All eyes were focussed on Trisha as she was the centre of attention. Even Jane who became light-hearted when off duty, realised that someone had to deal with serious business. Trisha had worked in a bank years before and a little of that training remained with her.
"First off, I've just been told that we're third float from the front as it should be after years of being around the scene and paying our dues," she announced with visible pleasure.
"Oh good. We've got someone in front of us we can steal a few moves off," Karen joked. Underlying this was a committment to be there and Trisha knew it.
"Se what is the float going to involve?" questioned Beth thoughtfully. The whole thing felt like a bare stage with no cast and no props unless, in her organised fashion, something was prepared in advance.
"For a start, we've hired a mobile PA for the float and our DJ will blast our favouirite music at maximum volume. This is a street party. I've also got some sketches of the float," continued Trisha sensing consent with everything up to date," and they look pretty good to me. Since you'll be taking turns to groove around on it, I wanted you to check them out. You'll need a bit of imagination to picture yourselves in the middle of it all but I know you'll get the picture," Trisha explained in her clear, precise voice.
As the sketches wetre passed around the table from hand to hand, a murmur of approval rippled round the group. They liked the big open platform and the big bold white shaped lettering of the club and the contrasting shades and areas of pink with orange and green thrown in for food measure. It looked big enough to manage a number of them as dancers and space in the front for the DJ and the PA system.
Nikki was the last to see the sketches and she exchanged a whole-souled satisfied smile with her old friend. It hit them both and moved them deeply that this was the culmination of their original idea many years ago to make a world where lesbians could be safe to follow their heart's desires and pleasure. Getting Chix off the ground from their ordinary straight jobs was one stage in this project and Nikki felt proud to help out Trisha and Sally-Anne's next major step forwards. It all started one late night's dismal evening when they'd sat out on a park bench one rainy night after being driven from some nondescript pub by the local was in the far off days of Section 28 and the gutter press sicking its knife in.
"You know what this means Nik?"
"This whole thing is bigger than any of us could once dream. This is real and you and Sally-Anne have done great," she answered, voice slightly trembling as Helen held her hand and Sally-Anne smiled gratefully at her for understanding.
"What are we all going to wear," Jo asked the inevitable question that had to be posed as they all sat in the warm gentle glow of the ideal. They had to come down to detailed reality sooner or later.
"Well, we certainly don't have to wear some kind of uniform as that would spoil the whole point. Pink and fancy boas are pretty common. What do the rest of you guys feel?" Sally-Anne suggested in reassuring tones.
"Jane and I are torn between wearing nurses' uniforms to make a political point or dressing up in colour and style. I assume the police will lead the march looking suitably butch so they'll corner the uniform motif," Karen commented in her chatty fashion.
"I'm attracted to colour and flash. I've always had a weakness for pink," chimed in Jane.
"George certainly doesn't but there may be a compromise agreement in the offing," winced Jo as memories of an earlier concersation in the court locker room came to mind...
"You must be mad, Jo utterly mad. You know that pink is the one colour I loathe and detest," George had said with considerable force after a gruelling session in court. They were about to hang up their gowns and wigs for the day in the pale, cramped quarters of the locker room when Jo had optimistically thought that George's disputatious nature would be at a low ebb.
"But it's traditional. You've been on Pride events before so you know it," was the best Jo's tired mind had come up with.
"But why is it traditional I ask you?" George had countered with a triumphal grin splitting her face knowing that she'd got Jo cold.
"Er, it just is, like Christmas turkey," had come the lame response.
"That's not good good enough and you know it," George had pressed relentlessly.
Jo had been highly conscious of having walked into a , she had searched for inspirations amongst the cabinets which had leaned over her until a bolt of inspiration had hit her out of the blue.
"I have the ideal compromise George. we wear what we've got on. It would be enough of a political statement and wouldn't offend your finely attuned sensibilities."
"You can't be serious Jo. The very thought of it,"George had answered after a distinct pause. The flicker of her eyes gave her inner uncertainty away.
