a rope next to him and followed it with his eyes to see it led to a light hanging above Vlad and Mr Pushkin.

Jim clenched his jaw and met Jemma`s scared gaze.

“Do you remember last year when we went through that tunnel of love?”

Jemma was very confused, “Ye...ss,” she replied.

“Do it now!” Jim said as he unhooked the rope beside him.

Jemma felt time slow down. She heard the children in the back ground still on stage. She smelt the incredible body odour of the man who held a gun to her head. She met Jim's gaze as he ran forward in slow motion right toward her, his eyes were fixed on her! She went into the back of her mind and remember the tunnel of love they had been in last year. The tunnel had suddenly collapsed and he had told her to duck down before she got hit on the head...

Jemma ducked before the light struck the two men sending them sprawling to the ground. Jim pulled her safely to the side before he checked on both men. Vlad was busy mumbling words as Jim raised his fist and punched him unconscious.

Jemma used a cold cloth to wipe blood from Jim`s mouth as he sat and watched the police take Mr Pushkin and his friends into custody.

“So that book has a list of under cover agents in it?” Jemma asked.

He nodded his head, “Yes. I have been under cover for six months tracking that book down. He was going to sell it on the black market to the highest bidder.”

“Mom. Dad” Haley said making them both look at her. She was dressed in her costume and about to go on. “You are going to tell me what happened here right?”

They both grabbed her and hugged her before her cue was given for her to go onto stage.

“Break a leg Pumpkin.” Jim kissed her forehead.

Haley put on her mask and walked slowly onto the stage.

Jim looked at her outfit. It was full of brown and white feathers and her mask had a beak as if she were a bird. He watched his daughter walk into the light of the stage, and began to make a strange sound.

“Toowhit toowhoo!”

Jim leaned over to Jemma and asked, “What the hell is she?”

Jemma held her hand in front of her face as tears of joy hit her eyes watching her daughter.

“She is a barn owl, the good luck charm,” she laughed happily.