Helen and Nikki had zoomed everywhere in their convertible and had loved the wide open spaces, the lush greenery and the clear blue skies that they drove through and walked around in. They felt as if they had OD'd on every physical beauty known to humanity but their contact with people had been episodic as they'd eaten in fancy restaurants and bought new outfits in glittering stores in the out of town shopping malls they'd encountered. Customer service, American style was very friendly and outgoing but they couldn't help thinking that they hadn't had such spiritually satisfying times as the couple of memorable occasions. One was the evening they'd spent at Chico's which ironically was part of Nikki's work obligation. The other was the day and night they'd spent at Simone and Annabelle's house. It was simple and homely but was a treat for the senses. As they sat in the cafe in some high street or other slowly drinking coffee, each of them wondered if they might have some reason to call them up or did they need an excuse to do that?
Half an hour later, Simone's mother checked her small silver wristwatch for the third time in five minutes and coldly announced her impending departure to a business engagement. Along with the others, Simone kept up her end of polite, meaningless conversation, cheeks starting to hurt from the strain of polite smiles. They shook hands outside the door and, as her mother's heels clicked purposefully away, Simone darted back inside into the living room.
"Jesus fucking Christ, she's gone at last," Simone swore loudly."Half an hour's polite conversation with her is no joke. I hope I never see her again for a long while. I'm so glad for all the support you've given me. You're all total stars."
Simone proceeded to hug first Erin, then Diane and finally Annabelle. A flood of emotion let loose told her how dear they all were to her. They all felt very cheerful right now and Annabelle nipped into the kitchen to refill the teapot. They felt normal again.
"So we need to get some gigs- and fast. I think we're ready to play live," Erin said impatiently out of nowhere.
"You really think we're up to it- at least I am?" Simone replied incredulously."Apart from a period in my teens, I haven't been singing and playing very long."
"Simone, you must be born with the gift," the straight talking Erin said, looking the taller woman in the eye. Her friend was charming, obviously well educated but traces of self-doubt still lurked around her psyche. This was easily explained by half an hour's experience of the controlling bitch of a mother."Some play and sing who really don't get it. Your voice is really gorgeous in a different way from Annabelle. You both write great songs I love harmonising with and you both play a really mean guitar. That's why Diane and I are gig hungry."
"She speaks for me, right," Diane added.
With eyes brimming with emotion, Simone embraced first Erin and then Diane, followed by Annabelle. The younger woman's longer experience of being a musician made her more self- confident from the word go but even she was knocked out by their friends' generosity. She knew that Simone was simply overwhelmed by the honest compliment from women whose abilities might have been a little intimidating. More to the point, Erin and Diane strongly believed they could play before an audience and were putting themselves on the line.
"We will," breathed Simone, a loving smile on her face."So where do we play?"
"What about Chico's? It's the one place that'll like our concept and they'll remember us," suggested Annabelle. Erin's expression showed that she was there already.
"I'm not sure Miranda has really got over my little confrontation with her, nice though she was later or I'd volunteer to phone her," Simone answered.
"I'll do it," volunteered Diane, having exchanged glances with Erin whose expression was troubled. Both knew that there were complications in her seeking to get this gig at Chico's." Erin knows I have past history with her. We need to use what connections we have."
"OK, do it,"Erin finally decided.
Miranda was sat at her desk behind the bar doing her accounts when the phone rang. She raised her eyebrows when the phone number indicated distant memories of her last girlfriend but four.
"Miranda, it's Diane Tillsley, remember me. I want to ask you a favour," a nervous voice called in her ear.
"I'm intrigued to talk to you again by why after all this time?"
Diane's heart sank. She knew Miranda of old and knew that a simple request would be twisted around to ensnare her. She drew upon Erin's straightforwardness and replied in like mind.
"You know we broke up as you cheated on me so I'm not going back on what I told you last time. This is a straight business request."
