Take a Chance on Me (13 page)

A
t the quarry
, Mercedes was talking to the girl at the ticket desk while Charlie chewed her fingernails.

‘We've been expecting you. Charlie, isn't it? As agreed on the phone, we've arranged for you to do the wire for free. It's for a good cause. I've never spent time in hospital but my sister did. I don't know if there was a radio there. She was only in for a day. Are you going with her?' she asked Mercedes.

Mercedes gave her an incredulous look, ‘I hardly think so. Not in this,' she said, pointing at her wheelchair. ‘I'm here to offer moral support and Sean here is here to video the event.'

‘Oh sorry, I didn't mean to offend. It's just that we have people with disabilities doing the wire. We have all ages here, too. Our youngest was four years old and the oldest ninety-four. There's no excuses,' she grinned. ‘I've done it loads of times.'

Mercedes thought for a couple of moments then replied in a resigned tone, ‘No, thanks. I'll leave it to Charlie. I don't want to steal her thunder. She's the one sponsored to do the challenge, not me.'

There was a queue of people at the quarry waiting to climb the wooden structure and soar over the river below. Sean extracted a video camera from his backpack.

‘Hey, that looks professional,' joked Charlie.

‘Nicked it from my dad. He's had it for ages and doesn't use it. Thought it'd be useful today. Okay, give me a smile and a wave.'

Charlie looked into the camera and gave a weak smile. She glanced up at the tall structure. Her stomach flipped. Mercedes was in a downbeat mood. Charlie knew why. This was one challenge Mercedes would relish. It had been on her list and it would be feasible for Mercedes to try it. Charlie could see the longing in her face. Mercedes would love to tackle this activity and yet she had handed the opportunity over to Charlie. Mercedes would appreciate the buzz it would give her far more than Charlie would and, more importantly, it would fulfil that hunger she had to keep proving herself. Charlie was constantly amazed at how Mercedes dealt with her disability. She had her off days but that was understandable. Charlie knew that Mercedes missed her old life. She had lived a thrilling life up until the accident. Since then, she had succeeded in learning all sorts of skills and ways to have a normal life but opportunities like this were rare. Charlie decided to give her an excuse to do it too.

‘Mercedes, I really want to do it but I can't,' Charlie whispered. ‘I'm getting the shakes badly. I don't think I'm up to it. I feel nauseous.' She held onto a wooden railing, looking wide-eyed at Mercedes. ‘I might be okay if someone comes with me.'

Mercedes gave her a quizzical look.

Charlie kept up her act. ‘I can't do this on my own. It's one thing going on a roller coaster but this is a different matter. I think I'm going to be sick,' she turned her head and pretended to gag.

‘It'll be okay, Charlie,' said Mercedes, taken in by the performance and concerned about her friend. ‘You heard what the girl at the ticket desk said, I can come down the wire. There are parallel wires so I could arrange to go down the one parallel to yours. We'll go together,' she continued, her face lighting up at the prospect.

‘I'd feel safer if you were there with me. Would you? Would you mind?' asked Charlie, still holding onto the rail and deciding she ought to take up acting.

‘Of course not. Sean, stay with her while I arrange it.'

Charlie pretended to be unsure.

‘Come on Charlie, it'll be great. We'll do it in tandem. Nearly forgot. I brought this along for you.' She pulled out a plastic pink kazoo. ‘We've had quite a few emails about you and the kazoo, so we thought we'd continue the theme. You can play something appropriate up there. Have a practice while I organise it. You can entertain Sean with your repertoire of seventies television theme tunes, and try to calm down while I'm sorting it with the staff.'

Mercedes eyes shone with eagerness and Charlie felt a rush of affection for her brave friend. She grasped Mercedes's hand. ‘Okay, take your time. We'll wait for you and then we'll go together.'

The team at the quarry was very accommodating and made arrangements to get Mercedes up to the platform. Charlie and Sean moved up the huge structure to the platform above to join her and two young guys in yellow T-shirts. They were helping people into harnesses, attaching them to the zip wire and launching them off high above the flooded quarry.

