Ruby and singing

Smiling to myself, singing and listening to the applause in the ‘Red Lion’ I felt a sense of elation. This is why I love singing. Looking at my best friend Freda, I can see that she is happy too. Music is my anti-depressant it fills me with a sense of joy that nothing else can. Watching the people around me, I can see that they feel it too.

Freda has been going through a rough time, counselling and citalopram have not helped her, feeling the rhythm of the music through her keyboard she will always feel a sense of wellbeing. Her issues forgotten just for that space of time, focusing on the beat and my singing.

I am grateful that I can help her, months ago I would play the keyboard and sing. After Freda having a bit of breakdown, a bad reaction to alcohol and hitting rock bottom. We then realised that an answer was for her to play the keyboard with me. I can’t afford to pay her as I earn very little from my singing, but she is happy to be lost in the music. It is her medication and a coping mechanism.

Rosie

Looking at the familiar faces watching me, the pub regulars who would either compliment or ignore me. I could see Rosie, serving drinks at the bar. She had a scowl fixed on her face, I wondered what was happening with her. Rosie was usually easy going but was now three months into her pregnancy. Her baby’s dad, Freddie, had now left her, he had no interest in being a father, however his mates were now hassling her. Stress that a pregnant woman could really do without. I hoped her fixed scowl was just her concentrating on her work and not more stress from them.

Looking forward

Finishing my set now, singing the ‘Beatles, A hard days night’. I looked forward to relaxing with my Coca Cola, before driving home. Thoughts were racing through my head, it had been a month now since our weekend in the New Forest. Life had taken quite a turn, my ‘Facebook’ status has gone from single to in a relationship, and Freda is now writing songs and music with her new keyboard. An impulse buy, but in her mind, better then mind changing medication. The ‘Halifax’ are happy as they are earning more interest from her. I had considered increasing my singing rates, but I feel it will have a detrimental affect on my business, however she is happy to just be playing and entertaining the regulars.

So, this weekend Mark is making his first trip to see me. We have spoken on the phone and texted a lot. He seems to a speed texter, I thought I was fast, but almost as soon as I have sent a message my phone is bleeping again. Telling myself to take things slowly it is hard when he seems so nice. This weekend I would find out more, would he be a gentleman? I hoped so, especially as I have no intention of him sharing my bed on Friday and Saturday night. I hardly know him, and I want to know him better first.

* * * *

Mark

Stood behind the bar in the entertainment barn, Mark thought about Ruby, he thought about her singing, the way it had made him feel. Just thinking about her he felt his heart jump. He hoped she would not expect too much from him, he had not been in a relationship for a while. After his ex-girlfriend left him for his best friend, he had felt stabbed. The betrayal from both of them had hurt him badly, and he had selfishly been pleased when she cheated on his friend a few months later. His friendship with Paul was in tatters, he wouldn’t trust him again, but at least it wasn’t something wrong with him, she just got bored quickly.

It was Thursday night and Mark was due to see Ruby Friday afternoon. He felt that Ruby would be respectful and hoped she would understand that he wanted to get to know her before racing into anything. He thought about her friend Freda, a quiet lady, he wondered if she had a partner. Knowing that she had not been well, he knew that if he was going to have anything serious with Ruby, he would need to get to know Freda too.

The great outdoors

Mark enjoyed walking and exploring, he loved the great outdoors. Not knowing what Ruby’s interests were, he hoped that the fact that they met when she was camping meant that she wouldn’t be adverse to camping again. He had dreams of a romantic night in the mountains, a tent, canvas and stars above them. Mark had dreamt it, but he had never experienced it, his ex, Donna, loved her home comforts to much. She was lost without her hairdryer. He hoped that Ruby would have a greater sense of adventure.

* * * * *

Freda

It had been a long night and Freda had enjoyed herself this evening. Sitting now on her settee, propped up by cushions she tried to write a new song. Making the lines rhyme, she was good at poetry, ‘Meeting you, its all I can do, we smile, we sit and talk, oh, we do love to walk.’ Crossing it out she sighed. Moving her feet to the floor, she pushed herself up to make a mug of tea. Rex stretched himself out in the corner and whimpered, he could see that she was restless. Freda was desperate to relax, but couldn’t stop the nagging voice in her head, that told her that once Ruby has Mark then she wouldn’t want so spend time with her. She was imagining weekends alone, just her and Rex.

Freda’s work colleagues were just that, colleagues. Her only true friend was Ruby and now she had Mark. Sitting back down with her tea, she reflected on their friendship. Surely, she was just being silly, maybe Mark had a friend. Feeling fear, she told herself to think of something else. A boyfriend was the last thing that she needed. Bringing herself back into the present, she knew she had to stop projecting. She needed to focus on now and be happy for Ruby, take life a day at a time and relax. Looking back at her notebook, she chewed on her pencil, struggling to make the words rhyme and make sense.

* * * *

Friday afternoon

Watching out of my window, I hoped my flat was tidy enough. I now wondered if we should have met in a public place. I then dismissed these fears, we had been texting and phoning for a month and we had met in person. However, this was a huge step, we were going be completely alone, maybe this was dangerous. I considered this now and grabbed my coat, it was a nice day and the park was a short walk away. I decided that as soon as he arrived, I would suggest we go for a walk, we could talk first with others around us. Try and assess the situation properly before we are truly alone. I hoped he liked being outdoors and walking, I hate being stuck in. I’m not a ‘girlie girl’ either., I don’t cry when I break a nail, I love an adventure.

Mark arrives

Now seeing a car pull up outside, my heart leapt. As the man gets out, I can see its Mark, do I race to the door or do I wait for him to ring the bell? What is the etiquette here? Deciding to wait, I sat down. My heart then jumped as the bell rang, I tried not to look too excited as I opened the door. However, I could not hide my fixed smile.
“Hi, Mark, I thought we could go for a walk.” He smiled and said,
“I would love to, been sat down to long in the car.” We started walking and he reached for my hand. This was nice, I could feel his warmth and right now I couldn’t feel much happier.

Written for Grammys Grid, short story photo prompt

For more see – A keyboard and reflections from our weekend – Ruby and Freda part five. Please note, this is part six of a now six part story.