Starlight on the Palace Pier

by Tracy Corbett

He unwrapped a chocolate. ‘Two years.’

  ‘And do you enjoy it?’

  ‘Mostly.’ He offered her the chocolate. ‘Certain people I could do without. It’s a shame the place isn’t busier. Carolyn has her issues, but maybe that’s why I stay. Loyalty.’

  She took the chocolate. Strawberry cream. How did he know that was her favourite? Must be a lucky coincidence. ‘It’s a good attribute to have.’

  He shrugged. ‘Working here gives me plenty of free time to write.’

  Jodi glanced over when Carolyn began singing Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again. ‘What is she doing?’

  ‘I think she’s demonstrating.’ Leon tilted his head. ‘She received a grant from the council to entice people from hard-to-reach communities to engage with the arts. I heard her talking earlier about the link between singing and improving mental health.’

  When Jodi turned back she almost bumped noses with him. Embarrassed, she covered it by taking a sip of coffee. ‘So, what do you write?’

  His expression turned sheepish. ‘Songs.’

  ‘You’re a songwriter?’

  His cheeks coloured. It was barely visible beneath his dark skin, but she noticed just the same. It was adorable… Not that she was interested. ‘Kind of. It’s a work in progress.’

  She took another sip of coffee. ‘I’d love to hear you play. Where do you perform?’

  He rubbed his shaved head, an awkward gesture that made him seem younger than his twenty-something years. ‘My bedroom mostly. I’ve uploaded a few tracks to YouTube, but haven’t plucked up the nerve to play a live set yet.’

  A loud crash interrupted them.

  Jodi turned to see Carolyn falling into her visitors’ table, sending cups and saucers flying. What followed next was embarrassed laughter from Carolyn, Leon jumping over the counter, and the disgruntled men from the council wiping spilt liquid from their suits.

  It was carnage. And yet another scenario not covered on Jodi’s course. ‘I’m so sorry, gentlemen,’ she said, racing over. ‘Let me fetch a cloth.’

  The men didn’t look happy. Who could blame them?

  Carolyn wriggled free from Leon’s grasp. ‘I’m fine,’ she said, pushing him away. ‘Let go of me.’

  Leon’s expression told her they had a problem. Like Jodi didn’t already know that.

  ‘Perhaps it would be better if we rescheduled the meeting for another time?’ Jodi said to the men from the council, gesturing towards the exit. ‘Let me show you out.’ And with that they left, eager to distance themselves from the exuberant owner of the playhouse.

  When Jodi returned, she discovered Carolyn shouting at Leon. ‘You’ve stolen my shoe? Give me back my shoe!’

  ‘Your shoe is on the floor, Carolyn. Let’s get you upstairs.’

  She dug him in the ribs. ‘I don’t want to go upstairs.’

  He held on to her, careful not to hurt her. ‘How about a coffee and a lie-down?’

  ‘I’m not tired.’ And then she threw up, right down the front of his Superdry T-shirt.

  Leon bit his lip, as if holding back an expletive.

  Carolyn burst out crying. ‘I’m so sorry, Leon.’

  He held her as she cried. ‘It’s okay, Carolyn. It’ll wash out.’

  Petrit appeared from the kitchen, the doors banging shut behind him. He didn’t look happy.

  Leon eased Carolyn over to Jodi. ‘Take her into the office. I’ll help Petrit clean up.’

  Petrit started grumbling, but Leon ignored him. Jodi admired his restraint. She mentally added ‘equality and diversity’ to the growing list of items she needed to discuss with her boss…when Carolyn sobered up.

  By the time they arrived in reception, Carolyn’s crying had reduced to a whimper.

  Vivienne stood when they neared. ‘What have you done to her?’

  ‘I haven’t done anything, Vivienne. If you want to help, get her a strong coffee, please.’

  The woman harrumphed and strode off.

  Jodi led Carolyn into the office and sat her on the couch. ‘Let’s get you out of that jacket.’

  Carolyn looked down at the mess. ‘Oh, God. What have I done?’ She began hitting her thighs, pummelling her fists harder and harder. ‘Why do I do this?’

  Jodi grabbed her hands. ‘Stop that.’ When she was certain Carolyn had calmed down, she removed her jacket and handed her a water bottle. ‘Drink this.’ Jodi used the remaining water to rinse Carolyn’s hands and wipe them clean.

