Angela Devry finished her concert to the rhythm of bluegrass. Her agent, Max Albany, was waiting on her when she came offstage. Max had Angela’s bottled water waiting. Angela grabbed the water and asked if there was anything else she had to do before leaving on vacation. There wasn’t.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Derrick Renfield was waiting for the band to finish setting up so they could do some run-throughs before the concert. Del Collins came in to check on the preparation when the lights went out.
Derrick was not happy. “Where’s my agent? I’m going to cancel this concert!”
“Chill, Derrick,” Del hollered towards the stage. “They said to expect power failure because of the storm, but they’ll get it fixed soon if it did.”
“Well, Del, who was the one who agreed that the ‘storm’ didn’t matter? I mean, after all, it is a hurricane,” Derrick as sarcastically.
“Derrick, millions of people stayed here because of this concert. We’re doing it. Period.”
“I’ll find a new manager if I need to because of the temperament of my current one,” Derrick quietly stated.
“Oh, and where can you find one during a hurricane?”
“Well, I might not be a manager or agent, but I do know a lot about concert run-throughs and booking,” a voice from out of the darkness said.
“Who is that?” Derrick and Del asked at the same time.
“A wayfaring minstrel caught out in the hurricane that decided shelter might be a good idea,” was Angela’s reply. “Mind if I take one of the empty seats? The police aren’t letting anyone into town because of the hurricane.”
“Sure,” Derrick replied, “if you’ll tell me how come they let you through.”
“Easy…I told them I could go hide in my basement if they let me through. And it was safer than my car because it was solid concrete that had survived many a hurricane,” Angela said as she sat.
“Why aren’t you there then?” asked Del.
“Probably because the bridge washed out,” answered Derrick. “Am I right?”
“Sure are. How’d you know that?”
“Simple. I barely made it across myself and that was just because of the waves.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Del was afraid to see Derrick. The concert in Miami had been a mistake. When the hurricane watch came in, he should have cancelled the concert and kept the band safe. They had made it through, but only because of the “wayfaring minstrel” and Derrick. Those two had known how to survive and make the band feel safe. Derrick had sent the band on vacation and cancelled the rest of the tour without consulting Del. So, he figured that Derrick was going to find a new agent, but he knew that it couldn’t be the “wayfaring minstrel” because she’d not left a name or a clue as to who she was other than the “WAYFARING MINSTREL” name card. And those were a dime a dozen, he’d found out while trying to locate the lady.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Inside his office, Derrick waited for Del to appear. Delwood Collins had been his agent from the beginning, but had pulled his last deception. Del had searched high and low for the “WAYFARING MINSTREL” according to him. Derrick had located the “WAYFARING MINSTREL” when Del said it was impossible. That showed that Del didn’t know too much about the world of music and therefore had no business being an agent.
A knock on the door brought Derrick out of his thoughts. “Come In!” he hollered.
Del walked in as Derrick looked up from a file on his desk. “I had a message to see you,” Del said. “What’s it about? I mean I get a message to come see you and that the band was on vacation. Then, I get a phone call to see why rest of your tour was cancelled. ‘I didn’t cancel it,’ I told them. They said you had. What’s going on Derrick?”
“Well, Del, let’s see…three of five of the members of the band got hurt during the hurricane when the floor gave out. You should have cancelled that concert. Do you know how many people got hurt because of trying to attend that concert?”
“No, and that’s not my fault,” was Del’s reply.
“Yeah it is!” Derrick yelled. “You’re my agent. Your job is to book my concerts, keep my fans safe, and follow my instructions. You lack of concern got 150 fans seriously injured, 10 dead, and many more injured while trying to get to my concert. And Sam, Erik and Kris got hurt.”
“Well, that happens! My job is to keep the fans safe once they reach the concert!”
“Your job is to keep them safe. Period,” Derrick quietly stated. “And what have you found out about that name card?”
“Huh?” Del gasped out. “I told you those cards are a dime a dozen. Everyone can get them at any of the tourist shops around here. Why?”
“”Maybe because I found out that the reason those cards are so popular is because they are the signature cards for a local bluegrass band.”
“Bluegrass? In Florida?” was the questioning reply. “You know that type of music doesn’t go over well here.”
“Well, at least, I have the connections to find out what the band’s been doing. You apparently don’t,” Derrick paused before adding, “And so, you are fired. Leave my office and don’t come back. You violated the terms of your contract that states ‘an agent must have the music industry contacts to benefit this band and artist.’ So, I don’t want to see you in here again.”
