Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *1*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Change, Not Rest
She flicked the lever and the gear ratio changed, the sound of the sideways chain movement almost lost behind the competing 'rip' of the tyres on the tarmac and the slight quickening of her breathing. At seventeen, she'd been riding bikes for a good dozen years, racing the things for half of that, with some success it has to be said. But the high octane world of training and racing hadn't, at least so far, dulled her enjoyment of just going out for a ride.
The road continued its rise up from the Rhein/Main plain, not steeply but with enough grade that even someone of her fitness was starting to feel its effects. When her Dad nigh on insisted she bring a bike along on the tour she'd argued against it but she was glad he'd won that argument now as the endorphins kicked in. She stood on the pedals to keep on top of the gear, watching as her shadow barely moved on the tarmac, only the slight sway of the bike bearing testament to her forward effort.
The Taunus countryside slipped past, a familiar looking landscape to its northern neighbour, the Westerwald but here, the hills are neither as steep or as high, the whole feeling more open, less oppresive. Its not a region that she knew, well a couple of races north of Frankfurt barely count do they, so she was riding blind on new roads. Well okay, not exactly blind, the ADAC Reiseatlas of Germany she'd picked up when they stopped in Wiesbaden yesterday meant she'd been able to plot a loop through Taunnustein, the aforemention Wiesbaden and back up to Idstein, a pocket map provided by her Handy's camera.
Idstein, Idstein, Idstein. She hadn't really been paying too much attention when the whole Tour thing was being planned, still high from the Bonn concert she'd have agreed to anywhere. To actually be part of this whole thing was a real buzz, up on stage each night, strutting her stuff, belting out the group's sometimes eclectic repertoir – well who wouldn't want to be part of that?
Of course, reality has a way of dampening our dreams and in this case it was at their first stop, Boppard. The Stadthalle Boppard is nice but the Rheinhalle its not. On the other hand, they were the 'headline' act, fans of the two local bands playing support had helped fill the hall nearly to its thousand seat capacity, plenty of people had paid good money to see them play.
Last night it had been Rock für Wiesbaden, a venue specialising in, as you might guess, rock music, a smaller venue, a more hardcore audience. They'd done a good set, the crowd very vocal and the usual rendition of 'Luftballons' turned into a full on singalong. The issue as far as she was concerned, was that being more intimate it got very hot and sweaty, well I guess five hundred or so jumping, singing bodies are apt to do that.
No gig today of course, its Sunday so a day off hence the bike ride. Scheuer in Idstein is the next gig tomorrow night,she had thought they were going down to Frankfurt in the day – something about a radio show? But thats tomorrow, today, well today there was another hour's ride then later everyone was meeting to go eat, even a small town like Idstein had a few eating options, there was even a Maccy D's.
The road levelled off which prompted more gear changing as her speed went from low teens to close on thirty in just a few turns of the pedals. Not that that mattered, it was the sheer joy of the open road and well, who's gonna pass up the free speed on a downhill? The idea of ending her racing career had crossed her mind a time or two but giving up riding altogether, not gonna happen.
Of course, the BlauHase tour was being done on a budget, not so tight that they couldn't afford accomodation but said accomodation was needfully at the cheaper end of the spectrum. Having travelled for her racing quite a bit, Gaby was used to staying in two/three star rated accomodation, the rooms and food were often as good if not better than higher rated places – especially the big chains, not that Idstein rated more than a motel out by the autobahn anyway.
The Hotel Adler Turm was a typical family run affair just outside the Altstadt, fairly modern but still favouring the 'traditional' reliance on wood to decorate the public areas. The rooms were on the bijou side for one, okay, a little cramped for two but it wasn't like they were spending a lot of time up there. Likewise, the breakfast room cum bar was quite 'friendly' but the Fruhstück had been generous, the coffee passable, the rolls fresh from the oven.
Gaby used the tall white tower that gave the Adler Turm its name to navigate back, turning through the archway to where the groups vehicles were parked. It might've been a steady ride but she'd still covered nigh on a hundred K in the four hours she'd been out. The patron bike parking was in one of the garages at the back of the parking area, she'd almost made it back to the rear entrance when Nena, no, Misty appeared.
"Thought it was you.”
"You were watching?”
"Well its not like there's much else to do.”
"I need to shower, change and eat, where're the others?”
"Not seen them since breakfast, well not quite true, they did ask if I wanted to go with them.”
"Where to?”
"Some bar place Stefan knows.”
"Figures.”
"I got the laundry done, the hotel has machines down where you parked your bike.”
"Such a glamorous life eh? Guess I'll have to rinse this stuff out upstairs.”
"I never thought, I should've waited.”
Gaby gave a shrug, "No sweat, I'll do it in the shower then we can go find some lunch.”
"Yes Boss.”
"You know tomorrow?” Misty queried through the open bathroom door.
"Uh huh,” Gab replied as she tried to get her bib shorts to hang from the shower rail, "You got a 'claw or something I can borrow?”
"Sure, in my wash bag.”
"Thanks.”
"So tomorrow, you think we'll have a chance to do some shopping?”
"I think Anna Louise is counting on it. You need pads or something? I've got plenty.”
"Er nothing like that, just never been to Frankfurt before.”
“'kay, hope this stuff dries in here.”
"Sure we can use the drier tomorrow if not.”
Gab emerged clad only in knickers and bra, "You going out like that?”
"You sound like my mother,” Mist stated.
"Er, I mean, you look fine, but.”
"But its not how I usually dress?”
"Something like that,” Gab admitted.
Her friend was dressed somewhat ferraly, oversize T and short denim shorts over black fishnets, she'd got her hair in an intricate but messy braid with maybe more eyeliner than was strictly neccesary. Of the two Fischer sisters, despite or perhaps because of her illness, Claudia had been the one to break free of the standard German teen wardrobe, Nena sticking to a more conservative look. Gaby wasn't one to stand out from the crowd either, okay, Erdbeer's stage costumes were a bit risque and some of the Cosplay stuff too but otherwise her wardrobe was less than edgy.
"Look Gab, I know this whole singing thing is a sort of experiment for you, it is for me too, I know Nena can be a bit boring, I don't have a boyfriend, I don't really 'do' anything. But Misty, well she lets me try out different stuff, I might decide at the end that its not for me but like you, I want to give it a try.”
"I get it, I do, I only asked so I know what to wear.”
"Shitza, I can't help my self, always being safe Nena Fischer.”
"Nena Fischer is back in the Ahrtal, the person I see here is Misty, dresser, friend and assistant to the Star of this here shebang.”
"Thanks Gab.”
"Well if you're going punk chick guess I shouldn't be upstaged if I'm the Star.”
It was heading towards two by the time Misty and Gabs made their way into the Altstadt, not that it had taken long for Gab to get dressed but looking this, er, edgy took time to get right. Fishnets were pretty much an essential but Gab had gone for a thin layered short black dress and pigtails pinned into buns above each ear. They got a few strange looks but Idstein is close enough to Frankfurt, enough that it wasn't quite the hicksville it at first appeared.
Gaby was feeling quite self conscious but her friend at least seemed to be within her comfort zone.
"So where do you fancy?” Gab enquired.
"Everywhere looks a bit posh.”
"Your point being?”
"I know what I said earlier Gab's but I'm not sure I'm ready for a la de da restaurant.”
"There's a Maccy D's.”
"There is?”
"Yeah, I went past it this morning.”
"Well its probably more Misty than Die Drei Krone,” the hostelry they were currently stood outside. "Lead on.”
"How much further?” Misty complained.
"Not far.”
"You said that ten minutes ago”
In truth it was further out of the town, and uphill at that, than Gaby had thought. The burger place was in fact next to the motel by the Autobahn junction on a small complex which included the local Lidl and a garden centre, the latter open, the former not – well it is Sunday. It was however clearly the hang out for the local teens, well those who considered themselves a bit edgy at least.
BMX's and skateboards competed for use of some makeshift ramps at one corner of the supermarket car park, more youngsters complete with a CD player pumping out material from the darker end of rock were camped near the restaurant entrance. The girls received close scrutiny as they crossed the lot.
"Act confident,” Gab hissed to her companion.
"I'm trying.”
"You remember when we did that Cosplay thing at school, Max had to dress as a girl?”
"That was so funny.”
"It took some convincing to get him out of the Schloss, he was bricking it.”
"I thought he did really well, some of the others hardly tried.”
"I can be quite persuasive if I want.”
"You should dress him up again,” Mist suggested.
"He did wear hose at Analise' wedding.”
"Not quite the same thing but he does have good legs.”
By now they were at the restaurant entrance, having passed the peanut galleries inspection on the way. They slipped inside where several tables were occupied by families with younger children, another by someones Oma and Opa and a couple more who looked like the local piston heads. Yeah, just a typical burger bar on a Sunday afternoon.
It was over six hours since breakfast, a filched banana on her ride had got her back to the hotel but Gab was feeling a bit lightheaded now.
"A Royale XL Cheese Menu bitte.”
"To drink?”
"Er Sprite®, Mist? I'm buying”
"In that case, can I get the chicken salad and a strawberry milkshake?”
"No fries?”
"We are eating later Gab.”
“'kay.”
The server took payment and a co worker had most of the order assembled by the time Gab had her change stowed.
"Where're we sitting?”
Gab scanned the room, "Over by the window? You want ketchup or anything?”
"On salad? Really Bond, sometimes.”
"Well I want some mayo, meet you there.”
Royale XL Cheese, one of those uniquely German options on the menu, think a double cheeseburger but made with the bigger patty and bun with all the trimmings, the meal deal included large pommes and soft drink too.
"I don't know where you put all that.”
"Hmm?” Gab looked up from taking a bite of the oversize burger.
"If I ate all that i'd be the size of a bus.”
Gab swallowed before replying, "Maybe a campervan.”
"I like you too.”
"Was only kidding.”
"Yeah but its true, you eat what you like and still look like a stick, I look at a slice of torte and put on half a kilo.”
"Its only 'cause of all the riding and stuff.”
"Maybe, its still not fair.”
"So what are you after in Frankfurt?”
"I dunno, I'll know when I see it.”
"Dress? Shoes?”
"Maybe but stuff for Misty not Nena. So how're you getting on with the stage costumes?”
"Getting on? Okay I guess, got a bit warm in that place last night.”
"It was a bit sweaty.”
"Yeah it was pouring off me, I don't think the wig was helping.”
"It did need washing, it was a bit whiffy.”
"Good job we've got spare.”
They were down to the dregs of their respective drinks when the incessant buzzing of a Handy had Gaby searching her Handtasche for the source. Of course, the Law of Sod meant it stopped at the exact moment she found it.
"Your Dad?”
Gab opened the screen, "Max.”
"You not ringing him back?”
"Later.”
"You should do it now, it might be something important.”
Important like phone kissing no doubt.
Misty continued, "You might not have time later.”
"Okay, I'll do it.”
She re-opened the handset and hit speed dial oh one.
"Max.”
"Heya Gab, I just tried ringing.”
"I know, couldn't find my Handy, so what's up?”
"Does there have to be something wrong?”
"Guess not,” she allowed.
"So where are you, how's it going?”
"Maccy D's in Idstein and okay.”
"Something the matter, i usually can't get a word in edgewise.”
She sighed, "If you must know I'm feeling a bit, I dunno, out of my depth.”
"With the singing?”
"No – yes, well the whole thing really, did I make a mistake doing this?”
"You asking me?”
"Mum or Dad would just tell me what they think I need to hear so yes you.”
"Oh right. So how is the singing going?”
"Okay I guess, last night was like this Rock venue, a bit like that place in Mayschoß but bigger, sweatier and louder, at times you couldn't hear youirself singing.”
"Sounds pretty cool,” Max opined across the ether.
"Well I suppose it was kinda cool, I came off the stage shattered and we still had to drive to the hotel after.”
"Guess thats why they have those Tour bus things.”
"Not exactly in our budget, think the guys have slept in the van before now.”
"So how far was the hotel?”
"Dunno, an hour maybe, I fell asleep.”
"How're the new songs going down?”
"Okay I guess.”
"Only okay?”
"Most of the audience haven't heard BlauHase before so its difficult to tell really.”
"Hows Nena doing?”
"Okay, she's here,”she directed her next words across the table whilst putting the phone on speaker, "Max says hi.”
"Hi Maxxie, how's the Tal?”
"Still here, you've only been gone three days.”
"Feels longer, Gab's has been brilliant, look I need to make a visit, I'll leave you two lovebirds to it.”
"Take care Nen.”
"Misty,” she corrected.
"Yeah, look after our girl.”
"I will, bye.”
Misty left the table leaving just Gab and Max at either end of the connection.
"She sounds pretty chipper,” Max suggested.
"I guess, look I'm a bit worried about her, all this Misty stuff and you won't believe how she's dressed.”
"Is it sexy?”
"Max, I'm being serious.”
"So am I, well is it?”
"If you are into the whole punk goth thing it might be.”
"I've seen you dressed like that, when we've gone to concerts and stuff.”
"But this is Nena.”
"Misty.”
"Misty, whatever, thats just it Max its like she's trying to be someone else.”
"Maybe she wants to be someone else,” Max opined.
"Why?”
"Maybe she's fed up of being Claudia's sister, maybe she wants to be Nena, don't you like 'being' someone else sometimes? Is that you in the designer frocks when Mama drags you off to some fashion show, is it Gaby Bond up on that stage bellowing out rock songs with the guys?”
"I do not bellow!”
"You know what I mean Gab's.”
"I guess,” she allowed.
"So maybe Nena is doing the same, trying on Misty for size, to see how being someone different fits.”
"When did you get so wise?”
"Just saying what I see.”
"Hmm.”
"You asked if it was a mistake you doing this Tour?”
"Uh huh.”
"I think you know the answer to that, its not about you, its your friend that has you worried. Be there for her, I dunno, support her, she's looking out for you so do the same for Nen.”
"You still coming down next weekend?”
"Try keeping me away.”
"Max von Strechau, I think I like you.”
"Only like?”
"Don't push it buster.”
"Dad wants me in the restaurant so I need to go, look after yourself Gab, I'll ring after college tomorrow.”
"We might be working, some radio thingy.”
"Then I'll send an SMS.”
Misty returned as her friend, her face a full on blush, closed the call.
Maddy Bell © 11.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *2*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Gyros
By the time the girls returned from their walk, the rest of BlauHase had returned and had taken up residence in the small hotel bar although it was coffee rather than bier being consumed. Stefan, Animal and the two Jo's were having a lively conversation about – well Gab thought it was music but it could just as easily have been cars or something else, Marcus and Anna Louise, his girlfriend, were engaged in, well stuff that couples do.
“Heya girls, been for a walk?” Little Jo greeted having spotted their return.
“Went to find some lunch,” Gab confirmed, “you guys see your friends?”
“Yeah, you shoulda come Erd,” Stefan opined.
“Well you know, bikes to ride and all that.”
“You two want coffee?” Animal offered.
“Or something stronger,” Misty proposed.
“Ne-ist,” Gab spluttered, “coffee's fine.”
“Spoilsport,” the other young woman pouted.
They spent a couple of hours talking shop, that is the guys doing most of the talking, the women occasionally getting asked an opinion, Gaby might be the singer but it wasn't a democracy, Stefan was King, the others his loyal retainers. As a result, the three females ended up with their own discussion, Anna Louise was quite garrulous, besides being ten years older, had been around the group for some time and offered some insights that the newbies weren't privy to. Of course, it wasn't all one way, the younger duo regaling the older woman with tales from the Ahrtal in return.
“We eating tonight?” Big Jo queried.
“Worried you'll fade away?” Marcus quipped.
They might be grown men but the reply was more kindergarten than adult.
“The girl on the desk said the Greek place just down the road is pretty good,” Little Jo mentioned.
“Girls?” Stefan queried.
“Works for me,” I offered.
“Sure,” Anna Louise agreed.
Stefan checked his watch, “say half an hour?”
No wonder he's single!
“Forty five?” Anna Louise counter offered, “i'm sure the girls need to change, I know I do.”
Of course, that resulted in a bit of eye rolling but the guys refrained from commenting beyond Big Jo suggesting they'd have time for a bier then.
“You not getting changed?” I asked back in our room a few minutes later.
“Wasn't going to, what's wrong with this?”
I know she's my friend and I know she's 'trying out' the Misty stuff but even so, well even I have standards, Jenny Bond didn't bring up no slob. I mean the shorts and T shirt she was wearing might sort of be okay most of the time but going out to eat in a restaurant? Don't get me wrong, i've not brought anything too fancy but I do have a 'going out' dress and a couple of smarter tops.
“Do you not think those shorts are a bit, er tight?”
“I told you, I'm trying out not being so middle class.”
I held my hands up in submission, “okay, whatever.”
“What are you wearing then, some designer frock from Eloise Couture?”
“Hardly, thought i'd wear that black silk vest with my jeans.”
“You'll have to wear heels for the full rock chick look.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, “you need the bathroom?”
“Be my guest.”
There wasn't time for a shower, well not if I was gonna be ready in time so after stripping off the dress and tights it was a quick pit wash before tackling the hair and redoing my face. I don't usually wear much more than lippy and massy – any more and you end up doing Panda impressions on the bike, however that doesn't mean I can't do the full works. Not that I intended going too overboard but fifteen minutes later i'd managed to avoid the Coco look and even my hair would just about pass a Mum inspection, pulled back into a layered pony affair.
I was however a little surprised, if not a bit relieved, to find that Misty had toned her outfit down a bit although her makeup was a bit heavier. Yep, the shorts and T shirt were gone replaced by a slinky slip dress although she had retained the fishnets and hair arrangement.
“Thought you weren't changing?”
“I wasn't going to but the shorts were chafing a bit.”
“Looks pretty good Mist, I guess we'd best go down.”
“You might want to get dressed first?”
“Dressed?” oops, I was still only in bra and knickers.
The guys had in fact all changed too, even if it was just exchanging their scruffy T shirts for at least clean ones, Marcus, no doubt influenced by Anna Louise, actually had a proper shirt on. AL herself had gone a similar route to me, a shiny blouse over black trousers and heels, smart but not too dressy.
The Akropolis was sited about a hundred and fifty metres along from the Adler Turm, in a modernish block, well maybe about twenty years old by the style. If the name wasn't clue enough the dekor was a heavy hint, the vaguely maritime theme accented by armless repro statues, pictures of the Parthenon and rounded out by canned Bouzouki music in the background.
Sunday evenings are often quiet in the restaurant trade, especially away from the big cities and tourist zones but we weren't the only patrons in this evening. By the look of it one table was celebrating a birthday or something, half a dozen younger adults clearly already into the alcohol, the other table, at a guess, having a family night out. The eight of us were easily accomodated, the waiters pushing a couple of tables together in the middle of the restaurant.
“What're you girls drinking?” Marcus asked once we were installed.
So far on the Tour, meals have been of the fast food variety grabbed between venues, there's been a few sandwiches and drinks before / after the gigs but today is the first time we've had a chance to eat sort of normally. I've been sticking to soft drinks so far – well you know what I'm like with alcohol, the others have been less conservative. Tonight tho', well we don't have a gig until tomorrow night, well one won't hurt.
“White wine?”
“i'll join you, get a carafe Marc,” Anna Louise instructed.
“Misty?”
“Rum and coke please.”
Of course, he didn't need to ask the rest of our party, even I know that Animal has Weissbier, the others whatever is on tap.
The drinks arrived along with menus, the wine carafe was huge, the contents demi sec, I'm no connoisseur but it was quite nice. I've never been to the Peloponese, I can probably count the number of times i've eaten in a Greek restaurant on one hand, so picking through the menu was a bit of an adventure. Moussaka and of course Kebabs I do know but Souvlaki? Sprasoriso? Gyros?
Turns out it was only me and Misty who haven't been to that corner of the Med and unlike many British tourists, Germans are quite happy to eat the local cuisine. I was quite happy to go along with the mixed platter starter and fortunately the menu did have a brief description in German beside each item. I quite fancied the Fasolada or bean soup but in the end Bogana, thats basically lamb with potato & tomato's got my vote.
Around the table various Gyros, Souvlaki, Kalasouna and other stuff with far too many v's, i's and z's in their names were added to the order, the grinning waiter scribbling away merrily for nearly ten minutes. With food ordered bier was quaffed, wine sipped and conversation descended to tall tales of gigs past. Clearly Misty and I, well Anna Louise too for that matter had little to contribute which did nothing to abate the story telling.
They didn't even stop when the starter arrived, Taramosalata, was spread, Tzatziki spooned, Anchovies dipped and peppers unstuffed. I passed on the Calamari and fried Zuchini, I'm just not that keen on either of them, but otherwise I sampled everything on offer. And here, unlike when the band is playing there was no pecking order as such although Big Jo seemed to be leading storyteller.
“So what's the crack tomorrow?” I enquired between an Olive and a tale of Weisswürst in a Dortmund nightclub.
“Tomorrow we become famous!” Little Jo espoused.
“In the bath water,” Marcus chuckled.
“Tomorrow Erdbeer we go to HR3 to promote our Tour, maybe he is right and we become famous outside of the Rheintal.”
Well that sounds good, “so its an interview?”
“Interview yes but also we play.”
“Play?”
“Uh huh,” Stefan confirmed, “Mr Manager man has excelled himself, we get two tracks and a chat with Britta Bursche.”
“Cool!” Misty stated.
To be honest, i've no idea who Britta Bursche is, I don't really listen to the radio, well Dad sometimes has it on in the car or camper which could be anything and at the Kabin, when I'm there, its the local Ahrtal station. I've heard of HR3, who hasn't, it sits sort of where Radio 2 does in the UK, a mix of popular music, chat and a bit of light entertainment thrown in.
“So um,” I started as the wait staff cleared the first lot of debris from the table, “what're we doing, singing?”
“Robert suggested we do Die Rhenish Mädchen,” Marcus put in.
“Its had a good reception at the gigs so far,” Stefan agreed as the main course started to arrive.
Further discourse changed to the contents of our plates, my lamb was pretty good, looking around the table everyone elses looked equally as nice. Talking through the starters is one thing but through the main, well personally I prefer to eat it at least warm, I had almost cleared my plate and was taking another sip from my magic glass – well it never seems to empty, before the original conversation was rebooted.
“What do you think about doing Thunder as the cover Erd?” Stefan posed.
If you recall, Thunder in the Mountains is the Toyah Wilcox oldie that we open the set with.
“It works in the concert but isn't it a bit obscure for mainstream radio?”
“Told you,” Animal stated.
“We having dessert?” Misty enquired.
Nice one Mist, i've been eyeing up that cheesecake in the chiller cabinet since we came in.
“I'm game,” I grinned.
“Guess we won't be eating this well again until at least next weekend,” Little Jo told us.
“Dessert it is then,” Stefan agreed, “so Erd, what do you suggest?”
“Well I was thinking the cheesecake.”
“i think Stefan was meaning which song,” Misty snickered.
I could feel myself colouring up, “oh, right, sorry.”
“It shouldn't be anything too long so Bo Rhap's out,” Marcus offered.
I thought for a moment, running the options through my head, “well it should be something that people will recognise, something that still showcases the bands abilities.”
“I think Eidelweiss is a bit far.” Stefan mentioned.
“I wasn't thinking Eidelweiss but you've given me an idea.”
“Ot oh,” Misty hammed.
I swatted at her be-bunned noggin, “cheeky moo.”
“So what's this idea then?”Stefan prompted.
“Well what if.....”
The cheesecake was at least as good as it looked which was very good indeed and after hashing out our radio appearance and a sort of timetable, even my magic glass was finally empty. I'm not quite as bad with el vino colapso as I used to be but I have no idea how much wine passed my lips. I do know that Misty had four rum and cokes – I saw that on the bill, but there again there were twenty biers too so its not like she was drinking alone!
We made our way back to Die Adler Turm, it wasn't exactly late but only Animal and Little Jo headed to the bar for a night cap, we might not be travelling in the morning but we have got our micro concert in the afternoon down in Frankfurt, it would probably be as well to be reasonably fresh for that.
“Pity you'll miss the shops tomorrow,” Nena, Misty, whatever stated as I lay on my bed, head swimming a little from clearly far too much wine.
“Uhm.”
“Someones got a sore head.”
“Someone was supposed to be looking out for me,” I pointed out.
“I was, am, I only had a couple of drinks.”
“Four.”
“You counting?”
“'s on the bill.”
“Good meal though right?”
“Up to that shot before we left.”
“The Grappa?”
“Whatever it was was vile.”
Misty chuckled, “surprised you could even taste it after all that wine.”
“Wish I couldn't.”
The dim features of the room swam around some more, I didn't feel ill exactly but on the other hand now I was horizontal I was pretty sure i'd be ill if I tried any other position. My room mate had gone quiet, there was a gentle sawing from the other bed with an occasional 'snark'. The spinning in my head got worse when I closed my eyes but slumber followed in short order.
It was light from the south facing window that woke me, far too early, my mouth like a desert, head gently throbbing despite the six hours or so of sleep. Misty seemed to be missing but then the shower started – maybe it wasn't the light that had woken me. Shower, now thats a good idea but even better would be coffee, kettle, kettle, where are you?
By the time Miss Earlybird emerged from the bathroom the kettle was boiled and my bladder was ready to burst.
“Do some coffee while I shower.”
“What did your servant die of?”
I wasn't in a mood for arguing, there were more pressing things on my mind.
“How can you sing at this time of the morning,” Mist groaned fifteen minutes later.
“After you woke me up.”
“Couldn't sleep.”
“I think that segue works quite well, what do you reckon?”
“I'm hardly the one to ask, here, coffee modom.”
The shower had done a fairly good job of cobweb removal, the cup of cofffee, despite being instant, pretty much completed the job. I sat on my bed savouring the hot beverage, the sounds of a new work week drifting in from the street outside, I closed my eyes.
“Gab's, we going for breakfast?”
“Huh?”
“Breakfast, you coming down?”
I must've dozed off, my companion was now dressed, a reprise of yesterday, shorts, fishnets but a different top, well tops plural, it looked like a vest under a cropped T.
“Er yeah, be right there.”
“See you down there.”
“'kay,” I agreed to her departing back.
For speed I just dragged my jeans on with last nights vest top, shoved my feet into my trainers, wrenched my still damp hair into a pony and set off for the food. Urgh, well okay, maybe I'll go a bit light on the actual food. The two Jo's were missing but everyone else was already in attendance, Anna Louise even had her face on, maybe she didn't drink as much of that wine last night.
“Hey Erd, Misty says you were practising in the shower,” Marcus said with a grin.
“It's where I do all my best stuff, well there and on the bike,” I shot back.
“We'll have to get a shower installed on the stage,” Stefan smirked.
I stuck my tongue out at him, well what's a girl to do? I collected the makings of my Fruhstück from the counter and joined the others, Ne-isty already had a fresh coffee waiting for me.
“Bit of a change of plan,” Stefan advised.
“Hmm?”
“I spoke to Rob before I came downstairs, we'll be going into Frankfurt a bit earlier, he wants to hear what we're gonna do with Britta this afternoon.”
Well there goes my quiet morning.
I let out a sigh, “sure but I need to sort out my nails before tonight.”
“I'll do them later Gab,” Misty told me, “we'll have time before the gig.”
When did life get so complicated? I could be heading into a lecture with Lisbet about now after driving down to Koblenz with Max and the Weiss brothers, a bit of time in the library then back to Dernau. Instead its radio shows, dashing along autrobahns and late night gigs, after tonight it won't even be the same bed each night.
Maddy Bell © 08.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *3*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Frankfurter
Frankfurt, what can I say? Germany's fifth largest city, a huge banking and commercial centre, a conurbation second only to the NRW, saying Frankfurt is like saying Paris or London. As you drop off the edge of the Taunus you can see out to the airport and for a short distance you can see the skyscrapers of the cities financial district close to the city centre. Of course Herr Silsman had booked a rehearsal room nowhere near the Stadtmitte or even the HR studios in Dornbusch, no we found ourselves in the grubby industrial district between the Hauptbahnhof and the river.
We had dropped Misty and Anna Louise outside the railway station, they were off to 'do' the shops then they'd meet us at the HR building later. I wouldn't've minded a look myself but this 'practice' has put paid to my chance of a bit of sightseeing cum retail therapy.
It seemed a lot of effort for such a short session but the rest of the band didn't seem phased at adding a third set up to the day. Of course, for yours truly there isn't really any setting up, plug in my mic and I'm ready but Animal has a full drum kit to put up. At least we didn't have to get all the speakers and stuff out as both the the rehearsal room and later the radio studio would have their own systems.
We were almost set up before Silsman put in an appearance.
“Morning everyone!”
“Was this really neccesary?” Marcus asked without looking up from whatever he was fiddling with.
“We need to make the most of this opportunity Marcus, its not everyday you get a session with Britta Bursche.”
“I still don't know how you pulled it off,” Stefan mentioned.
“Its not what you know but who,” Silsman smarmed.
I know he's our 'manager' but it doesn't mean I have to like him.
“So lets hear what you are going to do then?”
Stefan counted the guys in and the first notes of Die Rhenish Mädchen filled the room. Its very much in the classic story telling genre, in this instance the infamous siren, Lorelei, okay you'd have to really know your Märchen to fully appreciate the lyrics. But its got quite a catchy beat and a simple chorus that Stefan, LJ and Marcus do and I quite enjoy singing it.
Robert clapped enthusiastically when we concluded, “a good choice, so what's this you want to do for the cover?”
“Its Erd's idea,” Stefan noted.
Silsman turned to me, “which is?”
Nothing like being put on the spot.
“I know its supposed to be one original and one cover.”
“Thats the format,” he confirmed.
“Doesn't give much of a sample of us.”
“I don't make the rules.”
“Well I was thinking, what if we gave a bit more of the BlauHase gig experience?” I told him.
“I'm listening.”
“Guys?”
“Ready when you are Erd,” Stefan replied with a grin.
Of course, we weren't doing it completely blind, so okay we hadn't actually done it with instruments but we'd tried the vocals sort of a cappella on the way down this morning – maybe a chance to practice with everything is a good idea afterall. It had been tempting to go for Luftballons as the main cover but when I tried it in the shower this morning it didn't really work, no instead the guys struck the opening bars of Thunder in the Mountains.
There was a moment of silence in the studio before the clapping started, phew, they liked it.
“And that my friends was BlauHase with their talented young singer Erdbeer,” Britta enthused, “i'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from them in the coming months, if you want to catch them live they'll be at Amphitheater Hanau on the seventeenth, then its Darmstadt Centralstation, Das Rind in Russelheim, Colos Saal Aschaffenburg, Mulheim Kulturhalle Schalnz, Mainz Frankfurter Hof before finishing on the twenty third at The Bed here in Frankfurt. So guys have you got something to play us out with?”
This was a bit unexpected, like no one got to play an encore on Britta Bursche's show. Time for some on the feet thinking.
“Thank you Britta, thank you for having us. This one's not in the gig set this time around but I think you'll like it, its an oldie from way back in the sixties, from the debut album of Tyranosaurus Rex., this ones for you Daddy.”
The guys often play it as a warm up and although its from way before my time and even his, its one of Dad's favourites so I know the words if not by heart, well enough, you can always slip a few extra di-di's in. BJ went into the bass intro and the rest, as they say, is history!
'Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Oh Debora, always look like a zebra
Your sunken face is like a galleon
Clawed with mysteries of the Spanish Main, oh Debora
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Li-di-di-di-di-di-di
Deboree-deb n' deboree-deboree-deb
Li-di-di-di-di-di-di
Ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree
Oh Debora, always dressed like a conjurer
It's fine to see your young face hiding
'Neath the stallion that I'm riding, Debora
Da da da da da da da
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Da da da da da da da
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Oh Debora, oh Debora
Da da da da da da da
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Da da da da da da da
Na na na na na na na na na na
Shh
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Oh Deborah, you look like a stallion
Oh Deborah, you look like a stallion
Your sunken face is like a galleon
Clawed with mysteries of the Spanish Main, oh Deborah
Da da da da da da da
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Da da da da da da da
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Oh Debora, oh Debora
Da da da da da da da
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Da da da da da da da
Na na na na na na na na na na
Shh'
But I'm getting ahead of myself, lets go back a couple of hours.
'Where the mountains meet the sea
And lights spit stains on the scenery
And the air is heavy with a sticky unease
I wish for my world of make believe
And the rebel in my soul says go
And the rebel in my soul says go
Can you hear it breaking through?
Can you hear it breaking through?
Thunder and lightning
Thundering thundering in the mountains
There's a motorway it's a monument
To distant cities with distant cries
A problem an explosion
Just a spark sets the anger in motion
And the rebel in my soul says go
And the rebel in my soul says go
Can you hear it breaking through?
Can you hear it breaking through?
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever'
“Well I wasn't expecting that,” Robert told us.
“So what do you think?” Stefan queried.
“It'll certainly get their attention.”
“That is the idea,” BJ observed.
“I must admit I might have suggested a safer approach but there's one thing for sure, they won't forget it quickly.”
We did another couple of passes, tweaking things a little to make it flow better, the sudden change in tempo takes a bit of practice to avoid carrying the faster flow through to the second part. After that we packed the gear back into the van, I found myself in Silsman's big Audi along with Stefan for the journey across the city to the HR studios while the others followed in the Tour 'bus' with the instruments. It was a bit of an awkward atmosphere, it felt like the time Woody drove some of us back to school after one of the Foresters cheer competitions.
Anyhow, we arrived at the office block that is the Hesse Rundfunk radio studios, not just HR3 of course but all the stations in the stable. Misty and AL were waiting in the lobby complete with a selection of carrier bags, clearly they'd found stuff to buy.
“This is so amazing, I never expected to be in an actual radio station,” Misty gushed.
“Me either,” I offered, “so what've you been buying?”
“Just some stuff, I'll show you later.”
I gave a shrug, there was other stuff on my mind.
“If you want to come through guys,” the floor manager requested, “Britta will come down in a few minutes.”
I'm not sure quite what I expected but the room we were ushered into wasn't it, it wasn't the biggest area, with all the mic stands and baffles taking up a good part of the space, with the drum kit and keyboards installed there was only a small bit of floor left for the rest of us. Okay, we're not doing the full gig thing, we only need to stand to play and sing after all, but its just as well AL and Mist were sitting in with the techs and Robert behind the glass. The guys got busy with tuning up again, a couple of technicians checking sound levels, it was actually about twenty minutes after our arrival when Britta Bursche arrived.
Britta, like the room wasn't anything like i'd imagined. She was older for a start, probably closer to Gran than my parents age, thats not to say she wasn't good looking, she was but in a very non showy way. I sort of imagined some sort of rock chick but like her age, her choice of clothes was more housewife than glamour personality, I felt a bit overdressed in a reprise of last nights dinner outfit all the way to my heels. Britta clearly dressed for comfort, jeans, T and moccasins.
“Excited guys?” she enquired after cursory introductions were made.
“Bit nervous,” I admitted.
“Just pretend you are playing one of your gigs,” she suggested.
“And forget the millions out there listening,” Marcus joked.
“You played Moselfest last year right, this is a lot more intimate. “so what we do is this, I'll be up in the main studio, when its time I'll do a short intro, you play the first number then I'll do the interview. After that you do your second piece, I'll come down at the end of the show for a chat off air. Okay?”
“How long before we start?” Stefan asked.
Britta checked her watch then looked through the glass at the techs. There was some sort of mimed exchange before she replied.
“About thirty minutes, I need to get upstairs or I'll miss the start!”
I used several of those minutes to use the facilities, well maybe that last coffee hadn't been such a great idea. Several more went into a run through of Mädchen before the 'live' light came on and we could hear Britta several floors above us.
“So today we've got a group from Bonn, BlauHase. They''ve got a loyal following at home, some of you might have caught them at Moselfest last year, they're in Hesse doing a short tour so lets go straight over to them, BlauHase, welcome to Hesse.”
“Thanks for such a great introduction Britta.”
“So Stefan, you've been playing together a while?”
“Just a few local gigs around the Rheintal for fun, we only got serious when Erd joined us last year.”
“Erd?”
“Our delightful and talented singer, Erdbeer Britta.”
“Thats an unusual name?”
Looks like I'm up, “when we first met my hair was strawberry pink, the name sort of stuck.”
“Well the listeners can't see you but I'm sure they're keen to hear you, what are you starting with?”
Stefan took over again, “Die Rhenish Mädchen, its a new song for the Tour, it's getting a good reception at the gigs, we hope
the listeners enjoy it too.”
“So listeners, lets hear from Erdbeer and BlauHase,” Britta concluded.
The technician counted us in and we got stuck into our first live radio performance.
“So Stefan, where did the inspiration for that come from?”
“I've always been fascinated by folklore, the old German heroes, there was a programme on RTF about the Lorelei and, well you just heard the result.”
“So you've used Germanic culture for a lot of inspiration?”
“Not exclusively but yeah, I can connect with that stuff.”
“I'd like to bring in Erdbeer here, what do you feel about that?”
“Well some of his lyrics take a bit of mastering but yeah, I like that the songs tell stories.”
“So just how did you become a member of BlauHase?”
“Well my sister, Juliette, she and her boyfriend were fans so when Max, thats my boyfriend suggested going to a gig I thought why not.”
Stefan interrupted, “she was singing along even in the pit.”
“So you spotted her right away?”
“Well she is a bit difficult to miss.”
“She joined you then?”
“No, she came to more gigs but eventually we convinced her to join us on stage.”
“Had you sung on stage before Erdbeer?”
“Not really, in church, Weihnachts carols, otherwise it was in the shower!”
“Ah, but unlike most shower singers you can actually sing. This is the band's first Tour?”
“Yeah,” Stefan replied, “we got a slot as a support at Moselfest then we did a showcase at the Rheinhall in Bonn, we thought we'd give it a go so we booked time from work, Erd arranged time from college and here we are.”
“Would you like to introduce the rest of the band for us?”
“So we have Animal on the drums.”
“Yo!” our drummer did a quick bang on his kit, the others did similar as the two Jo's and Marcus were name checked.
“And of course that just leaves our song bird Erdbeer and myself Britta.”
“So what have you got in the way of a cover to finish off for us?”
“We do a couple of covers in our set, this was a bit of a punk anthem back in the eighties, one of Erd's favourites, Thunder in the mountains by the English, Toyah.”
“Okay then, thanks for joining us this afternoon, I give you BlauHase with their version of the Toyah classic, Thunder in the mountains!”
Once again the tech counted us in, three, two, one.
'Where the mountains meet the sea...'
Maddy Bell © 10.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *4*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Getting gig-ie
Robert stuck his head in through the bus' side door, "I'll see you at the venue later.”
"Sure,” Stefan replied, "If we miss the traffic we might even manage to grab some food.”
My stomach rumbled at the mere mention of new calories, what with the practice this morning and the Britta Bursche Show this afternoon we've sort of missed the eating bit. I say we, Anna Louise and Misty had, so Mist told us, grabbed a fish filled brötchen from a Nordsee stand in the centre during their shopping expedition. I'm not a big fan of white fish but at a push – pity they don't do Pommes.
"Okay then, later,” our tame shark grinned before pulling the door shut.
"Lets get out of this concrete jungle,” Little Jo opined as he started our transport.
The trip down from Idstein this morning felt like a bit of an adventure, the excitement of our radio aoppearance, a new city, a world alien to us more rural dwellers. It took several wrong turns and best part of half an hour to get us on the right road, once we'd broken the cities grip however we quickly covered the remaining kilometres having beaten the commuter traffic. There wasn't a lot of conversation beyond directional advice to our driver, I think most of us were still processing things at HR3.
"Eighteen?” Stefan suggested once we were parked back in the Adler Turm's yard.
"Think I can last that long,” Little Jo joked.
"Sure,” I added, "We going straight to the venue after?”
"Pretty much,” Stefan told us.
“'kay.”
"Fifty minutes,” Mist noted as we made our way to our shared room.
"I'll just grab a quick shower, maybe catch forty.”
"You still want your nails doing?”
I checked my digits, I usually keep my nails fairly short with just a clear coat of lacquer but i've let them grow out some the last few weeks and the dark purple varnish has already got a bit chipped just from Friday.
"We got time?”
"Should have if you don't spend too long in the shower, I can do your nails then get changed.”
"So what did you buy then?” I queried as my nails were cleaned of nail cosmetic.
"A few bits and bobs,” she hedged.
"Like?”
"You know.”
"Nen!”
"Okay, stop fidgetting or I'll get this all over.”
With a sigh of exasperation I settled and relaxed my digits for her.
"So?”
"Well I got a cute top in H&M, its like a net tunic with bell sleeves, quite fitted, you'll like it, then I found a new BH and there was a skirt in this boutique place, they had some cool bangles and stuff - oh and some boss nose studs.”
"Think i've got enough thank you.”
"If you say so, we doing the same colour?”
"I think i've got some red in my bag.”
"Oo, scarlet women eh?”
She dug around in my vanity, eventually finding the tiny jar of nail paint.
"Think i've got some lippy this colour or pretty close, would look awesome on stage. What're you wearing tonight?”
"Was thinking the black and white for a change.”
To be honest it was one of those impulse buys on a shopping trip with Con to Bonn, I saw it in Pimkie® and it just yelled buy me. Well I did and other than trying it on, its hung in my cupboard ever since, i've just not felt it was appropriate for anything. For some unknown reason it ended up in my case when I was packing last week.
A slightly feral grin crossed my manicurists face, should I be worried?
Everyone gathered at the front of our accomodation at something like eighteen – it wasn't me who joined us at five past.
"Sorry guys, I fell asleep,” Animal offered.
"You're always asleep,” Little Jo stated with a chuckle.
Little Jo joined in, "He needs his beauty sleep.”
"Not enouigh hours in the day to help there,” Marcus put in.
"Yeah, I'm far too handsome to start with,” our drummer stated.
I nearly choked, lets just say that when looks were handed out, Animal was near the back of the queue. Okay, its not like he's grotesque or deformed or anything like that but no one's gonna put him on the cover of Vogue. Individual, yeah, thats Animal.
"When you're done,” Stefan interjected.
"Where we doing?” Anna Louise asked
"Apparently there's some place called Popeye's in the Altstadt, fastfood but we can sit in.”
"Suits me,” I told the collective.
Popeye's was indeed a far cry from The Akropolis last night. Whilst in the Altstadt it's actually located in a modernish block a couple of streets from the Altmarkt, a typical multifood takeaway at the front but behind that was a sort of old fashioned diner type affair, lots of slightly grubby chrome, worn vinyl bench seats and walls mirrored in an attempt to make it look bigger. We piled in and commandeered a couple of tables, four to each.
I grabbed a menu card, my stomach letting go with an unladylike growl, yep i've definitely got a hunger. Forget your mono cuisine outlets, Popeye's were keen to cover as many bases as possible, pizza, fried chicken, burger, kebab, schnitzel, würst, pasta and a few items that at a guess the Mediterranean owners thought would appeal to the more adventurous locals. Establishments like this are either heaven or hell, you either go in with an idea of what you want or you end up bewildered by the options – my stomach was just saying 'food' so that was no help.
A scraggly olive skinned, black haired youth arrived clutching a pen and pad to take our order, Little Jo took the lead.
"Six Krombacher and two Kelheimer Weiss.”
The order serf scurried off before we could start ordering anything else which at least gave me a chance to reconsider my choice. I had been on the brink of the pizza a Pollo but on reflection, maybe schnitzel with pommes would be better?
"What you having Gabs?” Misty enquired.
"Not sure what I fancy really,” I admitted, "What about you?”
"Think I'm going for lasagne with fries.”
"Hmm, bit heavy before going on stage, think I'll just get schnitzel.”
The 'waiter', I use the term loosely, returned with our drinks, no glasses, we'd be drinking from the bottles this evening. This time however he did take our food orders, before scuttling off to where his swarthy colleagues waited at the front counter. Pretty much everything would be cooked fresh so we'd be waiting about ten fifteen minutes before eating.
"Guys, guys,” Little Jo stated to get our attention over the various conversations. "I'd like to propose a toast.
"A toast?” Marcus queried.
"Yeah, we killed it this afternoon, especially Erd.”
"Too right,” Stefan agreed.
Little Jo stood up, "So yeah, a toast to us, BlauHase!”
"BlauHase!” we all agreed, clinking our bier containers as you do.
By the looks the staff were giving us I reckon they thought they had a load of mad men/women on their hands, our food did seem to arrive indecently quickly after that. We all dug in with some gusto, clearly I wasn't the only one currently sporting hollow legs. Rather than seperate tabs, we'd decided on day two that we'd just split a single bill, it was quicker and no one was ordering Sirloin Steak instead of Frikadel so we'd end up fairly even.
Its just as well we weren't mucking about on the payment end, by the time we left Popeye's we had all of fifteen minutes to get back to the hotel and drive out to the venue, Scheuer. The gig starts at nine, we go on at ten, so we still had best part of three hours to get ourselves ready. Of course, our being a bit tardy it was inevitable that manager man was there waiting for us.
"There you are, the support are already setting up their stuff,” Silsman advised, Gaby, if I can have a word?”
"Er sure.”
Okay, now I'm a bit freaked, apart from general comments, our 'manager' usually only talks to Stefan about band stuff and I'm guessing he isn't gonna want to know what colour lipstick I'm wearing.
"Come,” he motioned me back outside.
I followed him out and across the parking, ostensibly to be out of earshot of the traffic through the stage door area.
"So, erm, what's up?”
"I was talking to some people earlier after you did Britta, great session by the way,”
"Er thanks,” I allowed when he paused.
"Your friend, Misty, she can sing?”
"Well she's no Julie Andrews but she can hold a tune.”
"Julie Andrews?”
"You know, Sound of Music, Mary Poppins? 'The hills are alive, with the sound of music..'” I tootled.
He looked a little puzzled despite my short rendition, maybe Mary and Maria weren't such a thing in the NRW. However, I think he got the general drift of my meaning.
"What's this about Robert?”
"My friends at Hesse, they mentioned that the sound earlier was a little flat, no not your singing, the um, roundness of the sound. A suggestion was made that perhaps you should have some backing, another voice to give more depth?”
I might be blonde but as Toyah would say, i've still got a brain up there. The cogs turned and clicked into place.
"A backing singer? You want Ne-Mist to be a backing singer?”
"It was just an idea, something to try.”
"Do Stefan and the guys know about this?”
"Not yet, I thought i'd sound you out first, so?”
I had a quick thunk, I sort of got the flat, round sound thing, you don't hear it when you are singing yourself but now someone has said, on our CD from Bonn, in places we do sound a bit monotone. Recruiting Nen as a singer though, that's a whole different kettle of fish.
"Well in theory, I get the idea but couldn't we just like record some backing ourselves?”
"If we had the time and equipment maybe but I think it is a slippery slope, part of the BlauHase vibe is the immediateness, the life of the singing.”
"Okay, I get it, but why Mist?”
"She is here already and to be brutally honest, she's what we can afford and she's available.”
Well I guess that makes sense, the tour is being done on a fairly tight budget, essentially we get fuel, lodging and a percentage of the door, Misty is here on my dollar so to speak. An outsider coming in would need to be paid, there'd be extra costs all round but Misty is essentially free.
"Just supposing the guys and Mist go for it, there anything in it for her?”
"I think we could manage a small wage.”
"So when were you thinking of starting this?”
"If we have agreement, as soon as possible, tommorrow, Wednesday?”
"We'll need some practice?”
"Of course, is that a yes then?”
"If its okay with the others, you want me to sound out Misty?”
"On a hypothetical level for now eh?”
"I'll run it past her later.”
"Danke, I'll let you go get ready.”
"So what was that all about?” Misty asked when I found her in the cupboard that we had as a dressing room.
"Just talking about this afternoon,” I hedged.
“'kay, so I was thinking.”
"Dangerous,”
"Ha, ha, I'm not the blonde round here.”
"Okay, what were you thinking?
"Well, the dress is kind of the fashion from maybe the nineteen sixties?”
Okay, well before my time, maybe yours too but i've seen films and pictures from back then so I had an idea at what she was hinting. The dress is a fairly straight cut mini, no sleeves, round neck in four panels alternating black and white, it makes a statement, not sure what but a statement nonetheless.
"With you so far,” I agreed.
"Well instead of the long Perücke i could cut one into a short style?”
"How short?”
"Maybe to here?” she indicated the bottom of her ear.
It would certainly be a different look.
"Lets do it.
We haven't changed the general format of our set since our pre tour gig, okay, we might play about a bit sometimes but its the same order of play. A couple of minutes before twenty two I was stood at the side of the stage with Mist, feeling somewhat exposed.
"You okay?” Mist asked as I fidgeted with the hem of my dress.
"I'm not sure about this Kleid,” I admitted.
"Gab, Erd, you look awesome,” my dresser told me.
"I don't feel awesome, I feel exposed.”
"You're fine, would I fib? Just don't bend over,” she chortled.
"I'm gonna change.”
I had now recalled just why I hadn't worn the dress before, I said it was a mini dress before right? Well the hem sits pretty much as high as it can without revealling my knickers, any position away from the vertical will result in me flashing everything I have to one and all. Okay, not literally, i've got two pairs of pants and tan fishnets on but thats not the point.
Mist had done quite a job on me, the straight shoulder length Perücke has been transformed into a short bob with bangs, to give a very sixties look despite its strawberry colour. However the kicker to the whole thing, so to speak, is on the end of my legs, the ankle boots that I got in Tenerife a few weeks back, in case you don't remember they are kick ass Rock Chick, very pointy, very black, lots of buckles and ten centimetre stiletto heels. Somehow they actually work with the rest – well according to Misty they do, kick ass, I think she said.
Out on the stage Animal started a slow beat, the others joining in with the very alt rock baroque parody that opens our set.
"Too late girlfriend,” Misty stated, spinning me around before holding me in place by the shoulders, "Break a leg!”
The music and lights on stage faded, I clutched my mic and counted down from twenty to calm myself before making my entrance. A single spot came up, time to find my voice.
'Where the mountains meet the sea....'
To be truthfull, before i'd finished the first stanza i'd forgotten how I was dressed.
"Erdbeere, BlauHase, Erdbeere, BlauHase, Erdbeere, BlauHase, Erdbeere, BlauHase,“ they chanted over and over. Time for Red Balloons. The din receded from a roar to a murmur when i raised my arms.
"Guys?“
Stefan started to strum,
"Idstein,“ i warbled.
"BlauHase!“ came the reply.
"Idstein,“ i repeated.
"BlauHase!“
"Idstein,“
and again they replied, "BlauHase!“
"Okay, seeing as you've asked so nicely, here's one you can join in with.“
The guys started the intro and i started the familiar anthem.
'Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont...'
"Bleh!” I declared, taking the towel from Mist when we finally left the stage.
We'd had a full house who were very enthused, maybe they'd heard us on Britta Bursche earlier. Maybe there were a few duff notes, a dodgy amp gave some intermittent feedback but we ended up doing a three number encore so they must've liked us.
"Great set folks,” Robert enthused as the rest of BlauHase shuffled back stage, "They were very enthused out there.”
"Think that was Erd's outfit,” Animal opined.
"The minikleid as a weapon,” Anna Louise stated hugging her boyfriend.
"Eh?” I mumbled through a mouthful of lemonade.
Maddy Bell © 16.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *5*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Drop of the Hat
"You really rocked tonight,” Misty told me an hour later back in our room at the Adler Turm.
"Hmm, me or my knickers?” I grumped.
"Well obviously they played a part.”
"Not helping.”
"Only kidding, seriously, it was a great set.”
In truth it did go well but comments about the brevity of my Kleid, well they felt wrong. Oh I'm not so naieve to think that some of the audience, the band even, would see the short dress, heels and stuff as, well, sexy and I guess subconsciously that was the intention. However, I sure as hell wouldn't dress like that to go out on the streets, it was a costume for the stage.
And whilst it did show off rather more of my legs than my parents would like, it did have some positives. Well one anyhow, I didn't get so hot and uncomfortable as in my 'proper' stage outfit, which can get a bit, erm, sweaty under the lights. The same goes for the doctored wig I wore tonight, it was still a bit yeuch by the end but nowhere near as bad as the long ones.
It might actually be into Tuesday but I was still buzzing from the gig, sleep would not be a visitor anytime soon. Whilst my stage outfit had been cooler, under the Perücke my own hair was still a sweaty mess and, well everything else was less than pleasant too, there was no way I could go to bed without showering first. It was only as I was drying myself that it occurred to me that Misty hadn't divulged the whole story of her shopping trip with Anna Louise.
"So what else did you get in Frankfurt?”
"I told you, a cute top, a new BH, some costume jewellery – oh and the skirt.”
I returned to the main room, having donned my PJ's.
"What about the other bag?”
"Other bag?”
"Come on Nen, I saw you slip it from the boutique carrier earlier, wotcha got?”
"Oh that bag,” she hedged.
"That bag,” I confirmed.
"Its er,” she started before clearly changing her mind, "I got you some hair dye.”
"And why might I want hair dye?”
"Well you were complaining that the wigs are hot to wear, I thought it would be better if we dyed your own hair, more comfortable?”
"The last time I did that I was stuck with pink hair for months and months, not happening.”
"I know but this stuff is temporary,” she pulled the bag from under her other purchases, still occupying the top of the 'desk', "Have a look, it just washes out.”
Whatever, I took the box from her and read the blurb, dur, dur, dur, vibrant colour, blah, blah, up to fifteen washes, natural blondes, dur, dur, dur. The picture on the box suggested a colour a bit redder than my wigs but still on the pink side of things, optimistically named Flamingo.
"The girl in the shop said that it usually fades quicker than it says on the box,” Mist advised.
"Hmm.”
"It would save a lot of time and be more comfortable.”
Both were valid points but whilst it was a bit of a lark having pink hair, how long the last time went on wasn't.
"At least think about it,” Misty pressed.
"I'll sleep on it,” I agreed.
Whenever we see one of those package tours on our travels, a coach load of Japanese or American tourists usually, with their expensive cameras and loud shirts, Dad always jokes about the itinery they have. 'It's Wednesday so this must be Switzerland' is his favourite line, bike racing can be a bit like that and so can a music tour like BlauHase'. Whilst the tourists are 'doing' 'all' of Europe in a fortnight, hitting maybe a dozen countries and seeing none, we get to travel and stay in different beds in different towns and see nothing.
Okay, we've been in Idstein since Saturday night but today, Tuesday, we move on to our next location. All the instruments, amps, speakers and stuff obviously got packed after the gig but our personal stuff is another matter. Of course, most hotels and the like want you out of the rooms as early as possible so they can do the clean up but when you don't get to your bed until the early hours, just getting to breakfast can be quite an effort.
"You girls okay?” Anna Louise enquired when we almost stumbled into the breakfast room.
"Ish,” I allowed making a beeline for the coffee.
"Where're the others,” a remarkably chipper Misty enquired.
"Most likely still in their beds, Marcus was still asleep when I came down.”
"Thought we had to vacate by ten o'clock?” I mentioned after downing half of my first dose of caffeine in one.
"We have an extension 'till eleven.”
"Urgh, if i'd known I coulda had another hour,” I complained.
"And miss breakfast?” Mist suggested, "They only do fruhstück until half nine.”
"Hmm.”
"Well I'll leave you two to it,” Anna Louise stated, "I want to have a quick run before we go.”
"Enjoy,” I offered as she left us alone in the company of the breakfast buffet.
I was busy making a salmon and scrambled egg brötchen before I remembered my conversation with Herr Silsman last night.
"Mist?”
"Hmm,” my friend allowed from around her own overstuffed breakfast roll.
"How would you feel about being on stage with us?”
She finished her mouthfull of food and set about extracting a crumb from her decollotage before replying.
"On stage? What for exactly?”
"Well, Robert thinks we could do with a bit more depth on a few numbers.”
"Okay, but where do I come in? You want that salami?”
I passed my plate over for her to take the meat, "How'd you fancy being a backing singer?”
"A what? You have to be jesting!”
"Straight up, its not like you can't sing is it.”
"Well I'm hardly in the same league as you am I, I can just about hold a tune but thats it.”
"You don't have to be Madonna.”
I could see the idea had piqued her interest but she's never been one to really put herself forward, that had been her sister Claudia's rôle.
"What do you reckon?”
She replied with her own question, "When are we talking?”
"We'd probably look at starting the end of the week, give us a chance to practice a bit.”
"What about Anna Louise? I'm sure she'd be up for it.”
"But she goes back to Bonn at the weekend,” I pointed out, "So?”
"Could give it a go I suppose.”
"Great, I'll let Robert know.”
"So you thought about the hair dye?”
I had but I was still not sure I wanted pink locks again.
"We could do it this afternoon ready for tonight,” she enthused in full dresser mode.
"I'll let you know later, think I need more coffee.”
I don't think any of the guys got to have any breakfast, indeed even as we loaded our personal gear up all four of them were still looking a bit mashed, only Marcus, no doubt under his girlfriends curation had even got as far as a shave. We didn't get very far when we did set off, the Maccy D by the autobahn in fact, the guys grabbing a burger breakfast which was tempting but I resisted all but an apple pie with my coffee. By the time everyone was done it was pushing midday – its a good job we haven't got a long journey ahead of us.
Looking at my road atlas we could have cut across country to Bad Homberg and missed the motorway altogether but Little Jo was doing the driving so we found ourselves heading towards Frankfurt again. Instead of taking the obvious link from the three across to the four we stayed on the three past the airport to find ourselves crawling for kilometre after kilometre around the south of the city. There were roadworks at the Frankfurter Kreuz so we ended up to the east of the city before we could turn north.
What should have been an hour and a half tops took us almost three hours by which time tempers were getting a bit frayed. Even so, it was still too early to check in at our overnight so first stop was the venue, Speicher which occupies part of the Bahnhof. We'd barely got parked before our manager appeared looking quite smug.
"Hello, I thought you'd gone back to Bonn,” he greeted as we de-bussed.
I'm sure it was supposed to be a joke but it came across as more of an accusation.
"Traffic,” Stefan offered rather diplomatically.
"Well you're here now, get yourselves set up, the stage manager already has the lighting almost ready.”
