Hopefully I'm back for the long haul this month, here we go
The Rain in Spain
When it rains it pours, but what happens when it doesn't?
They arrived in Avignon for the Off festival seven days ago, something they did every year with their friends, Sam, Mercy, Blaine, and Kurt, who were avid followers of all things theatre, would meet up with Rachel and Jessie two of the main promoters of the event, to celebrate art, it was the highlight of their year. Everyone who was anyone turned up, if not to perform to watch or network, or in Sam's case to write an article about it, and with over a thousand different performances to choose from he found something to write most days.
They'd had seven ram packed days of living art, Jessie and Rachel had set the itinerary, and although they were exhausted they rolled with it, because the level of VIP access had put last year's visit to shame. It always felt like the whole city had been taken over by artists, everywhere people were buzzing about the same thing, strangers engaging in conversations about a common passion, amateurs getting tips from professionals, everyone bringing their A game to this one perfect place. If you'd have closed your eyes and opened them quickly, you would have believed you'd landed on one of those places you only see on TV when they depict a wonderland, with magicians, music, dancing, candy stalls, singing, drama all in magnificent colour
"As this is your last night, I thought we'd have dinner at one of my favourite restaurants, Pollen" Jessie announced holding his hand up "I know" he smiled "I have connections"
"Brilliant" Sam punched the air, he was always up for food
"So" Jessie stood looking at everyone staring at him "Go get ready" he rushed them off, laughing as they all walked away "And you" he looked at his wife frowning "I should have sent you half an hour ago" he laughed
"Jess" she screwed her face up and bobbed her tongue out at him before walking off
An hour later they were stepping into a little corner of France that it seemed not many got the opportunity to visit, the high gloss wooden floors and furniture gave the place a cosy feel, with tables for couples lining the walls for as far as the eye could see. The walls and ceiling in contrast to the furniture had state of the art lighting and somehow they complimented each other, they'd maybe followed the waiter halfway up the room when they suddenly turned to find a table for six set in a small cove to itself, affording them privacy.
"Is this to your liking Sir?" the waiter stood looking at Jessie asking
"It's fine Mike" he smiled at the waiter "Thanks Bud" he knocked fists with the guy and smiled while he moved Rachel's chair for her to sit, watching Sam do the same for Mercy "This isn't the most expensive place, but it's the best"
"Looks good to me" Kurt smiled sitting down as he spoke
"Listen" Blaine got everyone's attention "Before the night gets insane, I just want to say thank you to you two for pulling another fantastic week out the bag for us" he blew a kiss to Rachel and smiled at Jessie
"Amateur night was the best" Mercy added "So many great artists coming up, it makes you excited to be in the business"
"And I got enough to last me a month" Sam held his ever attached camera up
"It was all our pleasure" Rachel smiled "Every year we try to make things bigger and better for you guys so it's great to hear we achieved that"
"Oh, you did" Kurt assured her
"So, what's next?" Jessie asked as he picked up the wine menu
"Food" Sam replied making everyone laugh
"Champagne of course" Blaine waved at the waiter "The best"
"That's great, but I meant when you leave here" Jessie shook his head laughing
"We're going back home" Kurt knocked Blaine's shoulder with his, endearingly "Blaine and I are working on a little theatrical something ourselves, and seeing all this talent this week, I'm eager to get started"
"Sounds exciting" Rachel grinned
"It is" Blaine looked at Kurt excited "We don't get to work together very often"
"And you?" Jessie looked at Mercy
"We're going home…"
"Actually, we're not" Sam butted in "I've planned a bit of a break for us, we're visiting Spain for a few days" he looked at his wife's surprised face pleased he'd got the response he was looking for "She's always wanted to go, and I though as we were so close, and had some free time, this year we'd do it"
"Romantic" Kurt held his chest smiling that smile associated with love for him
"So, we're leaving very early in the morning to get there in time for a booked slap-up lunch" Sam told them "Which is also for a special event" he looked at Mercy
"It's been twelve years since our first date" Mercy rolled her eyes telling their friends
"And as you know, Sam celebrates everything" Sam laughed
"So does Blaine" Kurt's eyes met with Mercy's before the two of them rolled them, at their partners ridiculous
The night went the usual way their last night together always went, food, drinks, inappropriate behaviour, ending up at a club, at which Blaine would eventually vomit taking the tone of the whole night down. Then in a mission not to do the clean-up they'd evacuate the premises and wonder off in the direction of their hotel with bottles of champagne, glasses, and heels in hand.
