Friday 7th July 2006, Paris, France
"The work didn't end here, I barely had time to rehearse, as Alan simply started making me work straightaway two days before the show started, he as always wanting to get more and more of my money and thework I'm doing, as he was the one getting rich off the money from the gigs, while I was being forgotten, that'ssimply the way things were working, and soon my mums will find out about this abuse on his part, but we'renot going to get to that part yet, after all we're on the European Tour of Shiny Chariot.
I think I'm going to take a break after rehearsing for a while, I've already got a bit of time here, I'm going to take the opportunity to go to the bus and have a bite to eat, Croix must be in there doing something, I go in and see her on the computer, so I start to get some things to prepare lunch, it's going to be very quick, so as not to delay the rehearsal time too much, I'm already warming things up and I'm looking at my girlfriend on her laptop.
"How are you, love?" Asks my girlfriend while doing her things.
"I'm a bit tired, these rehearsals are quite exhausting, but it's good to use the time for what's coming up on Sunday, after this there won't be much free time, since we're performing twice a week" I say as I watch the food being heated up.
"Don't worry too much, don't be pressurised by it, love, it's always good to clear your head" Cleared? I'd better not think about it, after what I put in my mouth yesterday, or I'll get addicted.
"I know it's better to be calm, but I'm fine love, it's good that after the interview we did when we got here last night my dad's going to see that and break down, or just watch the football match, it's very like him to do that" I think it's really hot now, I know it's not the best thing to eat sausage, but it's quick.
I put them on the bread and eat them, they're very good, even if they're bad for you, I also drink a bit of soft drink, which gives me enormous relief, meanwhile my girlfriend continues with her things on the computer and soon I hear something at the bus door, when it opens, Alan just appears, which makes me roll my eyes, here I am having to do more things for him.
"I didn't want to disturb you two, but I'm going to need Chariot, in a few minutes I'm going to take her to sell autographed products, it's going to be near the Eiffel tower to attract more attention and also promote, I'm going to need a good camera and photographer, you're going to serve Croix, take pictures of her and then we'll sell Chariot's products in a stall on the street, I got permission from the town hall to do this" Said my manager and I'm already wiping my hand across my face.
"What about the rehearsals?" I ask him.
"Rehearsals don't make money, girl, if you knew how much I've spent renting these spaces you wouldn't question it so much, not to mention what I've also spent preparing the venues for the show, so get ready, we've got a day to work, this is for your career, so far you're barely making a profit" Alan said and this time there's not much to question about it.
He just left and I snorted when he left, sometimes it's unfair to be here, but it's good to get smiles, isn't it? I just wish I didn't have to do this, but well that's the way of it, I go to the wardrobe after I've eaten, get my Shiny Chariot outfit and get changed, well at least there's only Croix here and I trust her, it's not like she doesn't see more than that.
"Chariot, before we go I have a great proposal that could help boost your career, I've been studying a bit and kids love cards don't they? Like when we were in Dalystown playing at flipping them over, I think it would be an interesting idea to make a card game with your theme, like a Sakura Card Captor, I think the kids would go running to get each card with the theme, I'll talk toAlan later if he arranges the release of them, I can even promote these things, they'll sell like water, because they're cheap they'll buy lots and they'll be exclusive, I've even thought about how some of them could be drawn, I can draw them if I need to" That would be interesting.
"Show me" I say as I'm putting the finishing touches to my make-up and combing my hair.
I was looking at the laptop screen and wow, I love the look of the cards, it gives it a very different feel, well I liked this idea, I have no idea how it's going to be played, but I think the kids will want to collect it, this dragon card was simply brilliant, well I think we can start doing it.
"I love it, Croix, you're the only one who really thinks about Shiny Chariot, you don't make me a mere product" I said, hugging her.
"Well, in reality it becomes a product, so it's not so much in its purest form, but even so it's nothing like what Alan does to you, it's humiliating, thank God you're patient, I'd have left straight away" said my girlfriend and I giggled.
Ah, this Alan, always the insufferable guy, well at least I have Croix with me, I know I always will, I hope that on the day she turns 18 I won't need this Alan any more, with my clothes changed and my make-up done, I'm getting off the bus with Croix who even takes one of the sausages I've left ready, she eats it until she reaches his car which is already pushing my girlfriend back.