“Okay. So, who’s your new agent? The ‘wayfaring minstrel’?”
“Nope. They don’t have a female member and won’t give me a clue who she is.”
“Poor thing. And she had a better voice than you do. She could use an agent rather than being one. Maybe that’s why you can’t forget her,” Del snarled as he left.
Derrick knew that his mystery lady had a killer voice. She’d crooned out lullabies that made his band relax, without even realizing that it was her voice that soothed their fears. Derrick’s mystery lady wouldn’t leave his mind because of one of those lullabies. It was one his mother had written for a friend’s little girl. His mother read it once to him and he’d never forgotten the words. He’d also never heard it sung before his mystery lady, the “wayfaring minstrel”, had done so.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Angela was puzzled. The Wayfaring Minstrel’s office had just called. She had used the band for a couple of concerts Max had insisted she do, but that was all. Jeff, the band leader, had the secretary call to see if she knew why Derrick Renfield would call to see if they had a female lead. She’d told the secretary no, but was still puzzled.
Derrick Renfield had his own band and female lead. Why would he need a new band? The Jazz Notes were part of what made him the Number One Jazz Singer. Why would he be trying to find a female lead from The Wayfaring Minstrels, a bluegrass band?
“Oh, no!” Angela gasped as she reached for the phone.
“Wayfaring Minstrels, Regina speaking,” came the reply to the ringing.
“Regina this is Angela Devry. Get Jeff for me please.”
“Sure thing. Hold on just a sec.”
“Angela, what’s up?” Jeff asked a few minutes later.
“Well, Jeff, remember those concerts Max made me do?”
“Yeah, you did great. Even made it home before the hurricane. Why?"
“Well, I said I made it back to town before the hurricane. I didn’t make it home. The bridge was out. So, I dropped by the concert hall since there was supposed to be a concert in town.”
“Oh, my,” Jeff interrupted. “That concert was supposed to be Derrick Renfield and The Jazz Notes. They were there weren’t they?”
“Yes. I didn’t give my name and I left before they got the lights to work, but…” Angela hesitated.
“But what?” Jeff coaxed.
“But I made a wise crack about being a “wayfaring minstrel”. So, would he be looking for me?”
“Probably. Want me to let Derrick know who you are?”
“No, but if he calls again, let me know,” Angela said. “After all, you don’t have a female lead.”
“Okay, catch you later,” Jeff responded as he hung up the phone.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Derrick kept searching for his mysterious wayfaring minstrel. He was also searching for a new agent. The haunting melody of his mother’s lullaby was driving him crazy. He couldn’t concentrate on anything else. His band members were glad that they were on vacation when they meandered into his office. Sam finally suggested that Derrick go back to The Wayfaring Minstrels and try to find her through them. Maybe she was someone they worked with, but wasn’t a member of the band.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Angela’s vacation was almost up when Max called her. She’d gotten a phone call from Derrick Renfield asking about her connection to The Wayfaring Minstrels. And Max also wanted to see if Angela could bring them to the recording sessions because the fans loved them.
“Max, you know I hate recording, but I’ll make you a deal. If I can get The Wayfaring Minstrels to come with me, this was my last tour. I’ll do this session and then just do my writing. And I want to record the lullaby on this one.”
“Deal. Call me in a week and let me know. See you in three weeks!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Derrick was almost ready to give up. He’d searched high and low for an agent and for the lady who crooned his mother’s lullaby. His band was almost back from their four-month long vacation after the hurricane and he hadn’t composed anything or found someone to replace Del.
Samantha meandered into the office and dropped a cassette tape on Derrick’s desk. She just smiled and left. The note on the tape simply read “the lullaby answer”.
Derrick was puzzled by his band’s female lead’s actions. He read the cassette and decided to put it in out of curiosity. The only song on the tape was introduced by this simple phrase: Listen to find the answers from the past to present.
?? “The Lullaby”
Searching for answers is my little one.
Searching from past to find the future.
Searching forever to find the one.
Sunshine to rain, high to low,
My little one searches for answers;
Answers to come, answers to see.
Searching for answers is my little one.
Searching that started anew one night.
Searching is what my little one does.
Searching for answers to happiness.
Sunshine to rain, high to low,
My little one searches for answers;
Answers to come, answers to see.
Searching for answers is my little one.
Searching for answers as was told to be.
Searching for happiness not from the sea.
Searching again is my little one.
