The Beat of Safiri Bay (9 page)

"Yip, I just need to shower and change and then I'm ready to rock.” I sit down in my usual spot and Thandi places a thin pizza on the table between dad and me. Chicken and pineapple, yum! There will be food at the party but we might not actually have it until much later this evening. “With your birthday coming up soon, I thought we could invite a few people over and have a little get together around the pool.” Dad’s idea of a little get together is very different from mine. To him it means at least fifty people, to me more like ten. “Sure, that sounds great,” I say and smile happily at him. I will never win this one; my dad likes to celebrate my birthdays extravagantly. I would prefer to ignore the day completely, getting older scares me. “Then it’s settled, I will ask Bron to organise it all.” Bronya is my dad’s PA. She lives in one of the smaller houses on the estate. “Blue is still your favourite colour hey?”

“Um, yes it is,” Ah, yes he will need to know so he can have Bron make it exactly the way I would like it. “Thanks dad,” Is all I can say. I will have to get used to his ways if I am going to stay on in Safiri, only if. We finish our pizza and dad wants to check on one last email before he starts to get ready. He is acting very weird today, probably this thing with Christina. I take a walk over to Bessie’s to greet Emma and Sarah. I promised myself that I would make a bigger effort to get to know them. Before I knock, David opens the door. “Oh, hello,” I say a bit startled. “We saw you coming; do you want to greet the girls?”

“Yes please,” I say and he lets me in. Bessie is sitting in front of her sewing machine. I walk over to her. “Lane, come in, come sit down here.” And she points to one of their very well used lounge sofas. “I am just fixing this top for Sarah. She wants to wear it tonight to the party and she’s all stressed out that it got ruined by the zipper of her suitcase. “Will Peter also be going tonight?” she asks as she pushes the fabric of the top under the needle and steps on the paddle. I get up then and move to stand next to her. The machine makes such a noise she would not be able to hear me from the sofa. “Yes, Dad is taking me, I am going to back Matthew with the music tonight,” I say rather loudly so she can hear me over the noise. She stops sewing then and says “Better not wear out your voice now by shouting over the noise of this old thing,” and she pats her green machine. “Why don’t you go check on the girls, they are in their rooms.”

“Okay, thanks,” I say and make my way down to the rooms.

“Emma, Sarah, Lane is here to see you” Bessie’s voice hits me from behind. I see Emma open the door of her room and peek out. “Hi there,” I try my new friendly approach that I promised myself I must use.

“Hi Lane, come in please,” I walk into the normal sized room. It is neat, tidy, and decorated in many different shades of purple. I like it.

“My sister is having trouble deciding on what to wear tonight,” she says shyly and with that Sarah storms into the room with a hand full of clothes, throws it on the neatly made bed and sighs. “Halo,” she says, looks at me quickly and gets back to rummaging through the clothes. “I thought your mom is fixing a top for you?” I ask Sarah.

“Hmm, It’s an option,” she says and ignores me again. “Don’t you have something for me Em?” she asks her sister and walks over to her cupboard, opens it and takes out a few of the neatly stacked shirts. She tosses it onto the bed and says, “I would not be seen dead in those.” Emma looks at me embarrassed by her sister’s comment. I think of something to say make her feel more at ease. “How is your last year going?” She is finishing high school this year and I’ve heard from Bessie that she will be going to a very good university next year. She wants to be a veterinary surgeon.

“I think I am doing okay. I’ve been accepted at Onderstepoort, so I am happy.”

“Well done for that,” I say very impressed. It is not an easy thing to be selected for that profession. You need to have exceptionally high marks. “Thank you,” she says and Sarah snorts. We both look at her then. She is now dressed in a top that barely covers her breasts and shows off her flat brown tummy and belly ring. “This might do it,” she says and tries on a pair of jeans.
"Dad would never approve," Emma shakes her head, "don't worry sis, I have a plan," and she holds up a denim jacket. "Why don't you sit here," Emma says and pulls out a small chair from under her dressing table. "I actually need to get going, I just wanted to come say hallo," and I walk towards the door. Just then Bessie walks into the room, "What in the name of..." I look around and Sarah is standing there in her tiny top and a mini skirt that covers only half of her bum. "You will get out of that right this minute," Bessie says red in the face with anger.