Of course being the singer – and a girl, there isn't much I need to do, its not like I'm built for shifting sound gear about is it? Instead, us three girls checked out the venue and facilities. A lot of these re-purposed venues have space issues, things like artiste changing, even backstage toilets, Speicher is one of our smaller venues on this Tour, just 250 punters, it does have the latter but the whole band are sharing one changing room which means I get to change in the toilet or at our accomodation – there is no way I'm changing with five hairy men!
Back in the auditorium the guys were busy with amps and stuff, I spotted our manager sat halfway along the hall on his phone. Misty and Anna Louise were discussing something, what I couldn't tell you as I wasn't listening, instead waiting for Herr Silsman to look my way. My patience eventually paid off, I quickly pointed towards Mist and gave a thumbs up, he raised a hand in acknowledgement, never once breaking from his Handy conversation.
We were actually heading towards our transport before I got to actually talk to the Boss.
"Gaby.”
"Uh huh?”
"That matter we talked about? I'll talk to the other parties tonight.”
Bit cryptic but easy enough to decipher.
"Sure.”
"You wearing the minikleid tonight?”
Said he was a perv.
"Not decided yet,” which was partly true, I had decided that the black and white frock won't be making a second stage appearance any time soon!
"I'll see you later.”
"Uh huh.”
"What's it to be then?” Mist enquired as Little Jo drove us the couple of kilometres to our beds for the night across the town.
"What's what to be?”
"Dur, Perücke or you know?”
Okay, I'll admit it, I haven't given it a second's thought since we talked this morning, eeny, meanie, mynie, mo. I guess I do need to make a decision.
I took a deep breath, "I'll probably regret it, lets go for it.”
"Yes!” Miss uber vanilla did a little fist pump, "What's the worst that could happen?”
"I get stuck with pink hair for another half year?”
"But it makes you look so cu.”
I cut her off, "Don't you dare use the c word.”
"Well it does, makes you stand out from the crowd.”
"Maybe I don't want to stand out?”
Further discussion was interupted by Little Jo calling back, "You two getting off, Animal spotted a Kebab place we can eat at on the way back.”
Mention of food set my stomach rumbling, even if it is another takeaway experience.
"Coming!”
The accomodation for tonight was a motel type place directly next to an industrial park, the sort of place frequented by Rep's and other budget restricted travellers. Rooms are spartan but functional and a bit more spacious than the one Misty and I shared in Idstein. I heaved my case onto the bed to start unpacking.
"Leave that.”
"I need to sort out what I'm wearing for the gig.”
"That can wait, we need to sort your hair.”
"Now? Tonight?”
"Yes now – unless you want to wear a sweaty wig again?”
I couldn't really argue the logic, we've got barely two hours before we head back to the venue.
I sighed, "Whatever.”
"Wash your hair, just once, no conditioner,” Mist instructed.
"Eh?”
"Just do it Gab.”
"I'm doing it already.”
Thirty minutes later my tormentor emerged from the bathroom having seen to her own ablutions whilst my locks marinated in what looks to be a very intensely coloured creamy goop.
"How much longer?” I whined in query.
Mist found her Handy and checked the time, "About another five.”
"Really?”
"The instructions say twenty five, thirty minutes, less time, less colour.”
“'kay, oh by the way, Robert's gonna talk to the others about the singing thing later.”
"I'm still not sure about that.”
"Don't back out on me now.”
"I'm not going to, just don't expect too much.”
"Such as?”
"Well I've not exactly got a voice for those high notes have I?”
"Don't worry, we can work around stuff.”
"If you say so,” she checked the time again, "Okay, times up, put the gloves on then you need to rinse until the water is clear then use the sachet of conditioner, you thought what you're wearing?”
It took a good five minutes to wash the tint out, the water ran the most vivid shade you can imagine at first but eventually it reduced, through more pastel hues to just the barest hint of colour. Hair rinsed, I did the washing bit whilst I was in the shower, I didn't catch sight of the resulting hair tone until I was drying my locks.
"Eeek!”
"Gab, whats up?” Mist called from the other room.
"Its pink, my hair's pink!”
"Well duh, that was the idea,” she pointed out before appearing at the door, "It'll....oh boy.”
I had been expecting pink, I mean yeah, that was the whole point of the exercise, I hadn't been prepared for PINK. My previous pinkness was a sort of dark pastel shade which, to be fair, wasn't difficult to live with, this on the other hand. This however, how can I describe it, well think of the brightest pink Fuchsia then zap it with neon – and its on my head!
"What am I gonna do?”
"Do? Not wear pink?”
"Nen, I'm serious, I look like, I dunno what I look like, it was supposed to be Flamingo not Tron on acid.”
"Well I reckon we've got two choices.”
"Which are?” I prompted.
"One involves the dreaded wigs, the other doesn't.”
"I could shave my head.”
"Okay, three choices.”
"Nena!”
"Well whilst a headshave would get rid of the pink, I'm not sure you could pull off the whole bald look and its a bit overdramatic.”
"So what're the other options?”
"You could continue with the wigs until it washes out a bit.”
"If it washes out,” I put in.
"It will,” my friend assured.
"What's option three then?”
"You just own it, we can put your hair in braids or something which'll make it less in your face, well everyone elses face really.”
"And which one do you think I should do?”
"Try three, if you aren't happy we can still run with the wigs.”
What she said made a lot of sense, there was no point in taking it out on her, it might've been her idea but I agreed to it and its not her fault that the colour has turned out so, um, vivid.
"Lets do it then,” I sighed.
Maddy Bell © 19.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *6*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Pink Flamingo
The only person who clocked my new hair colour was Anna Louise who I joined in reception to wait for the lads, Misty having spent our 'free' time sorting me out was doing her own quick gig change.
"You've dyed your hair., its very, um, pink.”
"Yeah,” I allowed with a sigh, "The Perücke are okay but they get a bit warm.”
"I can imagine.”
"So how did you know, no one else has spotted it.”
"Simple really, there's no way you could style the wig how you've got it tonight, which I have to say, looks awesome.”
"Misty's work, I think she's a frustrated hairdresser,” I chuckled.
And indeed my flowing, er pinkness, has been thoroughly tamed, whilst its been braided and coiled before, this iteration is pretty ornate. It took best part of an hour to do, five scalp close braids run back from around my forehead to join the main body of hair at the crown of my head. At that point Mist made two more loose braids which have then been coiled into a cone, all held together firmly with a lot of grips and half a can of lacquer, add some artificial flowers that were lurking in the bottom of my vanity, et voila.
"Well it looks amazing,” Anna Louise suggested.
"I just hope it survives the night.”
My hair might be dressed to the nines but I'm not, yeah, I know what I said about the changing facilities at Speicher but if I change before we go I'll look a right noodle wherever we end up eating and I don't really want to get mayo or the like on my stage costume. Hair I can manage but the rest, well I prefer to not look like some rocker chick wet dream when I'm not on the stage. My compromise is to put on my underwear and hose for the show but travel in jeans, a sloppy sweatshirt and trainers, I'll don the dress and heels closer to show time.
Idstein had 'Popeye's', Bad Homburg has 'Bosporos Kebop', honest, thats what it says across the front of the shop. It's of a similar takeaway cum café arrangement, a bit smaller and with a shorter menu, 'kebops', fried chicken and pizza. To be honest I wasn't overly enthused by anything on offer, I could've murdered egg and chips but in the end I settled on the four piece chicken set meal with a side of 'barbi q' beans – I kid you not, these guys really need a language audit!
"Different look Erd,” Little Jo observed.
"Don't want to be called boring,” I told him between scarfing Pommes and fried chicken.
"No one could ever suggest that,” Animal stated.
"Away from this I'm just a simple management student.”
Little Jo assumed a deep voice, "By day she's a mild mannered student but by night she transforms into Erdbeer, rock vixen!”
That of course resulted in some laughter and broke my slightly gloomy mood.
"Give over.”
"Well that cheered her up anyway,” Mist told the assembled masses.
"Something up?” Stefan asked before tackling more of his 'kebop'.
"Not really.”
Mist butted in, "She was talking to Max earlier.”
"Problems?” Little Jo queried.
"Nah, just missing him.”
"Its only been five days Gab,” my 'friend' pointed out.
"So?”
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever.”
She's right of course, it is only a few days since I last saw him and we've been on the phone every day. In fact i've talked to Max more than my Rents, so its not so much missing him but hearing him all the way up in Rech, well sometimes a girl just needs a cuddle – not that I'm admitting that to the BlauHase collective, especially not in the Bosporos Kebop.
I think I mentioned that Speicher is actually in part of the Bad Homberg bahnhof complex, the auditorium is actually in the roofspace of the main building which is a bit weird to say the least. As a result the changing facilities and so on share the floor below along with the public bar and so on, there is a lift that we used taking the gear up this afternoon but this evening we'll be using the stairs cum fire escape. Why do I mention this? Well said stairway is quite steep, oh I'm sure it passes the regulations but heels and stairs, especially steep stairs, are never a great combination, add in a restrictive skirt...
But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself again.
We finished our meal and started walking, the Bosporos is only a street away from the bahnhof so the bus and our stuff is already at the venue. Of course most of our gear is already inside, there's really only my stage gear and Misty's box of makeup to go in so after the briefest of stops we were soon inside. I hadn't however expected the venue to be open yet, the support doesn't go on till eight thirty and here we are at not even half seven with a goodly crowd of 'music lovers' in a very open bar.
Why? Well the door was open and it seemed like an easier option than going around to the stage door and the back stairs. If everyone in the bar was here for the gig, there'll be some very surprised people in the audience, I'm not being ageist or any other sort of ist but there were some as old as my grandparents and wearing, well posh going out type stuff. Lets be honest here, BlauHase is best described as grunge punk metal with a bit of rock thrown in, our fans, that sounds good huh, our fans wear denim and leather and not a few studs through them as well as their clothes.
Anyhow, Anna Louise told us she was getting a drink so we left her in the bar and made our way to the artiste area where Robert was chatting to some suit.
"Here they are,” he announced spotting our arrival, "Bonn's finest, BlauHase, guys this is Arnold the events manager.
"Nice to meet you all, I heard you on Britta the other day, great set.”
Okay maybe I'm doing him a disservice calling him a suit but to be fair, he is wearing a shirt and jacket but his lower body is sheathed in denim.
"Nice to meet you Arnold,” Stefan offered a handshake, "You start early here eh?”
"Early?”
The rest of the band exchanged the greeting even as Stefan continued his conversation.
"Out in the bar, plenty of early arrivals.”
"Ah, got you,” Arnold allowed, "There might be a few but I think mostly they are folk meeting here before going on elsewhere.”
"That would explain the posh kleid and suits,” I chipped in.
"You must be Erdbeer, nice to meet you young lady,” Arnold offered me his hand.
"Please, its Gaby off stage.”
"Gaby it is then, so Robert was telling me that you are Radrennen Weltmeister?”
I gave our manager a look to which he just shrugged.
"Under eighteen road,” I admitted.
"I had a dabble in my youth, the mountain bikes, not that level of course but I did okay I guess.”
What are you supposed to say?
"I wasn't always the champion.”
"This, the music is a different direction for you.”
"Yeah, thought I should give it a go while I can.”
"So you have stopped the cycling?”
What is this, twenty questions?
"Hardly,” Mist opined from behind me, "She's got her bike at the hotel.”
"Thank you Misty, Dad insisted, i've got a race on Sunday on our day off.”
"You must be very wicked,” there was a glint in his eye, "To race even on Tour.”
I did the optical rolling thing, "Tell me about it.”
We finally escaped, the guys set off to get in a last soundcheck with the venues technician whilst me and Mist claimed the 'band room' to finish preparing the Ahrtal Diva, aka me.
Our support tonight is supplied by local band Freizeit, a four piece with Kraftwerk aspirations, well they don't have any guitars and even their drums are electric things. Its not really my thing, Electronic but they seemed to go down well with the audience. To be truthful, I haven't really heard the support at the previous venues, we've been tucked away until it was time for us to start but tonight, well those stairs.
I mentioned the stairs before and the heels and tight skirt, well its not any one of these that saw me backstage sort of listening to Freizeit, rather its the combination. So I'm reasonably practised in climbing stairs in heels but these are quite steep which means you need to step up more, which is fine except my outfit has a fairly tight skirt which means you can't take much more than pigeon steps. Thats okay on the level but throw in steep stairs, ut uh, not gonna happen.
I discovered this after getting changed, I thought i'd go take a look in the auditorium before things kicked off and got as far as the bottom tread. The solution was to free my thighs from their tight embrace by hoisting my skirts to my waist, there wasn't anyone about so that was fine. Coming back down was slow but at least I didn't need to do a lingerie show again.
Of course, when I told Misty, she thought it was hilarious.
"What am I gonna do when its time to go up? I'm not showing my underwear to everyone.”
"You did last night,” Mist replied soto voce before going on, "Use the lift?”
"Can't, weren't you listening earlier, according to the technician guy it makes too much noise so it can't be used during the gig. And I didn't know everyone could see.”
"Well only the first couple of rows.”
"Thank you, I feel so much better, tonight?”
"Get Little Jo to carry you up?”
"Not happening.”
Look he's a nice enough chap but I'm not being manhandled up a set of steep stairs by someone I don't know particularly well.
"Only other way is through the auditorium.”
Which is how I caught most of the Freizeit set. Of course, going up before things kicked off wouldn't've been right so I picked my way up the public stairs which are much shallower then had to wait for the lights to go down. A further wait until the audiences attention was on the music and I scuttled through the dark and slipped backstage.
It might be a smaller venue but the stagehands were pretty slick, Freizeit finished their set and, as there is no break tonight, the swap of instruments was undertaken in the half darkness of the unlit auditorium. A few people snuck out, I guess for the facilities or a quick tobacco break but we were ready to start in well under ten minutes. The interval track faded down as the rest of the band took their places on the stage, I got off the bar stool i'd been perched on and stood with Mist ready to make my own appearance.
A spotlight came on to the side of the stage illuminating a figure which turned out to be the manager chap, Arnold.
"So everyone, I know you enjoyed Freizeit but its time now for the main event. I had a quick chat with the band earlier, this is their first Tour, they usually play around their native Bonn but they've already made a mark here in Hesse with a brilliant set on Britta Bursche just yesterday. I'm sure you'll join me in giving a good Bad Homberg welcome to our headline act tonight, BLAUHASE!”
There might only be a couple of hundred peeps tonight but as the stage returned to darkness they gave a rousing cheer before settling back down.
A spotlight flashed on illuminating Little Jo then went out. The same but with Marcus highlighted then repeated until, still without a note played, all five musicians were illuminated. Animal started a slow beat, the others joined in with the baroque parody, exactly the same as at the previous shows.
The illumination then cut until just Animal was left, tapping out the beat for another couple of bars before stopping and the stage returned to full darkness. A sudden brightness swept the stage and when the individual spots re-lit I had taken my place as if by magic.
'Where the mountains meet the sea
And lights spit stains on the scenery
And the air is heavy with a sticky unease
I wish for my world of make believe
And the rebel in my soul says go'
And we were off.
'Oh Debora, oh Debora
Da da da da da da da
Deboree-deb n' deboree-de-bree-deb
Da da da da da da da
Na na na na na na na na na na
Shh'
The audience were enthusiastic to the last, as the last notes of the Bolan classic died I for one was high on adrenalin. Why did we play the Bolan? Not to be too much of a diva, we ran out of songs – well ones which we'd practised at least. An encore is pretty much expected of course but tonight the crowd were still baying for more when we finished our rehearsed set and we did do Debora on HR3.
"You changing here?” Mist enquired as I dabbed myself down with a towel, having manouevered the back stairs to the changing room.
"I'll do,” well we were only going back to the hotel, quicker I'm ready, quicker I get to bed right?
“'kay, I've already taken my box downstairs, I'll give the guys a hand if you're alright taking your stuff down?”
"Sure.”
I was just about to head out to the bus when Anna Louise appeared at the door.
"There you are, change of plan girl.”
"Oh?”
"There's a sort of after party in the bar, leave your stuff here.”
"I dunno.”
"Oh come on unless you want to sit in a cold bus?”
When its put like that what's a girl to do?
The Speicher's bar was buzzing with conversation over a soundtrack that sounded very much like that CD we cut after Bonn last year.
"Lets get you a drink,” Anna Louise enthused.
"Just lemonade,” I told her as I followed towards the bar.
"Erd! Over here,” Stefans voice called out.
A quick scan of the surrounding bodies located our lead guitar stood with that Arnold chap and a couple of others. I diverted in their direction and squeezed my way through the throng towards them. Even with my heels I'm barely a metre seventy so navigating through the crowd was more by dead reckoning than sight which is how I found myself approaching the group from the opposite direction having overshot.
"There you are, you got a drink?” Stefan asked waving his bier.
"Anna Louise's getting me one.”
Arnold leant over to be heard, "Great set, liked the Bolan at the end.”
"Its not usually in the set,” I told him.
"Here,” a glass was thrust into my hand, not sure by whom but I did need a drink.
I'm sure a lot of the conversation was just BS, I seemed to have the same exchange over and over as people came and went from the group. I must admit that I was no better, conversations about stuff I know nothing of with people I don't have a clue about. The only constant seemed to be my hand clutching a glass which never seemed to empty.
"Great party eh?” Misty suggested when we crossed paths in the ladies.
"Er yeah. I need to throw up.”
"You, Gaby Bond, are drunk,” she stated.
I waved the glass I was still clutching, “'s lemonade.”
Mist pulled the receptacle from my fingers and sniffed at the contents, "And vodka.”
At that point I made a dive for a sink where I was promptly sick.
"Nice,” Mist mentioned.
"Urgh.”
"Lets get you cleaned up.”
I've no idea what time we got back to the hotel, or indeed how, after losing my stomach contents, the glass was exchanged for a bottle of water and I was at least not feeling quite so woozy.
I was awoken far too soon after hitting the sack by my room mate flicking about.
"Ah, it lives”
"Time is it?”
"Just after eight,” she replied all too cheerfully.
"Urgh.”
"You got any more washing, I'm going with Anna Louise to the laundromat after breakfast.”
Maddy Bell © 23.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *7*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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A Clear Head
I dragged myself down to the breakfast room just after nine, Mist and Anna Louise long departed and only Stefan in evidence of the rest.
"Good night eh?”
"My drink was spiked,” I stated helping myself to coffee from the machine.
"Spiked? Drugs? You sure?”
"Well sort of, I suppose it was technically spiked,” I admitted.
"Now you have me confused.”
"Well I thought I was drinking lemonade.”
"But it had a kick eh?”
"Vodka apparently.”
"You okay?”
"Bit hung over, i'll live.”
I sat myself opposite our frontman before going on.
"I was thinking.”
"Ot oh.”
"Ha ha, seriously, is it okay if I ride to this Bad Nauheim place today, I could really do with a ride, clear my head a bit and I'm supposed to be racing on Sunday.”
"Can't see why not, I'm not your keeper Erd. You okay finding your way?”
"I'll get a map on my Handy before I set off.”
"Changing the subject, i'm glad we're here on our own, Robert spoke to you about this backing singer thing?”
"I'm listening,” I advised having slipped over to the buffet to grab some food stuff.
"Well I'm game to give it a try if your friend is up for it.”
"What about the others?”
"She won't be in the band as such so its not stepping on anyones toes.”
Well it didn't answer my question but I sensed it was all I was gonna get. I finished raiding the food and returned to the table.
"When do we start her?”
"Robert is keen to do it as soon as,” Stefan observed.
"He said the same to me but she'll need some practice and we need to decide where she'll come in and stuff,” I pointed out.
"Hmm, you're right of course, you think Freitag is too soon?”
"We can try I guess.”
"Okay, I'll speak to Robert, we can try a run through later.”
"Sounds like a plan,” I agreed, loading my Brötchen with cheese, ham, tomato and lettuce.
"You want more coffee?” he offered.
"Please,” I allowed, "So you were talking to that Arnold bloke a lot last night?”
"Yeah, he's a good bloke, used to be in a band like twenty years ago.”
"Before I was born.”
"Anyway, they have a sort of festival thing later in the year, he's keen for us to take part.”
"Like Moselfest?”
"I don't think its as big as that but it is outside in some park place.”
"Cool.”
Well Moselfest was pretty good and what's not to like with a festival? My mind went off on a holiday, back to the exchange visit with the Americans
"That Sheryl Crow,” Mad whispered in my ear.
"Shush,” Brit put her finger to her lips.
Miz Crow did a few older tracks including ‘My Favorite Mistake’ before she launched into "Some tracks from my new album”. So we got ‘C’mon C’mon’ followed by ‘Abilene’, ‘Hole in My Pocket’ and ‘Weather Channel’. We were boogying along on the floor quite happily. The only downside was the annoying cameraman who kept getting in the way, I think he was even starting to annoy Sheryl because she kept giving him dirty looks. It was confirmed when after ‘Weather Channel’, she stopped for a moment.
"You American?”
"Yes, Ma’am, we’re on an exchange trip,” Brit supplied, this conversation was doing nothing for my embarrassment as the whole tent was straining to see who she was talking to.
"Nice to see you here in Leeds, she started picking at the chords, "This one is for my young friends down here, it’s called ‘Lucky Kid’ and she started to sing:
‘I want to take you down to the river,
I want to wash the blood from your hands,
I want to make you see,
You belong to me…’
The crowd went wild at the end, she did another couple of tracks before ending the set with another ‘oldie’, ‘Oh Marie’. Well it was inevitable there would be an encore, the crowd kept whistling and cheering for a good couple of minutes before Miz Crow returned to the stage. First we got a moving rendition of ‘Sweet Rosalyn’ then the grand finale was an enthusiastic and crowd assisted ‘Steve McQueen’.
"That was brill,” Mad enthused.
"Erd?”
"Hmm?”
"Coffee?” he pointed to the fresh container of caffeine by my plate.
"Oh right, thanks.”
"Max?”
"Um?”
"You had a faraway look just then.”
"No not Max, I was just remembering the first festival I went to.”
"Oh?”
"We had one of those school exchange things, Americans, we ended up at Leeds Festival, up in Yorkshire.”
"Yowkshire?”
"Near where I used to live in England.”
"Ah, so this Leeds Festival, it was good?”
"Yeah, saw the Chilli Peppers, Sheryl Crow.”
"You didn't sing with them?”
"Be daft, I was like thirteen.”
"And you were sixteen when you first joined BlauHase,” he stated.
"A lot has happened since Leeds.”
Yep, a lot indeed.
"So I'll see you in a couple of hours,” well that was my guestimate of my ride time to this Bad Nauheim place after perusing my road atlas.
"Be careful,” Misty admonished as I clicked in and pushed off across the hotel car park.
"Always,” I called back, giving her a little wave, "Tschussie!”
"Tschuss!”
The weather was fine for the time of year, about fifteen degrees and whilst a bit grey, the RTF forecast suggested it could brighten up later. I learnt long ago to be prepared so whilst it was warm enough for short sleeves and shorts, there was a race cape in my pocket and arm warmers currently insulating my er, arms. Being my parents daughter, I had been paying attention on the drive from the Motel to Speicher yesterday so finding my way back into the centre of Bad Homberg was straightforward.
According to the map I needed the four five six to some place called Usingen, I spotted a sign as I approached the Stadtmitte, hung a right and started climbing. And climbing, not steep but a drag away from the Altstadt all the way to a set of traffic lights where I joined the main road. Not that it got any better or easier, indeed as urban was replaced by rural, the road tilted more steeply up into forest.
Even I was puffing a bit when I spotted a strange building ahead, I wasn't exactly going quickly so I was able to get a good neb, the sign by the roadside claimed it to be Roman – interesting, must remenber to tell Dad later. That however was trumped a minute later when another sign pointed off to the left to 'Saalburg Römer Kastell'. It was signed for a bike path to Usingen too, a quick glance behind, wait for the truck coming down the hill and over.
The roadway climbed away from the main road, although by the looks of it, it was the original road, there were a few bits of like, foundation type stuff in a bit of a clearing, so much for a castle. A school party were being herded away from the road and it was only as I watched the busily chatting group move away along a dirt roadway that I spotted another big sign and whoa! That is huge!
Yeah I know I'm supposed to be on a training ride but that doesn't mean I can't stop does it? There, about a hundred metres up the track was a big double gate and stretching away to either side, massive walls. A quick one eighty and a bit of 'cross took me up to what I'm guessing is the Saalburg.
Dad would love this, a real Roman fort, i've been dragged to enough remains to see that this is something different, The school party crossed the bridge and through the gate which gave me access to one of those information board things, you know, with a map and stuff. The map suggested it was complete including most of the buildings inside Dad would really like this, I got my Handy out and took a snap of the board and the gate and sent a quick text.
No time to dally now though, I re mounted and jounced back down to the tarmac and spotting a sign for the bike route to Usingen, headed up through the car parking to continue my journey. It was clearly the old main road, a bit overgrown but then I was directed off and over a bridge spanning the new four five six in its deep cutting. The bike path turned to parallel the road or so I thought.
I don't usually use bike routes as they often switch about a lot, if I'm training the roads are better for the job, the exception is along the Ahrtal, the bike track is well surfaced and can be quicker as it takes a more direct line along the valley. Anyhow, this path seemed fairly straight with decent tarmac which started to tilt downwards through the trees. And then it was tarmac no more, shitza, okay it was rideable even on the roadbike but it wa-a-s-s-n't v-e-ry co-m-mf-o-or-t-ab-le.
Do I stop and go back? At a guess that'd take a good fifteen - twenty minutes, this can't go that far can it? I slowly descended the track, crossing a couple of hikers huffing their way up.
"How far to the road?”
"S bout a kilometre.”
"Tha- a-nks.”
Well I'm commited, come on Gabs, just stay upright. There was a sign pointing to a 'Römerturm' off to the right and sure enough, there in the trees was the stump of a stone tower – bit of a weird place to put it. I jounced on down, eventually the track returned to a smoother surface and less gradient before chucking me out onto a road, a road that was clearly not the four five six.
Bum, bum and bum!
I pulled up the snap I took of my road map and tried to find where I was, there appeared to be a railway over the way so I must be about there! Phew, not so far off course and when I actually looked, the bike route was signed to my left for Usingen, left back up hill, grrrr. With a sigh I crossed over and started the climb however the bike route headed off on a flatter trajectory – what the heck.
It was a good packed surface until it reached a tarmaced lane, the signs then leading me through a couple of villages before running the last couple of K alongside the main road into Usingen. I pulled up by the main square to check where I'm headed next, the sign board suggested Bad Nauheim was seventeen kilometres away and whilst i'd been on the go for an hour, I only had eighteen showing on my computer.
Thirty five kilometres is a bit weak, Sunday will be about a hundred, I need a bit more really. Have you ever tried using a Handy to map read? Okay you can enlarge the image but then you can't see the bigger picture and as for scale, well good luck there. Obviously I don't know this area, well duh, instead I looked for a loop on the yellow roads, main roads but not Main roads if you know what I mean.
Yep, if I go along the four five six to Grävenwiesbach I can loop over to Bitzbach and drop down to Nauheim, should give me about an extra twenty K. I snarfed half of the banana I filched at breakfast and was about to set off when I spotted another bike route sign, direction Grävenwiesbach. The main road said it was nine point five kilometres, the bike route is twelve and I'm after more distance so there's some straight off.
Apparently this is part of the 'Hochtaunus Radweg', well that's what was on the sign as I left Usingen anyhow. I got myself into a good rhythm, the road dodging between woodland and pasture with a hint of uphill to a level crossing, the route then running the same direction as the railway to the next village and station at which point it was directly at my side. By now I was getting quite warm so I pulled my arm warmers down to my wrists, I'll stop in a bit and put them in a pocket.
There was a bit of a climb before the next station, the railway then diving away from the road, my route now on a single lane road. Of course I should've guessed it couldn't last, the sign said Grävenwhatever was a kilo away, the lane it pointed to was uphill and a dirt surface. In for a pfennig as Herr Thesing is wont to say, glad I'm not on my best bike.
After a couple of steep pitches I was in the village and helpfully at the crossroads with the four five six it was signposted for Waldsolms and Butzbach, yay. I paused long enough to stow the arm warmers then set off on what turned out to be a draggy climb through more trees. Up and up, down to my right I spotted what I'm guessing is the same railway apeing my ascent.
The rails and road came together and I rattled over another crossing by what looked to be the terminus station, least ways, trains don't go any further, a car park blocking any further travel. So engrossed in looking at the station and the railcar thing parked at the platform was I that I somehow missed my turn, not that I knew it. My suspicions were only raised when Butzbach didn't appear on the next junction sign, bugger.
A look at my one in five hundred thousand map, well it might as well be, didn't offer a lot of a clue to where I actually was, I guess its keep going until I see a sign. It was about four K further on that I picked up a sign giving me a clue, another look at the Handy suggested going next right would take me the right sort of direction, towards Giessen, I should get a sign for Butzbach off of that road.
I took the next right, it didn't say Giessen but that doesn't mean much. It was a nice wide road, sweeping down through the trees then up again before the trees gave way to fields and shortly after, a village called Oberkleen. I'm sure its on the map but I couldn't see it, nor was there anyone about to ask so I took a chance on staying on the same road.
Relief flowed through me when, at the next village about a K further on there was a sign for Butzbach, phew. To be honest I was getting a bit worried, one wrong turn and who knows where you might end up. By my earlier reckoning theres about twenty kilometres to get to Bad Nauheim from here, call it an hour, the others will be wondering where I am.
When I reached the busy main road I stopped and pulled out my Handy to find half a dozen missed calls and a text from Nena – maybe I should change that to Misty. Oh bum, trees, mountains(!), I bet there was no signal, I was only looking at a photo so I didn't notice.
'? r u trd 2 call M'
I rattled off a reply, 'got lost b Nheim 1std G'
A reply came straight back, 'k c u soon M'
Well thats the search party called off, now to follow through. The road didn't look appealling, a fairly constant stream of juggernauts along a two lane road, not my idea of fun. Clearly the local authority are of like mind, I turned onto the bike path and restarted my odyssey.
It was clearly gonna be one of those days, there was a diversion in Butzbach, some building work by the look of things, anyhow I managed to miss the turn again. The good news was that I picked up a signed bike route to my destination on the other side of the autobahn, yay ten kilometres to go. It was a good road and after the hustle of Butzbach, the lack of traffic lifted my spirits and I started to sing to myself.
"I want to ride my bicycle,
I want to ride my bike,
I want to ride my bicycle,
I want to ride it where I like...”
Well what else would it be but Queen's ode to riding velocipedes? My mood stayed bouyant the rest of the way to Bad Nauheim, now all I have to do is find the Villa Maria, our accomodation in the town. I had the address and the directions Stefan gave me but neither are much use without a suitable map to get orientated with.
A sign for tourist information caught my eye, that'll do. Under the railway then past some fancy palacy type place, the tourist office was in a sort of mini mall at the edge of a big park, opposite what appeared to be the main town. There wasn't a map outside but the woman inside was very helpful and armed with my destination marked with an X on a town map, I remounted to find the rest of BlauHase.
I'm guessing you won't have heard of Bad Nauheim, I certainly hadn't before the Tour, they are just a list of names so I was a bit taken aback as I made my way through the town. First one, then two, three, four, huge wooden structures stood within the parks and villas by the river, the last even has a windmill on it. I've seen one of these before of course, last summer on our camping holiday, there was one of these 'gradierwerk' in Bad Durkheim.
I turned alongside Number III and found Kurstraße and a few metres along it, the Villa Maria. It was clearly the right place, as I turned into the drive my presence was detected.
"We were about to send out the search parties,” Little Jo told me from his seat on the patio thing.
"Yeah, sorry about that, I got a bit lost and there wasn't any signal for the Handy.”
"No signal? where were you?” Marcus queried.
"Which bit of lost don't you understand,” Anna Louise admonished her boyfriend.
I eyed the drinks on the table, "How does a girl get a drink around here?”
"Mist is fetching you one,” Stefan grinned, "We saw you across the park.”
Maddy Bell © 24.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *8*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Bad Time
"Well I'm gonna get changed,” I announced.
In the thirty minutes or so since I arrived at the Villa Maria i've drunk what must be a litre of Peach iced tea and regaled anyone who was within range with my tale of Gaby the explorer. What I haven't had is anything to eat since that banana a couple of hours ago, my stomach was complaining but it'll have to wait a bit longer.
I followed Mist into the house, for that is really what it is, according to my guide, the owners live in the two lower floors, guests get to climb past the considerable clutter of a young family to the bedrooms above. Our accomodation was almost polar opposite to the rest of the cluttered building, a veritable oasis of tidyness although there was no disguising that the 'en suite' had been shoehorned into a none too generous bedroom. Not that I'm complaining, it wasn't like I needed to swing a cat in the bathroom or would be spending much time in there is it?
"Stefan's worked out what I'm gonna be doing,” Mist advised as I dried myself after my pit stop fast shower.
"Oh?”
"He said we could give it a dry run at the venue later.”
"That sounds like a plan, can you chuck me that BH over.”
My under garment was launched the short distance across the room, I quickly exchanged towel for bra while Mist continued.
"Can we run through them this afternoon?”
"Here?”
"We could go sit in the park,” she offered.
"Have you lot eaten?”
"There was a Kabin when we came off the autobahn.”
"Well I need some food.”
"There was a REWA the other side of the park, I saw it on the way in.”
Not my first choice but I suppose I can get some snacks to tide me over to dinner.
“'kay, guess that'll work.”
Whilst the park was literally across the road from the Villa Maria, an iron railing prevents direct ingress from Kurstraße so the pair of us, me in a T and denim skirt, Mist in her new signature Gothy fishnet based outfit, headed for the end of Gradierwerk III where we could see a path leading down to the river, apparently this supermarket is behind the trees on the far side. The sun was making an appearance which lifted the c's a bit and even if its not hot, it was warm enough to, well feel warm.
"You're gonna get some weird tan lines.”
"Says the girl in the Panda suit.”
"Panda suit?”
I'll admit it, its a sort of industrial hazzard for Radrennen, you get a nice tan on the exposed bits but with a hard edge where shorts and jersey sleeves stop. Its not such an issue for the men but delicate flowers like me, well its not a great look okay? One thing's for sure, my chances of pulling off the whole pale Goth thing are small – unless I buy sunblock in industrial quantities!
“'s not as big as that one last year,” Mist stated as we walk alongside the Gradierwerk.
"But that was only one, there's a bunch of them here,” I pointed out.
"What's the point, why did people come?”
"Do, I passed like three spa hotel places when I came through.”
"Okay, why do people come smarty pants?”
I blew her a raspberry.
I shrugged, "Dunno, guess its like going to the coast or the mountains for the air or something.”
"Hmmm, I suppose thats why Claudia was in that clinic in the Schwarzwald, not that I did any good.”
What can you say, from what I know, Claud's MS was always gonna have a similar outcome, just a matter of when. Maybe the long clinic stays extended her life, maybe not, whichever it was her death came far too soon.
"Is that a café behind those trees?”
"Looks like it,” Mist agreed.
There were certainly several big table umbrellas and as we got a bit closer we could see tables, chairs and a smattering of patrons, a Tchibo board a bit further along the path suggested they serve reasonable coffee.
"Take a look?” I suggested.
"Sure.”
The Café am Ludwigsbrunnen looked like a typical example of a park café, some tables adjacent to a Fachwerk building where the kitchen and indoor seating reside. There was a temporary servery up against the rear of the building with an Eis freezer which suggested the place gets busy. However early afternoon on a weekday, I know from experience, is often a bit quieter, there were plenty of free tables and I could see someone with a bowl of soup. Guess we'll be passing on the REWE then.
As we'll be eating later I settled for Gulaschsuppe – there may well be a slice of torte afterwards, Mist, having already eaten, just had the coffee.
"So,” I started between spoonfuls of soup, "Which numbers you joining in with?”
She dug out a scrap of paper from a pocket in those short shorts and passed it over.
"Its mostly on the softer stuff.”
"Yeah, be a bit pointless on the shouty stuff,” I mentioned.
Whilst I get the idea, I'm still not clear how this will work out, not just the singing but Mist being BlauHase plus one.
Forty minutes later my hunger was sated, yep we both succumbed to more coffee with a goodly slice of cake, Apfel strudel for Mist and some concoction with cream, strawberries and grated chocolate for me. What? I ended up riding the thick end of a hundred kilometres this morning, a girl needs to restock her energy levels. Anyhow we decided to walk up through the park, its a nice afternoon and we don't need to be anywhere for a while.
The elephant was still of course Mist's new singing career and our stroll became a bit of an Acapella run through the songs Stefan had suggested for 'treatment'. We got a few bemused looks, two girls walking along singing away but it proved useful as we each got a bit of a feel for how it was going to work. The public park ran out so we followed the finger post towards the Kurpark back along the road I used to get to the Villa earlier.
"What is an 'Inhalarium'?” Mist asked.
"A what?”
She pointed across the road, "Over there.”
"Looks like a small gradier thingy.”
Curiosity got the better of us so we crossed over for a look. Well my idea about taking the air earlier was sort of right, whilst a lot of the wellbeing 'Kliniks' concentrate on the sitting in and drinking the local waters, this place, Gradierwerk II, you walk through to breath the 'ionised' air, a light mist from the water dripping through the construction. For a few euros you can get wet and clear your airways at the same time, we passed on the opportunity, heading on towards the little shopping arcade where the tourist office is.
Mist was keen to do a bit of tourist shopping so we found ourselves checking out the wares in several of the shops. It was only in the third of these that I realised that some of the bemused looks as we sang through the park were most likely due to my shock of pink hair. Okay, I hadn't exactly forgotten about it but I hadn't really given it any thought other tyeing it up before we came out.
Of course, having now seen myself in the mirrors of this fancy gift shop I became very self conscious.
Outside I ggot a bit agitated, "I need a hat.”
"A hat? What for?”
"Dur, hair, pink,” I tugged at my ponytail, "I look like a match!”
Of course that just set Misty off, "A pretty match.”
"You aren't helping.”
"Soz, I suppose you are quite striking. See what I did, match, striking?”
She couldn't keep a straight face.
"Ne-en!” I whined.
"Okay, okay, we'll find you a hat, that shop over there looks promising.”
I'm not a hat person, bike and mofa helmets excepted but other than a bobble hat in the winter its not something I wear. Oh okay, i've worn something at weddings too but that isn't what I need now, I'm thinking sun hat maybe? We got some funny looks from the staff in the accessory shop, the semi Goth and the pink haired midget, they didn't have much to choose from but beggars and all that.
"Better?” my companion asked as we walked into the Kurpark past a swish looking tennis club.
"It'll do.”
The good news was that my new titfer was quite comfortable and did a fair job of hiding my Flamingo hued locks. Not quite so good is the decoration around the band, a sort of string of tiny, brightly coloured silk flowers with a bigger daisy on one side. Rock and roll it isn't.
"They're well into Elvis Presley around here,” Misty observed as we passed about the tenth poster advertising an Elvis festival in the town.
"Yeah there was loads of stuff in that first shop we went in.”
"Maybe the owners are big fans,” Mist hypothesised.
"I wonder what you do at an Elvis festival?”
"Elvis karaoke?”
"I'd be no good, I don't know any, not to sing.”
"Guess BlauHase won't be getting an invite then.”
"Can you imagine Little Jo dressed as Elvis?”
"Animal,” Mist countered.
Well that had us in hysterics.
"I need a drink,” I managed to get out having calmed down a bit.
"Looks like a kabin over there.”
Unlike the Café am Ludwigsbrunnen earlier which is quite small, the Schweizer Milchhäuschen is a fairly sizeable establishment although similar in what they offer – not that I was thinking of food, well not really.
"I fancy eis,” Mist opined.
Actually that was quite appealing especially when she offered to pay. I opted for a double scoop, one each of pistachio and coconut, why can't you get these flavours in the supermarket? Time was getting on so rather than sit we walked on, out of the Kurpark and into the Sprudelhof next door which, according to the info board used to be a fancy treatment spa.
I took a few snaps on my Handy to show Dad at the weekend then we started our return to the Villa Maria. We got back to the tourist information, crossed the road to go back the way we had come.
"Kurstraße? Isn't that the road our digs are on?”
"Yeah,” I confirmed, "Guess we can follow it straight there.”
"Save going all through that other park.”
"Works for me.”
We'd been walking a couple of minutes before the nagging in my grey matter bubbled into some cohesive thought. Why, when I stopped at the tourist office earlier for directions, didn't she direct me along here, I mean its dead opposite the office? Not that the directions were difficult but cross the road and go straight would've been a lot easier and quicker.
The answer to that came just metres further on, the two way road becoming one way in the wrong direction. Okay, not gonna work in a car but there is a contraflow bike lane so I could've got through. Except, well the road was actually closed completely a couple of hundred metres after the Post Office and I mean completely, big gates and stuff and beyond a sizeable construction site.
"Where now?” my companion queried.
"Guess we have to go back and around.”
"Maybe not,” Mist enthused, "There's a diversion down there.”
'There' was a side road at the bottom of which was a gate and an 'Umleitung Fußgang' sign pointing off to the right. It was actually the same park we'd walked through earlier, I recognised the fountain thing a little down slope of where we entered. The diversion obviously followed the footpaths but having spotted the next sign was pointing back up towards the 'top' of the park we cut across the grass to join it further up.
The city fathers had clearly decided that mamon was more important than green space, the huge new old peoples complex has taken a big bite out of the park. To stay in the park we'd end up going almost down to the gradierwerk again so instead we followed the diversion back up to Kurstraße. It didn't take long to walk along past the 'Seniorenresidenz im Park' and we were back at Villa Maria.
"We thought you'd got lost again,” Marcus suggested.
It didn't look like the rest of our party had moved from the patio all afternoon.
"Ha, ha.”
"We've been on the tourist trail,” Mist told them.
"And working on Mist's singing,” I added.
"And?” Little Jo requested.
"Eh?”
"How did it go?” Stefan prompted.
"Pretty good I think, Mist?”
She shrugged, "Well birds didn't fall from the sky and the milk didn't curdle.”
Little Jo chuckled, who knew that Nena Fischer could crack jokes or perhaps its only Misty that can do that?
"Did you know that they have an Elvis Presley fetish here?” I threw in.
"Wasn't he stationed somewhere around here?” Little Jo put in.
"Elvis Presley was here?” Mist queried.
"For his National Service,” Stefan mentioned, "I thought everyone knew that.”
"Duh, before our time Stefan.”
"Mine too,” he returned, "But its well known.”
"Certainly explains the fixation in those shops,” Mist allowed, "They probably have fans come to visit like his house in America, Grayplatz.”
"Graceland,” several voices corrected.
"Just checking,” Mist snickered.
"So what's the crack for the evening?”
"Find somewhere to eat, Robert's meeting us at the venue at seven, we can run through the tracks for Mist once we're set up.”
“'kay.”
"Best get a move on then,” Anna Louise proposed, "Its quarter to five now.”
"Come on Erd, time to change you from frosch to Prinzessin.”
"Cheeky moo!”
Jeez, where did the time go. I suppose the extended bike ride did bite into the day, a late lunch and the walk to the Kurpark has eaten up the rest.
"I hope tonights venue isn't all stairs again.”
"Think Stefan said its at the Eisstadion.”
"That'll be cool.”
"Really Gab?”
"A girl has to try,” I offered in defense of my poor attempt at humour.
"Which outfit you wearing tonight? They all went through the wash but they might need an iron.”
I mentally went through the options and started to regret not having thought of the practicalities a bit more when I put the costumes together. Its not so much the frills and flounces as much as how hot and sticky I get, the lack of wig certainly helped last night but even so.
"You wearing those shorts tonight?”
"Was going to,” Mist confirmed, "Why?”
"I was thinking of trying a different look tonight.”
"And you thought my shorts? I didn't think you liked showing so much er leg?”
"Its for the gig, not walking around the town. So?”
"I suppose I could wear something else, so what'll you wear on top?”
What indeed, the whole idea of having the stage costumes was to avoid this sort of procrastination, but here I am, worrying about wardrobe choices just the same. Well I could wear that and that, or maybe – no that wouldn't work with the shorts, so maybe....
By the time we were ready to leave I had tried several variations on a theme, I'll actually dress when we get there of course – well except for my underwear. Mist knew what we were going to do with my hair but I am not walking the streets like that. No, I think I looked quite demure when we left the 'Maria', my hair in two low ponies and me wearing a summer frock with a cardigan – very Sandra Dee apart from my pink tresses.
Maddy Bell © 28.01.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *9*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Eis, Eis, Baby
There is no shortage of dining possibilities in Bad Nauheim, even on our short walk we must have seen at least a dozen assorted food outlets. Of course we don't have either the time or budget for anything posh and our Eisstadium gig is hardly in the town centre so, with some directions from our hosts at the Villa Maria we set off for the 'wrong' side of town. Not wrong so much as the industrial and retail zone which I rode through earlier on my way into the town – you know the sort of thing, trade outlets, car dealers, bed shops and a drive through Burger King®.
Yeah, I know, bit of a cliché but that's where Little Jo turned into, not that we were doing drive-thru, he parked the bus and our motley crew trooped inside. I like a burger as much as the next girl but, to be honest, its not my first choice of pre singing food and unlike MD's, there isn't much alternative on the menu. Eventually I decided on a Chicken Royale Menu, a bit lighter and perhaps healthier than the burger options and it comes with salad – well a slice of tomato and a scraggy bit of lettuce.
"You okay Erd?” Stefan enquired from along the table.
"Fine, why'd you ask?”
"Well your food doesn't usually stand a chance.”
I looked down at my food, most of the Pommes tipped into the lid of the card burger box, my half eaten chicken burger looking forlorn in its bed of mayo and soggy burger roll. Appetising it wasn't.
"I didn't have lunch 'till late.”
"Doesn't usually bother you,” Mist opined.
"Yeah well, we did have cake and ice cream afterwards.”
I was making excuses really, the standing joke amongst my friends is that I'm on a 'see food' diet, if I see food I'll eat it, but this evening... I picked at a few more Frites for appearance sake before pushing the remains away.
"Mind if I?” Big Jo asked.
"Be my guest.”
"Well I never thought i'd see the day,” Mist stated.
"Ha, har, I'm just not that hungry.”
"If you say so.”
Oh well, there was no turning back now, Big Jo was making short work of my burger and several hands had reduced the fries to a few scraps.
The Eisstadium reminded me of the new one they built back in Sheffield although here there is only one rink but there is a multi sport hall in the complex too. We'll be playing in there right? Oh no, when we got there, Robert took us through to the actual ice arena which had been 'converted' to a music venue.
Hockey barriers still surrounded the rink but the ice was covered with some sort of decking and where one of the goals would be was a stage built of that aluminium scaffold stuff.
"What do you think?” Robert queried as we took it in, "Bit bigger than last night eh?”
"A lot,” Marcus agreed, ”how many?”
"Well its licensed for twelve hundred, I just spoke to the office, they've sold about half that.”
"That's pretty good,” Animal chipped in.
"The manager says they expect some walk ups too,” our manager advised.
"Well I guess we'd better get the gear in,” Stefan suggested.
"Go to reception, they'll get some of their people to give you a hand.”
The guys set off to get the gear, Mist and I were about to follow, not that we have much to fetch in.
"Gaby, er Misty, a moment please?”
"Er sure, what's up?”
"How is the um, project going?”
"I think we're getting there, right Mist?”
"I guess,” she agreed.
"We went through most of it this afternoon, we're gonna try it out during the sound check tonight.”
"Okay, I look forward to seeing that.”
"What did he mean by that?” Mist worried as we headed out to get our gear.
"Mean?”
"He said he was looking forward to it.”
I rolled my seeing gear, "He just wants to know how its going, stop over thinking things.”
"Not sure if I can do it, with the band and stuff.”
"You'll be fine, trust me.”
"Napoleon's generals told him that before Waterloo and look how that turned out.”
Napoleon? "What are you on about?”
"Nothing.”
Of course, nothing is as straightforward as you think, it took fully ten minutes just to decide where Mist would stand, we settled on a spot between Marcus and Big Jo. Actually it made a lot of sense as thats where I spend my time when Stefan takes centre stage for the shouties. With that settled we ran through a few numbers for levels and balance as usual – well I usually sit most of it out but this evening I got a bit more involved as Mist added her voice to proceedings.
"Just tell me straight Gab, I sucked didn't I?”
"No.”
"We did that intro four times,” she almost wailed as we made our way to the locker room designated for the female artistes. I say artistes, our support tonight are a local all girl five piece, Badhaus, who at least don't play that electronic stuff, indeed from what I could now hear from the rink behind us, they were more thrash metal than anything else.
"Stefan always fusses on the timing of that one.”
"And I knocked the microphone over.”
"Coulda happened to anyone, you were fine, trust me.”
Okay, fine is perhaps stretching things but it was mostly nerves, once singing she relaxed, and seriously, that mic stand can fall over on its own which is why its a spare. It wasn't just Mist, the bigger space affects the sound too, there's a slight echo which, if you let it, could be quite distracting. Yeah, there are a few edges to work out but I think BlauHase plus one will be ready for the weekend.
Badhaus' set had gone down quite well as you might expect given they are local. I know BlauHase do some shouty numbers but I'm never quite convinced when its women doing it, not that I'm a huge fan of the style anyway. We do at least mix things up with some more Prog Punk style stuff but the girls – they must get very sore throats with all that yelling.
But now it's time for the main attraction, the pride of Bonn, BlauHase! I stood with Mist in the darkness, I'm sure I can feel the cold from the ice through the soles of my boots despite the decking, our rock baroque intro already as far through as Big Jo. According to Marcus its actually real classical music, obviously given a bit of a twist but its apparently something like the second movement of the third symphony by Bach or something like that, I wasn't really paying attention.
Animal tapped out the last couple of bars before stopping, the stage returning to full darkness, time for Erdbeer to make her entrance. I tugged at Mist's shorts, well they barely cover my knickers, checked my mic was switched on and stepped out onto the stage, when the individual spot lightss re-lit I had appeared as if by magic.
'Where the mountains meet the sea....'
And we were off.
Krieg auf Düren, Die Rhenish Mädchen, even if they were unfamiliar with the songs the audience seemed to be enjoying the set and I was as lost in the music as anyone. You get a good night if you come to one of these gigs, thirty minutes of the support then ninety minutes from us, forty five then a fifteen break before a thirty minute-ish second half, all in all about two and a half hours. Before the Tour, when i've joined the lads for a gig its been exhausting even doing a shorter set but we seem to have settled into a level of exertion that doesn't leave you at bonk level.
It felt like we'd hardly started before the lights descended for the break although I was only too grateful for the bottle of Sprite® Mist handed when I left the stage.
"Rockin' it out there tonight.”
"Maybe, its not so warm off stage.”
"It is an ice rink,” my friend observed from the comfort of her jacket.
I gave a shiver, "Hope its warmer in the changing room.”
Out on stage, i'd been plenty warm enough despite the brevity of my outfit. It wasn't the tiny shorts, I did have fishnets on under them, no it was my top half, just a BH with a cut off tee, the slash neck falling open over my left shoulder. Looks pretty hard core rock chick but warm its not.
"I need a wee!”
"I didn't need to know that,” Mist called after me.
"That's better,” I allowed a couple of minutes later, "You got any food?”
"Should've eaten your burger.”
"I wasn't hungry then,” I told her pulling my cardigan over my shoulders.
"Hang on,” my girl friend dug into her backpack, "Here.”
I took the offered food, one of those Kinder® sandwich things, I can't stand them actually but beggars can't be choosers.
"Thanks, you're a life saver.”
"The rechnung is in the post.”
"Surprised the support band aren't still here,” I mentioned between sticky mouthfuls.
"Probably in the bar, they seem like nice girls.”
Maybe a few too many tats and holes for my liking, I swear that one on keyboards has more holes in her ears than the entire Bond household!
"You're probably right.”
"Erd, time!” Little Jo called from the region of the door.
"Coming,” I called back, "Can't keep my audience waiting.”
"Proper little diva tonight aren't we,” Mist smirked.
"Less of the little!” I replied before popping the last bit of my purloined snack into my maw and heading back towards the rink and the stage.
"Hold up,” Mist demanded as I strode towards the rest of the band, already or possibly still by the stage.
I spun around, no mean feat in these boots, "What?”
"You forgetting something?”
"Don't think so.”
"Think again blondie,” she waved my microphone at me.
"Just testing,” I told her.
"Hmph!”
The house lights dimmed and the chatter and buzz from in front of the stage died down. Time for part two.
"You going out in that?” the help enquired in a whisper.
"You sound like my Dad.”
"Seriously Gab, you keeping your cardi on?”
Dur! Okay, blonde as accused. I slipped it off and handed it to her before hurrying onto the stage to take my place.
A single bright pool of light came up, i'd only just made my mark in time.
"Welcome back Nauheim, hopefully you're ready for more?”
The expected cheer came back so I guess thats a yes.
"Before we return to the music, lets introduce you to the band, on bass, Big Jo!”
We do this every night of course, a spot lighting each member of the band as I introduced them, each playing a short riff on their instruments.
"And lastly, lead guitar and vocals, Stefan!”
Stefan did his bit then the lighting came up to reveal the whole band. Now it was time for our little comedic 'sketch' – what will we do when Mist is with us?
"So now we've been properly introduced...”
"Aren't you forgetting someone,” Stefan interrupted.
"Who have I missed?” as usual I made a show of counting them off on my fingers, "Big Jo, Marcus, Little Jo, Animal and you.”
"Anyone would think she was blonde,” Stefan told our audience, "You missed yourself Erd.”
"Oops”
That usually gets some audience laughter and tonight was no different.
"Well you'd best sing them a song to make up for it.”
I made a theatrical sigh, "If I must.”
"We insist,” Little Jo advised from behind me.
"Okay, but nothing too fast.”
"Fellas,” Stefan looked at the others who nodded back, "So folks, I give you our songbird, Erdbeere!”
The lighting dimmed leaving just me properly lit, the crowd settled again, the guys started to play and I to sing our cheesy part two intro.
'Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever'
As you'll recall, the second half of our set is shorter, thats largely to allow for the encore which of course is scripted as much as the rest of the gig – do you really think bands spontaneously do those extras at the end? Earlier Marcus had suggested we mix the encore repertoir up a bit, not the actual songs but their order. Tonight we'd settled on basically a reversal, swapping the Bolan from last and Balloons to last. Only time and the audience would tell if it worked but it made a change at least.
Finally it was time, I raised my arms and the noise receded to an exciteable buzz, "Okay, seeing as you've as youv'e been so kind to us tonight we'll leave you with one more. We've really enjoyed being here tonight, we hope you have too so sing along if you want, thank you for having us, Luftballons!“
'Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt'
It might be a cover, it might even be a cliché but the fans love it and didn't need a second invite to enthusiastically join me for the second verse.
'Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen'
"Hungry,” I stated having finally left the stage, our change in order had gone down well, too well perhaps as we ended up doing Balloons twice before they'd let us go.
"You had my cake earlier,” Mist reminded me.
"But I'm still famished,” I whined.
"There's a würst stall out in the car park,” Anna Louise advised having come back stage.
"How'd you know that?”
"They were out there setting up when I went for a smoke at the break.”
I've not seen her smoke much and by the look in her eyes it wasn't exclusively tobacco tonight. Don't say anything Gab, she's a grown woman, its not your concern.
"Anyone got any money?”
I'm not sure who gave me the twenty note, my main concern was filling my stomach!
Outside the crowd had largely dissipated but there were maybe a dozen or so around the brightly lit trailer from whence enticing aromas of fast food wafted towards me.
"You not a bit cold Fraulein?” the chap serving suggested as I shivered in front of his stall.
"I'll be fine,” well okay, it was a bit parky out here but food.
"So what'll it be?”
"Erm,” I was temporarily mesmerised, the chaps very full and bushy moustache seemed to dance under his nose, itself a rather large and ruddy component of his fleshy face.
"Pommes?”
Did I want fries? Yes, no, erm.
"Can I get the XL Currywürst with Pommes, with mayo, oh and a can of Lilt® please.”
Well I'm hungry okay.
"Coming right up,” Herr Moustache stated, dropping a basket of frites into the fat before i'd finished my sentence.
"Where've you been?” Mist demanded once i'd regained entry to the Eisstadium, a feat easier said than done. Of course, no one was in the locker room, instead i'd found the after party in the stadiums bar – where else.
I sort of waved my supper at her, my hands full of Brötchen, chopped sausage and potatoe sticks – to save everyone's embarrassment I won't tell you where the can of pop was but I don't have pockets in this get up!
"Ooo, Pommes!” she made a grab for a chip.
"Hey, keep off, mine.”
"Meany.”
Maddy Bell © 07.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *10*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Fame & Fortune
I've no idea what time we got to bed, I did manage to avoid the alcohol – well mostly, so I wasn't as wasted or ill as on previous occasions. I do remember us revisiting the BK – well the others had the munchies and I couldn't let them eat alone now could I? Anyway, when I did get to bed I was away in the land of nod in very short order.
"What day is it?” I queried having returned to consciousness.
"Thursday? Yeah I'm siure it's Thursday,” Mist advised from the other bed.
"You sure?”
"Niinety nine percent.”
"Urgh, I can't keep up with the day's,” I complained.
"Well the radio thing in Frankfurt was on Monday, yep, Thursday.”
I've sometimes had this in the long holidays, without some order to the days you lose all track of the days. I hadn't thought about actual days as in Monday, Tuesday since, well Monday I guess. Anyway, if today is Thursday that means three more gigs before we get a day off – I use that term loosely as Dad's got a race lined up for yours truly, yep, no rest for the wicked.
"Best get a move on I suppose,” Mist mentioned, "If you want some breakfast.”
"Whatever.”
Well I suppose at least coffee would be good, I'll decide on food once i've got my caffeine infusion.
Whilst the Villa Maria has a breakfast room its not exactly spacious and apart from the beverages, everything else was closely rationed. That's not neccesarily a bad thing but it does feel like a school trip, two pats of butter, a slice of cheese, one of ham, a thing of jam, two rolls, a pot of joghurt – you get the idea. The only other from our party eating was Anna Louise who looked more awake than I felt which is annoying because I know she was fairly wasted last night.
"Morning girls!”
Yeah, far too chipper.
"Morning, no one else about?” I enquired.
"If they are i've not seen them, you two okay this morning?”
"Tired more than anything,” I allowed.
"I don't want to see another Jägerbombe,” Mist groaned.
