CHAPTER 225: The Amber Folder

 

In the days following Geoffrey Landgraab's death the mood at the company headquarters was not only solemn but filled with tension and anxiety as well.  It was a company where the right hand didn't know what the left hand often did, where rumours of various shady dealings percolated under the surface and that it was prudent to know who your friends were, and who was going to plunge a knife in your back.

Alice Ethington, a pert and efficient blonde girl whose instincts and insights belied her 22 years of age, was not immune to the tension of the office and she too felt that the axe could swing at her at any moment.  Her official role in the company was that of Personal Assistant to various heads of department but in reality she had always been the unofficial eyes and ears of Geoffrey and Nancy Landgraab.

Because of her youthful prettiness people tended to assume she was a sweet ingenue; yes, good at office tasks but few suspected that she was watching, listening and learning about the men who casually flirted with her and the women who would include her in their gossip circles.  Alice had always been this good at watching and listening all her life and she knew when to shut up around those who were more outgoing and influential.

For now she kept her head down and finished off a report she had started compiling last month when she was assigned to some internal security work.  Mrs Landgraab suspected someone in the company was passing secrets to rivals or the press; Alice wasn't told exactly which, but she was told to keep an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously and to go through the files of suspects to see if there was anything amiss.  

It seemed a little futile now; it turned out the informant was Jeremy Saint and he had left the company after turning evidence over to the police, but her report still had to be completed and handed in to Mrs Landgraab.  Alice, ever dutiful and efficient, complied without comment.

Her concentration was interrupted by the arrival of a colleague in her workspace.

"Hi Alice....I say, you look really nice today; that shade of blue suits you." said a young, fairly good looking man who looked nerdy with his heavy horned rimmed glasses and beige cardigan worn over a button down shirt.

"Thank you, Karl." Alice replied, noticing his awkward way of trying to flirt with her.  "Is there anything I can help you with?" she said with a pleasant smile; this seemed to make Karl feel self-conscious.

"It's not me...erm, I mean I'm here on an errand...from the boss." he stammered.

"The boss?  Mrs Landgraab?" asked Alice.

"No...the new boss:  Mister Landgraab:  Malcolm III"

"Oh him...Karl, the office shorthand for Mr Malcolm Landgraab III is 'Big Mal'.  He doesn't mind it."  Alice said as she took the sheaf of paper from her typewriter and put it in a folder on her desk.  Then she stood up.

"Did Big Mal say what he wanted to see me about?" she said as she walked over to Karl.  The young man caught a whiff of her perfume and almost lost his bearings from being intoxicated by her essence.

"Erm...nothing specific, but he asked for you, by name and said it was a matter of some importance."

"A matter of some importance?  It sounds vague enough to be either something trivial...or of dire consequence.  Which would you place a bet on, Karl?" she said with an impish grin.

"I...don't bet, Alice" he meekly replied.

"No...I don't suppose you do" she said looking him up and down before heading off to find Big Mal.

It didn't take her long because he was standing in the corridor right outside of her office.  Moreover, he knew immediately who she was.

"Miss Ethington..." he said, more as a definitive statement than a question.

"Yes, sir?" she replied.

"I hear that you're a young lady who can be trusted...implicitly."  

"Well, sir, that's kind of people to think so..."

"Cut the false modesty" he said, curtly, taking a note of the short hemline of her dress.  She can't be too modest wearing an outfit like that, he thought.

"I need to talk to you about a new assignment; one that requires discretion.  Now let's adjourn to the boardroom and I'll explain what I mean..." said Big Mal, jerking his head towards a door that led to the hallowed ground that was the Landgraab Corporation boardroom.

"Take a seat, Miss Ethington" said Mal as he shut the door to the room shut.  She demurely sat down at the table and Mal sat a couple of seats away from her.

"Miss Ethington, on top of your regular company duties you were recently appointed by my daughter to oversea a departmental security check."

"Yes sir"

"The department you were responsible contained the whistleblower, Jeremy Saint" Mal added, solemnly.  

