"Still think ya outta tell a fella where yer takin' him," Vin muttered as the seven men entered the airport.
"My dear Mister Tanner," Ezra replied as he paused to shoot the cuffs of his silk shirt. "If we were to tell you then it would certainly no longer be a surprise."
"Reckon I'll figure it out as soon as we board the plane," Vin muttered. All he had been told was to pack for an overnight stay and to dress comfortable yet nice, so he had worn his nicest jeans and a blue sweater one of the guys had gotten him for Christmas the previous year. The others were also dressed in nice travel clothes, ranging from Chris' black Dockers and deep green shirt to Ezra's Italian suit with his deep claret silk shirt underneath. To Ezra, dressing down was no tie.
"Perhaps," Ezra replied as he stepped up to the ticket counter. Vin grew even more concerned when Ezra leaned in close to the woman behind the counter and spoke to her in a voice low enough Vin couldn't hear his words.
Somehow, Ezra managed to collect all seven tickets, dispersing them to all but Vin, and then Chris led them towards security check with Vin still none the wiser as to where they were going. A flash of ID got them though security and a quick check through their carry on bags, then they were off again to their gate.
Vin figured that now he would know their destination. After all, it would say at the gate. But all that happened was that the field of possible cities was narrowed to three. From Denver their flight would land in Omaha, then on to Atlanta, and finally the last stop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Vin couldn't picture why they would be going to any of those destinations for just one night.
After the normal "hurry up and wait" time frame at any airport in the country, the seven men boarded the plane, stowing their overnight bags in the compartments and settling into seats.
The flight was uneventful…and short. Less than an hour in the air and they were touching down in Omaha for the first stop over of that flight. Vin sat patiently as passengers stood and moved down the aisle to leave the plane. Vin was beginning to figure that they were moving on when Chris and the others stood and began taking down their bags. Vin followed, still puzzled. Why would they be spending the night in Omaha, Nebraska? He'd been here before, sure, but why would they be coming here now? If it had been for a meeting then he would have been told, right?
With a silent, resigned sigh, Vin followed the others. He didn't really like unknown factors, but he trusted his friends. Buck and JD behaved in normal, rambunctious fashion as they made their way down the escalator of the airport and out into a chilly Nebraska late afternoon. Ezra stepped up to the curb and looked down the drive, raising a hand in signal. A black stretch limo pulled forward and the driver got out quickly.
"Standish party?" he asked as he opened the doors on the curbside.
"That we are," Ezra replied. "Gentlemen?" Ezra stepped inside and slid over, making room for the others to enter. Vin slipped inside and claimed a seat next to a window. Since his friends were not forthcoming with what was going on, then he'd go along for the ride, wherever that may be.
The limo took the men to a restaurant named Vivace', located in an area of town called The Old Market, a converted warehouse area containing restaurants and trendy shops. Vin couldn't figure why they would have flown to Omaha just to have an early dinner, even though the food was wonderful. Perhaps fancier than his normal choices, but very good all the same.
The men lingered over drinks and dessert until a few minutes before 7pm. Chris silently stood and paid the bill while Josiah left the tip. The limo pulled up in front of the restaurant moments after the men stepped outside and the men piled inside once more.
"Supper was great guys, but are ya gonna tell me what we're really doing here?" Vin asked as casually as he could.
"In due time, all will be apparent," Josiah replied as the other men smiled or turned their heads away to look outside, thus avoiding Vin's question.
The ride was short, less than a mile, but Vin was even more puzzled as they pulled up in front of an old theater, the Orpheum, until he saw the names on the marquee. "Red Nativity" and "Brule'" were spelled out along with the word "Tonight".
"Guys?" Vin said, surprise showing in his tone. "Ya'll did this so I could see their Christmas concert?"
"No Vin," Buck said as the men began to walk, his hand resting briefly on Vin's shoulder. "We did it so we could all see Brule's Christmas concert."
"Yeah Vin, we really enjoyed that time we saw them here a few summers back," JD answered as they entered the theater.
The men found their seats and spent several minutes reading the programs given. Precisely at 7:30 the lights lowered and Brule' entered the stage area.
As far as Vin was concerned, the magic was still there, even during an inside concert. The music rose and swelled with Brule's take on traditional Christmas carols as well as original works. He let himself float off with the music, feeling the spirits as they gathered near the stage, watched as they interacted with the dancers that bounded across the stage. Vin recognized some of the dancers from prior concerts while others were new to him. The main drummer was different also; a local man that had made several movies and had now joined the group, adding some vocals and Lakota lore to the act. A second drummer, a young man from South Dakota, joined in.
Vin also saw the spirits. Sarah, Adam and his mother moved in and around the dancers, casting an occasional smile Vin's way. Nathan's parents settled over near the side. JD's mother joined Buck's mother and hovered over the stage as though they watched over the group. A young woman, Hannah Vin assumed, settled in the aisle next to Josiah as a distinguished man stood nearby, his gaze alternating between the activity on stage and Ezra.
Dancers acted out the story of the Nativity, a very content babe held in the arms of the two primary dancers; hoop dancers formed meaningful configurations; an eagle dancer soared even though his feet never left the stage. A child jingle dancer, daughter of the flutist, moved confidently across the stage with an adult dancer. If any of these dancers knew of the spirits amongst them, they didn't show it.
Vin's attention returned to normal as the final notes of O Holy Night played on flute and keyboard came to an end. The finale was always a high energy affair, the music pounding a strong beat as the performers were all introduced and the dancers became a blur of riotous color. The audience was on it's feet, clapping to the beat of the drum. And then silence before the crowd burst into applause.
The seven men lingered as the crowd filtered out. Vin looked around. One by one the spirits acknowledged him as they, in their way, said goodbye to their loved one, and slowly disappeared.
"That was indeed a magical event," Ezra said as the men began to leave. "Thank you Vin, for introducing us to them."
"I think I even felt the spirits," Josiah said as he followed Buck and JD up the aisle.
Chris stepped into the aisle and turned back toward the stage, his eyes searching out something unseen.
"They were here Chris," Vin said as he placed one hand on Chris's shoulder and the pair turned and followed the other five.
"I know," Chris replied. After a slight pause he added, "Thanks Vin."
Vin looked back over his shoulder. "Pikila niye," he whispered as the last wisp of the spirit of his mother disappeared. "Thank you."
The End