"You're supposed to be the sensible one,” I pointed out.
"I am.”
"Coulda fooled us eh Anna?”
"You were drinking a fair bit,” she agreed, "Mind you, the lads were doing a good job of drinking the bar dry.”
"Hang on, how did we get back here?” I asked with a hint of panic.
"Taxi, our bus is still at the Eisstadion.”
"I hope its safe.”
"Wait,” Mist interjected, "Does that mean we've got to walk there with all our bags?”
"You can walk, i've got my bike downstairs,” I crowed.
"Good point,” Anna Louise noted, "I'll finish this then try to find the keys and go fetch it, I don't think any of the others will be fit to drive until lunchtime.”
And so it proved, the first order of business when we departed the Villa Maria was a stop, on my recommendation, at the Café am Ludwigsbrunnen for copious amounts of coffee and a variety of 'late' breakfasts. I managed to add a nice lump of Streusel to my earlier repast, there really is nothing worse than watching others eat. It was clear however that none of the men were yet fit to drive so it was Anna Louise behind the wheel when we set off for the drive to our next gig all the way up in Kassel.
Kassel, I have at least been there before, there was that race that finished by that big statue thing, remember that? Of course, we didn't exactly have time for sightseeing then and I don't suppose we will this time either. Unlike yesterday, whilst not the other end of the country, the hundred and sixty or so kilometres is a bit far for me to ride so we were all stuffed in the bus for the two hour drive north.
The news from Robert this morning was kind of exciting, last night at the Eisstadion had been almost a sell out, if we keep this up we might actually make a few euros or at least break even. We'd been under no illusions before the Tour started and our manager had told us straight, our efforts over these two weeks were all about increasing our fan base who then, so the theory goes, buy the CD's and spread the word further. So our budget is quite tight, we stay in budget accomodation, drive ourselves around and hope that the punters come to see us, our appearance with Britta Bursche on Monday hasn't done us any harm at all.
So that's all good and he's sweet talked the manager of tonights venue, the Schauspielhaus in the town centre, to let us set up and practice this afternoon before going to our accomodation. Its not that we need to practice exactly but if Mist is gonna join us tomorrow we do need more than a quick run trhrough like we had last night. The drive up the autobahn was uneventful, a few roadworks where the Düsseldorf road joined just before Kassel but nothing to delay our arrival.
The Schauspielhaus is part of a complex of dirty concrete buildings not far from the Fulda, which forms a sort of cultural quarter of museums, galleries and State Theatre. All very posh, certainly a step up from an ice rink. Of course, we ended up driving around half the city centre to get there after missing the turn but we eventually got parked in the bus park over the road from the stage door.
'Lorelei, Lo-oralei,
Dooms her lovers with an icy grip,
Lorelei, Lo-oralei,
But they keep on coming,
Lured by the voice of,
Lorelei, Lo-oraleiiiiii.'
The last chords died away and the empty auditorium fell silent, well apart from the guys unloading beer somewhere behind the stage.
"Woo, smashing it or what,” Marcus offered with an extra swipe across his instruments strings.
"Not bad at all,” Little Jo agreed.
"Rob?” Stefan queried.
"I think they'll like it,” our manager beamed as he joined us on the stage, "Great sound ladies.”
Praise indeed. I don't mean to sound like an egotistical diva but I always thought Lorelei was Stefan's best non shouty contribution to the set and my solo rendition is, well sort of haunting. The extra layer of Misty's voice on the chorus has, I dunno, made the solo bits more, I dunno, stand out I suppose.
"What do you reckon Misty, you up for it tonight?” Stefan asked.
"But I thought... we said tomorrow, Gab?” a flustered Mist appealled.
"Sounded good to me.”
"But I still don't know all the words.”
"If it was Erd it would be an issue, I doubt if anyone out there would notice,” Stefan stated.
"Stefan's right,” Robert added, "No disrespect to the rest of you, but the fans will be focused on our pink haired song bird.”
"He's right,” Animal put in, "We provide the canvas that Erd and Stef decorate.”
"Very philosophic A,” Big Jo stated, "But true.”
"So Misty, you in?” Robert queried.
She hesitated a moment, "Guess so.”
"Good, now thats settled its,” he checked his watch, "Just coming up to five, you all need to eat and I'm sure the girls need some time to get ready so I suggest you go to the hotel, back here for a soundcheck at eight?”
We had to wait for Anna Louise who'd gone into the centrum while we practised, well she still had the bus keys. I reckon we could've walked quicker than driving, the Hotel Herkules being just a short way out of the shopping zone on Wilhelmshöher Allee, the long straight boulevard that connects the city centre with the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe below the Herkules monument some four kilometres away. Not that we will be doing any sightseeing – again but maybe I can get a short ride in in the morning.
The hotel was a bit of a surprise, quite big and looked fairly modern in a sort of angular concrete way. But looks can be deceiving, inside, whilst clean and bright it was clearly past its prime, scuffed paintwork, worn carpeting, lift buttons polished from use. The plaque behind reception claimed it was three star but i'd put it at the lower end of that rating.
"There's a restaurant,” Mist observed as we waited for our room keys.
"The restaurant opens in twenty minutes, they serve food until twenty two,” the receptionist advised, "Room four fifteen.”
"Er thanks,” I took the offered key, yep an actual key on one of those big round metal and rubber fob things. The unsolicited information about the eatery did however sow a germ of an idea.
"Guys?”
"What's up Erd,” Big Jo queried.
"What do you reckon to eating here tonight? It'd save time looking for somewhere.”
"I could do with something other than fast food,” Anna Louise stated.
There was a bit of shoulder shrugging and some non commital noises, men, they'd be happy eating burgers and pizza every meal.
I took the bull by the horns, "Thats settled then, eat here then we can go direct to the soundcheck.”
"You heard her fellas,” Stefan smirked, "Looks like we're eating here, six thirty?”
There being no dissent, we all headed to our rooms.
"What am I going to wear tonight?” a slightly panicked Misty demanded as we settled into four fifteen after lugging our bags to what felt like the furthest extremity of the hotel.
"Well I'm wearing my stage outfit.”
"Thought it was too warm?”
"It was, is, in the smaller venues, didn't you feel that cold draft across the stage earlier, I do not want to end up doing the toilet dance halfway through.”
"I can just see it now,” Mist grinned as she proceded to ape the 'wee shuffle'.
"You don't have to dress up, you could just wear like jeans and a top,” I suggested.
"As if!”
I shrugged, "Well I don't know then, I'm gonna get a quick shower.”
It was a quick shower too, virtually in and out and doing my best to keep my hair dry. When I returned to the main room my companion had the contents of her suitcase strewn across half the room and was still umming and aahing over what to wear for the gig.
"And I thought I was bad.”
"Its alright for you, you've done this before,” she snapped back.
"I think you're over thinking this.”
"You think?” was the sarcastic reply.
"Look, why don't you wear just your normal stuff, if you're thinking about what you're wearing you won't be concentrating on the singing and I no, we need you for this.”
"I can't just wear normal stuff.”
"Why not? The guys barely manage to put on a clean shirt.”
"I am not a man!” she huffed.
"Never said you were, tell you what, put this lot away, we'll sort it after dinner, I'm starving.”
"Ga-ab's,” was the whiny response, "Please?”
I guess its my turn to be dresser.
"Look, wear your shorts and,” I scooped up a random top, "This and wear your boots.”
Haute Couture its not but BlauHase is hardly a chamber orchestra either.
"What about my hair?”
"What about mine? I'm sure you'll figure something, now food?”
The Hotel Herkules' restaurant, as is often the case, had pretentions to grandeur, compared to the rest of the building the décor was in somewhat better fettle, real linen tableclothes, matching cutlery and the essential 'intimate' lighting. Of course, we were the last to arrive, the others already had drinks and were perusing the menu options.
"You two okay?” Anna Louise asked.
"Yeah, someone couldn't decide what she was wearing.”
"Sorted now?”
"Yeah,” I agreed picking up a menu.
"Drinks?” Stefan suggested already trying to get the attention of the wait staff.
"Just Sprite® for me.”
"Rum and coke,” Mist requested.
"You might want to go easy on that.”
"You're not my mother.”
Well that told me.
"I only meant you need a clear head on stage, guys?” I appealed to the rest of the band, "Support me?”
"She's right Mist, don't want to make a fool of yourself on stage,” Little Jo told her.
"But you all drink before,” she pointed out.
"Only a couple,” Animal stated, "Now after,” he finished with a wide grin.
"Not saying don't drink anything,” I put in, "Just in moderation?”
"Okay, I get it, rum & coke Stefan – without the rum.”
The menu was typical fare for a business hotel, nothing too fancy, well unless you count steak, but something for most tastes. It was of course a bit pricier than our recent evening meals but its not like its every night. Ironically it was Anna Louise who ordered pizza, personally I was tempted by the beef roulade but instead I settled on Wiener Schnitzel with boiled taters rather than Pommes.
I don't think i've ever had really bad food in a restaurant this side of the Channel, I can remember some appalling plates back in Blighty, dried up pies, lumpy gravy and egg and chips once floating in enough oil to service the car. No, if anything the quality is almost too perfectly uniform, everything is cooked fresh, you pretty much know what'll be on the plate. And then you sometimes get a bonus like tonight, the salad bar was included with everyones meal – I do like a good salad bar.
Of course, conversation, as you might expect centred around tonights gig, our newest 'member' and so on. I think everyone was trying to get Mist to relax but when we returned to our room afterwards, relaxed was the last thing she was. That started to get me worked up, what if it all goes wrong? I recommended her for the spot, will I get blamed if we bomb?
I needn't've worried, by the time we hit the stage Mist was in that calm place between hysterics and madness! Instead of the usual elaborate braids my hair was in a, for me, unusually loose, wavy do that took like five minutes, Misty on the other hand had spent most of the support acts set (a two piece with a style somewhere between Kraftwerk and Freddy Mercury) doing her own hair in an elaborate affair which I'll privately admit to making her look like a pineapple. As long as she's happy, thats all that mattered at that point.
It was a fairly lively crowd, a more cosmopolitan audience than the last few nights, probably as its a university town and they no doubt are exposed to a wider variety of musical styles. Whatever the reason, we got through the first half okay, I couldn't hear Mist that much but maybe thats the point. Anyhow, she was quite 'enthused' when we left the stage.
"Erd, a moment,” Stefan sort of whispered to me as we headed for the green room.
“'kay.”
Instead of following the others, Stefan led the way stairwell near the stage door.
"They seem a good crowd tonight,” I opined, "Lot of students.”
"Uh huh.”
"Mist seems to be doing okay?” I posed.
"Yep,” he replied flatly.
"Is there anything wrong? What'd I do?”
He took a breath, "No and nothing but we do have a little, er issue.”
"We do?”
"Misty, she's not actually part of BlauHase but it seems a bit, well wrong not to include her when you do the introduction after the break.”
"I guess, so what were you thinking?”
"We can get the lights guy to add an extra spot after one of us.”
I had a lightbulb moment, ding!
"No do it so she's first spot, I'll tell her to do some tonal stuff through the intros, going first won't put anyones nose out of joint.”
"You really aren't just a pretty face are you?”
"Don't tell anyone,” I chuckled.
"You're secret is safe with me. Come on, I need a drink before we go back on and I need to see that lighting guy.”
The break was over too soon, once again I found myself at the front of the stage in a single spotlit pool of light.
"Welcome back Kassel, are your ready for more?”
They were still in the building so it was really a given but it's always nice to be validated with some audience cheering.
"Before we return to the music, I think I need to introduce you to the band,” a second spotlight blinked on,” on backing vocals, Misty!”
Neither Stefan or I had told her what we were doing although the guys did have a heads up. Surprised as she was, Mist did manage to give a little wave although her oohing did falter for a moment or two. Then it was back to the usual, a spotlight lighting each member of the band as I introduced them, each playing a short riff.
"And lastly, lead guitar and vocals, Stefan!”
Did he add an extra riff tonight? anyway the lighting then revealed everyone on stage. Of course now we went into the little pantomime of introducing moi.
"So now we've been properly introduced...”
"Aren't you forgetting someone,” Stefan i put in.
"Who have I missed?” I asked before making a big show of counting them off on my fingers, "Misty, Big Jo, Marcus, Little Jo, Animal and you.”
"Anyone would think she was blonde,” Stefan hammed, "You missed yourself Erd.”
"Me?”
"Well you'd best sing them a song to make up for it.”
Tonights sigh was a bit more heartfelt than usual, "If I must.”
"We insist,” Little Jo advised.
"Okay, but nothing too fast.”
"What do you reckon Fellas?” Stefan queried looking about at the others who grinned back, "So folks, I give you our songbird, Erdbeere!”
The lighting dimmed around me and I waited until it was almost silent before giving Big Jo the nod, he plucked the first few chords and I started my warble.
'Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever'
I don't think any night that the audience know quite what to make of it but when I went into the second verse a moment later, the rest of BlauHase struck up to join in including Stefan and Mist on vocals.
'Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
Bless my homeland forever'
Maddy Bell © 11.02.2022
3110 words
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *11*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Long Live Rock'n'roll
"Good night Kassel!”
The lights went down and I gratefully exited the stage, the rest of our merry band of troupers following. Usually I'm greeted by Misty with a drink and a towel, I was momentarily discombobulated by her absence.
"Don't you ever do that to me again.”
"Sorry?”
"That introduction thing,” she scolded passing me the towel drink combo which she had clearly stowed at the edge of the stage earlier.
"Er thanks, it was Stefan's idea.”
Okay, so I was the one who suggested the order of play.
"Thought you'd be pleased to be included,” I mentioned, dabbing at my 'glowing' face and neck as we headed towards the changing room.
"Well yeah,” she admitted, "But you could've warned me.”
"There wasn't time, we only sorted it during the break.”
"Great job Mist,” Big Jo opined as he sidled past.
"Er thanks,” Mist allowed.
"What Jo said,” I added, "It sounded good from where I was.”
"I mucked up a few times and I was so nervous.”
I shrugged, "I doubt any of the audience noticed.”
"Party in the green room,” Robert called down the corridor.
I gave a a quick wave of acknowledgement. After party, yeah I know its traditional but to be honest I could do without it tonight, I think the cycle of travel, gig, party, sleep repeat is catching up with me. I don't know about race on Sunday, sleep is more like it. But first things first, lets get out of this stage costume – and these boots are killing tonight.
An hour later and I was yawning, a short interview with some guy from the local radio station. Making nice with with the usual stream of people Robert introduced me to, exchanging pleasantries with König Autobahn, tonights support act, that and the bottle of Krombacher® that I was nursing, standing was becoming a chore.
"You okay Erd?” Stefan enquired joining me where I was leant against the bar.
"Long day.”
"Yeah,” he agreed, "Not exactly nine to five.”
"Think anyone'd mind if I duck out, go back to the hotel?”
He looked around the room, "Go for it, you want someone to go with you?”
"Nah, I'll be fine, I can get a taxi.”
"Okay, if you're sure.”
"I'll just let Misty know, see you in the morning?”
"Yeah, take care.”
Compared to me, Mist was like a Duracell® bunny, her first night on stage with us clearly switched on her inner party diva. I smiled at the girls she was in audience with and tugged at her sleeve.
"Erd, how's it going? I was just telling the girls about Bad Homburg.”
"Great, can I borrow you for a minute?”
"Sure, be right back ladies.”
I tugged her to one side, "I'm calling it a night.”
Her face dropped a bit, "You want me to come?”
"No, no, I'll be fine, you enjoy yourself, its your big night afterall, I'll get a taxi, you got the key?”
"Left it at reception, didn't want to lose it.”
"I'll be off then.”
“'kay, see ya later.”
"Later,” I agreed but only if she wakes me up.
Outside of the Schauspielhaus, Kassel was desserted, well the theatre district at least which meant no taxis either, guess I'll have to walk up into the town a bit. I pulled my jacket a bit closer which is when I realised I was still gripping the half full beer bottle for some reason. Oh well, I took a sip and set off for the stadtmitte.
It wasn't far up to the dual carriageway which, at a bit after twenty three was almost traffic free. I skipped over at the junction, the pedestrian route was through a subway, I might be fearless but I don't want to tempt fate. On this side of the main road there was a bit more life, a few bars and restaurants exuded light onto the street, a few patrons gathered by doorways chatting, smoking and indeed drinking.
A bit further up where I could see a tram stop, there was a trailer exuding light and the tempting aromas of Pommes and würst. A rumbling tum had me reaching for my Handtasche which is when I realised that, like the room key, it was still at the Hotel Herkules. Shisa, no bag, no purse, no money, no taxi, I didn't even have my Handy, damn, damn, and double damn.
I inhaled a deep breath of fast food laden air and with a sigh continued up to what appeared to be the main shopping street. Well I could go back to the Schauspielhaus but by the time i've done that I reckon I could walk to the hotel, all I have to do is follow the tram line right? Just to be sure I checked the map thing at the tram stop, there wasn't any indication of scale but four stops along it was actually marked as Hotel Herkules, bingo.
And so I set off, clutching a beer bottle and teetering along on my heels. What I hear you say, didn't you take your boots off after the gig? Duh, of course I did but I only swapped them for my party heels – well I could hardly wear trainers to the after party, I'm short enough as it is and I wasn't expecting to be walking very far was I? Don't answer that, the good thing is that they are only ten centimetre heels and they are actually open sandals but they do go with anything.
Well anything except cobbles and long walks. The clack of my heels echoed back off the mostly dark glass facades of the shops, just a few lighting their windows, which allowed some small distraction. It didn't seem too far to the next tram stop, at this rate I'll be there in like ten minutes.
There were a few other pedestrians, couples mostly but as the bright lighting of the shopping zone fell behind I found myself alone on the street. The ker-dunk, ker-dunk of small wheels on pavement announced an approaching skateboarder, lost in his own little world of kerb jumps and tail whips. Of course, skateboards are like starlings, where there's one there will surely be more.
"Check her out.”
"Nice hair.”
Sugar. I couldn't tell how many of them there were, five, six maybe, they seemed to be constantly on the move.
"How much?”
"Gis a kiss.”
The comments came in a ballet of words, the riders, buzzing around me as I stood petrified on the pavement clutching the bottle and my coat as tightly as possible
"Wanna come to my place.”
"Your scraggy dump Arne.”
"Not what you said last week.”
"Leave me alone,” I squeaked.
"Leave me alone,” another one of their number mimicked.
Why didn't I go back to the venue? The barage of suggestions and proposals continued to flow around me and whilst none of them had actually touched me, this isn't going to end well. I closed my eyes and prayed that it'll be quick, fear getting the better of my bladder, I could feel a trickle of wee running down my leg.
"Polizei!”
My assailants broke away in a clatter of wheels the direction i'd come from.
"See you later princess!”
I remained rooted to the spot but opened my eyes in time to see the police car that had proven to be my saviour, drive past. Get out of here girl, they could come back. I set off at a trot, not easy in heeled sandals, the damp denim rubbing at every step but I kept going until a rise in the road as it turned a bend slowed my efforts. As I caught my breath, the adrenalin flow slowed too, Gaby you daft moo, what were you thinking?
The hill wasn't that big but in my current footwear I was glad to crest the top where the length of Wilhelmshöher Allee stretched away into the distance and just visible in the distance, the spotlit Herkules statue thingy. I could see the next tram stop just a couple of hundred metres further on but I couldn't identify my destination amongst the sea of streetlights and street furniture. At least its downhill from here.
My close encounter of the skateboard kind still had my blood up and despite increasingly sore feet and what felt like a developing sore down my inner thigh, I kept moving at a fast walk. The tram map had shown all the stops pretty much equidistant, the first couple had been but I swear it was best part of a kilometre before I spotted the lighted 'Hotel Herkules' on the end of a building still a decent sprint away. A quick check behind revealed not another soul on the street, just a tram setting off from that last stop, I guess i've made it.
The clock behind reception suggested it was ten past midnight, geez its taken me an hour to get here, I really should have gone back. Up in the bedroom I lost my shoes, jacket, top and bra and got in the shower, my jeans and knickers still intact, well I needed to wash the wee out anyway. Once clean I slathered the redness on my legs with E45 and had just turned out the light when the cacophony of people trying to be quite announced the return of the rest of BlauHase and my roommate in particular.
"You still awake?”
"Urgh.”
"Sorry,” Mist tried to whisper but being ever so slightly drunk it was more like a quiet shout.
"Mmm.”
"Why're your jeans in the dusche?”
"Accident.”
"I'll hang them out here, I need a shower.”
Great. So much for my early night, it could've been worse, at least she only had the bathroom light on, I turned over and never heard another thing.
Mist was gently snoring when I woke up, the soreness on my upper legs reminding me of last nights 'excitement'. Gab, you were so lucky, if that police car hadn't come along who knows what could've happened. But nothing did, do I say anything to Mist, the rest of the band, my parents? I can hear them now, in fact I probably wouldn't hear the end of it, well meaning advice, dictates and no doubt an outright ban on doing anything without a chaperone.
Okay, so I'm a country girl and I didn't really think about any potential dangers, lets face it, in Dernau the nearest thing to a mugging would be tripping over that fox that does the rounds each night. No, they'd only worry, best not say anything, lesson learnt, well lessons plural. I lay there a bit longer, it was a gnawing hunger that eventually got me from under the duvet.
"You off somewhere?” Anna Louise queried when she found me in the dining room.
The clue was in my cycling togs, well there was no point dressing to get changed straight after eating was there?
"Thought i'd get in a short ride before we leave.”
"Yeah, I'll get a run in I think, Misty still asleep?”
"When I came downstairs.”
"She certainly knows how to party.”
"She does?”
"Quite the party queen.”
"What did she do?”
"What didn't she do!”
Are we talking about the same girl, oh I know she's not afraid to have a drink but Nena has always been the quiet one of the Angels. Have I inadvertently unleashed a monster, all the sort of gothy business, the name, its like she's a schizophrenic.
"I probably don't want to know.”
"So you get your early night? Stefan said you were tired, getting a taxi back up.”
Need to know, "Er yeah.
I retrieved my bike from the lockup in the hotel's basement parking, I didn't intend going far but any ride is better than none. The morning commute traffic was past its worst, another thirty minutes and it'll be over. Of course, not being intimate with the roads around Kassel, I needed to stick to the basics which for me, this morning meant joining the traffic on Wilhelmshöher Allee heading out of the city past the ICE station.
After the first little dip the road started its long climb westward, punctuated at regular intervals by traffic lights of one sort or another. I only got stopped twice, both times for pedestrians and after I passed the university the traffic was noticeably much less. It was only when I reached the Wilhelmshöhe parklands and the palace that I really remembered my previous visit.
It felt like a lifetime ago, yeah, Manda had just arrived and the race here was her first for Apollinaris. So much has happened since then but in some ways, that day two years ago was a turning point. Yep, happy memories.
'brrrrrppppp!'
The car horn seemingly next to her left ear, broke her reverie and she returned her concentration to the road and the traffic heading to the car park. Of course the big difference this time was she could take the time to look about her, last time she'd been concentrating on the race, the impending rain and how she could take the win. Today there was no pressure, it was a bright, clear morning and she had fresh legs.
An idea came into her head, well okay, the kernel had been there when she set off but as the ribbon of tarmac twisted through the park it was settled. Obviously there was no lead car this morning but in Gab's head the red Opel she was matching speedwise was the lead car. The hillside loomed, the huge hilltop figure was lost to sight, the Opel took the car park turn, around the bend will be the bus turn and the end of the public road.
And there it was, the narrow, almost tunnel that leads up to the top, a quick tap of the gear change and the Pinarello made the transition from the smooth tarmac to the cobbled track. It was all or nothing in the race but this morning she settled into a comfortable cadence and enjoyed the climb. There were occasional glances down towards Kassel city but then, seemingly too quickly, the view was up to the monument across the rock gardens.
The gradient eased, the surface changed to a lumpy tarmac and up here, a few dog walkers and other pedestrians required a few verbal warnings and avoidance moves. The chicane thing wasn't here last time but once through it was effectively the top. She turned across the front of the towering colosass, stopping almost dead centre to take in the view.
Down below, the traffic was reduced to ant sized blobs, the full length of Wilhelmshöher Allee could be seen, is that white building the hotel? She checked her computer, just over thirty minutes to get here, plenty of time left to do the lap and get back. A quick slurp from the bidon then she was clipped back in and retracing around the monument to reach the road.
Now then, along to the end then keep going right? Clear of the city, the big climb behind her, the day, the riding felt like a cure for all ills. But nothing lasts.
Pssst, pssst, pssst.
Dang, unplatt and the back wheel too, just what she didn't need. She rolled to a halt, the tyre was almost completely airless so whatever caused it made a good job of things. With a sigh she climbed off then turned the bike over to stand on the bars and saddle, the easier to get the back wheel free.
If you've ever done this, you'll know that Sods Law will ensure it doesn't go as easily as it should and today was no different. Spare tube - check, pump – check, tyre levers – check, no she had everything to do the job, problem was that Dad had done up the wheel and she couldn't budge the lever, she just didn't have the strength to move it. Grrr. Lever, lever – lever! It took some fiddling but she managed to get a tyre lever betwwen the quick, huh, release and the frame and after a couple of goes she broke the grip it had on the frame.
No cyclist likes having roadside punctures, with her Dad keeping everything in tip top order Gaby didn't have them very often, when she did there were usually two of them so between them they'd get sorted quite quickly. But on your own, well it can take a bit longer. Getting the tyre off wasn't too bad, although she needed all three levers to do the job, she checked the tyre for the cause but found nothing, however, the twin slits in the tube, a classic snake bite, she must have run over an edge or a sharp stone.
The next issue was refitting the tyre, given it was tight to get off, it would no doubt be tight to refit too. She wasn't disapointed, there was like ten centimetres that she just couldn't get over the edge, no matter what she did. How comes this never happens to Dad?
Desperate times need desperate solutions, it goes against all advice of course but she carefully hooked one of her tyre levers under the edge of the tyre, praying it didn't catch the new tube. It was tight but the tyre slid over the edge with a 'snap', a quick fiddle to get the lever back out, et voila, the tyre was in place. She had a floor pump back at the hotel but for now it was down to her 'Pocket Rocket' to get her re-inflated.
There was no hissing so the tube was still sound and after about five minutes of pumping, it felt hard enough to get her back to Kassel. Wheel back in, quick release re-adjusted so she could work it, everything back in pockets, job done. She turned the bike over, remounted and resumed her ride, according to her comp it had taken her over twenty minutes for a supposed five minute job.
The circuit came back to her as she rode on, not every lump and bump, but the drop to the first turn, the roller coaster climb that followed, the fast descent back towards Kassel before turning onto the narrower, tree covered road that would take her back to Wilhelmshöhe. There was a bit more traffic back in Kassel but not so much as to hinder the Weltmeisterin's progress.
Well until Wilhelmshöher Allee, it seemed she got caught at every set of lights going this direction then had to go past and do a U turn to return to the hotel.
"Erd!” Little Jo greeted, "Good ride?”
"Not bad,” I allowed pulling up beside the bus that he was apparently repacking.
"Go far?”
"Just up to the monument.”
"The Herkules? Sooner you than me.”
"Its only a short climb.”
"If you say so, I prefer to have an engine do the work.”
"You can see right over the city,” I espoused.
"I'll take your word for it, leave your bike here, I'll put it in when i've sorted this lot.”
“'kay, why's it such a mess?”
"Lots of willing hands last night so everything ended up all over.”
"So why aren't the others helping?”
"Which others? I've only seen Anna and you so far.”
"I'll go see if I can rouse more troops.”
"I don't know about troops, maybe several buckets of coffee,” he chuckled.
"I can do with a cup myself, see you in a bit.”
"Mist,” I called as I let myself into four fifteen, "You up yet?”
"Shower.”
I poked my head into the bathroom, "You okay?”
"Think I reached my limit.”
"I did warn you.”
"That was before the gig, pass us that towel.”
When she emerged she was still green and I mean, very green, clearly a lot of alcohol had passed those lips last night.
"Let me get sorted and we'll find some coffee, they might even have a croissant or something left.”
"Urgh!”
Maddy Bell © 14.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *12*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Personality, Check
They were just starting to clear the breakfast stuff when I got Misty to the breakfast room, we got a black look from the serving wench but I did manage to prevail on her for a pot of coffee. While she was fetching that I managed to raid what was left of the buffet for my second breakfast and, well not a croissant but a sort of twisted pastry thing with chocolate inside for Mist – if she doesn't eat it, I will.
"Better?” I enquired a few minutes later.
"A bit,” my friend croaked back.
"How much did you drink?”
"Dunno, too much.”
"Well I think that's a given,” I pointed out.
"Hmmm.”
At that point my Handy started to trill, by the tune it was Dad.
"Morning Daddy,” I chirped.
"Someone sounds chipper, mornin' kiddo, so how is Kassel?”
"Okay I guess, went for a ride this morning.”
"You didn't get lost today?”
"Da-ad.”
When I told him about my ride to Bad Nauheim yesterday he had been concerned but apparently amused at the same time.
"So where did you go?”
"Not far, just up to that monument thing then I did a lap of that circuit we raced on the other year.”
"Herkules or something?”
"Yeah thats it,” I agreed, "And i've got a bone to pick with you.”
"What about?”
"I had a puncture and I couldn't get the QR open, it was like super tight, I had to use a tyre lever to like force it.”
"Don't know why, I always set them the same.”
"That maybe okay for you but I'm not Arnie.”
"But you did it?”
"In the end,” I grumped.
"So I suppose you want another tube when I come down?”
"I can never get the patches to stick.”
"I'll bring another couple, now about the weekend.”
"I know, you'll pick me up at silly o'clock on Sunday.”
"Well yes but a slight change to plans.”
"Oh?”
"We'll come down on Saturday and stay over so we don't have to leave home so early, the others are flying anyway.”
"Makes sense,” I allowed.
"There seems to be some interest in taking in a concert Saturday night,” he went on.
"Concert? Anything nice?”
"Some rock group I think, blue something.”
"Eek!”
"If that's alright?”
Alright? Why wouldn't it be?
"Er sure, just make sure you have ear plugs. I'll erm, sort out some passes or something.”
"Look I need to get on and I'm sure you have stuff to do too, we'll sort things out tomorrow eh.”
"Uh huh.”
"Take care kiddo.”
"I will.”
I am not going to mention last nights todo, ut uh.
"Bye for now.”
"Tschussie, love you!”
"Your Dad?” Mist suggested.
"Yeah, he's coming down with Mand tomorrow instead of Sunday.”
"Make a weekend of it I guess.”
"They're gonna come watch the gig on Saturday night.”
"So we're guaranteed to have an audience of two then.”
"At least,” I giggled, "Oh, I wonder if the others will want to come?”
"The rest of the cycle team?”
"If they do we could have a full house of what, six, seven?”
"I'll SMS them later and find out. Are your parents gonna come to any of the gigs, now you're a star?”
"Hardly a star.”
"Okay, twinkle, so?” I pursued.
"I've not told them.”
"Why ever not?”
She shrugged, "Didn't want to jump the pistol.”
"So they won't get to see you.”
"I'll tell them at the weekend.”
"If you don't I will.”
"Ga-ab,” she complained.
"I'm sure they'll want to see you on stage.”
"I'll tell them already!”
Its Friday of course, we've been 'on the road' for a week now, at times its flown by, at others its not so much dragged as been stretched out, Monday seemed to last forever. If Robert is right, tonight and tomorrow we'll have even more demanding crowds, they'll probably have had a drink before hand as they aren't work nights for most people, which in turn will make them rowdier. We saw some of that last week and that was before the Britta Bursche session on HR3.
Tonight we play Gießen then tomorrow its Fulda, two fairly big towns, well bigger than some we've played. Now I'm sure some of you are curious as to why we aren't going around the venues a bit more logically, I certainly was. Well according to Robert its all to do with venue availability and programmes, we are small fry in this world so beggars can't be choosers.
Everyone seems quite happy though, we are playing some good venues, tonight we are at the Schilde Halle, which, Robert says, is in a converted factory building near the Messe. Its the same with the accomodation, within budget and hopefully not too far from the venue, tonight for example is the impressive sounding Gambrinus Dutenhofen Hotel which is actually in Wetzlar but is apparently only a ten minute or so drive from the venue. So now you know as much as me.
"That it?” Little Jo enquired when I deposited my bags by the bus.
"All of mine, Mist is just coming with hers, she's just handing in the key.”
"Good, we can do with getting off, its a fair drive today.”
"How long?”
"Its about a hundred thirty kilometres and its not a particularly fast road so a good two hours in this.”
"Bit like when we go anywhere in the camper, there's car time and then there's camper time.
"Didn't know you had a camper?”
"Its mostly for going to races.”
"Like a Volkswagen bus thing?”
"We used to have one of those when I was little, no this one is humongous, a three axle Hymer.”
"Whoa,” Little Jo offered, "They are serious money.”
"I think Dad got a good deal, its got the garage name all over and I think the team put towards it too.”
"Even so.”
Further discussion on the subject of motorhomes was thankfully stopped in its tracks by the arrival of Misty and her luggage.
"What took you so long?”
"They wanted to charge me for stuff from the mini bar.”
"Didn't even know there was one,” I admitted.
"Under the TV.”
"You do have to pay for that stuff,” Little Jo put in as he pushed the last bag into the hold.
"I know but I didn't have anything.”
"Didn't you tell them?”
“'course I did but she insisted on checking the fridge, apparently somehow it can tell when you take stuff out.”
"But you said you didn't,” I was confused now.
"Well I sort of did.”
"You either did or didn't Mist.”
"I was going to, last night, I took a can of cola out but I forgot about it, I left it on the side.”
"But its sorted now?”
"Yeah but she didn't even apologise.”
"You two coming,” Stefan queried from the bus door.
"Right there.”
You can get to Gießen by motorway, but it adds a chunk to the distance and probably wouldn't be any quicker than the more direct route we used. There was some autobahn but for most of the way we followed Route Three which is mostly two lane and surprisingly busy. I wasn't the only one thinking about food when we reached the outskirts of Gießen, the Backstübe on the way into the Messe complex was a welcome sight indeed.
"Stefan?”
"Whats up Erd?”
"Nothing really, Dad mentioned coming to see us tomorrow night.”
"Word of our fame has spread,” he joked.
"Yeah, back to where we come from.”
"I'll take what I can get,” he grinned, ”we'll get him on the guest list, is it just him?”
"Erm, thats the thing, I don't mean to be cheeky but I think all the team want to come.”
"Well it'll help fill the venue,” he grinned, "Seriously, get me names and numbers, if we can't get our own friends in its a poor do.”
"But no one else has had 'guests'.”
"Not quite true, Anna Louise has been here all week.”
"But that's different, she's actually with us, doing stuff,” I pointed out.
"There were some of our mates at Idstein on Monday too.”
"Really?”
"Yep, so its no problem, there's always some 'guest' capacity and its not like we've been sold out is it?”
"It was quite full last night and the night before.”
"Yeah, good eh?”
"I'll get the names.”
The bakery menu was less than a full on restaurant but more than Thesing's and of course no alcohol which I considered a good thing, Mist has been a bit of a lush this week, maybe last night will return her to moderation. We ended up, all eight of us, sharing a couple of large pizzas which worked out at a couple of big slices each, after all we will get food later all being well. Food eaten we returned to the bus and set off in search of this Schilde Halle place.
"I've booked a table at a Chinese restaurant just across the river for nineteen, we'll meet back here say eighteen thirty? We can walk over.” Robert suggested.
"Sounds good,” Marcus opined.
Well it would save looking elsewhere and if Robert's booked, Roberts paying, what's not to like.
It might be a converted factory but the Schilde Halle is quite airy and well appointed inside, nice changing rooms, even an en-suite shower. I guess its used for all sorts of stuff besides music if the posters in the entrance area are anything to go by, next week appears to be a model railway exhibition. This afternoons practice has largely been nit picky stuff, okay, we did run through some of Mistys stuff a couple of times but after a week we've got most of it nailed.
"Come on then, lets find our beds,” Stefan urged.
I certainly won't be walking to the hotel tonight, even without last nights 'incident'. By the second turn i'd already lost my bearings and you can't exactly walk along an autobahn anyway. No tonight, whatever happens, I'll be riding back with the rest of BlauHase.
It actually took us closer to fifteen minutes to reach the Gambrinus Dutenhofen, which is, what my lecturers would call, a commercial hotel. In ordinary language that means its aimed primarily at commercial travellers and tradesmen rather than holiday makers. The outside was freshly painted but inside, whilst not worn in the way the Herkules was, it was quite utilitarian, devoid of decoration beyond what looked like a set of old photos of the Dutenhofen through the ages.
"Bit basic,” Mist noted once we were ensconced in room seventeen.
"We're only sleeping here.”
"True, which bed?”
"Take your pick.”
"Window then.”
Well that put me closer to the tiny shower cum toilet facilities if nothing else.
"You keeping that stuff on for the restaurant?” Mist queried.
"May as well, its not like the guys will be dressed up is it?”
"Good point, I'll do the same.”
Practical yes but I'm sure her mother would have something to say about those shorts, maybe that's the point.
"We could do with a launderette tomorrow,” I suggested.
"I don't suppose this place has a laundry,” Mist mused in turn.
"Don't think so, the bed linen is done elsewhere.”
"How'd you know that?”
"Easy, the tags on everything and there was a cage thing from a laundry place in reception.”
"That college education isn't wasted on you.”
"Tell that to my Mum, I don't know why you didn't stay in school.”
"What would be the point? Its not like I'm brain of Germany unlike someone I could mention.”
"But you passed the Certificate.”
"Just, and anyway if I was at college I couldn't work at Connie's Kabin. Nope, I'll leave further education to those who want it. So what are you wearing tonight?”
It might not be far from the venue into Gießen centre and the few metres to the Asien Palast, its facade a brightly lit road crash of red and gold paint, a stark contrast to its neighbours. No, tonight I was shod sensibly in my trainers, no heels for this girl, well not until I get changed for the gig in a couple of hours. It was quite early for eating out so we were well attended by the staff when we arrived, they were taking drinks orders before we were settled in our seats.
Of course, eating in a Chinese restaurant can be a nightmare of choices, crispy noodles, wet noodles, duck that isn't, spring rolls that don't, well I'm sure you've all done the same, taken the easy option, sweet & sour with fried rice.
"Set meal everyone?” Robert suggested over the babble of menu discussion.
"I'm in,” Animal stated.
"Works for me,” Big Jo added.
For me too, a whole plate of rice and whatever or piled with noodles can be a bit much, yeah, even for me.
"Sure, why not.”
And so, with no nay sayers, it was decided, set meal A for nine. The food started to arrive almost immediately, enough but not too much, there was after all, a lot to work through. Of course clever clogs Bond had to show off her skills with chopsticks – which was fine until a chicken ball laden in sweet and sour sauce made a break from captivity and landed, well lets just say I'll need a clean BH tomorrow!
"Hello Giessen!” I yelled into my mic.
The gig was going well, Misty was more relaxed which came through in her singing, everyone was in the groove. It started out well, the warm up act, support or whatever you want to call them who go by the name of 'Silberne Schnürsenkel', really got the crowd going with their 'Deutsche Pop' set. It wasn't a full house but i caught Robert with a Cheshire Cat grin talking to the venue people earlier so i guess it'll be a nice earner for all involved – not that the band get very much but every little helps.
I'm getting better at the crowd banter stuff too, having been sort of forced into it by circumstance. Its previously been Stefan's role, introducing songs and so on but as i do most of the singing, Robert suggested i should do the bridging too. I don't do it all, Stefan still has some input but i'm not sure what he actually thinks about it, it is 'his' band afterall.
"So our next song is a little slower, which will give the guys a bit of a rest, especially our drummer eh.”
Yeah, Nurburgring is a high tempo, high octane number of sizzling guitars, hard drumming interspersed with loud vocals from Stefan and somewhat softer from yours truly, What's it about? Motor racing of course, a sort of homage to Rudolf Caracciola a German motor racing hero of the nineteen twenties and thirties who came from Remagen and won the first car race on the circuit in 1927. I know, too much information.
Anyhow, Animal did a quick three beat stanza right on cue and I went on with my introduction to Isolde, Stefans take on the Tristan & Isolde legend.
"A legend and a love story, Isolde.”
Big Jo started picking the intro, the lights dimmed to a spot on just me, I took a deep breath, gripped the microphone in both hands and counted myself in.
"The-e green isle maid....”
Maddy Bell © 18.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *13*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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The Fuldaness of Time
Of course, there had to be an after party, its like compulsory, but that doesn't mean you have to get drunk. I do like a drink but being all of a metre fifty eight and forty eight kilos on a bad day, my alcohol tolerance is quite low, I know that so I drink accordingly. Mist is taller than me and probably a couple of kilos heavier but in reality she doesn't do alcohol much better even if she thinks she can.
Last night in Kassel, well this morning really was a bit of a wakeup call, no one wants to be in that state, well I don't think they do. Anyhow, Fraulein Fischer was certainly taking things a bit steadier tonight, beer instead of shorts. Okay, I had a beer too, just to be sociable but it was a bottle which meant that I had more control of my intake.
"Erd, here,” Stefan beckoned me over to where he and Robert had been in deep conversation.
I made my way over, "What's up?”
"We're gonna record a CD,” Stefan advised.
"We are?”
"Yup, Rob reckons we can make a few extra euros.”
"Doesn't all that stuff cost a lot though?”
"I know someone who owes me a favour,” our manager put in, we just pay for materials, sort of like an official bootleg.”
"We can do that?”
"Its a bit of a grey area,” Herr Silsman admitted.
"So when does this happen?”
"Tomorrow night, in Fulda, it'll be a live recording, Fabien has all the gear, there's an Indie label in Frankfurt who've agreed to press it up for us, we should have copies ready for Hanau on Monday.”
"Thats fast.”
"There won't be any fancy cards or anything, we don't have time for fancy artwork.”
"Who needs all that stuff anyway,” Stefan opined.
"It would be more professional,” I pointed out, "When would we need artwork Rob?”
I had an idea but it'd need some time.
"Same time as the music files, they do everything in house.”
"So if we have artwork...”
Rob shrugged, "It would be better, I take it you have an idea?”
"Maybe more than one.”
"Not just a pretty face our Erdbeer,” Stefan told anyone within a five metre radius.
"Leave it with me Robert, I'll see what I can do.”
"I look forward to it, oh, whilst I remember, I've put your papa and your friends on tomorrows guest list, they'll need to go to the stage door.”
"Thanks, sorry to impose.”
"Its no problem, as well people who want to see you as some hack from the local free paper.”
"All the same, I appreciate it, I should go back to Mist before she looks like she needs rescuing from that chap.”
"What was that about?” Mist asked when I sat down with her a few minutes later, having chased off the chinless wonder who'd been trying to chat her up.
"If I tell you I'll have to kill you.”
"Ga-ab.”
"Well alright, Rob's arranged for some friend of his to record tomorrows gig so we can put out a CD.”
"Like a proper thing in Saturn?”
"More like a home recording that the fans can buy,” I suggested.
"I'll have to get something else to wear.”
"Erm, Mist, no one's gonna see you.”
"But I'll know,” she stated.
"Whatever,” I allowed with a sigh, there was logic there somewhere, I'm just not sure where.
We got back to the Gambrinus Dutenhofen before one, the party having fizzled out a bit sooner than usual. Not only that but the guys had, at some point, loaded the gear up so when it was time to leave, we could. Not only that but I'd showered at the Schilde Halle before going in to the party so once in our room I was away with the fairies in minutes.
Its about an hour and a half from Gießen to Fulda, around a hundred kilometres give or take. Whilst most of our party didn't surface much before nine, there was an air of expectancy if not urgency over the breakfast table, a meagre affair of little more than meat and cheese to go with the slightly bitter coffee. By ten o'clock our bags were on the bus and us with them as we set off across Hessen for our last gig of the week.
Of course, midday is too early to check into our accommodation and we can't get into the venue until late afternoon either. You might ask therefore, what all the rush was for and why we were in the B&B Hotel's car park?
"We can leave the bus here,” Stefan advised, having returned from a trip into reception.
"Did you ask about laundry,” Anna Louise asked.
"Yes Anna, I did, they don't have anything here but the chap on reception said that there's a laundromat place on the street behind.”
"What're we doing about lunch?” I queried – well that Frühstuck was a bit underwhelming this morning.
"There was an Imbiss sign pointing down that last street,” Little Jo told us.
"We can get a proper meal later right?”
"I don't know where you put it Erd,” Animal grinned.
"I've got a fast metabolism.”
"And hollow legs,” Mist added.
"So what're we doing?” Anna Louise pressed.
"Lunch first then the laundry?” Stefan suggested.
"Take me to the Pommes,” I cackled.
Our motley crew set off in search of succour, it wasn't far back along the road we came in on to the turning where it turns out there was a sort of mini shopping centre, I think the 'mericans would call it a strip mall. The Imbiss turned out to be a trailer in the car park doing hot dogs and burgers.
I sighed, "Better than nothing.”
"Thought you liked fast food,” Marcus mentioned.
"Occasionally, I've had my fill this week,” I admitted.
"There's a bakery,” Mist told us.
"Where?” Little Jo queried.
"In the corner behind that campervan,” she pointed across the car park, busy with Saturday shoppers.
Camper? Nah it couldn't be, could it? Well no it couldn't, this particular home on wheels was more like our old Volkswagen LT, think big caravan strapped onto a van chassis rather than the custom built body of the Hymer. I wonder where Dad and the guys are?
"I'm sure they'll have something a bit healthier than Würst,” Anna Louise suggested, dragging Marcus across the asphalt veldt.
Looks and shrugs were exchanged by the other band members who followed me and Mist in their wake. The bakery, when we reached it, was fairly busy but mostly with out sales, so finding seats wasn't too difficult even if the tables weren't next to each other. Of course its not table service so we still needed to order and being lunch we're responsible for our own.
Mist and I were on a table with Animal and Little Jo who both departed to the counter to order.
"You coming?” Mist queried, digging out her purse.
"Someone should stay at the table,” I pointed out.
"Okay, I'll go fetch if you like, what do you want?”
What indeed? "Some sort of sandwich and maybe a pastry?”
“'kay, I take it you want coffee?”
Well they are not best known for their tea so a fairly safe assumption.
I'd been digging in my own wallet, "Please, here,” I pushed a twenty across the table, "I'll get them.”
"You don't have to Gab.”
"Take it, I owe you from the other day.”
She gave a shrug, "If you say so.”
Left on table guarding duty, I pulled out my Handy and started typing an SMS to Mand.
Hi, we r @ fulda, ? R u
G
I pressed send, she'll get back to me at some point. However the phone buzzed with a reply almost immediately, I quickly opened it.
U r early! w r on ab nr ff ur D says b w u 16?
xM
Cool, I know its only been a week and I've talked to Dad and Max a few times but I'm really looking forward to seeing Manda and the guys this weekend. Hmm, maybe we can all eat together tonight? I'm sure Dad'll be up for that.
"You okay Erd?” Little Jo asked, sliding his tray onto the table.
"Yeah, just checking in with Dad, ooh that looks good, what is it?”
"Minestrone I think,” he offered sitting himself down, "Folks okay?”
"Thinks so, they should be here about four.”
"Who's here at four?” Animal enquired arriving with his own repast.
"Erd's papa.”
"Bet you'll be glad to see him eh Erd?”
"Its not like I miss him or anything, but yeah it'll be good to see him and the others.”
"Your cycling friends? Stef said they were coming tonight,” Animal advised.
"Apparently they all demanded to come to the gig.”
"Best put on a good show then,” Little Jo smirked.
"Here you go,” Mist stated, "Coffee, cake and sandwich.”
She plonked each each item on the table in front of me. The sandwich was Frikadel and tomato, the cake was actually a custard filled Danish and the coffee was a big bowl of Cappucino.
"That all your having,” I asked as she sat down with just a slice of pizza and a black coffee.
"We don't all have your constitution, here,” she put a pile of coins by my cup, "Change.”
"I know its my job,” Mist started as we gathered our stuff having finished eating and drinking, "But could you do the laundry Gab? Unless there's stuff you need to do that is.”
To be honest, I hadn't really thought what I'd be doing for the afternoon.
"Er sure, I guess, you got a hot date or something?”
She coloured up a little, "I need to get something to wear tonight, I did say.”
Indeed she did but I'm not sure what difference it'll make for a sound recording, still, if it makes her happy. Recording, recording, there was something I was gonna do, oh right the sleeve, guess I can do that in the launderette as easy as sat in the bus.
"So what're you looking for?”
"Not sure exactly, I've got some ideas, I'll know when I see it.”
"I've heard that before.”
An hour later I was sat in the 'Washmatic', a modern-ish coin op laundrette, well the machines were quite new even if the building was a bit past its prime. In the end i've ended up overseeing everyones laundry wash, all the guys stuff in one machine, my, Misty and Anna Louise' stuff in a second. I suppose I could've found somewhere else to wait out the washing and drying but I found a perch in the window, settled my earphones in place, turned on my CD player and started thinking about the CD sleeve.
Let me just say, I know I did well in most subjects at school, okay I was embarrassingly bad at English, but art, well I'm mediocre. Its not that I can't do it, more that I'm not good at it, the ideas are good in my head but translating them to paper, never great. I'm a bit better with more hands on stuff but that doesn't really help with this 'project' does it?
Lets see then, what needs to be on it?
Misty and Anna Louise returned to the 'Washmatic' just as I finished unloading the big drier, the stuff might've been washed separately but why waste euros on two driers? The downside was having to separate everything afterwards but its not like there was a ton of stuff.
"Get your shopping done?” I enquired spotting their arrival.
"There are some nice little stores in the centre,” Anna Louise told me.
"So what've you been up to?” Mist asked.
"Listening to some music, bit of doodling.”
"Didn't know you drew,” Anna Louise mentioned.
"I don't really but sometimes I have a bit of a scribble.”
"Well lets get this lot back to the hotel, we can get checked in now.”
"I think this lots sorted.”
"Well its not like anyone's going anywhere, I'm sure the lads'll be able to tell whose is whose.”
I pulled a pair of huge stripey boxers from the top of the bag and held them out.
"Big Jo!” we all stated in unison before bursting into a fit of giggles.
"So you get a frock then?” I enquired of Mist as we made our way around the block to the B&B Hotel.
"Uh huh and some boots.”
"Boots?”
"Not like yours, I'll show you when we get to our room.”
“'kay.”
The B&B Hotel, yep that's what its actually called, is a pretty new cube of concrete and glass – which doesn't sound very appealing but its functional if not exactly pretty. Stefan and Marcus were waiting in reception when we got there.
"The guys have put your bags outside of your room,” Stefan advised handing me a key card.
"Well thats saved one job,” Mist noted.
"Thanks for the laundry Erd,” Stefan told me.
"Well I don't just wash anyones underwear,” I joked.
"Better not tell Max,” Mist put in.
"Lets not go there,” I shot back.
"Back down here at four,” Stefan stated, "Bring your stage gear, I'm not sure if we'll be coming back before the gig.”
"Four o'clock, stage gear,” I repeated back, "Got it.”
Six eighteen is on the top floor and was easy enough to find as there was a pile of cases by the door. Whilst not luxurious, the room was quite spacious, plenty of space around the beds, a couple of 'easy' chairs, desk, TV, wardrobe and the ensuite bigger than most hotels i've stayed in. Not bad, not bad at all.
Bags were dragged in, beds claimed, footwear removed.
"So lets see this frock then and the boots,” I demanded.
"I need a wee first,” my roomie replied.
"Whatever.”
She disappeared into the bathroom and I pulled the notebook i'd been scribbling in earlier to survey my work. Well okay, it was pretty rough but Rob said they have inhouse people sorting this stuff, I bet it'll only take a few minutes with one of those fancy computer programmes. Not being sure what they'd actually do i'd sketched out a front and rear, using one of my Sheryl Crow CD's as a sort of guide I think I got all the essentials.
On the front was 'BlauHase' and along the bottom 'Live in Hesse', then on the back, down the left was a track listing and opposite was a list of the band members. I'm sure there would be some other stuff like copyright and the record label, there would be room for that stuff under the name check. It was nothing fancy but it would be better than nothing.
"What're you doing in there?” I called toward the facilities.
"Coming,” Mist replied opening the door.
"Thought you'd died in there.”
Ignoring my comment she came out and gave a twirl, "So, what do you reckon?”
Well it was certainly a step up from the shorts and vests. I'd been expecting something, I dunno, more punky but this was a sort of posh Goth look. The dress was in crushed velvet, not black but a vibrant red, net sleeves, a laced bodice and a flared skirt that reached about mid thigh. On her feet, the boots were knock off Doc Martens in red patent that pretty well matched the dress, it all looked great.
"Well?”
"Nice.”
"Of course I'll have nets on and i've got some fingerless gloves and I'll put my hair up,” she babbled on.
I couldn't help thinking i'd missed something, I looked a bit more closely, there it was staring me in the face so to speak.
"Oh mein Gott, you're parents will go ballistic!”
I know mine would.
Maddy Bell © 19.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *14*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Studded
"Geez, took you long enough to notice.”
"That must have hurt,” I stated, wincing at the mere idea of my friends new facial ornamentation.
"It stung a bit,” Mist admitted, "But they're just a bit sore now.”
"Well its certainly, erm, different.”
Which I guess is probably the point. Oh I guess you want to know what she's had done, well there's a stud in that dimply bit above her top lip and two more below her lower lip, one each side. The only people i've seen with similar holes poked in them have been hardcore Goths or Punks, usually with a load of tattoos, even Fritzi, the tattooed nurse at the health centre only has her nose and ears pierced.
I have to admit that my personal taste in piercings is quite conservative, I do have two holes in each lobe, who doesn't, the one in the top of my ear has, I think, closed up and of course my nose and lots of my contemporaries have that. Of course my sister did cause some parental ire when she had her tongue pierced and you don't even realise she has that most of the time. No, Mist, my wallflower friend has crossed from my personal comfort zone to another place, a place of darkness and obsession.
You might ask why I didn't notice the new adornments earlier, well I don't make a habit of staring at people all the time, its bad manners and I was taught not to. Okay I noticed there was something different about her but I was more concerned with the laundry than anything else. And anyhow, the small silver balls don't exactly leap at you either – that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
"I'll just change back,” Mist went back into the bathroom but left the door open, "I was going to dye my hair but we've not got time, have to do it tomorrow.”
"Right, so erm, why the er, new piercings?”
There was a pause, it sounded like she was taking the dress off, "Truth?”
"Of course the truth,” I replied as I turned the laundry out onto the bed.
"Well i've always thought it was pretty cool, there's this girl i've seen at the campsite with a lip ring and like rings all up her ears, she looks really, I dunno, edgy.”
"Why now? you could've got more ear piercings anytime, I mean, you've only got one in each, even I have two.”
"And your nose,” she added.
"And my nose,” I agreed, "You have only got one in each still?”
She gave a shrug as she returned to the bedroom, untangling her new dress as she did so.
"For now,” that sounds ominous, "Well I was looking in this boutique place for something for tonight, it was a bit like that one in Mayen, you remember, all incense and stuff.”
Do I remember! I ended up with sky blue hair for a week.
"Well anyway, one of the staff had got some really far out piercings, you think these are odd, anyway I told her I liked her holes and it went from there. There's a tattoo and piercing place on the upstairs, she took me up, they could do me straight away et voila.”
"I still can't believe you had them done.”
"Well I was a bit nervous but the piercer guy was really good, I was in and out in like fifteen minutes.”
"Your mum really is gonna go mad you know.”
"Let her, if it was Claud she wouldn't say a thing.”
But Nena, Misty isn't her sister.
I had a sudden thought, "You will still be able to sing tonight?”
"Course, its not like a tongue, according to Gary who did these, they can really swell up, you can't talk properly for days.”
"Just checking.”
"I'm not daft Gab, I did check before I had them done.”
Of course, now I was aware of Mist's new piercings I couldn't stop looking, they did look sort of cute but there is no way i'd have them done. Lets face it, i've not volunteered for any of the holes I do have, Maddy, Sylvia, my sister, they're the ones responsible for my piercings. I guess i didn't have to keep them open but when all is said and done, I quite like having them.
Dad's Handy rang a couple of times before he answered.
"Bond.”
"Hi Daddy, its Gab's,” I offered in greeting.
"And how is number two daughter?”
"I thought I was your number one.”
"Now you know that's your sister by seniority.”
"Just kidding, so you found Fulda okay?”
"Its not difficult Kiddo, so you all set for tonight? I got the message about the stage door.”
"Yeah, all ready, I, I mean we were wondering if you fancy eating with us before the gig? Its fine if you've got something else sorted but you're welcome to join us if you want, everyone that is.” I got out without drawing breath.
"Whoa, slow down! Where is this place, can they fit us all in and what's the food?”
"So its called the Pizzeria Peperoni, they do pasta and stuff and its just across the road from the gig, Marcus booked us in earlier, said there might be a few extras.”
"Well it would save looking for somewhere,” Dad admitted, "What time we talking?”
I looked over to Stefan who was sort of listening and mouthed 'time?'.
He checked his watch and scanned the venue before reaching a decision, "Tables booked for seven, we should easily be done for then.”
"Seven Dad, oh and remember its the gig straight after so no Apollinaris dresses.”
Well you have to look out for your friends right?
"Okay, seven for seven, we'll see you there, bye.”
"Tschuss.”
"Sorted?” Stefan queried.
"Yeah, they'll see us there.”
"Should be quite a party.”
"Talking of which, is it okay if i dip out on the after, I really should get an early night as I'm racing tomorrow.”
"Its not compulsory Erd, if you want to get off just make sure we know eh.”
My mind flicked briefly to two nights ago, "I will.”
The soundcheck and set up wasn't as straightforward as usual as we didn't just need levels for the audience but for the recording gear too and of course the twain rarely meet. According to Roberts mate doing the recording, Fabien, 'call me Fab, everyone does', the fact that the Kulturzentrum Kreuz is a smaller, more intimate venue should give a better sound than if we'd done it at say, last nights concert hall. And why are we at some smaller venue tonight? Simple really, all the bigger places have stuff on on Saturdays, a little unknown band from away in the Eifel had no chance, the Kreuz on the other hand specialises in smaller acts so here we are.
