Wednesday

Chapter 1: Morning Song

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MORNING SONG, FLORIDA
15 YEARS AGO

A younger Barry Dort sat at a small dive bar in Morning Song, Florida that had large glass windows that showed sirens swimming around inside. He had a beard instead of just a mustache, a mullet, no glasses, and he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

The bartender came up to him to take his order. "What can I get you?"

"Three rocks, two fingers of Jack, and a—."

"One splash of water." The bartender finished. "You can never go wrong ordering a Sinatra."

As the bartender started making his drink, Dort narrowed his eyes. "Wait, you look familiar...you were in The Crucible at the Jupiter Dinner Theatre. Your John Proctor was spellbinding." He complimented. "The audience was hanging on to your every word, particularly the ladies."

"You saw that show? You're the only one who's ever remembered. I haven't seen you at Tiki Tails before. I'm Arnold Hunt." The bartender introduced.

"Barry Dort. I manage one of the Sirens. Gabrielle." He pointed at a young Gabrielle, who waved and blew a kiss of bubbles at him as she swam by.

"I figured a talented guy like you would be knocking them dead out in Hollywood. I mean, you certainly have the looks, the charisma."

Arnold shrugged. "I took my shot in LA. Even landed a recurring on a soap opera. Medical Affairs."

Barry looked surprised. "No way, that was my mom's favorite show, God rest her soul. She never missed an episode."

"I played Dr. Gideon Sterling. Until my long-lost brother came back from the dead, stole my wife, and they blew me up in my Porsche."

"Tough break..."

Arnold nodded. "Yeah, my career took a nosedive after that, so I packed up my Corolla and moved back home."

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Dort told him. "And you're in luck because, boy, do I have the right opportunity for you."

Arnold shook his head. "I don't need a manger, pal. Those days are long gone."

"I...I'm talking about something bigger. I see a lot of broken people in my travels, especially Outcasts, and I have ideas how to fix them. I want to create a place where like-minded people come together to follow a shared vision of enlightenment and growth." Dort explained.

"Sounds like a cult." Arnold commented.

Dort frowned. "Nobody likes the C-word. I prefer the term 'movement.' I have an entire business plan, and I even wrote an instruction manual on how to build a better life."

He placed two booklets in the bar counter. "And I'm self-aware enough to know that this mug isn't going to convince anyone." He said, pointing at his face. "I've seen you on stage, Arnold. You have that indefinable star quality, and this is the part you were born to play."

Arnold raised his brows. "You're serious."

"You remember the Wizard of Oz. I'm like the guy Toto finds behind the curtain, secretly pulling the levers. You will be the great and powerful Oz, the face of our movement, the inspirational leader who touches people's souls, and persuades them to part with their hard-earned cash for a chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves." Dort pitched.

Arnold seemed to be seriously considering it, as he poured himself a drink. "Does this movement have a name?"

Dort picked up one of the coasters that had the bar label on it as well as the city. "How about Morning Song?" He suggested. "Because every dawn brings the light of a new day." He demonstrated by lighting his thumb up. "So, what do you say?"

Arnold responded by smiling and reading his glass, clinking it with Dort's, silently telling him he was in.

...

PRESENT DAY

Principal Dort placed his drink on the table as he looked over the newspaper. Gideon, aka, Arnold was on the front page, the headline saying he was in Vermont.

He sighed and placed the paper in his desk, before waving his hand to put out the fireplace. He got up and pressed one of the large teeth, which opened the back of the fireplace, revealing a secret passageway.

He came out in the abandoned classroom where Bianca and her mom were sitting. Bianca noticed him come in and quickly stood up to explain herself.

"Principal Dort, I can explain."

Dort shook his head. "No need, Bianca. Your mother and I go back a long way. Don't we Gabrielle?"

Bianca looked to her mother in surprise, who looked down awkwardly.

"Who do you think introduced her to Gideon all those years ago?"

Bianca furrowed her brows. "You're part of Morning Song?"

Principal Dort smirked. "I am Morning Song. And we had a good thing going until you two poked your tails in and stirred things up. Fortunately, I don't hold grudges."

"What do you want, Barry?" Gabrielle asked him, her voice wavering slightly.

"By my count, you've been living here rent-free. But the free ride is over. It's time to get back to work, ladies." He told them, his voice dripping with malicious intent.

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