"I've got one" Rachel shouted as they finished another walk motivated song
"Please not Barbra" Kurt held his head
"I've got one" Mercy pipped up seeing Rachel was stuck to find an alternative "It's a classic of our time, we loved it back in the day" she tripped over an uneven paving stone as she spoke
"Babe" Sam grabbed hold of her "Steady"
"I'm fine" she smiled at him "Thanks" she quickly kissed him "Song" she held her glass in the air "Who remembers this one?" she started singing
Mercy: Oh, I'll bring you flowers, woah baby, oh, yeah, yeah, hey, uh-uh
"Now that's a tune" Blaine came to life dancing as if the music was behind it, no one seemed to have any comments they just started moving to his imaginary beat and singing along
All: I'll bring you flowers in the pouring rain, living without you is driving me insane
I'll bring you flowers, I'll make your day, the tears you cry, I'll dry them all the way away
Woah baby, woah baby, did I say, woah baby … 'Flowers' by Sweet Female Attitude (Sunship remix)
"What do we look like?" Jessie stopped to ask
"A bunch of thirty somethings reliving their past, in the best way" Kurt laughed
"That was the year we met" Sam smiled at Mercy
"Technically we met the year after this came out, but we were still rocking it" she grinned kissing him again
"Come on" Jessie hollaed at everyone having finally flagged a cab "Sit on laps whatever, but I need a bathroom quick" he watched everyone pile into the cab before getting in himself. By the time they got back to the hotel everyone was in sleep mode "In the morning" Jessie smiled at Sam the only other half sober one of the group
"We're leaving early around three" Sam reminded him "We'll call" he grabbed a sleepy Mercy round the waist and leaned a rocky Rachel up against the wall at the side of their door with his shoulder before he opened it "And thanks again for everything, it's been a blast"
"Good catching up" Jessie smiled opening the door for three sheets to the wind Blaine and Kurt, before fist bumping Sam and grabbing his wife off Sam's shoulder to get her into their room "They'll regret this in the morning"
"Mercy will wake up before me, she's good like that" he laughed looking at her ready to sleep
Friday
True to his word Mercy was up and dressed before he stirred, and they managed to leave the hotel on time. The streets were quiet, it was hard to imagine there'd been a full-blown festival happening there the day before and there'd be the last one in a few hours. He wanted to set off early to evade the scorching hot sun of the afternoon, it had a habit of rising quickly and although they expected it, everyday it shone it had seemed hotter than the last, the forecast was supposed to be giving them some cooler days in Spain, and he was looking forward to that.
They got out the car at the train station and boarded, the miniature authentic train, it had dainty carriages, the seats clustered in small, confined compartments, the narrow isle made them walk sideway to drag their cases along "Is this it?" Mercy asked peeping into the compartment with only two richly padded leather seats in it
"This is 12b" Sam looked up at the number plate above the door "At least the seats look comfy" he opened the door for her to walk in
"Lucky we're married, this is up close and personal" she laughed shutting the handle down on her pull along before sitting to watch him stack them in the rack above their heads, then sit next to her "This reminds me of that film" she looked at Sam trying to think what it was
"The orient express" he laughed "This is as close to that as we'll get" he smiled "But there'll be no murders on here, I thought you'd enjoy the experience"
"You're such a romantic" she grabbed his face and kissed him
"And you get so grateful" he giggled
"So," she giggled "There's an agenda?"
"Always an agenda babe" he leaned in and kissed her
As soon as the train started moving, they headed to the restaurant carriage to get breakfast, there was something romantic about watching the world go by from their first-class seats on a slow-moving train, when all they had to know was that they were heading south.