It did seem a bit strange, the tiny stage, the cavern like auditorium after spending most of the week performing in much bigger venues. It must have struck something in the guys too, this was the sort of place that they usually play, my first experiences with BlauHase were in similar places. Yeah, tonight will be hot, sweaty and noisy, the Saal will hopefully be full but that's 'only' two hundred and fifty patrons.
I have to say that I quite like the place, I think its something to do with the City so the toilets are clean, there's none of the 'seediness' that these smaller places often attract. No, this is a popular and well liked venue.
"Can we do one last check on track three then we're done,” Fab's disembodied voice requested.
There was a bit of eye rolling and sighing, I hope all this effort is worth it. Big Jo counted us in and the discordant tones of Stadtmitte filled the room. Thankfully its not one that I or Mist sing on, being a shouty thing which I think is about football, well football fans at least.
"Well I'm glad that's over,” Mist allowed.
"Yeah,” I agreed, "It was starting to get a bit old.”
"I'm gonna go get changed, save time later.”
"Good idea.”
It was, I'd do the same but there is no way I'm going out to a restaurant with my Dad and cycling team mates in my stage costume. I know I wear it in front of hundreds of people but they're anonymous, I don't know them, I do know my friends and, well I'm just not comfortable with the idea okay.
"You changing too?”
"Nah, I need to see Rob.”
“'kay, see you in a bit.”
I found the backpack that I'm using as a Handtasche and with the guys still in full swing with Stadtmitte, set off for the control room at the far end of the Saal. I climbed the staircase and gently pushed the door open.
"Can I come in?”
"I'll come out,” Robert told me.
I could see Fabien was still sat with his cans on, fiddling with stuff on his mobile console, I stepped back from the door and Manager Man joined me outside on the landing.
"Fab says it shouldn't need too much playing with after.”
"Thats good yeah?”
"Very, so what can I do for our songbird?”
"I um did a bit of doodling earlier, for the sleeve.”
"Great,” he enthused.
"Don't get too excited,” I warned, its a bit rough but it shouldn't take much effort to sort it out, that's if you think its okay.”
"Well don't keep me in suspense, lets have a look.”
I dug into my bag, where does all this stuff come from?, I only put the pad in here a couple of hours ago, Handy, purse, pads, that's where that went, ah here we are.
"Like I say, its a bit rough, I'm no artist.”
He took the pad and studied my 'art', "I like it, simple but everything is on it.”
"I'm sure there'll be something i've missed but I guess they can just add anything it needs.”
"It looks fine Erd, you mind if I show a few people?”
"Go for it, its not a secret. You and Fab coming to eat with us?”
"We'll grab something later, we might have the levels but there's still more to do before the show.”
"Okay, see you later.”
"Everything okay Erd?” Stefan enquired when I rejoined the rest of BlauHase by the stage.
"Yeah fine.”
"More than fine,” Robs voice boomed behind me.
"Geez, you made me jump,” I admonished not having realised that he'd followed me down the room.
"Young Erdbeer has done us a cover for the CD.”
"Well lets see then,” Little Jo demanded.
I repeated my warning to Rob, "Its a bit rough.”
Our manager handed the sheets out to the guys and I awaited the verdict.
"You never said you were an artist Erd,” Animal mentioned.
"I'm not its just a sort of rough idea of how it might look., it needs tidying up a bit.”
"Your rough is better than my finished,” Marcus supplied
"Well I can't draw for toffee,” Anna Louise stated, "My talents are in other areas,” she concluded with a wink.
Don't need to know thank you.
"I like it,” Stefan added, "Sort of a bootleg vibe.”
"Well it will be live,” Big Jo pointed out.
"All we need to do now is play,” Little Jo offered, "So we going to eat?
"How's the mouth?” I enquired of the pierced one.
"Feels a bit weird.”
"Looks a bit swollen,” I told her.
We were following a short distance behind the others, from the front of the Kreuz you can see our destination hiding behind the umbrellas and so on of the al fresco seating.
"Gary said they should settle down after a day or so.”
"Sooner you than me, how long do you have to keep them in?”
"Six weeks or so but I should be able to change out the studs sooner.”
I shook my head, "Its your face. So what're you doing tomorrow?”
"Hadn't given it much thought.”
"You could come to the race,” I suggested.
"We'll see, what time are you leaving?”
"It'll probably be quite early.”
"Isn't it nearby? I'm sure that's what Manda said last week.”
"We have to get there, look at the course, discuss tactics, warm up, we don't just turn up and race you know.”
Sometimes I do miss the simplicity of the evening tens on Cuckney, ride out the couple of miles from home, sign on, race, have a chinwag after then stop at Hygienic Fisheries on the way home for a bag of chips. Hmm, proper chips out of the paper, salt and vinegar, greasy fingers, yum. Sometimes it really is the simple things that you miss most.
"There they are,” Dad pronounced standing to greet us on our arrival.
"Daddy,” I almost squealed, heading straight in for a hug, "Er hi guys.”
"Hi Dave,” Stefan pumped Dads hand, "glad you could join us."
"Thanks for asking us.”
"You going to introduce us Erd?” Little Jo prompted.
"Er okay, so we've got, Tali, Josh, Manda,” I pointed to each in turn, "Gret, Daz, your dad not here Gret?”
"Parking the car.”
“'kay, I guess you'll meet Dieter when he gets back, oh and you know my Dad of course.”
There, done.
"Gab?” Dad hinted, "Not everyone knows the band.”
Sugar. I started a second round of pointing, "Er right, so erm, Animal our drummer, Big Jo, Stefan, Marcus all play guitar, Little Jo does keyboards, Anna Louise is Marcus's SO and Misty does backing vocals.”
"Right, now we're all introduced, drinks?” Stefan suggested.
There was a bit of seat shuffling, I think the band were glad of some different company and my cycling chums were, I think, equally glad to have a topic of conversation that didn't involve bikes. Yeah, whilst some of us have longer standing friendships, me and Josh for example, apart from racing together, we don't really have a great deal in common. Its a bit different with the band, they do have other interests, cars, kickball and so on but even so, a week on the road and the stories and conversation has got a bit tired.
"So Misty, you been with the band long?” Gret asked.
Mand nearly had conniptions.
"What'd I say?” Gret queried.
"Nothing,” I felt compelled to explain Manda's reaction.
"You all met Mist last year at the training camp.”
Tali slapped her forehead, "Thought I recognised you but the name threw me, something with N? Nicky?”
"Nena,” Mist allowed, "I only sort of joined this week.
"You changed your hair,” Tal observed.
"And you didn't have the erm,” Gret waved at her own face.
Mist just shrugged.
"So how come you've dyed your hair Gab? Mand said you'd got a wig to wear on stage like,” Josh asked.
Yep, there's no flies on the big Toon.
"Practicalities, the wigs are a bit warm under all those lights and stuff, this should,” I glared at Misty, "Wash out by the time I restart college.”
"It said nine washes,” Mist put in.
"Hmmph.”
All too soon the meal was over, well for BlauHase at least, we needed to get back into the venue and finish getting ready. I know it might seem silly but it didn't feel so weird to just have soft drinks when the rest of the bikies were there and I wasn't the only girl clearing a big plate of pasta either.
"Yeah, so if you go down the passage, there's some sort of fire escape, the stage door is just past it,” Big Jo explained to Dad.
"Got it, thanks Jo,” he turned to where I was waiting, "So daughter, have a good gig and we'll see you afterwards.”
"You have got some earplugs?”
"I'll stand at the back.”
We exchanged a hug before I set off to catch up to the others.
"You're back” Rob stated, "Good meal?”
"And good company,” Marcus opined.
"Did you know that Erd's papa is Archäologe?“ Little Jo mentioned.
"No support tonight remember.“
"We remember,“ Stefan groaned.
"Doors open in forty five, you're on stage in sixty.“
Maddy Bell © 22.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *15*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Wheels in Time
It was a bit strange, the not having a warm up act, you get into a routine then suddenly everything changes.
"Come on Gab, we're on,” Mist hissed – hey that rhymes.
"Already?”
"Yep already.”
She might be doing some yodelling with us now but she's still my assistant cum minder cum dresser.
"Okay, lets show Fulda what we're made of.” Well them and my friends somewhere out in the auditorium.
The last notes of Isolde faded away.
"So i hope you enjoyed that, we're gonna have a short break but we'll be right back.”
There was the, by now, expected cheering as the lights went down on the stage and up in the hall itself, the seven of us quickly making our exit.
"Phew!”
"They're a lively bunch tonight,” Marcus stated.
"You seen your people out there Erd?” Big Jo queried.
"As if I get a chance to look,” I snorted back.
Well its true, what with the lights, not tripping over my own feet and actually singing, seeing more than a few faces at the front of the stage is about it. There's a couple of hundred people out there and anyway, I'm pretty sure Dad'll be somewhere up the back.
Robert joined us in the backstage area where we were regaining our composure and topping up fluid levels.
"Great set guys, Fab's really happy with it so far.”
"Just as well, we don't get a second pop,” Stefan noted.
"Keep it up then, I need to get back, I'll catch you afterwards.”
With that he was gone.
"He's a bit hyper tonight,” Mist observed.
"He can smell the euros,” Little Jo offered.
"Well it would be nice to make a little extra,” Marcus mentioned.
Whilst I'm not doing this for the money, I can't disagree with that.
As usual a single bright pool of light came up in the middle of the stage with me stood in it.
"Welcome back Fulda, you ready for some more?”
A cheer came back, it would be disappointing if it didn't, what would I say?
"Before we return to the music, lets introduce you to the band, on bass, Big Jo!”
We've got pretty slick at this now, the lights, the couple of bars from each, even Mist has slotted in with her little harmony bit.
"And lastly, lead guitar and vocals, Stefan!”
As usual Stefan did his bit then the lighting came up to reveal the whole band. Of course, its not quite over, the pantomime of my introduction still needed to be run.
"So now we've been properly introduced...”
We got the usual laughter and jeering as our banter went back and forth.
“... our songbird, Erdbeer!” Stefan concluded
The lights lowered to the single spot, the noise of our audience receded and the guys started to play, the second half of our concert was under way.
'Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever'
For some reason it felt more, I dunno, personal tonight, the crowd clapped and cheered as I paused waiting for the rather more, er, animated treatment of the second verse. Not only that but I'm sure I did see Dad too, not up at the back but there amongst the beating heart of the crowd. Maybe I was seeing things, when I looked back a moment later he was nowhere to be seen.
The second half felt even more energised, we might not be well known but the good folks of Hesse seem to like what we do. But finally we reached the end, the encores, Robert had been adamant that we end with the Nena number and now it was that time.
I pushed my microphone skyward as the final strains of Debora floated across the Saal, the noise abated, replaced by an excited buzz.
"Thank you Fulda, we hope you've enjoyed yourselves tonight, we certainly have.“ i waved the mic out at the crowd and got a responding cheer.
"You did? Great that makes me happy, so, as you've been so kind to us tonight here at the Kreuz, we'll leave you with one more. This is one of my favourites, sing along if you want, thank you again for having us, Luftballons!“
Marcus started the intro and instead of passively listening, some of the crowd joined in from the start.
'Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt'
"Come on everybody!“ i encouraged and i think almost the whole room joined in for the conclusion.
'Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen'
We did a repeat but it was time to stop.
"We have been BlauHase, thank you Fulda!”
"Mein Gott, Gabs, that was awesome,” Gret gushed, "You really can sing.”
"I did tell you,” Tal told her.
"Erm thanks, let me get changed, I need a drink.”
"Soft I hope,” Mand opined.
Spoilsport, I could actually murder a beer, my throat is parched!
I escaped my clamouring 'fans' and found refuge in the tiny changing room where Mist was already half undressed.
"Good night.”
"Yeah,” I agreed even as I struggled to reach the zip of my dress.
"Let me,” Mist told me, I turned to let her at it.
"You okay with stuff if I get an early night?”
"Sure, you are having a drink first though?” she asked as my dress slipped to the ground.
"Yeah, need to entertain my 'guests' but Dad won't want anyone out too late, not on a race night, I'm surprised he was okay with everyone coming.”
"Your parents are way cool Gab, not like mine,” she told me, gathering up my beruffled stage outfit.
"They seem okay to me.”
"You don't have to live there,” Mist sighed, "I love them, I really do but....”
I gave her a hug, "I know, Claudia.”
"I really miss her Gab, she could be a right pain sometimes but she was still my sister and since, its like, I dunno, too close.”
"They don't want to lose another daughter,” don't I sound wise.
"But they're driving me mad, coming away with you guys, I can be me instead of the perfect daughter Claudia never was.”
I could sort of see what she meant, Claudia was a bit of a wild child despite or maybe because of her illness, the certain knowledge that her life would be short. Now whether Nena will live any longer than her sister when her mother sees those piercings in her face...
The after party was a strange affair tonight, well for starters it was just BlauHase and guests and then of course the guests comprised mostly of Team Apollinaris! Well of course the usual venue people were in attendance and as it was taking place in a corner of the Saal it wasn't exactly intimate.
"You're not gonna wear that dress tomorrow?” Gret jokingly, well I think jokingly asked, "It would certainly put off the opposition.”
"Does it come in Weltmeisterin stripes?” Tali added.
Somehow i'd ended up with the two girls when Misty dragged the others off to talk with the rest of BlauHase.
"Wouldn't work with the stage lighting,” I deadpanned.
"Well you wouldn't get me wearing it,” Gret stated, "its so, er, fussy.”
"Its a stage costume,” I pointed out, "What would the audience look at if it wasn't over the top?”
"I guess.”
"I certainly wouldn't wear it outside,” I told them. Well okay I still had my boots and fishnets on but with a baggy T and an admittedly short, denim skirt.
"So what's with your friend, the holes?” Tali queried.
I gave a shrug, "Not really sure.”
"You not getting some then Gab?” Gret chimed in.
"Don't think so, quite happy with just my ears.”
"And nose,” Tali added.
Okay, I always forget about that.
"Excellent tonight Erdbeer,” Robert advised joining us.
"Er thanks Rob, this is Gret and Tali that I race with.”
"Enchanted, you don't sing do you?”
"You kidding,” Tali guffawed, "They call me in to scare off the stray cats!”
"And I can't hold a note to save myself,” Gret added.
"So what's up Rob?” he had to want something.
"I'm taking Fab back to his studio, we'll get the tape cleaned up and stuff so I can drop it into Bully tomorrow.”
"Great.”
"If I don't see you, have a good race tomorrow and I'll see you in Hanau on Monday, take care Erd, don't go breaking anything.”
"I'll try not to Rob.”
"Tape? Bully?” Tali queried.
"Well its not actually a tape,” I demurred.
"Gaby.”
"Okay, Rob knows some people so Fab, Fabien that is, recorded tonight's gig then Bully are going to make some CD's that we can sell at the other gigs next week.”
"That mean you're giving up racing?” Gret asked.
"As if, trade sweaty bras and road rash for all this, you've got to be kidding.”
"You might change your mind if you get on telly or the radio,” Dieter Luchow's daughter persued.
"TV, done that and we were on the radio on Monday,” I boasted.
"Really?”
"Britta Bursche on HR3.”
"Ooh, I listen to that sometimes,” Tal enthused.
"And besides,” I went on, "What would you guys do without me at the races?”
"Win some?” Gret suggested, I think ironically.
"Well apart from that?”
"We should get off,” Dad suggested not that much later, "I hope you're going to get an early night too young woman.”
"Yes Dad, I'll get a taxi back to the hotel, where are you staying?”
"There's a Wohnmobil Parkplatz just along the street here.”
"All of you?”
"No, just me, Mand and Darren, everyone else is in some place called the B&B Hotel, strange name but it was cheap.”
"That's where we're staying!”
"Well that simplifies stuff, Dieter,” he called to the team's other adult who was talking to Animal nearby.
"Interesting chap your drummer,” Herr Luchow opined, "His family come from Lübben originally.”
"Deet, the band are in the same place as you guys, you okay if she catches a ride with you tonight and in the morning?”
"Can't see why not.”
"Excellent, well I'll round up my pair and I'll see the rest of you in the morning.”
"Okay Dave, now where's that lad got to?”
Dieter went off in search of Josh.
"And you,” Dad addressed me, "You were really...”
"Okay?” I suggested cutting in.
"I was going to say fantastic,” he continued.
"Pity Mum wasn't here.”
"You know she would be if she could.”
"I know, it still sucks though.”
He pulled me into a hug, "I know kiddo,” he kissed the top of my head, "I know.”
"Anyone fancy a coffee?” Dieter queried when we got back to the B&B Hotel, "We can get one in the bar.”
"Sure,” I allowed.
"Aye, could do with diluting tha beer like,” Josh stated.
"You haven't?”
Waugh grinned back at me, "Course not Hen but you-or face.”
"Don't mind him Gab, he does this all the time at home,” Tali mentioned.
'At home'? am I missing something, I mean I know they're an item but that sounds like they've moved on even further.
Gret just rolled her eyes, "Come on, lets find some seats.”
The bar was really just part of the reception area, a bunch of high tables with stools near the bar itself and a half dozen or so low tables with overstuffed seating on the periphery. There were a few people in, mostly up by the bar so whilst Dieter went to order our drinks, the rest of us commandeered some comfy chairs and a table.
"I half expected you guys to be in your team dresses,” I mentioned.
"The instruction came down from on high to dress casual,” Gret advised.
"He did listen then.”
"Can you imagine, me, Gret and Mand in those frocks in that place,” Tali chuckled.
"You forgot me Hen.”
"We can sort you out with a hostess dress if you want,” Gret snickered.
"Think ah'll pass.”
We didn't stay downstairs very long, after all, the idea was to get an early night before tomorrows race. I got myself ready for bed, the alarm was set for early but not silly, with Josh and co in the same hotel there was at least a safety net if I do sleep through.
So of course I couldn't get to sleep, its been a busy day what with one thing and another and my mind was still racing. Yeah, lots of stuff, exciting stuff, band stuff, well obviously meeting up with Dad and everyone tonight was pretty cool but mostly the bubble of the BlauHase tour was on my mind. I know we did that recording thing with the Bonn showcase thing but tonight we've recorded a whole gig, thats like more than a regular CD's worth of stuff, that has to be good right?
Eventually my thoughts strayed to Sunday, or is that today now? I looked across to the clock on the TV, twenty three fifty eight, tomorrow then, just. Will I be okay racing tomorrow, I know i've only been away for a week but i've only had like three rides, none of which have exactly been proper training. I've not exactly been eating great either have I, today's the first time we've not stuffed our faces with burgers or Pommes or other 'fast' food. Mind you, I could fancy Frikadel and Pommes right now.
Maddy Bell © 22.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *16*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Bicycle Race
'Huh, ha, kerbump, kerbump, huh, ha, kerbump, kerbump, huh, ha, kerbump, kerbump, huh, ha, kerbump, kerbump.'
My legs were screaming, my breathing laboured and my heart was trying to escape from my chest. I tried the gear shift but nothing happened, a quick glance down revealed the why, the chain was already on the twenty eight. I stood to try and get my leaden legs to put out more power but it was like riding through mud with slicks, the forward movement not matching the effort.
Ahead of me the tail end of the bunch was moving further ahead and we're not even onto the climb proper yet. There was nothing I could do, no response from my body to reverse the situation, at this rate I'll be pushing the damn bike before I reach the top – and in these shoes too! This is ridiculous, can't, huh, go, huh, any, huh, further.
I keeled over onto the verge, my dress hooked on the saddle exposing my knickers, one of my heels caught in the back wheel leaving me in a tangled mess and all the audience clapping and cheering to the backing of Queen's Bicycle Race. At least being a fat bottomed girl meant landing on my rump hadn't been too painful. I readjusted my rainbow striped dress after untangling my stiletto from the wheel, what was I thinking trying to do bike gymnastics on this tiny stage?
"Brrrrrp, brrrrrp, brrrrrp.........brrrrrp, brrrrrp, brrrrrp.”
I woke with a start before snaking a hand out to shut off the alarm. Geez, thank the gods that was a dream, a dream that had left me in a sweaty tangle of pyjamas and bed clothes. Urgh, race day, guess i'd best get organised.
"You look...” Gret started joining me as I tackled some food.
"Like poo, I know, bad dream,” I allowed.
"Mornin', looks like the weathers gonna be okay,” Josh told us arriving with Tal and Dieter a moment later.
"Well that's one thing sorted then.”
"You okay Gab,” Dieter enquired.
"Bad dream,” Gret stated before I had a chance to respond.
"You only came second?” Tal suggested.
"Ha, ha,” I replied flatly.
"Well eat up, we need to be away in thirty minutes,” Dieter chivvied.
For once it wasn't me doing the 'yes dad' bit, Gret doing the honours this morning.
Of course, the others were in bike kit, the car sported a trio of Pinarello's and spare wheels on the roof and I was stood there in civvies. Hopefully Dad has got all my gear in the Hymer but it feels so wrong setting off for a race with nothing. I do have my racing licence in my purse but that lives there anyway, no this is just weird.
Eight thirty on a Sunday, why couldn't I do a civilised sport that starts later in the day, Kickball or hockey or something?
"Last night was brilliant,” Gret enthused as we set off for our rendezvous with the rest of Team Apollinaris.
"Aye,” Josh added, "You really smashed it like, Hen.”
"Er thanks.”
"I don't know how you do it, don't you get nervous, you know, up there in front of all those people?” Tal quested.
Do I? Well a bit, probably less than this morning, especially after that nightmare.
"Not really, you can't really see the audience much with all the lights and stuff and if you don't think about it...”
"Well I couldn't do it,” Gret admitted, "I used to clam up if I had to read aloud at school, I can't imagine doing what you do."
"She has been practicing a while like,” Josh stated, "All those race presentations.”
"Hardly the same,” I pointed out.
The race, the Sud Rhön GP, wasn't taking place far from Fulda, well about forty kilometres away, pretty much on the north Bavarian border with Thüringen, just outside of Hesse. According to my road atlas there's some quite high hills, six, seven hundred metres but more rolling than the Eifel. We've ridden tougher circuits but after the week i've had, well I can't say I was very confident of getting a result.
It only took us forty five minutes to reach the rendezvous point just outside of Bischofsheim, Dad and the others were already there they must've set off well before us, Mand already had a pot of coffee waiting for us.
"Morning everyone,” Dad greeted as we joined the three of them inside the camper.
We all found seats, it can get a bit cosy with this many inside, I found myself squeezed in between Gret and Daz on the big sofa.
"I hope you all slept okay?”
"Like a baby,” Dieter volunteered.
"Gab had a nightmare,” Tali stated.
"So she only came second?” Mand chortled.
"You can go off people,” I mumped.
"Well, dreams not withstanding,” Dad went on, "Today should suit us well. The first lap,” he picked up the pad he used for these briefings and showed us the sketch map he'd done, "Is straight around, nothing too crazy and its only forty five K. the second time around though it deviates just after halfway to take in what could be and I'm guessing that's why they put it in, the race deciding climb.”
"Is it silly steep or something,” Tal queried.
"The map shows a couple of hairpins and it gains most of two hundred metres in just a couple of kilometres.”
"Ouch,” Daz allowed from beside me.
"Well we'll see,” Dad told us, finish up your coffee and we'll go take a look.”
"You want to take the car Dave,” Dieter suggested, "I can take this to the HQ and start getting everything set up.”
"Okay, Josh, Darren, can you give Dieter a hand taking the bikes off.”
I wouldn't say that with all the seats in Dieter's people carrier occupied it was exactly spacious, and being the smallest I ended up in the middle of the rear seat but it was more practical than the camper for our current needs. The first few kilometres were on one of those roads that is never quite straight or flat, there was certainly nowhere to hide. Eventually though we turned onto more of a proper climb, a handful of fairly wide turns raising us a fair chunk.
"The first circuit goes straight here,” Pater told us as we turned off the rolling road we'd turned onto above the climb, a church dominating the crossroads.
"Rothe Kuppe,” Josh stated, "Sounds ominous like.”
Yeah I saw the sign too, looks like the local go to tourist spot by the other sign for a restaurant of the same name. The road ramped out of the village through fields although there were trees on the hillside ahead of us, somewhere up there is this Rothe Kuppe place. And then things got a bit more serious.
It wasn't Alpine but the first bend certainly dialled up the gradient, probably ten or twelve percent and it stayed there through turn two before easing a bit towards the next turn, just visible maybe a kilometre further on. Whilst steeper through the corner it didn't resume the double figure percentages until after turn four but only briefly up to the wide parking area that was effectively the summit, the race people already had the barrier stuff out and a couple of guys looked to be setting up some sort of PA system.
Dad pulled into the parking area and we all clambered out.
"What do you think?”
"Well,” Mand started, "I'm glad we only do it once.”
"Ah think its spot on for Gab like,” Josh opined.
"If I'm still in contention,” I put in, I just can't shake that dream.
"What about the first climb?” Dad asked, thoughts?”
"We could try an attack on that,” Daz suggested, "Reduce the numbers a bit.”
It was the most i've heard him say this weekend.
"First or second lap?” Tali queried.
"Both?”
"Gab?” Dad queried, "What're you thinking?”
"Well we have a dig the first time, shake things up a bit, not to actually go for a serious move.”
"It'll shake some out that's for sure,” Gret offered.
"Lap two, we do it again but harder, shorten the odds for this one where we go all in,” I concluded.
"Anyone else?” Dad prompted.
"Does this road go up much more?” Josh asked.
"Lets go find out,” Dad enthused.
It did, not steeply but noticeably for perhaps another fifteen hundred metres before it started to tilt downwards.
"We'll have keep the pressure on after the prime,” Josh stated.
"Maybe we should ignore the prime,” Mand suggested, "Put on the pressure to the real summit.”
"Gaby?” Dad prompted, "What do you reckon?”
"It goes against the grain but if we're not chasing for the intermediate we can be a bit fresher for the final.”
By now we'd dropped a fair bit and soon came to the junction that reunited us with the main circuit. After the next village the road bounced about a bit, short uphill's spelled with longer downs and plenty of twisty bits, a small group escaping over the top would hold the advantage. Things flattened out as we reached the valley floor and we were soon in Bischofsheim again, a couple of minutes later we were at the sports ground that was hosted the race HQ.
Dieter had been busy whilst we've been doing the sightseeing thing, the ezy-up was, erm, up and he was busy pumping tyres with the compressor. There were quite a lot of other cars, vans, campers and buses filling the car park, whilst today is not Jungere League, it is part a regional series, there were plates suggesting riders from quite a wide area, as far away as Stuttgart although Dieter's CB probably trumped them all in distance travelled.
"Your gears in the bedroom Gab,” Mand advised as we once again unpacked ourselves from Dieter's Sharan.
"Cheers, guess i'd best get changed.”
"Coffee anyone?” Tali proposed.
I know i've been out on my other bike a couple of times whilst i've been away but it still felt slightly odd when I returned to the lounge to find everyone, well except Dad and Gret's dad, in lycra variously nursing coffee cups, bottles of water or snacks.
"Okay, everyone happy with the plan?” Dad asked.
"Me and Manda do a feint on climb one,” Daz offered.
"If we're still all together, we have a proper go on lap two,” Gret continued, "Then whoever is at the front attacks through the prime, rest of us block.”
Of course, even the best laid plans can go awry but, in the shell of a nut, if nothing else happens, that's our plan.
"You want anything?” Dad queried a few minutes later, "You've been a bit quiet this morning.”
"Time of the month,” I quipped, "Any flapjack left?”
Yeah, we have Flapjack in Germany too, why wouldn't you?
"Some in the tin kiddo, grab a piece and we'll go sign on.”
And so we went mob handed to the Kontrolle.
"I'm getting some funny looks,” I whispered to Mand.
"All of us,” she suggested.
"No, I'm sure its me, its not like they can see my jersey,” i'd purposely kept my tracky top on after all.
"Must be the hair then, it is a bit, erm, bright, clashes with your top.”
I'd clean forgotten about my pink mop, even in its neat twin braids there's no disguising it.
I sighed deeply, "So much for incognito.”
Things didn't improve when we signed on, our collection of British, Mand, Daz and Josh, and German, me, Tal and Gret, international licences made us very exotic, I certainly didn't see anything else that wasn't domestic German. Looks like we'll have targets on our collective backs today. Back at the camper we got down to the rest of our pre race prep, warming up, putting on heart rate bands, loading food and drink, but my mind kept wandering to that dream.
'I stood to try and get my leaden legs to put out more power but it was like riding through mud with slicks, the forward movement not matching the effort.'
"Gab!”
"Eh?”
Dad was stood next to me as I put in a hard effort at the end of my warm up.
"Soz, miles away.”
"Take it easy, you okay?”
"Fine, just you know, bit nervous.”
"What happened to the singing megastar we saw last night?”
"Still in bed in Fulda.”
"Just do your best,” he turned to address the full collective, "Okay people, no feed today but you can pick up bottles when you come through after lap one. If you need service there's a neutral car with the race, we'll have a couple of wheels with the bottles but otherwise you're on your own. Josh, road leader, enjoy yourselves out there.”
Fifteen minutes later we were lined up with the rest of the competition listening to the usual commisars speech, we get it every race, keep right, do this, don't do that, blah de blah. I tuned it out and looked around our fellow competitors, best part of eighty, mostly lads, well I think besides me and the girls there are another seven or eight girls, none of which I recognised but that's not to say we haven't crossed wheels before. Of the lads, there were a few familiar jerseys, clubs if not riders we've encountered when we've raced in central Germany, a few faces looked our way as the official droned on, I guess they are as curious about us as we are them.
"Funf, vier, drei, zwei, eines.”
PAARP!
With a clatter of step in pedals being engaged and the usual cursing and cajoling as slow movers, jumping gears and impatience set us on our way for a hundred kilometres of the Sud Rhön GP. Of course, the first kilo is under caution so the rush to clip in is a bit pointless but it happens all the time anyway. I always think we're like a hoard of gladiators, setting out to cause mayhem, but today, well am I going to be the one spat out of the fray?
We approached the bridge under the bypass, the lead car sped up and the neutral flag was swapped for the national black red and gold and we were off. No suicide attack from Apollinaris today but as we started the long open slope northwards, several riders did make breaks for freedom. No idea what they thought would happen, you need to be a strong rider with a good team to stand any chance of success, its not like they even tried to form a proper break, they just went off on their own.
Out on the road, the wind was noticeable as a slight cross-cum-head wind which in my book makes a solo effort until lap two even more stupid. The peloton was rolling along at a comfortable thirty, thirty five but it was clear that the more experienced riders were watching the sky blue jerseys and keeping their powder dry.
"Was that a spot of rain?”Tali suggested in hushed tones.
I looked up at the sky and replied in kind, "Could be, some grey coming in.”
According to Dad the forecast was essentially dry, bright turning overcast later, typical for the time of year but something wet hit my face too. Hmm, rain will change the race dynamic quite a bit. I turned to Josh and mimed feeling for rain, he nodded back in agreement.
A couple more lads clipped off the front as we closed on the first climb, they quickly made fifty metres but as is often the case, thats as far as they got. They were holding the gap though, the bunch was still waiting for us to react which of course, we stubbornly failed to do. But the escapees could be useful, Daz and Mand slipped away from the rest of us, only a bit sideways really but enough to divide attention, I did the same with Tali but moved to the head of the peloton at the same time. There was no hiding we were finally preparing for something, why else would the rainbow jersey move to the head of affairs?
I flicked my fingers to signal Tal who immediately stood up and came past me, not exactly quickly, which was the whole point. The ruse seemed to work, the front of the peloton was straight on the 'not' move, out of the saddle and following the feint. With most of the attention now on Tal and me, Mand and Daz launched themselves on the blind side with considerably more speed and conviction.
Its difficult to change your speed from fast to faster when you've already commited to a gear and effort so the reaction was somewhat frustrated. Of course Josh and Gret followed through in a blocking tactic which further hindered the reaction, to say there was a bit of cussing going on would be to understate the matter!
Our two escapees, quickly overhauled the leaders, taking a wide line to stop them jumping on but unlike that hapless duo, our pair kept the gas on, and on. By the time the bunch had readjusted its effort to chase, the English duo were trading effort best part of two hundred metres ahead. Of course there is always fall out in these situations and today that meant there were already riders falling out of the back, in my dream I was one of them but for now at least I was comfortably slotted in behind our road captain humming Lorelei to myself.
Maddy Bell © 24.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *17*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Rothe Kuppe
It hadn’t seemed as tight, the corner by the nature reserve, from my memory of our earlier drive round the circuit. Our intrepid duo didn’t have much lead but enough that momentarily they were lost from view. Once around the corner though and it was a return to typical open upland, not a lot of shelter of any description but the wind was at least more on our left shoulders now.
Of course, the plan was not for Mand and Daz to go for the win, there’s too far to go, but instead we wanted to pull a bit of the sting from the peloton, keep their effort up now and they’ll have less in stock when we do make our move. To that end they were swapping effort time trial style, knocking out a steady forty K on the almost flat road. The rest of us did our anchor impersonations, its not up to us to chase, nope, if anyone else has designs on the trophy its them that need to do the work.
Having relinquished our positions on the front it wasn’t as easy to keep tabs on the pairs progress but a glimpse across the fields as we started the next bit of climbing suggested they had best part of thirty seconds on the chase.
"Okay Hen?” Josh enquired as I sipped from my bidon.
"Yeah, bit dehydrated.”
"Best keep an eye on that like.”
"Aye, I mean yeah, you think we’re gonna get wet?”
He looked over his shoulder, "Maybe a bit, it doesn’t look as black as it did.”
"Fingers crossed.”
We climbed into some mixed woodland, the gradient was slowing things but not dramatically so, the bunch held together It was only the added steepness of the next turn which broke the rhythm as riders variously searched for lower gears or stood to keep on top of what they were in. I was firmly in the latter category, glued to Josh’s wheel as I’ve done so often before.
The following ramp was only about six or seven percent which perversely saw the speed go up a tad before reaching the semi hairpin right hander that deposited us on the drag up to the top. The leaders were now in full view, they were closer but still far enough ahead to prevent identifying which was which. What goes up inevitably comes down, the road now headed pretty much dead straight down to Fladungen, the pace quickly rising as the more hopeful riders set about chasing Mand and Daz down.
The gap was closing but the leaders weren’t giving in too easily, they still had a couple of hundred metres in hand as we swung off the main road to pass through the old walled town. You no longer go through the actual gate which is probably just as well given our velocity through the turn, a sudden bunching for a narrow gateway would’ve almost certainly resulted in, at the very least, some hard braking. Past the church, back through the walls, a hard right and as we started the shallow climb out of the town the effort suddenly dropped as the sky blue jerseys were finally swallowed.
Did their efforts pull some of the pelotons sting? I guess we’ll have to wait to find out. The speed may have fallen from the near on fifty we were doing on the run into Fladungen but we were still rolling along in the high twenties, low thirties. Ahead of us, the heights of the Rother Kuppe didn’t as much loom above us as slump across the horizon. But that’s next time around, for now we have several kilometres of rolling farm land to cover.
It seems that we had inspired other parts of the bunch with our ‘failed’ escape, every time there was an up another hopeful or two tried their luck. We couldn’t hide now, each move needed to be covered and as the team to watch that meant we had to at least go through the motions. None of the flirtations with freedom came to anything and we soon passed the turn that we’d be making next time around.
Through Stetten then more of the same to Sondheim where we picked up the road back to Bischofsheim. The bunch seemed content to roll along now which suited us fine, no silly escape attempts meant no need to expend energy keeping a lid on things. The status quo remained for a handful of kilometres but there were signs of unrest.
I was feeling a lot better now, okay, maybe not a hundred percent but certainly a solid ninety five. Which was just as well, given what happened next. There was a slight rise as we left one of the villages that straddle this bit of the course and suddenly all hell broke loose.
Clearly there was some local knowledge thing going on, what I would consider the strongest riders of the day were out of the saddle and giving it some. We had to follow suit but caught slightly off guard meant that I was towards the back of the split. Over the top of the rise and you’d think it was the run in to the finish rather than the end of the first lap, it seemed like there were riders everywhere.
There was no chance to combine our efforts, everyone was occupied in just maintaining contact. One or two riders went backwards but gradually things settled enough for a new, smaller peloton to take form. The speed was still high but a selection had been made, the original eighty odd had been slimmed to about two dozen, the only girls left wore Apollinaris jerseys.
"Wasn’t expecting that,” Mand opined as we followed along in the wake of the action.
"What was that about?” Gret chimed in.
"Dunno,” I admitted, "Glad we weren’t too far back.”
"Yeah,” Mand agreed, "It woulda been goodnight Vienna alright.”
Tal put her ten cents in, "Lets hope we haven’t misread anything else.”
"Soon find out I guess.”
Josh dropped back to our little coven leaving Daz to marshal things closer to the front.
"Everyone okay?”
"Just about,” Gret allowed.
"Who needs bottles? Gab?”
There was a quick bidon check by everyone.
"I’m okay,” Mand supplied.
"I should probably get one,” I told him.
"Me too,” Tal added.
"Gret?”
"Think I’ll manage on what I have.”
"In that case can you and Manda ride herd through the town, who knows what this lot will do next.”
"We should probably all move up a bit if we can anyway,” I added.
The road dropped more steeply through fields that looked like they may once have grown vines, I recognised the underpass we flew under, not far back to the town now. A last short drop and we were indeed back in Bischofsheim, the pell mell descent eased and suddenly it was all squealing brakes and curses. The turn wasn’t quite a hairpin but it was pretty sharp, you couldn’t get through it safely with any real speed, hence all the commotion.
The bottle zone was only about fifty metres from the junction and luckily not too many riders were picking up. We each snatched our fresh bidons and with practised speed did the necessary swaps quick enough to drop the empties on the grass verge less than a hundred metres further on. Common sense seemed to have prevailed in that no one had made a move through the supposedly neutral zone but how long would that be the case?
For the third time today we passed under the two seven nine as once again we climbed away from Bischofsheim. So far the threat of rain had remained just that, a threat but the sky ahead was looking decidedly dodgy, if we get back dry I’ll be amazed. We climbed up through the trees, no less watchful than last time, with only about forty K remaining a determined escape could, in theory make it.
But no one seemed too keen to try their luck, the pace was comfortable, perhaps too comfortable, if our effort on the big climb doesn’t work there’re a few too many bodies here for comfort. I sidled up to our Road Captain for a war council.
"What d’ya reckon?”
"Feelin’ a bit claustrophobic?”
"A bit, if plan a doesn’t work…” I left the rest unsaid, we use English to keep our plans from the competition but we don’t have exclusive rights, no point in broadcasting our intentions.
"You thinking of choosing Quality Street?”
Before you go thinking Josh has lost his marbles, perhaps I should explain. Over the last couple of years we’ve, that is the guys on the team, we’ve developed a sort of code so we can discuss tactics quickly and easily and if we seem to be talking gibberish, well its an extra layer of secrecy. ‘Quality Street’ is code for making a selection, Manda came up with it, cool huh, even better it doesn’t translate, Qualitätsstraße is pretty meaningless, anyhow that’s enough of that.
"Uh huh.”
"Same as Daz?”
"The turn after?”
He nodded, "You want help?”
"We should keep our reserves.”
"I’ll spread word.”
Our fellow competitors seemed more than happy for the blue jerseys to set the pace, it wasn’t exactly a surprise that the Weltmeisterin wasn’t contributing. On we rolled, past where Daz and Mand jumped off last time round, you could almost feel the relief from the other riders. I surreptitiously dropped further back as I fed myself an energy bar, I don’t need the calories for this move but I’ll need them not long after.
As we moved into the trees the first heavy drops of rain started to fall, hmm, this could be to my advantage. The road surface was still dry enough to prevent spray but that changed rapidly as we exchanged trees for the scrubby Moor that lines the road as far as my departure point except...A quick flick of the gear control as I stood and go for it girl.
My support team obviously knew I would be making a move but even they didn’t know exactly where so when Turbo Bond shot past the whole bunch was caught unawares. I kept the effort going even as the rain came in harder, you can’t get into a proper time trial crouch of course but I did the best I could on this bike. The road was already starting to puddle when I made the turn, I held back on sprinting through the corner, don’t want to tempt fate with an off after all, but as soon as I was going straight and upright I applied extra welly.
Last time around the open fields up to the climb proper allowed views of the road ahead but in the half light and reduced visibility of this determined squall, well the only giveaway to my road position was the flashing lights on the lead car. The plan is simplicity itself, go like stink and force a reaction which, hopefully will result in Quality Street. Do it up a hill for maximum effect then slip back to the peloton down the other side, which move suggests you are a spent force – just remember what jersey I’m wearing though, snigger.
In the run of things, looking to see where the rest are won’t make a jot of difference to the outcome, even so I refrained from taking a losers look. I came off the drops to stamp up through the first turn, the wet running down the road in rivers, not pleasant but I’m already wet to the skin. I was actually clearing the last bend of the climb when, as suddenly as it started, the rain stopped.
Well it hadn’t actually stopped, I could see the rear guard of wet marching across the fields leaving a lot of water on the road. I started to ease my effort, the ploy has either worked or not, there’s no point wasting more energy than is strictly called for. Thankfully, apart from a particularly cold draught in the immediate wake of the wet, the wind was at least verging on warm and I swear I could feel the warmth of sunshine on my sodden back as I reached the summit.
I’m not one to waste free speed, so while I wasn’t exactly racing, I must admit to pushing it a bit on the descent, the peloton still hadn’t caught me when I made the sweeping turn into Fladungen Altstadt. It was almost a repeat of the previous lap in the end as I was finally swallowed up as we started the rolling ride towards Stetten and the turn for Rothe Kuppe.
Did my ploy reap the benefits we hoped for? Well sort of, numbers were reduced but unfortunately in the process we’d lost Gret. No I hadn’t burnt my team mate off, she’d fallen victim to a tyre deflation in the middle of the squall. At least that’s what Josh told me as once again we played uphill chase on every roll of the road.
"Yous gonna be okay for this hen?” Josh queried in a lull between stupids – if it didn’t work last lap, why would it this?
"Don’t worry about me, I’m not our only iron.”
"True but you’re our most reliable.”
"If you say so but I have been living it up this last week, so eggs and baskets.”
"Eggs and baskets,” he agreed.
The remaining distance to the turn passed quickly beneath our wheels, just minutes now until the main event. Fifteen of us made the turn, four of which were my team mates, the odds are in our favour well unless you take out the gender bit which I’m sure is what the opposition were working on. I tried to visualize the climb that we drove over four, no probably closer to five hours ago now.
The long ramp through the fields to the village where things started to get more serious, big lazy bends taking the road up to the Prime which bizarrely isn’t at the top. Nope, go for the prize, ease up and then you’ve got another K or so to grind to the top. Our plan is simple, ignore the prize and keep the pressure on over the top, at worst we lose more of the opposition, at best we end up duking it out between ourselves.
I know I told Josh not to worry about me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have doubts does it? What if the Rothe Kuppe is the scene of my dream or should that be nightmare? I took a pull on my bidon, bleh, the cap was gritty from the earlier downpour but I guess I’ve had worse.
Looking around the remains of the peloton it was clear that a couple of lads were planning something on the climb, the others all looked like they were waiting for someone else to make that first move but Dad had been adamant, that move shouldn’t be from us. The speed bled slowly away with no one yet willing to take point, we were hovering around twenty by the time we reached Roth, the village where it was all about to kick off.
We might not be starting the action but we each moved ourselves to cover any moves without causing a road block, after all we wanted them to attack us. Then it went a bit pear shaped, we and Dad had assumed we’d ride up the wide main road but as we reached the church the lead car shot across the road and we were directed to follow. What now? Have we mucked up big style?
I just shrugged when Mand caught my eye, I was as in the dark as anyone, well not quite anyone, it seems our fellow racers were aware of this detour. The lane joggled past a few houses before turning a bend and bam, a veritable wall of tarmac rose across the hillside. Our saving grace was the pre-emptive gear changing of our companions so whilst caught slightly on the hop we weren’t brought to a grinding halt by the grade.
The two lads I identified a few minutes ago had clearly been waiting for this and attacked the grade with gusto. One of the others made a half hearted attempt to follow but only succeeded in isolating himself between the leaders and the dozen heaving bodies following on. It was steeper than the other road by a lot but a half decent surface meant progress was relatively easy, the leaders had about fifty meters over the rest of us, I say rest, a couple were clearly struggling and in danger of being tailed off.
A steeper ‘lip’ joined us to another lane which was already angled steeper and our ascent thereof soon had riders strung over several tens of metres. The good news was its length, two hundred metres tops and we were thrown back out onto what I recognised as the ‘main’ road, I hope there are no more surprises like that. The two escapees had maybe seventy metres now, the lone chaser was swallowed within a few metres and when I checked around, Tal was dangling off the back.
It was a steady gradient on this ‘middle’ section and with two away, there was renewed urgency in the remains of the bunch. Whilst we weren’t going for the spot prize we still didn’t want the escapees to get too much clear road, they might actually play us at our own game. We joined in the chase, Josh pulling everyone along like a string of ducklings when he took a turn on the front.
Two against ten was never great odds and throw in Josh and the writing was on the wall. The leaders were giving it a good go though and whilst the gap was smaller, as we went into the second set of turns they still had clear road. From soaked through by the rain, I was now re-soaking my gear with perspiration, Daz and Josh spelling each other on the front, each pedal stroke inflicting more pain on those following.
When the inflatable marking the Prime came into view our remaining companions took off as if this was the end of the race. Daz looked around for instruction, I lifted a finger which was enough for him to give chase on our behalf. That doesn’t mean we’d given up, far from it, our remaining threesome kept steady, we were only about thirty metres behind the sprinters when we crossed the line.
Dad was right, once across the line they were, to a man, all freewheeling, sitting up, gasping for breath, we on the other hand just motored through, Daz sprinting to latch back onto the Apollinaris train. We would’ve got away with it too if it wasn’t for a couple of less able sprinters spotting what was going down. Two extra bodies made up for the loss of Tali and Gret, at the same time the odds were still stacked in our favour.
In the Sharan earlier, this top section seemed almost flat, well its hardly steep but it is draggy. We might’ve got the drop on the others at the Prime but we were going to have to work for our advantage. Our two recruits didn’t balk at joining our rotation which helped some and we were soon crossing the Heide that covers the top of the ‘mountain’.
From here its essentially all downhill, there’s nothing technical to negotiate so its no disadvantage having six of us. If, and its a big if, those behind recovered quickly enough from our steam through they could be six strong but could they organise themselves to chase us? No point in speculating, we still have a dozen kilometres before the finish.
The roads were still wet under the trees but we soon returned to open countryside which I was glad of, a surer grip at sixty plus kph is always a good thing. Any semblance of rotation was quickly forgotten, the now light wind pushed us down the slightly meandering road, each of us crouched low over the bars, pedalling more for balance than speed. The lead car started flashing lights all over the place, we needed to dump a lot of speed quickly!
Somehow we all avoided running into said car and made the turn onto the Bischofsheim road safely. Ten K to go, fifteen minutes tops, in theory the podium will be decided between the six of us but nothing is guaranteed, as I well know. Right on cue a pain started in my right calf, no, not now, not after all this effort.
Maddy Bell © 25.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *18*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Maharaja
Cramp, we’ve all suffered at some time, its never pleasant, almost impossible to predict and always, always a pain. In sport, well bike racing at least, the most common cause is low potassium combined with insufficient fluids but sometimes it just happens. Given I’ve been drinking plenty and if anything my diet this week has been saltier than usual, the current discomfort was of the ‘no good reason’ type.
Depending on the severity and your mindset you have two options, try to ride through it or get off and writhe about until it hopefully passes. No prizes for guessing my choice, I straightened my leg and tried pushing through, it eased a little so I gave it another go, raising myself out of the saddle to get more of my fifty kilos behind the move.
"What’s up?” Daz asked.
"Cramp,” I allowed in a quiet voice.
"Bugger, you keeping going?”
"Hopefully.”
"Here,” he put a hand on the back of my saddle which kept me moving through a third attempt to relax my solidly locked calf muscles.
"Cheers.”
"I’ve got some electrolyte left,” he offered.
“’s alright, got some,” not that it would work that quickly anyway.
Of course, we’d slipped off the pace a bit now, there was a gap, not big but a gap nevertheless between the two of us and the rest of the break. Not only that but our absence had been spotted not just by Mand and Josh but by the interlopers to our party, not good news. From having the numbers, its become a lot more of a lottery, especially if it comes to a sprint.
I could see that the Toon was trying to slow things down a bit, but as we discovered the first time through, its a fast road, heavily tilted downwards for most of the last ten. The pain had eased a little but there was another strike as soon as I tried pedalling in earnest again. Options, options, I quickly played through the likely scenarios in my head but I couldn’t see a way to keep me in the running without significantly damaging the team’s chance of the win.
Daz was still helping my forward motion of course but whilst that’ll get me to the finish its hardly fair on him and if we involve the others…
"Get yourself back up there before its too late.”
"What about you?”
"I’ll be okay but its not my day.”
"You sure?”
"Yep, I’m not the only rider in the team, tell Josh that one of you has to win, can’t let the locals get the better of us.”
He still didn’t look convinced, "Okay, see you at the finish.”
"I’ll be right behind you.”
Flippin’ dreams. Daz made short work of rejoining the others but without his helping hand I was losing ground quite rapidly. There was a brief exchange with Josh, a look behind and my fate was sealed.
Its never nice to be dropped, I watched in frustration as the leaders slipped further and further from my grasp. On the plus side, I was actually back to pedalling but as soon as I put any extra effort in I could feel the tension returning. As I wasn’t racing, I took a good look behind on the next rise, the next group were coming up, not fast but steadily and it had grown.
I might have taken myself out of the race for the podium but that doesn’t mean I can’t still play a part does it? I rolled over the top of the rise, Josh and co were still in sight but they were easily half a K ahead now, if the lot behind get the bit between their teeth they could still be hauled back before the finish. Well that’s not gonna happen if I have anything to do with it, I clicked up a sprocket and got myself aero, I might not be running on both cylinders but one and a half Gaby legs is still pretty good.
Maybe I was over the cramp, maybe I was just pushing through it but either way I was back to clicking along at nearly forty k’s. My plan was cunning and at first glance counter intuitive, force the chasers to chase me rather than the head of the race. With any luck when, and that’s fairly certain, when they catch me they’ll ease off which will hopefully give the others enough clear tarmac to get to the finish.
Last time through I was in a big bunch, sucked along without any choice or need for efficient lines down the target but now, out on my own, picking the right line was essential. There’s just enough movement in the road that I’m pretty sure those behind couldn’t actually see up the road to the leaders, their strength in numbers a foil to my own testing capabilities. When I checked under my arm on the penultimate rise I still had something like two hundred metres advantage on the chasers, they were coming but they were running out of road.
The next, well the last little blip in our descent was where it all kicked off last time but this time, instead of that dead turn in the town we’d be going into the centre, a much straighter run, where the finish will be in the main square. The horde were almost at my heels by the time we reached the underpass, barring a disaster the others should be making their final approach. I dug in a bit harder but the baying pack swallowed me before we reached the town proper.
It was a motley bunch that swept through, I didn’t offer even token resistance now, Gret and Tali were both riding the tail of the serpent, I added the Rainbow bands at its tip. Within what felt like seconds we’d navigated Bischofheim’s shopping district and joined the meleé of people and bikes filling the square. For once I wasn’t the centre of attention, instead I simply stopped, unclipped and collapsed over the bars, spent and frustrated.
"I was worried when you didn’t come in with Amanda,” Dad told me, again, as he worked on my sore leg.
"Stuff happens, ooh!”
"Sorry, you going to be okay to ride back to the HQ?” he asked helping me get back on my pins.
"I’ll give her a push like,” Josh put in, a grin as wide as the Tyne on his face.
"I can manage on my own.”
"Wit ever Hen.”
"The others gone up?” Dad enquired of the day’s victor.
"Aye, Dieter said he’d bring tha car doon if yous wants like.”
"Well apparently Erdbeer can manage, go on the pair of you, I’ll be up as soon as.”
"Daddy!” I complained.
"If the hair fits,” he smirked, "Wouldn’t say no to a cuppa when I get there.”
The result? Well I’d’ve put money on Manda over Josh in a sprint but from what I’ve garnered the sprint was for minor placings, Josh having taken a flyer as they came into town. The others never quite got back to him, one of the locals just snatched second from Mand, Daz holding the other off for fourth. Me? Who knows, probably twenty something, another dose of cramp had me trailing even Gret and Tali across the line, so much for being team numero uno, today I was bottom of the Appollinaris pile.
Of course, as the deposed champion I was the butt of my team mates humour in the aftermath, I think it was all meant in fun. As you know, its a team tradition to all have a meal when the racing is done for the day and today we were celebrating the winner of the Sud Rhön GP and for once its not me. Once we were clean, dry and faintly human again we drove back into the centre where Dad had sussed out the Landgasthaus Rhönblume in a corner of the Marktplatz as our eaterie.
The earlier wet and grey was long past, it was sunny, a few white clouds scudding across a blue sky and temperatures, well warm enough for us to eat al fresco.
"So champeen, how’s it feel?” Gret posed.
"I’d just like to thank my dog, the girl in the bakery, my manager and most of all Erdbeer without whose cramp none of this woulda been possible like.”
Josh held a straight face almost to the last before collapsing in laughter.
"It was painful,” I complained giving my calf a bit of a rub.
"What do you reckon caused it?” Mand asked around a forkful of red bean salad.
"Dunno,” I admitted, "Dad?”
"From what I’ve heard of the race, it could’ve been the weather.”
"Weather?” Daz repeated, "How can the weather give you cramp?”
"I’m not sure how it works.”
"There’s a first,” I interrupted.
"If you’d let me finish Kiddo,” he gave me one of those ‘don’t do that again’ looks then went on, "I’ve heard of top flight riders getting similar attacks, you put in a hard effort, its cold and wet, you put in another effort then out of the blue cramp kicks in.”
"I did get quite chilled when I did that dummy attack.”
"We all did,” Tal pointed out, "So why did it only affect Gabs?”
Dad shrugged, "Who knows?”
"Its not Frau Mond time is it?” Gret suggested.
I coloured up immediately, look I know its a perfectly natural bodily function but I’m still not very comfortable with the idea that I can, you know menstruate and the implications of that.
"Gret!” Mand admonished.
"Well she did have those other,” she did the air quote thing, “’issues’, didn’t you get cramps then Gab?”
"Can’t remember.” or rather I remember all too well, the abdominal pains, the blood, so much blood.
"Gab?”
"Eh?”
"You okay love? you’ve gone very pale,” Dad opined.
"We yeah, sure, where’s that food, I’m starving.”
Dieter and his passengers headed straight for the autobahn after we’d eaten, he and Gret still had a long way to go after they’d dropped Tal and Josh off at Kassel Bahnhof for their train north to Harburg. The rest of us were in less of a hurry, with Darren staying at Bond Acres for the week and Mand enjoying a similar long break to me, they weren’t heading back to Dernau until the morning. We’d made loose arrangements to eat back in Fulda with the band, not that I felt much like eating after our repast at the Rhönblume, but it’ll fill the evening.
After failing to raise Misty I found Anna Louise in my contacts and pressed dial, it only rang twice before she picked up.
"Hi Anna, were just heading back to Fulda now.”
"How did you get on?”
"Not brilliant but Josh won.”
"The one who talks strangely?”
That’s one way of putting it, I swear his accent gets worse each time I see him.
"Yeah, that’s him, so what’s happening for dinner, I tried ringing Mist but all I got was voicemail.”
"I’m sure she’s just asleep, I can check if you want?”
"Don’t bother, you’re probably right, she’s been partying hard all week, so, dinner?”
"Oh sure, we’ve got a table booked at an Indian just up from the station.”
"Dad’ll be pleased,” I prophesied, "Have Sam and Hilde arrived yet?”
"Just after lunch, you guys gonna meet us at the restaurant? We’re going for a drink first.”
"Probably easiest, what time?”
"Its called the Ma ha ra ja, tables booked for eighteen.”
"Okay see you there, tschuss.”
"Tschuss.”
"What will I be pleased about?” Dad enquired.
"Indian tonight, some place called the Maharaja near the Bahnhof, said we’d meet them there.”
"Why do all Indians have names like that, Taj Mahal, Everest,” Daz enquired of the camper.
"Yeah and Chinese are like Happy Sun and stuff,” Mand added.
"There’s one in Sheffield called China Delight,” I giggled, "I mean, what’s wrong with Su Li’s Cafe?”
"Or Abdul’s Curry House,” Daz went on, clearly on a roll now.
"Do you need to go to the hotel first Gab?” Dad asked before it got too silly.
"Erm,” do I? "I’m not really dressed to go out.”
"I’ve got a frock you can borrow,” Mand offered.
Hmm, tempting but I do have an image to uphold.
"If we go by the hotel I’ll run in and get something then we can go to the camper ground, I’ll only be like…”
"Five minutes,” everyone else chorused.
It was only a few minutes drive back to the B&B Hotel, Dad pulled the behemoth of a camper up at the kerb – well no point in trying to put it in the car park.
"Don’t be long,” Dad requested.
"I won’t be, ten minutes tops.”
"So much for five minutes,” Mand opined.
Well that got the response it deserved!
"Whilst I think about it, you’d best take this,” Dad told me retrieving a bag from the bin in the central console.
"What is it?”
"Just a couple of tubes and a new tyre.”
"I don’t need a new tyre.”
"Humour me, just in case right?”
"Thanks Daddy,” I leant in and gave him a quick hug, "Fifteen minutes.”
"Gab!” Daz joined Manda in complaint.
"Okay, ten, it was worth a try.”
I hopped down to the pavement and headed in to the hotel. When I opened the door to our room a couple of minutes later a waft of something chemical hit my nostrils, quite pungent, sort of like that smell you get at swimming pools – just stronger. Then I took in the room, it looked like a small tornado had hit it, the contents of Mists suitcase were strewn liberally across her bed and some of the floor and even my bed.
On the plus side my stuff was as I left it this morning so we’d either been visited by an inefficient thief or the mess was all my room mates doing. I’m sure I’ll get the low down of why my usually tidy friend had gone ape later but I was on the clock and she’s not here anyhow. I opened a window to clear the pong, then, after transferring my wallet and stuff to my backpack, stuffed my dress and found my strappy heels still lurking in a corner of the case.