"Woah, easy there, girl, eat that first and wipe your hands before you get in my car" said Alan.
"The car we helped pay for is actually being cleaned up, you should feel disgusted that you spent money on a car like this, it's not even the same SLK AMG you had before, you even got another car, what's the excuse, and what's the need for it to be an S63 AMG? You really like Mercedes, don't you?" Croix said, and I swore it was the same car because it looked like a Mercedes, but I noticed that this one was bigger well still a expensive and luxury car that he bought with the money which had to be mine.
"That's exactly why we need a car to take Shiny Chariot, it's not like we're going around in an uncomfortable car, I've decided to renovate, there's nothing wrong with giving me this thing, now come on, Shiny Chariot can't be long" He opens the back door of the car and we get in, as Croix has finished eating.
I just stare at her face, wanting to dirty the seats, but my manager gives my girlfriend some wet wipes to wipe her hands and I'm already sitting in the back seat, at least this car has one thing and that's comfort, the seats in this thing are a complete sofa, they're so good outside, This is another level of luxury, which my girlfriend soon gets into as well, from the front seats Alan gets in and he starts to switch on the car, which makes practically no noise, leaving as light as a feather, the air conditioning is very cold too, the seats have various things that I squeeze, it's like being in a limousine.
[...]
We arrive right in front of the Eiffel Tower, it looks like there's a red carpet in the direction of the Shiny Chariot stalls, what a stretch, but soon my manager gets out of the car, and goes to the passenger door, as I open it I get out and see people looking at us, what's next Croix, some photos are already coming, I'm posing, apparently these must be the paparazzi, that's fame after all.
"Look at the Shiny Chariot!" People say.
"The real Shiny Chariot is in Paris!" Others said.
"Shiny Chariot is here to help sell the final tickets and whoever buys them as soon as possible will be able to see her at our show! Come along to this stall and get your chance, you can buy signed T-shirts and also have your photo taken with her, all for just 60 euros for the T-shirt and 90 euros for the photo, get your tickets for just 25 euros, hurry, they're the last ones!" Alan said through a microphone.
I'm already directing myself and doing some poses for photos, which Croix is also doing, I even get on a broomstick and that makes for the best photo, I'm sure that this angle right in front of the floating Eiffel Tower will be good for attracting attention, I arrive at my post and there's already a queue, I even take a deep breath, I'm going to have to handle all of this on my own.
"And come soon, there'll be lots of autographs, exclusive to the great Shiny Chariot" Well, at least now he's made a point of getting some security guards, no one will harass me like last time.
"Is everything all right, Chariot?" asks my girlfriend as I put my hand on my head and nod.
"Everything is marvellous! Come and come, come on, it's for a limited time" I say, getting up from my chair and waving to the audience, making a magic display, but inside I'm a bit shaky.
I notice that Croix is worried, but it'll soon be over, there can't be that many T-shirts, I knowAlan mustn't have left that many, apart from the tickets, it's a good thing that with so many people coming, it sells like water, the time will pass more quickly, well I hope, the heat doesn't help much, in Ireland when it's sunny it doesn't get horribly hot, the hottest day I had there was 25 degrees, here it must be more, apart from the sun burning my exposed skin with my Shiny Chariot outfit.
[...]
It wasn't quick, I've been here for hours and only now is Alan releasing us... I don't even know how many hours we've been here, but it's already making me angry to be under the scorching sun here in Paris, my skin must already be red from all the burning I've been doing here, apart from having to deal with people, we get in the car, and I'm even relieved, switching on the air conditioning.
"Well, I'd make you take the metro back, but I can't as it would attract too much attention and you could also do something to Chariot that would make me lose a lot of money, at least today you've given me a lot of money, I hope Croix does everything right in the publicity, anyway good job girls" Said my manager.
"Now you're going to buy your Ferrari with that" said Croix provoking him and he's going to do this.
"Didn't you say that if I bought it, it would threaten my contract with Chariot?" He asks, and it looks like a fight is coming damn they can't stop fighting.
"I'm going, I just hope you buy it, the situation with the sponsors won't go down well" Meridies said in a different tone of voice.
