Every Last Mother's Child

by William J. Carty, Jr

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  Lady Hawthorne had not heard Mitch sing in person, but had heard about it. The entire academy was talking about it the next morning. She asked the School Mistress if she had recorded the event from the night before. She had and was playing it for Lady Hawthorne when the Queen had stopped by to discuss several issues with Lady Hawthorne. The Queen was floored when she heard the music and saw the holograph.

  “She could make her fortune as an entertainer!” Queen Agatha commented.

  “It has never occurred to her,” The School Mistress had materialized in the office, “She sings for herself. We’ve talked about it.”

  “I see,” The Queen replied. Then she asked, “Could I get a recording of this?”

  “It’s on the way to your palace mail box majesty.” The school mistress replied.

  Days later the Queen was having dinner with her former regents and saw the recording that Alice Mercer had gotten somewhere. The next morning when she asked around she was told that Mitch’s song was being heard all over the Kingdom. The song an ancient ballad from an ancient movie became the song people associated with the evacuation. Mitch refused all the royalties she earned, saying it was something she did for herself.