It wasn’t long until the room was filled with smiles and finger tapping and people who nostalgically sang along to all the words. Jen played songs that would have reminded them of their years in dance halls and of everything from progressive barn dances to gypsy taps and waltzes. She played the Pride of Erin, Peggy O’Neil, Daisy, Shuffle off to Buffalo, and Log Cabin, then continued through the decades with songs made famous from many musicals. One by one, the able-bodied residents took to the floor and began dancing to music while the wheelchair-bound patrons clapped and sung along. The dance floor filled and they had little time to rest in between songs as yet another song started that took them back down memory lane and to the dance hall days of their youth. They acknowledged Jen who had a smile on her face as she watched them all come alive and she would nod back to them as she played. Jen laughed as she saw Maggie’s arm slip lower than was expected as she took a free grab of her gentleman dance partner’s left buttock making all the girls in the room giggle.
She played for forty five minutes and then Jenna came over and tapped her on the shoulder after she finished playing a song and said that the residents would have to go to bed shortly.
“Okay everyone, I have to go soon,” Kylie’s mum announced.
“Ohhhhhh,” the crowd replied disappointedly.
“So I’ll just play a few more that I think you might like then I’ll have to go.”
“Ahhhh,” they said appreciative of the extra time she gave them.
After another fifteen minutes, Jen stood up and put the lid of the piano down then held her right hand up to wave goodbye. The room erupted with clapping and cheers, and smiles from ear to ear.
Maggie came over and held Jen’s wrists with both of her hands and said, “Oh love, that was just magical. Thank you for bringing life back into this old place and for making that piano sing.”
Jenna introduced Kylie’s mum to Maggie and Kylie’s Mum replied, “Thank you Maggie. I enjoyed playing for you. I also saw you take a handful of that gentleman’s bottom during one of the songs.”
“Oh shooks, I did it in more than one song! I’m nearly dead, I have to take every opportunity I can get,” she laughed.
“Ha ha,” Jen laughed.
“Will you come back pet? And play for us again?” Maggie asked rubbing her hand as she looked up at her, her body bent over from old age and arthritis.
“I’d love to Maggie. I can come next Tuesday and the Tuesday after that if you’d like, then I have to go back home to Mount Isa.”
“Oh yes love, yes please.” Maggie smiled at Kylie’s mum.
Maggie held Jen’s arm up and yelled to the rest of the residents, “We’ve got a reason to live for another week. She’s gonna come back next Tuesday.”
Kylie’s mum laughed, as did Kylie and Jenna.
“That’s if the bloody food doesn’t kill us first,” Maggie whispered to Jen, then let go of her hand and walked over to Kylie.
“You’re a good girl,” she said. “Bringing your mum into our home and making us all so happy.”
“Oh Maggie, Mum did all the hard work,” Kylie replied.
“Yes, but it was your idea and you made it happen,” Maggie said.
“Oh it was nothing,” Kylie said.
“Well I love you for it. Thank you dear,” Maggie said and walked off.
“I knew you’d be a big hit Mum,” Kylie said giving her a hug. “Thank you.”
“Oh love, it’s no worries at all. They can relate to everything I play. These are my peeps!” she said smiling.
“Thanks Jen. Come in half an hour earlier if you like next week and have dinner on us. You too, Kylie. Save you cooking. They have lovely food here, despite what Maggie said.”
“Did you hear that?” Kylie’s mum said to Jenna with a laugh.
“Yes I did. What do you say? It’s the least we can do.”
“Sure, a plate of vegies would be lovely,” Jen replied.
“Times two,” Kylie said. “Righto, we’d better shuffle off.” They said their goodbyes and walked back across the road and down to Kylie’s apartment.
“Did you see how happy you made all those people Mum?” Kylie said, putting her arm around her as they walked back.
“Yeah, they were a captive audience. Literally,” she laughed.
“They loved it.”
“Yes they did.”
“I thought that after you head back to the Isa I would take over from you and go there on Tuesdays and play those pianola rolls for them for an hour. So they still would have something to enjoy. See if they like that?” Kylie said.
“I’m sure they’ll love it. It’s a lovely idea,” Kylie’s mum said. “I’ll bring you another three boxes of rolls next time I come over and we’ll do a swap.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Kylie said.
Taking The Plunge
Kylie went to head office to pick up the Port mail on Tuesday, the day after yet another rigorous training session with Shooters working them all hard. It had been a few months since she had last invited Mila to try Outrigging and she was yet to receive a positive response. But she had not let Mila’s lack of interest stop her from going out to meet new people on her own. Even after the belly laughs she had enjoyed the day she met the Port crew, Mila had not seen Kylie very often since. In the meanwhile, Mila had been busy going on regular overnight mine site visits and settling into her new role. When Kylie was in the mailroom, her boss walked up to her and asked her to come and see him back at his desk.
“Hi Mila,” Kylie said as she entered their section.
“Hey Kylie,” she replied pleasantly. “How are you?”
“Man, I’m sore! Since joining outrigging I think I’ve found new bones in my body!”
“Oh okay, are you enjoying it, besides the pain?”
“Yeah, it’s really different and the girls seem nice. Not that I really get a chance to talk to many of them during training, but I remain optimistic.”
“Oh right.”
“They are still looking for one more girl to join if you want to come and have a go after work Monday, Wednesday, and then 5.30 am on Sunday?”
“What? That’s early. I don’t know. I broke up with my man so I have more time, Ahhhh, I’ll have a think about it,” she said.
Kylie wasn’t a psychic but she had known Mila would finish her sentence with those very words. Despite being friendless and newly single, apparently Mila would still not commit to having a go.
“Sorry to hear you broke up with your man,” Kylie said sincerely.
“I’m okay, but thank you,” Mila said not going into it.
“So Kylie, I have something for you,” her boss said rubbing his hands together.
“Oh yeah, what is it? More work?” Kylie replied sarcastically.
“No, it’s something after