The Life of a Singer in Jail. (written by Brynn Tearful, well-known tenor) "I spend my mornings holding court like one of the old aristocrats. The ordinary people come to me with their problems and disputes, and I endeavour to solve them. The Jailites have made the connection, you see. They realise that where there is beauty in a voice there is a corresponding beauty in all parts of the being, particularly the intelligence. Who better to pass judgements than a person who has beautiful thoughts? As one of Jail's favourite singers I know I enjoy a privileged existance. Look at the evidence. I live in a fine house at the very northern end of the town, in what has been nicknamed 'the singer's district' for the number of popular tenors, sopranos, altos, bassos and so on who live there. I have people to guard me, people to cook my meals, people to dress me, yes, even a personal servant who attends me continuously whenever I wish to be attended. I am universally loved and celebrated in spite of the chasm between my wealth and the poverty that exists in other parts of the town. I am content with what I have. The man next door may be richer than I, but he accumulated his wealth through treachery. I wonder which of us sleeps more soundly in his bed? We, the singers of Jail, are aware that our town is badly represented in the other cities. When I came here from Cumber Poidy as a young man I remember my family bewailing the fact that Poidian singers were not accepted in Ex or Gum Gooloo the way they were in Jail. They didn't want me to come here at all. Yet I encountered nothing but kindness and respect from my Jailite patrons. I was lucky enough to be signed up with a theatre owner before I arrived, so after landing I went straight to the theatre where they received me generously and set me to work straight away, as a chorus member in "The Life and Opinions of a Thief." My graduation from there was haphazard. I bounced from chorus member to the leading role in "The Clouds," and then back to a silent part in a very strange piece called "She sighs at the Stars." Other leading roles, secondary characters and chorus parts followed without rhyme or reason. More than once I found myself taking objects at the front door, or serving food to the indifferent patrons who had been cheering me as the protagonist in a different play only a few days before. I later learnt that this unevenness is normal in a singer's career, but my realisation came too late, alas, to be shared by many of my fellow singers who gave up during their difficult apprenticeships. Some returned home. Others stopped performing to travel the county or become outlaws. I don't know how many of you have heard of the Treefellers Concerto pirate fleet who operate around the little village of Simple up north from here, but the man who runs it was a friend of mine back in Cumber Poidy. He has a voice that would be making people weep in the theatres today if only he had stayed a singer. Skill is not enough to ensure success. You've got to have tenacity as well. The more tenacity you have, the more people will get to know you, and the more advantageous connections will come your way."