Have I got everything? Wallet, Handy, shoes, dress, fresh undies – oh slap. I dived into the bathroom to pickup my makeup bag, the smell was even stronger in there! My visit was a bit hit and run, I grabbed my bag and exited stage left, by the box I saw amongst the debris in the bin, it looks like Mist has hit the hair dye, which I guess explains the smell – mind you it didn’t smell like that when she did mine.
“’bout time,” Mand grumped as I clambered back into the Hymer.
"I was as quick as I could, I had to wait for the lift to come back down.”
"Excuses, excuses,” she mumped.
"To be fair Mand,” Daz put in, "She was only eleven minutes.”
"You were timing me?” I accused.
"Er, not really.”
"So how do you, oh never mind.”
It took nearly as long, even on a Sunday afternoon to make our way round to the Stellplatz which, whilst only across the town centre involved an excursion around the bypass and nine sets of traffic lights of which we got caught at five. There were several camper vans already parked up but Dad had obviously sussed thing yesterday and soon had us parked under some trees.
We soon had electric hooked up, while Dad made use of the shower, I set off with Daz to find the parking meter.
"You okay Gab?”
"Fine, still a bit bummed by the cramp, thanks for hanging back by the way.”
He gave a shrug, "Its what team mates do.”
"I know but manners don’t cost anything and I really did appreciate the pushes.”
"You’d do the same.”
"I guess.”
But would I? I know I would in theory but I didn’t even notice that Gret had punctured or that Tal was being blown out the back, I was just so wrapped up in getting me in a race winning position I hadn’t even thought about the others. What was it BC Dave kept saying, something about there being no I in Team?
"There it is,” the newest member of Team Apollinaris stated, changing trajectory slightly towards the pay station.
A lot of these camper parking places have sprung up in the last couple of years, basic amenities if you are lucky but cheap and legal. Of course, most newer campers are pretty self sufficient with toilets and stuff and for an overnight a bit of reasonably secure hard standing will do. It was five euros for twenty four hours, another couple covered the electric, put in the registration, feed in a ten et voila, all done.
"So you gonna be commuting from England for races then?”
"Your dad and George are sorting me out somewhere to stay in Ahrweiler and some part time work at the bottling plant.”
"A couple of the girls on the women’s squad do that.”
"Yeah, its not a free ride but on the plus side I can improve my Germlish.”
"Sounds cool.”
"I’m bunking at yours this week then I go home for a couple of weeks, then mum and dad are bringing me back with my stuff.”
"Excellent, at least you know a few people already.”
"I think know would be stretching things a bit.”
"We can always do with more lads at our social events.”
"I’ll be washing my hair.”
"Daz, you hardly have any, now this,” I lifted a shank of pink head covering, "Is an excuse.”
"So if I dye it pink I can stay at home and collect navel fluff?”
"Daz!”
"Only joking, I think blue would go better with my complexion!”
"Why you!”
"Gotcha!”
Maddy Bell © 27.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *19*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Mandarine
Misty made the journey down from the sixth floor in a state of nervousness that outstripped her recent stage debut. The face that looked back at her from the mirrored walls of one of Schindlers finest vertical floor exchangers was unfamiliar, it was gonna take some getting used to for herself let alone what anyone else thought. She almost jabbed the level one button, to chicken out from her big reveal but a ding announced her arrival on the ground floor where Anna Louise and the rest of the BlauHase ‘family’ were waiting.
The doors opened, she could see them sat and stood around the easy chairs by reception, they were all there, she recognised Little Jo’s wife Hilde and presumably the blonde draped around Animal was his girlfriend, Sam.
"Excuse me miss.”
"Oh sorry,” she stepped out of the lift, making way for the clean cut business type who’d been waiting when the doors had opened.
She heard the lift doors slide shut, the faint whir of its ascent quickly fading.
"Misty?”
Damn, she’d been spotted, no escape now. She put on a smile and headed across the foyer.
"Hi Anna, guys, I’m not late am I?”
"No, we were just chatting,” Anna Louise advised, "I think you met Hilde the other week.”
"Er yeah, at the pre tour, hi Hilde.”
Hilde looked a bit confused, her own ‘hi’ had a cautious note to it.
"The blonde draped around Animal is…”
"Samantha, Sam to my friends, nice to meet you at long last,” the blonde offered a hand which Mist shook in greeting.
"You ladies done?” Stefan queried, "I can hear a Großer bier calling me.”
The nine of them left the hotel and headed into the town, Mist soon joining in with the conversation. Of course, the whole thing was absurd, okay so Sam didn’t know her from Adam and Hilde had most likely forgotten what she looked like anyhow but the others? She did catch a few sideways looks from the guys but the elephant in the room, vis her much changed appearance wasn’t mentioned.
As they waited to cross the dual carriageway Sam struck up the conversation.
"Love your piercings.”
"Er thanks, still getting used to them.”
"Anna said you only got them this week.”
So she had come up in conversation earlier in the day.
"Yesterday actually,” she admitted, "I’ve wanted them for ages but I’ve always chickened out, it just seemed the right time.”
"Oh I know what you mean, I was the same before I got my first tattoo and now look at me.”
Of course you couldn’t miss that Sam had tattoos, just a quick glance revealed several on each arm, there was something on her thigh just visible under her short skirt but the flaming heart sat directly above her cleavage was the eye catcher.
"I um, like your heart.”
Sam pulled a face to look down at her chest, "Thanks, hurt like hell mind, Animal got it for me as a birthday gift. So you fancy getting any ink, oh, I’m assuming you don’t have any.”
"Maybe one day, finances are a bit tight at the minute.”
"Been there, so you at college?”
The lights changed and they followed the others across the road.
"I’m not very academic, just filling time before deciding what to do longer term.”
"Wish I’d done that, I spent two years on a nursing course that I hated.”
"What do you do now?”
"Don’t laugh, bank teller.”
"Get away! Really, they don’t mind your tattoos?”
"As long as I keep them covered but they do draw the line at face piercings and what my supervisor calls ‘unnatural hair’.”
"Looks like I’m out then,” Mist opined.
"Yeah, I don’t think you fit Deutsche Bank’s corporate image, least not for their customer face staff – there is a guy in computer support with you know those stretched piercings in his lobes.”
"Might pass on that.”
"Yeah me too, he came in once without the plugs in, he just had these weird shrivelled bits hanging down, gross.”
There weren’t a lot of people about in the town centre, a few older couples out for a stroll, some kids with skateboards, the usual for a Sunday afternoon in a German town. Mist’s confidence grew with each step, oh there were some strange looks no doubt about it but being in a group meant a sort of protection was in place around her. They found a bar just off the main drag, not far from the restaurant and were soon drinking and chatting merrily, Sam alone in sticking to soft drinks.
Meanwhile across the town.
By the time the pair of us got back to our pantechnicon of a camper, Dad was out of the shower and had the coffee machine on full drip – well I’ve not convinced Dad that we need a mini Gaggia yet okay? The next thirty minutes were a whirlwind of bodies dressing, preening and drinking – Daz and Dad could add waiting to that list. It wasn’t that me or Mand needed to shower, we did that earlier this afternoon at Bischofsheim, but it takes us laydeez longer to get ready, at least if we want to look at least halfway smart.
"They gonna be much longer?” I heard Daz asking.
"If there’s one thing I’ve learnt with a house full of women Darren, is don’t try to rush them and never mention how long they’ve been,” Dad supplied.
"Then as if by magic we appear!” I announced, returning to the living area.
"And before you ask, I’m right behind her,” Mand added, "Gab, you seen my bag?”
"Think, Daz is sitting on it.”
"Da-az,” Mand complained as the bag hiding fiend fished behind himself in search of the missing item.
"Er, this it?” he queried dragging straps and bag from behind the cushion he’d been leaning against.
"Hmph! nothing better be broken.”
"Daft place to leave it.”
"Be nice people,” Dad interjected in a vague attempt at de-escalation, "Are we all ready?”
Its not far from the Wohnmobil Stellplatz to our destination, no more than a kilometre but getting into the centre meant a less than straight route following a not very obvious route. Fulda Dom dominated the skyline as we made our way through an area which seemed to have more than its fair share of religious buildings, the Domchor, the Bischöfliches Priesterseminar, Theology Centre and that's just for starters. Other signs pointed to Caritas centres, both Palace and Schloss gardens besides several parks and Stadtschloss, a huge pale yellow palace affair that reminded me a bit of that place where the reception was in Munich – you remember, that fancy wedding?
Someone, okay it was me, wanted, no needed to use the toilets on Domplatz, besides which my feet weren’t enjoying the walk and I wanted to put my trainers back on, I had them in my backpack – just until we get to this Maharaja place.
"Okay?” Dad asked when I returned to the late afternoon subshine.
"Yeah,” I agreed, "So which way now?”
"According to the town plan, if we cut through the Schlosspark there's a road takes us almost straight to where we want to be.”
"How far is it?” Mand asked from her perch on the wall, no doubt thinking about her own footwear choice.
"Few hundred metres?” Dad suggested.
"Whatever.”
"Come on then, sooner we get there the sooner you get sat down again.”
When I think ‘few’ I usually expect three, four tops, I’m sure we’d walked more like half a K when we reached the main shopping street and Daz spied our destination. The park was nothing spectacular, a formal bit of lawns and flower beds before a more ‘natural’ landscape of native trees and a sort of ornamental pond cum boating lake took over. We picked up a sign for the Stadtmitte and sure enough, Lindenstrasse brought us directly to H&M on the wide pedestrianised expanse of Bahnhofstrasse.
It didn’t take long to walk the last hundred metres, we were a little late but only a couple of minutes.
"Erdbeer!” Big Jo called out across the restaurant.
There were a few other patrons, less than a dozen, spread over several tables, the BlauHase party were seated at a long table on the far side. Gab mentally ticked everyone off, Stefan, Marcus and Anna, Big Jo, Little Jo with his wife, the blonde with Animal must be Sam, so where’s Misty? More than that, who’s the girl with orange hair? That is painfully bright, hope she’s got a license, maybe she’s another friend come with Sam and Hilde?
"Hi guys, sorry we’re late.”
"We’ve only just sat down,” Stefan told us, "Good day?”
"Had better,” I allowed.
"We took the win,” Dad told the table as he found a seat next to Stefan.
"You three sitting or what?” Little Jo queried.
"Gis a chance, where’s Mist?”
I felt a tug on my elbow, "Um, Gab?” Mand nodded towards the unknown girl sat next to Anna.
"Hi Gab.”
I knew there was conversation still going on around me but it was sort of like time had slowed right down. It was Nena, Mists voice but my brain was having difficulty connecting it to the optical input. Mist has fairly long dark brown hair, this person, the one using my friends voice has much shorter, well tangerine hair with shortish bangs and makeup straight out of Gothland.
The synapses finally started to connect, the smell in our hotel room was bleach, the box in the bin, the girls hair on it was similar to the visage across the table. It still didn’t look right but the three studs around her mouth, the pouty lips painted a red verging on black, helped consolidate the image.
"Your mother is gonna go nuclear!”
"You like, thought I’d try a different colour.”
Now was not the time to talk about this, the arrival of a small flock of waiters armed with menus and intent on taking drinks orders sealed that. Frau Fischer and no doubt her Mann will have kittens when they are reunited with their daughter next week. I know she’s been ‘finding’ herself this last week, but I think she’s found someone else altogether, is this really my timid friends alter ego?
The Maharaja, apart from being host to my tangerine haired friend, is a typical Indian restaurant of the European persuasion. That is to say, they do the basics but the menu is much smaller than similar establishments back in Blighty, oh you get the standard sauces, Korma, Madras, Vindaloo, Masala but you’ll be lucky to find a Dhansak and your chances of a Balti or Tikka are fairly slim. The same goes for the rest of the menu and as for anything a bit more regional, well don’t hold your breath.
On the other hand, most Germans are unaware they are missing anything and the tables are turned when it comes to Greek and Turkish restaurants. I think Daz was a bit dismayed by the omissions, they didn’t even do a Keema Naan, but I suppose it does make choosing a bit simpler. In the end though, with thirteen of us to feed, we decided to just order a load of rice and an assortment of curries for the main course – well Mand just wanted Pilau and Sag Aloo.
It did mean everyone had the opportunity to try different stuff – and there was room on the table to fit everything. Several tureens of rice, plain and Pilau, a row of those warmer things with the tealights home to the dishes of actual curry. Personally I favoured the lamb Rogan Josh but I had a spoon of the beef Madras and chicken Korma and the Masala was turkey – not something you get back across the Channel.
There was beer on the table but after one small glass I switched to the ice water, I noticed Dad did the same – well I guess he’ll be driving back to the Ahrtal tomorrow so he will need a clear head. My bandmates were a bit less restrained, I don’t know what they did earlier but I know they had a couple of drinks before coming to the restaurant – not that I’m counting. By the time everyone had their fill and coffee was ordered, it was after eight, I caught Sam checking her watch once or twice, no doubt thinking of the long drive back to Bonn she and Anna still had to do tonight.
"Well I guess I’ll see you next week?” I suggested to Dad as we gathered on the pavement, the town almost silent apart from the faint sounds of trains moving through the Bahnhof a couple of hundred metres away.
"Unless you don’t want us,”
"Course I do, not so sure Mist is looking forward to her reunion though.”
"Indeed, that’s one conversation I don’t want to be anywhere near.”
"Me either. What do you think Mum’d say if it was me?”
"Well I think she’d be disappointed but she’d get over it, you know we both love you and you’re old enough to make your own decisions about these things.”
"Like doing this singing lark?”
"Exactly.”
"Maybe I can get her to tone down the colour a bit before the weekend,” I suggested.
"I think they’re waiting for you and I can’t see Darren and Amanda.”
"Think I can see them up near that crossing.”
"Take care kiddo, I know today was a bit disappointing but these things happen.”
"I guess, I’ll try to get a couple of rides in during the week, bye Dad.”
"Bye Gaby,” we exchanged an awkward hug – well he’s a lot taller than me even if I have got heels on.
"Give Mum my love.”
"I will, now scoot."
"So we’ll see you on Saturday, it’ll probably be late afternoon,” Sam suggested as goodbyes were said outside of the hotel. "I’ll bring you that number for my tattoo guy Mist.”
"Thanks Sam,” the two hugged before the two departees got in Sam’s Opel Adam to set off into the night.
"Ring me when you get home,” Marcus called after them.
"What time we leaving in the morning,” Mist enquired as we moved towards the entrance.
"Should only be about an hour to Hanau” Little Jo volunteered.
"Leave about ten?” Stefan suggested, "We can get some lunch before we meet Rob.”
"Anyone want a night cap,” Animal asked seeing the bar was open.
"I need my beauty sleep,” I told them.
"Yeah, I should go up too,” Mist agreed.
"See you in the morning then,” Stefan suggested.
"Yeah, nite everyone.”
The two of us rode the elevator in silence, both aware of the coming conversation, neither wanting to be the one to start it.
Room six one eight didn’t look any different to when I left it, what four hours ago? It didn’t smell of hair chemicals though and there was a cold draft flapping the curtain from the window I’d opened.
"Bum,” Mist sighed.
"I thought we’d been robbed when I came in earlier,” I told the orange one as I headed to close the window.
"I forgot about this lot.”
"Why’s it all strewn about anyway,” I asked aimlessly picking up the TV remote – well I might just catch the second half of Tatort.
"I was looking for an earring, I heard it drop but I couldn’t see where.”
"Whatever.”
"You don’t approve do you, my piercings, the hair, the clothes?”
"Its not for me to approve or not Mist, true, I was surprised by the piercings, its not my thing, you mentioned dying your hair but I just thought you’d do it black or auburn or something, I wasn’t expecting bright orange.”
"Mandarine.”
"Whatever you call it, you threw me a right curve ball.”
"You hate it.”
"I don’t hate it, it’ll just take some getting used to.”
"Tell me about it,” Mist sighed, sagging onto her bed, I don’t recognize me.”
"What was that about, Sam said something about a tattooist? You’re not getting tattooed too are you?”
"Maybe,” she hedged, "Did you see that one on her chest, awesome.”
Of course I’d seen it, its difficult not to given its position, every time you look at her your eyes are drawn to it.
"Your rents really will go mad if you turn up covered with tattoos.”
"Relax, its not gonna happen this week, if ever, I’m not sure I’m ready for that sort of commitment.”
"What about those new holes?”
"In theory I can take them out.”
"What do you mean, ‘in theory’.”
"To tell the truth, my bottom lip was really swollen this morning and I tried to take the bars out.”
"There’s a but coming.”
"Yeah, I forgot that he super glued the balls on so I didn’t take them out, buyers regret he called it.”
"So you can’t get them out, like ever?”
"Well not by myself.”
"Sugar.”
"To be honest, if I could’ve taken them out I probably wouldn’t’ve done my hair.”
"But you were committed so what the hey,” I proposed.
"Pretty much.”
"Why orange?”
"It looked good on the packet.”
I shook my head, it was as good a reason as any.
Maddy Bell © 28.02.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *20*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Hilde
The slightly annoying red clock figures on the room TV flicked from five fifty nine to a round six, not a time of the morning Gaby was particularly keen on being conscious for, she had enough of that getting up for college. It didn’t help that sleep hadn’t come easily last night, by the time Misty had tidied up her stuff and cleaned off all her makeup she’d been dozing but then miss carrot top had wanted to talk. Not only that but she seemed oblivious to Gab’s hints that sleep might be a good idea.
Of course the cause of her current wakefulness wasn’t the gently snoring girl across the room but rather the very painful jolt of cramp that wracked her leg. If you’ve had bad cramp you’ll know the feeling, if you haven’t, well just be grateful, its far from nice. That had been twenty minutes ago according to those flickering numerals, sleep was not looking like it was coming again anytime soon.
Her mind wandered, it had been quite a day what with one thing and another. The race had actually gone okay – well until the cramp, Dad was probably right about the cold and wet being the cause but why she’d had a repeat laid in bed was a mystery. Then there was Misty, she didn’t consider herself a prude but her friends transformation from wall flower to Goth vixen was unexpected to say the least.
Would she do anything like that herself? Oh she’d dressed ‘full Goth’ a couple of times but big boots, fishnet and heavy slap was a bit different to getting your face pierced and giving your hair the sort of style and colour makeover that Mist had. For one, she liked her hair long and preferably its natural pale blonde, for two, she’d never volunteered to get any of the holes she did have, let alone pay someone to make you look, well slightly weird.
And what was that about getting a tattoo? Seriously Mist? You think you know someone, you spend years as close as sisters and then you discover they think of themselves as this other person. Blink, six oh one.
"Hey Erd, you getting up or what?” Mist enquired in a far too cheerful tone.
"What.”
"Geez girlfriend, its a wonder you ever see daylight.”
“’s over rated.”
"Guess we’ll just have to cancel your appointment with Axel, I thought you wanted him to finish it,”
"Okay, okay, what time is it anyway?”
"Ten past nine.”
"But the appointment isn’t until two.”
"You do have to get dressed and do your hair.”
I gave a sigh, its okay being a Goth but they don’t tell you how high maintenance it is before you sign up. What with getting your outfit just so, makeup and hair perfect, I swear its like a full time job. And I’ve been putting off shaving the stubble on my undercut all week.
I crawled from my pit and headed to the bathroom to make a start on being Erdbeer for another day. Looking in the mirror, this will be the last time that I’ll see the outline tat that's been on my chest for like a month, by this evening it’ll be in full technicolour, flames curling around the lifelike heart suspended by chains from bosses on either shoulder, its gonna look brilliant. I’m still looking for the right art for my backpiece, I’ll see if Axel has any ideas later.
"Black or silver?” I enquired of my roommie.
"For what?”
"My dimples.”
"Black looks ace with that hair but you’ll need everything black or it’ll look a bit lame.”
"I think you’re right, can you shave my neck in a minute?”
"No problemo.”
I carefully brushed and combed my redder than red hair into place, hmm, have to touch up my fringe a bit too.
"Hey Gab, you getting up or what?” Mist enquired in a far too cheerful tone.
"What.”
"Geez girlfriend, its a wonder you ever see daylight.”
“’s over rated.”
Dé ja vú or what?
"You do want breakfast this morning?”
"Well du-uh!”
"Best shake a leg then, its ten past nine.”
"What? Why didn’t you wake me earlier?”
"You looked so peaceful, thought I’d let you sleep in a bit.”
"There’s a bit and there’s missing breakfast,” I told her making a wild scramble for the bathroom.
Morning necessities dealt with, I looked in the mirror, slap can wait but not looking like I’ve been slept on would be good. Of course, the image in the mirror didn’t have assorted face jewellery, didn’t have intensely red hair and my chest wasn’t adorned with, well anything. Nope the girl in the mirror was the one I‘ve seen for the last few days, slightly faded pink hair hanging below my shoulders, gold ring in one nostril and of course my favourite Snoopy sleep set.
I’m not sure if that was a dream or a nightmare, I really should steer clear of cheese late at night.
My mind was expecting to see Anna Louise when I got to the breakfast room, she really is a morning person, out for a run every morning before anyone else has surfaced. But of course she left with Sam last night, instead, sat with LJ, was his wife Hilde. Of course I’ve met Hilde a couple of times before last night but I wouldn’t say that I know her at all.
"Mornin’” I offered, "Mind if we join you?”
"Sure, we’re just about done anyhow,” Little Jo told us.
"You’re both late down,” Hilde suggested.
"Yeah, someone let me sleep late.”
"No pleasing some people,” Mist shot back.
"So you all packed?” Little Jo queried.
"Ish,” I told them, helping myself to coffee.
"Fruit juice Gab?” Mist enquired.
"Apple if they have it.”
"I’m sure if you’re a few minutes late we’ll cope,“ Hilde stated.
Was that some sort of rebuke or censure? Was she being a bit snippy and if so, why?
"So what did you guys get up to yesterday, you never said last night,”
"BJ wanted to go look at the Feuerwehr Museum so we spent most of the afternoon looking at fire trucks,” Little Jo offered.
"Any handsome firemen?” Mist enthused returning with the fruit juice.
"More like the geriatric ward,” Hilde snorted.
"You could’ve come with us Mist,” Little Jo mentioned.
"I know, Anna did ask but I had, er, stuff to do.”
Stuff like turn herself into, well, the slightly freaky girl sat next to me.
"Well, we’ll leave you to it,” Hilde stated to which her husband jumped a little, a week of sloth replaced by the new order of having his ‘better half’ along.
"Sure, see you later,” Mist told them.
"What do you make of her?” I asked having collected the makings of my Frühstuck, Brotchen, cheese, meat, a bit of salad and a bowl of fruit salad and yoghurt.
"She’s not Anna, thats for sure.”
"Its not just me then, there’s just something about her that feels a bit off.”
Mist nibbled on her toast before replying, "I don’t think she wanted to come.”
"So why come then?”
"Dunno, it was just a feeling I got last night.”
"Maybe she’s worried about all the groupies.”
"Maybe its not groupies. Perhaps its us,” Mist conjected.
"Us?”
"Young, nubile women, eager to please.”
"I like Little Jo but really? Eww!”
"Maybe he has history?”
"Maybe she’s paranoid,” I put in.
"She’s probably perfectly nice, she just needs to settle in.”
"Loosen up.”
"That as well.”
The drive down to Hanau wasn’t exactly arduous, out to the autobahn then a steady trundle south west down the sixty six, through the Kinzigtal.
"What’re we doing for lunch?” Mist queried, beating me by a heartbeat in asking the question.
"There’s bound to be a McDonald’s or something,” Stefan suggested.
Looks like we’re back to a diet of fast food.
"You can’t be serious,” Hilde hmphed.
"We are on a budget liebe,” Little Jo interposed
"That stretches to litres of bier but not decent food.”
She did sort of have a point, we’ve fallen on our feet a couple of times but others – yeah, best not go there.
There was a billboard on the approach to Hanau, you know the sort of thing, so many minutes to the nearest restaurant, in this case, seven minutes to McDrive Lamboy off route eight, which pretty much sealed our fate.
"Well there’s a Macky somewhere near the next junction if we go towards Frankfurt," Marcus stated.
"Or we go into the town and try to park this,” Animal added from the driving seat.
"Okay, burgers it is,” Hilde allowed.
Part of me wanted to cheer, they do usually have decent toilets, which I’d soon need, but the rest of me fancied something, well not burgerish. We trundled on , it was only as we started the turn onto route eight that Hilde let out a little squeal.
"Yes!”
"What now,” her other half enquired.
"There’s an IKEA, look you can see the mast.”
"And? We don’t have time to go trawling around furniture stores,” Little Jo told her firmly.
"I know dearest, what else do they have in their stores?”
"Meatballs?” I ventured from my corner.
"Precisely, we can go there to eat, it’ll be cheaper than a burger bar too.”
"Its the same direction,” Animal noted.
It probably took a minute or two longer than going to the McDrive but, whilst quite busy, even with the bus we got parked easily, all we had to do now was find the restaurant. Back in England we were sort of lucky in as much as we were only about ten miles from the IKEA at Eastwood, not that we went very often. Originally you had to go half way around the store to get to the restaurant but there was a sort of rat run shortcut if you knew from by the entrance.
Its a bit more civilised at our local one here in Germany, down in Koblenz, you can go direct to the restaurant when you go in but the Hanau store looks a bit older so who knows.
"I don’t know where you put it,” the orange haired one opined, "You had all that curry last night, a big breakfast and now that.”
The that in question was of course the IKEA speciality, meatballs, fifteen of course with mash, peas and that Lingonberry jam stuff. Of course I had a slice of Daim cake and canny shopper that I am, a pop glass, you get free refills if you have a store card!
"We might not get much later, this amphitheater place is a bit out in the sticks from what Robert was saying.”
"There must be something.”
"Well I’m not taking any chances.”
We did get a few strange looks, five er, casually dressed men, Hilde looking like a hausfrau, me with pink hair and Mist doing the full orange Goth thing. Not that we were alone in standing out, there were a couple of gothy girls giving Mist some serious looks, at the other extreme was an older couple wearing what I call casual Kostum, not dirndls and lederhosen but at the expensive end of native couture.
"So just where is this amphitheater place?”
"Robert said its in the grounds of some Schloss place down by the river,” Stefan told us in reply to Marcus’ enquiry.
"Schloss Philippsruhe, the directions are from the next autobahn junction from where we came off,” Animal added after consulting a crumpled bit of paper.
"It can’t be far, Hanau’s not that big a place,” Little Jo observed.
"We all done?” our leader asked.
By chance, having followed the signs for the motorway direction Frankfurt, we avoided going back onto the sixty six. Roberts directions were pretty much spot on, a couple of kilometres skirting the town before turning onto a dead straight urban street which took us right to the Schloss place. It was only another couple of minutes before we were parked and our manager was striding towards us.
"A good rest people?”
"Not for everyone,” I pointed out.
"Of course Gaby you had your competition, a success I hope?”
"I’ve had better days,” I admitted.
"And Misty, I see you have changed your hair, no one will miss you now hey?”
"Hopefully.”
"So, to business. The venue engineers should be here anytime, they want to get set up as early as possible, something about shifts, you know what its like with local government. Ah the beautiful Hilde.”
Well that might be pushing things a bit, meeow!
"How do you fancy being in charge of merchandise?”
"Merchandise?”
"They haven’t told you, the CD?”
"Of course, it has been mentioned once or twice.”
"I’ve secured a kiosk to use this evening to sell it to the clamouring fans if you are up for it?”
"I’m supposed to be on holiday.”
"Go on Hil,” Little Jo encouraged, "Its only for what, an hour?”
"Am hour before, maybe thirty minutes after,” Robert proposed.
"CD’s?”
"Well I took a flyer and got some t-shirts done with your design on Gaby,” he admitted.
"Guess all the families will be getting them at Weihnachts!” Big Jo joked.
"CD’s and t-shirts, no other surprises Robert?” Hilde asked in a manner that suggested she had prior experience of Robert Silsman.
"Thats it, I swear Hil.”
"Okay I guess.”
"Great, I knew I could rely on you.”
"So when do we get to see this phonographic wonder,” Animal enquired.
"Of course, you haven’t seen it, I’ve got one somewhere here,” he stated, starting a search of his person, "Ah, here we are, a real bona fide BlauHase tour album.”
In my head I’d sort of imagined something more impressive but this wasn’t even in a crystal case. Instead our ‘bona fide BlauHase tour album’ was in a card sleeve, sort of like a mini version of Dad’s vinyl LP’s. It didn’t look much, the front had my leaping hare design and the back the set list and so on, exactly as we’d discussed on Saturday.
When I say exactly I mean that literally, I thought they’d replace my sketchy scrawl with proper text but what we had was what I drew in the laundromat, dodgy spacing and everything.
"I thought they were going to just use what I did as a sort of template?”
"That was the original plan,” Robert agreed, "But they were quite impressed by your handiwork, their art director thinks it epitomises not just the music but the whole ‘bootleg’ thing. According to him, and I think I agree, when bands put out a ‘bootleg’ release they try too hard, fancy artwork, exclusive extras and so on, this looks like something the band have done themselves.”
"Well we have,” Marcus pointed out.
"My name’s on it!” Mist enthused.
"You are part of the tour,” Stefan observed.
I wasn’t quite sure what to think, part of me was miffed that they had used my original scrappy doodling, another was quite chuffed that they had used my actual scrappy doodles. The CD itself, whilst having the legal niceties around the edge just had the leaping hare printed on it, yeah I think it hits the mark.
I think in the summer, when the weather is more predictable, the venue is played open to the elements but I was glad to see that there was a sort of tent like roof over both us and the audience, well most of them, and we had an arrangement a bit like Moselfest around the stage. The changing facilities are housed in a couple of temporary buildings, we get one, our support, when they get here will have the other. They aren’t luxurious by any stretch but they are out of the elements, have indoor plumbing and a couple of movable screens gave us girls a bit of privacy.
Yes, we have support again tonight, I’m not sure who thought a Rockabilly band would compliment us but thats what we’ve got, Hanau’s finest, the one and only Four Five Six’s. Its not really my kind of music but there’s a lot worse and I guess with Hanau once being home to a major US military base, the American influence will still be strong hereabouts, there are certainly quite a few late model American cars on the streets, more than you generally see in Germany.
Maddy Bell © 01.03.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *21*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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The Main Attraction
"Well this place is certainly different,” Misty opined an hour or so later.
"One way of putting it,” I agreed.
We were taking a short stroll, the tech guys and instrument players don’t need us for a bit and a walk in the sun is at least some exercise. Mist’s observation was directed at the location of tonight's gig, not the staging itself but rather its placement in the grounds of the Schloss Philippsruhe. Already that sounds impressive but Schloss can be so many things from the famous hilltop Neuschwanstein to grand palaces with places like the von Strechaus’ pile sat in between.
Schloss Philippsruhe is firmly in the palace end of things, not as big or grand as the likes of Charlottenburg, much like back near Warsop, Hardwick Hall is smaller and less grand than Chatsworth, in Germany they’d both be schlosser. Philippsruhe is of course no longer a lived in house but its white stucco exterior houses a museum, an art gallery and is a popular wedding location for people who like that sort of thing.
The gardens and lake are quite formal and the whole thing sits alongside the River Main. Its not really my sort of thing but I’ve been dragged around a few stately piles by Mum and Dad so I can sort of appreciate it. Considering its Monday afternoon, there are quite a few people about, taking in the sun on the lawns, strolling around the perimeter, its that sort of place.
"You fancy a coffee?” I queried having spotted a Tchibo® sign further along the riverside avenue.
"I didn’t bring my bag,” Mandarine head bleated.
"That wasn’t the question, now do you want coffee?”
"Dunno.”
"And they say blondes are ditzy, yes or no?”
"I wouldn’t mind,” she allowed.
"Come on then, looks like there’s a cafe up by the house, my treat.”
The cafe turned out to be housed in part of the palace itself, well on the terrace but much to my disappointment proved to be closed as they keep museum opening. On the plus side the property we’d ignored heading for the cafe was open and whilst it’s called the Biergarten, they serve coffee and cake too. We found a table and a waitress soon had our order, coffee and Schwarzwäldkirschtorte each, yummy!
"We could come here for dinner,” Mist proposed having looked at the menu card on the table, "The prices aren’t bad.”
"Its an idea,” I agreed, taking a quick scan of the options.
"The kebab shop’s are okay but.”
I knew what she meant, most of the options in those places, whilst tasty enough are hardly good for the arteries.
Our coffee and cake arrived, whilst the coffee was a little bitter for my taste, the torte more than hit the spot. This particular rendition had the mix of sponge and cream just about right, the slight tartness of the black cherries offset by the sweet cream and the grated chocolate. Hmmmmm!
"Gab?”
I snapped to attention, "Er soz, just enjoying this.”
"I can see, have you got Stefan’s phone number?”
"What for?”
"To see if he wants us to book a table for later.”
"We could just ask when we get back,” I suggested.
"Or you could phone and sort it now,” she pointed out.
What happened to the timid wallflower I met four years ago.
"Okay,” I dug into the abyss that is my handtasche and handed her my Handy, "Its under B.”
"B?”
"Well I put it in under Blauhase and I’ve never changed it.”
"He said to book for half six,” Mist told me a few minutes later, "They’re ready for a run through, can we get back as soon as.”
"Why’re you telling me?”
"Because you’re paying and you can book the table at the same time?”
Okay, she had me there.
The drive to our accommodation wasn’t long or far distance wise but annoyingly we had to go around the moon to end up barely two hundred metres from the Amphitheater. Thus far our overnights have been in smaller hotels or chains but tonight, a new experience, the Haus Max Planck is a Hotel Garni, basically a bed & breakfast establishment occupying most of what at one time must’ve been a fairly swish house. Its just as well we have got dinner sorted as I certainly didn’t see anywhere else on our way round, the area is firmly residential, older houses with a couple of apartment blocks looming over them.
Its not as grim as it sounds, there are plenty of trees and most of the properties have reasonable gardens although at Haus Max Planck the front is mostly gravel for parking. Apart from Little Jo and Marcus swapping to accommodate the spousal swap, room allocation was as usual, me and Mist landing a room at the back on floor two. No ensuite tonight, we get to share a bathroom with whoever is in room seven, the actual room is barely big enough for the double bed we’ll be sharing.
"Cosy,” I noted.
"We get our own duvets,” Mist tried to enthuse the situation.
Its not to say the place was run down or anything, the lilac décor was distinctly not corporate, the matching bed linen more homely than you get in grander establishments. The shared bathroom is an inconvenience but not the end of the world and lets face it, we won’t be in the room much.
There being nothing to keep us at the Max Planck, once we’d sorted rooms and parked our bags, we eschewed the bus and walked the two hundred metres back to the venue, a footpath depositing us almost directly across from the park entrance. Whether we’ll walk back later is debatable but that’s hours away. Robert dragged Hilde off to sort out the t-shirt and CD stuff whilst the rest of us made use of the coffee machine in the green room, aka our changing room.
"Hows the lips today?” I asked the be-pierced one as we all strolled towards our dinner appointment, "They don’t look as swollen.”
"Better, they still feel quite big.”
"Still don’t know how you could do it, makes my lips hurt just looking at them.”
"You’re just a wuss.”
"A wuss without sore lips, you’re not really gonna get a tattoo are you?”
"Might do, but not this week, what about you, fancy getting some ink?”
I paused before replying, "No.”
"You do fancy getting one,” she accused.
"Don’t.”
"I’ve known you long enough to tell when you’re fibbing.”
"I don’t want a tattoo.”
"Hmmm.”
"Okay, this morning when you so kindly let me oversleep.”
"You looked so peaceful.”
"Well I had a dream, no it was a nightmare really,”
"You had a tattoo,” Mist exclaimed.
"Well I was getting one, right across here,” I motioned above my girls, "A flaming heart in chains.”
"Cool!”
"And I had studs through my cheeks too.”
"So you aren’t against more piercings then.”
"It was a dream, its not like a want tattoos or holes in my face.”
"Not what it sounds like to me.”
"Wish I’d not said anything.”
"Our mums could have a feather spitting competition!”
"Don’t even go there.”
Absurd as the concept was, it did put a grin on my face and an idea in my head.
The guys were quite impressed with the Biergarten, with a few more people about and hot food being served, the atmosphere was completely different to our kaffe und kuche stop earlier. We could probably have got in without booking but when there are nine of you, Robert has come along too, it always pays to be safe. Given its name it seemed a bit churlish not to have bier, I did only order a small one, though my room mate joined everyone else in a Große.
As far as food goes, well the menu is very German, that’s not a bad thing in fact I quite like that. I settled on a green bean salad followed by Puten mit Kartoffeln und Romanesco, a turkey steak with boiled taters and that green spirally cauliflower stuff, no doubt there’d be some sort of sauce. The fly in the ointment was the service, well that's wrong, the service was great it was just that the food took a long time coming, I know it had to be cooked but the bean salad didn’t and that took twenty minutes to arrive.
As a result we were a bit later than planned getting back to the amphitheatre, Four, Five, Six were doing their soundcheck and Hilde scuttled straight off to her merchandise emporium, everything ten euros! It didn’t take long to get Erdbeer ready for the stage, well we’ve been doing it for a week so Mist knew what she was doing with my makeup, the hi-lo dress is simple to put on, the only question was how to do my hair. Tonight it ended up coiled on the back of my head with a couple of tendrils either side of my face.
The big job was sorting out Misty. It wasn’t difficult, more time consuming really, getting the pale foundation even, reshaping her lips with the lip paint, getting those silly eyebrows drawn the same. I swear it took twice as long sorting her out as it did me and I’m the main attraction!
I peeked out at the audience, Mondays, according to Robert, are notoriously difficult to sell tickets for but nevertheless it looked like a good house. The support went down quite well, like I said before, not my thing but they certainly put their all into the performance.
"What do they look like Erd?” Stefan asked as he arrived just ahead of the others.
"Mostly humanoid although there’s a few which may not be.”
"About usual then.”
"They seem quite lively.”
"Lets hope they stay that way.”
Right on cue the lights dropped, being at least partially open to the elements, it wasn’t completely dark on the stage but hopefully the paying public won’t have night vision glasses. The stage manager did that thing with his hand to count us in, time to rock and roll baby!
The crowd were in deed very receptive, it didn’t seem long enough before we were working our way through Isolde’s tangled love life and with it the end of our first half.
"We hope you enjoyed that Hanau, we're gonna have a short break now, we'll be right back with part two.”
The crowd cheered as the lights went down on the stage and up in the auditorium, we quickly exited the stage area and hurried to our changing room.
"You made a muck up on that changeover Marcus,” Big Jo chided.
"And you’re always perfect?”
"I don’t suppose anyone out there even noticed,” Stefan cut in before things escalated.
"Well I didn’t,” I mentioned, not that I’m really sure what they are on about.
"See, Erd’s stood right next and couldn’t tell,” Stefan told the warring duo.
"Hmmph!” Big Jo clearly thought he’d somehow been wronged by a dodgy chord.
The break isn’t long, just enough to use the facilities, freshen up a bit and get a bit of fluid down the tubes.
"Hello again Hanau, you ready for some more?”
The expected cheer was quite loud so I decided to play it a little.
"I can’t hear you, do you want some more?”
I got the desired response, louder cheering with a few whistles and cat calls thrown in.
"Before we return to the music, I’m sure you’d like to meet the band, on bass, Big Jo!”
Well I’ve taken you through this stuff before, the lights, the short piece from each of the musicians, then finally the Mandarine, did her oo’s and ah’s. Of course there was more to our little pantomime, the verbal play between me and Stefan which ends with me singing Edelweiss. Except tonight it didn’t, I don’t know what came over me, when the lads started to play I stayed silent, it took them a moment to realise I wasn’t singing whereupon they stopped.
"Thank you boys, you just can’t get the help these days,” I told the assembled music fans who reacted with a round of nervous laughter.
"Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
Bendicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tui, Iesus
Ave Maria
Ave Maria”
LJ caught on and added the keyboard to my acapella rendition of Schubert’s finest.
"Maiden mild
I listen to a maidens prayer
For thou canst hear amid the wild
'Tis thou, 'tis thou canst save me amid despair
We slumber safely 'til the morrow
Though e'en by men outcast reviled
Oh, maiden
See a maiden sorrow
Oh, mother hear a suppliant child
Ave Maria”
The crowd was silent for a moment before the space was filled with another round of loud cheering.
"Thank you. I hope the rest of the band will forgive my dalliance with the classics, time to get back to some rock and roll!”
And so we started the second act.
"You really threw us with that change Erd,” Stefan told me as we reassembled in the portacabin afterwards, "Why didn’t you say anything beforehand?”
"It was a spur of the moment thing,” I admitted.
"Well I think we got away with it.”
"You know we did,” I grinned.
Although the gig had gone well the after party was a bit flat. Maybe it was the location, maybe it was the lack of a bar – oh there was drink but it was help yourself from a selection on a table, I guess its not quite the same.
Then of course there was the catch with leaving the bus at the Max Planck, we couldn’t leave the gear in the venue, its not secure and its open to the elements. The simple solution would’ve been to fetch the bus but instead the technicians agreed to us putting the gear in their lock up for the night. Of course we then have to retrieve it on the morrow and there’s me thinking that as we’re only like forty K from tomorrows gig, it would be a laid back start to the day.
"So how did the merchandise go Hil?” Animal asked as we waited for the crossing lights. It wasn’t far to walk back, everyone was reasonably sober and we’d need two taxis.
"I was supposed to be keeping a tab but afterwards it got a bit silly so I lost track.”
"So that’s good right?” her husband proposed.
"Good for who? Good for Robert for sure,” she ranted.
"Ball park figure, we talking twenty, thirty?” Stefan prompted.
"You are kidding right? Probably more like two hundred.”
"Two hundred?” I spluttered.
"Plus the shirts,” Hilde added.
"Go on, how many shirts?” Marcus queried.
"Probably fifty, I guess I’ll have to count what’s left to be certain.”
"That’s like two thousand five hundred euros,” Misty announced.
"Quite a bit of beer,” Big Jo observed.
"Don’t get carried away,” Little Jo told him, "It all has to be paid for and Robert will be taking his cut.”
"I don’t think we’ll be getting rich just yet,” I put in.
Yeah, we wont get rich overnight but if its the same through to the weekend, we should all pocket an extra couple of hundred on top of the ticket percentage. Call me mercenary but I’d have to win four or five races to get that much, maybe I should rethink my career path.
Maddy Bell © 04.03.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *22*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Zip a dee do dah
It wasn’t the first time that I’ve shared a bed, a couple of times me and Mand have had to double up when we’ve gone to races. It was however the first time I’ve woken up with a face full of orange hair and gripped in an embrace that any python would be proud of. Yeah I know there was that time with Sophia who, just for the record doesn’t have orange hair, this however was on a different level.
"Mist,” I hissed.
"Hmmm,” rather than freeing me her grip got tighter!
"Mist!,” I insisted, "I need the loo.”
It wasn’t a lie, the need to empty my bladder was what had woken me after all.
"Mmm,” was all I got back so I started to peel myself of her embrace. I’d just about freed myself of one arm when, still asleep, I was released as she turned over. I made good my escape but of course, having to leave the room to use the facilities meant finding footwear and something to put on over my PJ’s. By the time I reached the toilet I was nearly wetting myself.
When I got back to the room I checked the time, it was fairly light outside but at six twenty it was far too early to be up, on the other hand I probably won’t get any more sleep. What to do, what to do? Shower, I didn’t have one last night, it had been makeup off, a quick wipe around with a flannel then bed. Yep a shower would kill two birds with one stone, fill a bit of time and wake me up plus I wasn’t sure how I felt about returning to the embrace of the octopus in the bed.
I gathered my wash kit and headed back to the shared bathroom.
"Wos the time?”
"Er,” I found my watch on the desk cum dresser, "A bit after seven.”
"Why’re you up so early?”
"Needed a wee and then I got first dibs on the shower.”
"I should probably get one,” she allowed.
"Think you’ll have to wait, I think whoever is next door beat you to it.”
"Urgh, just my luck.”
"Early bird and all that.”
Okay I know I’m not a morning person by nature but that doesn’t mean I can’t roll out the platitudes.
"You going for a ride today?”
"Dunno, hadn’t given it much thought.”
"Well you’re always going on about how good riding is for keeping your head straight.”
"I didn’t know it wasn’t.”
"You’ve got something on your mind.”
Have I? And since when did Mist become the expert on what’s firing my two brain cells?
"Suppose I could,” I allowed, well its a good excuse to excuse myself from all the loading and stuff, "I can probably stretch it to a decent ride quite easily.”
"Without getting lost?”
That ride to Bad Nauheim will haunt me forever!
"I was not lost, I just missed one turn.”
"If you say so.”
"If I’m gonna ride down to Darmstadt I suppose I’d best get my bags packed now seeing as I’m up.”
"Urgh!”
"What’s up now?”
"One of the balls got caught behind my teeth.”
"How the hell did you manage that? No on second thoughts, I don’t want to know.”
"It hurt,” she complained.
"You were the one who had them done,” I pointed out.
"Rub it in why don’t you.”
"I was just saying, you got a bag for washing?”
Being a Hotel Garni, the Max Planck is a cross between a b&b like we stayed in at Nauheim and a full on hotel like the B&B Hotel in Fulda. We touched on what names apply to what accommodation when we were looking at hotel administration before Weihnachts, some differences are quite vague but essentially a Garni is a hotel without a bar or restaurant but with a breakfast room which is where I headed a little before eight, Mist having headed off to get her shower.
There were a couple of other guests in various stages of breaking fast, I took a two seat table by the windows, I like to have a bit of a view with my coffee. To be honest, I wasn’t that hungry, we ate quite well yesterday after all but with the prospect of a ride, after my fruit and yoghurt I loaded my plate with scrambled eggs, red salmon, sliced tomato and a couple of brötchen. Ham and cheese is okay but the fish and egg is better fuel for riding, I can always stop to get something en route.
With the food consumed I got myself another coffee, they had a machine similar to what we have at the Kabin, then opened my road atlas. In a straight line I estimated it was all of twenty five K from Hanau to Darmstadt, probably about forty by the time you add in the wrinkles of the road system. Not much of a ride to be honest, a decent training ride should be about twice that and the terrain appeared to be quite flat too, no there must be an alternative.
"Riding down to Darmstadt?” Big Jo queried having come into the breakfast room without me seeing.”
"Oh er hi, yeah but it looks a bit boring.”
"Can I?” he indicated the other seat.
"Sure,” I agreed.
"I’ll just get some coffee.”
“...so you could go down to say here then follow the Four Two Six most of the way to Darmstadt, then if you take the Four Four Nine that takes you almost to the Centralstation.”
"How do you know all this?”
He gave a shrug, "Came down to see Zipfer play there last year and the river trail, summer holiday with the folks when I was in Hochschule, we rode from Mainz to Würzburg then got the bahn back.”
"Sounds like something my ‘rents would come up with.”
"My parents are keen Trekkers, they have a club following the different bike paths, I think they are going around Bodensee this summer.”
Who’d a thunk. Of course we get a good number of trekkers at the Kabin each summer but most of those are Dutch and you get whole fleets of them along the Rhein hopping from hotel to hotel, they can take a day to ride what I do in an hour!
"I can always call if I get lost,” I joked.
"I’m sure you can find the way.”
I thought that the other day and look what happened.
By the time the others had surfaced, agreement on me riding, sorting my bike out and so on it was gone nine thirty. Of course, today if something went awry Big Jo at least knew the route I was planning on taking.
"I’ll see you all later then,” I stated as I clicked my cleat into the pedal with a loud clunk!
"Ring if you look like being later than four,” Stefan instructed.
"Should be there way earlier than that.”
"Erd?” he appealed.
"Okay, I’ll call.”
"Take care,” Mist called as I headed out onto the street, I put an arm up to indicate I’d heard.
Of course the first issue was to actually find my way onto the river path, I vaguely recalled seeing some sort of path between the Biergarten and the river yesterday so headed out that direction. Germany is well served with cycle and walking paths, they are mostly well signed and well maintained which means that I didn’t expect any issues following the Main Radweg even on my skinny road bike tyres. I nearly went wrong when I got to the river, I’d gone about twenty metres downstream before it clicked that I actually wanted to go the other way.
I was soon whizzing along the nicely tarmaced path, past the Schloss then alongside the road for a bit before a sign indicated a turn to the right. Through a few bits of lane then the riverside path was back but only for half a kilometre, where it went under a railway bridge before taking a ramp up onto a road bridge across the river. Back onto terra firma and a couple more turns had me following the opposite bank of the river.
Things were more straightforward now, apart from the odd dog walker, and I was soon whizzing along at a good rate of knots. I’d probably been going for about six K when I came across something of an enigma, a huge flock of sheep complete with shepherd and a couple of dogs. How strange, you don’t see many sheep in Germany, to find what looked like a hundred or more was peculiar to say the least.
I was still thinking about Shawn and his friends when I reached the ferry at Seligenstadt, Big Jo had suggested I cross here as I’d be better served on the Bavarian side down past Aschaffenburg. Apparently there’s a lot of industry on the west side and the path can be difficult to follow, well I don’t want to get lost so I joined the small gathering of bikes and walkers waiting for the ferry to return to our bank.
The river isn’t that wide just here, not even a hundred metres but it flows quickly, the ferry is likewise quite small, you might get a dozen cars on. I took a swig from my bidon while we waited to cross, this is a bit nicer than the bits of Rhein and Mosel radwegs I’ve been along. The ferry arrived, passengers were exchanged, I’d barely got my wallet back in my pocket after paying my euro to cross when we docked in Bavaria.
Until now I’d seen very few other bikes on the path but now, it wasn’t a traffic jam or anything but there were a fair number of people awheel, mostly older people on city bikes but a few younger on mountain bikes or dropped bar machines of a more utilitarian nature than my Pinarello. You couldn’t always see the river then there’d be a gap in the trees and there it was, I nearly rode off the path at one point as a pretty big barge similarly appeared.
I suppose I’d been riding for about forty minutes after crossing the ferry when a sign directed you off up a steep bluff to reach Aschaffenburg, which if I recall the map right, is about halfway down the river bit of my ride. It had taken me just over an hour and a half so far, the sun was high overhead shining away in a mostly blue sky. So same again along the river, say two o’clock, another hour to Darmstadt, bags of time.
Of course its Sods Law that a combination of a short diversion, lots of users and less wonderful surface slowed my progress past the city. Once beyond the marinas and docks things returned to the emptiness I’d enjoyed above Seligenstadt and I was soon merrily singing away to my self.
‘Zip a dee do dah,
zip a dee aye,
wonderful feeling,
wonderful day,
theres’s a bluebird on my shoulder…’
Well you get the idea, it just felt good to be out here on a bike, zipping along without seeing as much as a car or even a mofa, yep a grand day indeed.
Whilst the river valley was of course flat, the land beyond was now showing signs of having a few hills. From what Big Jo said earlier, from where the river turns eastwards near Miltenburg the hills come right down to the river as it flows through a twisty, narrow valley only opening out above Würzburg. I seem to recall racing somewhere along that bit last year but I’m not going that way today, no I leave the river well before that.
My Main Radweg guru thought it wisest to recross the river at the next bridge which turned out to be a posh new affair called Roland Schwing although it clearly doesn’t! Have I really done over twelve K from Aschaffenburg already, well I guess the sign posters must know. Once over the water I resumed a higher pace and my singing, I must look like a deranged wheel riding Valkyrie!
I was starting to feel a bit hungry, of course following the river bank means that whilst you pass various towns and villages you don’t actually go through them, hence you don’t get to see any likely food halts. Oh there had been occasional signs directing you away from the river to various establishments but I don’t really want to deviate from my route if I can help it. I was so intent on following the river that I nearly missed the sign directing me under the dual carriageway I’d been tracking for a couple of kilometres, to what turned out to be Fahrrad Mertens, a combination of bike shop and coffee shop, that’ll do nicely.
"Coffee and is that chocolate Streusel?”
"Sure is,” the young chap manning the coffee shop agreed.
"Can I have one of those to take away and a strudel to eat here please.”
"Coming right up, so you come far?”
"Er Hanau, I’m on my way to Darmstadt?”
"Decent ride, bit of a long way around.”
The Segafredo made some loud noises which precluded an immediate response.
"I’m supposed to be training,” I admitted.
"You race?”
"Uh huh.”
"There you go, crème and sugar on the tables, I’ll bring the strudel over, that’s seven fifty please.”
Once I got to a table I pulled my mitts off, the helmet followed suit, after I’d rescued my glasses, I broke a pair last season doing the same thing. I undid my hair and shook it out, nothing worse than helmet hair and it would have a chance to get some air to my scalp too.
"So which way do you go from here?” ‘my’ barista asked as he delivered a decent slice of Strudel with a big gobbet of cream on top.
"Down to Obern something there’s a road which goes across towards Darmstadt according to the map.”
"Obernburg, that’s where we are, well strictly speaking you’ve already come past the Altstadt.”
"So I need to go back?”
"Neh, the junction here is for the Darmstadt road.”
"Phew, do you know the road, what’s it like?”
"Quite busy up to Höchst, there’s a big tyre factory but it gets quieter after that.”
"Cool, sorry for the twenty questions, so where are you from, thats not a Frankfurt accent.”
"Just south of Bonn,” well he doesn’t need to know my life story and I’ve been in Dernau for a big chunk of my life now.
"I have friends at the university, nice place.”
"Okay I guess,” I allowed between bites of Strudel and sips of coffee.
"So if you race up there do you know that girl, the double Weltmeisterin?”
I’m not sure if it was my blush or him finally putting all the clues together, you know, Apollinaris jersey, Weltmeisterin stripes, pink hair.
"Oh mein Gott, you’re her!”
"Erm guilty as charged, Gaby Bond,” I offered a hand to shake.
"Er Merten, Arni, this is my Opa’s place, my god, he’ll be bummed to have missed you, him and dad go riding on Tuesdays, its usually quiet so me and Jakob hold the fort, we’ve got your poster on the wall and everything.”
"Fame at last,” I grinned.
"Seriously, we are all fans, even my sister and she doesn’t even ride.”
"Er thanks, I think.”
"They’ll never believe me, the world champion, here in our shop.”
"Poster?”
"Volker, from the Trinkcenter, he got it from the Apollinaris rep for us, I think its from that TV advert?”
"Don’t think I’ve ever seen any posters, I’ll have to have words with the boss when I get home.”
"You want to see it?”
Well I was intrigued now.
"Er sure.”
"Its in the workshop, come on, Jakob, visitor.”
And so I got to meet Jakob, chief spanner turner at Mertens who was equally as effusive as his younger colleague and of course I got to see the poster. Yep it was me and yep it was from that first photo shoot after Canada, you remember, the body paint? Yep I was blushing anew, I mean it looks as it should but its too perfect if you know what I mean, an actual skinsuit would look, well different.
"So you guys got a marker pen?”
"What for?” Jakob asked.
"You want proof I’ve been here?”
"I’ve got a camera on my Handy,” Arni opined.
"Something more tangible?”
Jakob fell in first, "You want to sign the poster.”
"If you want me to?”
"There’s some in the büro,” Jakob stated scuttling off to the office.
By the time I’d done the deed, drunk a fresh coffee, the first having gone cold, posed for a couple of pictures, used the facilities, well it was hard on fifteen o’clock. Well you know what they say about best laid plans and all that.
"So when you get to the T turn right over the river, it goes straight up through the town, saves about three kilometres,” Jakob advised.
"Thanks.”
"Safe riding,” Arni offered as I set off to continue my journey, it’ll be tight getting there for four, tight but not impossible.
Maddy Bell © 04.03.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *23*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Centralstation
It took me a few minutes to get going again, I’d planned on maybe fifteen or twenty minutes but my visit to Fahrrad Mertens had been more than double that. Well what’s done is done, you can’t turn the clock back, well not until October! Anyhoo, Arni was right, the Four Two Six is quite busy, I was glad to take the first of Jakob’s corner cuts at Mömlingen, I don’t think it saved much distance and I was lucky to make both left hand turns unhindered but it gave me a couple of minutes without having to worry about juggernauts.
Not only that but I got to use a country lane running parallel to the main road for a bit too. The countryside could easily have been up in the NRW or even the Eifel, the road following the river as it twists through the wooded hills, arable farming covering the valley floor. It wasn’t far past the next village that I got off the busy road again, instead, thanks to Jakob, I made the turn onto the old road which gave me a much more traffic ride for the next five K, right into Höchst.
The new road was actually the Forty Five, which as my guides had suggested was much quieter as it wound north, hey, the sun was on my back, a girl knows these things. It wasn’t that far before I turned left again though to continue more westerly on a refound Four Two Six. The sign reckoned it was still about twenty five kilometres to Darmstadt, by my computer I’d already covered that from my coffee stop. The bad news was that it had taken me forty five minutes up to now, at the next village, some place called Zipfen, I stopped and fished my Handy from my pocket.
"Stefan?”
"Erd, where are you? Thought you’d be here by now.”
"So did I, long story, tell you later.”
"So how long’ll you be?”
"I’m guessing about forty minutes,” I offered.
"Okay, no problem, when you get here follow the signs for the Schloss, there’s a tower thing by the tram stops next to the Marktplatz, one of us will meet you there.”
"Okay, I should be there by half to.”
"Take care.”
"Tschuss.”
Well that went better than I thought it would, white tower by the tram stop on Marktplatz, sounds straightforward enough. After a quick tug on my bidon I returned to the road which climbed gently onto a rolling plain, trees having given way to an open landscape of uniformly bland fields, the early shoots just enough to colour them green. The next town, Reinheim, I remembered Jakob’s admonishment not to follow the signed route at the traffic lights which probably saved me five minutes avoiding the sleepy town centre.
Although the road rolled up and down a bit, I was keeping a decent, mile eating pace going, aided in no small part by the return to lower altitudes. I was well into time trial mode when I came to a set of lights beyond which was a sign suggesting bikes aren’t allowed. Sugar, I hadn’t been looking at the road signs on the approach but it looked like my choice was pretty limited, ie take the right or retrace. Well the latter wasn’t gonna happen, right it is, which was lucky as there was a distance board a little way further on that suggested Darmstadt was six kilometres away on this new road, the Four Four Nine.
