Page 41 of A Seaside Escape
Mallory heard Greg’s familiar voice over the pubs PA system. ‘Evening party people!’ he shouted as if he was some famous radio DJ hosting ‘Party in The Park’ or something similar. It made Mallory giggle. ‘Well, we’re all here tonight to celebrate the fact that Mallory is and I quote “getting old”.’
Everyone laughed and turned to look at her. She felt her cheeks heat and decided she’d get him for that.
Greg continued, ‘I reckon the first number tonight requires a bit of audience participation. Which as you may know is not something I usually encourage. You all know the words and this time youcansing along!’
The crowd cheered and everyone broke into a loud rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ and then the pub erupted into applause and whistles. Mallory’s face could have split in two with the grin.
When the ruckus had died down, Greg smiled over at her. She mouthed the words ‘Thank you’ at him. And with a nod he mouthed back, ‘You’re welcome.’
‘Right, that’s enough of you lot singing! It’s my turn now and you know what I always say?’
Everyone shouted in unison, ‘DON’T BLOODY SING ALONG!’
Mallory threw her head back with laughter.
‘Aye, that’s right and don’t you forget it.’ He put his plectrum in his mouth whilst he adjusted the guitar on his lap. He took hold of the plectrum and spoke again, ‘Okay, now as we know, Mallory is the big three oh today.’ Someone whooped. ‘Aye and so this night is dedicated to her. I’ll play loads of her favourite songs, that’s if her friends have told me the right ones and I’m not going to get into trouble later.’ A rumble of laughter rolled around the pub. ‘This first one is a song I dedicated to my good friend once before.’ He played the opening bars of ‘About a Girl’. He sang the song so well and with such feeling and Mallory realised she was grateful for Greg’s friendship and how he had helped her to settle in to her new life.
Throughout the night, the audience was delighted with some fantastic music. Greg had clearly been speaking to Josie as she had pretty much given him a soundtrack to their history:
‘This next one is by a band who you may have heard of. Foo Fighters.’ The audience cheered. ‘You’ve never heard of them?’ he joked. ‘Oh well, at least that means no singing! This is a little song they did a few years back, it’s called “Learn to fly”.’
‘Apparently, I’m told this next one will take Mallory back to her shoe-gazing days. It’s called, “Wonderwall” by Oasis…’
‘A little insight into Mallory’s teenage years next. I’m told this one reminds her of her first love. A long-haired lout from the next village to hers. It’s called “Runaway Train” and it was done by a bunch of long-haired louts called Soul Asylum.’
‘Now everyone will probably remember this next song being done by a band called the Commodores, but I have to say my favourite version was by an alternative rock band called Faith No More, it’s called “Easy”.’
The audience totally disobeyed Greg at this point and all joined in on the choruses, singing loudly and mostly out of tune. Greg could hardly sing for laughing.
‘This next one is a beautiful song that I’m going to throw in just because I love it. So there. And you can’t stop me ’cause I have a mic and you don’t! It’s by a local fella called Dougie McLean.’ A loud applause ensued. ‘It’s called “Caledonia”.’
‘Now there can’t be a single person in this place who has never heard of Neil Diamond?’ Again, there was loud applause and cheers. ‘Aye, everybody loves Neil Diamond. It’s one his best loved songs, “I am, I said”. I’m told it was Mallory’s folks’ favourite song, so this is for them, God bless them. No bloody singing along!’ Once again, his demands were ignored and the audience erupted into song.
‘Now I’m personally going to dedicate this song to the birthday girl. It’s by one of her favourite bands and mine too, but the message is loud and clear, do you hear me, Mallory? Fleetwood Mac “Don’t Stop”.’
Mallory gasped at the touching gesture. She smiled and Greg’s smile beamed back in return.
He sang with such conviction and Mallory loved the sentiment behind the words. Renee gave her shoulders an affirming squeeze and a little wink as they swayed to the music.
The party had been wonderful. Greg had played so many of her favourite songs and had even danced with her to the jukebox when he had taken a break, twirling her around rather like a rag doll and making her howl with laughter. The night was drawing to a close and Mallory had enjoyed every single minute. She had been presented with flowers and cards. Colin had made her birthday cake; it was his wonderful specialty carrot cake complete with candles, but thankfully not thirty of them.
Greg began to speak again. ‘Well, I’m hoping the birthday girl has had as wonderful night as the rest of us, eh? It’s been great to have you all here. But I have to say, when it comes to singing, don’t go giving up your day jobs. Leave it to the professionals. Know what I’m saying?’ The audience booed and heckled in fun. He shrugged at them as if to say,What? You know I’m right!‘I’ll finish tonight with another of Mally’s favourites and I have to say that it’s grown on me this week whilst I’ve been practising it. It’s one from a while past and it’s by a bloke with an interesting name, if nothing else. He’s a mighty talented guitarist, not unlike myself.’ A groan rumbled around the room. ‘Okay, okay. It’s by Newton Faulkner and is a beautiful song for a beautiful… ah…friendand it goes like this.’ He used the guitar as a multitude of instruments, just like the songs composer. Mallory’s eyes glistened and after the musical intro, Greg began to sing ‘Dream Catch Me’.
His eyes were closed whilst he sang, but suddenly he opened them and made direct eye contact with Mallory at a very poignant line in the song.Oh my word!Mallory’s breath caught in her throat, looking behind her to check if he was looking at someone else, but he wasn’t. His gaze remained fixed on Mallory’s for the rest of the song, a sweet smile playing on his lips. Mallory shivered.
She loved that song so much, but she felt strange when he sang the words, especially when they were directed at her. It didn’t seem right.
Josie hugged her friend, singing along and a little tipsy. ‘Oh, Mally, this takes me back. And I think maybe Greg is a tiny bit taken with you, don’t you?’ Hearing Josie say the words made her cringe. She and Greg werejust friends. They both knew it.
At the end of the evening, gradually, everyone filtered out of the pub. Renee and her family had rented a cottage and would be around for a week. Josie and Brad had stayed at the pub the night before, but were going to crash with Mallory and travel home Monday.
Greg came over to say goodnight as she had said the last farewell to Ron who hugged and kissed her cheek. He waited patiently for Ron to leave. ‘Och shit, Mallory, you’re looking old now you know,’ he teased. She hit him on the arm and he pretended to fall over. ‘Have you had a good time?’ he asked.
‘The best. Thanks so much for doing this for me, Greg. It was so sweet of you.’
‘No bother. That’s what friends do. And like I said, it’s my fortieth in a wee while.’ He wiggled his eyebrows.
She rolled her eyes. ‘Well, I’m guessing you won’t let me forgetthat.’