From the platform, twin parallel wires crossed the flooded depths of the old quarry, sheer cliffs rose on either side. Charlie gazed at the view beyond and clung to the wooden surround. She was genuinely beginning to feel dizzy and glad Mercedes was going to be with her.

‘Okay, there?' asked one of the lads as he fitted her with a harness, checking the straps thoroughly before attaching her to the wire.

Charlie nodded mutely.

Mercedes, now also strapped into a harness, shouted over, ‘Come on Charlie, it's show time,' she said in her best Jim Carrey voice. ‘Wave at the camera.'

The men ensured that both women were securely fastened one last time.

‘Here you go, Mercedes,' said Sean as he fitted a headband containing a small camera around her hair. ‘I'll film you from above and that camera will record the descent from your perspective. Have fun.'

The team encouraged Charlie to approach the edge of the platform. They waited to hear that the people ahead had landed. There was a crackle from the walkie-talkie and a disembodied voice announced the way was clear.

Charlie couldn't think. It was so high. She felt slightly faint. She heard a noise. Mercedes was being launched down her wire. Charlie had no choice, so she let herself fall forward too. She plunged above treetops and hurtled down towards the water. Mercedes looked across at her and opened her arms out wide, a look of pure joy on her face. Then she moved her arms like an orchestra conductor, signalling to Charlie. Pushing the pink kazoo she had been clutching in her hand into her mouth, Charlie blasted out “Come Fly With Me”. She had little time to take in the scenery, the trees, the ducks and other wild birds on the water below. It was all a blur. The air whistled past her ears and Charlie felt free. She was flying. It was exhilarating. She felt euphoric. In no time at all, she began slowing down as she approached the landing site. She saw Mercedes being caught by the staff members on the other side of the river. Slowing further, Charlie arrived gracefully on terra firma where she was unhitched from her wire. She weaved her way to Mercedes, now back in her wheelchair and hugged her tightly.

‘Oh my! That was seriously the best thing I have done in years,' said Mercedes. ‘Can I do it again?'

‘You might have to go on your own next time. It was incredible and I'm so glad I did it but I couldn't face that drop again.'

T
here were
no houselights on in the street by the time Charlie was dropped off back at her house. The euphoria she experienced had stayed with her the entire trip home. Mercedes went down the zip wire for a second time, this time with Sean as Charlie refused to climb the wooden structure again, happy to watch and film them both as they descended with loud whoops of excitement. All three were high on adrenaline and the drive back had been filled with laughs and songs. They stopped at a pub on the way home to celebrate their success and called Sam to tell him Charlie had completed the challenge. He was thrilled.

‘I'll pass on the news to the other presenters and let the listeners know,' he said after cheering. ‘Sean, are you going to upload the video tonight?'

‘Might be the morning now. I'm going to be pretty bushed by the time I get in. I'll make sure it's up before Charlie goes on air, tomorrow afternoon.'

‘Catch you all tomorrow. Sleep well. And Charlie… a few challenges came in for you today. How do you feel about wing walking?'

‘You are kidding me?'

‘Yep. Yes, I am. There is no wing walking challenge. Yet. Speak to you tomorrow.'

Charlie let herself in to the house and waved goodbye to her friends. She suddenly felt deflated. It was just her again. Silence closed in on her. She snapped on the television for company and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

As the tap ran, she looked outside into her back garden. Her brain suddenly alert. There was a movement under the large apple tree. She froze. There. She saw it again. She focused as hard as she could. But she couldn't see anyone. It was her imagination. She was tired and excitable. There was no one out there. She took her water and went back into the lounge to settle in front of a late night game show.

Outside, a figure dressed in black unfurled from the base of the apple tree and hurried away over her garden fence.

T
he Art Café
was almost full when Charlie arrived the following morning. She didn't normally drop by when she wasn't working but she woke up feeling discombobulated and didn't fancy a morning in by herself. The thrill of her achievement the day before was waning and she wanted some company.

