Chapter 1

“Where the fuck have you been!” Jenny almost screamed at Pat when he opened the front door.

“What do you mean honey, it’s Friday, you know I always work ‘til six on a Friday.” Pat said cautiously, they had been together for two years and in all that time he had never seen Jenny looking as pissed off as she did tonight.

“Oh yeah! Well I rang you at work today and Billy said that you left at fucking lunchtime.”

“Oh, what the fuck! Are you checking up on me now?” Pat said his own voice rising to match hers as his anger grew.

“No I wasn’t fucking checking up on you, you bastard. I rang you to remind you it’s your mother’s bloody birthday tomorrow, I wanted you to pick up a card and some flowers for her on the way home.”

“Oh shit!” Pat sighed.

“Yeah, oh shit!. Billy said you always go at lunchtime on a Friday ‘cos it’s your half day.”

Pat’s shoulders slumped. “Oh.” was all he could think of to say.

“So where have you been every fucking Friday afternoon for the last two fucking years? You fucking bastard.”

Pat’s anger was rising again at Jenny’s attitude.

“Well if you must know I’ve been screwing someone else.”

“You what!” Jenny screamed “You bastard how could you do that!”

“Because at least she knows how to keep a man happy!” Pat shouted back.

“And what the fuck is that supposed to mean!”

“Well you aren’t exactly lively in the sack are you. When was the last time you started anything in the bedroom?”

“You fucking bastard, how dare you. Get out of my fucking house. Go on, go back to your bitch and stay there!”

“Ok I will!” Pat stormed up the stairs. Jenny could hear him banging around opening drawers, probably stuffing some clothes into a bag. She stood in the centre of the living room. Dry eyed, she wished some tears would come to ease the hurt she felt at Pat’s betrayal.

Pat clattered down the stairs a few minutes later.

“I’ll ring you next week to arrange to pick up the rest of my stuff.” he said coldly.

The front door slammed shut. Jenny waited, and waited but still the tears didn’t come. Jenny heaved a deep sigh.

“Maybe I need to get pissed, yeah I think I will. Fuck him, the bastard. He’s not worth my tears anyway.”

Ten minutes later Jenny was taking the short walk to her local pub the Barley Sheaf. There was a sign outside advertising that a band, The Sister Blue were playing tonight.

“Oh well, a bit of blues could suit me now.” She thought as she entered the pub.

As she had expected this early the pub was almost empty, apart from the band setting up at the end of the room. Jenny got a pint of cider from the bar and wandered over to a table near the band who were just tuning up.

They seemed to be four young women with another girl standing in front of them calling out to turn this up or that down as the girls set up their gear.

Jenny winced as the Bass player played a simple bass line and dropped several notes, the room rang with secondary notes from badly placed fingers. Unfortunately the girl who was standing at the front of the band happened to turn around and spot Jenny as she winced.

Smiling the girl wandered over to her table.

“Give them a chance they are quite good really. I’m Kes by the way.” she smiled and held out a hand.

“I’m Jenny, I’d be happy to give anyone a chance but that Bass, sorry but that’s pretty basic stuff.”

“I know, she’s not a Bass player, Amy is usually on keyboards. But Kas who used to play Bass split yesterday, her partner went to London and Kas followed after her.”

“Mmm, could I have a word with your Amy a second.”

“Sure come on over we aren’t due to start for an hour yet.”

Jenny followed Kes over to the band.

“Hey Amy, this is Jen, she wanted to talk to you about your Bass riff.”

“Oh god it was bad wasn’t it.” The short dark haired girl flushed a bright pink.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to be critical, but you aren’t holding it right for a start. Look, put your thumb here to steady your hand and then play the string upwards. If you just let your hand float like that you will keep hitting the wrong strings.”

Amy tried to do as Jenny said but couldn’t seem to control which string she hit half the time.

“How long have you been playing Bass?” Jenny asked her, she was wondering if this was a good idea, Amy looked to be near to tears and the rest of the band were looking unfriendly.

“Only since Kas announced she was dumping us yesterday afternoon, my fucking fingers are sore and I’m never going to get this.” Amy said her eyes welling up with tears.

“Can I borrow it for a moment.”

“Uh, yeah sure.” Amy handed over the large instrument.

Jenny settled the strap over her shoulder and adjusted it slightly. She picked each of the strings and adjusted the tuning slightly.

The instrument didn’t sound too bad but wasn’t as good as the Fender P Bass that Jenny hadn’t even taken out of its case for at least two years.

Settling herself into position Jenny tried the opening to the Art of Noise version of Peter Gunn. The drummer joined in with a simple Rhythm. Jenny lost herself in the rich sound from the Bass for a while, just happy to be playing again.

As she finished the song Jenny blushed as the band applauded her.

“Wow, there’s no way I could do that, I think I should just stick to my keyboards.” Amy said with a sad smile.

“Well I’m a bit rusty, haven’t played for a couple of years but thanks. Here.” Jenny took off the strap and went to hand back the guitar to Amy who held her hands up and shook her head.

“Uhuh, I’m gonna stick to my keys. I know what I’m doin’ with them.”

“Hi, my names Julie.” The lead guitarist held her hand out to Jenny.

“Hi, Jenny. Sorry to break up your practice time.”

“Um, I don’t want to impose, but can you play blues as well, we’re really desperate and to tell you the truth, shit girl you’re good.” Julie said grinning.

“Thanks, I played in a blues band for a couple of years when I was in Uni. But I haven’t picked up a guitar for two years.”

“Would you at least give it a try please. It isn’t fair of us to ask Amy really considering what she has gone through. Please, we need you.”

Jenny smiled broadly, the idea of playing with other musicians again appealed to her all of a sudden.

“What’s your play list, I’ll have a look and see how much of it I know. But I can’t promise I’ll be any good.”

“Thanks Jenny you’re a life saver.”

Julie ran through the play list for the night and then introduced her to the rest of the band. There was Chris on drums, Amy on keyboards, Sally on rhythm guitar and Julie on lead. They all made Jenny feel welcome and soon they tried a couple of numbers together.

The evening flew by, it felt so good to be able to lose her troubles in the melodic sounds and just forget her problems. Before she even realised what was happening Julie was announcing a break.

They all went to a long table that the bar staff had laid out with their drinks and a few sandwiches.

“Jenny you were great.” Julie enthused. “I reckon you’re far better than Kaz used to be.” There was a short pause then, “Sorry.”

“S’okay.” Amy mumbled, “Gotta go pee.” And left the table.

When she had gone Julie put her head in her hands and groaned.

“Me and my big mouth, every time.”

“Why what’s wrong?” Jenny hated the thought that she could have caused tension between the band members. “I thought she didn’t want to play bass.”

“It’s not that Jenny, Amy and Kaz were an item, you know. Or at least everyone thought they were, turns out she was sleeping with someone else and upped and left. Yesterday was the first Amy knew of it. She felt she had to try to cover Kaz’s Bass like it was her fault the bitch left.”

Jenny was a bit startled, the diminutive Amy didn’t fit Jenny’s mental image of a lesbian. Then a light came on in Jenny’s head, she noticed how close the drummer Chris was sitting to the girl who introduced herself as Kez earlier. And Sally was almost leaning on Julie’s shoulder.

“Oh, Um, you all, um, you’re, ahh.” Jenny shut up and went red as the band laughed at her mumbling.

“Yeah were all lesbians, if that’s what you meant. But don’t worry we don’t bite.”