Chapter 17

Maude led her to the PMs’ office suite, where they had to wait a few minutes until another Minister came out and his voice called them in. He stood and shook Willows’ hand.

“Well done, Saturday. I’m told that your delivery of all those bare facts made them sound like a story, with a Q and A thrown in. Older members would never dare to step outside what was given to them.”

“I considered the sheet as a suggestion, sir. It seemed to go down well.”

Chapter 15

When Willow and Marian went into the apartment, Garry was sitting with the TV on. He got up gave Willow a hug and a kiss, and then hugged Marian.

“I expect that you’ve eaten already. I had dinner here, so why don’t I grab a bottle out of the kitchen, and you can relax for a little while.”

The girls sat down while he went to get a bottle and some glasses. After they had all taken a sip, he looked at Willow.

“So, what great feats of governance have you achieved today?”

Chapter 13

The remainder of the year was full of meetings, get-togethers, talking to voters, and the odd party. The political ones were now far more important than before, and the board meetings were interesting, now she was a candidate. The school meeting was extra special. It wasn’t that they hadn’t had an old scholar as an MP before, it was just that one had never been under thirty with that prospect. The Head told her, with a smile, that she would be called on to attend more of the social events if she won.

Chapter 11

Willow tried to laugh it off, but the article attracted a lot of attention, especially if you had read the previous articles. She started to get invitations to speak at various industry events, but the first one that she attended was close to her heart.

Chapter 9

After the travelling shows had run their course, there was a period of comparative calm. The agency was growing to a point where the original office was becoming cramped. They had no more room to add any more staff. They had a meeting and agreed that they should move. Willow looked on-line and found a new industrial building on Station Road, just north of the M25, in Waltham Cross.

Chapter 7

It took a week, but Willow ended up with twenty-six seats and a hefty invoice to pay, which she did, immediately. She sat down to list the twenty-six who would be there. Two would be her and Garry, two would be the two girls from the office who pulled the rabbit out of the hat, and others would include Vivienne, Nancy, the Head, Hilda, the Russells, Howard, her parents and the Bishop. She expected that Gina would have reserved seating for Maisie and the two husbands.

Chapter 5

The day after they arrived home, the Randalls were sitting at the kitchen table after breakfast. Willow sipped her tea and smiled.

“It was nice for Mac to give us the Watford shed. I’m not certain that we’ll have a magnificent recording studio, though. I’ve been trying to remember the times we’ve been there, and it didn’t seem that big.”

Chapter 3

The band went back to the Watford shed for a week, putting together a show that should last about three hours. They needed to introduce themselves to the world, as well as promoting the school that nurtured most of them. They went through some of their own back catalogue, picking out a couple of songs that Zara had sung with the G’s, a few of Willow’s with Summer Rose, a few of the Rock’s old numbers, as well as a few that were still being played from the final boxed set.

They were on a balcony of the parliament to see the New Year fireworks, with the sparkles making the jewellery glitter. Willow stood, Garry with his arms around her, thinking back to previous New Years, and she wondered just what lay in store for her in the future. Surely, it couldn’t be as exciting as the recent past, now, could it?

Chapter 1

Chapter 21

Garry joined her as she was standing there.

“Good morning, my love.”

“Good morning to you, my husband. You needed your sleep this morning.”

“I did. How was the church organ?”

“Good, it had a lovely tone. I was able to follow the mass, with the help of a young lad to tell me when to stop playing.”

Chapter 19

That evening, Good Friday, they spoke about the wedding day, the time away and Cardiff, but made no mention of the gravesites. That was an experience that was one of the first for the new Randall family. Wendy let them in on the details of the wedding and reception, all organised while they were busy in the studio.

“I hope you don’t mind, love, but the business account paid for everything. I was sure that you wouldn’t worry.”

Chapter 17

“Oh? Something happened?”

“Let’s all sit down with hot chocolate, and I’ll tell you.”

They were sitting and relaxed.

“Now, young lady. Spill the beans.”

“OK. Yesterday we ran through the whole show and Lee suggested we change the very last few seconds from the guys singing to us girls doing the scales when ordered to sing. It really worked well, so we did the whole show in full dress this morning and then had lunch.”

“Right. That’s it?”

Chapter 15

They were standing by one of the stalls, when there was a voice beside her.

“Excuse me, young lady, but you’re Willow Rose, aren’t you?”

She turned to see a man who looked all the world like a teacher, with a younger wife and a baby in a stroller.

“Yes, I am, sir. You look like a teacher, but not one that I ever had when I was at school here.”

Chapter 13

The following week was a busy one. On Tuesday afternoon, the Junior Orchestra were set up at the back of the stage, with a rostrum between them and the piano and microphones for Willow and Vivienne. They worked through the full show, with Mister Jamieson conducting, and some other teachers watching.

Chapter 11

The men all nodded and made to leave. Hugh and Sam gave Ashley a man-hug, but the others just shook hands. The four walked the visitors back to their cars and waved as they left. Wendy gave a big sigh.

“I guess that when the election’s called, I’ll have to be the ‘supporting housewife’.”

I’ve been playing around with titles, trying to create a spark that would lead to a story. This one was the title of an old detective novel. It led to a story that fits this time of the year. If there’s a Halloween Contest, consider this my entry.
Marianne.

I was walking along a street I knew well, when something felt odd. I couldn’t put my finger on it, so I just carried on. A few paces on, the feeling went away, and I continued on to my workplace. I immersed myself in my business and forgot all about the feeling.

Chapter 8

Willow carried her bag into the house.

“Good week, love?”

“Interesting, Mum. I enjoyed it, and, best of all, the crowds enjoyed it.”

“What sort of crowd, all Hooray Henrys and Snooty Susans?”

“Not really. Most were in their teens or twenties, and as bent as a paper clip. It was a gay club, but a lot of fun. We found out that we’re ‘icons of female empowerment’ in that crowd, and we spent every night in a cloud of different perfumes. And that was just on the guys!”

Chapter 6

Wendy and Willow were only slightly included in the discussions. Their new home was deemed to be substantial enough without being ostentatious, perfect for small gatherings and interviews. After an hour, they all walked the short distance to the Parliament.

“We’re not sitting, at the moment, but some will be here to catch up on ministry business. Only talk to a person who talks to you.”

They looked at the Commons, and a few of the offices.

Chapter 4

Willow finished making the drinks, put the three mugs on a tray with some biscuits and took them through to the sitting room, where her parents were watching the late-night news bulletin. She had a text on her phone as she was carrying it in, so sat and read it. It was from the estate agent, telling her that they could inspect the property at two-thirty on Sunday afternoon. She replied with a confirmation.

“What was the call, love?”

Chapter 2

They all hugged and hi-fived. They had a project, and it had enough different facets to use all the skills that the class contained. For the rest of the afternoon, they talked about it. Vivienne went to the board and wrote up the basic album plotline and the song titles, explaining how they fitted into the story.

Some of the class volunteered to come back next week with some ideas on extra dialogue, while Willow and Vivienne said that they would think about extra songs, and how they could alter the existing ones to be more operatic.

Chapter 23.

They went and joined the rest of the orchestra, Willow starting to take control. The mayhem wasn’t helped by camera and sound crews setting things out. Mister Bamborough arrived in tails, and it got settled enough to run a sound check.

After that, they left the hall and went to the side rooms where there was a meal for them. When that was finished, and they had got comfortable, checked their teeth and make-up, they lined up in order to wait for their entrance. Willow took the opportunity to have a word with Zara.