The Legacy of Seán – Part 1: The Orphan’s Plight

Chapter 5: The Drumming Dynamo | Episode 13

The following day unfolded as a typical Monday at school. It wasn’t until evening that the students were told to finish their routine tests and assemble in the large hall, awaiting what seemed to be a significant announcement. Principal Anderson ascended the stage alongside a dignified-looking individual. As he cleared his throat, the murmurs and chatter among the students gradually subsided.

‘Good afternoon, dear students,’ Principal Anderson began with a warm smile. ‘I hope your Monday blues have been replaced with a sense of accomplishment after those tests.’

A ripple of chuckles spread through the auditorium. Not to mention the Principal of Stourbrook High has a reputation for possessing a great sense of humour.

‘Now, let’s move on to something more exciting,’ he continued. ‘Today, we have a distinguished guest with us, Mr. Andrew Smith, a prominent businessman in our town. Mr. Smith is the owner of several companies, one of which is ‘The Acoustic’ magazine. He visited our school to unveil the details of the upcoming event organised by the magazine brand.’

‘Thank you, Principal Anderson,’ Mr Smith took the podium and continued, ‘It’s a pleasure to be here with all of you. As Principal Anderson mentioned, I am here to announce an exciting event. The Acoustic magazine will be hosting the Musical Talent Hunt contest, and this year, we are thrilled to include both school students and adults from our town.’

The announcement was met with a sudden burst of excitement.

‘Yes, you heard it right,’ Mr Smith continued, ‘We want you to showcase your unique talents. It could be anything, singing, dancing, playing an instrument or a combination of all these.’

Whispers and murmurs filled the air as students exchanged curious glances.
‘And here’s the best part,’ Mr Smith added, ‘We have a panel of esteemed judges who will not only appreciate your talents but also reward the best performances based on who can keep the audience on toes. The victorious performers will be showcased in our magazine and could potentially secure contracts for future shows. So, start preparing.’

The auditorium buzzed as enthusiastic students began discussing and planning for the contest. Kevin and Annie, too, found themselves caught in the whirlwind of excitement.

‘This is going to be huge. Our town is brimming with musical talents,’ Annie said to Kevin.

As the two sat amidst the bustle, Kevin turned to Annie. Curiosity gleamed in his eyes. ‘So, Annie, are you going to participate in the contest?’ he inquired.
‘Nah, I don’t participate in musical contests.’ Annie responded with a casual shrug.

Kevin, intrigued, asked, ‘Why not? It sounds like a fantastic opportunity.’
Annie chuckled, ‘Well, I’m not one for showing off this side of mine, especially when my voice sounds like a toad’s. I’m more interested in debating and stand-up comedy.’

Kevin, surprised, raised an eyebrow. ‘Really? You do stand-up comedy?’ He was not aware of this side of his friend.

Annie nodded and beamed, ‘Yeah, it’s more my thing. I find it exhilarating to make people laugh and think at the same time.’

Kevin grinned, ‘That’s awesome! Maybe you should consider a comedy talent hunt. I’d love to see you in action.’

Annie laughed, ‘Who knows, maybe someday. But what about you Kevin? Are you interested in this?’ asked Annie.

Before Kevin could answer they saw Reynold with an eager grin from ear to ear and accompanied by his three friends, approaching the two.

‘What’s the matter, shortcake?’ He taunted, his smirk evident.

Kevin, unfazed, retorted, ‘Nothing, just contemplating whether to give this talent hunt a shot.’

As soon as the boy spoke those words, Reynold’s loud guffaws echoed through the air.

‘Blimey! Are you serious?’ he exclaimed, then turned to his mates. ‘Oi, lads, get a load of this – the little rat thinks he can sing!’

Charlie smirked. ‘You might be good with numbers, but these contests are a different ball game. I bet if you ever tried singing on stage, you’d sound like a squicky little mouse that’s just been stepped on.’ The four giants could not wait for more and burst into laughter.

‘Or will you be trying to solve mathematical equations while playing a fiddle along with it?’ scoffed Leo.