Alice's head dropped.  "I'm sorry, Sir, I should have been more thorough."

"Perhaps.  I wouldn't be so hard on yourself.  What made you give Saint clearance?"

"He was deemed least likely to be a security risk as he had been sent downstairs for 'treatment' in the machine.  I felt that his two colleagues; Fanshawe and Lew were higher risk propositions."

"A reasonable assumption.  For people of your generation trust in machinery is more commonplace than for people of mine.  I never liked the machine downstairs.  I will have it dismantled and we will return to more traditional methods of influence."

"Yes sir"

"But don't concern yourself with that right now.  I have another mission for you."

Alice said nothing.

"What do you know of Edna Sneedley and the League of Decency?" Mal asked.

"It's a moral majority, anti-permissive society organisation, sir.  It's headed by George and Edna Sneedley, a couple of who live in Oasis Springs.  He's the head chef at the Radishon Hotel and she is a housewife who has recently declared an intention to run in this fall's local city council elections.  The League have 5 members and their most high profile exploit was an anti-Communist protest on the Britechester University campus.  The Landgraab Corporation donate to their campaign funds.  Not much, less than the secretarial pool petty cash fund."

"What's our interest in supporting them?" Mal asked.

"It was seen by the late Mr Landgraab that they could be useful in attempts to break the city council stranglehold of Victor and Lily Feng"

Mal didn't instantly reply but instead let out a hum whilst nodding his head.  "Could Edna Sneedley compromise this company?" he asked.

"I'm not sure.  Her politics are definitely ultra-conservative but we fund them via a system of donations that keeps the Landgraab Corporation hidden from the accounts."

"Very good.  You know so much without having to refer to notes, Miss Ethington.  I like that, I like that a lot.  Miss Ethington...Alice...I'm instigating a new directive for you.  Back when I ran the company full time I had everyone associated with it categorised in one of three folders:  Green, Amber and Red.  Green is for those who I do not see as a threat.  Amber is for those who are under suspicion but no immediate action will be taken.  Red is for those who prove to be a threat to the company and my family and who will be targeted with retribution in some form.  Do you understand me, Alice?"

Alice gulped nervously.  "I do, sir"

"For example, you are in the green folder"

"Thank you sir" she said with relief. 

"And Mr Saint will go in the red folder.  I wish for Edna Sneedley to go in the Amber folder."

"What about her husband, George?"

"No need to give him a designation.  He seems to be a harmless and ineffectual sidekick for his wife.  He knows little of our activities.  But I want to see how things with Mrs Sneedley develop."

"I understand, sir"

"I'm glad you do" he replied, suddenly standing up.  "I won't keep you any longer, Alice" she took the cue and stood up to leave as well.  Back in the corridor she paused to speak with him one more time.

"I will get on to this, sir, and thank you for placing trust in me" she said.

"You're welcome.  Don't let the company down, don't let me down" he replied.

"I won't, sir" she said, before she headed back to her office.

I know you won't.  You know the consequences if you do. Thought Mal.

CHAPTER 224: What Now For Beulah Boutee?

On the surface, it was just a regular day in Oasis Springs.  Children were off to school, teenagers and young people on their way to college.  The postman was delivering mail and all was as it was supposed to be.  But that was on the surface; beneath there were people with secrets and desires...

One such person was George Sneedley who was currently dancing around as his alter-ego; either Georgina or Beulah.  It had been a difficult couple of weeks for George:  Geoffrey Landgraab's fall from grace, subsequent mental breakdown and eventual death just hours after George had seen him, had hit him harder than he had admitted to his work colleagues and wife.  Geoffrey, in a manic state, visited Sneedley Burrow in order to find Beulah and found George in drag instead.  He wanted to elope with Beulah but George, reluctantly, had to admit to Geoffrey that he wasn't the woman he thought he was but was instead a man, and a man who had no intention of running off with Geoffrey Landgraab.

Geoffrey was the only person in the world who knew that George was a transvestite and now that secret had gone to his grave...or had it?  George wondered if Geoffrey had told anyone else...but it had been two weeks now and no one had come to George to say that they knew.  Maybe his secret was still safe...

