Little Spirit

by DaNeo Duran

A tape recorder appeared. The interview began and they discussed the record, the busking and the gigs. She said she’d stay for the show and take pictures.

  Calvin left to phone Katherine, leaving Raphael backstage with Danny.

  ‘Calvin pulled ze carpet right from my feet with Betty.’

  ‘Poor girl won’t get anywhere with him.’

  ‘Shame for me too,’ Raphael said without really meaning it. ‘But it could be useful having someone in Sounds all gaga for one of use.’

  ‘You mean like Grace at GMD? I used to think she fancied you.’

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe she did. Maybe she got over it. She didn’t mind snogging that other lad on ze shoot.’

  ‘Perhaps, but I have seen her look at you like Betty looked at Calvin.’

  ‘You mean how you and Amy look at each other but never at ze same time.’

  ‘I got it bad I don’t mind telling you. But I’m not feeling anything much from her.’

  ‘Sorry that it’s taking more than just tidying your room.’

  ‘She’s in there all the time studying. Just need to get her from table to bed. Four foot, if that.’

  ‘New curtains and a rug to cover that horrible carpet might help. I’m not surprised you tried hiding that under your clothes.’

  ‘Good point. But I wonder what’s stopping Amy taking a chance with me.’

  ‘She’s scared you’ll kiss her or sleep with her then say it was a mistake. Her self-esteem might have risen but there’s still an issue there.’

  ‘I don’t know mate, I’m sensing something else stopping her.’

  ‘Whether there’s an issue or not she won’t stay on ze market long once she finishes her exams.’

  Wednesday 18th April 1984

  Letters had flown between Katherine and Loretta but none ever confirmed whether Elaine’s wedding chapel and venue payments had been finalised. With Amy studying so hard Katherine took the opportunity to work extra hard and save money believing she might have to fly to Saint Tropez before June to check.

  * * *

  The band’s experience outside record shops had indicated hardly any record buying occurred until city workers past them on their way back from lunch.

  Tactically the band slept late, hitting the streets around midday which also proved a more lucrative time to busk.

  Soon the first three of the day’s record shops had sold out of Little Spirit records.

  En route to the fourth Raphael said, ‘It seems to be getting easier.’

  ‘We’re getting good at this,’ Calvin said.

  Danny agreed. ‘Raphael’s right. Hardly a moment passes before we’re phoning Trudie again.’

  ‘Next shop should be round the corner,’ Calvin said. ‘I’ll pop in. Maybe the record’s selling on its own?’

  The lads set up to play and Calvin left them. He pushed the shop’s door open just in time to hear the last few bars of Only When it’s Saturday before another track started. Finding a dumpy teenage member of staff he said, ‘You were just playing Little Spirit.’

  ‘Were we?’ the lad said with a sniff. He thought for a moment then said, ‘Yeah, Only When it’s Saturday. I forget the last track as soon as the next one starts. You after buying it?’

  ‘Not me but could you tell me how many copies you’ve got?’

  ‘I’ll ask the manager.’

  A lad around Raphael’s age appeared. Calvin introduced himself and the manager said, ‘We received a lot of disks considering you’re an unknown band. Surprisingly, they’re selling.’ He checked the shelf. ‘We’re down to our last four and there’s no more in storage. What’s going on?’

  ‘I thought you might know. I mean we sold out The Rock Garden last night.’

  ‘Promising, but you won’t have a video.’

  ‘We do actually.’

  ‘We’re getting screens fitted over the weekend. Tell whoever’s representing you at,’ the manager looked at the back of the jacket, ‘Vanquar to get it to us and that’ll give you a helping hand.’

  ‘That’d be brilliant,’ Calvin said. ‘We’re gonna busk nearby now so those last four records should shift soon.’

  ‘I’ll take them and pass them round the office,’ a female voice said.

  Calvin looked round. ‘Hey Betty good to see you. Aren’t you supposed to be working?’

  ‘I am, I’ve written an article for Sounds about you today. It just needs the last section.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Busking. I saw the other two down the street. Are you playing?’

  ‘Normally we move on the when a shop runs out of records but, because it’s you …’

  ‘Aw, thank you gorgeous. I’ve trekked round all the shops you mentioned at last night’s gigs.’

  Saturday 21st April 1984

  On Saturday morning, Easter weekend Little Spirit arrived in London trusting weekend shoppers would buy records earlier and be more generous with their change.

  The previous night Little Spirit has sold out Herne Hill’s Half Moon pub. Delighted with their performance the management, supporting the band’s quest, let Raphael park the van in their car park.

  Little Spirit, all avid readers of Sounds, had hoped Betty’s article would make that day’s issue. They found their first record shop and Calvin ran in to check for copies of the single, and whether they had video screens.

  He came back to find Danny and Raphael had visited a newsagent and each had copies of Sounds.

  ‘Here’s yours,’ Danny said without taking his eyes off his opened copy.