‘Hi Charlie,' shouted Art from behind the counter. ‘You forgotten what day of the week it is?'

‘Ha! You're so funny, Art,' she replied, scooping a menu from the counter to read.

‘Leave the jokes to Charlie,' said Patricia, bustling up to the counter, pad in hand. She kissed Charlie on the cheeks. ‘Well done, honey. I'm so proud of you. I spoke to Sam last night and he told me you had done the challenge. That took guts to go down the wire. Have you found out how much money you raised yet?'

‘No, it's still coming in. Vivienne is in charge of counting it up. I hope to get some idea later today. I get another challenge then, too. I just came in for a quick bite to eat before the show.'

‘I recommend my sticky toffee pudding with custard. It's scrummy.'

‘Sorry, I can't eat that. It'll put inches on me and since the belly dancing I've managed to keep the weight down. I'll have a slice of carrot cake instead and a peppermint tea please when you've got time. Thanks. Patricia, do you need a hand?'

‘No, I've got it covered. It'll die down soon. You go and sit down.'

A couple vacated the window seats in the Quiet Room so Charlie settled down there with her notes for the afternoon show. Her phone vibrated. She pulled it out of her pocket and read the message:

With all the excitement of the challenges she'd forgotten about him.

Patricia arrived with the tea and cake. ‘Someone looks happy,' she commented.

‘I've just arranged my first date in years,' replied Charlie. ‘I feel all giddy now.'

‘That's terrific news,' said Patricia. ‘Is it the guy that came in here yesterday, asking about you?'

‘Er, no. Rob's not back in the UK yet. What did this guy look like?'

‘Tall, good-looking. About forty years old. Stubble on his face. Reminded me of that chap, Matthew Fox from
Lost
.'

‘That's Jake. He's not a contender.'

‘He saw the poster about you in the window and asked what you were up to this time. He nearly spluttered coffee over his suit when I told him.'

‘He thinks I'm bonkers. Was he with a woman?'

‘No. He was with a young boy. They spent some time in the shop looking at all the goods, and then bought a beautiful anthracite necklace that Lucy, the young designer from Uttoxeter, made. It was the first piece of jewellery I've sold of hers. She'll be so pleased when she finds out.'

‘I suppose they were buying it for Abigail.'

‘Who's Abigail?'

‘I'm not sure. She's a stunner. She's either his girlfriend or wife. I don't think she's Toby's mum. She's far too young. Toby likes her though, judging by the hug he gave her at Alton Towers.'

‘Oh, never mind.'

‘I don't mind.'

‘Of course you don't,' said Patricia with a knowing smile.

‘I don't mind. I've got a date with Rob. I don't mind at all.'

A
couple of teenage girls
, one slightly shorter than the other, both with shoulder-length curly black hair and dark eyes were hanging about in the corridor near the studio. Charlie smiled at them.

‘That's Charlie,' said the taller one, nudging the other. ‘Hi Charlie, we've brought some money for you. Our nan is in the Florence Nightingale ward. She's been here for two weeks. She loves listening to the shows. You read out a request for her last week – Gladys Powell.'

Charlie nodded. She remembered Gladys. She spoke non-stop about her twin granddaughters. This must be them. Charlie remembered their names.

‘You're Naomi and Iona,' she said.

The girls looked pleased.

‘She told us all about you doing the belly dancing and the roller coaster ride.'

‘We saw you on YouTube,' said the smaller of the two. ‘That was really funny.'

‘Nan asked us to say something about the challenges at school to raise some money and we did. Mr Ingram, our head teacher, made an announcement at assembly. It's not much, but we hope it helps keep the radio station going. Nan has converted us all. We listen online at home. You're our favourite presenter.'

The girl handed over a large plastic sweet tin. It was labelled ‘Charlie's Challenge'.

