The Secret Concert

Mack Periwinkle had told me about the summer concert a few months ago and I understood that plans were going well. Perhaps it is uncharitable to say, but one reason for the smooth running was the limited input from our mayor, Ramsey Nettlefield.  

Ramsey had decided to be less proactive with his over-ambitious ideas. He had learned this after his experience with the Melting festival a few years ago when the entertainment for the event was threatened by his mercurial proposals. Alex Periwinkle had been the one whose time had been wasted by all this and his father hadn't wanted a repeat of that situation. As one of our older residents, Mack's tactful words with the mayor had been respectfully received.

My involvement was comparatively minor too. As Mack was the keyboard player for Bear Banger and the Bunny Boys, he'd asked if it was possible for me to provide an arrangement of one of the more upbeat songs from our Sylvan River musical - one that could be performed by a small music group. I think he knew I had one almost completed as I'd started to do this for last year's Melting. This was put on hold when Lionel Grand kindly stepped in. I therefore hadn't had much work to do to finish the job and I handed it over to Mack some weeks ago. I'd not had any further involvement since, and as far as I knew the rehearsals in the chapel meeting room had been going without a hitch.

I'd put the upcoming summer concert out of my mind until I'd received an invitation to go to the meeting room a few days back. It turned out that my songwriting partner Chris Snow-Warren had been invited too.

When we arrived, there wasn't any sign of the band's instruments. Also, only two of the Bunny Boys were present - Mack Periwinkle and Winston Cottontail. Gus Timbertop, Bernard Snow-Warren and Smokey Wildwood were nowhere to be seen.

"Is my dad not here?" said Chris, looking around.

 

"Nope," said Winston. "It's not a rehearsal day. Also we're having a break before tomorrow's concert."

"He went out," said Chris. "I assumed he was coming here. I wonder where he's gone?"

"He's involved in arrangements elsewhere."

"Sounds a bit secretive. I think you should let us know what's going on," said Chris.

"That's why we've invited you here," said Mack. "We have been keeping a secret, and now it's only fair we let you in on it."

"What?" I asked.

"It's not just us playing at the summer concert. We're the support band. Now, despite it being years ago, Winston still has a contact at his old workplace in Stonehaven. We must have mentioned he worked in Bertie Freeze's music shop, surely? Never mind.. The point is that Bertie's youngest son Kennedy - he was a baby when we left - manages a band wanting somewhere to do a warm-up gig..."

"A warm-up gig?"

"Yes. They're going on tour after a long break but wanted somewhere off the circuit to perform their set. Somewhere where the press aren't pre-warned. And it had to be a secret so that they aren't deluged with their fans."

Chris and I glanced at each other. "Which band is it, Mack?" said Chris.

"Dingle Boy and his band, the Fibres from Baas."

o 0 O 0 o

Dingle Boy is my daughter's favourite pop star. Her cousins are big fans too. 

 

As a consequence, I was undecided whether or not to tell them the news about the concert in advance - or merely ensure they attended so that I could watch their surprised little faces. Cecile made the decision. "It's a secret concert. Keep the secret."

 

I've heard some of their music, and Dingle Boy apparently writes most of it. It's actually rather good. Mack had told me that Dingle Boy's set list would mainly comprise songs from "The Lamb Who Sold the Wool", "A Lamb in Skein" and their most famous long-playing album "The Rise and Fall of Piggy Sawdust and the Fibres from Baas". 

I remember Beverley trying to explain how the Piggy Sawdust record was a concept album about an old-fashioned barber's shop that specialised in shearing baa lambs. And something about how the barber made use of the wool. It was supposed to be a metaphor for something. Fair enough. Chris isn't averse to sprinkling metaphors in our songs.

In any case, the concert should be entertaining. And seeing Beverley's face...

o 0 O 0 o

The Bunny Boys sounded good. Their rehearsals had tightened up their sound and they represented Mellowdene well. 

 

 

Yet as they took their bows it occurred to me that they had chosen not to include our Sylvan River song. I assumed they had their reasons. Maybe they decided it didn't suit their style. No matter.

 

There was a short interval giving the small audience a time to visit the Doughty's Hamburger Wagon or get an ice cream from Violet Beaufort's van. This allowed the main act to have their equipment set up and have a brief sound check.

 

We were alerted to be ready when Winston Cottontail got back on stage and made what was, to nearly all the audience, an unexpected statement. "Most of you are under the impression that the Bunny Boys are going to do a second set. Well, that's not the case. We have a visiting band who are going to play for you, courtesy of their manager Kennedy Freeze. They are... ah, you'll recognise them!"

He paused before stepping aside, a smile on his face as the crowd politely applauded, some whispering to each other in curiosity.

 

 

o 0 O 0 o

When Dingle Boy walked onto the stage, Beverley's mouth dropped open. "It... It... It's him!" 