  Opening the magazine Calvin found the page now mesmerising the others. He saw a full spread dedicated to: The Dedication of Little Spirit.

  Raphael said, ‘People across ze entire country will already be learning our name.’

  Calvin tried concentrating on the page but Raphael couldn’t keep quiet. ‘Mate she’s painted you as ze band hero,’ he said of Calvin. ‘Ze photos are predominantly you. She’s done a great job though. We can’t afford to get on the wrong side of her. You’ll have to take one for ze team mate.’

  ‘What you on about?’ Calvin said.

  ‘Sleep with her; keep her interested and onside.’

  ‘No chance. I’m not risking that. You do it.’

  ‘Moi? I’m not muscly like you.’

  ‘Raphael’s right. She took one look at you at that was it,’ Danny said.

  ‘Oh God I hope this isn’t going to be a problem,’ Calvin said. ‘Anyway we need to get performing the fella in the shop says loads of copies came in yesterday and shoppers have already enquired about us today.

  * * *

  Having risen in her own time Katherine broke from getting ready for work when the phone rang.

  ‘Hi darling,’ she said hearing Calvin’s voice, ‘I didn’t expect to hear from you until later.’

  ‘Babe, we’re in Sounds – a whole page,’ he enthused.

  ‘Great news.’

  ‘It is but the others are winding me up saying Betty, who wrote the article, fancies me.’

  ‘Really?’ She heard her voice downturn.

  ‘Er …’

  ‘I’ve got to go but that’s really good news – about the article I mean. I’ll buy a copy on my way to work.’

  ‘I love you Katherine.’

  ‘You do, I know. Me too. Amy’s blowing hot and cold about tonight but if Grace is coming I’ll see you at the gig.’

  * * *

  Despite more copies of the record appearing in the shops Little Spirit managed to sing plenty of customers through the doors.

  Raphael rang GMD.

  ‘We sold out all ze record shops on today’s list,’ he said when Grace picked up. ‘We’re heading to Camden Lock to promote tonight’s gig. Have you seen Sounds today?’

  ‘Of course, got it here. Great news. Sounds like someone’s a Calvin fan though.’

  ‘Tell me about it, is Richard there?’

  ‘No, he got Only When it’s Saturday recorded to cartridge and is o
n board a ship.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m not sure. He left in a bit of a hurry. Phone’s been going mad all day. Smash Hits are on the guest list for tonight so be ready for an interview with them. There’s been some other interesting calls recently but I’ll let Richard tell you about them.’

  ‘Oh, okay. All good I hope.’

  ‘All good. I got to get the other phone, I’ll see you tonight.’

  Raphael rang off and joined the two lads outside the first of Monday’s record shops.

  Calvin said, ‘Might as well sell out Monday’s shops now.’

  ‘Good thinking,’ Raphael said and considered that after the weekend the next delivery would be bigger than otherwise. ‘Like to make things difficult for ourselves don’t we?’

  ‘The hard work will pay off,’ Danny said.

  * * *

  Amy had hardly broken from study all day. Her eyes hurt and she needed a break when Katherine knocked on Danny’s door.

  ‘I’m getting ready soon. Won’t you come too – isn’t it time you closed the books?’ Katherine sat on Danny’s new sheets.

  Amy turned the chair to face her. ‘Study isn’t the only problem. I’m supposed to be seeing Marlon tonight. I only said I might come with you because that’s what I’d rather do.’

  ‘You don’t want to bring him along?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Not ready for that yet?’

  ‘Not sure I ever will.’

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Katherine said.

  ‘I don’t know but something is. He says he loves me but I don’t want him to. He’s written songs about me but I hate them.’

  ‘Do you love him – at all?’

  ‘A few weeks ago I thought I might be falling but now I know I’m not.’

  ‘What’s wrong with him?’

  ‘Other than his songs?’

  ‘Are they so bad you’d want to end the relationship?’

  ‘There’s something else.’ Amy looked down. ‘He’s possessive. He thinks I’m his.’

  Katherine shook her head. ‘I can’t deny I want you to come with me tonight but apart from that you sound unhappy.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. I wouldn’t know where to begin ditching him. I don’t want to hurt his feelings. He says I’m his inspiration. He’s even auditioned for a band today.’

  ‘These things are never easy; unless you’re head’s screwed having taken a morning after pill,’ Katherine said thinking again of Saint Tropez. ‘You ever break up with anyone before?’

  ‘No, I’ve been dumped though; it sucks. Marlon’s the first person I’ve slept with more than once.’

  ‘Okay,’ Katherine said hiding her surprise, ‘if you end it you’ve got to realise that he’ll eventually meet someone else. Before long all those special things you did he’ll be doing with some other girl. How would you feel about that?’

  Amy thought a moment. ‘I’m not bothered.’

  ‘Oh dear Amy.’

  ‘I don’t want him do I?’