That did sort of ring a bell from my chat with Big Jo over breakfast, six K, I should be there in like fifteen minutes. After a fairly benign couple of kilometres, past relatively recent housing developments the road started to climb and the sun was quickly cut off by a tree canopy that made it seem like I was riding through a tunnel. It wasn’t actually that steep but it was steeper than anything else on todays ride, well lets face it, riding down or should that be up, the Maintal, was never going to involve much vertical ascent was it?
Unused to the extra effort of climbing my legs were complaining by the time I reached the summit, well at least the point where up was replaced by down. It was a fast drop through the trees which were suddenly replaced by a huge tram and bus depot then more urban features. The sign claimed I was now in Darmstadt, the centrum straight ahead, the road as flat as a pancake for as far as you could see ahead.
Past a big cemetery, I followed the direction sign for the city centre but almost missed the one directing bikes off along a side street to reach the Marktplatz. It was a good call, the road terminating in a pedestrian bridge across some sort of busy dual carriageway. I think bikes are supposed to go a different way but I wasn’t the only radfahrer carrying their bike down the escalator at the end of the bridge.
Another couple of minutes and I was across the Marktplatz at the tram stops but it was only after asking a young woman at the stop that I located the Weißer Turm which is actually on the next street. I scooted around the corner and there it was, a pencil thin white tower reaching above all the more modern buildings around it.
"Hey Erd, you made it!”
It took me a moment to identify where Big Jo actually was, I’d almost ridden past him.
"Eventually,” I agreed, stopping to dismount.
"Stefan said you had a problem? Another puncture?”
"I wouldn’t call it a problem exactly,” I advised hanging my helmet off of my brake lever, "I lost track of time a bit, I thought Stefan was gonna go spare when I rang.”
"We’ve had our own issues today.”
We started walking along the street before veering towards what looked like some sort of arcade.
"Oh?”
"Well first off we had to chase all over to find someone with a key to retrieve the gear.”
"I thought that techy guy was supposed to do that?”
"He was,” Big Jo confirmed, "But he forgot and he lives some place north of Frankfurt.”
"But you got the gear?”
"Eventually but tempers were getting a bit frayed, we couldn’t get hold of Robert either, Marcus and Animal were ready to find some cutting gear to break in.”
"Geez.”
"This way,” my guide instructed, "Its just the other side of the restaurant.”
We’d emerged from the arcade into a sort of plaza, my cleats producing echoes far louder than you’d think. And there we were, Centralstation, no not for trains or buses but according to BJ, it used to be the main city electrical distribution point, you know, full of transformers and other hokey stuff. All I could think of when he said that was Frankenstein – especially when he told me that the actual Burg Frankenstein is only about ten kilometres away!
"So what’s today’s excuse?” Orange top quested.
"If you must know, it was my fan club, you want a bit of this Streusel?”
"Why what’s wrong with it?”
"Nothing, just thought you might want to share.”
“’kay, what fan club?”
"That’d be telling,” I teased.
"Huh, you heard about this morning?”
"Yeah, Big Jo told me.”
"It was getting a bit ugly I can tell you.”
"So you been to the digs, what’re they like, two beds I hope.”
"We came straight here, it was like two o’clock before we left Hanau.”
"Good job I didn’t get here as early as I thought then.”
"Yeah, so where’ve you been for six hours?”
It was a bit weird to say the least, doing the sound check and stuff in my cycling togs, well Mist had brought my Birkenstocks® in so I wasn’t in bike shoes, but even so. Clearly the issues after I departed the Max Planck this morning had created some tensions in the band, the guys were certainly not as sharp as they have been, something I wasn’t the only one to notice.
"Come on guys, you can do better than that,” Robert suggested.
There was much mumbling and a few ‘looks’ amongst the instrument players.
"What’re you singing with the intro’s Erd?”
"Er same old I guess.”
"Edelweiss?”
"Yeah, that okay?”
"Just checking, you threw us for a loop last night.”
"Sorry.”
"Okay, lets call it a day, lets find this hotel and get some food,” our leader suggested.
Our hotel wasn’t far away, I’m sure it took longer to drive than it would’ve walking although it was further away than last nights beds. The Darmstadt, yeah a lot of thought went into the name, turned out to be a fairly typical three star place, the sort of place you’d happily use as a holiday base or for business. Room two ten ticked the usual boxes, en suite, TV, separate beds and just enough room to swing the proverbial cat, not that we’d get much time in it.
I got a quick shower, well I have been riding all day, and felt a bit more like being in polite company when we gathered back in reception.
"So where’re we eating?” it gets asked by someone every day, today it was Marcus.
"There’s places by the venue, that Italian looked okay,” Hilde suggested.
"I was warned off that place by one of the techs, okay food but lousy service,” Animal told us.
"Anyone?” Stefan asked.
"We get a ten percent discount in the Mexican over the road,” Misty advised.
"Discount?” Big Jo queried.
"There was a voucher in the welcome pack,” my companion mentioned.
"So what’re we waiting for,” Little Jo grinned.
"Everyone okay with that?” Stefan checked.
I quite fancied spaghetti but I can live with enchiladas! Everyone else seemed okay with the decision so at least everyone could decide on something today.
They clearly like to keep things straightforward in this bit of Hesse, the Weißer Turm is indeed white, the hotel is The Darmstadt and the Mehican restaurant is The Enchilada. It was fairly busy but they found us a table easy enough, the guys were soon guzzling bottles of Corona, Mist and Hilde were on wine whilst I stuck to lemonade. The menu options were pretty much as you’d expect, chilli, tacos, enchiladas, tortillas, burritos, Tamales as well as some specific dishes like fried beans and ‘Aztec’ soup.
I didn’t fancy anything too spicy, well that ruled out most of the menu, in the end I settled on Menudos which according to the blurb is a pork stew. It wasn’t quite what I’d been expecting when it turned up, to be honest I wasn’t that keen on the texture of the meat, it certainly wasn’t a cut that I’m familiar with. The sauce element was okay though and it wasn’t bad, just not to my taste, I’m sure I can find some fast food later if I’m hungry, Darmstadt is like a full on city after all.
Hilde suggested we walk back to the Centralstation but after this mornings fiasco she was quickly shouted down in favour of taking the bus in – even if it stayed at the venue at least all the gear would be onboard.
"So come on then what’s this fan club business?” Mist probed as she put my hair into pretzels.
"Really?”
"Yes really, come on spill.”
"I told you I stopped for coffee.”
"Uh huh.”
"Well there was only like me and the lad serving there so we started chatting, you know, where I’d ridden from, where I was headed.”
"And?”
"If you let me finish, anyhow he asked where I was from, when I said near Bonn he was all, do you know Gaby Bond, we’re big fans, blah, blah, blah and there I am, wearing the bands and stuff. Of course, the pfennig finally dropped, they had a poster of me, would I like to see it and so on.”
"So,” she tugged at a loose strand, "Did you?”
"Well I was only being polite, so I got trailed into the workshop, signed the poster, chatted with the mechanic and left.”
"So that's why you were late?”
"Partly, I was there longer than I planned but the ride was further than I thought too, I wasn’t expecting it to be over a hundred kilometres.”
"I don’t know how you ride that far.”
"Practice, you used to ride ten K each way to Silverberg when we were at school.
"Yeah, a hundred kilometres a week is a bit different to a hundred in a day.”
I gave a little shrug, ”if you say so, we done?”
"Almost, just need to put this bone through your nose.”
"What!” I squealed.
"I said, I just have to find a home for this rose.”
I’m hearing things, was it something I ate?
Our support, tonight its the Drei Königs, finished their set, they’d had a good response and their brand of Garage rock fit well with our own slightly more hardcore variety. We’ve played several repurposed places on this tour, this one has a more theatrical scale to it, it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic as that place in Bad Homberg for certain and the facilities are pretty good to go with it. I was as nervous as, well a nervous thing, the soundcheck a couple of hours ago has really rattled my confidence.
"Time Gabs,” Mist advised from over my shoulder.
"I guess,” I allowed, letting the curtain drop back into place.
"Can I just say something before you go out there?” Robert asked.
"Really?” Little Jo moaned.
"Give him his fifteen seconds,” Animal suggested.
"If you’re quick,” Stefan told him.
"Okay, I’ll keep it short, you guys have been smashing it every night on this tour, you’ve really upped your game, made real progress. I know there were some issues today, yeah the soundcheck didn’t go well either but you’re better than all this petty squabbling. Go out there and show them what you’re made of.”
Stefan sighed, "He’s right fellas, lets do this.”
I’m not a great fan of pep talks, all the ‘you can do this, try your best’ and so on but it seems that tonight at least, Roberts words did their trick. Okay, Thunder in the Mountains, our opener, was perhaps a bit wooden but by the time we reached Lorelei we were pretty much back on song. From what Robert said earlier its almost a sell out, over six hundred people are out there, come to see us BlauHase, the adrenaline was flowing on stage, we were having fun.
Maddy Bell © 28.03.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *24*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Routine
"We have been BlauHase, thank you Darmstadt!”
It really had been a blast, maybe the guys have played better, I’ve possibly sung better but we’d had a good time and more importantly, so had our audience. The auditorium quickly cleared, of paying customers, off to enjoy the rest of the evening, the Centralstation complex isn’t just the music venue, there are a couple of bars and that Italian restaurant sharing the premises. For our part, the after party was in the venues own bar, tonight I was as eager as anyone to get a drink.
"Great gig,” Robert opined.
"We’ve done worse,” I admitted.
"I wouldn't say worse,” he stated, "Maybe less polished, I think tonight you were all more relaxed.”
"Maybe, the guys were well stressed earlier.”
"Not without cause,” he agreed.
"So how have the sales gone tonight?”
He wobbled a hand, "Okay I think, Hilde was busy enough when I looked.”
Maybe it was the drink or perhaps I’m just nosey, "So you’ve known Hilde a while?”
"You could say that,” he allowed.
"With another band?” I pressed.
"No, nothing like that.”
"Okay.”
"Look its not exactly a secret,” he went on, "We were married.”
"Married?”
"It was a mistake, we weren’t well matched so we separated.”
Oops!
"Sorry I didn’t mean to pry.”
"Like I said, its hardly a secret.”
"So, you and she…?”
"It was years ago Gab, we divorced, she married Jo.”
"Isn’t it a bit awkward?”
He gave a shrug, "We parted on friendly terms.”
I woke to the sound of the shower, my eyes delaying the moment of opening for as long as possible. I’ll admit it, I can’t actually remember getting back to the hotel which by the sound of Mist singing to herself next door is where we are. Yeah, I know, I’m a lightweight where it comes to alcohol but sometimes you just feel like kicking back.
I do remember that it was wet when we left Centralstation, there was something about a big puddle but otherwise its a blank. One eye cracked open, it was light but unlike the run of bright sunny starts we’ve had, this morning things seemed decidedly grey. And cooler, I gave an involuntary shiver and pulled my arms back under the duvet, yep much cooler.
"Ah you’re awake,” the orange haired one stated, returning to the main room wearing a towel and using a second to dry here florid locks.
"I think,” I agreed whilst trying to get both eyes to focus at the same time.
"You did get a bit tipsy last night.”
"Time is it?”
"Just after seven,” she brightly returned.
"Twirly!”
"Jobs to do, you got any laundry?”
"Erm.”
My head really was filled with cotton wool this morning.
"Don’t worry Princess, I’ll find it.”
"Chair,” I groaned, two brain cells having finally connected.
"It lives!”
Of course, having reached that level of consciousness there was not to be any return to slumber, I bowed to the inevitable, braced myself and threw back the duvet.
"So where are we off to today?” I asked before taking a sip of my coffee.
Outside the rain was still washing the streets, I say still, it was wet last night and when I got up but I guess it may have stopped in between. But I digress.
"Rüsselheim,” Marcus supplied having just arrived in the breakfast room nursing a black eye.
"Ooo, that looks painful, what happened?”
"Would you believe I walked into a door?”
"Not really,” I admitted, I’ve done that myself and it never resulted in a shiner.
He let out a sigh, "When we got back last night, me and Animal decided to get a nightcap in that bar over the road, I can’t remember the details but i ended up arguing with some ape, he took a swing at me and hey presto,” he motioned to his face.
"You shoulda seen the other guy,” Animal chortled joining us.
"On the positive side,” I started, "You’re half way to joining Mist’s Goth club.”
"Think I’ll give it a miss thank you, all that makeup and stuff, not really me.”
"Might have to find you some concealer for tonight , you can hardly go on stage looking like you’ve gone ten rounds,” I pointed out, "So where’s this Russel place?”
"Up near the airport,” Animal advised, "Talking of Goth’s, where is our backing singer this morning?”
"Laundry.”
"Again?” Marcus exclaimed, "Didn’t you do a load at the weekend?”
"Yes and yes,” I agreed, "It soon mounts up you know.”
"Sam brought me some fresh underwear on Sunday,” Animal shared.
"If only it was that easy, my stage gear gets a bit whiffy and I’m not wearing bike kit more than once, its not hygienic.”
"I suppose stuff does get a bit sweaty,” Marcus admitted.
Back up in the room I found my road atlas, quickly finding Rüsselheim just where Animal said, about midway between Frankfurt Airport and Mainz, to be honest it doesn’t look like much of a place, wonder why we’re playing there? Whatever, I’m sure there’s reason enough. If it hadn’t still been hissing down I might have ridden up, well that and the fact Misty isn’t back from the launderette yet with my bike gear.
Of course, the mere thought of her was bound to summon the orange haired one, there was a bump on the door and some unladylike cursing.
"Gab? You in there? Get the door for us.”
"Hang on.”
I recapped the nail varnish and duck walked to get the door, well have you tried walking without smudging wet toe nails?
"Thanks,” my roomie allowed as she dripped inside.
"Still raining then.”
"Eh?”
"Your welcome, I was wondering where you’d got to.”
"You can do your own next time.”
"I usually do.”
"Yeah well, so what’ve you been doing while I’ve been slaving over a hot washer?”
"I was just redoing my toe nails, they were looking a bit tatty.”
"Well don’t let me stop you, we have to be out in like thirty minutes.”
"I’m pretty much ready, Stefan wasn’t going to fetch the bus until ten.”
"Apparently there was a big fight in that bar over the road last night, they had the Polizei there and everything,” Mist espoused as she separated the laundry into hers and hers piles.
"Oh?”
"Yeah, they were all talking about it in the launderette, bikers apparently.”
"Didn’t hear anything.”
Clearly the bar fight that the guys were involved in was more than they were saying, either that or the local rumour mill has embellished things.
"Nor me, you’d think with all that commotion you’d hear something.”
"Think I was well beyond hearing anything by the time we got back here.”
"You were talking gibberish,” my ‘friend’ confirmed.
"I usually do.”
Given the short transfer from Darmstadt to Rüsselheim, its all of twenty five kilometres, there was no great rush to get there. The rain was still falling but it had reduced to a sort of light drizzle, enough to make you wet in short order but not so bad as to need the buses wipers on full time – well until we joined the Sixty Seven a couple of K out of the town. The autobahn was quite busy, spray from the heavy traffic made the experience less than pleasant, I was quite glad when we turned off to head into the town.
It didn’t look much on my map earlier but as we headed into the centre it was through a landscape of apartment blocks and family villas on a scale that you don’t often see in Germany, outside of the big cities at least. It was only when we crossed the Ring that a sign to ‘Adam Opel Werke’ brought the reason for all the housing to register, Munich has Bee Em Vee, Stuttgart is Mercedes and Porsche, Rüsselheim is in turn Opel town.
By the time we had crossed the railway and reached our destination, what was clearly a smaller venue almost opposite the Rathaus, it was clear that there isn’t really an Altstadt here, I’m guessing the RAF did a fairly thorough job of levelling the place in the last Weltkrieg.
"This it?” BJ queried.
"Its the address Robert gave us,” LJ confirmed.
"Well we can’t park just here,” Stefan opined, "Lets park the bus and walk back.”
There was a big parking area at the end of the street, as it turns out between the town and the bank of the Main. At least the rain had now stopped.
"Where are we staying tonight,” I enquired eyeing up the huge five story MK Hotel across the street.”
"Some place just along the street according to Rob,” Hilde advised.
A couple of heads turned in a ‘how do you know sort of way’.
"He told me yesterday,” she filled.
"Well this is definitely the address, Das Rind, Mainstraße elf,” LJ stated.
"Looks derelict,” Marcus stated.
Maybe that was a bit harsh, but I have to agree, it didn’t look like a buzzing rock venue. For starters its only a small building, hemmed in by a timber framed house on one side and a modern build the other with an alley between. We peered through the windows, looked like a bar, can’t see how this is the right place.
"I’ll call Robert,” Stefan stated fishing his phone from his pocket.
"This is more like it,” Marcus stated ten minutes later.
Turns out that the actual venue is accessed down the alley, its not actually as small as it first looked, I guess it was probably some sort of store or workshop in a previous life.
"Where are you parked?” the guy who’d identified himself as Armin enquired as we herded through the doors.
"Down by the river,” LJ advised
"You can bring it up to the pavement outside to unload, there’s kaffee inside, round to the right, your manager is already there.”
"I’ll go fetch the bus,” Animal volunteered taking the keys from LJ’s hand.
"I’ll get the stage hands,” Armin stated.
Inside my guess was born out, despite the modern lighting rig and low stage at one end, there was no disguising that it had been used for some sort of industry in a former life. Okay, its maybe a little more intimate than the Centralstation last night but its a good step up from the venues that I first caught BlauHase playing back up north. We followed our noses to where Robert was stood talking to Britta Bursche.
"Found your way in then,” Robert pointlessly mentioned.
"Eventually I replied in over dramatic fashion.
"Hi everyone,” Frau Bursche offered.
There was a collection of greetings but what was she doing here? We helped ourselves to coffee, there was a plate of Lotus® biscuits too, not to everyones taste but I grabbed a couple to have with my beverage.
"Where’s Animal?” Herr Silsman enquired as we found ourselves perches to drink and eat.
"Fetching the bus up,” BJ advised.
"Well you can catch him up on things later, I know Britta has a show to do this afternoon so I’ll pass you over.”
"Your session last week really struck a chord with our listeners.”
"More than Marcus can usually,” LJ snickered.
"Boys!” Robert warned.
Britta went on, "I’ve been following your revues this week, people really seem to like your slightly eccentric set, its all very positive.”
"So why the personal visit?” Stefan voiced what I guess everyone else was thinking.
"Good question Stefan, as you know we champion new and upcoming talent on Britta Bursche, I, we, would like to broadcast your gig on Saturday live on HR3.”
"Live as in on Saturday?” I chipped in.
"One hundred percent,” Britta concurred, "I know its a bit last minute it was a choice between you and David Hasselhof for the live slot and whilst he’s popular I prefer you guys,” she finished with a grin.
Wow. Just wow.
"Well say something people,” Robert hinted into the stunned silence.
"Where do we sign?” Stefan asked with a grin.
"So this just goes out in Hessen right?” I asked before she could answer Stefan.
"We’ll sort out the paperwork with your manager, there’s a small fee but don’t go ordering those Porsche and Audi just yet.”
"Was thinking more of a Ferrari,” Marcus put in.
"And yes Erdbeer, its live across Hessen but its syndicated on most of the domestic networks and in our near neighbours.”
"Sugar.”
"A problem Erd?” Stefan asked.
"Not as such,” I told him, "I guess I need a new dress though.”
It wasn’t entirely meant as a quip but it broke the slight tension in the air, everyone had a chuckle at my expense. I’m not saying we’ve hit the big time but its a great honour I guess to be offered the exposure, me and my friends have sometimes listened to the Samstag Live broadcast, not everything is to my, our taste but bands like the Rolling Stones, Nina Hagen and Prince have been on in the past as well as lesser known artists. We are obviously in the latter bracket but if nothing else it gets us out to a wider audience than any string of gigs in middle Germany will do.
"Hallo, Preiser Stallungen und Reiten, Bernadette sprechen.“
"Bernie, its me, Gab.“
"Oh hi Gab, how’s the tour going?“
"Great, you sounded very professional just now, Erika got you answering the phone now?“
"Its a family business, everyone has to chip in, you wanting riding lessons?“
"As if!“
"Drea’s started.“
"On a horse?“
"Well not a bucket, of course a horse, well donkey actually, but its a sort of horse.“
"If you say so.“
"So what’s with the phone call, not that I don’t like talking?”
"Oh right, yeah, you never guess what?” an edge of excitement in my voice.
"A clue maybe?”
"The band, on Saturday, we’re gonna be broadcast live like all over Germany.”
"Live as in not recorded?”
"Well it’ll be recorded too but yeah, direct to the nation on Samstag Live.”
"That on RTL?”
"Its a radio show based in Frankfurt.”
"Not TV then?”
"I just said.”
If it was Television I really would need a new dress!
"You’d best let me know the details, I’m sure Mart will want to listen, you ringing round everyone?”
"We just found out, I had to tell someone, look I have to go, soundcheck stuff, give Drea a hug for me.”
"I will.”
"Tschussie!”
"Tschuss Gabs.”
Of course, Britta had departed for Frankfurt and her afternoon show after telling us the news, Animal missed her completely so unloading and setting up was delayed a bit longer. Not that it was an issue, we have all afternoon and apparently we are staying in the hotel at the end of the road, the Höll am Main, weird name but who am I, Erdbeer, to make that call?
"Ringing Max?” Misty asked seeing me gripping my handy with a vacant expression on my face.
"Max?” I snapped to and slipped the phone back into my bag, "No I was just talking to Bernie, telling her about Saturday.”
"She okay?”
"Think so.”
"It always seems a bit weird, you know, her and Mart with a child, settling down on the family farm.”
"I guess.”
"I don’t mean there’s anything wrong with that,” she hurriedly added, "But I want to live a little, travel, get a tattoo before all that.”
I gave a little internal sigh, it was Bern ‘having a life’ that got her where she is, maybe living a little should have a health warning on the label.
"Come on you two, we need your levels,” BJ hollered across the auditorium.
Maddy Bell © 20.04.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *25*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Opel Fruits
"Pretty cool about Saturday huh?” Mist suggested as we walked the few metres along the street to our hotel, Höll am Main which conveniently is barely 50m from tonight's venue.
"I guess,” I agreed as nonchalantly as I could.
"You don’t sound too happy about it.”
"Of course I am.”
The appearance on Britta’s show last week has certainly raised BlauHase stock, there’s no doubt that having Saturdays gig broadcast live not just in Hessen but across much of the country will expose the band to many opportunities that we’d otherwise maybe never get. Its really quite exciting, after the tribulations of yesterday, the guys were buzzing throughout the sound check. I think the band is good anyway but being part of it that’s pretty much a taken, even so I’m not really sure how I feel about this latest development.
For me, this couple of weeks was as much about having a break from my normal routine of college and bikes – oh I know I’ve still done some riding but at home everything pretty much rotates around bikes, what we do, when and even where we eat and so on. This was a chance to get out of that environment for a bit, I wasn’t looking to change my career track, the singing with the guys is just a bit of fun.
This broadcast could change that, almost certainly it will change that and I’m not sure I want it to. At the same time, I don’t want to let the guys down, this sort of opportunity doesn’t come along very often, this could, no should be their big break, a chance to leave the sweaty bierkellers of Bonn behind. Do I want to be the pink haired singer in a punk goth band for maybe years to come?
"Earth to Gaby?”
"Uhm?”
"You were miles away,” Misty stated.
"Yeah, sorry, just thinking.”
"Well think which bed you want.”
"Bed?”
Seems that in my musing daydream I’d got not only to the hotel but up to our room as well.
"Whichever.”
I do usually try to nab the bed closest to the bathroom but that was moot in this surprisingly large room, the bathroom door was set midway along the opposite wall.
"I’ll take the window then,” Mist advised.
Usually we’ve stopped for some lunch en route between locations but given the short hop today we had no need to stop and with all the business with Britta and Saturday, well we managed to miss eating lunch. A fact that my stomach loudly bemoaned as I started unpacking.
"What the hell was that?” Mist demanded.
"Soz, think I need food.”
"It’ll be dinner soon.”
"Not for like three hours,” I pointed out, "Think I’ll see if I can find a bakery or something, you coming?”
"I’m not that hungry but I guess I could manage coffee.”
"Come on then,” I enthused.
When we returned to the great outdoors it was into late afternoon sunshine, the damp of this morning only remembered in a few small puddles along the roadsides. We headed back along Mainstraße past Das Rind and up to the Marktplatz where, so the girl at the hotel reception advised, we would find what we were after. Despite its name there were no signs of a market at the square, just some sticklike trees sprouting from the pavement and some teens variously using the space as a BMX park and general meeting place.
We walked around the perimeter, no point drawing more attention to ourselves than my hair and Mist’s distinctly interesting garb and appearance already did. The Cafe am Markt occupies a chunk of the ground floor of what is essentially a three story apartment block, not only was it open but there were tables outside. Okay, its a bit early in the year for going al fresco but it was just about warm enough to sit there for coffee.
I was two spoons into my bowl of Gulaschsuppe, well i'm hungry, when tangerine head spoke.
"What’s up Gab?”
"Up?
"Up,” she repeated, "I’ve known you long enough to know when you’ve got something on your mind.”
I paused in my soup inhalation, "That obvious huh?”
"Yup,” she agreed.
"Its Saturday.”
"Don’t tell me you’re nervous?”
"Well maybe a little but its not that.”
"What then? Just think we’ll be singing away and all those people across Germany will be listening, this week Frankfurt, next New York or London.”
"That’s just it Mist, I’m not sure I want that.”
"You’re kidding right?”
"I’m serious, this was never supposed to be any more than a little local band dipping their toes into bigger world, it wasn’t supposed to be live radio to the whole country.”
"I thought that was the whole point? Play some gigs, get some fans who buy the records and stuff, then repeat until, well until its over.”
"But that’s not me Mist, I’m the Weltmeisterin Radfahrer not some music diva charging around the planet singing.”
"But I thought you enjoyed singing?”
"I do, I just don’t know if I like it enough to give everything else up.”
"You can still ride as well as sing, you raced on Sunday remember.”
"At some point I’ll have to choose, there’ll be a conflict, which do I choose?”
"I think we’re a long way from that stage.”
"Are we though? This time next week we could be in a recording studio, on the telly.”
"Whoa, hold your horses girlfriend, I think you’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves.”
"What about you, are you ready to live from a suitcase for months at a time, travelling every day, never the same bed two nights?”
"Hell yeah!”
I sighed, "You can say that, I can’t, I have a life away from BlauHase.”
We fell into silence then, each lost in their own thoughts. Had I been unfair to intimate that Mist, Nena didn’t have a life back in the Ahrtal? Whilst not the hectic round of stuff that yours truly packs in, she does do stuff, I mean she works some shifts at the Kabin and – okay, not a lot else. This trip was going to be a chance for her to break free of the sometimes stifling Fischer home life and you have to admit, the whole Gothy makeover is certainly that, its just not for me.
"Look, sorry for saying you don’t have a life.”
"Its true though Gab, I don’t. I don’t have a boyfriend, I’ve got, no disrespect, a crappy part time job, my social life is almost non existent, lets face it, I’m a failure.”
"You’re not a failure.”
"Come on Gab, pretty much everyone else is at college studying for a,” she did the air quotes thing, “’career’, they do sports or something, they have friends beyond the people they went to school with…”
"Doesn’t make you a failure, you could still go to college.”
"And study what? I got my certificate – just, lets face it Bond, I never was cut out for formal education.”
She had me there, not to brag but I got the best grades in the whole region for the certificate last year, Nen got a pass but she was firmly in the also rans.
I let a sigh escape my lips, "Maybe nothing will come of Saturday.”
"Yeah,” Mist agreed heavily.
"We should get back,” I raised a hand to summon the help and the bill.
"I guess.”
Back at the hotel Stefan, Animal and BJ were propping up the bar.
"Bit early,” I opined.
"You can join us,” BJ stated.
"Think I had enough last night. So we eating here tonight?”
"Bit pricey,” Animal told us in a stage whisper.
"Armin reckons there’s a decent Chinese place just up the street,” Stefan told us.
"Guess I’d be up for that, Mist?”
"Sure,” she agreed.
"Half to seven?” Stefan suggested.
I checked my watch, "We coming back here after?”
"Weren’t planning to but I guess you could, its only like fifty metres from Das Rind after all,” our leader observed.
"Six thirty it is then, don’t drink too much, they still need to sail on the Main.”
"Cheeky mare,” Animal responded with a bit of a grin on his face.
"Laters.”
Mist and i had clearly unknowingly walked past China Restaurant Panda on our earlier sojourne into the town, it occupies a unit about as far beyond tonight’s venue as the hotel is the other just before Mainstraße joins the Marktplatz. Maybe we’d missed seeing it as the double glazed plastic frontage looks more laundry than restaurant. As the eight of us filed through the door it was clear that this was no traditional Chinese food outlet.
For starters, the décor lacked the usual over the top red and gold theme, instead the walls are stark white, decorated with very modern mural like panels and blocks of colour. There was nothing subtle about the lighting either and even the furniture was more Bauhaus than chintz. It was surprisingly busy for quarter to seven but they quickly moved a bit of furniture about, allowing us all to sit around one generous sized table.
On the other hand, the menu was quite extensive, a mix of the traditional with a sort of German twist. Some staples like Peking Duck were missing but on the other hand there was a good selection of sea food and vegetable dishes on offer. I often go for beef in black bean sauce but that wasn’t on offer, instead I went for a number thirty seven, duck in red curry sauce and vegetable rice after a starter of Peking soup.
Our order would take a bit of preparation so once the waiter – you ever notice its always men in these places, well once he’d gone, conversation turned from food to this afternoon’s unexpected news. Of course, the lads were taking things more at face value than my angst ridden take on things.
"What’s the betting Robert’s ordering up more t shirts,” Marcus mentioned.
"He’d better,” Hilde observed, "We’ll likely be cleared out tonight.”
"Really?” Animal queried.
"What about the CD’s? He mentioned pressing more up earlier,” Stefan put in.
"Think there’s about a box left after last night,” LJ’s better half advised.
"Should cover the beer,” BJ suggested.
"I can’t believe we sold all that lot in like two days,” I told the table.
"We doing the standard set on Saturday?” Animal asked.
"Its worked so far,” Stefan observed.
"Pekingsuppe?”
Our waiter was back with a tray of starters.
"Er here,” I chirped raising a hand.
And so conversation was replaced by consumption, thoughts of Saturday replaced by Chinese food in the collectives mind.
"See you in a bit,” I offered when we got to Das Rind, the guys heading to the bar whilst Mist and I returned to the Höll to get changed and tarted up for the gig.
"Don’t be too long,” Stefan instructed.
"As quick as,” I promised before breaking into a trot to catch up to Mist.
I know I’ve been going out on stage in front of, well hundreds of people in a variety of costumes for the last week or so but unlike my friend, I’m still not exactly comfortable looking like an extra from Rocky Horror outside of that context. Tonight my ladies maid has done something of a number on me, full on Goth makeup and my strawberry locks teased and plaited into a cross between Bavarian princess and a five year old! At least I got to decide what I’m wearing – okay its the slightly flouncy thing that hints at more than it shows but I’m fairly comfortable with it.
"Come on Gab, we’ll be late,” Mist urged.
"Its alright for you, you’re not wearing sixteen centimetre heels,” I pointed out as I used the wall for support descending the steps to the pavement.
"You could’ve worn something else to get to the venue,” she noted.
"Yeah well.”
She wasn’t wrong but its only a few metres along to Das Rind, I’ve no beef with that, and its something else to worry about afterwards. At least if I wear my boots I’ve only got me to worry about its just stairs that can be a problem – just try walking on your toes next time you go down a staircase. Anyway its alright for Mist, she’s wearing platform boots, they’re actually mine, well Jules really but I’ve sort of borrowed them but Mist has hijacked them.
I reached the bottom of the steps and we tottered and clumped our way up to the venue where I was surprised, although I’m not sure why, by the gathering of, how can I put it, alternatively dressed individuals outside of Das Rind’s streetside bar. To be honest, I, we don’t really get to see the gig goers other than a sea of bodies from the stage. Occasionally someone might catch your eye – there was a guy on Saturday who must’ve been well over two metres tall, but usually its just a blur.
Its not something I’ve given much thought to, who our ‘fans’ are, well I suppose it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that they don’t turn up in ball gowns, tiaras and the men in suits. It was only as we navigated our way past the early gig goers, drinking and chatting on a Rüsselheim street that I got more of an idea. There were more men than women, the former wearing lots of leather and denim, the latter for the most part wearing some level of Goth – Mists day outfits would fit right in, oh and there were at least two tiaras!
The pair of us got a few curious looks as we made our way to the entrance, probably due to our unnatural hair shades more than anything else.
Armin was at the door when we reached it.
"Looks like a good crowd tonight ladies.”
"Er yeah, they’re a bit early,” I suggested.
"I dunno, they get here early, have a drink or two, meet their friends then do the gig.”
"I guess.”
"See you later.”
"Er yeah.”
Inside Hilde was busy setting up our merchandise stand with rather more stock than I remember being in the bus.
"Where’d this lot come from?”
"Oh hi Erd, Robert brought it about thirty minutes ago.”
"You need a hand?” Mist offered.
"Do I! Can you help me move these t shirts?”
"I’ll go find the guys,” I told them but they were already woman handling a huge cardboard box off of the table.
In the auditorium, tonight’s support were doing a soundcheck, as usual they were a local outfit organised by the venue. This lot weren’t the usual though being all female, well they were all in heavy Goth makeup wearing lots of black PVC, leather and lace so it was difficult to tell for sure. The drum skin identified them as ‘Adams Opels’, a play on the local manufacturing giant’s name, maybe the Gothic crowd outside were here to see these guys as much as BlauHase?
I found the rest of the band in what passed as the green room behind the stage.
No sooner was I across the threshold than Stefan asked, "Where’s Misty?”
"Helping Hilde with the merch, why?”
"Just checking,” he replied maybe slightly cagily.
"The support look like they mean business.”
"Yeah,” Animal agreed, "Sam went to college with the bass player so we’ve seen them a couple of times, they’ve got a good following locally.”
"That might explain the big crowd out front, there must be at least fifty out there already.”
"Some people like to arrive early,” Marcus observed.
"I guess, there any Sprite® over there?”
Maddy Bell © 22.04.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *26*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Das Rind
Adams Opels' set was definitely on the hard core end of the Goth spectrum, I don’t really know much about that end of things other than death, melancholy and depression seem to be key elements of the lyrics. I stood in the wings watching them for a bit, they made the darker BlauHase stuff seem positively joyous! I still couldn’t decide whether they were all female or not, they reminded me a bit of those Japanese bands, what is it now… oh that’s it, Visual Kei or something like that, where the all male bands dress and look like women.
I was still trying to decide if the Keyboard player was a fella when someone jogged my elbow.
"Wondered where you’d got to,” Mist stated.
"Do you think that’s a lad on the far side?”
"In the PVC?”
"Yeah,” I agreed.
Said individual looked like a girl what with the shiny PVC minidress, fishnets, makeup and hair but there was just something in how ‘she’ was playing that seemed a bit, I dunno, off. Who am I to judge, even before my issues were properly diagnosed I ended up presenting as female more often than not.
"Maybe, there’s definite boobage trying to get out of that dress tho’.”
I gave a small shrug, "So where’ve you been? Stefan was looking for you.”
"Helping Hilde, Robert really is a sod just dropping that stuff off, those boxes are huge and heavy.”
"But is the stuff selling?”
"Seems to be.”
"I’m sure that’s a bloke.”
"Who cares? Guess we should go find the others.”
The rest of BlauHase were in the Green Room where I’d left them with the addition of Hilde, a pile of boxes and our manager.
"Checking out the competition Erd?” Marcus queried.
I chugged a good measure of lemonade into a paper cup, "Yeah, they’re a bit dark for my taste but the locals seem to be into ‘em.”
"Lets hope they’re into us,” Animal opined from the worn sofa he shared with Stefan.
"They’ve bought tickets,” Robert observed.
"And a lot of shirts,” Hilde added.
"They can’t be all bad then,” Stefan chortled.
"Should we maybe grunge down our set a bit?” I suggested, "I mean, if the locals like things a bit less cheerful?”
Little Jo chipped in, "Its an idea.”
"They’ve paid for BlauHase, we should give them the real thing,” Big Jo stated joining the discussion.
"I think BJ’s right,” manager man added, "Its not like you guys are a Heimatband.”
"It was only an idea,” I pointed out.
"Bit heavy on the makeup tonight Erd.” Animal observed.
"Not my idea,” I told him, "Blame Mandarine here.”
"Just thought a more Gothy look would go down well with the audience tonight,” she of the orange locks stated in her defence.
"Hmmph.”
Armin poked his head around the door, "Ten minutes guys.”
"We’ll be there,” Stefan told him.
"Knock their socks off,” Hilde instructed as bodies were raised from seats, backs stretched and I finished my Sprite®.
Despite, or perhaps because of our warm up’s somewhat gloomy mien, the paying public were quite appreciative, I guess there is only so much of that you can take. There was a different vibe tonight, maybe because of that, not bad or anything, just different. It was also quite warm, with the low stage making things more ‘intimate’ you could feel the heat from the crowd and stage lighting doesn’t do a deal towards keeping you cool either.
With the loss of Misty as stage hand, Hilde has stepped into the breach, when we broke in the middle of the set I pretty much snatched the cup of lemonade from her hand, I don’t think the contents touched the sides.
"Someone’s thirsty.”
"Its a bit warm out there,” I noted pouring myself another cup, "This stuff doesn’t help,” I plucked at my skirts.
"Take them off then,” Hilde suggested.
"I am not going on stage in my underwear!”
"We’d get more fans,” Big Jo commented having overheard our exchange.
The look I returned would melt steel, "Not happening.”
"What’s not happening?” Mist asked having arrived from a visit to the facilities.
"Erd doing the second half in her knickers,” Hilde supplied.
"This skirt is a bit warm,” I added.
"Stefan?”
"What’s up Mist?
"Can we delay for like five minutes? Erd’s got a bit of a costume issue.”
"Guess so.”
"Be back in like ten,” she advised as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"What are you up to?” I called to an empty doorway.
"Where’s she going?” Marcus asked.
"Search me,” I admitted with a shrug.
"Problem?” Armin enquired.
"We’ll be there in a couple of minutes,” Stefan stated.
"Sure, just checking.”
"We’ll have to go back in a minute,” our leader advised, with or without her.”
"I’m sure she wont be long.”
With that the body in question arrived in a sort of cartoon slingshot through the door.
"Sorry I was so long, couldn’t get back in.”
"We need to get back on stage,” Stefan told her.
"You guys go, we’ll be right behind you,” she puffed.
The guys shuffled out leaving just us women in the room.
"So what was that about?”
"Sorting your problem, take those skirts off, quick.”
"I am not going on in my underwear.”
"You won’t be, give her a hand please Hilde.”
I have to say I felt immediately cooler when the froth of nylon and lace slid down to the floor.
"Here, put these on,” Mist stooped to guide my feet through the leg holes of what turned out to be those tiny denim shorts she’s been wearing.
"Really?”
"Stop complaining, they look cute on you.”
"She’s right,” Hilde agreed as she draped my skirts over a chair.
"I don’t want to look cute,” I erm, complained.
"You don’t want to miss your cue either, come on missy!”
With that I was dragged by Mist and pushed by Hilde towards the stage feeling a bit exposed if I’m honest even if I wasn’t exposing my underwear – quite.
"Hello again Russelheim, you ready for some more?”
I stepped up onto the stage rather self consciously to loud cheering.
"Its a bit warm in here tonight, hope you don’t mind my costume change?”
There were a few whistles and cat calls, good natured and a few nervous laughs.
"Go for it Erd!” one wag shouted.
"Why thank you,” I strutted across the stage, "So before we return to the music, I’m sure you’d like to meet the band, on bass, Big Jo!”
I felt a bit like a ham actor as we went through our little pantomime, Stefan did the honours introducing yours truly and soon enough I was singing Edelweiss before we got on with the second half of our set. Part two is, if you recall, a bit punchier than the first half and I was soon quite grateful to be wearing Mist’s shorts however brief they are.
"Bleh!” I exclaimed as I collapsed less than gracefully onto the battered sofa in the ‘green room’.
It wasn’t a bad ‘bleh’, the audience really got into it, even the more poppy stuff, Luftballons turned into a regular sing a long. No it wasn’t the audience, well not entirely, it was the heat that had me collapsed on the iffy furniture, what with the lighting, a warm evening and several hundred enthusiastic punters I was pretty much steaming.
"You are such a diva Gab,” she of the citrus hair stated passing me a cool bottle of something.
"Well done ladies,” Robert told us as the guys joined us.
I was too busy necking what turned out to be wiessbier to do more than tilt my bottle in acknowledgement. Okay so I know its not the best thing if you are dehydrated but it was there, wet and I’m not planning on drinking more of it.
Of course, there was an after party in Das Rind’s main bar where we joined Adams Opels and a few of their hardcore Gothy fans, friends. I had my skirts back on, over the shorts, well I didn’t want to forget them and truth to tell I was a bit self conscious of their brevity.
"Great set.”
It had got to that point where we’d done all the glad handing, the lads were taking advantage of the free bar and pretty much everyone else had split into small groups, doing what you do at these things. To be honest I was thinking of heading back to the Höll am Main to get some shut eye when the voice broke my reverie.
"Er thanks, yours was …”
"A bit gloomy,” the girl I recognised as the supports guitarist put in.
"Why?”
"Why the songs or why gloomy? Nikki by the way.”
"Er, Gaby, both I guess.”
"I s’pose its the same answer anyway, we’ve always been on the dark side, its what the fans expect now.”
"They seemed pretty up for our stuff,” I pointed out.
"But you aren’t the Opels, if we put any of your stuff in our set there’d be questions asked in the Landesamt! So how did you end up singing with this lot? I’m guessing you didn’t go to school with them.”
"No nothing like that, they’re years older than me.”
The girl looked mortified, well I think that’s what it was, difficult to tell through all that makeup.
"Sorry, I didn’t mean you looked their age.”
“’s okay, so my boyfriend reckoned it’d be cool to go see this band up at the roadhouse, must’ve been about a year ago, long story short I finished the night singing with them – well before I got grounded.”
"Grounded?”
"Long story.”
"And that was it?”
"Nah, we went to see them again with my sister and her boyfriend in Bonn, Stefan spotted me and I found myself on the stage again. I guess it was after Moselfest that I sort of joined BlauHase.”
"You were at Moselfest?”
"Only on the Sunday, Max got given some tickets.”
"Max?”
"My boyfriend, him I have known since school. Did you go?”
"Not last year, but I’ve been before, your first festival?”
"First time on stage at one, that was a story on its own, I did go to Leeds, you know in England one time, we had this school exchange thing so we got day passes.”
"You went to England for your exchange? Lucky you, we went to a right hole near Prague.”
I decided to not put her right on her assumption, we’ve only just met after all.
"So what’s it like being in an all girl group?”
"I’ll let you into a secret Gaby,” she took a swig from the bottle she was nursing, "We’re not, all girls that is.”
"You mean…”
My mind brought up my earlier exchange with Mist, about the girl in the PVC dress.
"Yeah, Moni, our bass player, is trans.”
"She is?”
"Not that you’d ever know, she’s less butch than Barbie under all that makeup!”
Hang on, she said bass player, wasn’t that Sam’s friend from college?
“’kay.”
"Hey Monique, come meet Gaby,” Nikki called across the room to someone, I guess this Moni, out of my line of sight.
So of course I was expecting PVC girl and a deep voice, what I got was something quite different.
"Hey Nik,” the new arrival greeted in a voice you’d never take as anything but female.
"Mon this is Gaby, Gaby meet Monique, the Opels sheep in sheep's clothing.”
"Er high,” I offered.
How wrong can you be? Monique, once you got past all the Goth stuff, would never be mistaken for anything other than female, she was pretty, at a guess about ten centimetres taller than me, her chest made my girls look like fried eggs - there was absolutely no hint that she was anything but what she appeared to be. And those leggings are just about sprayed on.
I was given a firm but girly hug, "Sam has told me so much about you.”
"She has?”
"And Peter.”
"Peter?”
"Animal, your drummer.”
Well I suppose Peter does sound a bit lame for a drummer.
"All good I hope.”
"You’d better believe it girl and after seeing you out there tonight I can see why.”
"You can?”
"You really are an exceptional singer Gaby,” Nikki added.
"And so pretty, you even make Stefan look better.”
By now I’m pretty sure you could light candles from my cheeks, you know what I’m like with any sort of compliment.
"Gaby was saying she went to Leeds Festival on her school exchange,” Nikki stated.
"Just one day,” I temporized.
"That is like so cool,” Moni cooed, "All we did was visit stuffy museums and galleries.”
"We did that stuff too,” I told them.
"So who’d you see?” Monique pressed.
Who indeed, it wasn’t that long ago really, I can remember the marquee with Shania Twain, there was the business with the bag snatcher but I really can’t remember who else was playing.
"Erm, Shania Twain.”
"She’s pretty cool even if she is a bit vanilla,” Nikki stated.
"Ah, it must’ve been so cool,” Moni sighed.
"So erm, you guys always been into all this Goth stuff?”
"Oh my god no, at school I was soo into Madonna its unreal,” Monique admitted.
"Spice Girls,” Nikki told us.
"So how come you crossed to the dark side?”
"Boyfriends!” they both sang.
The girls seemed keen to keep my company and its not like I was set on an early night, it was well into Wednesday before we bade our farewells and I minced barefoot down Main Strasse, boots dangling from my hands. Of course I was with the rest of our merry band, it might only be a few metres down to the hotel but there is no way I’d do it alone at this time of night.
"Good night eh?” Animal suggested as I avoided a patch of spilt gravel on the footpath.
"Not bad,” I agreed.
"Its a good job its midweek, those girls can really party!”
Of course I didn’t spend the night with just Moni and Nikki, I got introduced to Paulette and Maria, the one in the PVC dress as well as their boyfriends. I’m sure there was alcohol in more than one of my lemonades, either that or I forgot my iron tablets this morning. I wasn’t the only one having a good night, Misty was lapping it all up and no sign of being drunk.
Hang on, "Where’s Misty?”
"Thought she was with you,” Hilde suggested.
"Last I saw she was with Armin, the stage guy?” Little Jo stated.
Maddy Bell © 27.04.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *27*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Like a Virgin
There was a ‘bzzt’ from my handy as I opened the door to our room – I didn’t bother taking it to the gig, something else to misplace. It was an SMS, from Nena, Misty – still not sure what that's about, anyway even in my slightly befuddled state I can open a text.
‘with A, don’t wait up, M xxxx’
Well I’ll admit I was a bit concerned that she wasn’t with us, I was going to call her but I guess her message trumps the need to do that. She could have said something before we left the party, who is ‘A’ and why was she with them? And ‘don’t wait up’, does that mean she’s not coming back to the hotel at all or just later? If my head had been running on all cylinders at this point I might have been more concerned but to be honest I was struggling to keep my eyes open.
I woke with a start, cracking an eye I realised the main light was on and I seemed to be tangled up in something. Okay, I was well out of it last night, earlier this morning, whatever, it wasn’t just the light on, the room door was open and on investigation I was still fully dressed from the gig, make up and all. Urgh! The other bed was a bit mussed but there was no sign of my room mate so I’m guessing she’s not returned.
When I checked the time it was still the wrong side of five am, far too early to be awake but seeing as I am, might as well have a wee. And shut the door, get undressed and turn off the light. My head wasn’t so much throbbing as doing that weird floaty thing, sort of like being on an air mattress you know? Not that I can recall anything else as I was off with the fairies moments after turning out the light.
I’ve no idea what got into my Sprite®, whatever it was, I had some stra-ange dreams. For some reason that wasn’t clear I was singing with Adams Opels in a huge marquee, well more like a circus tent I guess. And we were all wearing skin tight, shiny stuff for some reason. And there was a trapeze act and clowns, then I was standing on the back of a horse doing a pirouette but it wasn’t a horse it was a bike and I was in a party dress with silly heels on except they were really flippers and…
Yeah, it was a well weird dream.
The next time I properly reached consciousness my tongue was like a tennis ball, white and furry that is, and a glance across the room still didn’t locate Misty. According to the blinking figures under the TV it was coming up to eight so I guess I’d best get myself up, I hope Nena’s okay. There was no answer when I tried her Handy so I fired off a message.
‘?r u, G’
A shower does wonders for clearing your head, aided and abetted by an aspirin and a bottle of water, the freebie with the room. I located clean underwear, pulled on my jeans and a T, scraped my hair into a ponytail and went in search of breakfast, specifically coffee. The Höll boasts quite a big restaurant which would overlook the river if there wasn’t a road and car park in the way, there were a few other guests taking their Fruhstück but no sign of the rest of the band.
I found a table by the big picture windows after first arming myself with a cup of caffeine enriched goodness, food can wait a bit. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I realised I’d somehow missed a new message, surely its Misty but no, it was from Mum,
‘JB sat bus mum’
What the heck does that mean, who is JB and why do I want to know they are on a bus? Mum has never really got the art of texting down, guess I’d best give her a call. I found her number, pressed dial, it was answered after a couple of rings.
"Bond.”
"Hey Mum, how are things in Dernau?”
"Gaby?”
"Dur!”
"Well I don’t know do I?” Mum snarked back.
"It comes up on the screen,” I sighed, "I got your message.”
"Message?”
"On the phone? Few minutes ago?” I prompted.
"That message, sorry Gab, your Father is replacing the worktop in the kitchen so I’ve been emptying cupboards and moving stuff all morning, I hope he doesn’t expect me to clear up when he’s done farting about.”
"Er right, so the message?”
"Oh right, yes, your sister and Boris are coming to your concert on Saturday, thought we’d have a family get together in case we don’t get a chance before the baby arrives.”
"I guess its not that far away, what’s the business with a bus then?”
"Oh, Helmut’s organised a bus to bring some of your friends down.”
"Really?”
"News travels fast, even in the Ahrtal!”
"So are you guys coming on this bus trip then?”
"We’ll be in the car as we’re staying over.”
"So I can come back with you guys still?”
"That was the plan,” Mum confirmed.
There was the interminable drone of power tools in the background which drowned out half of Mum’s reply.
"Sorry? What was that?”
“..ad sends his love, .ye kiddo.”
"Mum?”
But she was gone, oh well, I’ll call again later.
Having left my Handy on the table when I succumbed to the call of the breakfast buffet, I of course missed the arrival of the next message. Having woken up with the coffee I now had a considerable hunger, I gathered my loot, a bowl of fruit salad with a ladle of yoghurt and a plate with scrambled egg, assorted grilled meat products, some smoked salmon and a couple of brötchen, like I said I was hungry. When i spotted the new message, I quickly opened it, this time it was from Mist.
It was short but succinct, ‘b @ hotel 9.30, M xxx’
Whilst it didn’t really merit a reply I thought I’d do so anyway.
‘okay, c u sn, G xx’
I’m sure I’ll get the whole story when she gets here.
The rest of BlauHase drifting into the dining room as I ate, we’re only going along to Mainz for tonight's gig but we have to pickup the gear from Das Rind first of course.
"On your own?” Hilde queried, putting her bowl of cornflakes on the table opposite where I was sat.
"Yeah,” I replied non committally.
"Everything okay? Misty alright?” she asked making herself comfortable.
"Think so.”
"Come on Gaby, what’s up?”
"She didn’t come back to the Höll last night.”
"At all?”
"Nope.”
"But you’ve heard from her? She’s okay?”
"I had a message a few minutes ago, she’ll be here in about half an hour.”
"Well that's alright then,” Hilde allowed before spooning sugar on her breakfast, "She say where she’s been?”
"Nothing.”
"Misty?” Little Jo enquired taking the seat next to his wife.
"She didn’t come back last night,” Hilde told him.
"Probably went with that Armin Geier, they seemed to be hitting it off,” Little Jo mentioned.
The insinuation was there, whilst I’m aware that’s what people do it doesn’t mean I’m comfortable with it, especially in the context of someone that I went to school with and currently bunk with. I might not have done the deed myself but I know the mechanics, heck I’ve even helped deliver a baby. Is it the idea that Mist went off with an almost stranger to slake her carnal desires or is it because she didn’t say last night?
"Hello, Erd?”
"Eh?”
I returned to the now with Little Jo snapping his fingers in front of my face.
"You zoned out there girl,” Hilde stated.
"Erm sorry, just thinking, anyone want more coffee?”
It was closer to fifteen to ten than half nine when there was a knock at the door followed by a muffled, "Its only me.”
While I’d been waiting, apart from packing not just mine but Misty’s stuff as well, I’d been thinking how to handle the upcoming conversation, I was no nearer now the time had come.
"Thought you were coming at half to?” was my opening gambit.
For her part, she looked like the cat with the cream.
"And good morning to you too,” she told me sinking onto her bed, not that she’d used it.
"So erm, where did you end up last night.”
"Gabrielle Bond, you are a proper voyeur.”
"Am not, I, we were just worried that's all.”
"I sent you a text when I couldn’t find you at Das Rind.”
"My phone was here in the room.”
She shrugged, "Anyway, I went back to Armin’s place and yes we did, not that its any of your business.”
This last stung a bit, as a group, the Ahr Angels have always discussed stuff, nothing is off the cards, I admit that I’m not always comfortable with the topics of conversation. I think there’s still a bit of the me that was trying to be a boy lurking in my head or maybe I’m not the only one who gets a bit embarrassed discussing some aspects of womanhood.
"I wasn’t being nosey, honest, I was just concerned, especially after Kassel last week. We need to check out soon, you showered or anything.”
"Yes and yes,” a grin reappeared on her face, "But I do need to change.”
"I packed your bags.”
"Thanks, if you want to go down I’ll follow in a few minutes.”
"Sure.
"Leave them there Erd,” Animal told me as I half carried, half dragged my bags into the reception area.
"Misty?” Stefan queried.
"Be down in a couple of minutes.” I allowed.
"Great, Armin’s just rung, he’s waiting for us at Das Rind.”
"What’s the plan, you know lunch and stuff?”
"Don’t know where you put it all,” Marcus chortled.
"I’m a growing girl.”
"If you say so,” he smirked.
"We can’t get in the venue till after lunch,” Stefan shrugged, "Any ideas?”
"There’s a few places on the river front,” Animal suggested, "Easy to park the van too.”
"Erd?”
"Fine by me.” well its not gonna be kebab shop or fast food at least.
"Settled,” our leader stated, "Lets get these bags loaded.”
Rather than get on the bus to travel to the other end of the street, everyone bar Animal walked, well someone had to drive. When we got there Armin was waiting in the bar for us, if I’d expected any lovey dovey stuff between he and Mist I was relieved? Upset? Annoyed maybe that he barely acknowledged us ladies.
"Okay, lets get you loaded up, there’s coffee inside if you ladies want some.”
"Want some?” I squeaked.
"He means coffee,” Mist told me soto voce before I went off on one.
"Er sure,” Hilde replied, "Girls?”
"Er yeah, getting a bit dry,” I opined.
"Gaby!” Mandarin top hissed.
There was indeed coffee inside, it was only filter but load it with enough sugar and cream and its just about drinkable.
"Right you two, what’s going on?” Hilde demanded once we’d settled ourselves at one of the outside tables.
"Nothing.”
"If its nothing why aren’t you talking?”
"We are,” Mist stated.
"Barely.”
"Hmmf!” I added.
"Well I can’t make you talk but I suggest you sort whatever it is out pronto, for everyone’s sake.”
We exchanged looks, I’m not sure what the issue is exactly, I was just concerned for her well being and she’s, well I’m not even sure what her issue is.
If you look at a map, the distance from Russelheim to central Mainz is about ten kilometres as the crow flies, if you were so minded you could walk it in a couple of hours. Of course the fly in the ointment is the big body of water known as the Rhein, Mainz is on the far bank and there are only two road crossings, the A60 autobahn and the Mainz – Kustheim bridge near the city centre. To use the latter you need to also cross the River Mainz and then its several kilometres of urban traffic to reach the Rhein bridge.
It might be counter intuitive but the fastest, easiest route to where we want to get is longer but you are on city streets much less. On a bike I wouldn’t have much choice, the nearest ferry crossing is something like fifteen kilometres further south, you’d probably do about forty K and still have to ride through the city. For us in the bus it was a no brainer, back out past the Opel works then it was a dual carriageway all the way out to the motorway junction.
There were signs on the overheads suggesting delays through some roadworks at junction twenty one but according to my atlas we could come off at twenty two anyway, its not like we’re in a great hurry is it? The traffic was quite heavy, it always is in this area what with the airport and some major autobahn crossings coming up from the south and from the industrial centres lower down the Rhein and Ruhr. Yep if you want to get to or from southern Germany from our neck of the woods you pretty much have to pass through this Gordian knot of motorways.
We were just past junction twenty five when the flow of traffic reduced to a crawl, by the time we were on the Rhein bridge it was at a stop.
"Looks like we found those roadworks,” Marcus mentioned.
"Lets hope we’re not sat too long,” Big Jo opined.
Famous last words. We hadn’t been stopped more than five minutes when first one then another police car threaded through the halted traffic followed in short order by the Notarzt and fire services.
"I don’t think we’re stopped for roadworks,” Stefan sighed.
"I hope its nothing too serious,” I added just as several more emergency vehicles sped past, blue lights and sirens dopplering through the queued traffic.
Animal turned off the motor, it didn’t look like we were going anywhere fast.
"Robert, Stefan.”
"Sat on the sixty just before junction twenty four.”
"Really, that would explain it then, have they said how long?”
"Uh huh, uh huh,”
"Okay we’ll keep in touch.” Stefan ended the call.
"So?” Marcus asked.
"Well apparently its a bad smash at the next junction, its all over the local radio.”
"Great,” Animal sighed.
"They give any clue on times?” Big Jo asked.
"The usual vagueness, you know what they’re like.”
Yep, looks like we might be here a while. And then we saw the air ambulance coming in overhead.
What can you do? A few drivers had left their vehicles and were wandering through the traffic, I guess they were as bored and frustrated as the rest of us.
"I’m gonna see if I can find out what’s happening,” Stefan stated.