Sunshine to rain, high to low,
My little one searches for answers;
Answers to come, answers to see.
Searching for answers is my little one.
Searching is coming to a close don't you see?
Searching is almost done.
Singing is the answer for my little one.
Find the singer and this lullaby's done.
Sunshine and rain, high and low,
Search for the singer and happiness find.
The answers are waiting, my little one.
Just in time for this lullaby is done. ??
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“The song was done by Genine Sundary and The Wayfaring Minstrels. You have to know who she is and where to find her,” Derrick shouted at Regina, the secretary for The Wayfaring Minstrels.
In the office, Jeff and Angela looked at each other. Both knew who was shouting at Regina. Angela used the name Genine Sundary for all of her recording and tours. She wrote under her own name, but wouldn’t perform under it.
Jeff stood and told Angela, “I’ll get rid of him for you. Stay here.”
Derrick looked at the man emerging from the office and scowled.
“Hello, I am Jeff, the leader of The Wayfaring Minstrels. May I help you?”
“Tell me who Genine Sundary is,” was Derrick’s only statement.
“I don’t know anyone named that.”
“You toured and recorded with her.”
“I know that we did a tour with Genine Sundary, but that isn’t her name…she simply uses it to perform and record. Genine doesn’t exist outside of a recording studio or off-stage.”
“You know who I am talking about. Just tell me how to get a hold of her.”
“Learn some manners and ask, not demand would be my recommendation, Mr. Dalton,” Angela said as she opened the office door. “See you later Jeff and Regina.”
Derrick looked dumfounded as his mystery lady waltzed in from the office that Jeff had come from and out the front door. He barely made it to the door as she drove off in a beat up truck.
Jeff and Regina looked at each other and started to laugh. Derrick Renfield had just been reprimanded by their “girl” and left standing on the sidewalk looking after her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Derrick looked up at the knock on his office door. The lady from the office of The Wayfaring Minstrels was standing in his doorway.
“May I have a second of your time, Mr. Dalton?” asked Angela Devry.
Derrick just nodded and pointed to a chair. He was too shocked to speak. Dalton was his last name, but he had never used it in his life. Only his mother had known it, or so he thought.
“You probably would like to know how I know your actual last name. A lady sent me this song when I was a little girl. She was a friend of my mother. “The Lullaby” by Erica Nicole Renfield-Dalton. My mother read it to me when it first came. I didn’t see it again until I had produced my first album. My mother sent it to my agent as a thank you with the instructions that it was to be the last one I recorded. She died shortly after that. My agent did a search for the author of the song, or poem as it was then. Max found out that she had died shortly before my mother. She had a son, Derrick Dalton. No records existed of Derrick Dalton, but we kept her name on the copyright of the lyrics after I put it to music. I had just finished a tour and was headed home when I got caught by the hurricane. I was going to work on the music to go with those lyrics on vacation. I was ready to leave the performing behind. I happened to a concert hall and soothed a band with the lyrics…and that music is what has haunted you.”
Derrick nodded and asked, “ How did you figure out it was my mother?”
“You searched high and low. The lyrics combined with your mother’s name. It wasn’t hard after I had the music…from the night we met.”
“My mother read me those words a long time ago. She told me that I would marry the lady who first sang those words. I remember it clearly because that is when she told me what my last name really was…Dalton. I’d grown up a Renfield. I wanted to find out if the words of that lullaby would turn out true like her other predictions.”
“My name is Angela Devry. Care to take a chance and see if your mother was right? I can even recommend a new agent for you, Max Albany…she’s out of a job because “The Lullaby” was my last recording.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Max called, the tour is set. And she will cancel for hurricanes,” Angela told Derrick.
“Great. Will she cancel for a wedding and honeymoon?”
“What? This is your third tour. The first Del screwed up and the second went well. Why do you want to cancel this one? Wait…who is getting married?”
“I am, I hope. I have to ask the lovely lady first.”
“Oh, and who is this lovely lady?”
“Oh, simply a wayfaring minstrel…”
“Derrick are you serious?”
“Yes, my mother was right. I will marry the lady I first heard sing her lullaby, if she will have me?”
“Of course, Derrick. But how about we make our honeymoon the tour? I’ll even join you on-stage to sing her lullaby with you.”
“Perfect. We’ll announce it to Max and the bands tonight at rehearsal. Do you think The Wayfaring Minstrels will agree to accompany us now?”
“Of course. After all, aren’t I just a wayfaring minstrel?”
© Megan Delia Ratcliff, March 2001