 

She wasn't frozen to the spot too long. She ran to her cousins. Lena Dandelion was hugging Anise Ivory. Biddie Butterglove was jumping up and down, shouting "Dingle Dingle Dingle," and Beverley joined in.

Cecile gave me a sideways glance. "Aren't you going to go 'dingle dingle' too?"

I kissed her cheek. "I'm hunky dory as I am, thank you."

She chuckled and we turned our attention to the performers. Guitarist Pigg Gruntson struck a pose and played the opening riff. Fletcher Border added a bassline and drummer Woody Brookmansey contributed a solid beat cueing Dingle Boy's opening line to "Piggy Sawdust".  

Piggy shaved, bizarre

'Cause he could, he sheared the woollies 

And the fibres from "Baas"

He said "no lesser lamb

could take things this far,"

Became the special ram

Then we were Piggy's band...

Brendan wandered up to me, Lucky Snow-Warren trailing behind.

"They aren't bad, are they Dad?"

"I think your sister seems to be of the same opinion," I smiled, pointing out the girls dancing in a circle, their eyes wide with excitement.

 

 

"Mm," acknowledged my boy. "They remind me of the baddies in 'Flash Gopher and Invasion of the Asteroid People'. Don't you think so, Lucky?"

A nod of acknowledgement. "I liked that season." The young white rabbit addressed me. "Maybe you don't know, Mister Butterglove. Flash overloaded his goodie-ray-gun and the leaders of the Asteroid people were all zapped at once. They became nice people."

"That's good of you to tell me, Lucky."

The song came to an end and we all clapped. 

 

 

I noticed the band wait for Mack Periwinkle to slip back behind his piano and then they launched into their next opus. "Life of Baas".

"It's so wonderful shorn of hair,"

says the girl who's not fleece aware

But the summer and fall will go

And we've had reports there will be snow

But depending on what she has seen

She may stick to mistaken dreams

And a sheep with this fearless view   

might be lucky with this routine

But the chill is advancing more

and she's left it too long; at core

She admits that's she's been a fool

and at last she can focus on

Tailors, waiting for the snow squall   

They ran clothes up so long ago 

It was forecasted so

And they look at the poor plans

of freezing little ovines,

Baa lambs, wonder if they'll ever know

That they are here selling clothes, 

Save the lives of Baas.

"I like this one," said Cecile, "it's a nice tune."

As the show proceeded I came to appreciate the showmanship of Dingle Boy. His band were talented musicians and he shaped their skill into a show I doubt I'd ever forget. But these things come to an end. Towards the end of the concert, Dingle Boy addressed the crowd.

"Thank you. We're happy you've enjoyed our older songs. We haven't toured for a couple of years and it's been nice to play them again. But now we're going to play something in public for the first time..."

I became aware of someone by my side. It was Winston Cottontail and he raised his arm. At the same time I saw Bernard Snow-Warren raise his arm too. He was by his son.

Dingle Boy continued. "...and I'd like to thank two people amongst you who wrote the song we're about to do. Your own Jackson Butterglove and Christian Snow-Warren."

 

The audience clapped and whooped as he extended his arms towards us. Cecile gave me a hug.

    

 

Woody Brookmansey set up a clever rhythm into which Fletcher Border added a bass pattern. Pigg Gruntson punctuated this with melodic power chords, building up the tension until there was a sudden pause, cueing Dingle Boy with the opening line from "The Artist".

She was there. She was there. 

She was sitting on the river bank, an easel to her side

I was aware. I was aware.

I was aware that I was curious; that could not be denied...

It was our song. Chris's words, my melody, but it was different. Not in a bad way, though. They had taken some of the arrangement I had crafted for the Bunny Boys but it had changed, maybe to compensate for the lack of a keyboard part (Mack had left the stage). Pigg Gruntson had incorporated that part of my work into some emotionally charged guitar mastery. I relaxed and enjoyed the novel experience of hearing talented musicians interpret our work. 

 

The song continued.

But then I saw the river through her deep artistic eyes

She'd pondered, taking time to look beyond the rushing course.

I thought back to the Fisherman and it came as no surprise

she painted with a patience just as he had at his source.

The destination does not change, it has nowhere to go.

It waits upon the traveller so they can pause a while,

There's much to see along the way, there's beauty we should know

To see the art around us, take time to paint a smile. 

The refrain repeated a few times. Dingle Boy smiled as the rest of the band showed their skill.

When the song reached its end, slowing down, the closing bars reflected the introduction. A nice touch. As the cheers began I went into myself, analysing my thoughts.

 

It was a total surprise. I wasn't really in a state to pay much attention to the last couple of songs in Dingle Boy's set. I vaguely recall him playing some saxophone.

 

 

I was brought back to reality when I felt Beverley tugging at my arm. When I looked at her she stood back and I could see she was still excited. Her cousins were watching from a distance.