"But what's wrong with the idea? We've both been well established for years and we haven't exactly made a secret of our partners even if we haven't made a big thing about it. Even if there was talk about this latest stunt, our clients put practical considerations of our track record in court over everything else," Jo had countered with a smoothly rolling style of sweetly reasonable argument and a smirk on her face.
"Well, you might get all political about being out and proud like you do about everything else. I have less need to convince the world than you do," George had said, not altogether feeling convinced of her own arguments let alone anyone elae.
"It's only like the way John, Monty and the other brethren paraded in full view of the Home Office in their robes of office when they went on strike, aiming to land themselves on page one of the national press and no harm came of them. What they did, we can surely imitate," Jo had drawled, leaning languidly against the lockers and knowing that this argument was a crusher.
"Jo you are completely impossible. John is John and I'm me," exploded George without elaborating further.
"So long as we don't have to wear pink. It's all black and white and looks very chic," Jo had teased, knowing that she'd gor George on the run.
"I suppose it might be fifteen all," George had muttered mulishly before a slight smile forced its way through the surface at the humour of the situation..She'd asked for it, she had conceded to herself as she turned to disrobe."All right Jo. I'll sleep on it and let you know tomorrow. There's one condition. It is not practical to wear these wigs and jig around on top of a float. we risk spoiling them unless you can come up with a good answer."
"Is there something worrying you George?" Jo had asked a little while later as they were crossing the foyer.
"If you must know, I'm nervous about looking after Nikki and Helen's daught Rose tonight even with Alice's help. I've never thought of myself as the ideal mother since Charlie spent the majority of her time growing up being looked after by John. I'm supposed to be the expert," George had frankly admitted the one thing that had bothered her for days.
"Just relax George and go with the flow. Rose is a thoroughly delightful child," Jo had reassured an unconvinced George before they hit the bright daylight of the world outside...
"I don't want to commit myself to the alternastive in case it comes to nothing," Jo ended on a firm and final note and others respected her point of view.
"But what about you guys?" asked Beth compassionately of Trisha and Sally Anne."After all, you're doing all this hard work."
"I know I'm naturally inclined to dress like a bank clerk that I used to be but I've got a special patterned trouser suit in all kinds of reds, pinks and purple. It's a bit outside my comfort zone but hey, it's Pride," smiled Trisha inviting her friends to visualise the transformation."
"I'm going to the other extreme in an all-black suit with high heels and a nicely constrasting multi-coloured boa," exclaimed Sally-Anne excitedly.
"I'm wearing my favourite green outfit. I've scoured my wardrobe and that stands out to me," confessed the practical Helen decisively.
"I'm torn between jeans and a pink T-shirt or my pinstripe black trouser suit," Nikki said, obviously appealing for help. Her faith in her friends was soon rewarded.
"Definitely the suit," pronounced Karen."You look drop dead gorgeous in it. There'll be enough pink on the float not to be a problem, don't forget." This response cheered Nikki up.
"There's more to deal with," Trisha continued in her pleasant, clear voice. She'd used the fashion discussion to get the others focussed oin the details of the procession. She opened up a slim book with a stylish cover illustration underneath a red, orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo glag and she turned to the list of the procession. There was a general whistle of appreciation at the plans as Trisha explained them. They'd been on similar events over the years but as individual participants taking things as thewy found it. They'd not seen it as systematically laid out like this and made them feel more privy to a real social movement as it was shaping up and intensified their committment to it. Some of them had had recent experiences that sequed them nicely up to the matter in hand and gave added spice to their grand purpose.
Just then, Jo's mobile rang. eyebrows raised, she saw it was George on the line.
"Hi jo. I thought I'd let you know that I want to wear my full legal rigout complete with wig if some way can make sure it stays on my head. I also fancy a white feather boa with it but you can choose what you want."
