The mover’s were finishing up at the flat, Rocco had begged his leave and it was time for drink and conversation.
I mused as I entered Levithan that I did not think I’d ever made an appearance midweek. Handing my top coat to the roboservant, I nearly took off my new, lovely bowler. While I was happy that hats were all the rage again, the fact we wore them indoors this season was a bit hard to get used to.
The main room was all but empty.
Rumpthwaite sensed my wonderment as to where the other’s might be and inclined his antlers in the direction of the minor ballroom at the far end. I thanked him and held up two fingers for a double.
As I approached the door, the faint sound of music wound down and polite clapping ensued. Opening the door, I see all the regulars, and Elizabeth Mary (@hadley) standing next to the door jumped up smiling.
“Dear cousin! I was so hoping you might attend tonight now that you have an apartnment in town.”
The quizzical look I had must have prompted her to continue.
“It’s TuesdayF, you silly Moose. Karaoke Night.”
“Kar-a-o-ke.” I felt the unfamiliar word in my mouth.
“It is all the rage from the Auriental System. It is like a poetry reading of sorts, but you are accompanied by music on the phonograph.”
“Seems odd that I hadn’t heard of it, little cousin.”
“The first rule of Karaoke Night, is that one does not talk about Karaoke night.”
I stroked my beard. Poetry was usually an enjoyable evening, the music may add something of a twist. I sipped at the MacMackey McMichael that had appeared in my hand and looked for a seat.
“Oh, no, dear cousin. If this is your first Karaoke, You MUST participate.”
Judging by the polite stares from the assembled group, it would be a faux pas to not sally forth, so I made my way to the stage.
“And, Hieron, I knew you would show up so I have an arrangement picked out just for you. Well, for you and that Silk Bowler.” She smiled sweetly as her tongue flicked about. I paused trying to remember if I had slighted her (more than the usual near-sibling rivalry one would expect) and felt my best course of action would be to follow through with her sugestion
Elizabeth Mary Farnsworth busied herself telling the KaraokeBot setting what arrangement I would be performing and showing me how the teleprompterbot would show me the poem I would recite.
“Now the music will start, and just recite the words as they come up. There’s a little bouncing ball that will keep you in time.”
I set down my drink, loosened my cravet a hair, took a double pinch of snuff and felt my pupils widen. Clearing my throat, I struck my poetry reading pose. Right leg back, chest puffed out, head held high. I nodded to the K-Bot to begin.
[Pop][Hisss] and the music began. The Teleprompter came to life.
One...Two...One...Two...Three...Four
Yeah
I was investing part time in a fishery
The boss was Mr. McGee
He told me several times that he didn't like my kind
'Cause I was a bit too business-y
Seems that he was busy doing something close too nothing
But different than the day before
That's when he saw me, Ooh, he saw me
I walked in through the out door, out door
I wore a
Raspberry bowler
The kind one finds at a habadasher
Raspberry bowler
And if it was warm I wouldn't wear a top coat
Raspberry bowler
I think of Pro-ooo-fit
Built like he was
He had the nerve to ask me
If I planned to change the schedule up
So, look here
I put him in the back of my coach
And-a we went riding
Down by seet Gummibunns' farm
I said now, lay-about bums never earned a coin
But something about the clouds and him mixed
He wasn't too bright
But I could tell when he groveled
He knew how to keep getting checks
I wore a
Raspberry bowler
The kind one finds at a Habadasher
Raspberry bowler
And if it was warm I wouldn't wear a top coat
Raspberry bowler
I think of Pro-ooo-fit
The rain sounds so cool when it hits the barn roof
And the lagoderms wonder who you are
Thunder drowns out what the lightning sees
You feel like a robber baron
Listen
They say the first time ain't the greatest
But I tell you
If I had the chance to do it all again
I wouldn't change a note
Because, dearest, I'm the most
When the board votes for the CEO ... Oh No
The music wound down. The polite clapping seemed sincere enough. My dear cousin looked pleased with herself. I picked up my drink and found a chair to enjoy the next sentient’s performance. Such a pity Sir Patrick (@nimelennar) could not be here.