"And what might that be?" Miranda's languid tones persisted, a little irritated at the way her former lover parried her first ploy. At one time, she'd have been drawn in straightaway.
"Since we split up, I joined a female rock and roll band. We're pretty good, you know," she said, glancing at her friends for support.
"So what has that got to do with me, Diane," the other woman said, being deliberately obstructive though her alert mind was already working out the connections. Diane knew she was being pressured to come to the point and risk rejection. She felt awkward asking for a favour.
"We want to play a gig at Chico's this coming Friday. We're a lesbian band and should go down well with your audience,"Diane said, putting a last spurt of trailing enthusiasm into her sales pitch.
"Sorry, but I'm not feeling cooperative. Why do we need your banging and twanging when a juke box can do it for free. Goodbye, Diane," Miranda retaliated dismissively.
The miserable expression on Diane's face told her friends the bad news. Simone's spirits rose to the challenge and her mind worked like lightning. Suddenly, she had the answer.
"I know. We'll ask Nikki and Helen if they can make it and maybe Miranda will reconsider if Annabelle phones her,"Simone exclaimed to a willing grin from her partner. All four women exchanged glances. They had nothing to lose. With a sense of purpose flowing through her veins, Simone reached for her mobile.
Helen and Nikki were still exchanging a desultory conversation over empty cups of coffee. They had to admit they were getting bored with their recent flurry of activity and weren't in the mood to continue down the same path. Just then, Helen's phone beeped and a broad smile spread across her face as she recognised the number. This might be what they'd been secretly waiting for all along.
"It's Simone here. We wanted to ask a favour of you. I know you're on holiday and it might be an imposition but..."
"Skip the polite introduction Simone. I know what you're like. Get to the point," Helen answered with an amused smile while Nikki's ears pricked up.
"Annabelle and I have formed a rock and roll band with two friend we met at Chico's
the night we met you and Nikki. We've asked Miranda if she'll let us perform at our first gig this Friday but she's not cooperating. If you come to hang out and chat to the gang, maybe she'll change her mind."
"Hang on, I'll check with Nikki," Helen said and a quiet buzz of conversation ensued.
"OK, you're on. We missed out in going to the cafe so we really want to see you guys and the rest of the gang and we'd be honoured to be part of your first audience. You tell Miranda that we'll come but only on condition that we see your group perform on stage."
"And see that she pays you," called out a laughing but fundamentally serious Nilki,"Say fifteen per cent of the increase in bar profits from the week before we visited last time and a decent lump sum. I used to run a lesbian club. I know the going rate if I can remember it."
"How do you know women will want to see us much less pay?" a bewildered Simone asked.
"How did we know that you guys would want to hear us talk and treat us like pop stars?" countered Helen smartly."In your case, we just know."
"Thank you," Simone said softly in answer to Helen's emphatic assurance. It raised them to dizzying heights.
"Your phone call has done us a favour in giving us something to look forward to. See you Friday night," Helen finished cheerfully.
The three other women were hanging on every word that passed between Simone and Helen as they crowded round the mobile. They were overwhelmed to the latest boost to their self-worth from two women they had learnt to admire quite as much as they came close up to them.
Annabelle was emboldened to snap open her mobile phone and Miranda's bookkeeping was interrupted once again by a woman who crisply started into negotiations with all the confidence in the world, revealing an unexpected gift for hard bargaining. Faced with the lure of certain bumper profits and the four women held a controlling position to a return visit by Helen and Nikki, she agreed at once to let 'Creation' perform next Friday at a price Annabelle dictated. She was a smart enough businesswoman not to risk her club getting a bad reputation should rumour leak out that she'd spurned the opportunity for a return visit by Nikki and Helen. Her only crumb of comfort was to insist that Annabelle arrange a publicity photograph at their expense rather than hers. As Annabelle signed off, her mind and eyes were wide open to their dreams starting to shape up as reality and knowing that Vanessa and Alison would be admirably suited.