Sing Once Again With Me

Lifes Little Challenges

"He's doing what" Gran yells at full pelt across the kitchen "He's buying the Raindrop Club a Jazz club about ten minutes away from here, buying it for us" I tell her "What......uh.......what" she is lost for words blimey "He wants to" I tell her "Who the hell does he think he is Richard Branson" she says "Gran he wants it for us to perform in well me mainly I know its mad but he's convinced we can make it work and I suppose if I'm honest I think we can if we want to" I tell her "Well how much is he paying for this Rainbow club" she says "Raindrop Gran" I say "Same bloody thing" she says "Two hundred and fifty thousand, the owner was asking three hundred for it but because him and Ben used to be friends he's lowered the price he needs to get rid of it so his wife doesn't get it in their divorce settlement" "Which friend" Gran asks "Guy Bundy" I tell her "Who him Christ how the hell has he ended up owning a club when the boys were in Uni all he was good for chasing girls and smoking dope" she says "Yeah Ben did tell me, but he's made a real success of the club Gran its an amazing place it really is proper old style the staff wear costumes and everything" I say "Well can you see yourself singing there cherub is this what you want because I know how persuasive our Ben can be" she says "Well at first I thought he was mad but then I realized what he was doing, I've always wanted to sing Gran you know that and somewhere like the club would be amazing,we'd be making money, and think what it could mean for the band" I say to her "It could be what Ben has always dreamed of Gran you know that you know how he wanted to be a musician" I say "Yes lovey I know and he is good he's damn bloody good he always was oh I don't know" she says "Gran you are acting the same way as I did but he made me see it for what it could be" she smiles at me "Well we shall see what he says when he eventually crawls out of bed him and the three musketeers" she says its going to be a great photo opportunity when he does wake as Gran had to put him to bed when we got back last night as Ben had decided to celebrate with everyone while I settled on orange juice knowing that I will have to feed Freja sometime today so there was a fair shape on us all so I thought they could stay with us as Ells mother had the boys and it saved Mel and Davey traveling back home their house being the furthest away.

"Mam you didn't" Dad laughs as he comes in the kitchen "Oh Morning lovey" he says "Morning Dad" "Did you have fun last night" he asks "Yeah it was great Dad, were the kids alright for you" I ask him "Good as gold as always, Freja woke at about midnight but I think she just wanted a cuddle sorry sorry a cwtch with her Grampa" he says smiling and I laugh "Well how could she resist the chance of a cwtch with Grampa" I say to him "Full English Son" Gran asks Dad "Yes please Mam" he says "Wait hang on a minute what did you mean you haven't" I say turning to Dad remembering what he asked Gran when he came down "Have you seen Ben this morning Lis" he asks me "No I slept in Freja's room in case she woke up why" I say "So you haven't see the lads no" he asks "Gran what's going on I thought you said you put Ben to bed because he was rough" I say to her "I did lovey, I put them all to bed" she says with a huge grin "Where" I ask her "In your room" she says as I head upstairs I hear Dad and Gran both laugh as I run upstairs I walk into our room and oh my god firstly I'm hit by the waft of stale alcohol and bad breath which is enough to knock you out then I realise what Gran meant, oh Jesus all four of them Ben, Gerry, Davey and Jezz all cuddled up in bed together and I mean cuddled up "Oh Gran what have you done" I whisper to myself having a little giggle, oh my lord Ben is dribbling and his hair is a sight none of them are going to feel great today. "Pssst Lis" Mel whispers to me across the landing just woken up "Don't wake them" she says "Why not" I whisper "Not until I get a picture" she says coming in a pair of my pyjamas she'd borrowed "Oh look at them" she says in a little cooing voice making me laugh making us both jump when I snort just in case we wake them. She snaps away on her phone "Oh my phone is in Freya's room" I whisper "Don't worry I'll send you some" Mel says by now Ells has woken up too looking a little fragile, am I the only one who didn't get blathered last night "Please say you are taking photographic evidence" she says as she spots the lads "But of course" Mel says "Oh my poor Benny he is going to be rough today" I say they both laugh "Listen to it I hope you are not going to feel sorry for him Lis" Ells says "Well yeah he was only having fun" I say "Yeah and who's idea was it to go on the scotch when we got back" Mel asks "They only had a coupled didn't they" I say "Yeah that was before you went to bed" she laughs "What" I say "They drank the entire bottle between them off their faces they were and then Ben goes running outside spewing in the garden" how could he, he knows I dont like him getting drunk drunk not after that night not after my mother. Suddenly Im not sympathetic at all. The next thing Gran is coming across the landing "Good morning my cherubs how are we all" she's not trying to keep her voice down and she has that look about her like she's on a mission "Gran what have you got behind your back" I ask her "This" she goes bringing out her jam making saucepan and a wooden spoon oh she isn't is she "WAKEY WAKEY RISE AND SHINE" she yells at the top of her voice go Gran how the lads start to stir and soon realize what's happened Ben being the first to wake probably thinking its me he was cuddled up to "Shit, Jezz Piss off" he shouts as poor old Jezz falls out of bed moaning and groaning clutching his head "What the hell Forester fuck off" Gerry shouts "Me you fuck off your the one bloody groping me you dirty git" Davey shouts as they are all suddenly aware that we are in the room "Morning boys" Gran says to them "Sweetheart I can explain" Bens starts "Go on then you explain Langley and it had better be good" I say as I march out of the bedroom in temper as he jumps out of bed to follow me into Freja's room "Lis sweetheart, darling" he knows he's in trouble "Well go on then" I say trying not to be too loud to upset Freja "Well you know we opened the scotch when we got back" "Yes" I snap at him "Well we finished it after you came up to bed I'm sorry darling I didn't mean to its was Gerry and Davey" he says "And what you forget how to use your tongue did you to say NO" I shout "I'm sorry" he says coming towards me doing his little boy voice and giving those Langley puppy eyes "Please forgive me baby" he says as he breaths beer breath all over me now that annoy's me even more "Uh Ben your breath stinks" I say to him "Sorry what can I do to make it up to you" he asks as I pick Freja up "Well by the smell of this one she's just filled her nappy so you can start by changing your daughter" I say to him slapping him on the chest with a nappy "Yes of course darling" he says his head clearly thumping. As I hand Freja to him and head downstairs not looking at him.