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Joshua impatiently tapped his pencil on the clipboard in his lap. This was the seventy-eighth and final audition scheduled for the morning, and he couldn’t wait for everything to be over. While two candidates looked promising, the rest including the frumpy woman in front of him, needed to get a serious reality check and pursue some other passion.
He squinted as another shrill sound assaulted his eardrums, and he wasn’t sure he could survive another minute of the woman’s voice. Even though he wanted to tell the woman she had a better chance of getting a job at Burger Basket, his professional attitude forced him to smile throughout her entire performance. Joshua would have gladly suffered through four long minutes of a shrieking air raid siren than torture himself by listening to the woman sing.
He glanced at his watch.
It was eleven forty-eight, and in twelve minutes the circus of performers would be over, and he and Mary would choose one lucky singer to join their prestigious group.
Mary leaned closer and whispered into his ear. “I don’t know who told that woman she can sing. Doesn’t she have any sense of dignity?”
“At least she has the guts to sing and be proud of it.” Joshua kept the smile plastered on his lips. “You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to get up there and sing with a voice like that.”
Mary shook her head. “I can’t get over how their families shelter them from the truth. Don’t they know it’s creating a false hope?”
Their conversation was interrupted by a final off pitch note.
Joshua stood to his feet. “Thanks for auditioning, Morgan.” He glanced over at Mary. “You definitely made a lasting impression on Mary and me.”
“Thank you Mr. Davis and Ms. Turner. You don’t know how much it means to me being able to audition in front of both of you. I won’t disappoint both of you. I promise I’ll sing just as good as Rachel. I have another song I can sing for you if you’d like.” She flashed a crooked smile and opened her mouth to continue.
Joshua interrupted with his hand in the air. “Oh no, no, no. That won’t be necessary, Morgan. I think Mary and I have heard quite enough.” His gaze drifted next to him.
“Yes, Morgan, Mr. Davis and I feel you have a unique voice, but unfortunately, it’s not what our group is searching for. I’m sorry.”
Morgan played with her hands as she lowered her gaze to the floor. “Oh, but I thought you liked my singing.”
“Morgan, can I be totally honest with you.”
Joshua gave Mary a what are you doing glance, but she ignored him.
“You look like a very nice girl. But the truth is, Women of Grace only accept singers with exceptional talent. And honestly, Dear, you should seriously consider a career in something else. With a voice like yours, you’d be lucky if the city gave you a permit to busk.”
Morgan stood silent for a moment as her lips turned down into a frown, and she wiped a hand across her eyes. Seconds later, her chest pushed forward. “My parents say I have talent. You two don’t know what real talent is. Just watch, I’ll become famous someday, and I’ll do it without this crummy group.” Then she turned and stomped off the stage.
“Whew, that was awkward.” Joshua sank back into his seat and pressed his fingertips together. “You could have let the poor girl down easy.”
“And let her live in a delusional fantasy? Sorry, someone had to break the bad news, so it might as well be me.”
“You were never one to mince her words,” Joshua said as he began gathering his belongings.
“Sometimes we have to be direct when people are clueless. It’s saving them a lot of misery and humiliation in the end. Why give her a false hope?”
“I get your point, Mary. I just felt sorry for the girl, that’s all.
“Music is a tough business, and the sooner that girl finds out, the sooner she can move on with her life.”
Joshua knew there was nothing to gain from belaboring the point. “Are we done for the day?”
Mary glanced at the list in her lap. “Looks like it. Stephanie mentioned something about a woman she met at the playhouse, but it looks like she flaked out. I think that’s it.”
“So it looks like it’s down to Susan or Karen. I’m leaning toward Susan. She may not have as much experience, but she’s got a strong soprano voice. I think she has potential. What do you think?”
“I like Susan, but she lacks stage presence and confidence. On the other hand, you can tell Karen engages the audience. The only problem is, she isn’t a true soprano. She can’t sustain the high notes.”
“I say we give Susan a chance. I think she’s workable, and I know a professional who can improve her stage presence.”
Mary looked at him with questioning eyes. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’m confident I can make her into a star. I believe in giving people a chance. You can fix stage presence, but you can’t fix a mediocre voice.”
Mary stuffed a stack of papers into her portfolio and shouldered her purse before gazing into his eyes. “Alright, I’ll trust you on this one. You know how important it is we find the right person before we go on tour in a few months.”
“I know we’re facing a deadline. But you know I always come through.”
“You’ve always been good about that.” The lines on her face softened, and it seemed the tone of her blue eyes deepened. “Hey, what do you say we grab a bite to eat? I know a great sushi place down the street where we can have dinner and maybe catch up on old times.”
Joshua was surprised by the sudden change in her personality. It wasn’t often she would let anyone see the feminine side of her. “Sure, that sounds great. I just have a few more things to discuss with Jacob in his office, and then I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.”
“Alright, I’ll see you soon.” As Mary made her way to the back of the playhouse, he couldn’t help wondering what hidden agenda Mary had for asking him to dinner. Was it work related? Or was it something more personal? Whatever it was, he would find out soon enough.