"I’ll come with, I need to stretch my legs.”
"Okay Erd, we won’t be long. If it starts moving we’ll wait for you to come up.”
It was actually a nice day, the sun was dodging a few clouds but it was reasonably warm as we walked through the queue of HGV’s and what my Dad calls ‘repmobils’, the mid range models more usually seen on lane three chasing each other at a hundred and fifty. At the moment they weren’t going anywhere. It wasn’t that far to the front of the queue, a pair of Polizei BMW’s with their lights still flashing blocking further progress.
From this distance you couldn't really see much, a few vehicles were stopped between our position and the mass of blue lights, red trucks and bodies scampering about. The opposite carriageway was closed too, the helicopter was parked in the middle, not only that but a second one was coming in too. Tantalisingly, just a few metres further on was the exit slip road currently filled by several recovery vehicles who had clearly come the wrong way up the lane to reach the incident.
Maddy Bell © 28.04.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *28*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Tragedy
A young Police woman was in charge of the road closure, being harangued by several clearly frustrated drivers. It wasn’t that we wanted to join our voices but out of an inate need to find out any news that we hovered close enough to get the gist of things.
"How much longer are we going to be here? I’ve got deliveries to make,” one obnoxious individual demanded.
"We’ll have you away as soon as possible Sir, now please, everyone return to your vehicles.”
"Can’t you let us use the exit?” someone else asked.
"Its being used for emergency access, everyone is working hard in a difficult situation,” the officer stated, "Now please, there’s nothing to see, return to your vehicles.”
"Has someone died up there?” another individual enquired.
"I can’t say Sir, there are multiple casualties that the Services are dealing with.”
"We could be here hours,” the delivery driver muttered.
"Come on,” Stefan sighed, "Best tell the others.
"Yeah,” I added with my own sigh, "Best had.”
I looked up the road again towards the meleé of vehicles and lights, but was distracted by the arrival up the off slip of one of those big mobile cranes, no not the tower things but a self propelled thing with like five axles followed by a flatbed with what looked like huge steel plates on it.
"The heavy brigade,” Stefan observed as they each made the awkward turn from the slip onto the carriageway followed by a black Vito panel van.
"Yep,” I agreed turning away to start the walk back to our own transport.
"You been enjoying being on the road?” my companion asked as we walked back through the silent lines of vehicles.
"Its been different,” I allowed, "Miss my own bed tho’, you?”
"I’ve always wanted to do it, go on tour with the guys, different venues, different audiences you know? I wasn’t expecting the Radio stuff, that’s really dialled things up.”
I had to agree, "Yeah.”
He went on, "I didn’t think all the setting up, knocking down stuff, driving to the next town, well its what touring is about but its pretty tiring.”
"And the partying.”
"That as well, I’ll need a holiday to get over it.”
I might not be involved with all the lugging stuff about but I can only agree, touring with a band is hard work. I guess if you are a full on headline act things are a bit different, maybe longer between shows, having others to do the grunt work, maybe better accommodation and travel arrangements, yeah that’d be more fun I guess.
"Its been good,” I offered, "But a fortnight is long enough for me.”
"Don’t give up the day job just yet,” Stefan joked.
"What’s the crack?” Marcus asked as we reached the bus.
"Its a nasty one,” Stefan advised, "Two helicopters and they’ve brought in a big crane, don’t think we’re going anywhere fast.”
"The travel news just said long delays, avoid the area,” Animal told us.
"So much for lunch by the river,” Hilde noted.
"I think that sailed a while ago liebe,” her husband observed.
So much for a relaxing day!
It was gone four when the sound of distant engines drew our attention, something was happening at long last. We watched as several Polizei walked between the vehicles behind where we’ve been stopped, speaking to each as the passed.
"What’s happening Officer?” Little Jo enquired when the officer doing our line reached us.
I’m sure he was fed up of explaining but he did so anyway.
"We’re getting everyone turned around to exit the autobahn, which I’m sure you appreciate takes time with all the trucks in the queue, we should get to you in about twenty minutes so if you can stay in your vehicles you’ll soon be on your way.”
"Thanks,” Marcus offered as the policeman moved to the next vehicle.
"You got that map book handy Erd?” Animal asked as we all returned to our seats.
"Er sure.”
I pulled it out of the seat pocket and passed it forward.
I suppose it was closer to half an hour before the vehicles immediately behind us started up and were turned around. We had to wait for the stuff in lane three to clear before a traffic cop directed our about face and we slowly headed the wrong way along the carriageway. It was only then that we were able to appreciate the reason for the lengthy process, we had to wait for one of the HGV’s to turn around which involved several shunts back and forth.
Times that by a couple of hundred and what sounds like a straightforward job suddenly becomes a long drawn out process. In my naivety I just assumed they’d take us back to the junction with the Six Seven One but instead we were directed off at the Ginsheim turn just before it.
"Which way?” Animal asked as we reached the bottom of the on slip where nearly all the traffic was turning right.
"Less traffic going left,” Stefan observed.
"I think Gustavsburg is on the way into Mainz on the old road,” I stated remembering my perusal of the map earlier.
"Sounds good to me,” our driver stated.
It wasn’t long before we reached the town, joining the Forty Three which soon took us over the Main and on towards Mainz itself. Traffic was heavy, especially when we reached the bridge over the Rhein. We dropped off the bridge over five hours after we started to cross the river and instead of the waterfront or even the hotel, a fairly straightforward route through the city centre took us to tonight's venue, the Frankfurter Hof.
After going around the block twice Animal spotted the lane through to the venue’s stage door where Robert greeted us as we climbed down to terra concretus.
"Some journey,” Stefan stated.
"But you’ve made it,” Robert noted, "Lets get inside, you eaten?”
We’ve certainly played a diverse set of venues on the BlauHase tour, converted railway stations, outdoor stages, even an ice rink. In contrast, the Frankfurter Hof is pretty normal, a reasonable size hall with a gallery around three sides, the fourth being occupied by the stage. You can imagine it being the host to afternoon tea dances and exhibitions but, according to Frank, the venue manager who we met inside, its been host to the likes of Steve Earle and Sinead O’Connor amongst a host of other contemporary artistes.
The tech’s clearly knew their stuff so once our gear was inside, setting up and doing a sound check went remarkably smoothly, disrupted only by Big Jo’s stomach rumbling. Yeah, we still haven’t eaten.
"What’re we doing about food and the hotel?” Hilde asked.
"We usually go to the Augustinerkellar,” Frank suggested, "Nothing fancy and its pretty cheap.”
"Cheap and plain works for me,” Robert opined, "Guys?”
"I’d eat a scabby dog right now,” Little Jo mentioned.
"What about the hotel?” Mist turned the conversation back from food.
Stefan looked to Robert before speaking, "we’re getting a bit tight on time, you girls okay changing here?”
"Guess so,” I replied.
"In that case I suggest we go find this Augustin place and get fed now, we okay leaving the bus here overnight Frank?”
"Sure, its pretty secure.”
"I’m sure we can stretch to a Taxibus later to take us to the B&B eh Robert?”
"It won’t break the bank I suppose. Tell you what, while you’re all eating I’ll take your bags to the hotel and get you checked in, I’m staying there too so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
"Great,” Stefan allowed, "The support should be here by the time we get back so we’ll be all set, everyone okay with that?”
"What are we waiting for,” I stated, my own stomach doing its own mini version of BJ’s loud rumble.
We sorted out the bags for Robert and Frank acquainted us with the artiste facilities, some quite nicely appointed rooms on the floor below the concert hall. Yep, clean toilets, even a shower room, the ‘green’ room even had a pool table and one of those big flat screen TV’s that Frank was keen to demonstrate.
He was just about to turn it back off when the news channel it was tuned to started showing what turned out to be footage of the accident we got caught up with.
"Turn up the volume,” Airnimal requested.
The footage was showing one of the helicopters taking off before moving to shots of the actual incident.
‘… thought that one of the trucks suffered a blowout which sent it careering across the carriageway before overturning.’
The view now panned through the resulting carnage, two more trucks were skewed across the road, there appeared to be a car wedged under the front of one, others littered the road, at the rear of the main mess was a secondary event involving a VW Transporter and two more cars, the Volkswagen on its now crushed roof wrapped around the leg of an overhead gantry which was itself cranked at something less than vertical.
‘Police have confirmed three fatalities with at least two more persons flown to the Universitätsklinik Mainz with critical injuries. The authorities expect the recovery and clean up operation to continue into the night with heavy lifting equipment and barrier repairs being necessary. In other news…’
"Glad we only got caught in the queue,” Marcus stated turning away from the screen.
"Come on,” Stefan chirped, "Times a wastin’, lets get some food.
"Your very quiet,” Mist mentioned as we made our way out of the Frankfurter Hof to get fed.
"Just thinking about earlier.”
"As in?”
"The accident.”
"Okay, what about it?”
"If we’d been like five minutes earlier that could’ve been us.”
"Or it might not have happened at all, you can’t go through life second guessing every decision Gab.”
"I know that but even so, when we were up there trying to find out what was happening I saw the Gerichtsmediziner van, you know that they collect bodies in, brings it home to you.”
"How fo you know all about Gerichtsmediziner?”
"When that crane collapsed and squished our car last year.”
"I forgot about that,” Mist admitted.
"There was talk of putting up some sort of plaque,” I told her.
"If you did that for every accident we’d be swamped by Denkmäler, that corner outside Mayschoß would be covered.”
I suppose she has a point. Even so, you see those little shrines, there are a few around Adenau, where friends and family have left flowers, lit candles, left photographs of accident victims. I think most people ignore their existence but I’m sure they are some comfort to those left behind. Would my friends do that if I died out on the roads somewhere? would Misty?
"So, um, last night,” I started.
"Look I’m sorry I was a bit sharp this morning but I was really happy then you started on twenty questions and killed the mood.”
"Should we put up a plaque?”
"Ha de har.”
"So I guess you and Armin?”
"Well I didn’t go for a quick snog.”
"And?”
"I guess it could’ve been a bit more romantic.”
"Tell me you used, you know…”
"I’m on the pill Gab.”
"So am I, doesn’t mean you don’t need to be careful.”
"You saying, you and Max?”
"No, just a principal thing, you know why I’m taking it. So how was it?”
"Uncomfortable? Messy and over far too quickly.”
"Probably comes with practice, well that’s what Jules reckons so she and Boris practice a lot,” I allowed with a giggle.
"Must work I guess Tante Gaby!”
"Tante I can live with, its Mutter that I want to avoid.”
"I thought you liked kids? Drea dotes on you.”
"Other peoples are fine, I can give them back.”
"That’s what my Oma says.”
"Girls,” Hilde called from somewhere behind us.
We stopped and turned to see what she wanted, wasn’t she in front just now?
"The Keller?” she hinted.
"Oops!”
Yep, so engrossed in our conversation were we that we’d walked straight past our destination.
The Augustinerkeller was everything that Frank had suggested and more. The entrance area was lined with marble but once into the restaurant itself it was a cross between an old school German Kellerie and a Stube, vaulted ceilings, dark wood, Heimats musik, not over the top but traditional enough to mark its identity as German. It was quite busy but Frank had called through so we were soon installed in the Obergeschoss, a sort of upper floor with a balcony looking down to part of the main lower level.
This isn’t Bavaria or Baden though, indeed its not even Hessen, when we crossed the Rhein we moved into the Rheinland Palatinate, albeit the other end to where Schloss Bond is situated. Anyway, that meant the staff weren’t in Kostum, we might go for it a bit in the sticks but this is Mainz, the biggest city in the Palatinate by far, far too cosmopolitan for that sort of touristy schmick. They were pretty slick though, drink orders were taken whilst we were finding our seats and Speisekarte were in our hands before the beverages arrived, like I say, slick.
"Ooo, Flammkuchen,” Mist enthused.
For the uninitiated that’s a sort of cross between a pizza and a quiche from Alsace which, whilst its currently in France, at various times its been German which is reflected in the architecture, place names and indeed the cuisine. Well Mist is welcome to her pizza tart, my eyes were drawn towards number four eighteen, the Rinderroulade, my stomach gave a low growl of agreement.
The food arrived fairly quickly but even so I caught Stefan checking his watch several times, yeah time is not on our side tonight. I wouldn’t have minded coffee and strudel afterwards but it wasn’t to be, I guess there’ll be snacks and stuff in the Green room.
"I’ll go sort out the merchandise,” Hilde stated once we’d returned to the venue.
"Got your pass?” her hubby enquired.
"Have you?” she replied waving the bit of laminated card Frank had given each of us earlier.
"Can’t hear the warmup at all,” Marcus observed.
"Maybe they’re already set up,” Little Jo suggested as we entered the concert hall.
"Good, your back,” Robert called from where he was stood with Frank and several others by the suspiciously empty stage area.
"Problem?” Stefan enquired as we headed across the open space.
"You could say that,” our tour manager advised.
"Support running late?” Animal put forward.
"They won’t be coming at all,” Robert told us in an unusual for him, serious tone.
"Shitza,” Marcus stated, "Can’t rely on anyone these days.”
"You’d think they’d be well up for a gig here,” Big Jo added.
"What’s the story?” Stefan asked, a hint of resignation in his voice.
"Lets go downstairs,” Robert proposed.
There was a bit of shrugging but we followed our ‘leader’, Frank joining the procession to the lower level.
"What’s going on Rob?” Stefan demanded once we were installed in the Green room.
"Something’s happened,” Rob started.
"Like?” Marcus queried.
"Rob?” Frank asked in turn.
"Go ahead Frank.”
"The guys were really excited about tonight, I’ve had them on the phone every day this week, they really didn’t want to muck up. Which is why they took today off work and left from Mannheim fairly early this morning.”
"Get to the point Frank,” Robert chivvied.
"Sorry, look there’s no easy way to tell this, the accident, on the sixty? They were involved.”
"That minibus? Oh my god!” I gasped.
"No that wasn’t them, they were in two cars, they got separated, Felix and Paul got to where they were stopping for lunch but the others never arrived. They tried calling their Handy’s, eventually one was answered, not by Heine but by the Polizei.”
"Shitza,” Mist murmured.
"Heine is in the ICU but Doris his partner, she didn’t make it.”
We were, its fair to say, all stunned to silence.
Maddy Bell © 01.05.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *29*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Stand In
Other than Frank, none of us have met, or even spoken to the members of Zipfer, Robert has organised them all through an agency, last night, in Russelheim was the exception. So the news, whilst upsetting was a bit weird, we didn’t have a real connection but it felt as if we should have.
Mist broke the silence, "Do we cancel?”
"Rob?” Stefan deferred to our manager.
Everyone turned towards him to receive his words of wisdom.
"I’ve been talking with Frank, there isn’t exactly a protocol for this sort of thing. Obviously our thoughts are with them, the venue are fine to proceed but everyone will understand if you want to cancel. However, time is of the essence, we need to make a decision in the next quarter hour. Take a few minutes to discuss it, Frank and I will be up in the office.”
"So what do we think?” Stefan asked once we were on our own.
"What do we do by cancelling?” Little Jo posed.
"We’re seen as respectful,” Animal stated.
"And if we go on?” LJ went on.
"Less respect,” Marcus put in, "But I doubt we’d be vilified.”
"What about you Erd, should we play or not?” Stefan queried directly.
I didn’t reply immediately, instead weighing up the pro’s and con’s for all involved.
"So if we cancel there’re financial implications all round even if it is the right thing to do, us, the venue, the fans but we have a clear conscience. If we play there are some who’ll point the finger, make us out to be uncaring, money grabbers am I right?”
"Just about wraps the situation up,” Marcus agreed.
"There is a third way,” I suggested.
"Which is?” Stefan asked.
"Well we do the gig but make it, what’s the word, not testimonial.”
"Fundraiser?” Mist suggested.
"Not the word I was thinking of but essentially yeah, we donate our cut of monies to the Zipfer guys, dedicate the gig to them, I won’t say everyone’s happy exactly but no one is less happy.”
"I like your thinking Erd,” Stefan noted, "Anyone not want to perform?”
The guys exchanged looks and variously indicated their willingness to go ahead on that basis.
"Okay, best let the management know, come on Erd, your idea, you can explain it.”
"That works for us,” Frank allowed, "Robert?”
"If the band are okay with it I guess I am.”
"Its not too mercenary is it,” I suggested.
"Not at all,” Frank replied, "Making it a benefit gig for Zipfer trumps any commercial aspect, I’ll talk to my bosses about the house putting some money up too. So what about timing, clearly with no opening act the punters won’t want to be stood about for an hour, can you bring things forward?” Frank enquired.
"Can’t see why not,” Stefan supplied, "Erd?”
"We could but what if there were an opening act?”
"How do we manage that? The doors open in what? An hour, there’s no way to do that and who would you get at this notice?” Robert stated.
"What if they were already here, in the building?” I posed.
"We’re listening,” Stefan at least sounded interested.
To be truthful I hadn’t really thought it through, my mouth had run off without consulting the grey matter, I guess my conscience felt Zipfer deserved more than well meaning words.
"You think the two Jo’s would be up for a sort of mini gig Stef?”
"What are you thinking Erd?”
"We could do like a fifteen, twenty minute set specifically as the benefit then after a break do the regular BlauHase set.”
"I like it,” Robert beamed, "By ‘we’ I’m guessing you are included in this.”
I was thinking on my feet here, "Er yeah, keep it simple, maybe half a dozen covers?”
"What would you need from us?” Frank asked.
"I dunno, we’ve already done a soundcheck so probably just a spot on me, sure your lighting guy can ad lib a bit.”
While I’d been talking Stefan had summoned the Jo’s on his Handy, they arrived as Frank called his guy.
"What’s up?” Little Jo asked as they joined us.
"Well,” Stefan started, "Erd has a proposition for you both.”
"Sounds intrigueing,” BJ mentioned.
"Would you be up for accompanying me for a few numbers before the gig?”
"We changing the set?” Little Jo queried.
"Not exactly, Erd has suggested the three of you do a short set to replace Zipfer’s performance.”
"What do you reckon guys?” I asked with a heavy dose of female wiles.
The two exchanged glances before Little Jo replied, "What are we playing?”
"All set from our end,” Frank told us closing his phone.
"Come on then, lets get things moving, time’s a wastin’,” Robert observed.
Looks like its a goer.
"You sure you don’t need me?” Mist asked for the umpteenth time.
"Quite sure, a) you don’t know the songs and b) you don’t know the songs.”
"Don’t say I didn’t offer,”
"I won’t.”
The Jo’s and I had agreed a set, it wasn’t stuff that the band would usually think of doing, instead its a softer, quieter selection, still kinda Gothy but in a softer, girlier way I guess. We had a quick run through, the guys were fine tuning things whilst I got ready, its a good thing that we’d kept out our stage gear at the Frankfurter Hof when Robert took our stuff to the hotel earlier.
"You ready Erd?” Stefan called through the door.
"As I’ll ever be.”
Yeah I know, I’ve been up on those stages the last week and more but tonight, for this, the butterflies have brought in the moths too for a rave in my tum.
I walked out onto the Frankfurter Hof stage in the now darkened auditorium, the Jo’s to either side, LJ poised over his keyboards, BJ his bass. Suddenly I was bathed in light, well here goes nothing.
"Good evening Mainz,” I started, "I’m Erdbeer from BlauHase and I’m sorry to have to tell you that we’ve had to change this evenings programme. Earlier today, on our way here, we were caught up in traffic on the A60 motorway, the result of an auto accident, I’m sure many of you saw on the news the carnage out there. Of course, we were lucky, we weren’t directly involved, we only suffered a long delay.”
I paused as I composed myself to continue my little speech.
"Not everyone was so lucky, right now, our support act for tonight should be right where I am, Zipfer, like us were making their way here but by chance, they were caught in the accident. Sadly one of them lost their life and another is now fighting for their life in the Universitätsklinik a short distance from here.
Rather than cancel the gig we’ve decided to go ahead, we along with the venue will be donating profits from this evening to Zipfer in this, their hour of need. We know you’ve come here this evening to be entertained, BlauHase will be playing their full set shortly but first, we’d like to offer you a short tribute to the members of Zipfer, we hope the injured recover soon and that they can return to the thing they love the most, entertaining you guys.”
The audience had remained almost silent during my little speech but now someone started clapping, not the rowdy, wild type but a more subdued, I guess appreciative clap that soon spread through the venue. The lighting dimmed as the applause waned leaving just my upper body lit, I gave a tiny nod to the Jo’s and let lose with the first number of our mini set.
We hadn’t wanted to be too maudlin but at the same time it needed to be respectful, what we ended up with was half a dozen covers from the likes of Siouxsie Soux, Nina Hagen and finally Evanescence. It was stuff that I’ve listened too even if some of them date to before I was born, my parents have an eclectic music collection okay.
We weren’t word perfect or even note perfect but that didn’t matter, I sang what I sang, the guys played what they played and in what seemed like no time at all I was launching into the last number, My Last Breath, a number from American band Evanescence.
‘Hold on to me love
You know I can't stay long
All I wanted to say was
I love you and I'm not afraid
Can you hear me?
Can you feel me in your arms
Holding my last breath
Safe inside myself
Are all my thoughts of you
Sweet raptured light,
It ends here tonight.
I'll miss the winter
A world of fragile things
Look for me in the white forest
Hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)
I know you hear me,
I can taste it in your tears.
Holding my last breath
Safe inside myself
Are all my thoughts of you
Sweet raptured light,
It ends here tonight.
Closing your eyes to disappear
You pray your dreams will leave you here,
But still you wake and know the truth -
No one's there.
Say goodnight, don't be afraid
Calling me, calling me, as you fade to black.
Holding my last breath
(Don't be afraid) Safe inside myself
(Holding me) Are all my thoughts of you?
Sweet raptured light,
It ends here tonight.
Holding my last breath
Safe inside myself
Are all my thoughts of you?
Sweet raptured light,
It ends here tonight.
Holding my last breath’
It was a rather poignant finale to our impromptu performance.
I let the crowd show their, albeit muted, appreciation before addressing the assemblage in the auditorium.
"I hope you enjoyed that at this sad time, we’ll take a break now, me and the guys will be back with BlauHase in about twenty minutes, thank you again.”
The cheering was a bit less restrained this time, I’m sure they’ll be in full voice by the end of the night.
"Come here,” Mist demanded when I made my way to our ‘changing’ room. I was pulled into a tight hug as she snuffled into my shoulder.
"You okay?”
"Be fine, that was just so beautiful.”
"Ave Maria is beautiful.”
She pushed herself back and looked me in the eyes, "Only with the right singer, come on, lets get you changed.”
For the ‘benefit’ performance I’d worn the black lacy thing, it needed a wash but on the stage I was the only one smelling last nights slightly stale sweatiness. Mist had an idea for the BlauHase performance so I’d left her to it.
"You are kidding right?”
"Nope.”
I held the garment out for another look.
"Put this on top, your spikey boots et voila...”
I cut her off, "One street walker!”
"You see street walker, I see sexy singer with a rock band.”
I looked at the ‘trousers’ again, "Where did they come from?”
"In Koblenz before we came away,” she admitted.
"So why haven’t you worn them?”
"Erm, they’re a bit, you know, tight.”
"I think that’s the point.”
"At least try them.”
I suppose my dance and cycling gear is just as erm, form fitting.
"Okay.”
"You might want to put on some plain hose first, they’ll go on easier.”
"If you say so.”
Five minutes later I was examining myself in the mirror someone had thoughtfully installed on the back of the door. As Mum would say, they fitted where they touched and they touched everywhere, you wouldn’t be able to hide a pimple wearing them. They could loosely be described as jeans in as much as they had a fly and patch pockets on the rear however jeans are not usually made from stretchy, very shiny, well not PVC but something similar. Nope, Nanna Bond would have conniptions if she saw me in these!
"Two minutes,” Hilde announced pushing the door open enough for her head to poke through. "Oh my!”
I guess I haven’t got time to put something else on then.
"Come on Gab,” Mist agitated, "Lets do something with that hair.”
"You er, might want to adjust your,” she indicated my chest.
I looked back to the mirror, I was decent but the girls looked set to escape the confines of the strapless corset top, Mist insisted went with the leg wear.
I think I looked sort of demure in a kind of Gothy way for my first visit to the stage, a kind of noughties Kate Bush or Stevie Nicks. Apart from my comparative lack of boobs I felt more like Tina Turner trying for rock chick as I waited for my cue to return to the stage. At least no one I know will see me looking like a fetishist’ wet dream. I’ll get you for this Misty, just you wait and see if I don’t.
The rock baroque intro started as it has each performance, the spotlights illuminating each of the band in turn until it was my turn. If the earlier warbling had been a bit quiet and restrained, our opening number is pretty much the opposite.
‘Where the mountains meet the sea
And lights spit stains on the scenery
And the air is heavy with a sticky unease
I wish for my world of make believe
And the rebel in my soul says go
And the rebel in my soul says go
Can you hear it breaking through?
Can you hear it breaking through?
Thunder and lightning
Thundering thundering in the mountains
There's a motorway it's a monument
To distant cities with distant cries
A problem an explosion
Just a spark sets the anger in motion
And the rebel in my soul says go
And the rebel in my soul says go
Can you hear it breaking through?
Can you hear it breaking through?
Thunder and lightning
Thundering thundering in the mountains
Can you hear it, it's in the mountains
Can you hear it breaking through?
Can you hear it breaking through?
Thunder and lightning
Thundering thundering in the mountains
Can you hear it breaking through?
Can you hear it breaking through?
Thundering, thundering
Thundering thundering in the mountains
And it's breaking through
Breaking through
Breaking through... ‘
The upbeat lyric and fast tempo of our Toyah Wilcox cover allowed no time for introspection or doubt over ones wardrobe choices. It was there in the set to get the audience moving and tonight more than ever we and I daresay they, needed it.
Maddy Bell © 04.05.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *30*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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And now, the Mainz Attraction
"Seems to be going well,” Marcus opined as we headed down to the green room to grab some hydration and for me, ten minutes off my feet – I know in the past I’ve been quite blasé about wearing stilts, at my lofty height an almost essential part of my wardrobe, that said, it doesn’t mean your feet don’t get tired when you are stood, as I am on stage, for an extended time without moving.
"How’s the voice Erd?” Stefan asked.
I took a slug from my bottle of Sprite® before replying, "So far so good.”
"Well don’t strain it, we’ve still got three gigs to do.”
And there was me thinking he cared.
"Looking good guys,” Robert announced when he breezed in a moment later, "And Gaby, looking hot out there.”
"Its these trouser things, they are not the coolest of outfits.”
He looked confused for a moment, I knew what he meant but I wasn’t playing the same game. I had mostly forgotten about my apparel, my bare shoulders sort of compensated for the warmth below the waist and other than a bit sweaty, the leggings weren’t uncomfortable, not really.
"Well er, good luck for the second half,” he offered.
"Third,” I told him.
"Sorry?”
"Well technically it’ll be the third half, well third for me and the Jo’s,” okay I know its a bit pedantic but he did set himself up with the comment about my stagewear.
"Er yes well, I’ll see you all after, people to see, hands to shake.”
"You can be a proper wind up merchant sometimes Gaby Bond.”
"Moi?”
"I don’t see anyone else by that name here.”
"Well he was sort of asking for it, looking hot indeed.”
"Hate to break it to you your Erdbeerenship, but you do, right guys.”
"Is that even a word?”
"Well erm yeah,” Animal admitted.
"Totally er hot,” Big Jo agreed.
Well that was it, I went from slightly flushed from performing to a colour not far from my stage persona in seconds flat.
"That’s done it,” Mist sighed, "We’ll see you at the stage, come on Gab, ladies.”
"I thought you were past all that,” Mist stated as she fussed with my makeup.
"I am, well sorta, its just well embarrassing.”
"Don’t think anyone’s ever told me I look hot, make the most of it girl, it won’t last forever.”
"I guess you’re right, come on, lets get this over with, I might have a drink tonight.”
Of course the second half of the BlauHase set starts with the band intro’s, corny but it fills a few minutes before we crack on with the programme. And of course I get to sing something so far away from the BlauHase set its silly. It seemed even more bizarre tonight, stood there warbling Edelweiss in a corset and painted on trousers, Maria von Trappe will be turning in her grave at a hundred rpm!
At the start of the tour it seemed never ending even if it is only about thirty five minutes to the encores, tonight the time seemed to flash by.
I addressed the audience. "So we hope you’ve enjoyed our set tonight as much as we have.”
A hearty cheer came back.
"Once again we’d like to thank the management here at the Frankfurter Hof and of course yourselves for making tonight possible despite the sad circumstances. From one band to another, BlauHase wish the members of Zipfer all the best and hope that the monies raised this evening help you all through this difficult time.
So thank you Mainz, we have been BlauHase!”
The guys struck up and we dived into a lively rendition of everyone’s favourite, Luftballons.
'Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons...’
Considering the absence of a support act, the after party, taking place up on the balcony, seemed to have a lot of bodies even before we arrived. Oh well, its free food and drink, I know it has to be paid for by someone but at least I’m not paying for it.
"I thought you were on lemonade,” Hilde opined seeing me claim what I hoped was peach schnapps with lemonade, leastways that's what I’d asked for.
"I think after today I need something a bit stronger.”
"Know what you mean, I might not know those involved but I feel that I do.”
"So how did we do with the Merch tonight?”
"So so before but it was mad in the break, one of the girls from the venue gave me a hand, the CD’s were especially flying out.”
"We got enough for the last gigs?”
"Possibly. Might be a bit short on Saturday but we probably don’t want to order more at this stage.”
"I guess.”
"Which reminds me, I need to give Robert tonight's takings.”
"Talk of the devil, he will appear.”
"Eh?”
"Hil, Gaby,” Robert greeted.
"Just the man,” Hilde stated, "Tonight's swag,” she unclipped and handed him the bum bag that acted as mobile till for the merchandise.
"Hmm, feels like a good night.”
"I was just telling Gab, we might not have much left for Saturday, CD’s especially.”
"The price of success.”
"If you say so,” she shot back.
"Anyway, Gaby, I’ve got some local press wanting to talk to you and some chap wanting to dress you on Saturday.
"Dress me?”
"Maybe the wrong words,” Robert confessed, "Stuff for you to wear on stage.”
"You said you needed a new dress,” Hilde chuckled.
"Whatever, let me just get another one of these,” I indicated my now empty glass.
"Thank you gentlemen, ladies, its been a trying day for everyone, i think Erdbeeren and the guys just want to relax for a bit now.“
There were a few mumbles at Robert’s announcement but the members of the local media, (who i’m sure he’d invited along himself) wandered off leaving me and my long empty glass alone with Stefan and our manager. To be fair, Robert hadn’t thrown us to the wolves and whilst we did get asked a few questions about the band and ourselves, mostly we just recounted our involvement vis a vis the accident, our connection to some of the victims and of course the decision to play tonight as a benefit for the victims. Any press coverage is better than none so they say, at least you are being talked about, i kinda get that but it doesn’t mean i have to like doing interviews does it.
"You want something in that glass?” Stefan asked seeing me fiddling with my glass.
"Peach schnapps and lemonade please.”
"The hard stuff tonight,” he smirked.
"Yeah well.”
He took my glass and headed for the bar, no doubt he’d grab a beer for himself whilst he was there. Meanwhile Robert was waving another chap over to join us.
"Erd, this is the chap I mentioned before, the stage clothes?”
"Erm hi er?”
"Binder, Larry Binder, a pleasure to meet you, you really had them in your hand down there tonight.”
"Um thanks.”
You’d probably walk past Larry Binder on the street without a second look, I guess he’s about a metre eighty tall, shaved head, a sort of goatee beard and wearing white T, black leather trousers and black work boots. He fit right in with our usual audience, sort of Biker chic.
"So um, Robert says you’ve got a proposal, for Saturday?”
"That’s what I like, straight to business,” he grinned, "So word has it that a certain band will be playing at The Bed in Frankfurt and it’ll be broadcast live on HR3 for our Britta’s show.”
"Uh huh,” I allowed, ever the conversationist.
"Well it so happens that Frankfurt plays host to Scene this weekend, its a sort of festival for the slightly more,” he pursed his lips and bobbed his head as he considered his words, "Shall we say, alternative lifestyle and fashion world. Its a leetle bit underground I guess.”
"What’s this got to do with BlauHase?”
"The sixty four million Mark question, well I’m exhibiting at Scene, I have a clothing business in Heddernheim in the north of the city, I like your music, I thought maybe I could dress you in some of my clothes for the show.”
"What sort of outfit? just out of interest.”
"We could try a few, see which works best.”
"You do realize its only on the radio,” Robert put in.
"Of course but HR will film it too.”
"So erm, Herr Binder, Larry, I can sort of see what you get out of this but what’s in it for me and the band?”
"You did say she has a mind for business Robert. So for the band, not so much, for you, the same fee I pay my models and you get to keep the clothes, maybe wear them for future gigs?”
"Robert?”
"Your call Erd, as long as its decent and you’re happy wearing it.”
Given I was gonna get a new frock for Saturday anyway, this looks like a win win, there has to be a catch but I can’t see one.
"So how exactly would this work?”
He gave a smile, he knew I was hooked, "We’ll get you to the show site Saturday morning, its only at the Messe, we get you sorted out and then deliver you to The Bed in good time for the gig.”
"What about Misty, can we do something for her, she’ll have to come along anyway as my minder.”
"I’m sure we can sort out something.”
"You alright with this Rob?”
"I’m sure we can cope without you for a couple of hours.”
"Okay I’m in.”
"Brilliant, I’ll make the arrangements,” Larry beamed.
I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me.
"Just how many of those have you had?” minder Misty enquired.
I looked at the tumbler, yep there was wet stuff in it, alcohol too if the swirling currents were anything to go by.
"Dunno, three, four?” Well I’ve not been counting have I?
"Think the answer is too many,” she opined.
"Ha!”
"Definitely too many.”
"So how many of those vodka things have you had then?” I countered.
"I’ve had a couple of beers,” she admitted, "But unlike you I’m not blotto after seeing the bottle.”
"Am not blotto, am I?”
"If you need to ask, I think that answers the question. Come on, lets find Robert and get you to bed.”
I’d lost track of time, of people even after my chat with Larry, I do remember Stefan handing me a fresh drink and I think I had a conversation with Hilde about, well about something at any rate. Its a bit blurry from then on, well until Mist…
"Mist?” I called out.
"Right here, taxi’ll be about five minutes.”
"We don’ need a taxi, send it away!”
"Yes we do, I’ve no idea where this hotel is and you can barely stand let alone walk.”
"Who made you mother?” I demanded.
"Your Dad.”
"An, an, ‘nother thing,” I rambled.
I’m assuming the taxi did arrive and transport us to the B&B, if it didn’t I’ve no idea how we made the journey. I think the taxi is a safe bet.
"Lay still,” Mist instructed.
"Urgh,”
"Lift your bum, one, two, three and…”
The leggings, jeans whatever made a sucking sound as Mist pulled them inside out down my legs, having adhered themselves to me last night and as I apparently slept.
"Why didn’t you take them off last night?”
"Because someone collapsed onto the bed snoring before I got the door closed.”
"You took the corset thingy off,” I accused.
"That was just a zip, these,” she held up the trews, "Required at least some co-operation on your part.”
"Need a shower.”
"Not arguing.”
"So what was all that business with that bald bloke last night?” my guardian enquired as we made our way to the lift.
Look we’re on the eighth floor and I’m feeling a bit delicate so we're using the lift.
I had to think for a minute, bald guy? "Oh, Larry.”
"And?”
There was something but my head is still not firing on all cylinders, "Erm, that's it, we don’t need to shop for a dress for Saturday.”
"I didn’t know we were.”
"Well we don’t need to as, as Larry is giving me one on Saturday.”
"We are still talking about a frock?”
"Eh?”
Told you I was slow this morning.
"Never mind, we don’t need to buy a dress because baldy has got one for you to wear.”
"An’ you,” I remembered.
"Thank you I’m sure, just why do we need these ‘dresses’, its radio not TV.”
“’swhat I said.”
Ding!
"Geez, I hope they’ve got plenty of coffee down there.”
They had, for a chain hotel it wasn’t dire, I drank two cups before I could face the breakfast buffet.
"Better?” Mist enquired after a third trip for supplies, think she lost her appetite and found a horse.
"A bit, remind me, how much did I drink?”
"The last guess was six schnapps with lemonade.”
"That's hardly any al, alc, stuff, its mostly lemonade.”
"I somehow think you weren’t getting restaurant measures.”
I really did need to eat this morning, we’re in Aschaffenburg tonight, yeah I know its in Bavaria but not by much, at about sixty K its ripe for a bike ride. According to the RTL forecast this morning, its gonna be a bright sunny day, not only that, the events of yesterday are still weighing on me, a good ride will help me get my head squared away.
By the time I’d worked through another coffee, fruit with yoghurt, a plate of warm stuff, you know those mini frikadel, crozzled bacon and scrambled egg with some token salad and a round of toast, the other members of BlauHase had joined the breakfasting guests.
"You look a bit perkier this morning,” Little Jo opined as he joined us.
"That bad?”
"Probably worse,” his wife stated with a smirk.
"Schnapps and schnapps and rock and roll,” Mist sang out.
"You don’t need to rub it in,” I pointed out.
"So how did you get on with the dress man?” Hilde queried.
"All set, he’s got a stand at some show thing at the Messe, See or some such, so he’s taking us there Saturday morning to tog us out, Rob was sorting the details.”
"What exactly have you signed us up for Bond?” Mist demanded.
"Just some stuff to wear on stage Saturday night.”
"What’s the catch?”
"There’s always a catch,” LJ and Hilde chorused.
"Oh ye of little faith.”
"Seriously Gab, no one is that generous without some sort of angle,” Little Jo stated.
"Especially as its on the radio,” Mist put in.
"Honestly guys, I asked the questions, he seems genuine, he’s even a BlauHase fan.”
"Well just you be careful,” Hilde ordered.
"Mist’ll be with me,” I pointed out.
I’m not sure that reassured anyone.
Maddy Bell © 08.08.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *31*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Rhein Main
"You know where you are going?” Animal asked for maybe the third time this morning.
To be honest it was getting on my nerves.
"Down to the ferry, across to Groß Gerau then its almost straight to Aschaffenburg, we’re staying at the Aschaffenburger Hof which is at the bottom of the main shopping street,” I repeated again, "If I get lost I can ask someone or call you up.”
"You’ve got your Handy?”
"I’ve got my Handy,” I assured him, he’s worse than Dad.
"Be careful out there.”
"I will,” I called back as I pushed off into the street, pausing only for a moment to clip in, "Byeee, laters!”
I’m glad that I asked in reception how to get to the river, I would’ve headed into the city towards where we played last night. Instead I was going the opposite direction, turning into Goethestraße after a few hundred metres, under the railway beyond which the road became a wide avenue. Okay there was a bit of traffic about but at the Rheinallee I hopped onto the cycle path and I was soon speeding along the west bank of the Rhein having completely bypassed the city centre.
Its not the prettiest bit of river but the signed bike route zaps you along far from the traffic, only the occasional dog walker or utility rider requiring your attention. I settled down to a less frenetic pace, well just below thirty klicks and with my need to navigate almost nil for a bit at least, I let my mind drift.
So I wonder exactly what Herr Binder has in mind for Saturday night, you know, for me to wear for the gig? Maybe Mist’s sort of Gothy grunge thing does suit the BlauHase image rather more than my safer punked up Stevie Nicks impersonation. I wouldn’t of chosen those trousers I wore last night myself but thinking about it, they were rather cool.
Maybe its a cyclist fetish thing, I mean we wear skin tight lycra pretty much all the time and shiny is good too so maybe its not such a leap to wearing equally tight PVC or I guess leather or whatever. Is that weird? Possibly but I’ll not apologise for it.
The path veered from the river, diving between a cement works and railway sidings before sliding under the autobahn, scene of yesterdays tragic accident. My thoughts wandered to the members of Zipfer facing today with a new reality. I hope that our performance last night, well the money at least, is appreciated, I know we’ve never met but we had to do something.
I was so caught in my thoughts that I nearly missed the sign pointing back towards Old Father Rhein, okay I did overshoot the turn but a quick loop in the road and I was back on course. The next ten K were pleasant enough, I crossed a couple loaded up with pannier bags and the kitchen sink heading north, can’t say that it appeals to me particularly but plenty of people seem to enjoy trekking along the river. It does mean that the routes get maintained which I’m grateful for and signed, I skidded to a halt to decipher the next finger post.
It didn’t seem logical, to not follow the path along the river but I guess the post people know what they’re doing so I turned through the bridge and up onto another track apparently sandwiched between the main road and the railway lines. I was doubly glad when it greeted a road, logic said go left but the signs directed me over a level crossing to the right before joining a lane on the other side of the tracks.
My computer reckoned I’d done a bit over twenty kilometres which should mean I’m not far from the ferry. The weather was holding fair and I just let the legs do their thing, a return to actual roads heralded the approach to Nierstein where the trail was reacquainted with the river. One of those double barge things was chugging upstream but I was going much quicker on land, quickly leaving it behind.
The road veered away inland and a minute later I was at the ferry ramp. There appeared to be just one ferry running which at present was loading at the far bank, I checked the time, five past eleven. Well that's good, an hour to here, at this rate I should be in Bavaria around two.
I took the opportunity of my enforced halt to make short work of the banana I filched from the breakfast buffet, I’ve got a couple of energy bars in my pocket but I should be good for a few kilometres yet. The river is ‘only’ about two hundred metres wide just here, its wider both up and downstream but that also means its a strong current on this stretch, a fact that delayed the Fähre a bit longer as the double barge I passed a few minutes ago laboured across its path.
Eventually the Rheinfähre Landskrone’s ‘Trier’ arrived at the slip and a tangle of bikes, pedestrians and Mofas headed down the ramp ahead of the half a dozen cars and vans that made the crossing. I might have been the first in the queue but by the time the deckhand waved me forward a swarm of foot passengers had appeared and there was a truck and several cars waiting to cross.
I quite regularly use the ferries on ‘my’ bit of the Rhein, particularly the Linz – Kripp crossing and this was a bit more basic than I’m used to. At least those have some shelter from the elements, the Trier doesn’t and I couldn’t see a lav either, guess I’ll have to look for a supermarket with one along the road.
"One way?” the conductor enquired as a late comer rushed up the ramp with a clang.
"Er yeah, please.”
"Two twenty.”
I scrounged through my purse for the change, I do not want to break a ten and end up lumping a load of Kleingeld around all day. One eighty, yep two twenty.
"There we go.”
"Danke, going far?”
"Not really, just Aschaffenburg.”
"Just? That’s sixty kilometres, you’ll tell me next you’ve come from Wiesbaden.”
"Well Mainz,” I admitted.
"Gerau is far enough for me, have a good day,” he admitted passing me my ticket.
"Thanks.”
"Only Aschaff, she says,” he muttered as he moved on to collect more fares.
Don’t see what the problem is, if its sixty K though I might be a bit out on my timing.
Away from the river as my route took on a sort of north easterly tilt, there was a light headwind, not enough to be too troubling but a niggle nevertheless. On the plus side the sun was warming me nicely and the biggest climb of the day was still the ramp off the ferry! My bladder was intimating I needed to stop sooner rather than later, I was almost through Geinsheim, the first village I’d come to before I spotted the Edeka hidden a few metres along a side street.
Its been my experience that Edeka stores are a bit hit and miss, unlike Lidl or Aldi they are essentially franchise operations like Maccy D’s so you get a bakery here but not there, maybe household goods at one but better meat counter down the road. This one at least incorporates a proper bakery so that’s where I headed.
"Haben sie eine toiletten bitte,” I requested doing the bladder sidestep.
“Zu den links,” the assistant advised with some disdain.
"Danke!” I ran as fast as my cleats and the tiled floor would allow.
Clearly at the Kabin we don’t get this, there are public toilets across at the bahnhof but I guess it gets pretty annoying if every Hans, Fritz and Gaby use your facilities and don’t purchase anything. I hadn’t intended stopping, at least not this early on but the smell of fresh coffee drew me back to the counter and a Vanillepudding then made eat me noises.
"White coffee please,” I requested.
The woman’s demeanour had softened when I returned to the counter having seen to the necessary.
"Cup or mug?”
"Mug please.”
"Anything else?”
That pudding was looking tempting but so were the sandwiches, I guess I could call it lunch. its heading towards twelve after all.
"Can I get a tomato mozzarella and a Vanillepudding please.”
"Eating here?”
Good question, "Sandwich now, I’ll take the pastry with me thanks.”
"That’s seven ninety then.”
Well I guess I get to break that ten note after all!
The seating wasn’t extensive but I found a table by the window so I could see my bike, I wouldn’t leave it unlocked in Ahrweiler but this is the middle of nowhere and also, I’ve not got a lock with me. By the time I was ready to leave I was feeling quite chilled, yesterday, last night in particular was quite stressful, the schnapps might’ve allowed me a solid night’s slumber but today’s ride is letting me relax, destress, whatever you want to call it.
The problem with stopping when you are out for a ride is the getting going again afterwards, which gets harder the longer the stop. It might be nice to relax for an hour but getting everything going again is a pain, Mum reckons the compromise is about thirty minutes, long enough you aren’t rushing but short enough that your body is still in vaguely ride mode. Well my stop at Geinsheim was thirty five, yeah it took me until I crossed the Groß Gerau Ring before I was firing on all cylinders again.
From here I really do need to concentrate on the navigation, in a car you’d probably drop down to Darmstadt or go up to Morfelden and across but on a bike it makes more sense to go more directly east using the lanes and byways, Messel, Eppertshausen, Babenhausen and on to the Maintal. I easily found my way to the bahnhof where I pulled out my route notes and sketch map.
It looked simple when I looked at the road atlas earlier but my makeshift cartography had me doubting my choice. Well the first bit was easy, I’d already seen a sign for Klein Gerau and Worfelden, both on my plan so I kicked off again, what's the worst that can happen? The lane that the bike route finger suggested I use didn’t look too promising, short stretches of bike path, level crossings and clearly a lot of industry.
It got better when it joined what looked like a better road – well until the surface took on a corrugated effect. Klein Gerau is a sort of seventies new build but the bike route spared me most of that, instead taking me out to a lane across the fields, Worfelden apparently just two K further on. It didn’t take long to do that and I pulled out my crib sheet to check the next leg out.
Gräfenhausen was next and surprise, surprise it was actually on the road sign in front of me. Four kilometres, looked further this morning I’m sure, anyhow I had to go on to Wixhausen further along the same road, I got going again and cranked my effort up for a few minutes which felt pretty good. My road atlas showed the same road crossing the railway in Wixhausen then I’d drop into Fahrheilgen and onto Messel, simple enough.
Except the road didn’t cross the railway. Well the more main road turned to the left so I guess that's the right way, well its the way I went anyhow. The next corner was signed for Darmstadt so I’d made the right call or at least not a bad call.
When I reached the main road I thought that the bike track on the far side looked nicer than dicing with the quite heavy traffic on Route Three which is when I spotted a bike finger post. Messel six point five kilometres is what it said, the lane didn’t look brilliant but surely they wouldn’t send you this way if it wasn’t rideable? Hmm, should I? Shouldn’t I? Oh what the heck, I pushed off onto the packed dirt lane, I can always come back right?
I needn’t have worried, after about half a klick I came to a tarmacked lane which I was able to get back up to some decent speed along. It wasn’t long before this lane joined an even bigger road, okay, it was still a country lane but you could at least cross other traffic without stopping – not that I’d seen more than a couple of cars since leaving the Three. This road was straight, kilometres of Roman Road straight without barely any up or down either, the bad bit was the wind was now directly in my face.
There’s only one way to do this, I got down onto the drops, tucked myself in and went into old school time trial mode. There wasn’t a great deal to look at anyhow, scrubby woodland would be the best description I guess. On and on, I tracked a car coming towards me for pretty much five minutes before we passed each other, I was quite glad when some traffic crossing ahead suggested I was near the end of it.
I crossed over into Messel, following the road through a quite pleasant village to the sort of village centre. The next town to aim for, Eppertshausen, was signed at the junction so I continued straight through, the church clock showing ten past one. That was a bit worrying, seven kilometres to the next place but then how much further?
The open fields around Messel soon gave way to more structured woodland and whilst not quite as straight, the road was almost as featureless until it crossed an open heath. I wouldn’t call it scenic but it was at least not wall to wall trees. Of course, it couldn’t last I was soon riding through more featureless forest which ended abruptly at what I’m guessing is the Epperthausen Ring.
Under the main road then into an industrial area which if the computer is right must mean I’m almost in the town. Navigation became a whole lot easier at the next road joining, a short way further on and I was in the town centre staring at a road sign, Stockstadt/Main nineteen, Babenhausen ten. Stockstadt is only over the river from my destination so I’ve probably got another hour’s ride from here, phew!
There was a bench outside of the church that stands at the junction, the slightly squidged pastry in my pocket was calling for attention.
The distance along to Babenhausen was a bit more interesting to ride through if just as flat. Okay, there were a couple of longish straights but there were actual fields with stuff growing and bends, not many but enough to break up the monotony a bit. But it wasn’t to last, a quick transit of the town outskirts put me onto the Twenty Six, a road so straight and laden with traffic I couldn’t wait to get off of it.
But there was no escape, kilometre after kilometre, it went on and even when I reached Stockstadt after nearly ten kilometres there was no relief. It was another three kilometres before there was a viable alternative, I eagerly followed the finger post directing bikes to Aschaffenburg. I paused on the bridge over the Main for a selfie, I took one on the ferry earlier, I’ll send them to Mand and the gang later.
Off the bridge, down towards the river, I must’ve come through here on my last ride not that I recognise it at all. Now all I’ve got to do is find the Aschaffenburger Hof. There was a direction post with more destinations than you’d think possible, Bahnhof, Centrum, Pompejanum, Kap. Kirche, Schloss Johannisberg, Stadt Museum, Theatreplatz – well you get the idea. Centrum seemed like a good start so I set off on the final leg and for the first time in seventy five kilometres the road went up, quite seriously, a fact my legs didn’t appreciate one bit.
Its not like it was an alp, maybe four hundred metres, five at a push but after such a flat ride none of me was keen to drag the bike up the slope. I felt a right prawn crawling up the length of the Dalberg at barely ten kph, some rider I am. The signs lost some destinations as I continued into the city, eventually crossing a big junction with a small tower by it.
It now said it was just point two of a kilometre to the centre, yay! Well I still need to find the hotel and the rest of the band but once I’d crossed the second half of the junction it was mere seconds before I was riding through shops, shops that are on Frohsinnstraße, the same street as the hotel. I spotted the Hotel sign before the actual building but, no disrespect, you’d need to be blind to miss the building, its hardly a wall flower!
I dismounted and propped my steed up against one of those big planter things that city authorities so like to plonk everywhere and pulled out my Handy, best find out where the others are I guess.
‘Brrrp, brp, brrrp, brp, brrrp, brp.’
Come on, pick up.
‘Brrrp, brp, brrrp, brp, brrr’
"Hallo.”
"Stefan?”
"Erd!”
"So like I’m outside of the hotel, where are you guys?”
"Already, Marcus, you got the sweep!”
"You were betting on me?”
"After last time.”
"Okay, so where are you?”
"Getting some culture, thought we’d get a look at the Pompejanum”
"Oh,” I sighed, I didn’t say anything but I wouldn’t’ve minded doing that myself.
"We’re nearly done,” Stefan told me, "Get yourself checked in and we’ll see you shortly.”
Well there was nothing to offer as an alternative.
"Okay, tschuss.”
"Tschuss.”
I dropped my Handy back into my jersey pocket, retrieved my bike and headed for the hotel reception.
Maddy Bell © 14.08.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *32*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Colas Saal
Now obviously I’m no stranger to hotels and the like, I mean, for the last couple of years its been a regular feature of my bike racing career and of course the BlauHase tour but would you believe it if I told you I’ve never checked in on my own before. Yup, up until now there has always been someone else either looking after all this stuff or at the very least I’ve been with Dad or Manda. I was actually a bit nervous as I wheeled my steed into the building, well I’m hardly going to leave it unlocked outside am I?
I spotted a bit of wall to prop my steed against and clopped across to the desk, all under the steady gaze of the chap manning the station.
"Erm, we’re booked in for tonight?” I opened.
"Name?”
Good question, with the cycling trips it’ll usually be under Apollinaris but what name, indeed who even booked these places I’ve no idea. Start with the obvious.
"Erm BlauHase?”
He tapped away at the keyboard, "Can you spell that please?”
"Er B L A U H A S E.”
He tapped some more, "Could it be under another name perhaps?”
"There should be like four rooms?”
"There isn’t anything booked with that name, a different name?”
I racked my brain but Stefan’s family name escaped me, bum, what then? Oh I know, Robert.
"Silsberg?”
More tapping before he paused, "I have four rooms for Silsman Entertainment?, three twins and a double.”
I let out a sigh,” that’ll be us, Herr Silsman is our manager.”
"And you are?”
"Um Bond, or it might be under Fischer?”
"Room three one seven, the rest of your group are here?”
"They’ll be about forty minutes.”
"You have luggage?”
"Er just me and my Rad at the moment.”
He looked at me slightly askance and raised an eyebrow, "So, its a card key system, this,“ he waved the bit of plastic, "Opens your room and gives you access to the building after the door is closed at midnight.”
"Thanks, is there somewhere for my bike, just until the others get here, it’ll go in the bus then.”
"I’ll put it in the luggage room for you, will you be dining here this evening?”
"I’m not sure to be honest, do we need to book?”
"The restaurant can get quite busy.”
"I’ll say yes then, if we aren’t we’ll let you know?”
"For eight? Time?”
"Seven?” I suggested.
He tapped at his keyboard again, "That’s booked for you then, party of eight, seven pm.”
"Thanks, so which way do I go?”
"There is a lift just to the left through the door.”
"Danke.”
I clomped towards the lift clutching my key card, pausing momentarily to slip my shoes off, cleats and hotel floors are not a great combination.
Three one seven is of course on the third floor, the sign as I left the lift pointed me off down a corridor to the left, I’m a dab hand at these key cards so of course it took me three goes to get the door to open! Once inside I was quite surprised, the room was quite generous, two beds and a wardrobe along one wall, lots of windows and a door onto a verandah at the far end, the en suit was typically inside the door to the left, a desk, bag rack and a wall mounted TV filling the rest of that wall. Well I’m in, what now?
A no brainer really, I claimed the ‘window’ end bed before stripping out of my riding togs, grabbing the towels and heading into the shower. It might not be ideal but the complimentary shower gel and shampoo were adequate for the job of making me a bit more suitable for polite company – I can do a more refined job later. The other thing that wasn’t ideal was my lack of fresh clothing, guess I can live with a ‘towel toga’ until the others get here.
With nothing better to do, I flicked on the telly, I think I’ve mentioned before, German telly is pretty dire, yeah there are one or two okay shows but most what is half decent is rehashed or even re-dubbed UK and American stuff. As for daytime viewing, well twee heimat is the order of the day or inane repeats of stuff that was on the evening schedule two days ago. As a result I was channel hopping in the vain hope of finding something remotely worth watching.
After ten minutes my brain was turning to goo so I killed the idiot box and started reading, well flicking through the folder of gumpf you find in most hotel rooms, you know the stuff, emergency numbers, channel numbers for the TV, breakfast menu, local attractions and so on. I was just finding out about the cities tourist attractions when I heard what sounded like our bus down below. About flippin’ time.
I rewrapped my towel, it of course barely covered everything being standard hotel issue, and opened the door to the verandah. The Aschaffenburg Hof is a bit of a Tardis, from the street entrance that I used it looks quite small but behind it extends behind the neighbouring properties around a courtyard that provides car parking and, so I discovered, another entrance to the reception area.
"Hi guys!” I called down to where the rest of BlauHase were just climbing out of the bus.
"Erd!” Stefan called back once he’d identified where I was, "Everything okay?”
"Yeah, could do with some clothes though.”
"Ha!”
"The guy on reception is expecting you.”
"Okay, see you shortly.”
Yes! No, no, no! I watched in mute helplessness as the veranda door slammed shut, a loud click confirmed it had caught the catch. You have to try though, right? I rattled the handle, pulled at the door, all in vain of course, worse still, when I looked down into the courtyard the others had disappeared inside. I plonked myself on the plastic garden chair which was the only other occupant of my eyrie, guess I’m waiting for Mist to come up.
Thankfully it was reasonably warm, the sun was still offering its rays to my perch which is just as well given my state of undress! So lets see, say five minutes in reception, five minutes to get upstairs, ten minutes tops, I could just see the red figures of the clock on the TV from the door, it felt like an age to see it turn over just a single minute. I sat myself in the chair, pulled my knees up and wrapped as much of me as possible in the towel, I’m sure I was exposing more of me than I should but its not like anyone can see me.
Of course, impatience got the better of me, it felt like at least five minutes had passed but the next look through the glass claimed just two, patience Bond, patience. I managed to contain myself for fully four minutes the next time, six minutes, seven, Mist should be here quite soon. Except she wasn’t, the time dragged on, its been fifteen minutes now, surely it doesn’t take that long?
Finally, by my reckoning twenty five minutes after they arrived, Mist followed by Animal came through the outer door.
I banged on the window, "Let me in!”
It was a moment before I was spotted, Animal reaching the door before my roomie.
"How long’ve you been out there?” our drummer asked as he pushed the door open for me.
"Since you got here, what took you so long?”
"There was some confusion at the desk,” he told me.
"Typical,” I moaned.
"Anyway, I’ll leave you two to it.”
"Thanks Pete,” Mist offered as he beat his retreat.
"Later,” and he was gone.
"So come on Gab, what were you doing practically naked on the balcony?”
"Mostly waiting for you, the door blew shut on me, seriously what took so long?”
"Firstly there was some confusion over a restaurant booking.”
"It was just a precaution, I didn’t, don’t know what we’re doing for food.”
"Well we kinda gathered that then they only usually issue one key card per room so there wasn’t one for me.”
"And I had the key,” I filled in.
"I knocked on the door, tried your Handy, when there wasn’t a reply I went back to reception, I thought something had happened to you.”
"It had, that flippin’ door, I need clothes, its a bit draughty in just a towel.”
"I thought you were starting a new fashion.”
