Penny Vincenzi - The Best Of Times

“Hello, sweetheart. How you doing?”

“Jazz! How lovely. Fine, yes.”

“Pretty good, isn’t it? Your friend’s done a great job.”

“Have you seen her? She was worrying about you being late.”

“Yeah, I’ve left Merl talking to her. And some bird in white trousers. Well, they were white. Pretty muddy now. She had a microphone. Well, I mean, show Merlin a microphone and he’s off, isn’t he. I mean, he’s a great guy, but he don’t half love the sound of his own voice. You and him a permanent item now, Georgia?”

“No!” said Georgia, and was horrified with the fervour with which her reply came out. “No, we’re just… well, you know.”

“Yeah, think so. Well, you’re a big improvement on the last one, I’ll give you that.”

“I thought you’d have liked Ticky” said Georgia.

“No, not for me, love. All fur coat and no knickers, she was. Not my type at all.”

“And what is your type?” said Georgia, genuinely curious.

“Oh… it varies. I know it when I see it. Look at old Merl, working the field. He do love a fresh audience.”

She looked; it was true. He was moving amongst the tents, talking to people. He looked amazing-of course-wearing jeans and brown riding boots and a white collarless shirt. He was such a sweetheart; she should appreciate him more, stop complaining about him being irritating.

She parked her car and went to find Anna and Lila. Anna was down by the arena, checking everything out.

“Great piano,” she said, “Japanese job. Just what I hoped for. And really well wired up. Lila’s just been sick for the fourth time. She can do stage fright better than anyone.”

“Oh, poor darling.” It was Merlin. “Nothing worse. She’ll be fine. I’ll go and talk to her, see what I can do.”

“That won’t help,” said Georgia tartly to Anna as he hurried off. “Enough to make her sick again, I should think,” and then realised she had already broken her resolution to be nicer about him. How could she do this? When six months ago, she would have killed to have Merlin at her side, marked out as her boyfriend. What was the matter with her?

Lila staggered over from behind the arena, where she’d been throwing up. Merlin had obviously been unable to find her.

“Mum, I can’t do this.”

“Course you can,” said Georgia, putting her arm round her. “You’ve got to, anyway. Come on, let’s go and talk to Merlin.”

Merlin was now sitting on the ground, sharing a bottle of water with a little girl wearing a long skirt, wellies, and a patchwork hat. Her forehead wore a rainbow.

“Hi, Georgia, Lila. This is Milly This is her fourth festival this year.”

“Goodness,” said Georgia. “That’s impressive. Hi, Milly. You having fun?”

“So fun, yes.”

“I like your hat.”

“My mummy bought it for me. From over there.” She pointed at the hat stall. “She got one too.”

“Very nice.” Georgia smiled at Milly’s mum, a pretty dark-haired girl who was wearing an identical hat to her daughter’s. “I want you to know, that stall was my idea.”

“Well, it was a great one,” said Milly’s mum.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?”

“Oh, so lovely. We’re great festival people. We always feel they’re like miniholidays. No stress, such freedom for the kids, and this is such a wonderful place. We’ve never been to one here before.”

“That’s because there hasn’t been one here before,” said Georgia. “I know what you mean about festivals, though. You’re all together, and everyone’s sort of the same kind of person; nobody sort of jars; it’s really cool.”

“Really cool! You look familiar; have I met you somewhere before?”

“Er… don’t think so,” said Georgia. These small sudden signs of her fame, which had initially seemed so exciting, had become swiftly burdensome. She had imagined she would love it, being recognised, feeling important, but it was actually incredibly tedious; everyone asked the same questions: about the production, what various other people in it were like, how she’d got into acting, and-if the questioners were young-how she thought they might get into it.

She looked over at Merlin for help, but he was standing with Lila, talking to her rather intently. For some reason it annoyed her.

“Where’s your tent?” she said to Anna. “I might set up near you.”

“Oh, darling, do.”

“Georgia!” It was Abi. Abi looking sensational in denim shorts, pink wellies, and a pink T-shirt. “How great is this? Listen, I need you to go and talk to that incredibly annoying girl from the local radio. She wants to interview you.”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes, you bloody well do. Georgia, you haven’t done anything at all yet today. Emma’s been here for hours and hours, and so has Barney; I could really have done with you…”

“All right, all right. I was actually working, you know.”

“Yes, I do know. You’ve told me at least six times. Go on, she’s over there, in those rainbow-coloured wellies. Quickly, the first band’s on in ten minutes-at least, I hope they are, if Health and Safety have finished their checks.”

“Oh, doesn’t that look lovely?” said Linda, taking Alex’s hand. “So good the rain stopped. Smells so lovely too, the barbecues and… what’s that other smell? Oh, I know-candy floss. I love the smell of candy floss. In fact, I love the taste of candy floss. Amy, darling, go and buy us all some candy floss, would you?”

“Sure.”

“Not all of us,” said Alex. “I can’t stand the stuff. E numbers on a stick. Terribly bad for you, give you a sugar rush.”

“You’re such a misery, Dad.”

“My sentiments entirely,” said Linda. “No, it’s all wonderful. Even the music’s not too bad.”

“All right if you like folk,” said Amy. “Still, it’s early, isn’t it? It’ll get better. I still can’t believe they’ve got BroadBand. I think I might go and find my friends. They’re all here. And-”

“Hi, Linda.” It was Abi. “So lovely of you to come. Not really your thing, I’m sure.”

“Now, why should you think that?” said Linda. “I’m a veteran of the Reading festival. I’ve kept all the wristbands from the very first year.”

“Really? That is so cool. You must be Amy, hi. Having a good time?”

“Not yet she’s not,” said Linda, “but she’s about to go and find her friends.”

“Yes, I was just saying I couldn’t believe you’d got BroadBand.”

“Nor can I, Amy. And you know, they’re really quite nice.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Friendly. Chatty, even. Tell you what, if you come and find me about twenty minutes before they play if I’m still alive, I’ll make sure you can be right at the front. You might be able to meet them. They said they wouldn’t be rushing off.”

“Oh. My. God.” Amy’s face went bright red. “That would be just sooo cool.”

“Sure. And your friends. I’ll be inside the arena; we’ve got a little base behind the bar.”

“Wow. Well… I’ll see you then. God. So cool.”

“I think you’ve impressed her,” said Linda, laughing. “Not easy, is it, Alex?”

“Not terribly.”

“It’s so great you’re here, Alex,” said Abi. “I’m so glad.”

“Abi, this is partly for my hospital; of course I’m here. I’m thrilled. Thrilled and grateful. We won’t actually be camping, but-”

“We would have been,” said Linda, “if it had been up to me.”

“That is a filthy lie,” said Alex. “This is the woman, Abi, who said she wouldn’t so much as go inside a tent.”

“It is not a lie. I love camping. At times like this.”