Janey and the Band

Chapter 4

In the hall, the audience was pushing out, still excited.

'What a beautiful voice!'

'That was Janey Adams - she's in my form.Wasn't she fantastic?'

Mike, standing by Dave Hampton, was stunned. 'I didn't know my Janey could sing like that! Thought Ronnie was having me on.'

Dave said, his voice sounding odd, even to himself, 'She's your girl?'

'My sister.'

'Your sister!' The unmistakeable relief in his voice got through to Mike who looked at him sideways.

'Jail bait, man.  She's not sixteen yet.'

Dave looked at him appraisingly, his head thrown back, and Mike grinned.

'Oh, all right. We'll go backstage and you can meet her.  You'll be disappointed though. She's just a little girl.'

But Janey, standing under the stage lights, with Ronnie's arm hugging her shoulders, the excited colour staining her cheeks did not look like a little girl. The floating dress made her look taller and emphasized the fullness of her breasts. Her dark hair looped like satin over her shoulders and her eyes looked huge and dark under the eye make-up.

They were the centre of an excited crowd of the cast and well-wishers. Mrs. Sachs was talking loudly - waving her hands about dramatically, but broke off to greet Mike with pleasure, as he pushed through to her.

'Why, hello, Mike!  How's Safety Rule?'

'Dead - but we're starting another. This is Dave Hampton.  He's coming in with Ronnie and me.'

She looked at Dave intently. 'I've seen you before somewhere. Mmm....yes, that's it. The London Youth Orchestra, at the Festival Hall. You were conducting.'

Everyone left on the stage stared at him. A faint colour crept up under his cheekbones. 'Max Braun was taken ill.'

Mrs. Sachs nodded. 'You were excellent.'

Janey had recognised him as the boy next to Ronnie in the hall, and was now looking at him curiously, impressed in spite of herself. So this was the classical guitarist. He didn't sound particularly posh. He had an ordinary London accent like the rest of them.

He was tall, with wide shoulders and slender hips. He moved with an easy grace, but there was a formidable authority and arrogance in the tilt of his head. Difficult and proud, she thought, but very...desirable, was the word that jumped into her mind, but was rejected instantly. Not a nice person. Not a person to cross. His hands were beautiful, long and powerful. She could imagine him conducting an orchestra - stabbing his finger, Mrs. Sachs' style, eyes glaring at some poor idiot like herself.

Her eyes met his, and unexpectedly her heart gave a little lurch as it had on the stage earlier. Grey eyes, very dark. She read amusement and mockery there. A slow, uncontrollable blush crept up under her pale skin and burned brilliantly.

Dave saw it with satisfaction. He smiled at her. 'You're Mike's Janey.'

Inside she was raging at herself. Blushing like that! "No. I'm Janey's Janey.'

'Sorry.' He was still smiling. His eyes moved over her slowly, caressingly, almost as if he was touching her.  How could he look at her like that, in front of everyone? She turned away, hot with embarrassment, aware that he was still watching her.

He was doing it on purpose, she felt sure. He thought she was one of those stupid girls who fell flat on their faces when they saw a good-looking boy. He looked as though he was used to a lot of girls falling flat!

Mrs. Sachs was saying, 'Who else is in the band?'

'Ronnie's heard of this group breaking up. The lead singer wants another band. As a matter of fact we're on our way now to hear him. He's playing a gig up West tonight.' Mike turned.  'Janey, are you ready? I'm giving you a lift home and we can't hang around any longer.

'That's all right,' said Janey. 'Don't wait.  I'm walking.'

'No, you're not.'

'It's quite late,' said Mrs. Sachs. 'Will you be all right?'

'I'm taking her in the van.'

Janey was annoyed. 'I'm not ready. 'I've got to change.'

'Well, hurry up, then!'

'Why don't you just go, and stop making a fuss?'

'For Pete's sake, Janey,' said Mike, exasperated. 'You know you're just the sort of girl who gets pushed up against a wall in a dark street!'

Janey went scarlet again, and her head drooped, the dark hair falling forward to hide her face. She could feel Dave's eyes on her.

There was a brief silence as everyone took in the absolute truth of Mike's jibe. Then Mrs. Sachs said, lightly, 'Still as outspoken as ever, Mike. Both feet in. Perhaps it would be better if you went with him, Janey.'

Janey gave her a look of burning reproach. 'Some of Year 13 have this party going, and...well, I've been invited along.'

'Over my dead body!' Mike exploded, remembering similar parties of his own time. 'You're not going to any boozy lad parties. Especially tonight. You'd end up on a bed in the back room!'

Janey's face flamed again, but her eyes flashed. She said, softly, 'All right, Mike. I'll go home with you. But Mum's at work. How are you going to make me stay there?'