After breakfast they returned to their carriage, closing the corridor blinds to get some well-deserved sleep. Nearly five hours later they were up enjoying the view as the train seemed to swim alongside the Mediterranean Sea before they entered a tunnel that seemed to go on for a long while, giving them time for a make out session before they came out the other side of it, smiling at seeing the sign telling them they were entering Spain
"Gosh it's hot" Mercy shielded her eyes from the already blazing sun
"The forecast said it would be cooler here" Sam attempted to turn on the air conditioning "Shit" he snapped "I bet we've managed to get the only carriage on the train that doesn't have working aircon"
"We don't have long left just open the window" Mercy told him attempting to calm him, he was a pussycat most of the time, but when he got into it about something, everyone needed to watch out, and this was supposed to be a romantic getaway. "That's better" she held her head up at the cool breeze entering the carriage, they sat faced against the wind, eyes closed taking in the breeze "This isn't helping, is it?" Mercy moaned a few minutes later
"Is it me or is this breeze getting warmer?" Sam asked opening his eyes "I'll block the sun out" he got up and put a throw the train provided for the winter months, over the open window, closing it to hold the throw before laying back to enjoy the last few miles on the journey "It's getting awfully close" he pushed the button for some service, less than fifteen minutes later.
"Very cold water please, lots of it" Mercy ordered when the guy turned up at the door, they sat uncomfortably sipping water drifting in and out of uncomfortable sleep until they arrived in Valencia
"Welcome to Valencia" the assistant smiled as they alighted the train
"Is there a reason why it's so hot?" Sam asked stressed at reading the weather so wrong
"It's an unprecedented heatwave Sir, apparently it's here for the weekend" she smiled "It's hit a few countries along the Mediterranean" she looked at Mercy "Are you alright Mrs.." she looked at her passport "Evans?"
"Hot" she smiled, she loved her heat no doubt, but this was scorching
"You can find your service over to the right as you leave the platform" the assistant told them "Hopefully you'll have air conditioning, that should help" she smiled giving Sam the passports back
The cab driver must have known what their initial complaint was going to be about, he opened the cab door, and it was like the middle of winter "Thank goodness" Mercy climbed in quickly, Sam followed closely behind her watching the driver shut the door while their cases were loaded "This is heaven" she flopped into his arms, enjoying the drive to the hotel
The Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort was notable busier than they'd expected, after climbing what felt like the forty-nine steps, they finally entered the main reception. I suppose you could have called them amateur performers, they were painted to portray demons, terrifying the small children, while clowns made balloon toys to cheer them up. Amongst all the noise they finally checked in and made their way to their suite, as they swiped the card, they heard the fans start, the ceiling fan already in motion "This is nice" Mercy looked around the freshly cleaned room "I could live here for a week or so"
"We've got a weekend" Sam laughed tipping the doorman for bringing their bags
"Time for a shower before lunch?" she asked walking towards one of the open doors
"We've got an hour" he called after her, knowing what half of that time was going to be taken up with
The meal went well, and the rest of the afternoon was spent between the sea and the pool, with cocktails and conversation. The night came quickly as they settled in with drinks in the adult lounge while they watched the hotel entertainment, surprised to see Ricky Martin heading the bill. After a few drinks, some dancing, and something light to eat, it was time to have a moonlight walk before bed, they took a stroll along the beach, the sky was the brightest red, telling them of the expectations for the coming day, the sand warm and dry, the breeze finally cool enough to stand in "Today was perfect" Mercy smiled at her husband "Thank you"
"Window shopping tomorrow" he wrapped his arm around her and carried on their walk back to the hotel
Saturday
The night was sticky, close, and restless, it seemed midnight had brought with it the heat which built up and by four in the morning the sun was blinding. The thin curtains had no use against the rays, they finally gave up trying to sleep and made for the bathroom, sweating enough to go back in once they'd had breakfast on the balcony
"Call down for an extra fan" Mercy suggested when they came out of the shower again, both sat on the bed naked refusing to put their clothes on
"I've booked somewhere for us to be today" Sam confessed "Do you want to go?"
"Can we get an air-conditioned cab?"
