February Music Motif Challenge
Petra: I Will Survive
by mittfh
 
Copyright © 2010 Ben Norwood.

Contains lyrics from "I Will Survive", written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris - © 1978 Polydor Records

Synopsis: I've been mulling over the possibility of writing a sequel to Petra's Outing and doing something for the Challenge, when I realised a perfect opportunity to set the challenge within the context of Petra. This is set "the morning after the night before", at Kim's flat.

N.B. Think of this as a cut scene from Petra: The Aftermath, the (as yet unwritten) sequel to Petra's Outing, taking place immediately after that story ends.

N.N.B. This is completely unedited - this is more-or-less a stream of conciousness. Gedit thinks it's spelled correctly, but whether it makes any grammatical sense or is properly punctuated is another matter entirely... :)

Kim sauntered into her kitchen to find Peter alternating between munching on a slice of toast and humming.

"You've cheered up a lot!"

"I'm still apprehensive about going back to collect the remainder of my stuff, but I just had a silly daydream which has helped me slightly."

"Is that anything to do with that tune you're humming - I can't quite make it out..."

"Oh that - it's 'I Will Survive'"

"Very appropriate. So what was the dream?"

"Only if you promise faithfully that you won't kick me out for being certifiably insane!"

"It's that bad, is it?"

"This had better be good..."

"Promise?"

"OK."

"Picture the scene - my old place, in about an hour's time."

"Right...so when we're picking up the rest of your stuff?"

"Yes. I imagined Lydia might misinterpret my reappearance as wanting to move back in with her."

"After what she's done and what you said?"

"Well, she likes to be in control, so she thinks she can persuade me to return..."

"I think I can see where this is going..."

"Anyway, I imagined walking in, her trying to persuade me to stay, then somehow I transformed into Petra - but in a long sequinned dress."

"Riiiiggghhhht...."

"Well, don't say I didn't warn you it was silly. And I stress, Petra in a sequinned dress - not a Gloria Gaynor clone!"

Kim unsuccessfully tried to suppress a giggle.

"Anyway, at that point, disco lights come on and I start singing the first few lines..."

At first I was afraid, I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But I spent so many nights, thinking how you did me wrong:
I grew strong. I learned how to carry on.

"Apart from the ridiculous setting, that's actually pretty close to what happened with Petra. I'd only ever dressed in secret beforehand, and was afraid of anyone else finding out. Admittedly in those early days I wasn't very good at it - but one consequence of Lydia's apparent about-turn on my dressing was that because I hated that darn dress she gave me and the OTT makeup, I realised that if I was to break away from her I needed to find my own style - something I was comfortable with. Anyway, back to the song..."

And so you're back from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed my stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me

Go on now, Go! Walk out the door,
Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore

"OK, that section's a little removed from reality, but I can certainly imagine Lydia acting all distraught and upset. Heck, she probably will be - but just as I'm now making a fresh start, with the help of you, Claire and Julie; so she will have to make a fresh start, presumably with someone who won't have heard what happened last night. And since I'll be cancelling the rent standing order with Simon [Peter/Lydia's landlord] as soon as my computer's been set up over here, she'll have to move out as well."

"And after the way she's treated you, she won't be welcome here either!"

"Thanks Kim. I still can't quite believe you've agreed to take me in - after all, I'm not exactly who I claimed to be when socialising with you and your friends at the pub."

"Grrr. How many times do I have to tell you? After seeing what you did yesterday, I know Petra isn't an act. Petra is you. If anything, she's more you than Peter!"

"Wha...what do you mean?"

"Look, I'm not suggesting you become Petra full time or anything - but you've got to admit you socialise better as Petra than Peter. You said yourself that you can't really engage with other men in conversation because you're not interested in the things they talk about, like football, celebrities to lust over, the amount of cleavage women show, or even drinking yourself to oblivion. You always felt like an outsider. Now Petra, on the other hand..."

"OK, OK, I get the idea. Just allow me to think this through. I've only been Petra one night a week for a month or so - and as you know she's only got one outfit, if you exclude that darn dress we left behind last night."