  Carolyn didn’t say a word. Her mood had switched from gregarious to gloomy.

  The door opened and the Woman-in-Black appeared. ‘Madam’s coffee.’

  ‘Thank you, Vivienne.’ When it became clear she wasn’t about to leave, Jodi said, ‘That will be all.’

  A disgruntled Vivienne exited, banging the door behind her. At least Jodi knew the source of Vivienne’s resentment now. Jodi had nicked her job.

  Jodi turned to Carolyn, feeling like she was at a crossroads. She’d only worked at the playhouse for two weeks, but every day there’d been an incident of some kind. It was clear that the staff had become accustomed to Carolyn’s antics and didn’t bat an eyelid when she caused mayhem. Maybe Jodi should follow their example and ignore Carolyn’s catastrophic behaviour? Soothe her, patch her up and let her sleep it off, pretending like it had never happened… Or maybe she should face it head-on. Ignoring the situation hadn’t worked, so maybe it was time for a few home truths.

  She handed Carolyn the mug of coffee. ‘I gather the meeting was about a grant you’ve received from the council?’

  Carolyn sipped her coffee.

  When nothing was forthcoming, Jodi continued. ‘And how do you feel it went?’

  Carolyn ignored her.

  Jodi felt like she’d been transported back to her teens when Aunty Ruby used to question her after a night spent misbehaving. Her aunty had never shouted or yelled hurtful comments like her mother had done, she’d just calmly pointed out the error of her niece’s ways, shaming Jodi to her core. She’d learnt a lot from her aunty.

  It was time to put that learning into practice. ‘Do you think they were impressed? Do you think they left here believing their money to be in safe hands?’

  Still no response.

  Jodi had been the same. Sullen and silent. ‘Or do you think they left thinking the owner is a mess, a woman who despite being clever, kind, and more than capable of managing the playhouse is an unreliable…alcoholic?’ There, she’d said it.

  Carolyn threw the mug of coffee against the wall. ‘You don’t know me!’

  The mug didn’t smash, but the contents splashed across the desk, soaking the few receipts Jodi had managed to collect. Helpful. ‘So, you’re not an alcoholic?’

  There was a tremor in Carolyn’s hands. ‘I can stop anytime I want.’

  Jodi nodded. ‘Good to know… Then, why don’t you?’

  Tears ran down Carolyn’s face. ‘You don’t understand.’

  ‘I understand more than you realise.’ She knelt down and took Carolyn’s hands. ‘You may not remember what I was like as a teenager, but I was a mess. I used to rely on drugs and alcohol to get me through the day. It was a way of masking my problems and escaping reality. I could justify it to anyone who challenged me. I didn’t care about the consequences of my actions, or the people I hurt.’

  Carolyn stared at her skirt, her body twitching like an exposed nerve.

  ‘Watching you just now, I remembered being fifteen and setting fire to a bin at school. It caused mayhem. The fire service and police were called and the school had to shut. I thought I was so funny, so clever, so popular with the other kids. But I wasn’t. I was a pain in the arse. A disruption that everyone just wanted to go away.’

  Carolyn shook her head. ‘It’s not the same. You don’t know how hard it is. It’s not my fault—’

  ‘Yes, it is.’ Jodi cut her off. ‘And do you know how I know that? Because I said the same thing. It wasn’t my fault. It was the school. The police. My mu
m. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have felt the need to escape. But it wasn’t her fault. She was an excuse. It was my problem. Do you know when I realised that? When I was sitting in a prison cell.’

  Carolyn looked abashed.

  ‘You need to face up to your problems, Carolyn. You need to accept help and take ownership of the situation…before it’s too late.’

  Carolyn started sniffling.

  Jodi squeezed her hands. ‘All you need to do is accept that you need help. It’ll be hard, but it’s better than the road of self-destruction.’

  Carolyn burst out crying and slumped onto Jodi.

  Eventually, the tears subsided and drowsiness took over. Jodi removed Carolyn’s one remaining shoe and covered her with a blanket. Then she went over to her desk and logged onto QuickBooks, even though challenging Carolyn about her drinking was bound to result in her dismissal.

  She just hoped it was a price worth paying.