They stared at each other dangerously. Then Dave's cool voice cut the tension. 'But I thought Janey was coming with us to Gunner's, Mike?'

It was a clever diversion. Mike shot him an appreciative glance.

'That's right,' said Ronnie. 'What are we standing here arguing for? Janey's not going to sit at home by herself tonight, not when everybody's out enjoying themselves.'

'I haven't got the right clothes,' said Janey, sullenly. 'I'm not going in my school uniform!'

She didn't want to go to the party with John Edge, and she did like the idea of seeing Gunners, an upmarket London club, very sophisticated, and reputed to be the haunt of celebrities, but she wasn't going to give in straight away, and let Mike think he could push her about.

'What's the matter with going as you are?' Dave asked.

'That's right,' said Mrs. Sachs, kindly.  'Borrow the dress.  You can bring it back for the next performance.'

'It's too dressed up.'

'Not for Gunners,' said Dave.

Ronnie put his arm around her shoulders and walked her away from the crowd.  'Oh come on, Janey. You know it will be fun. All the best in up-to-date international entertainment...' He sang in a cracked, quavering, elderly voice, 'Come fly with me.'

She smiled at him reluctantly.  'I didn't know you could do Sinatra, Ronnie.'

He grinned. 'Besides we need the opinion of an authentic teenybopper.'

'A what? I hate you, Ronnie Craig!'  But she could not help laughing aloud. 'One of these days you'll go too far and I'll...'

'Oo-er, yes please. Let's go too far!' He made sloshy kissing noises. Janey giggled again.

'Come on, Janey, don't be mean.You know Mike will be a real pain all evening if you stay here.'

'Okay, I'll come. But you'll have to give me a few minutes to collect my things and comb my hair. I won't be long.'

She walked away without looking at Mike.

Mrs. Sachs said, 'Could you spare a few minutes, Mike?  I know it's a funny time, but it is important. I won't keep you long and we can never seem to get your mother or father into school.'

'We'll wait by the van,' said Ronnie.

'What's this thing Mike's got about looking after Janey?' Dave asked directly, as they propped themselves comfortably on the playground wall in the cool evening air. 'He tried to warn me off.'

Ronnie shrugged. 'About three years ago Mike's mother left them for nearly a year. Simply took off. Their father was working away, so Mike had to take over. Phyl Adams is back now, but Mike has never forgiven her. He doesn't get on with his old man either. As far as Mike's concerned, Janey is just about all the family he's got. She's his security.'

'What's he so worried about?'

'Everything. Janey hasn't any self-confidence. Her father is always putting her down, telling her she's unattractive and ugly. And she believes him. So she hasn't any sense of self-preservation, or not much, he says. Which is true.'

Dave's voice sharpened.  'You mean she runs around?'

'Just the opposite. Doesn't think anybody would ever notice or like her. She's too quiet. Ultra-sensitive. Anything sexy has her heading for the hills. She doesn't know anything outside the biology class.'

'He ought to put her straight.'

'He does, all the time. You heard him tonight. There's no beating about the bush with old Mike. But she doesn't believe the half of it. Thinks it's all part of his obsession to keep her wrapped in cotton wool. She thinks she's plain and ordinary and can't understand his Big Daddy act. Don't be fooled by that incredible sexiness she spreads around like central heating.  It's natural, not conscious. She's very reserved and independent.'

There was a brief, considering silence. 'You think Mike's right to keep the strings on?'

Ronnie slanted a glance at him. 'Janey's got something she doesn't know about yet, but we do, don't we ol' buddy?'

Dave looked at him, and after a moment, laughed ruefully.  'She's dynamite.'

Ronnie laughed too. 'The older boys play cards at the back of the stage on rehearsal nights to see who'll walk her home. She doesn't know that either. So far they've been unlucky.'

'Who does walk her home?'

Ronnie's golden, cat-like eyes gleamed. 'I do. Composer's privilege.'

Dave looked at him thoughtfully, remembering Ronnie's arm around her. 'What does Mike think of that?'

'It was his idea. Thinks his friends will give her confidence and experience, but can be trusted to keep the line.'

He grinned at Dave's expression. 'You got a kid sister, Dave?'

'Older. Twenty-four. She's married.'

'I haven't got a family, only my mother. She's a widow.' He looked at Dave, not laughing now. 'I've known Janey since she was six. I wouldn't like anything to hurt her.'

'It sounds like she has two Big Daddys! How come I never heard of her before? You never even mentioned her.'

'Yeah,' drawled Ronnie. 'Funny how these things slip your mind.'

A few minutes later Mike joined them, looking worried.

'Mrs. Sachs says Janey has got to go to music college. She's got to stay on at school instead of leaving next July. They'll go spare at home. I don't know what she thinks I can do about it.  As though my mother ever listens to me!'

Chapter 5

Copyright Liz Berry 2002. All rights reserved.