‘Hey,’ he said. ‘I’ve had some good audiences in my time, but nothing beats a home crowd. Good evening, Bledburn!’ He held up the mic to capture another wave of rapturous applause, as if he were opening a gig at Wembley Stadium.
Jenna and Jason shared an eye-roll.
‘I feel naked without my Strat,’ he said, as the ripples died down. ‘Kind of weird not to have a set list taped to the speaker over there. Anyway – I’ve got something to say, and I’m going to just come straight out and say it.’
‘I wish you would,’ muttered Jenna.
‘Like you, I used to come here as a kid and enjoy the Miners’ Gala every year,’ he said. ‘I sang at it in the school choir once – must have been about six or seven. Anyone else here remember that?’
A voice here and there shouted confirmation.
‘I think it was “Puff, the Magic Dragon”,’ he said, grinning. ‘We slayed it, man. Not Puff, obviously. He survived the experience. But it was my first taste of public performance, aside from playing fifth shepherd from the right in the nativity play. It gave me the thirst. It all started here, man.’
Whoops and whistles again. The man knew how to play a crowd, thought Jenna. He always had done.
‘So I suppose you could say Harville Hall has a special spot in my heart, unlike the people who lived here back then. It’s a shame to see the old place in this state, but the damage can be repaired.’ He let silence fall completely before continuing. ‘Harville Hall today is a bit like our old town. Battered and bruised, not looking its best. But we’re coming back, stronger than ever, and this house is where it starts.’
Nice analogy, thought Jenna. Deano was good at hiding his brains, but when he let them out for airing, it was always worth having a spectator seat.
‘I have agreed,’ he said, ‘to buy this house from Jenna and Jason.’
A flutter of astonishment passed through the crowd. He was going to buy a burnt-out wreck? Whatever for?
‘I’m going to have it properly restored and refurbished, and then I’m going to re-open it with a new name and a new purpose. Harville Hall will become Bledburn’s very own School of Arts. All our talented musicians, artists, dancers and actors will have a place here to study their passion – and it’ll be a registered charity, so if you can’t afford it, you can still get in. So, mums and dads, tell your talented kids that they can make it if they try. The money and privilege that stand in their way have just moved aside and cleared the way for them. Bledburn’s got talent – and we’re going to let it shine!’
There was a roar of approval from the crowd, and many of the children jumped up and down with excitement, as if to show how hard it was to contain their talent.
‘Jenna here is going to be a director, and Jason is going to develop the art side of things. I’ll pop by as often as I can to give the musicians masterclasses. It’s going to be amazing, guys. And it’ll bring new life to the town as well. Bledburn forever!’
Jenna hadn’t thought the crowd could get any more enthusiastic but she had to admit, they were outdoing themselves. She half-thought they might swarm on to the stage and lift Deano on to their shoulders, but they stopped just short of such an excess, contenting themselves with banner waving and lifting their kids into the air.
‘Great speech,’ said Kayley, once he had put down the mic and called the other three people on the stage to join him for press photos.
‘Yeah, you weren’t bad,’ admitted Jason. ‘Better than me. I hate all that public speaking.’
‘That’s why you’re an artist and I’m an artiste,’ said Deano with a grin. ‘Or, rather, you’re a proper creative type and I’m a strutting great ponce.’
They all laughed.
‘You’re a bit more than that,’ said Jenna.
‘Bloody hell, did you just say something nice to me?’ Deano feigned shock.
‘Guilty,’ she replied. ‘It’s a bit easier now you’ve stopped being an arse.’
‘Must be the effect Kayley’s had on me,’ he said. ‘She’s the ego-buster. I could hire her out around Hollywood maybe.’
‘Hey, no pimping,’ warned Kayley. ‘I only work on one man at a time.’
‘So – when did all this happen?’ asked Jenna, nudging Kayley into blushes.
‘All what?’ she asked innocently.
‘You and Deano, you dark horse,’ said Jason.
‘It’s amazing what being afraid for your life in a cellar can do to you,’ said Kayley briskly. ‘Isn’t it, Deano? Makes you think.’
‘It sure does,’ said Deano, sliding an arm around Kayley. ‘And not just that – it looks like a bit of good old Bledburn straight-talking was what we both needed, Jen.’