"Oh mom, don't be such a prude," and she rolls her eyes at her mom. "Sarah Jane Strydom, do you want me to call your father?"

"Oh all right then, just relax ma," she starts undressing and I leave the room with Emma on my heels. "I'll see you tonight Emma," I say and open the back door to let myself out, "See you Lane," she gives me a quick wave and scoops up the little pooch that I picked up the other day.

I see that I have spent more time at the Strydom's as what I've planned to so I will have to get moving if I want to be ready on time. The house is quiet; I wonder whether my dad is ready. I'll check on him after my shower.

I get to it as quick as I can and then dry and straighten my hair. I love it when it's straight because the layers show off better. I decide to wear a bit more make-up for the night and then walk to my closet to get something to wear. Sarah's short attire comes to my mind and I laugh at the thought of me ever being seen in something so, slutty. I think my dad has always silently thanked my condition. It has made me a very reserved person. I have never felt the need to wear clothing that will attract attention. And I have never craved the attention of any boy. That is probably my dad's biggest relieve. I wonder what he will think of my change of heart. Better I don't tell him yet.

I opt for my ripped jeans. I love the washed out look and stylish tears on the knee and above. I put on a black sleeveless top that has a high neck and low front. It doesn't show off too much, it's just nice. A black belt with a silver rose buckle finishes off my rocker chick look and I slip on socks and my black and white sneakers. I like the way I look in this. I do not enjoy being uncomfortable in my clothes especially when performing. My dad knocks on the door, "Lane, you ready?"

"Yes dad, come in, I have everything stacked here,”

“I’ll help you load it." My dad looks very nice. At fifty five he looks more like forty. He works hard to keep his body in shape and his mind is as sharp as when he was thirty. I pick up my guitar case and my dad takes the crate. Oh boy, I start to feel a bit nervous, it is show time.

Chapter 5

Just behind the dune next to the main beach entrance is a big well kept lawn that is used for festivals, picnics and parties. A big white tent with no sides covers the grass area and a fire is burning in the designated fire place next to it. A circle of chairs is arranged around it and two people are manning the rotary with the meat. A small stage is on the left of the tent and there are tables and chairs decorated in bright red. The tables are placed in an oval around a wooden deck in the middle; it must be the dance floor. Matt has already set up the stage. He walks over to us and gives me a warm hug then takes the crate from my dad, “Good evening Peter,” he says and nods at my dad.

“Are you well Matthew?” my dad asks politely.

“Very well thank you.” He puts the crate behind the speaker and I take out my stand. I place it on the left of the stage and take out my guitar. “I’ll be back a bit later Lane,”

“Okay dad, thanks.” My dad leaves and I place my guitar on the stand. Matt waits for my dad’s car to disappear and then asks seriously, “How are you Lany?”

“Nervous,” I say honestly.

“Its okay baby, I’m right here,” and he gives me his best smile. I shake my head smiling back at him and get busy with unrolling my cord to plug into both the mixer and my Martin. “Did you find the fault?” I look up at him confused,

“What fault?”  And then I see Alex standing next to the tent pole. Has he been there all this time?

“Yes, the light on the path over the dune is broken, it tripped all the electricity but I switched it off so it should be fine.”

He walks over to the stage then and I swallow down one butterfly that is trying to escape. “Good evening Lane,” he says and it sounds so formal in his strong accent that I feel a little lost for words. “Hallo,” is the one word I get out. He smiles at me and I think I might explode. I have two very handsome men smiling at me, how did this happen? He takes a chair from the closest table and moves it closer to the stage. “Ready to warm up a bit?” Matt asks. I don’t think I would be able to even get out a squeak but I will have to. I swing the Martin’s strap over my head but it gets stuck in my hair. Matt is there right away and undoes the tangle before I panic. He knows so much about me already. I do not have to worry or explain anything. “You okay?” he asks and takes my hand.