Yesterday George bought a woman's exercise leotard on an impulse.  He hadn't planned to stop by Pack's Boutique and look at women's clothes but he found himself drawn to the shop and felt compelled to go in, and once there his curiosity had been aroused by the leotard with its figure hugging stretchiness.  On his first visit to Pack's he had had a panic attack; partially from sensory overload of seeing so many colourful and fashionable women's outfits that he, deep down, wanted to try on but also from this struggle within himself between the traditionalist who favoured modest, classically tailored women's clothing and a stirring within him to embrace the new fashions of 1966.  As Beulah he had spent a lot of time in the company of Nancy Landgraab and she was extolling the virtues of shorter hemlines, bright colours in man-made fabrics, heavier eye make-up and pantyhose over stockings.  Some of Nancy's influence was starting to affect George...or rather Georgina's...ideas on style.  In his new skin tight exercise outfit, he was enjoying dancing around.

After an hour of prancing and dancing about he changed into his favourite pink satin dress and read some cookbooks in order to learn more recipes for his work.  Once more he felt sensual and feminine in this outfit.

Then he went for a walk down the road.  He was confident now he could pass for a woman because no one batted an eyelid and no one looked at him strangely.  He was accepted as another passer-by and he loved the experience of venturing out in public dressed as a woman.

He sat down on a bench by the communal garden at the end of Bedrock Straight and just enjoyed the peace and fine weather.  Then he got to thinking about where to go with his cross-dressing.  When he had that confrontation with Geoffrey and heard about his death his first instinct was to gather up all his outfits, make up and wigs and throw them in the trash, but his desire to cross-dress was too strong to abandon.  However, Beulah was a creation on the fly when Geoffrey encountered him and it was Beulah, not his original feminine alter-ego; Georgina, that had dominated.  If a police investigation was being very thorough then they might want to question Beulah...so George resolved that it would be Beulah who would go in the trash and not 'Georgina'.

Beulah Boutee was no more.  The fake Southern Belle routine would be ditched along with some things that made her distinctive.  George then decided on how to make-over Georgina to distance herself from Beulah.  A change of hair colour?  A different style approach?  Maybe work more on losing weight to appear more svelte or else resort to using an old fashioned corset to give the appearance of a figure?  All things to consider going forwards.

George went home and took a look in the mirror, silently saying goodbye to Beulah.  It was fun for a while but she was also partly a construction of Geoffrey Landgraab, whose attention and devotion to the character pushed George into creating her.  As Geoffrey was no longer with the world, Beulah would be metaphorically buried with him.

Reverting back to George just before he had to go to work, he looked to the future not with worry but with excitement.  What would the new Georgina be like?

Meanwhile the campaign trail had been productive and the donations were starting to trickle in to the Sneedley For District Representative campaign so Edna decided to head to her favourite drinking spot and celebrate in a small way with a few drinks.

Edna noticed a man sitting next to her; an older gentleman with very bright and clear blue eyes who had an air of relaxed confidence about him as he sat at the bar dressed as if he was going to play golf.  She had never met this man before but recognised him from newspapers, television and his own portrait which was prominently displayed at Affluista Mansion; home of the Landgraabs.

"Excuse me, sir, but would I be addressing Mr Malcolm Landgraab III by any chance?" she said.

"That's me...who's asking?" he said, calmly.

"Mrs Edna Sneedley; I am an acquaintance of your family.  May I offer my sincere condolences over Geoffrey's untimely death.  He was a great benefactor, ally and...dare I say it...friend to myself and my husband, George."

"Thank you, Mrs Sneedley"

"Call me Edna"

"Alright, Edna.  You said Geoffrey was a benefactor and ally:  For what?"

"Oh I organise a charitable organisation called The League of Decency.  Your late son-in-law and his wife, Nancy, were great supporters in our quest to improve society by opposing loucheness, immorality and sexual impropriety."

"My Nancy has supported that?" said Mal, with a wry smile.  "I'm sure she has donated handsomely, I mean."

