Chapter 9 #2
The sigh was long and loud.
‘You’re not like normal mothers.’
‘Good.’
Entering the horseshoe-shaped stadium was an awe-inspiring moment for Suzie.
She was genuinely keen to see the place.
The facts she’d boned up on to impress her son about the birthplace of the modern Olympics leapt off the page and came to life.
The sheer size and atmosphere of the space bowled her over, as row upon row of stone benches reached up towards the sky and she imagined people in togas rushing to bag their seats to watch the spectacles of times gone by.
The marked-out track in the centre drew the eye and willed the competitors to give it their all.
‘This started as a racecourse, you know, back in 330 BC.’
‘Right.’
‘Then it was rebuilt by a Roman senator from Athens called Herodes Atticus in 144 AD. It’s the only stadium in the world built entirely in marble.’
Giannis stared up at the benches.
‘You don’t say.’
‘And it has a fifty-thousand-seat capacity, way more than your favourite football team, Olympiacos, has up the road.’
Giannis put his hand on the nearest bench.
‘I seriously wouldn’t want to be sitting on cold hard stone like this for the duration of a match. I should think piles were a major problem back in the day.’
‘Gianni! It’s amazing.’
He smiled at last.
‘I agree. It is something very special for us Greeks.’
Her son had always thought of himself as Greek, being born and brought up here. She wasn’t about to start being pedantic about the British part of his heritage now he was showing some enthusiasm for the stadium at last.
Giannis waved his arm in a sweeping arc.
‘If you want facts, I’ve got facts. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the first modern Olympics in 1896. And it’s where the Olympic flame handover ceremony still happens.’
‘Impressive.’
‘We can all use the internet, Mama. Plus, we did study it endlessly at school. I can’t forget it even if I want to.’
Suzie stuck out her tongue and crouched down in a starting position in one of the lanes.
‘OK, race you round the track. One lap, winner takes all.’
After gaining a tiny headstart, she was quickly overtaken by her taller, stronger and much younger son, who streaked ahead to the finish line. Suzie was out of breath and bent double but couldn’t stop smiling.
‘See, I knew that’s what you really wanted to do.’
She pointed at the podium, helpfully provided for tourists to big themselves up.
‘Let’s get up there and take a selfie.’
‘As long as you let me have my rightful place. It’s gold all the way for me. You only get silver.’
‘Fair’s fair.’
Photos taken, Suzie begged for a quick whip round the museum, which turned out to have a fantastic collection of past Olympic posters, prints of which were available to buy.
‘These are actually quite cool.’ Giannis’s voice was a lot more positive than it had been on the bus. ‘I’m going to get a couple for Kat as a present. They’d look good framed on the wall in our living room.’
‘You’re not admitting to enjoying this, are you?’ Suzie smiled as she flicked through the catalogue of posters and pulled out one for the bar.
Her son’s answering smile showed the dimples he had in both cheeks. His brother didn’t have any. She always felt like she’d won something precious if they were on show.
‘Of course not. Calm down.’
Posters duly paid for and carefully packed in cardboard tubes, Suzie turned away from the cash desk.
‘Let’s go.’
‘Where now?’
‘Back to the hotel. Even I’m not suggesting we do the Acropolis yet again.’
‘Thank goodness for that. I’ve got so many bad memories from school trips. Boiling sun, soggy sandwiches and hours on the ferry.’
Suzie reached over to ruffle his hair.
‘You poor thing. Having to visit one of the world’s great wonders more than once. Nasty, nasty teachers.’
‘Funny.’
‘I was going to suggest drinks and an early dinner.’
‘You’re on.’
On the return bus, they both took advantage of the spring sunshine to kick back. Suzie was in the middle of a nice little doze when her son’s voice jolted her awake.
‘Mama, look! It’s you.’
At the bus stop beside them was a poster for one of her Eighties concerts with a bright red ‘Sold Out’ sticker slapped across the front.
Her twenty-year-old face stared out at her from the line-up, along with the other five acts.
There’d be no point putting up current photos; nobody would recognise them.
She only hoped the audience would take into account how long ago it was and not be expecting the same people to step out on stage. They’d be in for a shock if they were.
Giannis clapped and cheered.
‘Whoa, Mama. This is major! I didn’t realise.’
She had explained it to him fully, but sometimes she could tell her sons weren’t listening to her every word. Or her ex-husband for that matter. Still, Giannis was here with her now; that’s what counted.
‘You’re right. It is major for me. I haven’t performed on a proper stage since before you were born.’
‘I mean, I know you can sing, Mama, you used to sing to us all the time, whether we wanted it or not…’
Suzie reached over and playfully punched his arm.
‘Hey!’
‘But I didn’t realise this tour would be in such a big venue and there’d be posters all over town. I thought you’d be shoved away in some tiny back room somewhere.’
‘Charming.’
‘Aw. You know what I mean.’
Giannis took a last look at the poster as the bus pulled away.
‘And you did look really cute back then. A bit like a bush baby with those eyes and that hair.’
Bush baby had never been her desired look, but at least Giannis was taking the whole thing somewhat more seriously.
‘Yes, it’s a proper set-up with a well-known promoter and everything.’
‘Exciting. Do you want me to come to rehearsals with you tomorrow? I can always change the plan with Vasilli.’
‘No, let’s stick to what we said. I can get my own coffee. If you can be back by six so we can travel to the venue together.’
‘Sure.’
Her son was meeting up with an old uni friend who lived in Athens. He needed some downtime, and, if she was being honest, she was keen to see Frank and the others for the first time on her own. It would help her to think herself into performing mode.
After a restless night, Suzie pulled on a pair of her oldest jeans and a stripy T-shirt. No one got dressed up for rehearsals, and she didn’t want to appear as if she was trying too hard.
The car arrived to take her to the venue bang on time. She could get used to being ferried around. But her heart was in her mouth when she rang the bell at the performers’ entrance. She was shown into the back of the auditorium by a harassed member of staff and left on her own.
The elegance and size of the space took her breath away. Rows of red velvet-covered seats stretched all the way to the stage, where plenty of people were milling about, the sound of a guitar being tuned a tiny touch of familiarity.
Suzie straightened her shoulders and walked down the aisle towards a man who had his back to her but was nevertheless instantly recognisable.
Something made him turn just as she reached him.
‘Suzie! Baby, you’re here.’
He held out his arms, and she had no choice but to be enfolded in them.
‘Frank! It’s so good to see you.’