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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3320596" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 223, “Jake and Ruby’s Entertainment” , Saturday, April 1st , 1882, 5:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Kate wandered down into the Cantina and found Ginnie eating in her usual hurried manner. "After you finish that, let's go out and walk around the fair. I can't sit here, and I haven't had a chance to do any shopping yet. Plus there is music to be heard, and that always cheers me up."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie looks around the cantina to make sure that they aren't being heard and then speaks in a whisper “I have been thinking the books that Ringo wants so badly aren't really his at all they belong to the person he took them from originally and so he really has no more claim on them than anyone else. It also seems that he knows that he can't get his hands on them and wants you to give them to him freely is it possible that he can't touch them unless they are a gift freely given that might be why he hasn't been able to access the information before you took the books but can't read them and gave them as a gift freely to Mr. Gonzalez who was able to read them and then you gave me the chance to read them and I could but I wasn't around when you took them to begin with.</p><p></p><p>Gods are know for their curses along with their blessings. Also why don't we go to the big priests guys and let them know at least some of what might be happening this is a religious war you have battle captains wandering around town why not let them do their job and keep the gods from tuning this whole town into an ash pit?</p><p></p><p>"The Priests have arrived? I would be very interested in talking to them, although I'm not sure how much we can tell them. I had thought of the soldiers, but I wasn't sure how to approach them. When Ringo visited me here, he showed me that he had purchased the books, so I have assumed they did belong to him. Perhaps that was a lie, I don't know. I don't want to give them to him, but I hadn't seen any other choice. Maybe we can save this yet. I want to enjoy the ball tonight, and I know I won't if I give in."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie replies, “It just seems to me that you fight fire with fire you fight religion with religion. just because he showed you a piece of paper doesn't mean the books are actually his I can make you a piece of paper that proves that Minerva herself came down and presented you with the books and told you to protect them and that they were yours alone. And the last time I checked Magical information was not something you write a receipt for. for the most part it's kinda illegal. but your now battling with a person who is blessed by the god of war bent on destroying a festival to the god of wine while the goddess of love is playing with everyone's feelings making what I see as a major mess. We have the religious big guns prancing around town lets go talk to them and at least give them a little idea of the mess that is Promise City at the moment.</p><p></p><p>Oh and you really need to decide when you going to give up pretending that you don't love Mr. Booth every time you two are together you glow and it's not just your situation or the fact that people are trying to kill you when your together either. Get it over with so that you can think about what is going on after all maybe he can cook better than you can.”</p><p></p><p>"You're right about talking to the Priest, we just have to avoid mentioning we know magic ourselves. He has attacked us enough times that we know he has magic and can easily explain about the books. You'll have to point them out to me, I don't know what they look like. Although heavy robes in Arizona will probably give them away. Let's go."</p><p></p><p>Kate and Ginnie hurried out into the streets and through the crowded festival, looking for the newly arrived Priests. "And about Mr. Booth," she said quietly as they walked, "It is certainly not proper for me to be considering any man so soon. He confuses me a great deal, I know I have feelings for him, but I can't be certain of anything. And I doubt he cooks. What would have given you the idea I'd in a position to find out? Has someone said something to you?"</p><p></p><p>Ginnie replies, “Ma'am Kate do you think I'm blind? You've blushed when he comes around and he's the only person other than the people at the Lucky Lady that you get shot with. You've each tried to take the other out for romantic meals which have been ruined by being shot at or some massive thing happening and your still on speaking terms. You've told a gambler, who can take you for everything you have if he wanted to about your "special issue", he believes you and still comes around without you worrying that he's going to make extra money by blackmailing you. This is a small town you get a long really well. Who else is there? And if your worrying about timing you should have thought about that the night that your ‘issue‘ happened.”