  Chapter Ten

  Tuesday 3rd October

  It had been an odd week at the Starlight Playhouse. It had started at last week’s tap class when Becca had tried to teach her adult tappers a basic eight-count routine. Mi-Sun had moved left instead of right, tripped over Wanda’s foot and crashed into Miriam, who subsequently fell over Nick and hit the wall with an almighty thud. A series of yelps had followed as Miriam tried to remain upright, culminating in the ballet barre being yanked from the wall and Miriam sliding to the floor.

  Mi-Sun had been close to tears. Wanda had a bruised foot where Mi-Sun had stepped on it, and Miriam was left with a large splinter in her hand. Anyone would think Becca had been running a boxing class rather than a dance class.

  Consequently, she’d been forced to cancel the rest of the classes until the damaged studio could be repaired. But it wasn’t all negative. She’d used the excuse of a broken ballet barre as a bargaining tool to obtain permission to tart-up the rest of the dance studio.

  Carolyn had initially been reluctant, but Becca had worn her down, offering to carry out the work herself and assuring her boss that costs would be kept to a minimum. So, with Eddie’s help, she’d set about sanding and varnishing the wooden floor, filling and painting the walls, and making good the ballet barre.

  Without the classes running the playhouse had felt deserted. There was no music or children’s laughter to fill the space. The building had felt cold and soulless. It was a place that needed life. It needed people. And maybe Becca needed that too. As infuriating as her pupils were, she’d missed them this week.

  She got up from the floor and stretched out her knee. Sitting crouched on the floor painting radiators wasn’t a good position. Her knee complained when she stood up.

  Eddie appeared through the doors carrying one of the industrial lights she’d acquired from a recently closed abattoir. ‘One down, four to go,’ he said, placing the light on the floor.

  She rubbed her paint-covered hands on her overalls. ‘Do you need a hand?’

  ‘I’m good, thanks.’ With a smile, he disappeared through the doors.

  Visiting the abattoir had been a surreal experience. Thankfully, there’d been no trace of animal slaughter on the premises, just a load of equipment in need of a new home.

  Eddie appeared carrying another light. ‘I can’t believe you managed to get hold of these. They really didn’t want any money for them?’

  Becca stretched out her Achilles. ‘I think the liquidator wanted some cash, but Jodi bamboozled him with talk of BS wiring regulations and the need for them to supply a valid installation certificate. In the end, he gave in and told her to take them.’

  Eddie laughed. ‘I didn’t realise Jodi was familiar with electrical regulations?’

  ‘Oh, she’s not. She googled it and called his bluff. He knew less than her, so her master plan worked.’

  He shook his head. ‘Perhaps I should take her with me house hunting.’

  ‘Any luck finding somewhere?’

  ‘Not yet, but I’m seeing a couple of places this afternoon. Fingers crossed.’ He went to collect another light.

  Yesterday’s trip hadn’t started out brilliantly as both her mum and Jodi had been in low spirits. Her cousin’s melancholy stemmed from an incident last Monday involving Carolyn getting hammered and throwing up over bar manager Leon. Jodi had returned to the guest house despondent and fully expecting to be fired.

  Becca hadn’t been there to witness the episode, and Jodi wouldn’t divulge much. All her cousin would say was that she’d confronted Carolyn about her drinking and the playhouse owner hadn’t taken the criticism well.

  Her cousin had been on tenterhooks all week, expecting an Apprentice-style ‘you’re fired’ meeting. But it never came. Whether Carolyn had forgotten, or whether she was choosing to ignore it, remained a mystery. Jodi arrived for work each day full of trepidation, but other than being a little subdued, Carolyn had acted normally… Well, normally for her. So for the time being, Jodi remained in her position.

  As for her mum, Becca had been unsuccessful in determining the root cause of her unhappiness, so she’d focused on cheering her up instead. The three of them had spent yesterday morning shopping. The day had begun with a wicked breakfast at Buddies Café on the seafront, followed by a visit to Snoopers Paradise, the most amazing junk shop in Brighton. The trip had finished with the visit to the abattoir. They’d arrived home with a set of second-hand fold-up chairs for the ballet mums to sit on, several large framed prints of ballerinas to give the newly painted walls some colour, and the pendant lights. And all for under a hundred quid. Bargain.

  Becca wasn’t naive enough to believe one shopping trip would cure her cousin and mum’s blues, but it had temporarily given them a lift. It’d been like old times.