Pleased with the reaction, Reynold added a final jab. ‘Yeah, maybe they’ll give you a cheese trophy for your effort!’

Annie could not withstand the taunting of her friend anymore. She, in a spit of anger, impulsively claimed something weird.

‘Kevin can sing better than you, and if required, will manage a few instruments too,’ And then she turned toward Kevin and declared, ‘He will definitely participate in this musical contest and clinch the first prize. I can bet on that. Kevin, you won’t let me down, right?’

The unexpected assertion left the teen in a pickle, for Annie had suggested something ridiculous that even he couldn’t anticipate.

Caught off guard, Kevin gulped but tried to play it cool with a faint smile on his face, ‘Er…well, I guess we’ll figure it out, won’t we, Annie?’

‘That’s a bluff, Annie. This puny friend of yours can’t perform anything,’ Reynold jeered. He wasn’t about to entertain a challenge from a girl trying to defend someone he so clearly despised.

‘Yeah, we all know he’s a boring maths nerd, not an entertainer. That’s the cup of tea for Reynold,’ Charlie added.

‘And what are you going to do, Reynold? Same old boring salsa moves while singing 60’s melodies in your croaky voice, or are you planning to dazzle us with the extraordinary art of yawning in musical harmony?’ Annie frowned at him, seizing the opportunity to retaliate with a more malevolent mockery. Kevin observed with a mix of amusement and mystification as the two elders engaged in a verbal skirmish, each participant trying to outwit the other by exchanging taunts and jibes.

Sam saw the commotion and decided to intervene. Seeing him coming toward the group, Reynold chose to withdraw from the verbal duel. Scoffing, he shot Annie a self-assured grin.

‘Well, Annie, I’ve got my own set of skills to show this time,” he said confidently. “You’ll see, I’ll be the winner. Gotta run now. See you losers later!’

Without waiting for a response, he strode off with his friends, deliberately avoiding any further confrontation.

Reynold’s hasty exit made both friends let out a collective sigh of relief. The presence of this older student had consistently stirred tension between the two boys. Annie and Kevin, now joined by Sam, continued to immerse themselves in the discussions about the impending event.

‘Why is he like this, Annie?’ Kevin asked.

‘Oh, don’t bother yourself, concentrate on the contest,’ Annie tried to shrug off the matter.

‘But he looked confident, as if he’s gonna win the contest,’ Kevin asked again. He had noticed Reynold’s determined stance as if he knew what he was going to do on stage.

‘If he wins, it will be either by hook or by crook,’ Annie replied. Kevin gave a curious look at her.

‘He’s the son of Mr Andrew Smith. And here’s the kicker – Reynold himself participates in these contests as a salsa artist. However, he often ends up winning the consolation prizes. I’m sure this time he’s gonna pull some shady moves to secure prizes using his connection with the organiser,’ Annie replied.

‘Now that explains why he’s so confident,’ Kevin muttered to himself. Annie continued to disclose more facts and figures about the previous contests organised by The Acoustic, mentioning the feats achieved by Reynold and others in between. Kevin listened attentively, recognizing that if he were to participate, understanding the contest’s history was imperative.

‘Kevin, you’re definitely going to participate, right? You won’t let me down. Can you sing or dance? If not, I know someone who can help you learn. I’m sure you can dazzle on stage. You are so talented,’ Annie asked eagerly. She had already made a claim in front of Reynold, which she later regretted. Now, with a mix of concern and enthusiasm, she awaited Kevin’s response, hoping he would embrace the challenge she unintentionally presented.

‘Well, I’ll keep mine under wraps for now. A bit of mystery adds to the curiosity, don’t you think?’ A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes as he replied. The boy had already decided to participate, leaving aside his fear of being scolded.

‘Come on, Kevin, are you going to keep it a secret from me? What can you perform? Singing, dancing, or do you play guitar?’ Annie playfully nudged him. She was convinced that her little friend had more to offer than the eyes met. But Kevin remained silent. He simply made a zip gesture along his lips, offered a reassuring smile, and walked away, leaving Annie and Sam rooted to the spot, their minds racing to guess what secrets the Wonder Boy might be hiding.

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