Parallel Me

Parallel me Part 19

"We have organised a charity valentine's dance, all with volunteer donations. The venue has been donated, and a local dance band has offered to play for free." She hesitated for a second or two, then with that look in her eye continued.

"They haven't a singer, and I was wondering if you would like to volunteer?" I hadn't expected that and was a bit dumbfounded, and now had three pairs of eyes looking at me.

"Well I not sure I'll be on leave then, but do the band know you're looking for someone to sing with them?" I asked looking at Sandy and saw the others looking at her too. She pulled a notebook from her pocket and looking at Alice asked.

"Can I use your phone, I've got their contact number I'll call them." We all followed Alice to a small anteroom that was set up as an office and waited for Sandy to make the call, then we waited for the outcome.

"He said that's fine if you can come to his house on Wednesday night, to join them in a practice session, he wants to hear you sing before he commits," Sandy said a little apprehensively, holding her hand over the mouthpiece of the phone.

"Sorry won't be here, I'm going back to Portsmouth on Monday, I'll be here next weekend, and then I'm on leave from the first of February. I'd like to hear how they play myself, we might not be compatible." I said truthfully, knowing the bandleader only wanted to do the same. Sandy spoke back into the phone, then after a few moments hung up the receiver.

"Their playing at the rugby club tonight, if you are there he will speak with you." She said coming out of the small office, looking a little disappointed.

"I'm not a member, is Roger Alice?" I asked looking at her, but the older police officer answered as Alice shook her head.

"My husband is, I'll get him to sign us all in tonight," she happily announced her smile beaming, which mirrored Alice's as she said.

"Be nice to go there, I haven't been since you took me JJ." So it was settled, we would all meet in the club car park at seven. Alice saw her guests out and then found me in Josephine's playroom. We had left her only ten minutes ago, happily sucking on her milk bottle, she was now fast asleep, cuddled down and curled up in her armchair. Alice did something to the chair, and it turned into a baby's cot, then in whispers, we crept out and left her sleeping.

I was already in the car park when Rogers Mercedes pulled in. They had arranged to pick up Sandy, as she lived on the way to the club. As I opened the door for her to get out, I heard someone calling my name, and turning towards the sound, I saw PC Derik Waygood.

"Come on I've already signed you all in, and got a table by the dance floor." He said, and then disappeared back inside the club. He wasn't hard to find, he was the only one waving his arms.

"Hi Derik, see you got married at last?" I said grasping his outstretched hand and smiling down at the older policewoman, who was now dressed in a pretty dress, which looked like it had come from Alice's shop?

"Yes JJ just over a year now, Christen told me she met you this morning, she said you've just come back from Singapore, no wonder you're so suntanned." Sandy tugged at my sleeve saying.

"Sorry to break this up, but we should go see the band leader," and taking my hand led me towards the stage, where the band were taking their places. I was surprised to see it was a twelve-piece dance band, twice the size of the modern dance groups. Sandra introduced me to the leader then left, so we could talk.

"I can see why you can't come to our practice sessions that uniform gives that away, but without hearing you sing it's hard to know if you'd fit in." He stopped short, splaying his hands out to his sides then said.