In the background, an astonished Jo Mills heard an excited child call out and Alice's faint but distinct voice try to shush her very kindheartedly. Jo grinned broadly that Rose had charmed the stern-minded George to let her stay up. Surely it was bed time amd her two mothers hasd drawn the exact same conclusions.
"Hey, I thought you'd have got Rose to bed by now," teased Jo lightheartedly.
"I hnow but Rose is such a darling. We've been chatting so much. Wait Rose, you have to get to bed sooner or later," George was saying unconvincingly
"Just a minute while I talk with Jo and Jane and Trisha and Sally-Anne and my mummies. I'll be ever so quick," pleaded Rose not altogether Jo looked around feeling unsure how to handle this one, Helen got up and headed over to where Jo was sitting with a stern expression on her face.
"Rose says she wants to speak to me, Jane, Trisha, Sally-Anne Nikki and you," reported Jo with a straight face. She knew very well how impossible this was.
"Rose, you are a born chatterbox," Helen answered in stern tones that reminded Nikki of the dormant Wing Governor inside her."By the time you'll have finished with everyone, it'll be chucking out time and you'll be unbearable the next day as you'll wake up worn out from a late night of chattering. This is not on. I know you want to see all our friends and you'll be your delightful self but this is not on. You've already got George and Alice and I'm sure you've made the most of it but it's bed time for you miss. Got that?"
"Yess miss," Rose said meekly and submissively much to George and Alice's relief. In George's eyes, the little girl had been perfectly adorable but she was beginning to feel really tired while Rose was unstoppable.
"I'll say goodnight to you from me and Nikki and love you always," Helen said more tenderly.
"Love you mums. Night night," Rose said as a wave of tiredness suddenly hit her."Come take me to bed you two," she said with sleepy authority to the two women in the comfy security of Nikki and Helen's flat. George smiled warmly as she and Alice trailed after the little girl who was sucking her thumb. She rapidly got ready for bed and looked very demure and a little tired but she wanted a last minute chat.
"I'm sorry. I get so many ideas that I get carried away? Is that really wrong?" The two women were touched by the expressive look in Rose's eyes. George knew she was spokesman and had to be dead honest.
"I wouldn't change you for the world as life would be so dull. Your mother's right. It wasn't the right time, that's all," she said softly.
"It's been a real pleasure in getting to know you Rose. You're really interesting to talk to," followed up Alice. This pleased and satisfied Rose.
"You'll come around and we'll meet again?" questioned Rose.
"You want to meet a lot of your mummies' friends," Alice said with a tender smile and Rose nodded her head. This sounded like warm-hearted approval to her and what she wanted to hear. Other grownups didn't get it.
"Can you passs me my two nearest teddies on the shelf. I'm ready to sleep now," Rose said, yawning as she spoke. She curled up on her side and the two women took turns to kiss her cheek. Their perfume was a familiar sensation to her and everything felt right, every question was answered.
As they tiptoes out of the room and clicked off the bedroom light, George started to weigh up interesting possibilities...
...as in the meantime, Helen started to mull over her conversation with Rose thoughtfully. It crossed her mind that there was one simple way that Rose could meet her friends but she had reservations. Still, she put the matter on one side as conversations carried on.
"Well, if it's OK with you Jane, I'm up for dressing up in my wig and gown as George is," Jo said with great satisfaction.
"Darling, we don't have to have matching outfits to prove we are an item," Jane answered with sturdy common sense.
"You know, I wonder if there isn't a place for Rose on this. after all, it's not a great deal different from a street carnival. The only problem is if she got any kickback from school and she might not want to anyway Then again, it's not my call," Karen said reflectively, letting the words hang on the air.
"Hey, let's join the party. It's fun time," Trisha called out in her carefree fashion as they all became aware of the most seductive song in the DJ's repertoire insinuate itself into their senses. With cheers of joy, Sally-Anne led the procession down the stairs. Once through the door and into the dance floor, the music amplified itself into a deleriously joyful level and they were ready for the here and now.