Tattoo'd Lady (A Brian May Fanfiction) -English-

Out of electricity

       London - 27th August 1974

                         3:30 p.m.

"No, no no! This is not working Brian! What's going on? Did your fingers rust?" I blame myself, banging the Red Special on the bed in a gesture of unreasonable desperation.
I'm here in my room for an hour and a half, I'm trying to create something decent, the solo for Freddie's new song, Killer Queen, but I can't.

This morning, after the friendly visit of Roger, I got out of bed, I washed myself, I shaved and changed with a pair of black trousers and a white shirt, nothing exceptional but at least it's not the usual pajamas. After lunch I thought about starting to work on the solo to keep me busy, so as not laze in bed all afternoon, but I haven't any particular idea in mind. Sometimes I looked out of the window to look for the right inspiration, but Lilibeth hasn't come out in the garden since Roger left. I'm trying to create something elegant and lively, a rock-chic melody that recalls the protagonist of the song, I can't face Freddie with one of the usual riffs otherwise he would send it back to me with one of his usual hateful telling-off.

"People expect all of us to be perfect!" he told me three months ago, when he charged me to had not played my solo in The March of the Black Queen as it's on the album.

"But I have played exactly what I usually play, Freddie! Today you're the one who is more picky than usual" I argued furiously.
Nobody in my life, not even my kindergarten teachers have ever scolded me, so there is no way that I have to take lessons from him.

"And Rog calls me Mr. perfectionist" I snort, turning me to my solar-system model that is still half"broken due to his attack "I will fix it tonight, now it will be better trying to create something catchy for this Killer Queen. I am not in the mood to endure another Freddie telling-off in this time in my life"

I sigh, I take the Red Special again and put it on my shoulder, but as soon as the six-pence touches the strings...

Knock, knock...

...someone knock at the door.

"Come in" I say, turning me to the door.

The door opens and my father appears "What's happen?" I ask him.
"Jessica Hill came a few minutes ago, she said that her house is out of electricity and she asked me to go there to have a look. I think it's a problem with the electrical panel, but I need someone to monitor the meter in the basement while I work on the panel. Do you want to come with me?" he asks me, impassive as never before.

"What I have to do? I have to go?" I ask myself, biting my lips.
If I go with him, for sure I'll have endure one of his usual telling-off, but maybe I can finally meet Lilibeth.

"What do you do, Brian? Do you come with me?" his impatient voice takes me back to reality.
"Yes...yes dad, just one minute and I come with you" I answer him, taking off the shoulder strap of my Red Special and placing her on the tripod.
"Ok, but hurry up, you don't have to prepare for the dance party. I'll wait for you at the entrance" and after said that, dad closes the door behind him and he leaves me alone again.

"It's shaping to be a beautiful afternoon, this" I comment "On the other hand, the morning has already been what it has been, so..."

I reach the mirror affixed to the wardrobe door at a slow pace and I look at myself perplexed.

"Oh, I had better days. But maybe, if I fix my hair a little...." and I try to fix my curls a little bit, but it still doesn't work "Hair are not the problem, the problem it's the face, it's too white. Roger is right, I look like a pale kangaroo mouse" I sigh resigned, I leave the room and reach my father at the entrance.

"Will you bring the toolbox?" he asks me, opening the front door.
"Yes, I'll take it"
"It's already there on the dresser"
"Ok"

I turn to my left and on the wooden dresser with mirror, the one that mum cares about because she took her with her from Aberdeen before she got married. I see dad's toolbox, it's in iron, it's red and gray, it's full of screwdrivers, spanners and tools of all kinds. I grab it by the handles, lift it and I almost lose my balance when I feel its heavy weight, but I recover soon.

"Are you ready Brian?" he asks me insistently, he's already in the garden.
"Yes, yes dad, I'm coming" I answer him, but when I'm about to close the front door "Are you sure you want to go Brian? Dad can do it alone" my mother's worried voice breaks out of the kitchen.
"Mom, don't worry, I'm better now" I reply her screaming, otherwise she wouldn't hear me.
"Ok, see you soon"
"See you soon, mom" I greet her, I go out and close the front door behind me.