</p><p></p><p>Kate says, “"I told him because everyone in this town is going to think it's his fault, but it was early enough that if he started staying away he might have avoided it, and I thought he should have that chance. I have certainly not tried to take him out on a romantic outing. And I really wasn't aware of what was going to come of 'that night' until afterward. Really Ginnie, for five years I never had a baby, why would I think that would change now?"</p><p></p><p>The marksmanship competitions continues in the field north of town with separate competitions for pistols and rifles. Pierre Jaquet and Al Brower have donated a new Smith & Wesson Schofield revolver as a prize and the Emporium's gunsmith Bradley Jacobs has donated a new Spencer Carbine rifle as a prize. Consequently, those three men act as the judges for the event.</p><p></p><p>In the pistol competitions, Deputy Helen Barker is very disappointed in her second-place showing, despite the fact that the Fort Huachuca soldier who beat her, Corporal Daniel Briggs, has a reputation for being the Army's best shot west of the Mississippi River. Third place in pistols went to Travis Calhoun of the Gunsight Brickyard, Fourth went to Arcade Gang's 'Sureshot Sam', and Fifth went to another Forth Huachuca soldier, Private Matthew Carlsen.</p><p></p><p>Rancher Emery Shaw wins the rifle competition, although he acknowledges that he wouldn't have stood a chance if Wells Fargo employee Newton Gilly had been competing instead of out on a stagecoach run. Second place goes to a stranger in town by the name of Stephen Murdock. Murdock appears to be friends with Ike Sherman of the Papago Cash Store. Third place goes to Daniel Briggs who had won the pistol competition. Fourth goes to Drover's hotel and livery owner Austin Blake. Fifth place goes to the Breakheart Mine's stamping mill foreman Boston Harker.</p><p></p><p>Judge Isby's clerk Kevin Tomlinson placed in the top ten for both pistol and rifle. Isby comments that Kevin normally does better but that his confidence wasn't quite there after loosing the fencing. Hank Hill of Arcade's Gang, another top ten finisher in both pistol and rifle, comments that "Sam and I would have done better if that had been armed men we were shooting at instead of paper targets."</p><p></p><p>After Nanuet left Ruby and Jake's room he headed to the Indian Head Saloon and then the billiards hall looking for any information that he can find out. He watched the sun to keep track of the time. He then heads back to the Lucky Lady to meet the others.</p><p></p><p>Jake, Ruby, Minerva and Nanuet all meet up at the Lucky Lady Saloon at 4:30. They all go up to Jake and Ruby's room, as Nanuet and Jake are still invisible. They go over what they've been up to and what they learned, which isn't much. "What about the books?" Jake asks. Ruby shrugs, "I told Mr. Gonzales not to give up the books. Is he going to listen? I have no idea. What about Kate?"</p><p></p><p>Jake rubs the back of his neck, "I think she'll be fine. Ringo doesn't want her, just the rest of us and the damn books. She hasn't come to anyone asking to help give them up, has she?" They all nod no. "Alright, then I guess we're ignoring the book situation." Minerva starts to protest again, "We can't let him have to books!" Ruby says, "The books belong to all of us, not just Kate. She can't just give away something that belongs to all of us without talking to us about it. She wouldn't do that."</p><p></p><p>Nanuet repeats, "I don't see why we don't give him the books." Minerva starts to protest when Jake cuts in. "I have to get to the main stage now. Let's just be prepared for him to come after us. Forget the book." Nanuet decides to stay invisible and him and Minerva leave.</p><p></p><p>Alone in their room, Ruby feels hot breath in her ear, "How do I become visible again?" "You say 'I love Ruby West' 5 times and mean it," she giggles. "Do I repeat that or is that the instructions?" She feels her behind pinched and lets out a tiny squeal. "I love Ruby West and I mean it. Now if you want a kiss you have to be able to find my lips." Says the air sounding like Jake.</p><p></p><p>"I didn't hear you say the magic words!" Without waiting for a response she quietly recites the word to dispel the magic and Jake slowly becomes visible again. She smiles when she sees him and then she kisses him. Jake collects up his bag of entertainment tools and goes with Ruby to the main stage area.