|
NEW AUTHORS SHOWCASE
|
|
12M p3 |
|
One Night Stand By Laura Brown |
|
Chapter One Goodbye to Jenny I watched Jenny open and close her suitcase slamming it shut each time until the stubborn lock fastened. She blew away threads of blonde hair that had fallen over her eyes wiping her glowing forehead with the back of a shaky hand. "Gosh she said I’m on fire.” She struggled with a woollen jumper pulling it over her head while making a face. I laughed out loud from my place at the centre of the bed, stretching my naked legs. She slid the heavy suitcase to the floor and smiling crawled across the unmade bed towards me. She stopped an inch from my nose and kissed me gently on the lips. "Can I borrow your blue blouse?” I pretended to act shocked. "Can I trust you to look after it!” "Of course, you know me she said pretending to look hurt.” "Exactly six months.” "I thought you might give it to me as a going away present.” I pursed my lips we had agreed not to talk about Jenny’s leaving again. "Is it really over then?” Jenny slid backwards and sat looking at me for what seemed minutes but was actually seconds. "It was great while it lasted she said.” I looked quietly down at the silver ring on the third finger of my left hand. "Do you love me? I asked.” She didn’t answer but slid forwards again brushing away the tears with two soft fingers one of which she held up revealing an identical silver ring. "Oh, what’s that saying she suddenly said probing the wall behind me with the seventies wallpaper. I looked up and pinched my nose with a crumpled paper handkerchief that had seen better days and probably nights. "What saying?” "Oh you know the old fashioned one that your mother told you at your grannies funeral.” She then switched from the seventies wallpaper to her nails all the while keeping up a humming noise in the background. "We saw the two days I said finally blowing my nose. "That’s it” said Jenny leaning closer. She held the ring up once more. "That was a beautiful day.” "And now you’re leaving.” She took a tiny breath and softly rested her forehead on mine. "Will you rub my back for me?” I tore the paper handkerchief into small pieces, she loves me she loves me not. "You’ll have to remove this” I said coming alive and, fingering a blue beaded necklace that I had also given her on that beautiful day, “you might ruin it.” I heard her take a longer breath. Jenny lifted my pale face with the red nose to her own smiling one and kissed me faintly on the forehead. "Come on grumpy she said taking my hand and, leading me towards the steamy bathroom removed the rest of her clothes.” Jenny waved to me and sat in the front passenger’s seat of the taxi, it stalled a moment before driving slowly away. I stayed at the window and tried to remember the first time I met her. It was a Thursday evening. A gang of us had decided to meet for drinks after work and then later a nightclub. Tammy led the way. She knew a bouncer on the door who was going out with her younger brother, Derek. "All right Jason she said giving him a sly wink.” "All right Tammy.” "Is your Ma well!” "She’s fine he said without moving a muscle.” "Ah that’s great.” We Indian filed through the doors checking our imitation leather and suede jackets with the girl attendant then headed in a group to the powder room. Ingrid shimmied to the music from outside while she searched her shoulder bag. Janice done her lips, Marian adjusted her push-up bra Audrey added some more sparkle and Tammy flushed. When Janice was finished she dusted me down. "George you should let your hair grow,” she said handing me the lip-gloss. "Why?” I asked.” "Because you’d look sexier she replied.” "She’s right George said Marian taking a final look in the mirror.” "I’ve never seen you with long hair.” "I’d say you’d look gorgeous George said Ingrid handing the joint over to Audrey.” "I mean continued Marian with a name like George and that tight haircut anyone would mistake you for a teenager.” "Until she turned around said Audrey smiling.” "That’s right said Ingrid I wish I had your cheekbones George.” Marian flicked her hair and checked her false tan in the mirror before disappearing into an empty cubicle. "I knew I should’ve gone before I left she said I hate using these things no offence Tammy.” "None taken Marian but there’s no bog roll, sorry.” Ingrid searched her shoulder bag and dangled a tissue over the door. "Whose hand is that said Marian.” "Can you not tell?” said Janice! Tammy took a quick drag on the cigarette and coughed. She giggled and leaned backwards against the counter raising it to her lips once more. Ingrid and Marian were lovers of the ultraviolet ray. It was their fix. Three or four times a week they would stand or lie down under its fluorescent sunbeam deepening their already dark colours. Ingrid used her local video store while Marian went upmarket, she didn’t mind paying the extra cash because that’s what money was for, spending. Soon the toilet flushed a second time and Marian appeared happy-go-lucky dabbling her fingers under the hot tap. Ingrid took two short puffs on the half cigarette and then passed it on to Marian, who shook the remaining drops from her manicured fingers in advance. "I wonder who invented cannabis,” said Marian exhaling. Everybody laughed, even Ingrid. "Jesus said Tammy I’m heading for the dance floor.” Audrey snatched at my hand and dragged me along giggling. Ingrid grabbed her shoulder bag and looped arms with Janice. Marian finished the cigarette and reviewed her appearance in the mirror for two seconds, turning and crossing the smooth surface in time to take hold of a hand. Immediately we were covered in flashing lights of psychedelic colours. The strobe lighting crisscrossed the action-packed room in tandem with the music. Janice and Ingrid joined Tammy on the dance floor while the rest of us boogied towards the bar. Marian elbowed her way through the crowd followed closely by yours truly. After a long time she placed our orders and soon a tray overburdened with drinks was handed over the counter. Audrey waved to us from an alcove where there were seats available for those who wished to drink and not dance. We sat down sipped our drinks and perused the scene for attractive members of the opposite sex to approach, in my case, the other way round. The music beat like the rhythm of a heart after sprinting ninety yards for the last bus home and, the fluorescent beam briefly lit-up secluded spots exposing couples caught in the heat of passion. In a short time we were invited on the dance floor by a couple of Jack the Lads on the pull. "I’ll give this one a miss I said.” "And what about this cracker sitting beside you, huh?” he said turning to Audrey who smiled back, pinching the neck of the straw that she happened to be sucking on at the time of the sudden proposal. Audrey’s dainty size despite the high-heels made her feel like a wallflower when attracting men because she was almost lost in the scrum of both sides. She delayed long enough so as not to look too eager, allowing herself to be escorted in the direction of the dance floor by a friendly hand on her bum. Marian fared the same as Audrey but her hand was placed firmly on the bum of Prince Charming. There were small skirmishes on and off the dance floor some changing direction preferring instead to bitch or moan in the powder room. Suddenly the music substituted its pulsating rhythm to a slow waltz and some returned to the dance floor. A few diehards brought their drinks only to be hauled off by the scruff of the neck by a burly bouncer. I finished my drink and was about to buy another when a smooth hand placed two glasses down on the crowded table in front of me. "Hi she said is this seat taken?” |