Charlie removed the lid and gasped. It was full of pound coins, five-pound notes and even a few ten-pound notes. ‘This all came from schoolchildren?' she asked.

The girls' heads bobbed in unison. ‘And some of the teachers and parents,' said the taller one.

‘There's two hundred and eighty-two pounds,' announced the smaller one.

‘You must come into the studio and meet everyone so they can thank you.'

Naomi and Iona excitedly followed Charlie into the studio where Sean was leaning back in his chair staring at a computer screen.

‘Afternoon, Charlie. Hi Ladies!' he continued, raising a hand of acknowledgement to the girls.

‘Sean, this is Naomi and Iona. They're Gladys Powell's granddaughters. They've raised a lot of money for us. I thought they could come and meet some of the team.'

‘Sure. George Hardman is on for the next twenty minutes. Why don't the girls go in and say hello to him. They can even say hello to their grandma on air. That'll surprise her.'

Naomi went pink. Iona giggled.

‘Do you want to be on the radio and say hello to George?' Charlie asked.

Naomi nodded. Iona tittered some more. George was the most handsome of the presenters. A joiner by trade, he was putting in a few hours a week at City radio in preparation for a career change into radio. He had an easy manner. Many a nurse had fallen for his winning smile.

‘Sean, let George know after the next record and I'll take the girls in to meet him.'

While the girls were chatting to George and telling the audience how they raised money for the radio, Sean had a chance to talk to Charlie.

‘I uploaded the video to YouTube before I came in today. Take a look.'

He clicked onto the site and pulled up the video. The video only lasted a minute and fifty seconds but it captured the event perfectly. Charlie relived the afternoon as she saw herself whizz down the zip wire and then play the pink plastic kazoo. She looked as cool as a cucumber and even managed to smile at the end while waving her kazoo at the camera. This wasn't the Charlie who sat at home watching old films in her tatty jeans. This wasn't the same woman who hated almost everything about herself. This Charlie radiated confidence and exuded a zest for life. She stared at the images again.

‘That looks so professional,' she mumbled. ‘I can't believe it's me. I look different.'

‘You knock yourself too much. That's how we see you, Charlie,' Sean winked and went back to the desk ready to cue in the news.

The girls left the studio, excited at having met George.

‘We're going to visit Nan, now,' said Naomi. ‘She'll be so pleased that we mentioned her. See you again.'

Charlie thanked the girls again for the donation and headed to the back room where she waited for Mercedes to arrive and her radio slot to begin. Vivienne came in carrying an accounts book.

‘Total so far, five hundred and sixty pounds, twenty pence,' she said.

‘Is that including the contribution made by the local school?' asked Charlie, nodding at the jar Vivienne held in her other hand.

Vivienne nodded. ‘Yes. It's not a bad start.'

Charlie felt a bit disappointed. ‘Somehow I expected it to capture people's imagination. I'd hoped for more than that. Guess I'm being greedy. People don't have lots of disposable income.'

‘It's very difficult to make people comprehend the importance of the radio station, Charlie. If you were raising money to help a sick child or a hospice, that would have greater appeal. The problem is that many people don't understand how a radio station can help people unless they've been in hospital and seen for themselves. It's particularly difficult when we're just one little station broadcasting to a small audience in an ocean of radio stations. Nowadays, there's so much choice, especially with Internet radio. You did incredibly well to raise this much. It took six months on the charity stall in the market to get a similar amount last year. Don't be deflated.'

In spite of Vivienne's enthusiasm, Charlie felt depressed. Somewhat naïvely, she had thought that it would only take a few challenges to be able to save the radio station. It was clear now though that it was going to take more than that. She couldn't let it knock her though. She had a show to present.

‘Knock, knock,' said Mercedes, banging on the door. ‘Wazzup?'

‘I didn't raise as much money as I wanted.'

‘Pfft! Is that it? That was only one challenge. Ah, my poor unsuspecting guinea pig. I have much more planned for you,' said Mercedes, giving her best evil laugh.