"You know that by doing this you're harming your friend, so I think it's good to keep quiet, after all I'm also paying you very well for the services you do for her, don't think it's bad, you're not only well paid, you're also travelling for free, if I were you I wouldn't risk it, you'd not only be losing a good job, you'd also be ruining your girlfriend's life" I'm already getting a bit uncomfortable with these threats being thrown around.
"Stop it! This is no time to be threatening each other!" I shout at both of them, who keep quiet why take these discussions all the time, just need to chill a bit.
[...]
We finally arrive, I make my way to the bus and get my clothes on, I take the opportunity to get changed and take off my make-up and everything, I'm feeling shaky again, I hate this feeling, it's horrible, I can't stand it, I can't stand it, I keep looking at myself in the bathroom mirror, some tears are even falling.
"Chariot?" My worried girlfriend asks, so I open the door, hug her and a little relief comes over me.
"I'm fine... I just can't stand it..." I say as I hug her, well I think that's de-stressed me a bit.
"You need to rest your head and be well, stay calm, love, hug me, kiss me, let's have a good rest, although I still have to do the promotional material, but I'll be with you all the time" said my girlfriend.
"I think I'll go outside and rehearse for a while, maybe my mind will clear" She just nods and I don't rehearse.
I've got a bit of money in my pocket, I'm wearing more discreet clothes, I think I'll go to the shop nearby and see if I can get it, Alan has already left with his car, he must have gone to the hotel, I look around and walk out into the car park.
As there's a lot of undergrowth nearby, it was easy to pass through the woods until I reached the street, and there was a petrol station Do I do that? I've bought a lot of booze for my dad, they always do, I need it, I'm not addicted, but I can't wait for Croix.
I grab some food first, it might help disguise my breath in case my girlfriend kisses me, I don't want her to know I'm coming here to buy this kind of thing, I think a packet of Cheetos and a couple of cans of Coke might do the trick.
I see a box of cigarettes, with some women dancing on it, it says Gitanes, I think I'll take this one, I point it out to the cashier, he takes it from me and I pay for it, it's really cheap, I don't need a lighter, just use the magic, but I take one and leave it in my pocket anyway.
"Who's that packet of cigarettes for, young lady?" He asks.
"For my father" said the cashier.
"I know it's not for him, but let's pretend I didn't sell you this, I imagine you must be going through some tough times, have a good afternoon" He handed me the packet of cigarettes.
I left the petrol station walking a little way towards the woods, I was already further away, I don't want to smoke in a petrol station, that's idiotic, but here it's fine, I take the first cigarette from the packet and put it in my mouth, there's no way, I won't be able to relieve the tension any other way, the taste isn't so awful now
that I've smoked the first one, now I can stop coughing, I just have to suck in the smoke nicely, the nicotine entering my brain really gives me enormous relief, I can stop shaking, by the nine witches, that's good.
I know I shouldn't be doing this, but it's stronger than me, that feeling I had the first time I used it, those shakes, everything I've been going through being Shiny Chariot has been stressful, it's a dream come true that isn't so wonderful, but I can't and don't want to give up, I know how important I am, I wouldn't feel any better if I gave up.
[...]
Sunday 9th June 2006, Paris, France
"I even smoked very little compared to how often I smoked afterwards, but there's no doubt that at thatmoment I was very needy of attention, my body was already starting to feel the effects of a probable Burnoutand I just kept putting it off, trying to use methods so as not to end up getting worn out, what seemed like adream was becoming a nightmare, but soon things could change with the arrival of my presentation, I wasmuch less tense, since Croix even gave me attention after that and was helping me."
Well everything's almost ready, let's go Shiny Chariot, at least today I didn't have to work as a T-shirt seller, Alan took the shame out of it and left it to those at the door of the show, I didn't even have to go out signing autographs, just thinking that I don't have to do that makes me shudder, my hand is very calm now.
My costume is ready, now all I have to do is step on stage, smile and wave, it's the performance in my homeland, my father will see this and I certainly want to see him break down seeing that his daughter is now in a place where he never dreamed I would be, but that's the least of it, I've been able to get to a point where I'm well liked around here.
"What's up, Chariot? I've already got the effects ready, I'll start in 5 minutes, we've already got a full crowd, it's amazing, there are at least 20,000 people here, your fame is making a splash not just in the UK, you'll soon become a worldwide success" said my girlfriend and I nodded to her.