"Yes, a wonderful woman...an example to us all.  I know you have a lot on your plate to deal with, Mr Landgraab, but I would very much like it if the Landgraab Foundation were to continue supporting our cause."

"I will go over your file when I get to the office and review the company arrangement with you.  As you may gather, I have a lot of other business to attend to at the moment"

"Mr Landgraab, sir...you are due to tee off at 3:30pm" said a man in a pale grey suit who wore a matching peaked cap.

"Thank you, Leonard.  Mrs Sneedley, I must go now but I will look over your file when I'm in the office.  Goodbye and thank you for your message of condolence." With that, Mal Landgraab stood up and followed his chauffer to the waiting limousine parked downstairs.

Edna was pleased she had got to meet no less a person than Malcolm Landraab III and that she could get him to secure more funding and support for the League of Decency.  Meanwhile, she ordered another drink from the bar and proceeded to canvass the other patrons of the Solar Flare Lounge for their political support.

"I dunno, lady...I'm not really political..." said a young man who gave his name as Gunther Munch.  

"I understand, I wasn't political myself until recently but do you know that crime is on the way up in our fair city?  And also drug use?  These are the ills of the permissive society..." said Edna.

"I think my brother has had plenty of the permissive society...I've been missing out..." replied the forlorn looking Gunther.

Edna's conversation was abruptly stopped when she overheard two familiar, but unwelcome voices from behind her.

"So, Suzy, you're the toast of the town following your Landgraab expose.  How are you going to follow that one up?"

"Well, Penny, I could go back to fashion journalism; there's some really exciting fall trends I've had a sneak preview of, but believe me the Landgraabs are only the first of the big families in Sim City which are concealing secrets..."

"Ugh...Suzy Kent and Penny Pizazz; two of my least favourite people in this town.  My advice, Gunther is to stay clear of loose women like that!"

"We can hear you, Edna" said Suzy.

"You were meant to" replied a haughty Edna in response.
 

"Your slurs have no effect on me, just so you know"

"Well I think it's disgraceful that you should print that scurrilous hit piece on a fine man; Geoffrey Landgraab, God rest his soul!"

"Everything in that article can be verified and, besides, Geoffrey's death has nothing to do with me but more with the corruption of his family."

"Tsk!  Shocking gossip and malicious slander!" said Edna, taken aback.

"You have no idea what's going on in this town, Edna, no idea!" said, Suzy who was standing her ground.

"This, Gunther...this is what I have to deal with!  Vote Edna Sneedley for City Council on September 7th!"

CHAPTER 223: New Tricks

"Barbara...It's just really sunk in:  I don't have to go in to work anymore and yet I'm up at 6:30, I've been for my morning run and after I eat breakfast....nothing.  I've got nothing."

"Other than me and our home" she replied.

He looked at her and smiled.  "Of course, and I'm blessed but I meant a job, something to do.  No business will take me on after being named in the press as the Landgraab whistleblower."

"Why not take a well earned break while you think of what you're going to do next?"

"I can't keep still right now!  I've been pacing around the house and jogging around the block this last week and it's wearing me down.  I need to find something to do."

"You can always help me at the boutique.  You've done such a good job with the accounts and I need a financial person around to order stock, pay wages, make sure taxes are filed and all that."

"I do that here" he said, pointing to the little study/office that was down the hall.

"Why not come and do all that paperwork at the boutique itself?  It'll get you out of the house, you can see how things operate more in person and it will mean the two of us spending more time with each other!" she said with an inviting smile.

"But it'll be just the accounts and stuff...I won't have to go out there and sell clothes?" he asked, nervously.

"I'll be the best boss you've ever had!  I won't make you do things you don't wish to do." she declared, positively.

"The first time I'll have a job where that doesn't happen...." he muttered.

When they arrived at Pack's Clothing, Barbara noticed that Jeremy was still looking nervous.

"You'll be fine, my sweet.  I'm here to help you...it's just a clothes shop." she said, kissing his cheek.