</p><p></p><p>Jake wanders over to the children’s entertainment area. There are a number of children milling about and more standing back a little ways with their mothers who look disapprovingly at Jake. He smirks and places his bag down. He removes his gunbelts and wraps them with his duster and places it next to Ruby, who is watching from a dozen or so feet away. Lastly he sits on the ground and removes his boots. Out of the corner of his eye he notices the questioning looks from the distant mothers.</p><p></p><p>Without a word he takes the hat off the top of his head and starts to balance it by the brim on the backs of his finger tips. Ruby has seen him do this many times when his is bored or uninterested in what is going on. "Anybody can wear a hat on their head." Jake says to the small group of children. "Well you have to have a hat first I supposed." He rolls it back and forth across the back of his fingers and flips it over once catching it by the brim again and rolling it some more. Some of the children are watching, but he is losing the interest of the others. "I see that you are not impressed by someone who wears his hat on his hand. I should put it back on my head then," with that he flips the hat into the air and catches it balanced on the bridge of his nose. Two girls giggle. Jake grins and pops the hat backwards to his head, it settles upside down on the top of his head. The two girls giggle again. With a quick motion he tosses his hat to Ruby, who though startled, catches it easily.</p><p></p><p>He unties his bag and removes two balls. He throws one to the nearest boy, Ricardo, who bobbles it before dropping it. Jake starts tossing the other ball up and down in his left hand. "Don't just stand there looking at it," Jakes tells the boy with a smile, "throw it back." Ricardo picks up the ball and throws it to Jake, who catches it in his left hand and is now juggling two balls with one hand. Jake glances around at the crowd of children who are looking around confused. "Have you children never seen entertainment before?" He asks them. "When you like what you see you need to respond." Jake puts the balls down and continues, "You could do this," and he does a front hand spring, "or you could simply applaud," he says landing back on his feet and clapping his hands. The closest children giggle.</p><p></p><p>Jake goes to his bag and retrieves two more balls. "Who wants to help me?" The closest children squeal and wave their hands and the ones farther away tug at their mother’s arms. He throws the four balls to each of the four closest children. "Let's have some fun...."</p><p></p><p>Soon the children that are farther away have dragged their reluctant mothers to the edge of the crowd. Soon after those mothers tire of gripping the hands of their charges who wear them down with squirming and pulling. Begrudgingly they allow the children to gather around Jake Cook, known gambler and rumored trouble maker. The children don't seem to care.</p><p></p><p>Jake keeps their attention for the next twenty-five frantic minutes. He juggles balls, interspersed with front and back hand springs, front and back summersaults, and jokes with them all the while. Next he makes brightly colored neckerchiefs appear and disappear. He makes silver dollars fly invisibly from one hand to a child’s mouth and back to his other hand. He does some tricks with a short piece of rope, cutting it, knotting it and mystically reassembling it before their bulging eyes.</p><p>By the end of his performance even the reluctant mothers are sneaking smiles at his antics and comical banter. He finishes up with a short lived one handed hand stand while juggling two balls with the other hand before he loses his balance and falls over. Sweating and laughing he enjoys the giggles and squeals of delight from the children. "That's all for today kids, hope you enjoyed the show. I'll bet Miss West is ready to sing some songs with you at the piano."</p><p></p><p>Laughing, they all run away to be the first to the piano. Ricardo retrieves the ball Jake dropped and hesitantly hands them to him. "Gracias, amigo." Jake says with a smile and shakes his small hand. "I'll teach you to juggle if you want. But for now don't miss the show." Jake leans in close and whispers, "I think Ruby might like you best after me." Ricardo's smile grows so big that Jake thinks the boy's head will split in two. Little Ricardo bolts after the others to push his way near Ruby. Jake wipes the sweat off himself with some of the neckerchiefs before pulling his boots back on. Ruby is already starting the second song with the children when Jake manages to collect himself and his gear and get over to accompany her on the piano.</p><p></p><p>Ruby had watched Jake entertain the children with such ease and confidence, not caring for a moment that he was being silly. It was so endearing to her, just as the moment when Jake danced with Ginnie had been. A warm and adoring smile comes to her and she can’t take her eyes off Jake as she laughs with the children, a brief moment of respite in this crazy day.