Susan first appeared in Entertaining at Home. I wrote this one with a sound track playing while I worked. I wonder whether it enhances the reading? The tracks mentioned are accessible on music-sharing sites, lots of which don't flog your private data to corporations. Thanks again for support, comments and suggestions which are always welcome.
*****
'You're a star.'
Mr J nudged me as we got out of the taxi and pointed up at the sign draped across the front of the Crown. It was at least thirty feet in length, one of those PVC printed jobs stretched between ropes. At the top, in bold red letters about three feet high it read: "New Year's Eve"; the second line was a similar size, but a more attractive blue Calibri-style print. It said simply: "Scarlett, Suzette, Tracy". Underneath, in black, in a more playful font was the injunction: "cum one, cum all".
'George never could spell.'
I laughed and took the old man's arm, snuggling against him in the icy wind. We were stopped at the door by a large man dressed all in black. He had no perceivable neck and was about six foot three of solid muscle. I could only imagine he was sold his clothes by the same dealer who supplied the steroids which had made him the shape he was. I doubted there was a normal shop he could get anything to fit.
'Tickets?'
It was a gutteral-bark. It could have been an query, or an order. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and chose to assume it was the former.
'Sorry?'
'No ticket, no entry.'
I was flabbergasted and took a theatrical step backwards to check we had come to the right place. We had. I approached him again.
'I'm Suzette.'
'Who?'
He produced a small notebook from a pocket and eyed it suspiciously. I pointed up at the sign.
'Suzette. One of the strippers?'
He looked at his list again and shook his head. He was beginning to irritate me. I stepped up so that we were nose-to-nose, well nose-to-chest anyway.
'Listen. I don't know who you are, or what the hell you think you're doing, but which do you think is more likely? That I am who I say I am, or, that I'm an imposter so determined to wave her knickers at the bunch of ingrates who drink in this dive that I would make it up? I suggest you let us in and, if you still have any doubts, check with George.'
He grunted, not in a good way, shuffled back and pushed open the door with one finger. That, I admitted to myself, was sort-of impressive. I made to enter when he spoke again.
'He got a ticket?'
He was glaring at Mr J who shrank down into his overcoat and moved crab-wise so that I was between him and his interrogator.
'That's Mr J. He's my manager, you can call him "sir". Lay one finger on him and he'll break both your arms. He's a karate black belt.'
I pushed Mr J in front of me and we went into the pub, before the gorilla had a chance to interpret my words into whatever language he spoke and challenge their validity. Inside the place was buzzing. I stopped for a minute to take in the scene.
'OK killer?'
'I'm alright. What about you? I would have hated to hurt that young man, but he was beginning to make me angry.'
I laughed and kissed him on the cheek in lieu of a reply. He had obviously not lost his sense of humour. We looked around together. The place was full, but not packed. There must have been about one hundred and fifty punters in the place. Most were men, but there were a lot more women than I ever remembered seeing there.
There was the same buzz of excitement we had felt as we went through town. We had had to take the scenic route as the wait time for a hire car was about two hours and rising. The bus into town was full. Mostly noisy teenagers and early-twenties, released at last from the confines of family life. There were a few older couples and the odd single man or woman obviously out on the prowl. Mr J and I swapped stories of our own younger days trawling pubs and night clubs, alone or as part of a pack, seeking that last elusive bit of excitement before the holidays were over.
In the centre things cranked up a notch. Loud music blared from every hostelry and marauding bands of fun-seekers thronged the pavements, seeing-and-being-seen by potential partners in whatever shenanigans they had planned or hoped for. Now-friendly coppers stood in pairs at most interchanges directing foot traffic and exchanging banter with the revellers. They had the looks of men and women who knew exactly how their nights were going to end. We found a taxi with little trouble. At this point in the evening our only competition were men who had stopped in town earlier for a quick-one on their ways home and we're now incapable of independent travel.
We were pushed deeper into the pub by a large group following us in. One of them recognised me and nudged his mates.
'You're Suzette.'
'What gave it away? Was it the name badge?'
He took my hand as I held it out to him, but looked confused.
'I told you about her didn't I lads?'
'Nothing less than scandalous, I hope.'
The four or five young men were doing a poor job of hiding their lust as they looked me up and down. There wasn't much point in me sticking my bust out, covered as it was by a thick jumper and coat, but I did it anyway. A compliment is a compliment after all and deserves recognition.
'Well, you'll see for yourselves later on. I'll keep an eye open for you when I'm doing my act.'
I smiled sweetly and gave them a wink before pulling Mr J with me and heading for the bar. It was easier than the last time I had had to push my way through. This time I was carrying a large hold-all with my costumes in it, and, I realised was something of a local celebrity. Men pushed their mates out of my way, several of them nodding and smiling at me as they did so. One man, I recognised him as one of the regulars from the engineering factory, stopped me and introduced me to his wife. I don't know who was more embarrassed, her or me.
We eventually made that strip of no man's land all pubs have where the tables end and the crush around the bar has not yet started. Mr J and I both looked around for any familiar faces. He had more luck than me. We were suddenly taken from behind in a vice-like grip across our shoulders. Hurricane Mandy had arrived.
'What ho, Mandy.'
I stood on tiptoes and attempted to plant a kiss on her cheek. She was having none of that. I was hoisted under my armpits and given a firm smacker full on the lips. That brought a small cheer from the people nearest to us and a wave of turning heads passed down the bar as drinkers stretched to see what the fuss was about. I was returned, none too gently, red-faced and breathing slightly heavily to my feet. She turned to Mr J who was beaming at both of us. He took one of her hands and bent from the waist to kiss it. She simpered like a young girl.
'Come here.'
If I was lifted, he was engulfed. She bent slightly to embrace him, but between ham-hock arms and her massive bosom there was little to be seen of him as she kissed him. I could see the back of his head pushed backwards as she suctioned her mouth against his. I think all of those around held our breaths collectively as the clinch went on and on.
Mr J's knees buckled slightly when she eventually released him. He looked around confusedly and scarlet-faced as another collective cheer went up from the boys nearest to us. They had given up all pretence of surreptitiousness and were staring openly with huge smiles on their faces waiting to see what would happen next.
'Thank you Amanda, that was lovely.'
'You're welcome, Oswald.'
She had retained his hand and swung it girlishly as she looked fondly at him. I had to consciously close my mouth and stop myself staring. I had enjoyed two full days of Mr J telling me how wonderful he thought Mandy was at any available opportunity. Somewhere inside I had been a little scared by his infatuation. I was worried he was going to be hurt and I was very fond of him. What I had not factored-in was that Mandy might feel the same way. To me she had always appeared tough, rude and well, massive; somehow impenetrable.
'Looks like you're on to a promise tonight, Mr J.'