Chapter Text
(February 2nd, 195X)
Day 1
My plane crashed. I was surprised to be shaken awake by my choir head, Jack Merridew, but the moment I came to the realization of what was happening Jack’s face went from one of fear to one that seemed like he did not respect me as more choir boys came up to him to spectate.
We were on the plane because our choir director wanted to “take us to sing in America”, which happened to be during the same time as the flood of migrating due to the war. I must assume what he said was just a ruse to hide that we were evacuating, hiding it in a pretty field trip bow.
Even still, I remember preparing like a mad man for this trip. I was happy because, other than our supposed performance day, we could wear whatever we wanted. I was excited because I could finally wear something that wasn’t grey or blue. I had my mother, from home, send me some clothes. Jack, on the other hand, did not care if he had to wear uniforms or not. It made him feel proper. Maybe I had a thing or two to learn from him. Speaking of him, wherever we were staying, the biggest room sizes only held two beds. That meant that each boy had to share a room with another one. We all had the opportunity to choose who to bunk with, but nobody chose me and Jack was in the infirmary that day so I got placed with him. I wonder what that would have been like.
The weeks leading up to our trip my choir head, Jack, was giddy hearing about this trip. I couldn’t tell if he was more excited about it being in America for whatever reason, like the scenery or the so called "opportunities" they have there or if he just wanted to sing and show off to the Americans. I don’t see the popularity that America hold’s, I think I would rather go to some place that is beautiful, like France or Italy.
I recall Jack would recommend to our choir director to make us practice for longer because he wanted to be in perfect condition for our American experience. I feel as if Jack was blinded by the opportunities he did not realize this was an evacuation. I have not talked to Jack too much recently but when I have it would be about America (or about school subjects we had together.) Whatever he wanted to find in America, I feel sorry for him that he could not find it.
I caught a chance with him to be alone, while all the choristers were somewhere else, and I asked him if he was excited to room with me. He told me yes, and that he believes we will have fun. He said he would like for me to bring another book because I am “good at reading” and it entertained him (and myself) over Christmas break, and I happily agreed. I didn’t know what book to bring and so I brought Charlotte’s Web. It looked interesting, and last time I read a book to Jack I made funny voices for each character, which he enjoyed, and I could most definitely do that in this book too. However, when I went up to tell him the book I chose, he told me he did not care about me or my stories and to just leave him alone. I shrank inside and just walked away. I could hear Roger and Maurice laughing about me as I trudged away.
We were supposed to sing the most beautiful songs in America, I think they were our best pieces yet. I was happy to learn them. My favorite was one called Sanctus, and for this song I even got a solo. It was very short, but it was very beautiful. Jack sang very well in his soprano section. It was like an angel's call, because the notes were so high. I was in the alto section but I still think my section was singing just as good. There’s just something so magnificent about sopranos, though. I hope Jack will get the chance he wants in America in the future.