</p><p></p><p>Finally Jake was done and the children ran over to her and the piano.</p><p></p><p>“Now I know you all know this one,” Ruby smiles as she launches into the song accapella. It isn’t long before a chorus of children are singing along with her. As they sing Ricardo smiles up at Ruby and she takes his hand in hers. She says, “I will sing The Bird Song by Lesley Nelson-Burns</p><p></p><p><em>Hi! says the blackbird, sitting on a chair,</em></p><p><em>Once I courted a lady fair;</em></p><p><em>She proved fickle and turned her back,</em></p><p><em>And ever since then I'm dressed in black.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the blue-jay as she flew,</em></p><p><em>If I was a young man I'd have two;</em></p><p><em>If one proved fickle and chanced for to go,</em></p><p><em>I'd have a new string to my bow.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the little leather winged bat,</em></p><p><em>I will tell you the reason that,</em></p><p><em>The reason that I fly in the night</em></p><p><em>Is because I lost my heart's delight.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the little mourning dove,</em></p><p><em>I'll tell you how to gain her love;</em></p><p><em>Court her night and court her day,</em></p><p><em>Never give her time to say "0 nay."</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! said the woodpecker sitting on a fence,</em></p><p><em>Once I courted a handsome wench;</em></p><p><em>She proved fickle and from me fled,</em></p><p><em>And ever since then my head's been red.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the owl with my eyes so big,</em></p><p><em>If I had a hen I'd feed like a pig;</em></p><p><em>But here I sit on a frozen stake,</em></p><p><em>Which causes my poor heart to ache.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the swallow, sitting in a barn,</em></p><p><em>Courting, I think, is no harm.</em></p><p><em>I pick my wings and sit up straight</em></p><p><em>And hope every young man will choose him a mate.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the hawk unto the crow,</em></p><p><em>If you ain't black then I don't know.</em></p><p><em>Ever since old Adam was born,</em></p><p><em>You've been accused of stealing corn.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the crow unto the hawk,</em></p><p><em>I understand your great, big talk;</em></p><p><em>You'd like to pounce and catch a hen,</em></p><p><em>But I hope the farmer will shoot you then.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Hi! says the robin, with a little squirm,</em></p><p><em>I wish I had a great, big worm;</em></p><p><em>I would fly away into my nest;</em></p><p><em>I have a wife I think is the best.</em></p><p></p><p>Ruby continues to sing and Jake continues to play, filling up the rest of the allotted time. Jake doesn’t seem to know many of the children’s songs but he is creative with the piano and no one notices.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 3320596, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 223, “Jake and Ruby’s Entertainment” , Saturday, April 1st , 1882, 5:00 P.M.[/B] Kate wandered down into the Cantina and found Ginnie eating in her usual hurried manner. "After you finish that, let's go out and walk around the fair. I can't sit here, and I haven't had a chance to do any shopping yet. Plus there is music to be heard, and that always cheers me up." Ginnie looks around the cantina to make sure that they aren't being heard and then speaks in a whisper “I have been thinking the books that Ringo wants so badly aren't really his at all they belong to the person he took them from originally and so he really has no more claim on them than anyone else. It also seems that he knows that he can't get his hands on them and wants you to give them to him freely is it possible that he can't touch them unless they are a gift freely given that might be why he hasn't been able to access the information before you took the books but can't read them and gave them as a gift freely to Mr. Gonzalez who was able to read them and then you gave me the chance to read them and I could but I wasn't around when you took them to begin with. Gods are know for their curses along with their blessings. Also why don't we go to the big priests guys and let them know at least some of what might be happening this is a religious war you have battle captains wandering around town why not let them do their job and keep the gods from tuning this whole town into an ash pit? "The Priests have arrived? I would be very interested in talking to them, although I'm not sure how much we can tell them. I had thought of the soldiers, but