Page 78 of Under A Sicilian Sky
Her mum turned to her and took hold of her hands. ‘We’ll get inside, lovey, you’ll be wonderful. Me and your dad are so proud of you for doing this under the circumstances.’
Both parents hugged her and kissed her cheek before leaving her with Mitch.
‘You’re shaking, are you cold?’ Mitch asked.
‘Nervous,’ she replied.
‘I didn’t say anything back at the house but… you look stunning. Every bit the movie star.’
For some reason, his mention of her status irked her a little, but nevertheless she thanked him.
They were greeted inside the hall by Morag, Kenneth and a few other members of the village co-operative. She lost count of the number of times she was thanked and told how honoured they were to have her there. A ribbon was being set up outside the building as they chatted and showed Ruby around the great new facility.
‘And this is the main hall,’ Morag said as they reached the final room of the tour. There were a couple of musicians setting up on the stage at the far end of the room and they smiled and waved at her. ‘We’re looking forward to having all sorts of events in here. I’m thinking exercise classes, ballroom dancing, tea dances, concerts. It’s going to be such an asset to the village,’ Morag’s enthusiasm was almost palpable as she proudly showed off the building she had helped to organise.
‘It’s fantastic, Morag. You should all be so proud of yourselves. What an achievement.’
Morag beamed. ‘Well, I hope that someday you’ll return and attend one of the events. You’re going to be part of the place forever now. We have a special place for a plaque and a photo.’
‘Right, ladies, we’re ready for you. Everyone’s back outside,’ Kenneth said from the doorway.
‘Ooh, you’re up, dearie,’ Morag said with an excited clap of her hands.
Ruby was led to the entrance of the hall, where a crowd of villagers had gathered in their finery ready for an evening of fun, food and entertainment. A rumble of oohs and aahs travelled the crowd when she made her appearance outside. She located her mum and dad and smiled brightly at them; pride emanated from them in waves of joy. Beside them stood Mitch, with his parents too. She hadn’t realised they would be there, but it delighted her to see them. There was no sign of Shelby.
She smiled nervously as Kenneth handed her a comedy-sized pair of giant scissors. He whispered, ‘I tried to get you some of those giant Elton John specs too but they were out of stock.’ He finished with a wink and Ruby burst out laughing.
‘Ladies and germs… Ooh sorry, I mean gentlemen, boys and girls,’ Kenneth called out to the crowd. ‘It’s my pleasure and the honour of the village co-operative to present to you our wonderful celebrity guest, Miss Ruby Locke!’
A raucous applause filled the air and Ruby waved her thanks, feeling rather like the Queen on tour.
She cleared her throat. ‘Thank you so much, everyone. It’s an honour to be here on this very special day. In my line of work, I have travelled to many different places and many different countries, and I have to say, Glentorrin, you have given me one of the warmest welcomes I have ever experienced.’
A cheer rang out, accompanied by more applause and whistles.
‘You’ve known I’ve been here, who I am and what I’ve been through recently, yet you’ve treated me like any other member of the community. I’ve had the freedom to walk around and breathe in the fresh Skye air, and to see the wonderful scenery that surrounds this magical place. There has been no negativity and no judgement, and from the bottom of my heart I thank you. It’s a true testament to the people living in and around this village. You are special, warm, wonderful people and I’m so very grateful to each and every one of you. You deserve a place to gather and share the love you have for one another. And this building is going to be that very special meeting place. And so, with no further ado, I declare the fantastic Glentorrin Village Hall… open!’
She sliced through the ribbon with the giant scissors and another huge cheer filled the air. The local press photographer clicked away, taking shot after shot of her, and the journalist accompanying him took copious notes. Relief flooded Ruby’s body at the reaction from the gathered crowd and she relaxed as people shook her hand, hugged and thanked her before entering the hall for the evening’s festivities.
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Maggie, the journalist from theSkye Chronicle, smiled encouragingly as the photographer showed Ruby the shots he had taken of the ribbon cutting. Dougie stood close by at one side to vet the images. There was nothing gratuitous and everything seemed perfectly in order, much to Ruby’s relief.
‘So, Miss Locke, could I ask you a few questions for the article?’ Maggie asked.
Ruby nodded. ‘Of course.’
‘So, Miss Locke, did you have a village hall where you grew up? And if so, what memories do you recall of the events that took place there?’
‘We didn’t have a village hall close by to where I lived, but we had a working men’s club that was essentially the hub of our estate. I used to attend dance classes there, as well as the youth club and a biannual disco. I think facilities like these really do become the heart of a location. And I can definitely see this place as an asset for the community for generations to come.’
‘And what would you say is your favourite thing about Glentorrin’s new hall?’ Maggie tilted her head as she listened to Ruby’s reply.
‘I think the size of the main room is fab. I can imagine parties and gatherings galore happening in there. The stage means it will be great for the annual talent show that usually happens in a marquee, so I’m told. This will free up the marquee for other things. More stalls perhaps. But it opens up all manner of possibilities, from afterschool clubs to afternoon teas, and even tea dances.’
‘Do you dance, Miss Locke?’
Ruby felt herself light up. ‘As a matter of fact, I do. I absolutely love to dance. Ballet was always my favourite, but I’m so excited about the ceilidh this evening. Although that’s a type of dancing I’m not too familiar with, but I’m hoping I’ll find a willing tutor.’