She saw that a number of mannequins lacked outfits on them so she called over Jeremy.

"First things first, we need to dress those dummies."  she said.  "Menswear.  I'll show you the stock, I'll pick out some items and you can dress them."

"Me?  Dress a mannequin?" Jeremy replied, shocked.

"Yes.  They don't bite" she said with a smile.  "Well, one of them does but I forget which.  Now come on, it's not difficult."

Jeremy went out the back to find the apparel Barbara wanted and he brought it out around to the front of the shop.

"OK, there it is...now what?" he said.

"Dress the mannequins.  It's like dressing up dolls only the dolls are bigger." she replied.

"I never played with dolls.  G.I. Joe is a recent thing" he said, matter of factly.

"Really?  Oh, I suppose not.  Erm, OK, well...it's like dressing yourself but, like on a store dummy." she said, awkwardly.  "Look, just give it a try and if you get into any trouble, Toni will be along soon and I'll get her to help you."

Toni duly showed up and Barbara sorted out their work schedules, with Jeremy bringing the stock out to the front so the mannequins could be dressed and Toni cleaning the place.  For such a young woman, Barbara was certainly the boss of this outfit...

Almost as soon as the doors were opened there were a flurry of customers.  "Toni, you help that lady in the pale yellow dress, I'll deal with the young woman with the red hair and Jeremy, you're going to have to help this gentleman over here." said Barbara, rapidly firing off instructions to her team.

"What?  Me?  Deal with a customer?" exclaimed Jeremy.

"Yes...it's not difficult; just ask him what he's looking for and if you know where that is, guide him there and if you don't, come and ask me or Toni.  Quickly now, this place is filling up and we need to work as a team."

Jeremy approached the man, who looked a little older than the youthful customers that normally frequented Pack's Clothing, and could see he was a collar and tie wearing kind of gentleman.

"Excuse me, do you work here?" asked the man of Jeremy.

"Erm, yes.  I work here." Jeremy replied, nervously.  "How can I help you?"

"I'm looking to buy a suit."

"Phew, I know about suits.  What style, sir?"

"A lounge suit.  Something smart, yet not formal."

"Something smart yet not formal.  Hmmm, would this be for work?"

"Not exactly; more like a suit you'd wear for a dinner party or smart casual."

Jeremy looked around and saw a mannequin with a lounge suit on it.  "I think we might have something in store.  How are you with velvet?"

"I'm fine with velvet.  In earth tones?"

"It's a bit on the Earthy side, sir.  Would burgundy suit?"

"I really like burgundy as a colour."

"Then step this way, sir, I think I have the suit for you."

It turned out the gentleman, a Mr Giordano, liked the suit Jeremy showed him and had decided to buy it.  Jeremy had made his first sale.

After making the sale Jeremy went up to Barbara and whispered in her ear.  "That was easy!  First sale...ker-ching!"

"Hark at you!  Mr Sales himself!" she replied.

"Gimme another customer!" he said, looking around the store.  

"First things first, make sure you have the receipts for that sale you just completed!  Hey, look, there's Liberty...I'm going to have a talk with her."

"Hey, Barbara, how's business?" said Liberty.

"Very good today, thanks."

"Is that Jeremy working over there?"

Barbara turned and looked around to the cash till, where Jeremy was busy ringing up another sale.  "Yes it is; since losing his job as Landgraab he's working with me.  I think he's enjoying himself as well."

"You've got him right where you can see him.  I hope he's not too sad about leaving his corporate job." said Liberty with a note of concern in her voice.

"I think he feels relieved that he no longer has to work for a company that were against his ethics." replied Barbara.  Liberty made a good point; it was nice to have Jeremy working alongside her...they could enjoy lunches together.

Barbara was scanning the shop to see if there were other customers who needed her assistance, or that of her employees.  She noticed George Sneedley browsing the women's footwear section, which seemed odd to her.

Barbara went over to where Jeremy was and she could see that he was struggling to deal with a customer who couldn't make up his mind and who was asking obscure, technical questions about clothes.