"You know I'm ready, come on, I'll show up soon and rock, the French are going to have a special edition of the Shiny Chariot!" I say, concentrating.
I get up from the dressing room chair and look at myself in the mirror, it's time to start Shiny Chariot, shine on stage and show why you're the best, that's what you do, I keep telling myself in front of the mirror, I leave the dressing room and stand behind the stage waiting for everything.
The music starts to play, I follow the rhythm with my feet, well, it's time to get cracking, I grab a microphone and start announcing myself without even appearing, all to get the crowd even more hyped.
"Are you ready for Shiny Chariot's first appearance in France?" I'm even speaking in the local language and I could hear the screams from the whole audience.
My theme is intensifying, I get on my broomstick, and I'm going to do a special one, in honour of the great French witch who is my very close ancestor, the theme is intensifying, and I hear the smoke with the fireworks and I'm arriving in style, seeing the audience getting excited, I'm already doing some acrobatics, and then I make the movement of reaching the floor of the stage, which I spin until I show my hat with the magic effects around it.
"Your magic is believing in yourself! Welcome to the marvellous world of magic!" I'm making the big call and everyone is shouting my name, this feeling is something that relieves all tension.
I start to stand on the broomstick, but it's not the same old act with the broomstick flying across the stage, I'm kind of making a trail on it, something that's very reminiscent of the old broomstick flying circuit in France when there were still competitions, which would create witches flying around the track and I'd appear in the middle when it was done and with my magic I'd break everything up by passing with the broom and with that I'd spin around and create various shadows of witches that would then become lights and dance around the stage with the brooms passing around me, which I'd do acrobatically.
In the middle of those that come together, the hologram of Louise is formed, who looks a lot like me, she's wearing a racing outfit, and we go through our paces dancing facing each other, the audience looking at that dance in delight, we get close, hold hands and soon brooms appear for us to ride, and we go towards the audience and make tracks with the colours of the French flag, which is something special for these witches here.
"The history of the past and present come together to form the gates that will open to a better future for witches!" Catchphrases are always welcome as I pass through the audience.
Afterwards, I return to the stage, approaching everyone, I get there and do some acrobatics in sync with Louise Du Nord's hologram, we also do some light trails that leave things in the rain that falls from the light, that refer to the past and I do some that refer to the present, things kind of come together, which we then hold hands on.
We started to take a more spiral flight, going higher and higher, until we reached the top with the theme getting more and more intense, at the top the music reached its highest point and everything spread with magic, creating a rainstorm and making both Louise and me disappear, but it was all a teleportation trick that I did, stopping at the bottom of the stage with some smoke coming out, I was doing some steps now without being on the broom.
Dancing ballet, which is my speciality, a Louise came down from up there, I danced as if I was lost, but in reality I know what I'm doing, she came up to me, in that outfit since she'd gone to another plane of life, we held hands and I watched her.
"Shiny Chariot, I entrust the future of magic to you, become a great witch, the glorious past of witches is with you" she said and then rose into the air and disappeared, now she made a shower of things
The rain was creating more nature, babies were also appearing, as if it were a symbol of renewal, I kept dancing, passing my staff, which was creating cushions that held the various babies from falling. The audience always loved to see me doing these demonstrations, I also love doing them, with a big smile on my face I saved everyone from falling and with that the forest was created and the little houses around it too, I was doing a kind of light show as I danced where a village was being created, families were seeing the children appearing, the magic is creating these things.
After all that, I raise my arm and it all goes into the staff where the stage returns to normal completely, I look at everyone, with it full of magic and I let it loose on people, which creates these things around them too, fairies, butterflies, magic, circulating around them.
"Believe in magic and marvellous things will happen in your life!" I have to continue with this mantra of believing in magic, I know that people are starting to buy into this idea more
[...]
The rest of the performance I carried on as I always do, there's not much secret to it, I finish and wave to the audience who are screaming and jumping on stage, I'm getting exhausted already, it was practically more than an hour of flying, dancing and jumping around, it all gets tiring, good thing I could see that it was always a success, people still come here to see me, which soon the curtains close.
That's it for today, I can still handle a whole performance, I walk to the dressing room, panting, I even take an isotonic and drink it to see if I can relieve the tension of it all, which Alan comes up to me, I really hope he doesn't invent selling T-shirts after all this.