“Yes, thanks for helping.” He picks up his Gibson and we start playing the first song on the screen. It’s ‘Walk of life’ and I do not have to sing much. I am very grateful for that but it is short lived. “You will have to warm up as well,” he says and opens another song on his laptop. Technology has made life much easier and we play the introduction of Suzanne Vegas’ ‘Luka’ I love this song and I know I sing it really well but I sort of have to sing it alone and that only happens much later into the night when I think no one really cares anymore. I can feel Alex’s eyes on me and my heart beats so fast I am sure he can see it. I close my eyes and play blindly. Lucky for me I know this song well.

‘My name is Luka,

I live on the second floor,

I live upstairs from you,

yes I think you’ve seen me before.’

Matt joins me then and I open my eyes. Alex sits frozen in his chair, I quickly take my eyes off him, he is way too distracting. We finish the song and Matt nods. “That sounds good Lane,” he smiles at me, “What do you think cuz?” he asks Alex. Alex moves around in his chair as if uncomfortable, He looks me in the eyes then and says “I think you sound amazing.”

“Thanks,” Matt says obviously not aware of the vibe between me and Alex. I look down at my guitar and start to fiddle with nothing. “I need to adjust the bass on here,” and Matt turns the knob of his guitar and tries it. I see this as my chance to take a walk to the ladies room before the people start arriving.

I wash my hands thoroughly and quickly walk back to the tent. “That’s what I thought,” is all I hear Matt say and then both men look at me as if they could sense my presence. Matt turns his back on Alex and calls me over to the stage. “Time to get the show on the road,” he jokes. “Where is Karin?” I haven’t seen her yet, maybe Lin didn’t invite her but that is highly unlikely. “She is going back soon and so she went to visit some friends in Belldore.”

“Oh, I see,” I say and get ready to start our gig.

We play melodies only and slowly the people start to arrive. It is not a stuffy formal party at all and everyone sits wherever they like. There is one table decorated with extra large candles and everyone avoids sitting there, it is obviously for Lin and Jay and their close friends.

It’s just after six and most people have taken a seat. Some are standing around at the entrance of the tent and are watching us play while they make small talk. I do not mind playing guitar in front of anyone, even less so when playing with Matt. I haven’t seen Alex for a while and wonder where he went. I then see my dad walking to the bar followed by Alex. Well can you believe that? A car hoots outside and people cheer loudly as Jay, Lin and little Neil make their way into the tent. Matt and I start playing the happy Birthday song and everyone sings with us. The party has started.

After two hours of nonstop music making, we need to take a break. Matt plays his party playlist from the laptop and we make our way down the little stage. My dad is sitting with David and Bessie’s at a table and I walk to him. He pulls out a chair for me and I sit. “That was real good Lane,” David says as proudly as my father would. “Thanks a lot,” I say shyly. I love my talent but I am not used to sharing it. Sarah sits between Emma and Bessie and her lip just about drags on the floor. I see she is wearing the top Bessie fixed for her earlier. Everyone is starting to dish up food and our table soon follows suit. After dinner my dad and David continue with their conversation and Bessie turns to talk to Bernie sitting behind her. “I need to visit the ladies room,” I say and get up.

“May I join you?” Emma asks and I nod at her. We take a quick exit out the side of the tent and hear Sarah shouting from behind us, “Wait up.” As we enter the ladies side of the building Sarah stays outside and we leave her there to do our business. “Lane, I didn’t know you could sing that well,” Emma says. I would usually make it off as nothing but I really think Emma is a nice person. “Thank you Emma,” I really do appreciate her compliment. “Do you play an instrument?” that seems to be the first question I ask anyone who I want to befriend. “I play the piano, but not really well.”