"I'll insist" he told her before calling for room service to deliver the fan
"Let's get out of here then, I'm about to faint" she dragged on an orange bikini top, white slip-on sandals, and white shorts, Sam donned white shorts and T-shirt with no underwear and grabbed their straw hats for shade
They got into the cool cab and ventured a few miles away from the hotel to Aqua Multiespacio a popular shopping centre, the journey on a clear road might have taken half an hour, but with everyone trying to get somewhere they were in the cab for nearly ninety minutes. When they got there the place was crammed with natives, a favourite thing of theirs was making sure they actually saw life as it was, everywhere they went
"Come back in two hours" Sam instructed the cab before they walked into the crowded marketplace hand in hand "Shit" he gasped looking at eyeballs in their sockets floating in a bucket of water, each one looking like they visited the depths of hell seconds before their demise "That's horrible"
"Somebody's dinner babe" Mercy looked at it laughing
"This is like a slaughterhouse" he walked along looking at the food for sale "Skinned lambs heads?" he screwed his face up asking
"Come on" Mercy pulled him along
They walked through the market past the meats, through sea foods, fresh fruit, and even sweets, the floor getting dryer as they moved through, then they came to an opening that divided the market from the mall. Stalls formed an orderly line, and the chattering was inaudible compared to the shouting that went on in the first part of the market, these traders were haggling, having quiet conversation with their buyer, obviously trying to outdo their competition.
They brought a few items to appease the traders, but nothing to write home about before they went into the airconditioned building they called the plaza, it was smaller than they expected, most the shops were peddling knock off replicas, things they couldn't bring themselves to spend money on. In the end they brought jewellery for each other and made their way through the mall and out the other end.
"This is beautiful" Mercy smiled when they finally felt the fresh air on their skin as they looked out at the water fountain statue and people taking pictures with it as their backdrop "Can we?"
"Sure" he smiled walking over to find them a space and took them some pictures
"Can we go to the museum?" Mercy looked up at the sign telling them they weren't far
"If it's got aircon" he laughed
"On second thoughts with only two hours it might be best to go back"
"You're itching to get some of those eyes, aren't you?" he laughed
"Food and bed babe"
"Food and bed it is" he smiled turning them back around to make the journey back
The spot their hotel was in seemed to be hotter than anywhere else in the country, they got back and found a small enclosed darkened shaded area of the complex that no one seemed to have found yet, grabbed a bottle of champagne, and talked love and memories. Later, as the sun went down, they sat in the beach front restaurant under a canopy, eating dinner while watching people walking along the beach, some were still laying on the beach, finally taking in the first breeze of the day
"There's karaoke later tonight" one of the staff walked around the tables telling people "It would be good to have you join us" he looked at Mercy smiling
"We'll see" Mercy smiled; they'd all acted as if they didn't know who they were, but they were just being respectful
"You should" Sam smiled at her
"I told you I wanted to go to bed after dinner"
"And we will but…" he looked around "One song" he smiled "They did give us an extra fan"
"Oh" she gasped "I guess I owe them a concert"
"No need for sarcasm" he laughed
"But there's a need for a song?"
"Don't do it then, you're not getting paid for Christ's sake, I just thought it would be something nice to do"
"Why don't you read one of your articles for them"
"I'm not answering that, I didn't bring you here to argue"
"Apparently you brought me here to sing" she snapped
"Get upstairs, I'll show you what I brought you here for" he stood up and grabbed her hand, they hadn't even had desert
"I Always get my way" she grinned laying on the bed in his arms hot and bothered two hours later
"Safe to say we both got our way" he laughed
"Now I guess I want to sing" she giggled "Come on" she jumped off the bed and grabbed a towel "Let's get ready"
"What Mercy wants" he rolled his eyes at her smiling "We can't be too late we fly early in the morning
Deejay was still rocking hard to the beats he was playing, while the crowd sluggishly moved around the small dancefloor "This is piss poor" Mercy turned to whisper to Sam
"Do something about it" he grinned
"Maybe I will" she stepped off towards the deejay, he stood smiling at her need to perform, even to people that didn't know her. He walked over to the bar to order their drinks, watching as she whispered something, looked in the song book, whispered again and then stepped down off the stage to get back to him
"Sorted?"
