Tester by HJ Macey (good books to read .txt) 📕

A new act had joined at Singapore, from a ship that had sailed from Freemantle and was returning to Fremantle. I found out about it, three days out from Singapore, it was at Anna's seventeenth birthday party, that his lordship arranged to be held in the nightclub. We were confined to a ship, so seeing one another occasionally was unavoidable; I seemed to be bumping into Anna, a lot more since Singapore.

 "Do you dance Mrs Keats?" I asked her ladyship as I saw her swaying in her seat as if dancing quietly with herself, as she was enjoying the music.

 "Yes, but James isn't that fond of dancing, do you dance Joseph?" She asked still bobbing in her seat, to the band playing a Glyn Miller tune.

 "Yes, Ma'am with three sisters, and a mum who liked to Charleston, I had to learn all types of dance, it helped my boxing as well, would you do me the honour?" I asked, holding out my hand.

 "Look James I'm being taken to the dance floor, watch you might learn something," she said smiling at him before she and I, quickstepped around the floor.

 "This might sound a bit improper, for me to say to you about your daughter, Mrs Keats but I feel I have to. I think your daughter is a lovely girl, and I like her I really do, but that is all Ma'am. Lately, I have been bumping into her a lot, and I'm beginning to suspect it's not accidental." Mrs Keats was smiling, almost laughing in fact, and as we came around close, to our table where Anna was waving at us she said.

 "I've had this same conversation with Anna, she likes you too but you're a bit too old for her," we both laughed and danced a seconded quickstep.

 "Lovely party Anna sorry if I had known, I'd have bought you something in Singapore," I said to her, as I returned her mum to the table. I had just pushed Mrs Keats chair in when there was a waiter by my side.

 "Excuse me, sir, the bandleader would like a word." I closed my eyes, I was afraid this was going to happen. As we had danced close to the band, I had seen two of them looking at me. Mrs Keats had heard the exchange and looked a bit puzzled.

 "Looks like my past, is catching up with me again," I said smiling at her, "but all is well, please believe me."

 I made my way around the edge of the dance floor, then to the front of the bandstand. I took the hand that was extended to me, had a few words then went back to the table.

 "Well, what did he want Joseph?" Mrs Keats asked, eager to find out why I was called to him.

 "Wants to know what your favourite song of Dean Martin is Anna, he's going to play it just for you," I said taking her hand and walking her onto the dance floor. They had stopped playing, and the floor was empty of dancers, at the front of the stage, she told the bandleader. 'Besame Mucho', he looked at me and I nodded, then he said into the microphone.

 "Ladies and gentlemen, the birthday girl, Miss Annabelle Keats." She curtseyed, and I held Anna ready to dance with her, then as the band played we danced, and I sang Besame Mucho to her.

When that ended, the band played 'You belong to me', as it ended I sat her in her chair, still looking at me gobsmacked. I went back to the bandstand, where the bandleader, was just starting the band to play sway and held out his hand to help me jump up. We did five more tunes, and I returned to the table to be applauded, by all at the table, and a very surprised lord-lieutenant with a question.

 "You are full of surprises Mr Lacey, can we expect more or is that it." I wasn't sure how to answer him, I wasn't sure what would come out of the woodwork to haunt me.

 "Don't think so sir, but keep an open mind, you never know something might creep up on me," I said laughing, and Anna punched my arm.

 "You made me blush out there singing that to me, and how do you know the band." I looked shocked and rubbing my arm as if hurt and asked.

 "Didn't you enjoy your birthday present from me, I had to promise to sing six more to get that one and to answer your question, I know them from Perth. Their part of the Royal Perth philharmonic orchestra, they form small bands to earn money. They come together, to do concerts and big occasions, I sang with them, at one of their concerts in kings park. David Brand the premier asked me to do it with them after he heard me singing at a function." His lordship with his mouth open was shaking his head.

 "You know David Brand the premier? I was going to open doors for you, where in fact you could open them for me. You said you had no more surprises; I shall keep an open mind about you. Mr Joseph John Lacey, I have a feeling we won't hear the last of you when we get off this ship." He held his glass up, and silently toasted me, and I danced with his wife and daughter, a few more times before the nightclub closed.

I then said my farewells that night, as the next morning we were docking at Freemantle.

This is the end of Chapter 26, but not the story. If you have enjoyed this, please read! Parallel Me

Publication Date: 04-12-2018

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Dedication:
There are some of my old mates in here, under assumed names of course.