Angie pulled out the old box from the storage closet with a frown. She thought they had gotten rid of the old stuff before they were married but somehow this one had eluded them and she just discovered it. Opening it she looked at the items puzzled, an old Hawaiian shirt sealed in a plastic baggie and some records. They had tossed out another box with these sort of items so she took it to the dumpster just as Rollie pulled up.
"Hey sweetie, what's ya doin'?"
"I found this in the closet."
He opened the lid and gasped then pulled the box away from her and took it inside.
"Rol?" Angie asked confused as she followed.
"Don't ever throw this out Angela!" He snapped and took it upstairs.
Her eyes followed him, hurt and confusion in them. What was so important about that stuff anyway? She turned away and went to her computer to work.
Rollie descended the stairs slowly and noticed she didn't look at him. He couldn't blame her after he took her head off like that. Walking over he put his head on hers.
"I'm sorry."
She nodded silently.
"I am sorry Ange." He gently turned her to face him.
"Why is it so special?" She asked softly.
"It has to do with my mum."
"Tell me?"
He nodded and led her to the couch after she turned the computer off.
"Have you ever heard a song called 'I Honestly Love You'? It came out in '74."
"On the oldies station." She nodded.
Rollie frowned.
"Hey, I was two!"
"Olivia Newton-John sang it---"
"An Aussie connection." She smiled.
"It's more than that Ange. It was written by a man named Peter Allen. He was a flamboyant entertainer...who my mum adored." He smiled softly.
"The shirt?"
"Belonged to him. When I first came here and was stunting, he was on Broadway and I would go every chance I got, wait at the stage door just to see him. I guess I went so often he came over one day. I told him my mum loved him, that she sang 'I Honestly Love You' to me all the time when I was little. He took off the shirt he was wearing and gave it to me right there and said he was glad to give her something to bring her joy." He smiled recalling.
"It sounds like he appreciated his fans."
"He never forgot where he came from...and who made him a star." Rollie nodded.
The phone rang and he answered it.
"Tyler---yeah, let me pull them up." He replied and went to his desk.
Angie watched him a moment then went to her computer and did a search of Peter Allen.
"Wow." She uttered seeing the songs he had either written or recorded.
'I Honestly Love You' of course but also, 'Don't Cry Out Loud'; 'The More I See You'; 'I Go To Rio'; 'Fly Away' and 'Arthur's Theme'.
She scrolled down and read his bio...born in the Outback, had an abusive father, worked on Aussie Bandstand in the early 60's, worked in Hong Kong in 1964 where he met Judy Garland, married Liza Minnelli in 1967, died of AIDS complications in 1992.
Something at the bottom of the page caught her eye and she smiled as she read it.
"Ange, I need to go out for a bit."
She quickly blanked the screen before he could see it.
"Okay." She smiled and kissed him.
"Love you." He hugged her and left.
She retrieved her purse, pulled out her credit card and returned to the site.
Rollie was working at his electronics table when Angie placed a wrapped gift in front of him a few days later.
"What's this?"
"Happy Birthday Rol."
"My birthday isn't til Sunday." He smirked.
"I know! Open it already!"
He quickly did grinning then looked up at her upon seeing it.
"They're play tickets. For 'The Boy From Oz'. It's about Peter Allen." She said wondering if she made a mistake.
Rollie rose and hugged her.
"I know. Thank you sweetie, this means a lot to me."
"You like it then?"
"I love it. A night out with my wife, dinner, a play...what's not to like?" He smiled at her.
Angie brushed the tear on his cheek away and hugged him.
"Happy early birthday Rol." She smiled glad she could give him some joy as Peter Allen had his mother so long ago.
'The Boy From Oz' is currently (3-04) running at the 'Imperial Theatre, it stars Hugh Jackman as Peter Allen. Now just try picturing 'Wolverine' from The X-Men movies, claws extended wearing a Hawaiian shirt and holding maracas.