"He did your song, daddy! Dingle Boy did your song! Did you know he would? Why didn't you say?"

I assured her I didn't, and, like the summer concert, there were secrets that took time to be exposed. 

Brendan sidled up to me. As usual his way of thinking wasn't quite the norm. "That was alright, that, Dad. You should write their next album. Do you think they'd do a concept album about Flash Gopher?"

Biddy Butterglove disengaged herself from the others and confronted Brendan.

"Why is it always Flash Gopher with you?"

My boy smiled. "All will be revealed in the next episode of... Flash Gopher and the Eclipse of the Woolly Pop Star."

Biddy noticed Beverley smiling too. "Well? What's so funny?"

 

Beverley shrugged. "That's my brother. You should know he can be nutty sometimes. It's not a secret." 

Brendan grinned. "Flash Gopher and the Secret of the Nutty Brother. Maybe I should suggest it to Dingle Boy."

"Don't you dare!" exclaimed Biddy shortly before she realised she was being teased. She collapsed with laughter.

"Hmm," said Cecile. "Maybe the Nutty Brother will be Flash Gopher's match. He's vanquished the mighty Biddy. Another reason we'll remember this summer concert, do you think, Jack?"

"Maybe, sweet wrinkle. Maybe."

o 0 O 0 o

 

Veri Peri

In central Sylvania there is a small village called Stonehaven, a small village that has played a significant part in the evolution of Mellowdene. This was because of a number of critters who chose to move from there to here.

The first was Gustav Timbertop and his wife Fern. They came to assist a distant relative on his small holding. My earlier story on Timbertop Farm gives details. Amongst other things, it tells how Gus needed help and called upon two other residents of Stonehaven to give temporary assistance. These were two rabbits who were friends from his old band Bear Banger and the Bunny Boys. He didn't expect the other two band members to accompany them.

These four rabbits - Winston Cottontail, Smokey Wildwood, Bernard Snow-Warren and Mack Periwinkle - subsequently decided they would leave Stonehaven permanently and remain in Mellowdene.

 

You shouldn't imply from this that they didn't like their old home. There were practical reasons they left - space and resources. As the name suggests, Stonehaven is in a mountainous region, and the vast rocky areas meant expansion of the village was far from practical. As the population grew, the villagers had to live closer together - not a problem socially, but the availability of water and farmland placed restrictions.

These were considerations when planning to have a family. Mack Periwinkle had a new wife Mabel, and it would only be a matter of time until the other Bunny Boys would get married and wish to start families. This was the prime motivation for staying in Mellowdene. Besides, they had made friends in their new home.

Not all young critters wanted to leave Stonehaven, which was just as well - it is a lovely village - but a few others took inspiration from the Bunny Boys' migration. The Honeydews and the Thistlethorns are but two.

One could argue Stonehaven's loss was our gain as Mellowdene acquired people who would contribute to our growth. As one of our major food producers, Timbertop Farm is a given, but each new family added to the richness of our community. The Wildwoods alone gave us the brickworks to help our village build new homes, an excellent Sheriff in Bisto Wildwood, and a marvellous teacher in Eve Wildwood. On a personal note, had the Snow-Warrens not moved here, I wouldn't have made songwriting my career.

Overpopulating Stonehaven may have been valid concern given the size of the families associated with the Bunny Boys. The Periwinkles and Honeydews appear to be forming a dynasty! (Although I should talk considering the number of the Buttergloves living here...)

By now, you may be wondering why I have told you this. It relates to one of these families - the Periwinkles - and one of that family who chose to remain in Stonehaven. Mack's unmarried sister Verity.

 

 

o 0 O 0 o

 

The Periwinkles gather every five years or so to celebrate their arrival in Mellowdene. They reserve the village hall for this purpose and arrange for special cakes to be made. As Katherine Periwinkle is a member of the Cake Club, she usually adopts responsibility for providing these and she co-opts some of her Cake Club friends to assist. Cecile is one of these.

 

This year, the event was particularly special as Verity Periwinkle decided she would make the effort to attend. One of her nephews - Adam Periwinkle - had rented a car to transport her, easing any of her perceived travelling woes. After the trials she had declared following her first family visit, this had become the norm.

 

Cecile told me what happened at the village hall.

o 0 O 0 o

"You've not met Auntie Verity, have you, Cecile?" asked Katherine.

 

"No. Is she like Mack?"

"Er, no. She is... definitely not like him."

"Ooh, am I detecting a hint of disapproval?"

 

"No, no, Cecile," Katherine smiled, "Let's just say she is well-named. She tells the truth as she sees it - with no filter."

"Ah. A straightforward lady. Will I get to meet her? I presume she doesn't visit often."

