Page 55 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz

Ingrida

It is very hard to concentrate on Fay’s words as I help her to get ready for bed.

My conversation with Neil, it goes around inside my head, and I cannot make sense of it.

He finally called when we were in the dressing room watching the finals show and I took my phone to the ladies to speak with him in private.

‘Sorry I didn’t call earlier. I’ve only just got the kids to bed. Lizzy’s been playing up rotten without you here. I had to put her down in our bed in the end. How’s the dancing?’

I could not bring myself to answer.

‘Ingrida? You OK?’

‘I speak with Grace yesterday.’

‘Really?’

‘She tell me Rita and Terry now know big secret.’

‘Ah.’

‘You did not tell them we are married. They find out from children.’

‘Ingrida, it’s been hard…’

‘Hard for you? To say we are now husband and wife?’

‘No. Hard for them. They left. Walked out as soon as they found out. Look, they’ll come round. They don’t understand… they don’t know you…’

‘ Ne , they do not know me. I am not in house to speak with them so they will not know me…’

‘Ingrida, in the whole scheme of things, this is of little importance.’

‘Little importance. I do not know what you mean.’

‘It’s just… well, there’s a lot of other stuff going on. Look, I will tell you when you get back. Things are… complicated and well, today someone arrived at the house and… well, basically made a lot of threats.’

My heart, it knot and I think of Kazimieras and I was unable to find the words to tell Neil.

‘Ingrida, I can’t talk about this on the phone.’

‘Who… who make these threats?’

‘Look, I didn’t want to worry you but I need to come clean… There are… well, some things I haven’t told you… I haven’t been completely honest…’

He go very quiet and I wait until he speak again.

‘When you get back… I’ll tell you everything. Oh no. Lizzy’s crying again. I need to go. See you tomorrow.’

‘Neil?’

But he hang up without even saying I love you and I am left in confusion with his words.

The rest of the evening, it went by in a blur. At the theatre I was with the other dancers on stage, but inside my head I was thinking of Neil’s words and no matter how much I say to God to take this worry away, my mind would not settle.

Now we are in the hotel room and the others eat a pizza they have delivered to the room.

‘Ingrida, you sure you don’t want any?’ Bonnie ask me. ‘It’s actually quite good and you can heat it up in the microwave.’

‘ Ne , thank you. I am not hungry. I think I will go to bed and read.’

‘Good idea, Ingrida.’ Fay puts the crust of her pizza in an empty box and wheels herself to her bed where I help her to get in.

‘I haven’t even got the energy to brush my teeth.’ Fay gives a big sigh when I lift her bad leg onto the bed. ‘Oh, what a relief to finally put my foot up.’

‘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 Metro passes.

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 the Gare du Nord Station 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 dance groups 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 the Manchester Evening News that 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 Bold as 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?’

Fay stares studiously out of the window as Ruby continues reading.

‘“In a day of disasters, DECK dancer and local librarian, Fay Langridge, then broke her leg on stage at the start of their Bollywood entry. The drama kept giving when Ms Langridge, who was estranged from her two daughters for many years, was to discover her eldest daughter, Edith was also a competitor.”…’

Ruby looks up at Fay who rubs her forehead and continues to stare at the distant French countryside flashing past. Ruby coughs and carries on.

‘“Edith Langridge was dancing in a balletic French quartet, Body and Soul – the group which went on to win the show with their rendition of “Fix You” by Coldplay. The tense reunion between Fay and Edith resulted in the daughter taking the mother’s place in the aptly named finals dance, “Dancin’ Fool”, which took second place, narrowly beating Bold as Brass. ”…’

‘Narrowly my arse…’ Cath starts before Bonnie slaps the table and roars with laughter.

‘Very funny, Cath.’

‘“Sheila Bold eventually acknowledged her group’s entry was in fact choreographed by Clarissa Kirkland, the head of the DECKs, and with this admission, they were allowed to proceed to the final where they achieved third place. Our reporter watched the finals show in the packed main theatre of the Opéra Bastille . ‘A showcase of exciting, fast-paced dance enthralled the Paris audience. Expression, the formerly little-known competition, is now set to gain an unprecedented following.’ The show’s director, Frédéric Montrer, was delighted the initially unwelcome incidents gave way to some extremely welcome publicity.

‘ Vive la compétition! ’ were his final words. ”’

‘You bet Frédéric was pleased. And I bet it was him who gave them lots of juicy titbits.’ Ruby hands the phone back to Max.

Asha then speaks up. ‘Hey, I hope they do not connect the former dancer they mentioned at the beginning with Janine and find out about Janine’s mum.’

‘You’re right, Asha,’ Cath agrees. ‘They’ll have a right field day with that.’

Ruby turns to Max to explain what we have heard about Janine’s mother.

I think about Janine, and I realise my problems, they are not so big. Whatever Neil has to tell me, even if Kazimieras make big threats, we can sort it out. I just want to be home to see him and the children.

*