Monarchy of Roses

Chapter 12

"I hope your cousins are cute", said Clara with a laugh as she checked her makeup in the mirror.

"You're so boy-crazy, Clara. And I'm looking forward to visiting the Wagon Wheel in Harajuku, our cousins run it. It's the big Northern Soul club in Tokyo, it's like Motown but faster", said Nika.

"Ah, I remember you dancing to Motown at Dad's party. You got some moves, you can't wait to show off", teased Clara as Nika blushed.

"We're going to have our rehearsal and do a meet and greet with some fans, then Flea and I are gong to a jazz club with Jack and Tessa", said John as he combed his long brown hair.

"Great Uncle Jack actually likes your music, he's too cool to be a great-uncle. Then again, he's big into Coltrane and free jazz so your music would be right up his alley", teased Nika.

"Yeah, Jack is a very cool old guy and Tessa is a real lady. You guys have fun, I'm too old and my knees can't handle a night of dancing", John laughed.

Josh beamed when he saw the women, placing a hand on her waist and kissing her cheek as she giggled. "Your great-uncle sounds like a very cool older guy, and I'll put on my brace for tonight", he said.

"Hello, my dears. Hello John, it's a pleasure to see you again in Japan", said Tessa Lacroix in her plummy upper-class English accent. Even in her late 70's, she was still tall and wand-slim with an erect carriage as though she had a steel rod for a spine. Her face was still gardenia-fair with only a few lines around her almond-shaped gray eyes and rosebud mouth, her gray hair neatly tied back under a wide-brimmed hat, combining to show that she must have been a great beauty as a young woman.

Nika hugged the older woman. "Jack is at the loo, he's thrilled to take John and Michael to the Shinjuku Pit Inn. They have always had good local bands, Tokyo is lovely if you enjoy jazz", said Tessa.

"I'm sorry about the delay, everyone. It is wonderful to see Tokyo again after living out in the suburbs, the city life is exhausting at our ages. I'm looking forward to show the tomorrow night, my grandchildren unfortunately don't like jazz", said Jack Lacroix with a rueful smile. He was tall and dignified with wavy salt and pepper hair framing a handsome face, his trademark Lacroix purplish-blue eyes twinkling from behind his glasses.

"Yeah, I used to drive Dad crazy with the Spice Girls when he wanted me to listen to Coltrane. Kids generally hate their parents' stuff", said Clara with a laugh.

"Uncle Jack, Aunt Tessa, this is Josh", said Nika as they shook hands.

"Are you Nika's young man?', asked Tessa.

"Uh, yeah. That is an old-fashioned way of putting it", he mumbled.

"Josh is touring with us since this is my last tour with the band, he's going to join full time", John said.

"I suppose it's a good idea, considering your health. And I hope the new album is going well", said Jack.

"Yeah, we're going to mix the album when we get back. It'll be ready for release in March, God willing", said Josh.

"And Nika plays clarinet on the album, it really adds atmosphere to the songs", said John proudly as Nika blushed.

"That's brilliant news, Nika. You are a talented clarinetist and it's good to see you record an album", said Tessa.

"I don't want to be a famous recording star, many famous people are jerks. In LA, one meets a lot of jerks in show business", said Nika.

After a short ride on the subway, the group arrived at the Tokyo National Museum. The handsome gray building with a muted brown brick tile roof was next door to Ueno Park, its famous cherry trees now denuded for the winter. "That is the best place to watch the sakura blossom in Tokyo, only in Kyoto is it better. Perhaps you would visit one during another tour, although I'm not exactly sure how rock groups set up their schedules", said Jack.