I wasn't sure how to approach them. When Ringo visited me here, he showed me that he had purchased the books, so I have assumed they did belong to him. Perhaps that was a lie, I don't know. I don't want to give them to him, but I hadn't seen any other choice. Maybe we can save this yet. I want to enjoy the ball tonight, and I know I won't if I give in." Ginnie replies, “It just seems to me that you fight fire with fire you fight religion with religion. just because he showed you a piece of paper doesn't mean the books are actually his I can make you a piece of paper that proves that Minerva herself came down and presented you with the books and told you to protect them and that they were yours alone. And the last time I checked Magical information was not something you write a receipt for. for the most part it's kinda illegal. but your now battling with a person who is blessed by the god of war bent on destroying a festival to the god of wine while the goddess of love is playing with everyone's feelings making what I see as a major mess. We have the religious big guns prancing around town lets go talk to them and at least give them a little idea of the mess that is Promise City at the moment. Oh and you really need to decide when you going to give up pretending that you don't love Mr. Booth every time you two are together you glow and it's not just your situation or the fact that people are trying to kill you when your together either. Get it over with so that you can think about what is going on after all maybe he can cook better than you can.” "You're right about talking to the Priest, we just have to avoid mentioning we know magic ourselves. He has attacked us enough times that we know he has magic and can easily explain about the books. You'll have to point them out to me, I don't know what they look like. Although heavy robes in Arizona will probably give them away. Let's go." Kate and Ginnie hurried out into the streets and through the crowded festival, looking for the newly arrived Priests. "And about Mr. Booth," she said quietly as they walked, "It is certainly not proper for me to be considering any man so soon. He confuses me a great deal, I know I have feelings for him, but I can't be certain of anything. And I doubt he cooks. What would have given you the idea I'd in a position to find out? Has someone said something to you?" Ginnie replies, “Ma'am Kate do you think I'm blind? You've blushed when he comes around and he's the only person other than the people at the Lucky Lady that you get shot with. You've each tried to take the other out for romantic meals which have been ruined by being shot at or some massive thing happening and your still on speaking terms. You've told a gambler, who can take you for everything you have if he wanted to about your "special issue", he believes you and still comes around without you worrying that he's going to make extra money by blackmailing you. This is a small town you get a long really well. Who else is there? And if your worrying about timing you should have thought about that the night that your ‘issue‘ happened.” Kate says, “"I told him because everyone in this town is going to think it's his fault, but it was early enough that if he started staying away he might have avoided it, and I thought he should have that chance. I have certainly not tried to take him out on a romantic outing. And I really wasn't aware of what was going to come of 'that night' until afterward. Really Ginnie, for five years I never had a baby, why would I think that would change now?" The marksmanship competitions continues in the field north of town with separate competitions for pistols and rifles. Pierre Jaquet and Al Brower have donated a new Smith & Wesson Schofield revolver as a prize and the Emporium's gunsmith Bradley Jacobs has donated a new Spencer Carbine rifle as a prize. Consequently, those three men act as the judges for the event. In the pistol competitions, Deputy Helen Barker is very disappointed in her second-place showing, despite the fact that the Fort Huachuca soldier who beat her, Corporal Daniel Briggs, has a reputation for being the Army's best shot west of the Mississippi River. Third place in pistols went to Travis Calhoun of the Gunsight Brickyard, Fourth went to Arcade Gang's 'Sureshot Sam', and Fifth went to another Forth Huachuca soldier, Private Matthew Carlsen. Rancher Emery Shaw wins the rifle competition, although he acknowledges that he wouldn't have stood a chance if Wells Fargo employee Newton Gilly had been competing instead of out on a stagecoach run. Second place goes to a stranger in town by the name of Stephen Murdock. Murdock appears to be friends with Ike Sherman of the Papago Cash Store. Third place goes to Daniel Briggs who had won the pistol competition. Fourth goes to Drover's hotel and livery