Journey to Love (Ongoing)

Playing the Dozens

Ruthie

Ruthie arrived at the club at precisely ten minutes to three, dressed simply but stylishly in a cropped leather jacket; pink, floral lace blouse; and curve hugging, acid wash jeans. The jeans she wore in hopes of annoying Camille, who had something against pants on women. Guess it's harder to get between our legs when we wear them, she thought, and snickered out loud.

From what she remembered, the Glam Slam had a trance-inducing quality when full, but when empty, it had the chilly, regal aura of an abandoned palace. She ventured as far as the foyer before the fear of seeing Camille made her lightheaded. She quickly sat down.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself, "it's just Cam." Then, she tucked her head between her knees. It's not "just" Cam, and you know it. He's the only man you've ever loved.

"Ruthie!"

She looked up from her knees to see Angel jogging up to her. Smiling, she rose to give the other woman a hug. Angel, in a floral romper and flats, reminded her of a doll, and the effect was intensified when her old friend had to stand on her tiptoes to embrace her properly.

"I had a feeling you'd show up today. Big Sister said she would ask you."

Ruthie's eyes widened. "When?"

"At church yesterday. How've you been?"

"Better," Ruthie said honestly, then pointed to the woman waving from the car that Angel had exited. "Who's that?"

"Alma, one of my teacher friends. I'll have to introduce you some time. But boss man's gonna kill me if I'm not inside soon. Wanna face the music with me?"

"I don't know, Angel. I hate to admit this, but I'm a little scared."

"I won't tell you not to be," Angel said, her eyes shifting from Ruthie to the direction of the main space and back again, "but I will say this: You can handle whatever Camille throws at you. I know. I've seen you in action."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Ruthie said, "I will go in, I promise. I just . . .," she trailed off to think for a minute, and a mischievous smile spread across her face, "I want to have a little fun with him first. Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Pretend that you never saw me."

✞♡☮

It took everything in Ruthie not to laugh when she heard Angel say, "Ruthie didn't come?" without a single waver or crack in her voice. She had taken the opportunity to dart behind a giant ankh statue while the band was being lectured by Camille, and now had an excellent view of the stage.

"You're late," Camille told Angel. "Get behind the kit before my drum machine replaces you."

Big Sister made a loud noise of protest as she pointed to her watch. "Pipe down. She's early."

"Watch your tone, mama. You're on thin ice too."

Everyone's on thin ice when you get like this, Ruthie thought, and wondered if she should skip town while the going was good.

Briefly lost in thoughts of escaping, she didn't realize the rehearsal had started until she heard Camille singing.

"F is for frustration,

I'm looking for what isn't really there.

I is instigation,

I'm listening to the voice beneath my hair.

N is for the naked body,