  Eddie arrived with another light. ‘I’ve just seen Carolyn. She’s called a staff meeting.’

  ‘Is that unusual?’

  ‘I’d say.’ He put the light down. ‘I’ve worked here nearly ten years and we’ve never had a staff meeting.’ He shrugged. ‘I guess there’s a first time for everything.’

  ‘When is it?’

  ‘Now. Everyone’s required to attend. I hope it’s not bad news.’

  Becca hoped so too.

  She checked her overalls for wet paint. Happy she was semi-decent she went into the loos to wash her hands. Her reflection revealed a smudge of paint on her cheek and lopsided blue bunches. Maybe she’d go for purple next? Now the judgemental mothers were out of the picture she didn’t have to contain her appearance so much. Hence her psychedelic nails and semiquaver earrings.

  Becca was the last one to arrive for the meeting. The office wasn’t big and felt cramped with seven people inside. Eddie and Leon were sitting on the sofa looking chilled. Vivienne was seated in one of the office chairs, her back rigid, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Carolyn was standing behind the ornate leather-topped desk looking unusually restrained in a navy tunic and leggings, her hair tied back, not a trace of make-up. Jodi was tucked into the corner as if hiding.

  It was only when the door slammed, Becca realised Petrit was standing next to her, his arms folded, his scowl already at ‘warning’ level, which didn’t bode well. She wanted to move away, but there wasn’t enough room.

  Carolyn cleared her throat. ‘Thank you all for coming. I appreciate this is an unusual request, but I have an important announcement.’

  Jodi sunk further into her chair. Surely Carolyn wouldn’t fire her publicly? If she did, she’d have Becca to answer to, boss or no boss.

  Carolyn’s thighs rested against the desk, as if it was the only thing holding her up. ‘I’m an alcoholic,’ she said, her voice shaky. This was followed by a weighted pause, as if she expected an outcry and a barrage of questions.

  Everyone remained silent.

  Carolyn glanced at all six faces, looking for a reaction. ‘This doesn’t come as a shock?’

  Eddie, Leon and Becca exchanged an awkward look.

  Jodi stared down at her lap.

/>   No reaction from Vivienne or Petrit.

  ‘Right… Well, that probably tells me all I need to know.’ Carolyn tried for a self-deprecating laugh, but it fell a little short. ‘And I thought I’d kept it so well hidden.’ When no one contradicted her, she swallowed uneasily and continued. ‘It’s been brought to my attention that I might not be as in control as I’d thought. And that my recent actions have impacted on others.’ She clutched her hands, as if trying to stem the shake. ‘As such, it’s been suggested that I seek…help. Professional help.’ She glanced at Jodi.

  The silence was excruciating.

  Poor Carolyn. Here she was, sharing her shameful secret and everyone already knew. Only Jodi had the courage to look her in the eye.

  Becca had no idea what the appropriate response was to such an announcement, but keeping quiet felt equally uncomfortable. ‘That’s very brave of you, Carolyn. I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing you the best and hoping you get the help you need.’

  Carolyn let out a breath. ‘Thank you.’

  Another awkward pause.

  ‘Is there anything we can do to support you?’ Leon asked, evoking a nod from Eddie, who added, ‘Yes, anything we can do, just name it.’

  Becca could have kissed them both.

  ‘Thank you, I appreciate that…and yes, there is something.’ Carolyn pushed her glasses up her nose. ‘I’ve booked myself onto an eight-week residential course at a local rehabilitation centre. I’ll be absent from the playhouse for the duration of the course. In my absence, I feel it necessary to appoint a deputy.’

  Vivienne sat up straighter.

  Petrit grunted.

  ‘Someone I trust implicitly,’ Carolyn said.

  Vivienne gave a small nod.

  ‘Someone who I know will keep the playhouse running, ensure you are all looked after, and who will have the courage to make tough decisions when needed.’

  A smug-looking Vivienne glanced at Jodi. It didn’t take a mind-reader to work out what her first ‘not-so tough’ decision would be.

  In just a few weeks, her cousin had proved herself to be reliable, loyal and trustworthy. She’d sorted out the office, arranged a payment plan with the playhouse’s creditors and drafted a marketing plan for improving business. Letting her go would be a backward step. It would be wrong of Vivienne to sack her just because she didn’t like her. But then, she didn’t like Becca, either. So maybe she’d get rid of her too.