"Jeremy, dear, I see Mr Sneedley is over there...does he look nervous to you?"

Jeremy peered over her shoulder.  "Hmmm, now that you mention it, he does."

"He's probably buying something for his wife but can't make up his mind.  The last time he was in here he had a panic attack."

"Wasn't that about all the skimpy clothing you sell?"

"Trendy, not skimpy.  Anyway, as you know him a little could you help him whilst I deal with this young man" she said, indicating the person standing next to them.

"I can't have certain man-made fabrics like Quartron or Dapto next to my skin!" said the teenage boy whom Jeremy was trying to help.

"Of course, young sir, I will be helping you" said Barbara, jerking her towards George Sneedley as a signal for Jeremy.

Jeremy had noticed that George had gone from the footwear department over to a large window display where the athletic outfits were on display.

"Hello George" said Jeremy, as he approached the man from behind.

"GWAAAAA!" said George, jumping in the air in fear and surprise.  "Oh, it's you, Jeremy.  I'm...I'm...it's terrible news about Geoffrey Landgraab, isn't it?"

That seemed like a strange way to begin a conversation whilst in a clothes shop but Jeremy rolled with it.

"Very sad.  I hear the funeral is this weekend.  Anyway, I work here now...helping my girlfriend, Barbara.  I saw you were browsing and wondered if you'd like any assistance?  I see you're viewing our sportswear range; that red polo shirt is also available in blue and green."

"Oh I wasn't looking at that.  I was looking at..." George's voice trailed off as his gaze drifted towards the female mannequin next to the male one.  

"The leotard?  Erm, is that...something you're interested in?" asked Jeremy, incredulously.

"IT'S FOR MY WIFE!  I mean, it's for Edna.  She's on a health kick. right now"

"Oh I see.  Yes, I believe that outfit comes in various colours as well.  Edna's about a size 10?"

"Size 12"

"Really?  She looks a lot thinner than that.  Let me see if we have that in stock."  Jeremy walked off to check with Toni if the leotard came in a larger size.

"We have it all the way up to a 16.  Is it for that guy over there?" said Toni, when Jeremy enquired.

"Yes...well, for his wife."

Toni raised an eyebrow in surprise.  "Is that what he's told you?  In my experience you get men coming into ladies clothes shops and they ain't buying for mom, wifey or girlfriend if you catch my drift" she said.

"No, I don't.  If not for them, then who...oh, you don't mean George Sneedley might have a mistress!"

"That's not what I was going with, Sugar.  You don't buy an outfit like that for your mistress." Toni replied.

"I wouldn't know" said Jeremy, innocently.

"You are just so sweet.  Babs is lucky to have a guy so honest as you.  I'll go and find one green ladies exercise leotard and matching tights in a size 12 and I'll explain all about the kind of men I mean when we have more time..."

The rest of the day's business was busy and brisk and Jeremy had survived his baptism of fire on his first day.  They all had coffee and doughnuts once the doors were shut and Barbara was impressed at just how much got sold today:  There were mannequins still undressed, such was the demand.

"Did Jeremy behave himself today, Toni?" asked Barbara.

"He was great; a fast learner.  It certainly helped having three of us around today.  Anyway, gotta fly...Jezza, I'll tell you more about the kind of guy I think your Mr Sneedley is another time."

"Bye Toni..." said Barbara as Toni left the store.  She turned to Jeremy and asked "what did she mean by that last comment?"

"I wish I knew!" he replied, innocently.

"You were terrific today...so...do you want to go out tonight to celebrate your first, successful day here?"

"That sounds great.  Let's get a bite to eat and a few drinks down at the Salty Paws Saloon." he suggested.

"And have a bop as well?" Barbara asked.

"And have a bop.  You got it!" he said.

As they drank and danced the night away, Jeremy felt the ache in his legs from having to work standing up for 90% of the time. He was so used to working from behind a desk. Barbara, on the other hand, was like a dynamo; she was used to running around and rushing from customer to customer.

"Hey, Babe, do you think you'll want to come in to work tomorrow?" she asked Jeremy.

