Page 18 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz

Fay

When Ruby starts to swear aloud in a most unladylike fashion, I put my foot down. The last thing Clarissa needs is for our group to make a spectacle of themselves like that abominable Sheila Bold and her women. I glance at Clarissa and can see the poor lady is pale from the shock.

‘We are not going to Paris unless… unless we can make new travel arrangements.’

‘How could Janine do this to us?’ Monica starts to fret.

‘I cannot believe it,’ Asha adds.

‘Indeed, and what has she done with all our money?’ I add. ‘I have my suspicions. But as she has left us completely in the lurch we must, for now, put all our efforts into getting to Paris.’ I clap my hands together.

‘How?’ Bonnie stares at me.

Taking my notebook and pen from my bag, the plan of action forms as I speak. ‘We need to see if we can obtain any aircraft tickets on either this or a subsequent flight. Monica, perhaps you, Hazel and Clarissa can go and enquire with the airline? I will look after the cases here.’

Monica nods and hurriedly pushes Hazel’s wheelchair to the airline desks, Clarissa walking ghost-like behind.

‘Bonnie and Cath, I can see from the departures board that there are two other airlines with flights to Paris today. Go and see if you can find out if any tickets are available from the desks over there.’

‘Right you are.’ Cath and Bonnie make a beeline for the desks I have indicated.

Ruby is shaking her head. ‘There’s no way there’ll be seats for all of us. Frigging hell…’

‘Ruby, you and Asha make a search for Eurostar train tickets on the internet.’

‘Yes. Good idea, Fay.’ Asha pulls out her phone, nodding respectfully to me while Ruby is already using her phone without any glimpse of acknowledgment of my leadership. Typical.

‘The new tickets, they will cost much money?’ Ingrida is chewing her lip.

‘Let us worry about that if we can actually procure any,’ I reply, but I am also concerned as to how we will fund the extra expense.

‘Ingrida, can you check on the train times from Wilmslow to London, or even Stockport or Manchester to London? See if there are any late deals on services today.’

‘ Ja .’

I search on my phone for travel times to London, the time it will take to get from Euston to St Pancras Station, the time it takes the Eurostar to get to Paris and note these all down in my book.

‘There is train from Wilmslow, it is in just over one hour, but best price tickets, they are expensive…’ Ingrida shows me the screen and the cost.

‘I am afraid there will be an inevitable outlay for us all to get to Paris, but rest assured, Ingrida, we will be getting our money back from Janine. On that I am determined. Hold that screen until we know more about the Eurostar…’

Bonnie and Cath wave at me from across the terminal with a thumbs down and a shake of the head before moving to another counter.

My biggest fear is that there will be no flight tickets. I know Hazel would not be capable of making the journey by train, and I am sure Clarissa would not want to go without her.

Monica waves wildly from her desk and I leave Ingrida in charge of the cases to cross to her.

‘There are two remaining seats for the next flight to Paris in just a couple of hours. Hazel and Clarissa are going to take them. They have to use their special assistance to get to the gate immediately as it is not available later, so they need to check-in straight away.’

Hazel purchases the remaining two air tickets so they can be fast tracked to the departure gate.

I cannot help thinking to myself that it was sloppy work of the airport to allow assisted travel to be booked without evidence of documents confirming the flight, however this has worked in our favour on this occasion.

‘I am sure we will find a way to join you there,’ I say to them with as much confidence as I can muster, fighting a terrible urge to cross my fingers.

An escort arrives to push Hazel.

‘Thank you, Fay.’ Clarissa dabs a tear from her eye.

‘Yes, thank you,’ Hazel adds. ‘Has anyone ever told you, you’re simply marvellous in a crisis?’

‘I think it helps if one remains calm and analytical.’ I smile, aglow inside. ‘It was drilled into me at school.’

Monica hugs Clarissa and I take the opportunity to lean into Hazel to whisper to her so Clarissa cannot hear. ‘Hazel, I fear we may not have hotel bookings either.’

‘Yes, that thought’s occurred to me.’

‘Still, Paris will be full of hotels. I am sure we will be able to find something even if we have to spread out at different places.’

‘Precisely. I’ll sort out accommodation for the two of us if you can sort the dancers?’

‘Of course, safe travels.’

Ruby rushes up to us as we wave Clarissa and Hazel off to the check-in.

‘I’ve managed to get a group booking on the Eurostar this evening. It’s a bargain deal for that route.’

‘Really?’ Monica starts to smile but then seems to think better of it and looks down at her shoes.

‘Excellent work, Ruby. Let us get back to the others and get the seats booked.’

‘Yes, Miss.’

I regard Ruby with a stern stare, but she winks at me, and I have to confess feeling a similar flush of excitement as is evident on her face. Now is not the time to get churlish, so I hold my head in the air as we return to our suitcases.

Ruby outlines the costs, and I get everyone to queue up and open their passports.

I ignore Ruby’s sarcasm as she starts to make remarks about it being like they were back in school.