"Yeah" she smiled taking the drink he was offering
"Mrs Evans" the Deejay called over the mic
"That was quick" Sam laughed watching her move off
"Thank you" she grabbed the mic and turned to crowd "We've got a treat in store" she laughed at the applause "This is a song that is close to my heart" she looked at Sam "There is a story behind it, but I'm not up for sharing it" she looked at the deejay "Ladies and gentlemen without further ado, please welcome Sam Evans to the stage"
"What?" Sam laughed trying to see the joke
"Come on babe" she waved her hand for him to get to her "Don't be shy" she looked around the room "He needs a bit of encouragement"
"Mercy" he climbed on stage "I haven't performed in front of anyone but you for nearly eleven years"
"What Mercy wants" she looked into his eyes expectantly, handing him the mic
"I'm going to get you back for this" he looked at the crowd "What am I singing?" he asked her
"It's one of your favourite's" she tapped his shoulder and stepped off the small stage
All he could do was roll his eyes, overcome the shy and get on with it, it was karaoke after all, it wasn't meant to be perfect. The music stated and he dived in with his rendition of 'Use Somebody' by Kings of Leon
I've been roaming around, always looking down at all I see, painted faces, fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody, you know that I could use somebody
Someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak, countless lovers under cover of the street
You know that I could use somebody, you know that I could use somebody
Someone like you, someone like you…
"It's going to rain" someone shouted, the music stopped, and everyone ran outside to get some of the cool water on their sweating skin, they'd been praying for rain, some of them for days.
Sam abandoned the song, grabbed Mercy's hand, and went outside to experience what at this point felt like an alien esperience "Do you think we should be out here?" he asked at hearing the rumble of thunder in the distance
"Let's just get wet enough to feel cold" her voice as excited as the people around them
"I just felt a rain drop" someone shouted building the excitement, there were shouts coming from all around the pool and across the building
"I felt it" Sam touched his face before another bolt of lightning lit the sky "Who knew we could get so excited about rain" he laughed
"Has it stopped?" Mercy asked looking around "Nobody's getting wet"
"Was that it?" Sam looked up like he was asking god a question "After two days, that's it?"
"That was it" a little old lady with a deep Spanish accent told him "It is not often we don't get the rain in Spain" she shook her head "Something has gone very wrong"
They walked back into the hotel to see the bar already stacked full of cold bottled beer, glasses with different cocktails in them, and wine, it was as if the natives knew what was going to happen. As the night set in, the air became dense and everyone grabbed for more liquids, the crowd started to get rowdy, conversations were flowing, it was apparent that more people knew who Mercy was than they'd thought
"Sorry but we need to go" Sam finally stopped a conversation with yet another autograph seeking couple "We have an early flight in the morning" he got up and grabbed Mercy's hand "Goodnight" he smiled politely
"Goodnight" Mercy smiled walking off with him "Finally got you all to myself again" she rested her head on his shoulder
"Finally," he rested his head on top of hers "Let's see what mischief we can get up to alone"
"Peaked" she giggled "And maybe a bit tipsy"
Sunday
"Sam" Mercy sat up in bed looking at him sleeping "Babe" she nudged him
"What's up?" he opened his eyes ready to react
"Look" she pointed out the window "Grab your camera" she got up and went out onto the patio "It's beautiful" she looked out towards the sea at the beautiful colours of the morning sky
"Babe" he grabbed the sheet off the bed to wrap it around her naked body, his camera in the other hand "God it is isn't it" he stood looking at the rainbow of colours solid in the sky and rippling on the calm waters as dawn set in "I'll.." he let go of the sheet and started taking pictures
"Gosh, if this is what follows the rain in Spain" she gasped "It was worth the wait"
"It really was" he smiled taking a few more pictures before his arm went around her again
"This has been the best time ever" she smiled up at it "Thank you"
"Yet another way of showing my lady I love her"
"I love you too" she reached up and kissed him "Shame we have to go home"
"Ten days is more than enough indulgence" he laughed "We have maybe two hours before we need to get to the airport"
"We can do it in one" she smiled "Can't we?"
"Mercy always gets what Mercy wants" he laughed pushing her back into the bedroom