owner Austin Blake. Fifth place goes to the Breakheart Mine's stamping mill foreman Boston Harker. Judge Isby's clerk Kevin Tomlinson placed in the top ten for both pistol and rifle. Isby comments that Kevin normally does better but that his confidence wasn't quite there after loosing the fencing. Hank Hill of Arcade's Gang, another top ten finisher in both pistol and rifle, comments that "Sam and I would have done better if that had been armed men we were shooting at instead of paper targets." After Nanuet left Ruby and Jake's room he headed to the Indian Head Saloon and then the billiards hall looking for any information that he can find out. He watched the sun to keep track of the time. He then heads back to the Lucky Lady to meet the others. Jake, Ruby, Minerva and Nanuet all meet up at the Lucky Lady Saloon at 4:30. They all go up to Jake and Ruby's room, as Nanuet and Jake are still invisible. They go over what they've been up to and what they learned, which isn't much. "What about the books?" Jake asks. Ruby shrugs, "I told Mr. Gonzales not to give up the books. Is he going to listen? I have no idea. What about Kate?" Jake rubs the back of his neck, "I think she'll be fine. Ringo doesn't want her, just the rest of us and the damn books. She hasn't come to anyone asking to help give them up, has she?" They all nod no. "Alright, then I guess we're ignoring the book situation." Minerva starts to protest again, "We can't let him have to books!" Ruby says, "The books belong to all of us, not just Kate. She can't just give away something that belongs to all of us without talking to us about it. She wouldn't do that." Nanuet repeats, "I don't see why we don't give him the books." Minerva starts to protest when Jake cuts in. "I have to get to the main stage now. Let's just be prepared for him to come after us. Forget the book." Nanuet decides to stay invisible and him and Minerva leave. Alone in their room, Ruby feels hot breath in her ear, "How do I become visible again?" "You say 'I love Ruby West' 5 times and mean it," she giggles. "Do I repeat that or is that the instructions?" She feels her behind pinched and lets out a tiny squeal. "I love Ruby West and I mean it. Now if you want a kiss you have to be able to find my lips." Says the air sounding like Jake. "I didn't hear you say the magic words!" Without waiting for a response she quietly recites the word to dispel the magic and Jake slowly becomes visible again. She smiles when she sees him and then she kisses him. Jake collects up his bag of entertainment tools and goes with Ruby to the main stage area. Jake wanders over to the children’s entertainment area. There are a number of children milling about and more standing back a little ways with their mothers who look disapprovingly at Jake. He smirks and places his bag down. He removes his gunbelts and wraps them with his duster and places it next to Ruby, who is watching from a dozen or so feet away. Lastly he sits on the ground and removes his boots. Out of the corner of his eye he notices the questioning looks from the distant mothers. Without a word he takes the hat off the top of his head and starts to balance it by the brim on the backs of his finger tips. Ruby has seen him do this many times when his is bored or uninterested in what is going on. "Anybody can wear a hat on their head." Jake says to the small group of children. "Well you have to have a hat first I supposed." He rolls it back and forth across the back of his fingers and flips it over once catching it by the brim again and rolling it some more. Some of the children are watching, but he is losing the interest of the others. "I see that you are not impressed by someone who wears his hat on his hand. I should put it back on my head then," with that he flips the hat into the air and catches it balanced on the bridge of his nose. Two girls giggle. Jake grins and pops the hat backwards to his head, it settles upside down on the top of his head. The two girls giggle again. With a quick motion he tosses his hat to Ruby, who though startled, catches it easily. He unties his bag and removes two balls. He throws one to the nearest boy, Ricardo, who bobbles it before dropping it. Jake starts tossing the other ball up and down in his left hand. "Don't just stand there looking at it," Jakes tells the boy with a smile, "throw it back." Ricardo picks up the ball and throws it to Jake, who catches it in his left hand and is now juggling two balls with one hand. Jake glances around at the crowd of children who are looking around confused. "Have you children never seen entertainment before?" He asks them. "When you like what you see you need to respond." Jake puts the balls down and continues, "You could do this," and he does a front hand spring, "or you could simply applaud," he says landing back on his