"For sure.  Do you know, I actually enjoyed myself today.  It's a completely different world to what I'm used to."

"I promise not to hire you under false pretences, brainwash you into hating your friends and forcing you to work on projects that will actually harm people" she said, cheekily, referring to his work at Landgraab's.

"Well, that's a relief" Jeremy replied.

Eventually they went outside to enjoy the romantic scene of Brindleton Bay harbour as the last flickers of sunlight faded.

"I guess I can learn some new tricks, after all." said Jeremy, gazing lovingly into Barbara's eyes.

CHAPTER 222: Groove With The Kids

I arrived at the dining table to find my parents both being soppy towards each other; almost insufferably so.  Hey, I'm trying to finish my homework here!  Get a motel room!

"Been for a run already, Colin dear?"

"Yep.  Nothing like fresh air filling your lungs and the muscles pumping to get your body going in the mornings."

"I like that T-shirt you're wearing, Colin...it shows off your wonderfully toned muscles well.  Firm...toned..."

"Gotta keep fit to keep up with you, Myra my dear..."

"Hey there!"  I had to interject before they got worse.  "I'm trying to finish my English literature report!  I almost wrote down 'Dickens' intentions in this chapter is to demonstrate his wonderfully toned muscles'.  I'm sure that will go down well with Miss Duddy..."

 

"Tee hee...I can see why that wouldn't go down well with your teacher, Jamie.  Alright, your father and I will be on best behaviour from now on."

But there would be negative repercussions from mom and dad flirting with each other whilst I was working on my English lit report. As it panned out, I forgot to cross the mistake I had made at the breakfast table so when I had to stand up in front of the class I inadvertently read out the part about Dickens showing off his toned muscles and the entire class...plus Miss Duddy...all burst out laughing and it was not a nice comedy moment either.  I watched across the classroom to the back row where Judy Keith and Colleen Corby were sitting and they had reacted with disgust.  I wanted the Earth to swallow me up.  Needless to say I was depressed and crestfallen when I got home.

 

I'd arranged for a band practice this evening and it was too late to cancel... I was going to have to tough this one out.  If the others find out what happened, and I'm sure they would given the rumour mill at school, then they might purge me from the very band I helped form...

Our base was behind the snug at Desert Bloom Park and I wasn't the first to arrive.  I saw that Efrain was already there.

"Hey, how's it going, Jamie?"

"Alright, I suppose."

"I heard about what happened at school.  That's too bad but you're here now, let's jam"

I was relieved that he was taking this well.  Yeah, let's jam and put the crap behind me.

"Ah Louie Louie, oh no, you take me where I gotta go...oh no, no, no, no, no, no...."

"Are you sure those are they actual lyrics, Efrain?"

"Who cares?  They sound right!  Keep going!"

Now Rohan and Lulu have arrived.  Great, we've got the whole band here although I'm still not sure what Lulu's role is meant to be...

"Rohan, you're looking dapper" 

"Thanks, Efrain...but compliments go to Lulu; she chose this outfit"

"I think you guys should have a smart look; like the Beatles"

"Do you have any ideas about the fashion side of things, Lulu?"

"Yes, Jamie, lots of ideas...also, ideas for a set list...."

Lulu picked up my guitar and started to strum and sing...

"Wouldn't it be nice if we were older then we wouldn't have to wait so long..."

"She's good, Jamie, she's very good..."

"She is, Rohan...Lulu, where do you see yourself in this band?  I mean we've got Efrain, lead vocals, me, lead guitar, Rohan, keyboards..."

"I dunno...where do you see me?"

"I asked you first"

"I can play bass if you like, and....maybe..." OK, now she's looking coy and bashful and drawing a circle in the sand with her foot whilst her hands are behind her back.  Man, she looks so cute when she does this!

"...maybe I can share vocals as well?" 

"Share vocals?  I mean, man, we agreed I'd be lead singer!"

"I know, Efrain, and you still are but it'd be nice to have some harmonies going as well and there are certain songs where a male and female voice would be great together."

"But who does that kind of thing?"

