Calumet High School is a quite small high school. Always was, always will be. Rumors spread like wild fires through the school. Mostly the start of those 'fires' were by one of two people. Miranda James or Jacob Papageorge was those two. When the topic of the talent show came up, those two were at their rumor peak.

The 28th annual Calumet High Talent Show was fast approaching. Rumors of people entering or not entering floated around the school. One rumor in particular fascinated students the most; "Elwood Delaney's entering the talent show?" Most students heard it from once source, Jake. Only brothers would do that to each other.

The two weren't really brothers. They were both orphans at Saint Helen's Blessed of the Shroud Orphanage in Calumet City. Since Elwood was three days old, he and Jake were inseparable. They always would say that they were brothers by blues. The music genre that brought the two closer than ever. And here the boys are now, about sixteen or so years later, still best friends and brothers.

One Monday in particular, people just kept passing Elwood and say "good luck on Friday." Confused, it was about time to ask Jake what they were talking about. During their lunch period, Elwood, Jake, Jessi (Elwood's lovely girlfriend) and Adam (Jake and Elwood's best friend) sat outside for lunch. People continued to wish Elwood luck on Friday.

"Jake," Elwood began, "What is everyone talking about?"

"Talking about what?" Jake asked.

"Good luck on Friday, Els," someone said as they walked by.

Unamused, Elwood pointed behind him, "that."

"Oh that," Jake said, "I told people you were going to perform in the talent show."

"Jake! Why would you do that?"

"It wasn't intentional, honest."

Elwood crossed his arms, "Bullshit. I know when you're bullshitting, and this is one of those moments, Jake. What happened?"

Jake sighed, "Well, I was talking to Adam," Elwood shot a glare to Adam who casually looked away, "and mentioned how you need to open up more to people. And he mentioned about the talent show and it went from there."

"You could've told me," Elwood said.

"We were going to," Adam chimed in.

"When?"

"Thursday night."

Elwood banged his forehead on the table a few times. Jessi snuggled up to him, and rubbed his back comforting. She glared at the other boys, making them feel guilty.

"Don't worry, Ely," Jessi said calmingly, "You can pull something off in a week."

"Yeah, El," Jake said, "What about that Chips song you've been working on for a few weeks?"

"No way in hell," he said, but it was hard to hear from his quiet voice and the fact that he was facing the table still.

"Why not? It's coming along great."

He lifted his head up again, "Jake, "Rubber Biscuits" will never see the light of day. Especially in school."

"Just an option," Jake shrugged.

"I'll think of something," he sighed.

"By Friday?" Adam asked.

"No, by Halloween," Elwood said sarcastically, "Yes by Friday!"

"Touchy, touchy…" Jake muttered.

"I wouldn't have to worry if it wasn't for your big mouth!"

"Sorry dude, rumors spread fast here."

"I noticed," Elwood said, still pissed.

Jake and Elwood had walked to the orphanage after Elwood was finished up with his punishment. After a stealing a cop car, he was sentenced to a season of baseball on the high school team. He wasn't too bad in fact. But music is his strongest field.

The whole way back, Jake kept asking Elwood what he was going to do for the talent show on Friday. Elwood ignored his brother and kept silent until they got back. Jake had gone up to their room while Elwood decided to pay their janitor, Curtis, a visit.

"Curtis?" Elwood called into the basement.

"Hey, Elwood," the elder black man greeted warmly, "What do I owe this visit?"

"Advice," he said.

"Sure, Els," he said with a smile.

Elwood smiled and walked into his living quarters and sat down at the small table he had set up.

"So," Curtis sat down across from the teen, "What's on your mind?"

"Jake signed me up for the talent show without telling me. So I'm forced into it and don't know what to do."

"What about that Chips song you've been working on?"

"I already told Jake that that song will never see the light of day."

"Good idea, Els. What about that other one you were working on, on the piano?"

"That Jeff Buckley song?"

"Yeah, that one. You were really doing well on that one."

"I guess I could give it a shot. I'd have to stay after school to practice it."

"Why after school? Just come down here and I'll help ya out."

"Really?"

"Sure, Elwood. Besides, the Sister will get mad if you miss another baseball practice or game."

"If you insist, Curtis," Elwood said.

"Sure, Elwood. You need to get better at the piano anyway. You can go far with one."

Elwood smiled, "Can we start now? I have till Friday."

"Sure," the elder man smiled.

For the next week, Curtis has shown Elwood all he needs to know for Friday. A few hours a day can help a teen out really well. He was ready to show his skills in front of the whole school.

For that week as well, kids continued to wish Elwood luck. After a while, it was getting on his nerves. That and Jake and Adam pestering him on what he was going to be playing. Elwood kept his mouth shut until Friday night. It was their punishment for getting him into this whole fiasco.

Friday night was soon here. Elwood was the last act of the night at the talent show. God he was nervous. Barely twenty kids have actually ever heard him talk, but for the whole school to hear him sing, that's a huge break through.

Elwood was almost up. He had straightened his tie and slid his sunglasses into place. Jake had convinced him to wear his suit and tie for the occasion. Even without the rest of their band, The Blues Brothers, he'd wear it anyway. It fit and Jessi told him that she loved a sharp dressed man. He glanced out behind the curtain and saw Jessi, Adam and Jake sitting front row, waiting to cheer him on.

