Page 137 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘We are gathered here today to remember our dearly departed friend, Hazel Bull. I had the pleasure of speaking with Hazel at length during her recent and sadly final hospital stay at St Ann’s where I am chaplain. I know she wanted this to be a happy occasion. A celebration of herlife. A life full of colour, dance and love…’
The vicar gives a brief history of the key dates in Hazel’s life before inviting the chief mourner to say a few words. ‘Please, Hazel’s closest friend, Clarissa Kirkland.’
Clarissa takes the lectern and puts a rigid smile on her face before taking a deep breath. She reads from a typed sheet as she embarks on a faltering and flowery accolade to Hazel, which, in her efforts to contain her emotions, is rendered rather dispassionate and flat.
‘…her support for me in all manner of things but especially choreography will be sadly missed. Having danced her last dance, she now takes her place where she moves with the angels and saints on the heavenly stage in the sky. Farewell my dear, dear confidante and most treasured friend.’ Clarissa finishes and there is a short burst of polite applause.
The ladies in costume look mainly at invisible specs of dust on their clothing or at the floor during the speech but clap politely as Clarissa retakes her seat.
Reverend Prudence then indicates for another of the key mourners to come forward to the microphone.
‘The ladies of Dance Excellence – Clarissa Kirkland have been asked to nominate one of their number to give a final tribute to Hazel and they have chosen Ingrida Goodman to summarise their feelings for this much-loved lady.’
The ladies all nod and smile encouragingly to the chosen speaker who bites her lip and fidgets nervously with her orange bowler hat before handing it to the lady in the wheelchair. She walks to the front. She has no typednotes.
‘It is very great honour to speak about Hazel. She is very special and lovely lady. She find she have cancer many years ago. I am professional cancer nurse, but I also know what it is like to have this terrible disease and I am sorry she is not recover from it like me. Hazel say to me if everyone have diagnosis of cancer maybe they live life in better way. She say it change her outlook and I think she have point. She say to me one day this cancer will be eradicate. I hope she is right. Cancer is truly terrible. Hazel, she say to me we are here for only short time and we must do best to make the world better place. I know Hazel make the world better place. St Ann’s Hospice, they ask me to say big thank you to Hazel. She leave her lottery prize, some to the hospice and rest to research to find cancer cure.’ Ingrida’s lower lip wobbles as she says her final words. ‘Before she pass away, Hazel say to me, Ingrida live and dance like there is no tomorrow. I think this is very good advice. Thank you, Hazel, for being lovely lady. We all love you and will miss you very much.’
The congregation applaud loudly and all the pin-striped women stand to hug or pat Ingrida when she returns to her seat.
The service concludes with another of the dance ladies singing ‘Amazing Grace,’ her lilting Irish accent prompting further tears.
*
The wake is held in the circular function room above the Lowry theatre in Manchester. Balloons adorn every tableand photographs of Hazel and Clarissa are prominently displayed at the entrance. The almost three-hundred-and-sixty-degree views through the windows look out to Media City, the Manchester Ship Canal and Salford Quays. They let light flood in from the clearing sky. Despite the occasion, the mood is upbeat, and the dance friends take their buffet lunch to a central circular table where they chat freely.
‘This place is incredible. I wish I had known you could hire it before I had my wedding in the community hall.’
‘Asha, you would never have fitted all your wedding guests in here. I mean, I’ve never seen so many people at one wedding,’ Ruby laughs.
‘That is true, and Jay and I could always hire this place for our first anniversary.’
‘You may have your hands full by then.’ Cath smiles as she indicates Asha’s stomach.
‘Cath, you sang beautifully. And, Ingrida, you did a fantastic speech. Well done.’
‘Thank you, Monica. I was little nervous in my words, but I think of Hazel inside my head, and I stay strong for her.’
‘You made a brilliant job of it…’ The wheelchaired lady stops to catch her breath. ‘I wish I could have said something… but I find it hard to… to complete a sentence with this terrible… terrible pulmonary hypertension.’ She coughs into a handkerchief and Ingrida gently pats her arm.
‘You need slow down, Fay. This recover, it will take much time. It is very lucky you are still here with us.’
‘Yes, you had a narrow squeeze from what I heard…’ Bonnie starts.
‘Escape… Narrow escape.’ Fay splutters.
‘Exactly, but escape you did. Just think if Ingrida had not called on you or if she had not had your flat key? No one would have known you were on the point of collapse.’
Fay nods her head and wordlessly reaches for Ingrida’s hand to clasp it before choking out, ‘I fear it will take months and months to get right again.’
‘Don’t get despondent, after all it’s still early days for you, Fay.’ Monica pats her shoulder. ‘You only moved from the hospital to the rehabilitation home last week. It’s lovely you were able to join us today, but you need to give yourself time. Plus, your leg will need lots of physio.’
‘At least Edith is coming over from France to visit me soon…’ Fay catches her breath. ‘And did I tell you I had an email from Bethan? She, she sounds very happy living in Australia.’
‘That’s great news, Fay. Tell Edith to send us a text. We can have a “Dancin’ Fool” reunion.’ Monica and Ruby nod enthusiastically.
When Fay has been collected by her adapted taxi, the ladies applaud Ingrida for her swift action.
‘You really did save her life, Ingrida.’ Ruby hugs her lightly.