"We bring her over as much as we can, but it's usually only family she sees. This is a higher profile event and she'll see nearly all the Periwinkles and Honeydews. And as for you meeting her, now that I've warned you, I see no reason why you shouldn't."

"Consider me warned," laughed Cecile, "And you said 'Nearly all'?"

 

"We've decided my twins are too small to come. Pinkie and Dinkie would find it too overwhelming. My mum and dad will take care of them."

"So Selina and Selwyn won't be here either."

 

"Oh, the Honeydews will be well represented. My brothers are coming with the family."

"Ah."

 

o 0 O 0 o

The family was well represented. Sawyer Honeydew had made some nibbles. Everett Honeydew came with his wife and children.

 

Mack and Mabel Periwinkle were smiling ear to ear as they surveyed their three sons' families - scattered about the village hall, the children moving between the groups like bees visiting flowers.

 

Alex Periwinkle was trying not to organise too obviously, but his experience as a teacher was key to the children not getting overexcited. 

 

Allen Periwinkle had his arm around his wife Katherine, enjoying the socialising. 

 

 

Everyone was awaiting Adam Periwinkle's arrival with his aunt, so his wife Evelyn had her eyes on their children.

 

Cecile was with Emma Furbanks as the other Cake Club representative, watching inobtrusively from the kitchen area. They were keen to see Veri Peri - as Mabel Periwinkle (but few others) called her.

 

They didn't have long to wait. The village hall's outer door opened and a voice rang out.
"Well, it smells of rabbit in here."

 

Mack yacked out with laughter and half ran to his sister to give her a hug. Mabel shook her head with amusement, responding in a clear voice. "That might be, Veri Peri, because we're all rabbits."

 

This seemed to set the tone of the afternoon. Verity would make a pointed observation that would be greeted with humour and acceptance, no offence being taken, with Mabel occasionally diluting the effect of her sister-in-law's comments.

 

Evelyn Periwinkle asked her husband about the drive from Stonehaven.

 

 

"As you know," said Adam, "Auntie Verity does have opinions on driving. She likes to be travelling slowly and smoothly near villages..."

 

"As one should," commented Evelyn.

 

"...but she wants to go very fast on long straight stretches. It's just as well that I'm aware of her foibles. Today's journey was uneventful, other than the running commentary on her life in Stonehaven."

 

    
Youngsters James and Barry Periwinkle were talking to their great-aunt.

 

 

"Auntie Veri," said James, "why don't you move to Mellowdene?"

 

She regarded them, half-closing one eye. "There are too many annoying Periwinkle children here."

Open-mouthed, the boys swivelled their heads to look at each other before returning their gaze to Verity. Her face was solemn, and she waited until one of the children was about to speak before rewarding them with a wink. They collapsed in peals of laughter.

 

"It's a fair question," said Allen, who had been listening. "Are there any other Periwinkles in Stonehaven these days?"

 

"It's not just family," said Verity, "although you've conveniently forgotten my mother's side of the family. Remember that she was Agnes Milk before she married a Periwinkle, and there are a number of Milk rabbits still happy there. Georgina Milk is not only family, she's also a good friend. And I do have plenty of friends, nephew."

 

"We like to see you," said Barry.

"And you will. I visit, don't I? I've no plans to change that. If nothing else I need to continue to train your father into improving his driving."

Verity scanned the hall, watching her young relatives interact, and her eyes paused upon one young rabbit dancing around, pirouetting periodically.

 

She nudged Barry. "Remind me. Who's that crazy girl dancing about over there?"

"Oh, that's my cousin, Britney Honeydew. She's not really crazy, auntie. She just..."

"Yes, yes. I remember. She's following her heart. Good for her."

Coincidentally, another Honeydew was winding his way towards Verity Periwinkle. Button Honeydew.

He stopped directly in front of her, and thrust out his hand, showing her a matchbox.

 

"I've got a present for you, Auntie Verity," he said.

Verity took the box, hearing it rattle. "Matches?"

 

Button shook his head. "No. Look."

Verity carefully slid open the matchbox tray and looked inside. "Little nails? I don't understand."

 

"It's because of something mummy said. 'A shame you didn't have more tacked,' she said. Well now you've got some tacks to do your jobs. If you need more, I can get you some."

The side of Verity's mouth twitched. "Your mother said that, did she? And you are..."

"Button Honeydew."

"Well, Button. Thank you for your present. It would seem that not all of my relatives are boring. I like you."

"I like you, Auntie Verity."

 

"You can call me Veri Peri. Tell me about your mummy..."

o 0 O 0 o

Cecile didn't get to meet Verity Periwinkle. Seeing the family interactions between the Periwinkles and Honeydews she decided that she wouldn't intrude. She and Emma Furbanks did get a name check for helping to provide such tasty cakes, and that was enough.

 

"She seems a character," said Emma.

"Worth writing about," said Cecile with a secret smile.

So we did.

o 0 O 0 o