"Well...The Seekers, Peter Paul & Mary..."

"I'm not doing that folk crap!"

"Steampacket!"

Suddenly Rohan speaks up and the three of us all turn to look at him in bewilderment.

"What the hell is Steampacket?"

"They're a British R n' B band.  Really rare to find their stuff but I have a cousin who recently came back from a trip to England and he brought back some bootleg vinyl of Steampacket and they have 3 singers:  Two guys called Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart and a girl singer called Julie Driscoll.  They're great.  We could all go round to my place later and listen to them; get some ideas!"

Rohan's suggestion wasn't bad at all and at least it calmed down Efrain and Lulu.  Just as we were about to resume rehearsals this blonde chick wearing really short denim shorts walks up to us.

"Say, are you guys a band?"

"Yes we are...we're The Bluestones.  I'm Efrain, I sing lead vocals"

"I'm Jamie; lead guitar"

"Groovy!"

"This is Rohan, keyboards and I'm Lulu; bass and vocals"

"Oh...you wouldn't be Lulu Strang, would you?"

"Yes I am.  Have we met before?"

"No...I've heard your name being mentioned, that's all."

The girl's interested expression now turned to suspicion but Efrain, always one to try and impress the chicks, now leapt back in to the conversation.

"Yeah, well, we practice here every Wednesday and Saturday and we've got some gigs coming up.  I can get you free tickets if you want."

My stomach sinks again; Efrain's offered free tickets to all the cute girls at school.  We're not going to make any money at this rate.

"That's neat.  Yeah, I'll swing past here on Saturday and check you guys out.  Catch you later" 

"See you..............well, she was HOT, Jamie.  I think she likes me"

"Pah, she's a flake!  I know the type.  Don't get your hopes up there"

"Lulu, are you just gonna be a drag today?"

"I'm just sayin'"

"Alright gang, let's just focus here.  We've done OK today; I think both Louie Louie and Wouldn't It Be Nice are great for the set list, let's work on some more and maybe we can start writing songs as well.  Saturday 3pm good for you all?"

"Good for me...and I'll bet you a dollar, Lulu, that she comes and sees us on Saturday."

"Deal!"

The gang all go their separate ways except for Lulu, who doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave the park.

"Efrain might be the lead singer but you're definitely the leader of the band."

"Thanks, Lulu, although this isn't a competition between any of us.  You bring so much energy it's a matter of co-ordinating that with Efrain's opinions and Rohan's sensitivity."

"I can't help myself, Jamie...I get so enthusiastic sometimes my mouth just runs off and I say all kinds of things without thinking..."

"That's OK..." The two of us are alone now and I'm not sure what to do next.  I've been in this situation before with Colleen and Morgan where I'm alone with a gorgeous chick and I read the situation wrong and it's led to disaster.  Lulu's so cute and jolly but she comes with this strange negative reputation that I can't figure out and I'm really attracted to her but at the same time if we were to get romantically involved whilst setting up a band and it goes badly there will be fallout....man, this is getting complicated!

What to do, Jamie?  What to do?  What would a gentleman do in this situation?

"Lulu...can I walk you home?"

"I thought you'd never ask..."

It was nice.  We talked mostly about band stuff and that Lulu thought we should all get matching suits, which she'd help us with.  A question that bubbles in the back of my mind is why she's so unpopular with the other girls at school?

"Well, this is my street, Jamie.  Thanks for walking me home."

"I can take you to your front door if you'd like."

"Just in case any attackers leap out between here and the door.  Good idea."

"Well, this is me...thanks for everything, Jamie."

"My pleasure"

And then she leans in and gives me a big hug...one of those ones that's really tight.  Wow, she sure is strong for someone so slightly built.

"Lulu...you're always so full of fun and bubbling with ideas and encouragement.  You know, I don't care what other people say about you:  You're one groovy chick."

"Thanks, that means a lot.  All you guys in the band have been really sweet...it's touching.  I...I...I've got some homework to finish off.  I'll see you soon, Jamie, real soon."

"I can't wait"