Instead, I direct her to transcribe each person’s details onto the online application form in a methodical and ordered fashion as I read aloud.

‘OK.’ Ruby looks up. ‘I need to make the payment. Afraid my credit card won’t take a hit like this.’ She shows us the phone screen and Ingrida gasps at the total.

‘Put it on my card.’ Monica passes her card to me rather than Ruby. ‘We can sort it out when we get home.’

‘That is very generous of you, Monica.’ Asha beams at her.

‘Indeed, thank you,’ I say, passing the card to Ruby.

‘Are you sure?’ Cath asks.

‘Yes. There is plenty of credit. It is my husband’s card.’

Ruby looks up sharply. There is a hint of a smile on her face, but Monica steadfastly ignores her. Ruby shrugs and enters the details, her fingers flying over the phone keys at impressive speed.

‘We’re booked.’ Ruby screams in an unnecessarily loud voice. ‘Whoop!’

‘Marvellous.’ Bonnie and Cath high five each other.

Monica takes back the card Ruby hands her without making eye contact.

‘Good. Now, Ingrida, you need to book the London train tickets?’

‘ Ja … I mean ne , the tickets, they cost big sum…’

‘It is OK, put it on the card too.’ Monica hands it to Ingrida.

Ruby appears to chuckle quietly. I think she is overexcited.

Monica keeps her eyes on Ingrida’s screen as she enters the card details.

‘The train tickets. They are all booked for us.’

‘Now we are making headway. Ingrida, please share the reference to everyone on the chat group so we can all show we have paid. I think it most unlikely we will be able to sit together.’ I return the card to Monica.

‘This has been most helpful, Monica. Thank you. Be assured, I shall keep a note of everything we spend, and we can sort out who owes what on our return. You must thank your husband for us.’

Ruby makes some strange guttural noise, which I ignore as I turn to Ingrida.

‘Now, what time is the next train to London?’

‘We do not have long. It is in forty-five minutes.’

‘Right, we must hurry to the taxi rank. It will take at least fifteen minutes to get to Wilmslow station…’

I look around to do a head count and find there are two women missing.

‘Where on earth are Cath and Bonnie?’

We scan the area and I begin to feel peeved those two have disappeared just as we need to get going.

‘For goodness’ sake. Where are they?’

‘They have taken their cases.’ Asha points out.

‘Well, this is a travesty,’ I say to Monica. ‘I manage to sort out this terrible mess and two of our party go missing—’

‘Keep your frigging hair on, Fay,’ Ruby cuts in. ‘They’re over there, waving to us by the minibus bookings office. Looks like they’ve got us a ride. Whoop again.’

I glare at Ruby – she has such a common tongue – but I soon find myself at the back of our group as they race with their cases to join Cath and Bonnie as they set out for the taxi rank.

I rush to catch them up, irritated they appear to have instantly forgotten my part in getting us organised.

For some ridiculous reason, I am reminded of Edith and Bethan turning their backs on me. I know this will not do at all, so I hurriedly squash these thoughts, refusing to indulge them.

*

The traffic between the airport and the station is murderous.

‘I don’t believe it. Another frigging red light.’

‘Are our tickets valid for any other train?’ Asha asks.

‘ Ne , only this one.’

‘Wait until I get my hands on Janine…’ Bonnie starts to say as we inch forwards in a long line of vehicles.

‘I still can’t believe she has done this to us.’ Cath starts to drum her fingers on her bag. ‘Alleluia. We’re moving at last.’

‘She must have known for weeks that we had no flights booked.’ Asha shakes her head, then suddenly starts. ‘Wait, she probably has not reserved the hotel either…’

‘No.’ Bonnie puts her hand to her mouth.

‘Fuck. You’re right.’ Ruby makes a fist.

‘Ahem. I have already considered this, ladies, and we will sort this out en route, as they say in France. Paris is a vast tourist city. There is bound to be lots of accommodation, I am sure.’

Monica gives a loud moan.

‘Monica, I am quite sure—’

‘No, not the hotel issue, look. A massive queue and roadworks ahead.’

We all groan, and I look anxiously at my watch. I find my heart is racing rather too fast and concentrate on doing some deep breathing.

We arrive on the platform, completely out of breath, just as the train is pulling into the station. The carriages are full, people standing in the aisles and at the end of each coach.

‘It’s packed.’ Bonnie shakes her head.

‘Well, at least we made it,’ counters Cath. ‘I’m for getting as close to the buffet car as we can.’

‘Good move, Cath,’ Ruby shouts and Asha laughs with them as they rush towards the buffet car to get on.

‘Remember, we will all meet up at the M they are all on what I can only describe as a high, their emotions completely unchecked as they shout and laugh to each other.

Well, I am certainly not standing all the way to London. My foot problem is exacerbated if I stand for long periods of time, and I need them to be in top form to dance in Paris. Besides, I have a book I wish to read.

I set off down the crowded corridors, ignoring those who tut when I repeatedly say, ‘Excuse me.’ I will find a seat if I have to walk the length of the train, mark my words.