I blew a raspberry then attacked my case.
"So you have a good ride?” Mist asked as I pulled on some underwear.
"Not bad, bit flat tho’”
"Thought that was good?”
"Bit boring after a couple of hours, so you guys eaten?”
"There was a BK on the way in from the autobahn so we got burgers, guessing you haven’t?”
"Had a coffee and sandwich but that was like hours ago.”
"So I guess that’s a no then?”
"Anyone said what we’re doing later?”
"Singing?”
"You know what I mean,” I huffed.
"Meeting back downstairs to go check out this Saal place, in fact they’re probably waiting for us, we were only supposed to be dropping off our bags.”
"Okay, I get it.”
I finished dressing, well my denim skirt and a T took but moments, dragged my trainers on, grabbed my Handtasche and phone et voila.
"Key?” my keeper hinted.
I snatched the troublesome plastic from the dock, "Key.”
"Come on then.”
"We can’t leave you on your own for five minutes Erd,” Stefan chuckled when we got down to reception, I’m guessing Animal spread the news.
"Don’t listen to them Gaby, it could’ve happened to anyone,” Hilde suggested.
Except of course it didn’t, it was me practically in my birthday suit out on the balcony for half an hour near as.
"Gab wants food,” Mist announced.
"I’m not desperate,” I added hurriedly, "A bag of chips would do until dinner.”
"The venue is only a couple of hundred metres away, they’re bound to have something there,” Marcus suggested.
"Guess we’re not driving then?” I opined.
"Animal’s taken the gear down with BJ,” Little Jo told me.
Something about the bus was niggling at the back of my head, ah, got it!
"My bike, what about my bike?” I got out in a bit of a panic.
"What about it?” Stefan asked.
"I need to put it on the bus.”
"Where is it now?”
"I’m not sure, the guy on reception was putting it in a cupboard or something.”
"Then its safe enough for now,” our leader pointed out, "Come on, the others will think we’ve got lost.”
It turns out that I almost rode past the place on the way to the hotel, we walked back down to the Ring at the bottom of the road and after crossing by that tower thing we took a left and literally a hundred metres down we could see Robert waiting for us. Just as intriguing were the several food outlets along the way, my stomach really was rumbling now.
"Everyone okay?” he asked in greeting.
"Apart from Erd,” Stefan smirked.
"Oh?”
I jumped in before the tale could get embroidered too much, "I managed to get stuck on the balcony earlier.”
You could almost see the cogs going, he knew there was more to it but wisely he didn’t pursue the matter.
"Well come on then lets get you acquainted with Colos Saal.”
Colos Saal is a ’band’ venue, okay its maybe a bit bigger than that place in Bonn but its essentially the same, a potential, well an almost certain sweat box, low ceiling, stage one end, space for maybe three hundred standing audience. This was certainly going back to BlauHase’ roots, no support act, just us and the fans.
"What do you think?” Robert asked.
"Its gonna get warm,” Big Jo offered.
"At least its only us, no warm up to warm it up,” Marcus stated.
"About that,” Robert interjected.
"Ot oh, I feel another one of Herr Silsman’s ideas coming,” Little Jo ventured.
"Go on,” Stefan encouraged, "What’re you thinking?”
"Well, if the guys and Fraulein Bond are up for it I was thinking a reprise of last night.”
"But that was a one off because of the accident, wasn’t it?” I ventured.
"Well I guess its up to you guiys,” Stefan suggested.
"The same set?” LJ asked. "It’d have to be the same set.”
"Guess I’m in,” Big Jo added, "Gab? You’re the one doing the singing.”
Oh boy, decisions, decisions. Last night, well it was fun but it was for a cause, repeating it tonight, I’m not sure.
"Go on Gab, you know you want to,” Mist enthused.
I looked around at the others, Hilde gave a shrug but the others appeared fairly ambivalent.
"On one condition.”
"Which is?” Robert enquired.
"That we go for dinner soon, oh and I’m not wearing that flouncy frock, its gonna be a sauna in here.”
"Done,” Robert grinned.
Someone has been and I’ve got a feeling its me.
"Now that’s settled,” Stefan told us, "Lets get the check done so that Erd can get her schnitzel or whatever.”
I could go for schnitzel with a side of whatever.
"Er Mist?”
"Hmm?” she replied from across the room where she was doing her slap, there was more space than in the bathroom for her collection of war paints.
"What are you wearing tonight?”
"On the door.”
I had kinda hoped that that was the case, the mock corset dress is a bit short for my taste but that’s her choice.
"So, do you think I could borrow those trousers again?”
"Why you hussy Gabrielle Bond!”
"Well can I?”
"Sure, you changing between sets?”
"Yeah, thought I’d wear this for the first bit,” I held up the summer frock that was least creased.
She turned from her artistry to look, "Interesting choice.”
"Well its easy to take off, if I wear hose it should be easier to get the trousers on.”
"What top are you thinking of wearing with them?”
"Dunno, hadn’t got that far.”
"I’ve got an idea,” she stated with a smirk.
"Am I gonna like it?”
"Possibly not but you’ll look awesome and if it gets warm it’ll be practical.”
Of course we’ve already eaten, the hotel restaurant was actually quite convenient for our needs. And yes I did have schnitzel with warm potato salad and Rotkohl, nothing fancy but it filled a hole. Mind you, it helped that Hilde had slipped out of the soundcheck and fetched everyone some sweet baked goods!
I looked out over the expectant crowd, we might only be doing a few covers but there was obviously a bit of confusion with the revised programme,
"Hello Aschaffenburg,” I started, "We’ve got a small change to tonight’s programme which I hope you’ll enjoy but first an explanation. Some of you may have heard about the incident on the autobahn over at Mainz yesterday, sadly our support for last nights gig were caught up with it and were unable to participate so my two friends here, Big and Little Jo,” I indicated the Jo’s with a wave of my arm, ”and myself, I’m Erdbeer by the way, did a short set in their honour. As there was no support this evening and because the rest of the band aren’t ready yet,” I grinned, "We thought we’d gift you with a reprise so without further ado lets do some music!”
Our audience gave a bit of a cheer and the guys started the intro to The Banshees Happy House although tonight there was a bit more gusto to it.
‘Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
This is the happy house
We're happy here in the happy house
Oh it's such fun, fun, fun
Whoa-ohh
We've come to play in the happy house
And waste a day in the happy house
It never rains, never rains.’
And so our warm, sweaty night at the Colos Saal, Aschaffenburg got underway.
Maddy Bell © 16.08.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *33*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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The End is Nigh
"Thank you Aschaffenburg, we have been BlauHase!” I yelled into my mic.
The audience have been pretty good, the ‘intimate’ setting no doubt helping the atmosphere but as predicted the room was pretty warm now. The lights dropped for the last time this evening allowing us to scurry from the stage before the house lights came up.
"Great gig guys,” Robert stated with a Cheshire grin plastered across his face.
"Aren’t they all?” Stefan opined mopping himself down.
He wasn’t the only one ‘perspiring’ heavily, well given the atmosphere it was almost inevitable.
"I need some air.”
"Me too,” agreed Mist, "Fire escape.”
"Eh?”
"Come on blondie,” she stated propelling me towards said building exit, "Catch you in a few guys.”
After the noise and humidity of the last couple of hours inside Colos Saal, the cool and relative quiet in the space behind the building was sweet relief.
I threw my head back and took a deep breath of the fresher air, “’s better.”
"Yeah,” my companion agreed.
As my hearing readjusted to something like normal, the sounds of the city became apparent, a bit of traffic, probably on the Ring, a strangely loud rumble of a train somewhere, the distant dopplering of a siren all running counterpoint to the lower tones of people talking out on the street and pigeons arguing on nearby rooftops. It wasn’t cold but it was much cooler than inside, the sweat prickled as it dried and I gave an involuntary shiver.
"You cold?”
"Cooling off.”
"Here,” she draped the towel she’d grabbed from Hilde over my bare shoulders, "Better?”
"A lot,” I agreed.
I never told you did I, Mist’s great idea to complete my ‘look’ with the painted on trousers? I was expecting a t shirt or maybe even that fishnet thing she’s been wearing, instead I was presented with my black bra.
"What am I wearing this with?”
"With? Dur Bond, that’s it.”
"I can’t go on stage in just my bra!”
"Why not? You’re happy enough to wear a bikini, its not like you’ll only be wearing knickers, you’ll have the pants on.”
She had a point and I couldn’t argue the logic.
"But its a bra.”
"So?”
It is a nice bra, H&M special, lightly padded, underwired, enough lace to suggest it was more than just a support garment for the girls, I might well have worn it anyway.
We didn’t linger outside for much longer, I needed a drink, not the alcohol of last night, well maybe one but my throat was parched, copious volumes of lemonade are in order.
I woke with a start, my brain taking a few seconds to catch up and identify the loud clanking and whirring as a) outside and b) as refuse collection. By the time my eyes engaged to look at the time the noise had ended, oh ten past six, far too early to be awake. But awake I was and I doubt I’ll see sleep again any time soon.
The gentle sawing from the other bed suggested Mist was still in the land of nod, that girl could sleep through anything. My bladder demanded attention so reluctantly and through slitted eyes I made my way to the facilities. Of course, once installed I couldn’t actually go but rather than go back to my bed I stayed sat where I was, staring blindly at the shower cubicle.
Geez, how many different showers have I used in the last fortnight, ten? eleven? Of course that translates to a similar number of beds, talk about living out of a suitcase. I know Mum sometimes complains about all the travel for the races but its rare for her to be away for more than a week and even then they generally aren’t changing accommodation every night.
At the beginning of this trip it seemed like fun, moving on each day, somewhere new to explore, never eating in the same place twice with a party every night. But I suppose I’ve become a bit jaded, I think maybe the rest of BlauHase have too, its not affecting the music, but I think if things were going past this weekend cracks would be appearing. Maybe a two week tour was a bit ambitious, bit like going straight to a three week bike race from riding hour plus a lap criteriums.
Don’t get me wrong, it has mostly been fun, the stuff on Wednesday was a bit of a downer of course but we’ve been on the radio once already and tomorrow in Frankfurt has turned from a last gig into an epic. Yeah we’ll be on the radio again, which is cool but apparently that’s enough to attract the attention of ‘sponsors’, well Herr Binder anyway. I wonder exactly what he has in mind?
From the outset the BlauHase tour meant different things to each of us, for Stefan it was all about living his dream. Then there’s Misty, it took me a while to realise, but for her this was a chance to reinvent herself, she’s certainly not the fairly shy young woman who left the Ahrtal a fortnight ago. And then there’s me.
What did I really want out of this trip? I know what I said I wanted but is it really that simple? I’ve tried on the mantle of ‘Rock Diva’, I think I’ve pulled it off okay but does it really fit the person inside?
I suppose the sixty four million euro question is, can I see me doing this as a career? I don’t mean the intensity of a tour but rather a life where adopting a stage persona and literally singing for my supper is the reality not just the occasional diversion. This trip has already upped the band’s stock, Saturday will likely cement that even more, I won’t be the only one needing to assess our commitment to our musical career and BlauHase in particular.
I’m sure the Rents will be asking the same questions and I know they’ll have my back whatever I decide down the line. They don’t have the same investment in my singing career as my riding of course, until now its just been a bit of fun on the side whereas you can barely get through the door to Schloss Bond without being reminded of the families commitment to bicycle sport. It infects pretty much every aspect of our family life, the choice of car, what we eat, hell, even the very fact that we upped sticks and moved from Warsop to Dernau.
Music isn’t like that for us, sure there might be a picture or two of The Angels singing mixed in with the cycling stuff but that’s about it. Can I give all that up, no, do I even want to give it up? Bike racing as a career isn’t for dabblers, even as a serious hobby rider you need a level of commitment verging on obsessive.
I can’t deny that there are days when I question my commitment to the sport, but as Gran would say, you get out what you put in and the returns for me have been huge. Its not just the titles, I’ve travelled far and wide, I’ve made some good friends along the way. There’ve been some ups and downs, of course there have but on balance there are more plusses than minuses in the ledger.
My musings were disturbed by a gentle tap on the door, "Gab? You okay, you’ve been in there ages.”
"Er yeah, fine, be right out.”
I finished my business and returned to the main room.
"You alright?” Mist queried once more as I made my way back to my bed of the night, "You were in there a long time.”
I glanced at the time on the TV, I guess half an hour is a long time to be in the loo, if that’s what you were doing, using the lav that is.
"I was thinking.”
She propped herself up on her elbows so she could see me, "For that long? You could sprain something.”
"Ha, ha.”
"So what’s had you so contemplative at this hour of the morning?”
"What’re you gonna do after tomorrow?”
She gave a shrug, "Dunno, go home I guess, do my shifts at the Kabin.”
"What about singing? Don’t you want to pursue this stuff?”
"Seriously Gab, I can barely hold a tune, you on the other hand can actually sing. Yeah it would be cool to be in a band and stuff but Madonna I’m not.” She paused as if considering her next words, "Rob thinks he might be able to get me a part time backing gig in a few weeks but I’m not holding my breath. What about you, thinking of changing your life plan?”
"Maybe.”
"You don’t sound very certain.”
"I’m not, I mean this trip has been brill and all but I don’t know that music matters enough to me to give up everything else.”
"You wouldn’t have to do that.”
"I would, to be fair to everyone, I’d be letting everyone down if I wasn’t giving a hundred percent, the team, the other girls, they invest a lot in getting me, Gaby Bond, to the finish.”
"So if someone offered you like a million euro to make an album and be some big international singing star you’d turn it down?”
"Like that’s gonna happen,” I scoffed.
"But if it did?” Mist pressed.
"Okay, I’d have to consider it I guess but lets face it, BlauHase aren’t exactly mainstream pop, we’re a bit niche.”
"Maybe its a bigger niche than you think?”
"If you say so.”
"I do, so, given we’re awake, brekkie?”
Breakfast was of course the usual, a buffet with everything from cereal to scrambled egg, fresh fruit to a selection of cheese. The bonus this morning was the availability of oven fresh croissants and pain au chocolate, well I grabbed a couple of each, the croissants will make a change to the Brötchen as carrier for my Nutella® fix! But I’m missing the breakfast highlight, nothing to do with the food but rather a chance for Fruhstück al fresco, there were several tables out on the terrace and there was actual sunshine warming things a little.
"Guess you couldn’t sleep either,” Hilde suggested when she joined us mid way through my first chocolate laden pastry.
"Mornin’, yeah, the bins woke me and I couldn’t get back to sleep then.”
"And then she woke me up,” Mist complained.
"I didn’t mean to,” I shot back in my defence, "You never said.”
"What’d be the point,” she er, pointed out.
"So you two got anything planned for today?” Hilde asked.
"Well I’d sort of planned to get something to wear tomorrow night but as that Binder bloke has offered something, don’t need to do that now.”
"This that chap you were telling me about yesterday Mist?”
"I didn’t get his name but I guess so.”
"What I don’t get is what’s in it for him?” I threw to the floor, "Its not like we’ll be on telly.”
"You do know that the Station will be filming tomorrow night, we might make one of their Specials.”
I vaguely recalled something being mentioned, well I must’ve, that’s why I was gonna get a new frock or something in the first place.
"I still don’t get what he thinks he’ll get out of it.”
"Product placement,” Hilde offered, "Whether you get on TV or not he can point to you and say you were wearing his stuff, free advertising if you like.”
"Well I like anything I get for free,” I smirked.
"You don’t know what you’ll be wearing yet,” Mist pointed out.
"Guess we find that out tomorrow,” I allowed.
"Stefan suggested we stop at some place along the river for lunch,” Hilde mentioned, "Selstadt or something, supposed to be quite pretty.”
"Sounds good,” I allowed finishing off my second still vaguely warm croissant.
It was a quite relaxed start to the penultimate day of BlauHase do Hesse. Mulheim isn’t that far from Aschaff so its not like we have a long drive to get there and if we’re stopping along the river on the way, well a more relaxing day is a bit overdue. Of course we still had to check out by ten and collect the gear from Colos Saal but given the female contingent were breakfasted well before nine, some of us were almost chomping at the bit to get going.
"I’m sure I’ve forgotten something,” I puzzled before taking a sip of my third cup of caffeine juice since breakfast.
"Like what?” Mist queried, "I went through the room myself.”
"Dunno,” I admitted, "But I’m sure there’s something.”
I’ve already been through everything in my head about five times, everything that should be is in my Handtasche, my cases are here of course and if Mist checked the room over I have to presume everything is inside them that should be. I know my Microphone is with the rest of the gear at Colos, I can’t think of anything else.
"Can’t be that important if you don’t know what it is,” Mist opined.
"Yeah, you’re probably right.”
"You two ready?” Animal asked from across the reception area.
"Yep, all present and correct,” Mist told him even as she grabbed her luggage.
I’m sure I’ve missed something.
It took longer to drive to Colos Saal this morning than it did to walk last night, one way streets, traffic lights and of course a good dose of actual traffic too. In the cold light of day, Roßmarkt, home to the venue was still largely in shadow despite the earlier sunshine we’d enjoyed, everything looked, well, bland I guess. Few people were about, I guess it sees more business later when the various food places that dominate the street open for lunch. At a bit after ten though the street had more delivery bikes and vans than actual pedestrians.
After a fortnight the guys have got loading the gear down to a fine art, a place for everything and everything in its place. It wasn’t sexism or anything chivalrous on the guys part that left me, Mist and Hilde twiddling our thumbs whilst the loading took place, it was just easier to stay out of the way. There was of course no sign of Robert, what does he do away from the gigs, indeed where does he even sleep?
With five of them on the job it didn’t take long to get everything loaded, as Marcus closed the back doors I still couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something missing.
Even with stopping to put fuel in the bus, the journey to our lunch stop, less than twenty kilometres down the river, took barely thirty minutes. The place is actually Seligenstadt, I passed through on the bike the other day, it finally clicked when I saw the ferry I used next to the car parking. It was a bit early for lunch, I mean we’ve hardly digested breakfast, so the consensus was to have a walk around first.
I had the nagging feeling that I’d been here before this week, probably on a racing jaunt, the walk up from the river felt, well kind of familiar.
"Sugar!”
"What now?” the orange haired Goth beside me asked with a sigh.
"I know what’s missing.”
"Which is?”
"My bike, bum its still at the hotel.”
"Really?”
"I was gonna put it on the bus before the gig but Stefan thought it’d be safer in the hotel’s store cupboard.”
Mist replied by rolling her eyes to the heavens – a bit disconcerting with all that black around her eyes.
"You sure?”
"Certain.”
"Stefan!” she yelled up the street, "I think we’ve got a problem.”
It didn’t take more than a brief explanation to confirm my prognosis, Stefan vaguely recalled our discussion last night, no one had given it a thought this morning.
"I’ll go back with Pete,” Stefan stated, "No point in us all going, we’ll fetch Gab’s bike, we should be back in about an hour?”
"About that,” Animal confirmed.
"We can all eat together when we get back.”
"Sorry Stef.”
"What for Erd?”
"You having to go back, I should’ve remembered it earlier.”
"These things happen girl, none of us noticed it was missing when we loaded the gear so we’re equally to blame.”
I know he was trying to make me feel better about it but it wasn’t really working, still the others had taken in it in good part so I really should let it rest I guess.
Maddy Bell © 20.08.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *34*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
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Pedaling Squares
"I wonder what this Binder bloke will dress us in tomorrow?” I mused as Mist and I stood in the short queue to purchase eis at the Italian ice cream shop.
"Well,” my orange haired companion started, "It’ll probably be well sexy and revealing.”
"You think?”
“’course, the whole alternative thing is all tight leather and latex with like straps and stuff like pferde.”
"And you know this how?”
"A girl can have hobbies,” she replied airily but at the same time in low tones.
I gave her a slightly disbelieving look, I mean, until last week i thought she was as, I dunno, ordinary as the rest of us, then she started wearing this Gothy stuff, did her hair that outrageous colour and got those piercings, how well do I know her?
"There’s magazines and stuff on the internet, there is more to life than Radrennen” she added.
"Never said there wasn’t.”
"Anyhow, some people go for all the latex and stuff in a big way.”
I’m sure they do, I mean people go to extremes with all sorts of hobbies, cars, climbing, cooking, kickball, you name it there will be someone whose every breath revolves around their pastime. I’ll admit that I can get quite intense over my riding sometimes but I do do other stuff too.
"Well if he thinks I’m gonna wear anything like that he’s got another think coming.”
"I’m sure it won’t be, usual?”
We were next in line by now, "Coconut and pistachio.”
"You are so predictable Bond.”
"Only like you putting ketchup on everything,” I shot back.
"Not everything.”
"Okay, not soup but everything else.”
"I like it.”
"Fraulein?” the swarthy server prompted.
"Er mango and licorice and a coconut and pistachio.”
And she calls me weird!
Dad would’ve probably gone in the abbey place but whilst I’m not averse to a bit of history type stuff I kinda need to be in the mood plus I’m not sure that either of us is dressed suitably to visit a religious building. Well okay, I’m okay but Mist looks more like something from the opposing team what with the tiny shorts, almost exposed bosom and heavy makeup. Sometimes discretion wins.
With the Kloster out, that left us with the delights of Seligenstadt’s commercial district. The actual layout may be different but in terms of content the place isn’t much different to so many small towns in my adopted country, a few national brands rubbing shoulders with local independents selling everything from phones to fancy goods, curtains to spectacles with an infill of bakers, butchers and yes even a candle maker. It reminded me a little of going to York back in England with the narrow alleys connecting various small squares between timber framed buildings.
To be honest, there wasn’t much that held any interest for either of us until Mist spotted ‘Olivia’s Gebrauchte Kleidung’, a few metres from the bahnhof.
"Ooh, let’s take a look,“ Mist enthused.
"Really?“
Okay, maybe i am a bit of a snob when it comes to clothes, i’m not against borrowing stuff from friends and family but to actually go out to buy stuff that someone else has worn, sorry, not me.
"You can get some great bargains,“ my companion told me.
"If you say so.“
"Come on Gabs, live a little.“
"Whatever,“ i sighed as i followed the fishnetted one through the portal.
Back in Mansfield and even Warsop we had the charity shops, Oxfam, Sally Army and so on each selling donated stuff to raise money. There are bargains to be had, books, music media, toys and of course clothing, Olivia’s’ however only sold the latter, racks of clothing, shelves of shoes and accessories but of course, no two items the same. Apart from that you’d almost mistake it for a slightly eclectic boutique, this was no shove it on a hangar and fill the place, whoever ran this place clearly wanted it to be something more.
Okay, a lot of the stuff was a bit, well hausfrau or even oma but one area seemed to be dedicated to more fashionable stuff, i even remember seeing some of it in the original stores not so long ago. I have to say, Mist was, as Gran says, like a pig in shit, pulling stuff out, mostly of a black persuasion. Okay, i’ll admit it, i looked at a few bits myself, if it hadn’t been a size forty two, there was a nice ‘likeAnna‘ party frock i could’ve been tempted by.
"Where do they get this stuff?“ i mused to myself as i moved along the rails.
"That would be telling,“ a youngish, well i guess mid twenties, woman mentioned from over the rail.
"I was just curious, a lot of this looks almost brand new.“
She shrugged, "Some people buy things for an occasion, maybe an interview then never wear again.“
"I guess,“ i’ve probably got stuff like that.
"You ladies looking for anything in particular?“
"Not me, my closets are already bursting, dunno about carrot top.“
"Nothing specific,“ Mist told us, "Just you know, black.“
"I’ve got a rack of new stuff you might be interested in, i’ll just fetch it through.“
"Mist!“ i hissed as the shop person dissapeared through the rails.
"What?“
"What are you doing?“
"What do you think, checking out what she has.”
I gave a sigh cum shrug, I got that but, oh I don’t know, maybe I’m just a bit tetchy this morning.
"Here we go,” the store keeper carolled over the rattle of the clothing rail she was steering out into the shop space.
Unlike the rest of the store’s orderly appearance, this rail was rammed with a diverse mix of stuff.
"Its not sorted so you’ll have to have a rummage I’m afraid.”
"No problem,” Mist replied with a hint of glee in her voice.
Well of course, my stoic observation of my friends exploration didn’t last long, I was soon sifting the wares from the opposite end of the stuffed rail. Whilst missing that out of the packet crispness of new stuff, it was all nicely laundered and pressed, there was none of that slightly stale smell I associate with my occasional visits to used clothing emporia. Not only that but the lack of signs of wear suggested most of this stuff was almost new.
"What do you think?” Mist asked holding up a dark red, well I suppose you’d call it a day dress, in a style I kind of associate with, well older women.
"Its a bit, erm, Oma.”
"That’s the point.”
"If you say so.”
As late teens, we have of course got several years of shopping experience behind us, we can go through a shops stock like a herd, flock, whatever of locusts, discarding and selecting stuff like one of those letter sorting machines. I quickly rattled through the goods, branded jeans, blouses, skirts, trousers, shorts, jumpers, dresses, occasionally pulling one free for a better look. There was some nice stuff but nothing caught my eye until the plushness of velvet brushed my hand.
Okay, I’ll admit it, I’ve always had a sort of thing for velvet, it just feels, I dunno, slightly decadent in a very luxurious way. Silk, satin, taffeta, even cotton and wool can be great, but slinky body hugging velvet gets me every time. This particular example was in red, a solid scarlet in a sort of cross between Emily Bronte and a cheongsam, short puff sleeves, open décolletage but with braid decoration at the sort of keyhole bits on the sleeves and hemline.
"What you got there?” Mist enquired having seen me paused.
"Velvet dress,” I told her holding it up for inspection.
"Nice, you should get that, fishnets, big boots, uber Goth!”
I’d actually been thinking nice hose and my best heels but I sort of got the vibe Mist was thinking of. Question is, do I need it? I mean I already have several velvet frocks, do I need another. Hmm, define need. I held it against me, it came, even on my short frame, barely to mid thigh, closing my eyes I pictured myself wearing it, the short pile both smooth and resistant as my fingers moved over the material.
"Maybe,” I allowed draping it over the stuff I’d already looked over.
Long story short, I didn’t find anything else that appealed to me although Tangerine head gathered a small pile of stuff she fancied. I hmm’d and aah’d over getting the velvet, it was only ten euro, what the heck. Decision made I headed for the till having to pass that ‘likeAnna’ party frock on the way, on impulse I grabbed that up too.
"So how much did you spend?” I asked once we were back on the street.
"She gave me a discount.”
"How much?”
"Seventy five,” she mumbled.
"Seventy five?” I exclaimed.
"You don’t need to shout, there’s some nice pieces, real silk and stuff.”
Brrng, brrng...brrng, brrng, the muffled sound of my Handy diverted me to scrambling in my Handtasche for the source.
"Bond.”
"Erd, Stefan.”
"Hey, you guys back?”
"About ten minutes away, we got your bike, eventually.”
"Eventually?”
"Bit of a saga, tell you later, main thing is we got it.”
"Yeah, thanks.”
"So you guys seen anywhere for us to eat?”
"There’s loads of places in the town, bit pricey tho.”
"Its the end of the tour, we can probably live with that.”
"Yeah,” I agreed.
"We’ll see you in a few minutes then,” Stefan suggested.
I felt a tugging of my elbow, Mist gesticulating across the road.
"Hang on Stef,” I turned my attention to my companion, "What?”
"Over the road, to eat,” she pointed.
I concentrated a bit better on the building she was pointing at.
"You still there Stefan?”
"Not gone anywhere, what’s up?”
"We’ve found somewhere to eat, some sort of Brauhaus opposite the bahnhof.”
"Now you’re talking.”
"There’s some free street parking too,” I observed.
"Works for us, let the others know and we’ll see you in five.”
The Seligenstädter Klein Brauerei was just that, there must be hundreds of breweries across Germany, from the huge internationally known brands like Krombacher®, Erdinger®, Paulaner®, Becks® and the like through regional operations, we have Bitburger and Vulkan at home. According to the connoisseurs like Dad though, the best beer is made by the small ‘artisan’ breweries, who often only supply their wares either directly or through a few local outlets.
Even the big breweries will have a Brauhaus and we’ve used them a time or two on our travels around the country as apart from the alcohol they usually serve good value traditional food. I left Mist outside with the bags whilst I headed inside to secure seating for our party.
It was the usual sort of bar restaurant thing inside, lots of wood and decorated with a brewing theme, you know, black and white photos, polished brass things, old advertising material. Being lunchtime it was fairly busy but there were plenty of seats, I was able to commandeer a big horseshoe booth that’d accommodate all eight of us comfortably. Having marked our territory with my shopping and cardigan I headed to the bar for some menus.
The others arrived a few minutes later having walked from the Kloster gardens. I guess we make a motley bunch, from Mist’s punk goth look to Hilde in her jeans and t shirt, the guys favouring various denim and leather combo’s, yeah, I think the Brauhaus is more us than the more genteel eateries across the town.
"Great find Erd,” Marcus stated as everyone settled into the booth.
"Wasn’t me, Misty spotted it.”
"Well thank you Mist.”
"You’re welcome, it was either here or Maccy D’s,” she smirked.
"You ordered anything Erd?” Little Jo asked.
"Not yet, I was waiting for you lot.”
"Usuals to drink?” he asked the table, vacating his end seat to fetch the beverages.
"So what’s the saga with the bike?” I asked Stefan in the lull between ordering our food and seeing it.
"Well it wasn’t really that much of a thing,” he started, "It took us a while to get to the centre, some sort of incident on the Ring. Anyway it was a girl on reception, she didn’t know anything about it so we had to wait for the duty manager who then had to go fetch the key,“ he paused for a sip of his beer.
"And?” I pressed.
"Well your bike wasn’t in the cupboard, it was full of toilet paper, great big packs, you know catering size?”
"Someone stole my bike?”
"No it wasn’t stolen, it took a few minutes to find it though. Apparently the Haushalt people moved it to the boiler room out of the way when the toilet paper was delivered sometime after we left. That’s it really.”
"Is it okay?”
"As far as we could see,” Animal put in.
"Dad’ll go ape if its got damaged coz I forgot it.”
"You can blame us,” Stefan offered, "But I’m sure its fine.”
Guess there’s no point on worrying about it, not like it’ll change anything.
The food was fine, I had the popular pub standby of Rostbratwürst mit grünkohl, which in this case meant half a dozen tiny Nürnberger sausages with a mound of kale and creamed potatoes. I’ve never gotten quite why Nürnberger are so small, after all you could just have one normal size würst instead of a load of little ones. Still, it was alright, filled a hole, who knows what we’ll get to eat later.
Mühlheim am Main sits between Frankfurt and Hanau but on the opposite bank of the Main, barely ten kilometers from Seligenstadt as the crow flies, it took us about forty five minutes in the bus to join the two points. It was too early to go to the hotel even after our long stopover for lunch so we went directly to tonight’s venue, the Kulturhalle Schalnz. To be honest I wasn’t the only one thinking we’d got the address wrong when we got to Carl Zeiss Straße which is taken up with factory units the wrong side of the tracks to the town itself.
Then we couldn’t get in from the front so had to go around the block to the back entrance which did little to dispel the image of an engineering workshop, the building being clad in that corrugated sheet stuff, much like they use at Apollinaris for the sheds. Usually Robert is at the venues before us but today he was nowhere to be found so Stefan took point leading us inside.
Of course we’ve played a few repurposed industrial buildings on this trip, station halls, even a power station, their heritage very much on display. This time though, once inside the ‘sheds’, there was no indication of their previous purpose. Adam, the manager, gave us the ten pfennig tour, function room, bar and of course the main hall which hosts something over a hundred performances every year, mainly less well known artists like ourselves but also the ever popular cover bands and some less serious stuff like the weekly Thursday pub quiz!
It seems like a nice friendly place for our penultimate gig of our Tour and Adam was pretty happy that it was already sold out, okay its not a huge venue but its still pretty cool. It didn’t take long to unload the gear and get set up, I made sure my bike went back on the bus myself. There’s no warm up again tonight, we go on at eight thirty so it’ll be a fairly early finish for a change.
There was still no sign of Robert when we headed for the hotel a bit before five.
Maddy Bell © 21.08.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *35*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Bit of a bind
The Hotel Gartenhof is actually only 300m from Schanz – if you are on foot, in the bus its about a kilometre and a half on the shortest road route. Adam already suggested we leave the bus at the venue tonight, Animal, Pete can have a drink or three and we can cut through the bahnhof back and forth. That and the van will be more secure in the locked compound than parked, well who knows where.
The position of the Gartenhof is, I have to say, its main selling point, its clean enough but the whole place has an air of, not neglect exactly, lets say it needs some TLC. Outside the white stucco is dirty and grey, inside pretty much everything is looking quite tired. That said, for our purposes its fine, we don’t exactly spend much time in our accommodation do we?
"So what did you get?” I enquired once we’d ‘settled’ into room six.
"This and that.”
"It must be more than this and that for what you spent,” I observed.
"Maybe I did get a bit carried away,” Fraulein Tangerine allowed.
"So, lets see.”
And so most of our spare moments before heading out to eat were taken checking out Mists purchases in ‘Olivia’s Gebrauchte Kleidung’. I wasn’t exactly impressed with most of her choices, the Oma dress for example but there were a couple of nice tops i’d give a home to even if the miniskirt she picked up contained rather less material than i like to be wearing. We could hear the others heading back downstairs so exploring my own bit of shopping will have to wait.
Mühlheim/Main isn’t the biggest of places, its not exactly over endowed with eateries, in fact unless you want takeaway style stuff the options are very limited. Adam, the font of all knowledge for visitors, suggested the Hexestubb, its menu a fairly standard mix of German and Italian fare – plus its barely a hundred metres from the hotel.
"So what’s happened to Robert?” I queried as we processed to the eaterie.
"He sent me an SMS earlier, said he might be late, something to do with tomorrow night,” Stefan advised.
"Its still on?”
"Yeah, you know Robert, he’ll be wheeling and dealing, looking for any opportunity to make a buck.”
I’ve not known the man very long but I had to agree with that sentiment, sort of a German Del Boy1.
Turns out that the Hexestubb isn’t the biggest of places so we ended up sat in the ‘garden’ where a canvas gazebo affair, think big Ezyup, sort of turned the area into an all weather extension to the property. I say garden, that’s probably pushing things a bit, there were some planters and what is probably a feral Linden tree by the property boundary but otherwise, yeah, its the back yard complete with crates of empty bottles and a big wheelie bin. I paint it worse than it is, in truth it was quite nice in a sort of urban rustic way.
"So what’re you wearing tonight?” Mist enquired as we waited for the food.
I’d not given tonight much thought to be honest, all my attention in that direction going to tomorrows grand finale. What should I wear? I could borrow Mist’s ‘jeans’ again I suppose but that does seem a bit off when I have got my own stuff. Maybe that's what I should do, after all after tonight some of my ‘tour’ wardrobe will be retired, yeah one last outing.
"Think I’ll wear the purple dress, give it one last airing.”
"Good idea, you okay if I wear the tight jeans then?”
"They are yours,” I pointed out.
"I know but I don’t want to upstage you.”
"Think I’ll survive for one night.”
The food didn’t take long, my pizza, not my usual pepperoni but something they called a ‘Frankfurt’, think a basic three cheese with sliced Frankfurter sausage and olives and you won’t be far off, was the last to arrive. The conversation around the table was quite muted, I think my case of ‘end of Tour’ blues was endemic amongst our number. In just over twenty four hours, well call it twenty seven, this whole adventure will be over bar the clean up, sixteen days, fourteen gigs in fourteen different venues.
Yeah, there was definitely that sort of not quite end of term vibe as we ate our ‘last supper’, I guess this is our last actual meal all together. It hardly seems like a fortnight since we started this odyssey but I guess it has been fairly full on at times, the travelling, setting up, playing the gigs, after parties, sleep and repeat in the next town. I suppose it must be similar for Mum and the other Apollinaris girls – just with less actual partying!
Similar thoughts must’ve been fermenting around the table, I was still musing when Marcus stood up rattling a knife on his glass for attention.
"I know we’re not quite done yet but we probably won’t be all together like this again before we’re done. I must admit, I was a bit sceptical about the whole thing when Stef suggested the whole thing last year, so thanks Stefan for nagging us all into doing it. I think everyone has had a good time, its certainly put BlauHase on the map, who knows where things will go from here?
After tomorrow we all go back to our normal lives, the factory, garage, office, Erd will be back at college, everything normal again, but whatever the future has in store for us, we’ll always have the BlauHase Hessen tour in common. So a toast, to us, to BlauHase!”
We all raised our glasses and joined in a cheer of mixed ‘to us’ and ‘BlauHase’, I think I got something in my eye, it started to leak anyhow.
It was only seven thirty when we got back to Schalnz, changed and reasonably revved up for the nights performance. After the ‘freedom’ of my stage outfit of the last couple of nights, tonight I felt somewhat over dressed, yeah I know it was my choice but it felt like I was dressed for a wedding and everyone else dressed for the beach. Its only one night, I’ll survive.
"So where’s Robert tonight, he’s usual schmaltzing anyone who breath’s by now,” I threw to the room.
"Sounds like Robert,” Little Jo agreed.
"I’m sure he’ll be here,” Stefan told us.
"Like a bad pfennig,” Marcus observed.
"Talk of the devil,” Animal stated, with a raised eyebrow, "Robert!”
Our manager joined us in what answered for the Schalnz’ green room, a maybe five metre by four space which occupied a space to one side of the auditorium.
"My favourite band, everything okay?”
"Thought we might’ve seen you earlier,” Stefan replied.
"Yes, sorry about that, something came up but I’m here now.”
"So it would seem,” Mist whispered in my ear causing me to nearly choke on my lemonade.
"You alright Erd?” Big Jo asked as I spluttered.
"Er fine,” I allowed once I got my composure back.
"I should get the merchandise set up,” Hilde stated, extracting herself from her husbands lap.
"Need a hand?” Mist offered getting up from her perch on the arm of the slightly battered sofa I was sharing with Animal.
"Sure, more the merrier.”
"So what was so important?” Little Jo queried.
"This and that,” Robert suggested.
"Robert?” Stefan put in, "If it affects us we need to know.”
"Okay, I was going to tell you later anyway, I’ve arranged for Spex to do an interview tomorrow afternoon.”
"I thought they were more in to trends than actual music?” I opined having glanced at a copy now and then in Thalia.
"You guys are a trend,” Robert enthused.
"Should we be concerned by that?” Animal asked.
"Trends are good.”
"But they have a habit of passing quickly,” Marcus noted.
"So I should cancel?” our Manager offered sounding a little chastised.
"They are influential,” Little Jo mentioned.
"So where and when?” Stefan asked with a slight sigh.
Robert made a swift recovery from his previous tone, "Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof tomorrow afternoon, maybe you could be in your stage gear?”
I don’t even know what that’ll be yet.
"Why would that be?” Big Jo enquired.
"Photographs of course, they are sure to bring a photographer.”
Well I suppose that makes sense.
With no warm up act, not even yours truly warbling a few numbers, waiting to go on felt interminable.
"Looks like a lively crowd,” Mist stated after visiting the facilities.
"That’s what we like,” Animal grinned.
"As long as they aren’t too lively,” I stated just as the door opened again.
"Five minutes,” Adam informed us, "Its a full house so knock ‘em dead.”
"We’ll try,” Animal replied as he left, "Come on, lets do this.”
Whilst our little bit of theatre is essentially the same at each show, the vagaries of the venue mean that whilst the audience experience is pretty much the same, we have to adapt to very different back stage areas. Tonight for example there’s not a lot of space on the actual stage so we’ve got to wait in the narrow cross corridor behind and climb a narrow stair up onto the stage. It’s only four steps but in my stiletto heels and flouncy skirts, well its not exactly elegant.
Adam spoke quietly into his walkie talkie, the house lights went down and the buzz from the assembled masses faded. Animal climbed up onto the stage and waited for the signal.
There was a crackle from Adam’s radio before he quietly spoke, "Good luck guys, so three, two, one and go!”
Our drummer slipped through the curtain, LJ replacing him. I counted the seconds down, its ten seconds of dark the five of the spot for each arrival, well apart from Mist, she goes out with me and doesn’t get spotlit. Stefan went out and I followed her tightly clad bum up the steps, geez those ‘jeans’ are tight, you couldn’t hide a pimple under them!
‘Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, go’, as I finished counting in my head, Mist slipped out into the darkness, me following a moment later. It’s not pitch black of course, by closing your eyes for a moment, when you open them you get a degree of ‘night sight’, enough to avoid walking into stuff as you cross the performance area at least. I removed my mic from the stand and started counting myself in, ‘one, two….’
‘...Thundering, thundering
Thundering thundering in the mountains
And it's breaking through
Breaking through
Breaking through...‘‘
I’ve sometimes wondered if any of our audience actually know the original, probably not, you’d have to be my parents age I guess and most of the faces out there looked considerably younger than that. I guess it doesn’t really matter, what does is whether they enjoy it and by the response as the final notes faded away suggested it was well received again tonight.
I’ve taken you through the set several times over the last couple of weeks so you’ll be familiar with both the songs and theatricals which go to make up the BlauHase Hessen Tour set. We’ve all become more ‘comfortable’ with the lyrics the result of which is, well a more polished performance, I kind of get why proper professional ‘artists’ spend so much time practicing now. Everything went like clockwork, it hardly seemed anytime before we reached the end of the show.
The cheering receded to a buzz and I raised my arms to quieten things down, which they did after a moment or two.
"Thank you Mühlheim, as you've been so nice to us tonight we'll leave you with one more. As you know, we only have one more gig on this tour in a little old place called Frankfurt.“
I paused hoping, now knowing there would be a response to mention of the towns much larger neighbour. The audience made the right noises and i continued my little speach.
"We've really enjoyed being here tonight, we hope you have too so sing along if you want, we have been BlauHase, thank you for having us, Luftballons!“
There was a bit of a cheer as the opening chords rent the air, i took a deep breath, gripped my microphone and started the familiar lyrics.
'Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt'
'Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein grosser Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Das gab ein grosses Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont auf neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen "Krieg!" und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen’
I know the lyrics are a bit dark, the English version is perhaps a bit smoother in telling the tale of a war sparked by balloons and trigger happy generals, written at a time when the Cold War was still a very real thing, Germany still divided and the future less certain than it is now. I haven’t thought about it much but I guess there are a few songs on our set which touch on the futility of war, from Luftballons to Stefan’s missing Legion, had that been an intentional thing or just coincidence? I don’t know, maybe i’ll have to ask.
There was a different vibe at the after party tonight, i’m sure there will be one tomorrow in Frankfurt but that’s sure to be stuffed with folk from HR3 and other ‘guests‘ whilst tonight was more intimate i guess. Oh don’t get me wrong, Herr Silsman had invited the local press and media along so there was a bit of pressing hands and making nice between the drinking. Okay, i’ll admit to not being alcohol free but i only had a couple, honest.
We were, as a group, a bit maudlin as we made our way back to the Gartenhof a little after midnight. The tap, tap of my heels echoed along the tunnel under the bahnhof, the regular sound somehow at odds with both the location and my companions. It was just as well it wasn’t far back to the accomodation, my feet were starting to ache a bit after being perched in heels for six hours.
"Fraulein Bondt?“
"That’s me,“ i allowed.
"Ah yes,“ the night clerk agreed as i returned to the desk, "There is a message from a,“ she checked her note pad, "Herr Binder, he said he will collect you at nine thirty in the morning.“
"Thanks, i think.“
Well i guess i won’t get a lie in then.
"Everything is okay?"
"Fine, thanks for telling me.“
Maddy Bell © 22.08.2022
Gaby Book 27 ~ Smell of the Crowd ~ Chapter *36*
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Smell of the Crowd by Maddy Bell
Copyright© 2022 Madeline Bell
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Larry Binder
I heaved my case into the Gartenhof’s reception just after nine having scarfed down a six or was it seven course breakfast. Don’t get too excited, it was just the usual buffet affair, coffee, juice, fruit and yoghurt, egg & meat sandwich, toast and a couple of mini pastries, seven then. Thing is, I thought I’d better get a decent Frühstück as I’ve no idea when I’ll next see food what with one thing and another today.
"Urgh, when did this all weigh so much?” Mist moaned, dragging her own luggage across to join mine.
"When you bought half the shop in Seligenstadt yesterday?” I suggested.
"Yeah well apart from that,” she mumbled, "So what now?”
"Well I’m going back to the room to use the facilities and get my Handtasche, dunno about you.”
"Guess I’ll hang on here in case this guy’s early.”
"I shan’t be long,” I told her as I tugged the room key from her grip and set off for the stairs.
There is a lift but its ancient, about the size of a phone box and moves at like weeks per metre, it really is quicker to climb the two flights of stairs. Anyhow I was soon back up in Room Six and availing myself of the ensuite, just as well as I spotted my good shampoo stood on the shelf in the shower cubicle – maybe I should for another sweep of the room. Of course it was intentional that my Handy was still charging on the night stand and last nights knickers, well they must have fallen off the chair when I was packing.
I stuffed everything into my bag before pausing to preen in the long mirror behind the door. As I’ll be trying stuff on this morning I’d dragged some stuff from where it has spent the last fortnight at the bottom of the case, jeans and a plain T aren’t very rock’n’roll but they’re comfy and easy to shed. A quick readjust of my ponytail and I left for the lower level again.
"Thought you weren’t gonna be long?” Mist accused from her perch on top of our luggage.
"I was as quick as I could be.”
"Hmmph!”
"There you are,” Stefan noted coming into the building from the great outdoors.
"Here we are, cases all packed, room vacated.”
"What time are you being picked up?”
"Nine thirty,” Mist told him.
He looked at his watch, "Hmm, ten minutes, Animals just gone to pick up the bus, you’ll be gone before he’s back I guess, so this is all your stuff?”
"Yeah,” I agreed, "Careful picking up Mist’s, it weighs a ton.”
"Huh!”
"You said it, not me,” i riposted.
"I’m sure we’ll cope, what time will you be done?” Stefan asked.
“’bout lunchtime I think, he didn’t actually say.”
"Don’t forget we’ve got the interview with Spex this afternoon.”
"Urgh, could’ve done without that, today of all days.”
Stefan grinned, "The price of fame, will you need picking up from wherever?”
"Not sure.” I admitted.
"Well we’ll be at the venue, we’ll go straight from here, bit more setting up than usual today. If you need a lift, ring, Hilde can come and fetch you.”
"Sorry for adding an extra layer of complication.”
"Hey, you have to grab these opportunities.”
"This looks like us,” Mist called over from by the door where she’d been looking out for our transport.
"We’ll see you later then,” I told our leader.
"Have fun, tschuss.”
"Tschussie.”
It had indeed been our transport, a big dark green Mercedes from I guess the seventies, lots of chrome and chiselled detailing. It wasn’t Herr Binder at the wheel, rather it was a tall, slim woman in a sort of pastiche of a chauffeurs uniform, complete with hat. The fact it was all made of dark red leather blew any suggestion of normalcy, what have we let ourselves in for?
After the barest of introductions, Mist and I scooted into the back seat and our imposing driver set off into the morning traffic. Living in sleepy Dernau and before that, equally sleepy Warsop, urban traffic isn’t something you really come up against. Oh it can get a bit busy in Koblenz but the likes of Bonn and Köln we usually travel to by train so we don’t see the traffic in the same way. This morning however we were in amongst an almost continuous stream of traffic pretty much from the get go, not only that but there was hardly a break from housing and industrial premises.
Mühlheim segued into Offenbach without more than a road sign to advertise the change. The first break from the continuous building only came when we reached what I’m guessing is Offenbach’s waterfront which we followed for a bit, catching glimpses of the Main through the trees lining the road. There was no less traffic, it was moving but it was there, only thinning when we briefly left the main drag.
We’d been going about fifteen, twenty minutes when we briefly joined an Autobahn for one junction before joining a busy dual carriageway signed for Frankfurt Mitte. We were into the Frankfurt suburbs now, blocks of apartments along tree lined streets taking us deeper into the city. Having no idea where we were headed I wasn’t too surprised when we turned away from the centre now following signs for the central railway station.
Just how far are we going? Still following signs for the Hbf, we crossed the Main before immediately taking a turn marked Westenhafen. We passed the new marina development and into an industrial area, older factories cheek by jowl with more modern buildings. After making another turn, I was still mulling over the apparent misspelling of ‘Heidalbergerstrasse’, the big Mercedes unexpectedly slid to a halt outside of a rather tired looking three storey building.
"Guess this is us,” Mist whispered.
"Guess so,” I replied in kind as our driver put on her hat and proceeded to exit the car.
A minute later we were stood on the pavement watching the Mercedes drive off, now what? We may as well be in Timbuktoo, I’ve no idea where we are, not really, I think I might be able to retrace our route a bit, maybe get us to the station, we can’t be that far away as I could hear the clanking of trains in the distance. Mind you, I could hear aircraft too even over the hum of Germany’s fifth largest city.
"Fraulein Erdbeeren!” a voice called out, "So glad to see you.”
We both turned our attention from the quickly disappearing Mercedes to the building behind us. I recognised the guy coming from the door as Herr Binder, today dressed in what I can only describe as a brown leather kilt, waistcoat and knee high Dockers.
"Er hi, Herr Binder, your driver just dropped us off.”
"She was supposed to wait, I’ll have to have words, this isn’t the best part of town, lots of migrants you know. But come, come inside, you want coffee? Tea?” he offered leading the way into the building.
"Um sure,” I agreed as he ushered us inside before carefully locking the door, I guess against unwanted entry, at least I hope its that rather than to keep us in.
"Come, we’ll take the stairs.”
"So um, Herr Binder,” I started as we began our ascent, "How long will we be? Not that we’re in a rush but we have an interview this afternoon.”
"Larry please, what time?”
"About three I think at the venue.”
"Ach, no problem, its only ten minutes away, as to how long,” he shrugged, "That will depend on what we find eh?”
"Um sure,” I allowed exchanging a look with Mist.
Our footsteps echoed up the stairwell, Larry leading us past the first floor landing to the top and through a fire door into what appeared to be a shop space. When I say shop well perhaps boutique would be more accurate but instead of racks of party frocks and high fashion, the clothing I could see was, well, eclectic. The first impression was that there was a lot of leather and shiny stuff, I couldn’t tell what some of the garments even were, my senses assaulted by the smell as much as the sight.
"Come, come, we can look at things after we have coffee eh?”
"Erm, okay.”
"Monique dear, our guests are here,” Larry sang out before addressing us again as he directed us towards another room, "My assistant, she’ll help with dressing.”
This new room was more like a lounge, dominated by an overstuffed green leather sofa and a couple of matching chairs.
"Please, sit, coffee yes? For both?”
"Can I just get water please?” Mist requested.
"Sure, I’ll be right back, make yourselves at home.”
We both sat on the sofa, safety in numbers and all that.
"Did you see that stuff next door,” Mist hissed, "There must be some seriously weird people out there.”
"Says she with Tangerine hair and a mouthful of metal.”
"Hardly a mouthful and your hair’s pink.”
"Temporarily,” I stated.
"If you say so.”
"I do.”
"Did you see that dress, on the stand?”
"Bit hard to miss it,” I observed.
Said garment was on a mannequin thing opposite the door, a confection of brown and cream in a kind of baroque design, you know, big skirts with those pannier bits and showing a fair bit of chest. In fact when we stayed with the Taxis at New Year, Sophia wanted me to try something not dissimilar in their attic. I kind of get that, if you are into like historic re-enactment, you might want something like it, except it was clearly made of leather.
"I can just see you on stage in that.”
"Not gonna happen.”
I turned my attention to our immediate surroundings, whilst the seating dominated the room it wasn’t the only furniture, or indeed decoration. In fact you could be forgiven for thinking you were in some country pile rather than a run down building in central Frankfurt. I wouldn’t like to comment on the furniture’s provenance but the tables, side chairs and dresser that helped fill the space looked quite old, probably nineteenth century and the other decorations added to that general impression.
My musings were broken by the return of Herr Binder followed by, I presume, Monique. I say presume as I couldn’t see her face, well her head actually as she was wearing some sort of close fitting hood thing made of what looked like pink latex. If that wasn’t weird enough, the rest of her outfit, a sort of French Maid get up was also made of the same stuff, as far as I could see she was entirely covered in the stuff.
"Here we go, water for?” Larry queried passing a long glass of water over.
"Ne, I mean Misty,” my clearly flustered companion managed.
"Sorry, I’m terrible with names, Mon, if you can do the honours please.”
I was transfixed as the rubber clad ‘maid’ served coffee to Larry and myself, our host having seated himself in one of the armchairs. Despite the heels, she was deft on her feet and silent, enforced I realised by the hood having no opening for her mouth, indeed even her eyes were covered, I guess she could see through the tiny perforations. It was difficult to know for sure but I got the feeling she smiled at me when she caught me watching.
"Don’t worry Fraulein Erdbeeren, I have more practical ideas for you,” Larry advised, “Moni doesn’t usually dress like this but we go directly to the show once we have you sorted, it was just easier to get her dressed first.”
"That makes sense,” Mist observed.
I took a sip of my coffee, I had to contain a bit of a shudder at the frankly, bitter brew, "So um, what have you got in mind for us?”
"Don’t worry, it won’t be anything like Moni, after all, you need to sing eh,” he replied with a slight smile.
He must’ve read the fear going through my mind.
"I have something special in mind, something more practical and can I say, sexy for you and for your friend, well I think maybe something more,” he paused, "Avant garde.
"Oh-kay.”
"Sounds intriguing,” Mist added.
"Well as long as its nothing too, erm ‘sexy’, my parents and friends will be here,” I qualified.
"Maybe we miss the bondage straps then,” he deadpanned before breaking into a grin, "Just kidding, I am a fan not a voyeur in this matter, I save that for my customers, some of whom, it has to be said, have tastes that are a little, how can I say it, extreme?” he nodded towards Monique stood in enforced silence behind his chair. “Be assured I want to enhance your beauty not hide it nor do I want to detract from your music. Do you trust me?”
"I er guess so,” I cautiously allowed.
"Well finish your coffee and we’ll get started.”
And so, five minutes later, Larry, Herr Binder led us back through the showroom and into a room not dissimilar to the fitting room at Eloise Couture, you know, Gerta and Dotty’s place in Ahrweiler. It was bigger and there were several chairs around the dais but otherwise it had much the same features, a curtained off changing area and a rack which here held just a few items.
"I think we should dress Misty first,” Larry advised, "It is the simpler of you.”
"Sure,” I agreed, "We’re in your hands.”
"Moni, if you would please.”
The rubber clad woman selected a couple of hangers from the rail and indicated that Mist should bring the large carrier bag from below. The pair disappeared behind the curtain leaving me alone with Herr Binder.
"Please, sit, they may be a few minutes.”
I took one of the chairs feeling a bit apprehensive at being alone with our benefactor.
"So, um, how did you get into all this?” Well someone had to start the conversation.
"Ah, such a long story, mostly quite boring, I’m sure you don’t want to hear it all.”
"Edited highlights?” I suggested, anything to fill the silence.
"Hmm, yes, that would do better. Well it was an accident really….”
It was perhaps twenty minutes later when a swish of the curtain announced the return of Monique and Mist to the main room.
"Ah, excellent,” Larry beamed, standing and motioning for Mist to step up onto the dais.
I have to say it wasn’t anything that I’d been expecting, well not that I really had much idea of what to expect. If anything I was a bit disappointed that her outfit was so, well ordinary. Except that it was more than first met the eye.
"What do you reckon Gab?” my friend asked.
"Great, what do you think?”
"I like it, sort of a twist on the whole Goth look?”
A twist indeed, under a sort of loose, see through black tunic type thing that barely covered her breasts, she had on a strappy bra affair. The shorts she was now wearing over fishnets were whilst full cut, tight and my guess, red latex, the same colour and now I looked closer, material.
"Hope its not cold later,” I opined.
"Well I like it, these boots are dope.”
I missed the boots, not sure I’m that keen to be honest. They were only black, just over the ankle with very pointy toes, thin heel and a lot of straps. With the rest of the ensemble they worked well but like I say, not really my thing.
"A success?” Larry asked.
"Definitely!” Mist declared.
Yes I was disappointed on one level but maybe that was the point, that our ‘costumes’ should be memorable but not at the expense of the music.
"So Fraulein Erdbeeren, it is your turn,” Larry stated.
"Er sure.”
If my outfit is anything like Mist’s, well I can live with that I guess, I’ve worn less in public, well the beach.
"I’ll leave you in Monique’s capable hands,” Herr Binder advised, "Moni, if you will.”
I stood up and headed for the changing room with a sense of trepidation.
My latex clad dresser followed a minute later, pausing only to pull the curtain shut before hanging up a couple of garment bags, looks like I won’t be wearing shorts and a shirt then. I was a bit taken aback when the next thing Monique did was to fumble at the back of her head before unzipping the all encasing hood. It came off with a bit of a sucking sound and clearly some relief from the wearer.
"Chuck me that towel please.”
"Um, sure.”
I passed the towel that was hanging on a wall hook next to me over, the poor woman was soaked with sweat, whilst her hair was under a wig cap thing, it was clearly plastered to her head, rivulets coursing down her face.
"Thanks, I couldn’t stand it any longer.”
"Won’t you get in trouble for taking it off?”
"Larry need never know, I’ll put it back on before we go back out, Maria by the way,” she offered a hand.
"But I thought you were Monique?”
"Only when I’m dressed in this stuff, Larry says it suits the ‘character’ better.”
"So how…”
"Did I get into this? In short, money. Well lack of to be truthful, Larry’s my brother, during the week I study law at the University, weekends I work for Larry doing whatever needs doing.”
"So you aren’t into this whole alternative stuff then?”
"Not like Lar, some of it’s okay I guess but the latex I could do without, you want to undress?”
"Um sure, so why do it, I mean wear it?”
"Because it pays well, the people into this stuff will happily drop thousands of euro on the right stuff so I get to be the mannequin and Larry makes a living. So how much of a visual impact do you want to make?”
"Some? What have you in mind?”
"Well we can just go with the clothes, which I’m sure will be great or we could go a bit further, take things up a level?”
I was intrigued now, this may be the only chance I get to do this, go a bit outside my comfort zone.
"Whatever you think Marie, you only live once right?”
"That’s my girl!”
Maddy Bell © 23.08.2022