by Doris Miller
Outside the office door, Diane D and the Dianettes are standing outside the door identically dressed in sparkling navy blue short blazers, short navy corsets and navy leggings as Diane D firmly leans against the wall with Lonna right beside her. Diane D, Lonna, Miranda, Kelly, Charlotte and Bernice look at Nancy as Nancy says, “He said we're not gonna be here too long anyway Diane. We're only going to be here a short time.”
“I don't care if it's a long time or a short time Nancy,” Diane D says. “I am tired, I really don't feel like doing this. I don’t even feel like being here.”
“Yeah none of us do,” Miranda says.
Barry opens the office door. Diane D and the Dianettes turn their heads and look at him. “Come on in girls,” Barry says. Diane D comes in the doorway and enters the back area office as the Dianettes follow behind her. Diane D walks in the room looking around as the Dianettes follow closely behind and around her. “Everybody's over there,” Barry says as he leads Diane D and the Dianettes further into the room.
Arty, Dave, Marlon and Ray excitedly approach Diane D and the Dianettes. Diane D and the Dianettes look at Arty, Dave, Marlon and Ray and stop as Arty excitingly says, “My God Diane D and The Dianettes! It’s really you!”
“We're so glad to meet you all!” Dave shouts.
“Diane, girls, these are the guys responsible for putting your name in that newspaper ad,” Barry says.
“Oh Diane D!” Arty says. “We're so glad that you and the Dianettes can be here!” Arty holds his hand out to Diane D to shake her hand.
Diane D places both her hands on her hips and annoyingly looks down at Arty's hand and sighs. She then looks up at Arty and shouts, “Yeah we bet you're glad we can be here to cover up your false ad!”
Arty takes his hand away from Diane D as he, Dave, Marlon and Ray nervously look at each other then back at Diane D. “I'm sorry Diane D,” Arty says.
“Please forgive us Diane D, Dianettes,” Dave says. “We'll make it up to you all. Whatever money we earn from this and the future, we'll donate to your organization and any of your favorite charities. But please do this for us?”
“Look!” Diane D shouts, “let's get something straight, okay?! What you guys did, caused me and the girls to be pulled away from what each of us were doing, to come way out here at the spur of the moment to perform at a mall! Especially as tired as we all are from coming home from the Dominican Republic five o'clock in the morning!”
“Diane D, this will never ever happen again,” Arty says, “promise!”
“These guys explained everything to us Diane,” Barry says. “I think they learned their lesson. Any way Diane, you girls and Michael already decided to sing and play to the song 'Deep Purple', right?”
“Yeah we got 'Deep Purple' down packed Dad,” Diane D says.
“Good.”
“Diane?” Tomas says.
“What's up Grandpa?” Diane D says.
“Try to put a smile on your face?”
“That's right Diane,” Barry says. “We don't want the crowd out there to see you unhappy. Remember, you, the girls, Michael and the guys are each gonna get a big pay check for this when we all return home. Are Michael and the guys still at the van getting the instruments ready?”
“Yeah they're still at the van Dad,” Diane D says.
“Where's Nicolas and Mickey?”
“They're at the van too.”
“Okay.”
“Diane D, Dianettes?” Arty says. “We just want to tell you that, there's someone special here who wants to meet you all.”
Diane D and the Dianettes puzzled look at Arty. They then look at each other, then back at Arty as Diane D says, “Someone special wants to meet us? Well who is it?” Diane D's cell phone suddenly rings. “Hold on,” she says. Diane D looks down and pulls her cell phone out of her waist. She looks at the phone number. She then speaks into her cell phone and says, “Yeah Michael what's up? ...... The music notes are in there. Did you look in the glove compartment? ..... It's in the van! I know where I left it! .....”
Arty, Dave, Marlon and Ray excitingly look at each other as Arty whispers to them, “We did it! They're really here!” Arty, Dave, Marlon and Ray happily look at each other, then back at Diane D and the Dianettes.
Diane D continues to speak into her cell phone and says, “Look in the glove compartment Michael. ..... You don't see it in there? Look harder! ..... You still can't find it! You don't see it! Fine! Let me come down there and get it myself! Just hold on, I'll be right down!” Diane D closes her cell phone and puts her cell phone back into her waist belt. She turns to her family and the Dianettes and says, “Listen up everybody, I gotto go to the van to find the music notes. I'll be back.” Diane D turns around and gently holds onto some of the Dianettes’ shoulders as she says, “Girls stay here until I get back.” Diane D turns her head to Arty and says, “I'll meet whoever this special person is when I come back up.”
“Okay Diane D,” Arty says.
Diane D turns away from everybody and heads to the door. “I'll go with you Diane,” Mary says. Mary heads to the door and follows Diane D as they both leave the room closing the door behind themselves.
Diane D and Mary both walk down the back hallway as Mary holds onto Diane D’s arm and says to her, “Sabes que no te has permitido a caminar sola, no?”
“Se Mama,” Diane D says as she and Mary continue to walk down the back upstairs hallway.
Chapter 37
The Dianettes Vs. Madilyn Lewis Showdown!