Page 39 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘Yes. Janine said it was early Alzheimer’s. She told me she had to give up her job in the ticket office of a Manchester theatre when her mother got worse.’
‘She has no father?’
‘She did not say.’
‘Does she have brother or sister?’
‘One sister who had left home years ago. Apparently, she is not in contact with Janine. I was itching to know why this was, but it was so difficult to get Janine to open up.’
‘Still, you managed to find out a fair amount, Asha,’ Ruby comments while looking at her phone screen.
I cannot decide if she is being funny, so I let it go.
‘I was trying to help her. I told her she should contact this sister of hers and get her to come home and help her to care for their mother, but Janine put on her coat and started for the door. I even said to her, it is a good thing that you are doing, looking after your mother. We should all look after our families, but with no job it must be hard for you. I said, I hope you are able to claim some financial help. It must be very worrying. She mumbled something about claiming benefits and being OK for money. But that is all she would say.’
‘Is that all?’ Ruby sniggers and I am not sure why. Perhaps it is something on her phone?
‘Maybe that is reason Janine take our money?’ Ingrida frowns. ‘But I still do not believe it. Janine is sweet girl…’
‘Did you know she is only twenty-three?’
‘Ja, it is very young to be carer.’
‘I must admit, I wondered how she was coping by herself. Can you imagine only having a demented mother for company?’
‘Ja. It is very sad.’
‘It was not the sort of thing I could ask Janine when we moved to online rehearsals. Let’s face it, there was very little time for conversation. But once we resumed live classes, I tried to be caring and compassionate whenever I spoke to her. I did tell her she could always call on me for help. But now look. She has left us high and dry.’
We go quiet for a while, moving with the motion of the train and listening to the hum of chatter in the buffet car.
Jay sends me a message asking if we have called the police. I reply we have not but turn to the other two. ‘Should we report it to the police? I mean, she must have known what she was doing.’
‘Ne, it would not be good to go to the police until we know more.’
‘But it does look like theft…’
The more I think about it, the more annoyed I feel with Janine. I cannot believe I was ready to whiten her teeth for free.
My phone buzzes again and I read Fay’s message.
Asha, the battery on my phone is about to die and I cannot access my charger in this crowded space. Can you check the situation with the hotel and let me know where we stand? We may need to use your phone to find an alternative if we do not have reservations. I am in carriage C.
It does not take me long to get through.
‘Allô, Ibis Paris Bastille Opéra. Puis-je vous aider?’
‘Bonjour, do you speak English?’
‘Mais oui. Can I ’elp?’
‘I wish to check if you have reservations at your hotel for our party?’
‘What name?’
‘It could be under Janine Young?’ When she says no, I give the receptionist all our names, including Clarissa and Hazel’s.
‘No, I am sorry. No one with zose names iz staying ’ere.’
