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Something Old, Something New
by Cathy Norris
As the band began to play Damo felt the
sweat break out and roll down the side of his face,
between his shoulder blades drenching his shirt, he felt
like he was on fire. What was he supposed to do? It just
wouldn't come to him. Sharon looked at him, eyes wide
like saucers, head nodding and mouthing 'come on, come
on'.
The music was unfamiliar, with feet like
lead; he started to move towards Sharon. 'This is it,
our song, we're supposed to be dancing around the floor'
he thought, but his feet just wouldn't move to the
music, they were stuck. He kind of fell awkwardly into a
rigid embrace with Sharon, waiting, waiting for a
familiar beat, 'get into it, man' he told himself. He
could feel eyes piercing a hole in his back, 'the happy
couple are supposed to lead off the first dance'. That's
what she said, the conversation in the kitchen flashed
across his mind. 'The first dance at the wedding is the
most important dance of the night'. Sharon insisted
'Everyone has their song we have to have our song'.
'News to me' sighed Damo.
'Remember Annie’s wedding, she had a song'
Berni, Sharon's mother butted in 'Was that
Annie’s song, John Denver?'. 'No ma' Sharon scoffed.
'I remember me and your Da's song' Berni’s
eyes misted over with nostalgia. ' Billy Joel, ‘I Love
you, just the way you are' she hummed and swayed. Berni
just loved to dance. She drifted back to another place
in her life when she and Gary were mad about each other.
Out dancing every night, 'God he was gorgeous'. Her
mates envied her; they all said he looked like Georgie
Best.
'Yeah, real sexy, especially across the
eyes'. Wasn't the other thing he had in common with
George Best, 'bit too fond of the drink' as her father
liked to remind her. Nor could keep his paws to himself.
That thought jolted her back to her kitchen, her mood
changed to match her tone 'lying bastard, him
and his bloody tart. They're all………’
'Ma please, not now' Sharon barked at her
mother, she knew well what was coming next .... 'they're
all the same ... cheatin' bastard, . .. first bit of
skirt, Billy bloody Joel'.
Damo just sat there. Sharon jabbed him
gently, careful with her new gel nail 'd'ye not remember
Annie’s wedding?'
In truth, Damo was seriously hammered that
day and couldn't remember much about Annie’s anything,
but he did remember her dress. Man, was she spilling
outa that, the lads even had a bet on that she'd a boob
job done, just for the wedding. Sharon interrupted his
thoughts with another cautious jab 'well?'
'Course I remember the weddin,' he lied
'just don't remember the dancin' bit, musta been outside
havin a smoke'.
Damo just couldn't get his head around what
all the fuss was about. Since they (or she, more
like it) decided they were getting married she just
never let up; dresses, flowers, rings, church, hotel,
her tan, her hair, her make up, she just banged on and on
forever and now it was THE song, THE dance.
Berni looked at her daughter, slim and
glamorous, she knew how important this whole wedding
business was to her. At least she won't be trying to
conceal a bulging belly with a ridiculous bouquet, like
she was on her wedding day. Berni wondered how things
would have worked out if she weren't expecting Sharon,
would they have got married anyway? At the time she
believed Gary and the words of love songs 'don't go
changing to try to please me', it didn't matter that she
was only 18 and pregnant, he said he loved her 'just
the way you are’.
Damo had little interest in music or songs;
he could never remember words, even when he liked
a song. He thought he liked the group 'Take That' but
couldn't be sure.
'What about somethin" by 'Take That?' he
offered, doing his best to sound helpful. Sharon stared
at him 'yeah, ... maybe, 'I Want You Back For Good' now
that's a good song to slow dance to, mmm but
that's about a couple who have spilt up, and its all
sad'.
'I'm saying nothing' Sharon's mother snorted
in derision and off she went 'Love you just the way
you are’. Sharon wished her Ma and Da could be
together for her wedding day, like Annies folks. She was
a still a bit iffy on this 'casual seating' idea of the
wedding planner. She made a mental note to sort that
out. She glanced woefully at her future husband, she
knew better than to expect inspiration from that source.
Berni interrupted her thoughts. “Ye joining us for a bit
of dinner, Damo?'
'Don't mind if I do' he quipped, delighted
to change the subject. Damo took that as a cue to look
busy and set the table, tomato ketchup for him, Helmans
lite for her.
'But what about our song?' Sharon wailed
'Why does everything get left up to me?' She stormed off
in a huff; from the next room Damo could hear her
rooting noisily through her CD collection.
'Ladeeees and gentlemen, put
your hands together for Sharon and Damien’. For the
first time that day Damo found himself looking full on
at Sharon, his wife. He actually hadn't noticed, but in
her white dress and everything she's a real cracker. As
always, she took the lead and somehow managed to get his
feet to follow her. Within a few seconds words drifted
in over the music and into his consciousness;
'Don't go changing to try to please me’.
Hang on; he knew that one, Billy bloody Joel, her Ma's
song. 'Thank God', he thought 'I know what comes next,
I've heard it all before.'
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