"Congratulations Chariot! You were marvellous, that's what I like to see, a real performance, we've already made a good first impression here in Paris, now get some rest because you're going to Amsterdam on Wednesday, I hope you enjoy the trip because we're leaving soon" Alan said, I hope so too, I'm getting really tired.
"That's great, I hope you don't make me sign t-shirts" I say tiredly and really tired to don't do that again.
"You don't have to for today, I don't want to spend too much on you, I'll go for now, in two hours we'll be leaving, be on the bus by then" said my manager as he left and I could already see Croix arriving.
"Chariot you were marvellous, you were always perfect! My love, that was incredible! You're the best!" Said my girlfriend who was also kissing me, that's why I love this marvellous woman so much.
"Well, I'm not rusty at least, I still remember everything, now let's get ready for Holland, it's going to be quite a performance too, I don't know anything about their language, but I think I managed to do the opening special in France" I say very tiredly.
"And we're going to work together on these next ones, I admit I'm scared to do a presentation in Milan, but I'm sure there won't be anything, it's not like my parents know you or our friendship, they kind of live in Florence too" Croix shrugged.
"Don't worry, if that happens I'll protect you from them, it's not like they'll see what a marvellous woman you've become now" I tell her, patting her on the head.
She then goes to sit down somewhere, and I take the opportunity to put on some ordinary clothes, I can't stand wearing these Shiny Chariot clothes any longer, they're tight and leave skin exposed, on a sunny day
it's horrible, I don't want to turn red, it's not enough that I'm white and don't blush in the sun, I still have to turn red because of it.
With our clothes changed, we head back to the bus to take a rest. It's good that I didn't feel those nervous shakes, on the contrary, everything was easing off, my body is even feeling a bit better from all this.
"Today we can rest a lot, we've worked hard, thank you for existing Chariot, you were the light that illuminated my path, I'll always say that, but really you've always been so marvellous" said my Croix.
"I'm just being myself, I've been through so much, but I'm not going to let it get me down, I always have to hold my head up high, kind of from a very young age I learnt that there's no point crying, no one will be there to save you, even if I cry a few times, I still always have to pick myself up, I grew up with an alcoholic father, Since I was a baby, I've almost had to make do with everything, I only had a little time of peace when I was adopted by Laura and Bernadette, all of this to come in an even worse time, life has kind of tried to get me down, but I don't get shaken, my motivation is what drives me" I try as hard as I can not to fall, I hope this helps Croix, sometimes I also have a lot of relapses.
"Seriously, everything I went through before I got to April, it's nothing compared to what you went through on your own, I also had to mature early and get by, but it's nothing compared to you, my parents only forced me to be a boy, but they treated me with the kind of affection you expect parents to do, my mum April treats me wonderfully well, I don't have much to complain about, even at my worst... I haven't been through so much, I think that's why I'm so much more easily shaken than you, I'm not so armoured" I go on to hug my girlfriend.
"Nothing like that, no comparing yourself to me, you don't need to suffer to be considered worthy of something, or suffer because it'll make you great, nobody should really, you're great too Croix, look at all this, do you think I'd have all this without your help?" I ask her.
"Most of it is heavy money from the Cavendish, even my equipment for the shows, I only helped with my limitations" She undervalues herself so much.
"Stop belittling yourself, girl, you don't have to consider yourself so little, when you take Claiomh Solais in hand you'll realise that it's actually you who's great, I have my greatness too, but I'm not the clever witch who's going to be able to change the world" I think that'll make you feel a lot better, at least I hope so.
I'm going to give her some hugs, she's in need, this presentation was very good, I think she needs some attention to stop her shaking, I just hope Croix doesn't end up like me, unfortunately I was weak and ended up enjoying using that stuff, but I'm going to avoid it as much as possible, there's still another 20, that's the problem, I have to get rid of the packet or it'll just be money thrown away, I'll leave that for these festival days.
"It was a success, the performance in France really boosted the Tour of Europe, as the other places were fullto see the performances, which was good for ticket sales, good that I was able to start climbing the careerladder and soon things are about to get better, but one of these performances on the European Tour endedup with an encounter that wasn't going to be very pleasant, I didn't expect these people to turn up, nor thatone of them was going to be a fan of mine too.
See you, presentation witches...