Pride before a Fall - Entanglement Perspectives : Part 18 - Andy 13:55 Saturday afternoon

Part 18 of "Pride before a Fall - Entanglement Perspectives".   Part 1 can be found at https://amandablogtest.blogspot.com/2019/06/pride-before-fall-entanglement_25.html .   Andy's inspirational original artwork can be found at http://smoothslicknshiny.blogspot.com/2018/04/new-art-pride-before-fall.html .   Please leave comments.

Part  18 - Andy    13:55 Saturday afternoon

Andy scuffed his silver Converse trainers in the gravel as he made his way slowly up the drive to the big house.  He was still sulking.   Less about not seeing the girls and more about missing the new release with Keira.   He rang the bell.   There was a brief pause then Jane was at the door wearing a short red leather bolero jacket over a silk blouse, a pair of shiny black leather trousers, and glistening black patent ankle boots with a sharp metallic heel.  She looked spectacular.  He loved her in leather trousers.  He loved how the glistening leather showed off the contours of her bottom.   Aunt Jane might be a little over fifty (old enough to be his mother as his dad and brother liked to remind him with just a hint of envy), but there was no sag and Andy loved its taut perfection.

Jane kissed him on the lips.  He was glad the front door was out of sight from the road.   “Come along dear, you’re late,” she said taking his hand and turning him around.

Andy thought his was a bit much given that he’d come as soon as she telephoned.    He couldn’t help his Pavlov’s Dog response to her siren call. Jane knew it too.  He followed her to the Jaguar parked on the drive.   It might be an automatic but he was still baffled by how Aunt Jane managed to drive in 5” heels.

“Late for what, Aunt Jane?” he asked.

“Your appointment,” Jane said as they pulled away.

“What appointment?”

“Your hair appointment, of course, silly.”  Andy sat opened mouthed.  It was only two weeks since his last cut.

“But why?   I thought you liked me with the Keira-style pixie look.”

“I do, my sweet.   But for a posh do, I think you need to look rather more special.”

“But Keira always looks great on the red carpet with her hair cut short.  And what “posh do”?” asked Andy.

“It’s one of my ladies’ events and I need an escort.   I thought you’d be flattered that I thought of you.  You should be saying ‘Thank you’.”

“Yes, Aunt Jane.  Thank you, Aunt Jane.”   Inwardly Andy loved the thought of escorting  his Aunt to a function.  She always looked impeccable.   “But I had made other arrangements for this evening.”

“What were they?  I doubt they can be more important than this.”

“I was going to the cinema.”

“See I told.  What were you planning to see?”

“The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.”

“I might have guessed.   And who were you going with?  I suppose it has to be William.”

“No!” shrieked Andy just a little too shrilly.  “I was going with some friends.  Some female friends.”

“As the saying goes, ‘The lady doth protest too much.’”

“No, Auntie.  You keep thinking that I like him.”

“Honey, I know you do.”

“No.”

“I’ve seen the way you look at him.  Did you ask him?”

“No!   I’m going with Nicola and India.  And they asked me.”

“You were going,” said Jane emphatically.

Andy stopped arguing and fell silent.  Why hadn’t he asked William, he thought to himself.  He knew why: William wouldn’t want to see a silly fairy tale.  He’d want to go to an action film.   But if he could get William to go to ‘The Nutcracker’ he might notice how much he was now looking like Keira.  Maybe if he just put on a little foundation, some eyeliner and some matte red lipstick, William might realise the resemblance and see another side of Andy.  It would have to be very subtle, though.  Andy thought about how they might sit together in the darkness.   Maybe he could try and hold William’s hand when it got to the scary bits. William would probably resist and think he was being a sissy but Andy would say he was scared.  He’d clutch William’s hand and shake as if frightened and not let go.  And then, when the scary bit had passed, he’d still hold on.  Who would know?  They could hold hands like lovers.

He was lost in reverie when his Aunt spoke: “You’ve gone very quiet.”

Andy shook himself out the silly state he’d got himself into.   He’d never dream of asking William to a film like that. And as for wearing make-up in public: that would be silly.  He only wore make-up if he was out clubbing with Auntie.  But perhaps it wasn’t too late.   He could always ask William to make up a foursome.   That might work, he thought.    “I’ve just remembered, Auntie: my formal suit is at the cleaner’s.   I’m sure Mum said she was going to take it in the week.”