feet and clapping his hands. The closest children giggle. Jake goes to his bag and retrieves two more balls. "Who wants to help me?" The closest children squeal and wave their hands and the ones farther away tug at their mother’s arms. He throws the four balls to each of the four closest children. "Let's have some fun...." Soon the children that are farther away have dragged their reluctant mothers to the edge of the crowd. Soon after those mothers tire of gripping the hands of their charges who wear them down with squirming and pulling. Begrudgingly they allow the children to gather around Jake Cook, known gambler and rumored trouble maker. The children don't seem to care. Jake keeps their attention for the next twenty-five frantic minutes. He juggles balls, interspersed with front and back hand springs, front and back summersaults, and jokes with them all the while. Next he makes brightly colored neckerchiefs appear and disappear. He makes silver dollars fly invisibly from one hand to a child’s mouth and back to his other hand. He does some tricks with a short piece of rope, cutting it, knotting it and mystically reassembling it before their bulging eyes. By the end of his performance even the reluctant mothers are sneaking smiles at his antics and comical banter. He finishes up with a short lived one handed hand stand while juggling two balls with the other hand before he loses his balance and falls over. Sweating and laughing he enjoys the giggles and squeals of delight from the children. "That's all for today kids, hope you enjoyed the show. I'll bet Miss West is ready to sing some songs with you at the piano." Laughing, they all run away to be the first to the piano. Ricardo retrieves the ball Jake dropped and hesitantly hands them to him. "Gracias, amigo." Jake says with a smile and shakes his small hand. "I'll teach you to juggle if you want. But for now don't miss the show." Jake leans in close and whispers, "I think Ruby might like you best after me." Ricardo's smile grows so big that Jake thinks the boy's head will split in two. Little Ricardo bolts after the others to push his way near Ruby. Jake wipes the sweat off himself with some of the neckerchiefs before pulling his boots back on. Ruby is already starting the second song with the children when Jake manages to collect himself and his gear and get over to accompany her on the piano. Ruby had watched Jake entertain the children with such ease and confidence, not caring for a moment that he was being silly. It was so endearing to her, just as the moment when Jake danced with Ginnie had been. A warm and adoring smile comes to her and she can’t take her eyes off Jake as she laughs with the children, a brief moment of respite in this crazy day. Finally Jake was done and the children ran over to her and the piano. “Now I know you all know this one,” Ruby smiles as she launches into the song accapella. It isn’t long before a chorus of children are singing along with her. As they sing Ricardo smiles up at Ruby and she takes his hand in hers. She says, “I will sing The Bird Song by Lesley Nelson-Burns [I]Hi! says the blackbird, sitting on a chair, Once I courted a lady fair; She proved fickle and turned her back, And ever since then I'm dressed in black. Hi! says the blue-jay as she flew, If I was a young man I'd have two; If one proved fickle and chanced for to go, I'd have a new string to my bow. Hi! says the little leather winged bat, I will tell you the reason that, The reason that I fly in the night Is because I lost my heart's delight. Hi! says the little mourning dove, I'll tell you how to gain her love; Court her night and court her day, Never give her time to say "0 nay." Hi! said the woodpecker sitting on a fence, Once I courted a handsome wench; She proved fickle and from me fled, And ever since then my head's been red. Hi! says the owl with my eyes so big, If I had a hen I'd feed like a pig; But here I sit on a frozen stake, Which causes my poor heart to ache. Hi! says the swallow, sitting in a barn, Courting, I think, is no harm. I pick my wings and sit up straight And hope every young man will choose him a mate. Hi! says the hawk unto the crow, If you ain't black then I don't know. Ever since old Adam was born, You've been accused of stealing corn. Hi! says the crow unto the hawk, I understand your great, big talk; You'd like to pounce and catch a hen, But I hope the farmer will shoot you then. Hi! says the robin, with a little squirm, I wish I had a great, big worm; I would fly away into my nest; I have a wife I think is the best.[/I] Ruby continues to sing and Jake continues to play, filling up the rest of the allotted time. Jake doesn’t seem to know many of the children’s songs but he is creative with the piano and no one notices. [/QUOTE]
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