The Orbinson estate had ample room for musical practice. Reggie was fond of the pure white baby grand in the living room despite knowing he had to play a small electronic keyboard at the Battle of the Bands. Franz Schoulsberg, a friend of Reggie’s, had brought his bass over and left it residing at their home to make it easier for practice. It was another smooth session, hardly any mistakes in the piece that they played with perfect harmony. There were three solos - one for violin, piano, and double bass. Evelyn Jane was on point as ever with her violin. Franz had said more than two words, which was an excellent day for anyone around him.

Evelyn knew that Battle of the Bands was expecting nothing but electronic-styled music but this was her chance to tear down barriers and show the world that classical had a place among popular music.



At six o'clock sharp, Evelyn Jane concluded practice and Reggie bid Franz farewell. Six o'clock was also when their father, the Mayor, would return home for the evening.



“Hi Daddy!” she made sure to meet him at the door, thankful he wasn’t working late. “I need to talk with you about the Mayor’s Ball-”

“Good evening Evie, Listen, I have to go take care of some business but we can talk later, okay?” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and took his briefcase upstairs to his office.

Evelyn Jane wilted a bit, but was determined to get a word in to her father so that Leona Hillenburg could be put on the Mayor’s Ball entertainment list. It was the only way to keep her from singing in the competition.



A bit before dinner she knocked on her father’s office door.

“Come in,” she heard his tired voice.

“Daddy, about the Mayor’s Ball…”

“You know, your mother is looking forward to that event. She told me she bought a new dress for it.”

“Well Mom does love an excuse to buy a new dress,” Evelyn rolled her eyes and intended to steer the conversation back to the entertainment list but they both heard a call for dinner then.



It was pork chops this time.

Their mother asked them how practice was coming along. Reggie ridiculed the musical tastes of those that preferred electronic keyboards. Evelyn Jane waited for a good pause to bring up the Mayor’s Ball but as soon as the words left her lips her mother told her not to discuss business at the table. She looked abashed at her mother and began to protest but Noelle Orbinson gave her daughter a look that told her not to disturb the Mayor while he was eating. Evelyn Jane sawed vigorously with her knife at her pork chop and didn’t say another word about it.



Finally, the chance to get her father alone and not burdened by work, happened after dinner when he was pouring himself a drink in the parlor.

“Daddy, can I talk to you about putting a singer on the agenda for the Mayor’s Ball entertainment?” she stepped into the room and didn’t wait for him to say yes or no. “It doesn’t have to be a whole set, just maybe one song. Hopefully, we can fit her into the nine o'clock slot...”



"Whoa, whoa, whoa there,” her father put down his drink at the bar and stopped her stream of words, “The entertainment has already been planned, there’s no time available for anyone else to take the stage.”

“But-”

“You’ll just have to let your friend know maybe next year. Sorry Evie,” he looked saddened to deny her but she knew it was a diplomatic look he gave to people on a daily basis when they didn’t get what they wanted from him. Her brow furrowed and she left to go to her bedroom and didn’t bid him a good night.



It wasn’t until she was in her pajamas and ready for bed that a new idea struck her on how to maneuver events the way she needed them to go. She snuck into her father’s office and took a few sheets of his official stationary, then went back to her desk to try and copy his handwriting, practicing a few times in her school notebooks until she could forge his flourishes.

She had to prevent Leona from singing at the Battle of the Bands any way possible.