                                                  

“Don’t worry about that dear.   This is a formal function.  You’ll need evening dress.  I’ve already got something for you.”   Andy felt reassured.  If he was going, he wanted to look smart.   It would be wonderful having his beautiful Auntie on his arm.   He would love showing her off, in the same way he felt that she would like being seen with some arm candy who everyone would take as her young stud, slick in a dinner jacket and bow tie.  “Drat this traffic.   I don’t want you missing the appointment.”

“I’m sure it won’t take long to tidy this up.”

A few minutes later, Jane pulled up outside her normal salon.  “Get out honey.  They’re expecting you.   I’ll park up and join you.  Tell Celeste I’m on my way.”

Andy took a few steps across the pavement crowded with Saturday afternoon shoppers and pushed open the glass door to Maison Celeste.   A little bell rang as he entered attracting the attention of the hairdressers.

“It’s your gentleman, Madame,” called out one.   At the word ‘gentleman’, the ladies in the chairs turned to see who’d just arrived.   A couple of the ladies were middle-aged like Jane but one was younger, much younger.   With horror, Andy realised it was Nicola with whom he’d been planning to go out that evening.

“Hello Andy, I didn’t realise that you had your hair done here.”

 “Oh, hi Nicola.   Well eerr no, I just wondered what kind of a job they do.”   He said trying to cover his tracks.   Nicola gave Andy a curious look.    “I need a bit of a tidy up before this evening and the barbers down the road is busy.”  

“Really?  Your hair always looks so nice.  And it seems like only a week since you had it cut short.  I love your current look.  It makes you look really cute.”  

Andy blushed.  “Oh, that’s nice of you to say.”

“It’s funny that you want to go to the Keira film tonight with me and India.  With your hair like that, we think you look a bit like her.”  Nicola smiled.  Andy could tell she was being sincere and not teasing him.  “We did wonder how you got such a nice cut at a men’s barber.  It frames your face perfectly.”

“Well I do like her a lot.  And she always looks so lovely,” Andy found himself saying.

“So are you trying to look like her?”  Nicola seemed intrigued.

“Oh no.  Of course not.  That’d be silly.”   Andy’s blushes were turning him bright crimson.   “But I do need to talk to you about tonight.”   At that point Andy was relieved to see a slightly dumpy but well coiffed lady emerge from the back of the shop.

“Hello Master Watson. It’s lovely to see you.  And back so soon.  That Keira cut we did last weekend really suits you.   We were thinking of putting up a picture of you to promote our work.”  Andy blushed and took  a sidelong glance at Nicola.  She was looking at him open mouthed and perplexed.   “Good you’re here.   It’s fortunate we’re running a bit behind.  Is Jane on her way?  She booked a double appointment again.   Are you both out again tonight?”  Celeste asked in a torrent of words and questions.   Nicola stared hard at him.

“Err, well. Madame Celeste.”

“What’s happening, Andy?” asked Nicola.  

“I’m sorry Nicola.  I'm going to have to cry off this evening.  My Aunt wants to take me to some formal function of hers.  Hence, the need for a tidy up. I was going to give you and India a call.”

“Well thank you very much,” said Nicola grumpily.  “And it seems you come here rather a lot, Andy.  Or should I call you Keira?”

“Look, I really am sorry Nicola.   But it’s only just come up.”  Andy apologised profusely.  “Can I have mine done in the back, please?” he asked hoping to get away from Nicola’s annoyance.   Just then Aunt Jane breezed in carrying a number of bags.

“Hello Celeste.  Sorry I’m late. Since we’re tight for time, I’ve brought our clothes for this evening.  You don’t mind if we change here. Do you? I thought you might have started on Andy already given what needs to be done. “ 

“Hello Lady Jane,” said Celeste.  “Pas du tout.”  We were about to get started but he was chatting to a friend.”   She indicated Nicola who was glaring back at Andy.   “He’s been asking about a chair in the back.”

“Oh no.  There’s only space for one in the back and I'd like to see his transformation.”

“But I’m just here for a trim Auntie, aren’t I.”

“Don’t be a silly boy.  Now sit down in the chair and let me tell Celeste and her assistant what we want done.”

  end of Part 18