“Rhapsody in Blue” as covered by Tommy Tempo’s Nite Moods Orchestra. The piano part is taken by Tommy himself on the Wurlitzer, dancing on the pedals and pulling out all the stops. His Wurlitzer can do all the instruments but he keeps his orchestra on. Good old Tommy won’t let them go. You can’t beat the live sound. Who could replace Lips McReady on the oboe? Or Sticks Allen on snare drum?

Tommy will be turning back from time to time and smiling. He’s got a dazzling smile.

695

. . . Hmm hmm hmmm hmmm hum. Dancing on kitten heels. Tingling on the skin. This is what Edward should be listening to. If he finds her, he could take his young lady friend, his young activist, to a Tommy Tempo gig. It’s hard to think of targets and wiring when the clarinet hits the high notes . . .

694

. . . two three two, two three two . . . hard to be a hothead Wiltshire when you’ve learned the two-step . . .

693

. . . keep concentrating . . .

692

. . .

691

. . .

690

. . .

689

. . . we should have all been taught the two-step. All three Wiltshires. I should have set an example perhaps, being the oldest, but I’ve got two left feet.

688

. . . I think Mother was exhausted by us. After Edward, her reproductive system packed in and she had to have her womb surgically removed.

I’m thinking now that she went into the hospital and begged or paid them to take it out.

687

. . . ba da boom ba da bee . . . keep the beat, Tommy . . .

686

. . . Edward raged through school, a sprawling epic drama in which he was the central player. He questioned everything. He fought everyone. Young, idealistic men and women lined up wanting to be the Understanding Teacher Who Pulled Edward Around. He left them all scarred and shell-shocked. He was given career advice. He could hardly credit the nerve of this at the time. He was being offered guidance from individuals whose own imaginations hadn’t leapt beyond a career in the schools they’d only just left.

“You seem very keen to leave, Edward,” said the teacher during one of these sessions. “Why’s that, do you think?”

“You seem very keen to stay,” he responded. “Why’s that, do you think?” He’s always had a smart mouth.

685

. . . could talk me into anything.

He talked me into setting fire to the school. He said it would be a fitting and cleansing end. It was old and full of paper and went up like a torch.

684

Whoosh. Bricks snapped, windows melted, wood popped. Edward still smelled the burning wood sometimes. Still felt the heat on his face.

683