Page 33 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘Ruby and Fay. We all need to check-in together. Has everyone got their passports ready?’
Clarissa anxiously scans the busy area for the others.
My Latvian passport is at the top of my bag. I smile when I look at the name: Valenko. I will soon be getting a British passport with my new name, Mrs Ingrida Goodman.
Clarissa suddenly gasps and we all look up. Her expression, it has changed to one of horror.
We turn to see what she is looking at.
A big group of about twelve ladies, all dressed in fluorescent pink leggings and tight matching tops – which are so low cut you can see their black bras – head towards us. They are giggling and speak very loudly. Many passengers have turned to look at them. As they get closer, I recognition them. They are the group who won the heats in the North West Expression dance competition. I do not know them in person, but I know Clarissa she does not like them at all.
The woman at the front of the group – I think she is call Sheila – is wearing a lot of make-up. She stops when she see Clarissa and clicks her fingers. All the other pink ladies suddenly shuffle into different places behind her, dragging their suitcases behind them.
‘Clarissa. Pleasure to see you…’ She wink to her group who form a semicircle behind her.
‘The pleasure is all yours.’ Hazel folds her arms.
Sheila turns her back on Clarissa and she make some kind of signal to the other ladies. They instantly start to click their fingers at the same time. Sheila turns sharply back to face us and she and the women dance, in unison, towards us using what Clarissa calls exaggerated crossover steps. They are all singing a chorus from a well-known Tina Turner song, “Simply the Best”, as they advance.
Clarissa takes a step back, closer to Hazel, and the passengers nearby get out their phones to film.
‘It’s a flash dance,’ someone shouts.
The pink women spread out and surround our group, each one coming right up close to each of us, clicking their fingers in our faces.
I do not like this. It is what Fay say is intimidating.
They then stop – Sheila bang in front of Clarissa – and do a front twist turn. I briefly see the rhinestone letters ‘BAB’ emblazon across the back of each top. The women face back to us again and each one extends an arm and then sticks a single finger in air. I pull back so the woman’s finger right next to me does not touch my face. I know this is a rude sign in England. It is also a rude sign in Latvia.
‘See you in Paris, Clarissa, but don’t expect to beat us,’ Sheila shouts at Clarissa who has almost turned the very same colour of their pink tops.
‘Expression Paris winners, this way,’ Sheila calls to her group. They scream with laughing as they get their bags and head off to the check-in desk.
Monica puts her arm through Clarissa’s. ‘Take no notice of them. They’re dreadful.’
‘They have definitely been drinking. Sheila stank of booze.’ Asha looks most annoyed.
‘Let’s hope they don’t let them on the flight,’ Hazel murmurs as she pats Clarissa’s free arm.
‘What was it they were singing?’ Bonnie asks.
‘Sure you know it. Tina Turner, “Simply the Best”. Bold as Brass is as apt a name as any for that brassy pack. And Sheila’s dancers are no way better than us…’
‘Only in their dreams.’ A loud voice joins in.
I turn and see Ruby glare at Sheila’s group. Fay is behind her.
‘Stuff those tarty flamingos. We can beat them hands down.’ Ruby smiles at Clarissa and Monica looks away.
‘Ruby, Fay, thank goodness you’ve arrived.’ Clarissa quickly switches her attention away from the shrieking pink women. ‘Now everyone is here we need to get checked in. Get your cases and we will demonstrate what it is to have decorum.’
I suddenly feel a little sad. I am only a reserve and now everyone is here I will not be required to dance in the competition. I think maybe in secret I did want to perform on a big Paris stage? It is no good thinking this way, Ingrida. It will be wonderful just to be back in Paris.
I follow the others to the end of the check-in queue.I will concentrate on buying gifts for the children. I look at my watch and see we will not have long once we are through security.
‘Wait a minute.’ Fay has been counting us. ‘Where’s Janine?’
We all look around, but there is no sign of her.
