Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
‘I’ll watch them with you,’ Audrey says, having caught the end of the conversation about the parcels. ‘I’ve just poured everyone a drink, and quite a few have said yes to some more of your red velvet cake,’ she informs me. ‘Who knew old people could eat so much?’
‘I’m so happy everyone is enjoying themselves,’ I tell her.
‘Thank you so much, I shan’t be long,’ says Kian to us both, already heading for the door.
‘My mum is really enjoying herself too,’ says Audrey. ‘Thank you so much for finding a place for her today and picking her up. I think she has found a new friend.’
I glance over at Audrey’s mum, who is deep in conversation with Eileen, who has taken a break from her dancing. They are about a similar age and I really hope there is the possibility that they might become good friends.
Even though there are enough volunteers, I hope Kian doesn’t hit too many red traffic lights. I walk over to the children’s party table then and make a suggestion.
‘Before you go outside again on the bouncy castle, would you like to dance with some of the old people?’ I ask the children.
‘Old people don’t like our music,’ says the boy with the mop of black hair as he licks frosting from a cupcake off his fingers.
‘They do.’ Bella frowns. ‘My nanna likes Rihanna and she went to a concert with my mum to watch Harry Styles.’
‘My mum fancies him,’ says another child, grinning.
‘Do you think they know the dance to “Gangnam Style”?’ asks a little girl in a red dress. ‘My grandad dances to that when he’s drunk and makes us all laugh.’
‘I’m not sure about that,’ I say, although I suddenly have an idea.
‘Bloody hell, I need a drink, I’m knackered,’ says Sue, before unscrewing the top of a bottle of lemonade and pouring herself a long drink after her vigorous dancing.
‘You’re a very good dancer,’ Mum tells Sue as she begins clearing the table, and placing debris from crackers into a bin bag whilst I collect up some plates. Audrey is already in the kitchen stacking up the dishwasher.
‘Runner up in regional dance competition in nineteen seventy-six,’ says Sue proudly. ‘I fell off the back of a motorbike the following year, so that put paid to that. My leg wasn’t right for ages.’
‘I used to like a dance when I was younger,’ Mum says with a wry smile. ‘Although more disco dancing. Me and a friend had a job in a nightclub dancing in a cage. It’s where I met Lauren’s dad.’
‘You really are full of surprises,’ says Sue.
‘I used to be,’ says Mum. ‘I was the one who was always up for adventure as a teenager. I think I surprised people the most when I settled down and got married at the age of twenty-three.’
I wonder for a second if I was actually planned, or if I was responsible for putting paid to Mum’s adventures. She sounds like her life was full of fun before I came along. Then again, I wasn’t born until many years into their marriage, my parents taking for granted the fact that they wouldn’t have a problem having children. And the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong either. Eventually, they fostered a young child for a few months, and lo and behold six months later Mum was pregnant with me.
‘Okay, everyone, I was just wondering if any of you would like to have a game of musical statues?’
‘Musical statues.’ Elsie frowns. ‘Are you joking?’
‘With the children,’ I add, in case they think it a strange thing to suggest. ‘And you never know, you might enjoy it.’
‘Musical statues!’ say the children, jumping up and down with excitement.
‘That’s boring,’ says the black-haired boy.
‘I’m sure it is what you make it.’ I paint on my brightest smile.
I grab a huge tub of Celebrations. ‘Sweets for everyone who takes part, and, um, maybe some small prizes,’ I say, and grumpy boy looks a bit happier.
I had gathered up all the discarded gifts from the Christmas crackers that I can give out, although I’m not sure what the kids will do with a nail clipper or a tape measure. At least there are a few plastic toys in there though.
‘Can’t we go back on the bouncy castle?’ says the boy with the black hair as he stuffs another cupcake into his mouth. ‘That was much more fun.’
‘Yes, of course, but after a game of musical statues,’ I say firmly, wondering whether I ought to have trained as a teacher.
‘Musical statues?’ says one of the older guys. ‘I don’t know about that, I might seize up if I stand in one position for too long,’ he says and the others laugh.
‘Oh, come on, it will be fun,’ says Eileen, getting to her feet.
‘If you say so,’ huffs Elsie. ‘Although I thought this was supposed to be a pensioners’ party.’
‘Kids keep you young,’ says Mum but Elsie looks unconvinced. ‘Honestly, whenever children come to the food bank with their parents, they always make me laugh. Little treasures they are. They grow up so quickly.’
‘Go on then, let’s give it a go,’ says a tall bloke, whilst a lady who needs the assistance of a Zimmer frame asks if it will be alright if she acts like a statue from her chair.
‘Of course it is. We want you all to have a good time here despite any handicaps.’
‘I don’t think you’re allowed to say that word,’ says black-haired boy.
‘Oh right, sorry.’ I smile. ‘For anyone who has limited mobility.’
The music plays and we soon get into the mood. Audrey helps me to judge and after a while, everyone is showing their competitive spirit, arguing that they weren’t moving when they are called out – and that’s just the pensioners!
Audrey and I hand out sweets for winners, and Audrey mistakenly hands a whistle to the black-haired child that I thought I had hidden. He then proceeds to blow it loudly.
‘Man the lifeboats, man overboard,’ says Wilf, looking startled, and Sue settles him, before miraculously managing to prise the whistle from the boy’s hand.
‘And it was all going so well,’ Mum says laughing as the boy bursts into tears. I hand him a red plastic elephant and a yo-yo that he pulls a face at, but accepts all the same. A few minutes later, Audrey has shown how to successfully glide the string of the yo-yo up and down, and he is smiling happily. She really is a godsend. I feel so pleased that I ran into her on the evening of the forest moon walk, which reinforces my belief that it is sometimes a good idea to push yourself out of your comfort zone. You just never know what might happen if you do.
Some of the older folk are getting right into things, competing with two children that now remain in the game. Glancing at my watch I realise twenty-five minutes have passed and there is still no sign of Kian. I’m not exactly sure I will be able to keep the children entertained if he takes much longer. What do I know about kids? I think to myself with a feeling of rising panic. It’s not as if I even have any nieces or nephews, the only interaction with children being at Bentham’s. Deep breaths, just go with the flow.
We are down to eight people on the floor, so I pause the music for a little longer, eliminating two at a time. They are all poised in various positions, the ones who have been called out are walking slowly back to their chairs, rubbing their backs. Just then, Kian walks through the door.
‘Bloody hell, have I stumbled upon rehearsals for “Thriller”,’ he says, his eyes wide and Audrey and I burst out laughing.