Page 128 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘It is still very swollen,ja?You can get this checked at the hospital when we get back home. I think this would be good idea.’
Asha appears from the bathroom in her pyjamas. ‘It’s so quiet in here without Ruby and Monica.’
‘What are you reading, Ingrida?’ Bonnie asks. ‘That’s a tiny and well-worn book.’
‘My Latvian New Testament,’ I tell her. ‘I read it every day.’ But I do not tell her I cannot see the words clearly and I end up closing the book and my eyes. When Neil’s words repeat in my head,I haven’t been completely honest, I find the only way I can get to sleep is to put myself back on stage and do all the dance steps over and over.
*
Today, it takes much time to pack up and leave the hotel with Fay in her wheelchair, her case on her lap. Asha pulls my case with hers and we cross Paris with our Metropasses. I am relived we do not have expensive taxi but without Monica, no one offers to pay, and we agree we have time to get to theGare du NordStation using the Underground.
Ruby and Max, they meet us at the station and Ruby, she look very happy. She wink at me and I smile back at her.
Edith is also at the station to say goodbye to Fay. We leave them to have private word before clearing customs and getting on board. Fay’s eyes shine and when I ask if everything is all right, she does not say anything, but nods her head and pats my hand.
The Eurostar journey seem to go by quickly and I listen to the others chatter as the train carries us to London.
‘That’s the third time your phone has rung Fay,’ Cath points to Fay’s bag.
‘I am not answering it. It is that dratted reporter again. Wants some sort of scoop. Well, he is not getting another word from me.’
Ruby laughs, ‘Fay, I think you gave him plenty of words to be going on with. I’ve just been reading the news report online.’ She reads aloud from Max’s mobile screen. ‘“A bunch of squawking, self-absorbent harlots, is how Fay Langridge of the Dance Excellence – Clarissa Kirkland ensemble described the Bold as Brass dancers” – Fay that’s priceless.’
Fay shakes her head and bites her lip.
‘What else does it say?’ Asha and Bonnie ask.
Ruby reads the full article.
‘“Fierce rivalry between two UK amateur dancegroups came to a head in France this weekend in the competition, Expression Paris. Dance Excellence with Clarissa Kirkland led by Clarissa Kirkland, known as the DECK group, went up against fellow North West residents, Sheila Bold’s Bold as Brass ensemble. In a weekend full of drama, the DECKs arrived at Manchester Airport only to discover they had no flight bookings. Forced to travel to Paris by train, a source close to the group told theManchester Evening Newsthat a former dancer had embezzled both the flight and hotel funds.”…’
‘Who the hell told them that?’ Ruby looks at Fay.
She shakes her head and mumbles an unconvincing reply about being assured her comments were ‘off the record’.
‘Go on, Ruby,’ Cath points to the phone.
‘“The DECKs arrived in Paris only to discover there had been a further theft. Their rivals, Bold as Brass had stolen one of their dance numbers. When Sheila Bold’s ladies performed this sexy fan dance to “Roxanne” by The Police, a full-blown costume boob unfolded – literally – on stage. Several of the lacy tops tore and breasts were exposed. The unexpected titillation was eclipsed when Sheila Bold herself mooned at the audience. Ms Bold’s skirt ripped to reveal her bottom complete with cheeky thong, pictured here.”…’
Ruby turns the screen to show us the image.
‘Is Sheila’s big ending,ja?’
‘Yeuw. Gruesome,’ Cath giggles.
Ruby turns the phone back and continues reading.
‘“Film of the costume malfunction, taken by a Boldas Brass friend in the audience, went viral and made headline news in both France and the UK. There followed un-substantiated claims that the costumes had been sabotaged.”’
Asha takes a sharp intake of breath and Ruby mutters a swear word under her breath before continuing.
‘“I suspect one of the Clarissa Kirkland’s women interfered with Sheila’s back seam, Bridget Davies from Bold as Brass speculated, adding there had been an incident with costumes being damaged earlier in the day.”…’
Ruby shakes her head. ‘The little bitch. Frigging sour grapes if you ask me.’
‘Keep reading,’ Bonnie urges.
‘“Further drama dogged the competition when one DECK dancer had her phone stolen by thieves near the Eiffel Tower. Another was reported to have been subject to a racist attack.”… Who the hell told them that?’