"Sorry - but you've got to admit you enjoy being a girl - if only part-time! You certainly seemed to relax and join in with our inane conversations at the pub!"

"I suppose so - but give me time on this, OK? I dont' know how often I'll want to be Petra, let alone go full time!"

"Sorry - it's just that you're so natural as Petra it's hard to imagine you've had so little experience as her. Just take your time to settle in - this has been a tough time for you and a steep learning curve. Just take things at your own pace, and we'll only interfere if you ask us to."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if you need help with shopping, or make-up, or even building up enough confidence to take Petra out in daylight."

"We?"

"Me, Claire and Julie. We're all here for you - well, a phone call away in the case of Claire and Julie. And before you ask, we know you want to keep our friendship strictly platonic, and we respect that. We need to take time to learn about each other - in your case, both Peter and Petra - before even thinking about taking it further. Now, enough of that - now where had we got up to in the song? Oh yes."

Go on now, Go! Walk out the door,
Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore

"I think I know where this is going, but continue anyway..."

"Thanks again. Now, what's next..." (hums the last few bars) "...aha!"

Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with your lies
You think I'd crumble, you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I, I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive, I will survive

"Well, that bit's certainly true enough - and a fitting retort to Lydia. I bet she thought I'd never pluck up the courage to escape, let alone destroy her blackmail plans."

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry - Now I hold my head up high
and you see me - Somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in and just expect me to be free
now I'm saving all my loving for someone who will love me.

"It's amazing how well those lyrics fit...and quite ironic if you think about the original context of the woman kicking out her husband."

"And it wasn't exactly the reverse, either!"

"I suppose not - Petra is somebody new - she didn't really exist before Lydia started her little scheme. And, come to think of it, it was Petra that stood up to Lydia, not Peter. I never thought I'd have the confidence to stand up to her - I suppose I have been a bit of a wimp until now."

"So will we be seeing more of Petra?"

"I'd like to - but let's first see if I can keep some of that new-found confidence as me. Well, the Peter me, as well as the Petra me."

"You mean..."

"Yes, starting off in about an hour when we troop over there to collect the rest of my stuff."

"Oh, and just out of curiosity, how did your daydream finish?"

"If only real life was as simple as that..."

"Go on...stop teasing!"

"OK, as the music faded, I pointed at her and she disappeared in a puff of smoke."

"Very wicked witch-ish!"

"I suppose so...but even so, when you meet her at work, remember she is only human."

"Ha ha - you do realise I've got to go back to work with her tomorrow?"

"Yes - it will be difficult, but please don't do anything stupid. The last thing we need is for her to build up a case for Constructive Dismissal."

"Oh - good point. So when do you want to go over there?"

"Let's get this over and done with. Call the others and ask them to get here by 10."

"Half an hour?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry - you'll have us to support you. Mind if I tell them of your dream?"

"No - it's hardly private. Tell you what - we'll do it together just before setting off."

"OK - I'll go and phone them now."

"Oh, and you might need to warn them they'll be meeting Peter, not Petra."

"Of course - they might have forgotten she's only got one outfit, which is hardly suitable for lugging furniture around."

"Err..."

"What?"

"Since I'm not going to have to hide Petra any more..."

"Yes..."

"She's only got one outfit..."

"You'd like her to have some more?"

"Casuals - but..."

"Don't worry - we'll just pop in on the way back and grab some basics - you can try them on when we get back here."

"Thanks."

"Then when you've built up enough confidence to go out in daytime, we'll indoctrinate you in the world of shopping!"

Peter rolled his eyes.

"We'll take it slowly - but the fact you're asking in the first place..."

"Yeah, OK, I do enjoy being Petra - but please, one step at a time!"

"No problem - I promise we won't rush you, or force you to wear anything you're unhappy with."

"Thanks again - now go and phone the others, or it'll be lunchtime before we set off!"

Kim then left Peter munching on his (now cold) toast while she walked into the hall, now grinning and humming "I Will Survive" herself.