"Last act of the night goes by Elwood Delaney and he still hasn't told anyone what he'll be playing," the class president introduced, "Let's hear it for Silent Elwood."

The students cheered for Elwood. He walked out onto the stage and almost half the kids stood, cheering for him. A baby grand sat in the middle of the stage. When the students calmed down, he began to play.

As he played, the room went silent and just waited for the moment where they heard his voice.

"Well I heard there was a secret chord
that David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this:
The fourth, the fifth,
the minor fall and the major lift
the baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah..."

Small whispers began to arise as he played. Everyone was astonished by Silent Elwood's amazing voice. Jessi swooned at the sound of her boyfriend's voice. It got her every time.

"Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah..."

"Jake?" Jessi whispered.

"What?"

"Did you tell him to do this song?"

"Nope, I thought you did."

She shook her head no.

"Baby I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor (you know)
I used to live alone before I knew you
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
and love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah..."

The whispers continued around the room. Most of them were about if he was single. The answer was no and that made some girls upset. Jessi was a lucky, lucky girl.

"There was a time when you let me know
what's really going on below
but now you never show that to me, do you?
But remember when I moved in you
and the holy dove was moving too
and every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah..."

The room fell silent again as Elwood finished up the song.

"Maybe there's a God above
all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah...
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah...
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah"

Once Elwood hit the final note, the room was still silent. For a nano second! Elwood went to stand up, when the entire auditorium was on their feet, cheering and clapping. Taken by surprise at the reaction, he smiled and took a small bow before walking off the stage.

The student body president walked back on, "Oh my gosh! Honestly, if I were a judge, Elwood would be the winner here today guys! But remember, it's up to them. Judges?"

"ELWOOD!" all five of the judges yelled.

"We have our winner then. Everybody, come on out!"

All the acts of the night lined up on stage. Everyone wanted to know the winner of the show. The audience had their fingers crossed for their favorite act of the night. Most of which were for Elwood.

"All right guys. You were all great, but there's only three winners tonight. Third place we have," the student president began.

"Amy Carson!" one of the judges yelled.

Amy walked forward and took her third place trophy as the students clapped.

"Second place we have," the president started.

"Justin Peters!"

Justin walked up next to claim his trophy and got a bigger of a reaction from the crowed then Amy did.

"Now, like you all didn't see this coming, the winner of the 28th Annual Calumet High Talent Show is none other than, Silent Elwood Delaney!"

All the students were on their feet cheering on Elwood as he received his first place trophy. He deserved it from the amazing job he did on that song in one week. The president walked up to Elwood and put his arm around him.

"Anything you wanna say?"

"Jessica Hughes, will you go to junior prom with me?" Elwood asked with a smile.

Jessi beamed and screamed, "Yes! I will!"

"Anything can happen on talent show night, folks! See ya guys on Monday!"

The students all piled out of the school and began to gather up into the lobby or head home. Elwood waited for Jessi, Adam and Jake in the lobby near the stage exit. Jessi practically attacked him in a huge hug.

"Ohmigod I love you sooo much right now! You are the most talented boyfriend ever who is the sweetest and ohmigod I love you!" She squealed.

He smiled, "I love you too."

"You were still amazing!" she hugged onto him tightly.

"Thank you, baby," he smiled.

A group of kids from Elwood and Jessi's English class walked by and congratulated Elwood on the win and Jessi on going to prom with him. She was a lucky girl.

"Elwood James Delaney, I am so proud to call you my brother," Jake said patting him on the back.

"I knew we made a good mistake signing him up," Adam said with a smile.

Adam said his goodbye's and left the brothers and Jessi. Soon, Jessi had left once her brother came to pick her up from the school. Jake and Elwood stayed around a little longer to talk to friends and others congratulating Elwood. Once it was getting close to curfew, the duo walked back to the orphanage.

The first thing that they did once back was see Curtis. Elwood told Jake to hold onto the trophy for a few minutes while Elwood went down to talk to him first.

"So Elwood," Curtis asked with a hopeful smile, "How'd it go?"

"See for yourself," Elwood smiled as Jake brought down the fairly large trophy.

"You won," Curtis said with a smile, patting Elwood on the back.

He nodded, "Yup. But I want you to keep the trophy."

"Why? You won it."

"So? I want you to have it. You showed me what to do in a week, besides, I got my reward already."

"Someone gotta date to Junior Prom," Jake smiled.

"I asked Jessi on stage and she said yes," Elwood smiled, "Please, keep the trophy."

"Alright, El, I will."

Elwood smiled and he and Jake said night and went up to their room. The two changed into their pjs and waited until a nun came around to tell them lights out.

"Maybe I should sign you up for shit more often," Jake smiled.

"Next time you do, somehow you'll mysteriously end up on the football team," Elwood said with an evil smile as he read his car magazines.

"Fine. No more of that then."

"Deal."
"Deal."

"Elwood?"

"Yeah?" he looked up from his magazine.

"Congrats on the win, dude."

"Thanks for signing me up, man."