  Katherine checked her watch. ‘If he’s home, go and see him and no matter what stick to your decision.’

  ‘You’re right. I’ll go now,’ Amy said realising she’d only hurt him more in the long run.

  * * *

  Amy jumped on the first bus south along Chingford Mount Road. She composed a speech as best she could. A few stops later she got off the bus and jogged through the side streets. She saw Marlon’s bike in the backyard. Round the front she fussed with her hair and rang the bell. Only in overcoming the urge to run away did she realised she’d passed the point of no return. She heard him thumping his way downstairs.

  ‘Amy, what a surprise. I wasn’t expecting you for an hour at least. Come in.’

  ‘It’s alright it’s a flying visit.’

  ‘Okay,’ Marlon said propping himself against the doorframe.

  She caught him giving her the once over; she’d not made much of an effort. ‘How did the audition go?’

  ‘Really well, I reckon I’m in. The guys …’

  Amy tuned out waiting for him to finish. When he did she waffled about liking him but that she wanted to end their relationship. Marlon’s face fell.

  In a whisper he said, ‘Please don’t do this to me here. Come in.’

  Marlon didn’t wait for her answer but stepped inside. Amy crossed the threshold, shut the door and immediately regretting doing so.

  Katherine had told her to stick to her guns. She wanted to do that on the dammed step.

  She followed Marlon into his kitchen where he picked up his half-finished mug of tea. Behind him the cooker had pans presumably of vegetables ready to boil. The oven smelt of roasting chicken.

  She noticed Marlon’s knuckles whitening. Looking up she saw his face full of pain twisting into rage.

  ‘This was a mistake,’ she said. She turned her back and faced the door.

  Before Marlon could yell at her not to move the wind of his mug flying past her ear smashed into the doorframe she wanted so badly to walk through. It shattered spreading tea in slow motion up the walls and into the corridor.

  She faced him but didn’t remember turning round. She heard noise that didn’t sound like shouting despite that being the only possible sound.

  Then she found herself running towards the main road. She must have escaped but how? Her right hand clutched her left wrist. It hurt. Had he done it? He had. He’d grabbed and tugged her but had let go and kicked the cupboard under the sink. That must be when she escaped.

  ‘Hold the bus,’ she shouted as Chingford Mount Road came into focus. On the other side of the road a worried looking passenger boarded a bus and nodded.

  Horns blared as Amy ran across both lanes almost colliding with the side of one car or another.

  * * *

  That evening the band set up in Dingwalls lockside venue. They hadn’t had five minutes to themselves before a lady burst through the door in a white Frankie Says Relax T-shirt with the neck cut out and visible black bra straps.

  ‘Hey you guys are hot,’ she said as a lad carrying an SLR camera and spare lenses followed her.

  Danny didn’t feel like hot stuff, he felt hot having spent the day grafting the streets.

  ‘I’m Mandy from Smash Hits. Your manager gave us the go ahead for an interview? We saw the article in Sounds and had to track you down immediately.’

  ‘One thing leads to ze next,’ Raphael said to the band more than to her.

  ‘I thought you guys only dealt with Top20 acts,’ Calvin said.

  ‘That’s right, normally,’ she said, ‘But, here we are and where’s The NME?’

  ‘NME, have you seen the bands they praise and the bands they slate?’ Danny said. ‘They’d despise us. The longer they stay away the better.’

  ‘They do have their favourites, true. But anyway, we’ll feature new bands if the story’s interesting enough. Would you believe my boss said your single may not be a smash hit yet but it’s smashing alright?’

  ‘As long as people like it,’ Raphael said taking a drink.

  ‘Is that orange juice?’

  ‘Of course,’ Raphael said with rehearsed practice. ‘We want to be razor sharp on stage. That’s tough after performing the streets all day.’

  ‘I bet. Tell me about that; who sees you when you’re busking?’

  Danny answered. ‘It used to be just passers-by but with experience we started pulling crowds. Now we’ve people approaching us who recognise us from gigs like this.’

  ‘Apart from a living how else does busking benefit you?’ Mandy asked not wasting time.

  ‘It started in order to advertise our electric gigs but essentially it’s the single’s marketing campaign. From stage gigs we announce the next day’s busking locations all of which are near record shops. Now everything we do promotes the next thing.’

  ‘You work this hard but Vanquar have only signed you for one single?’

  ‘Right,’ Calvin said.

  ‘Insane.
Why?’

  Raphael jumped from the door as Richard strolled into the dressing room. ‘Evening chaps mind if I take this one?’

  ‘Go for it,’ Calvin said.

  Introducing himself Richard said, ‘Vanquar are looking to sign Little Spirit for the album but they want to see that we can sell singles on our own first. Thing is whether we chart or not we’ve proved we can sell singles so now we’ve got interest from Chrysalis and WEA who reckon these guys are The Who for the next generation.’

  ‘That’s quite a statement given The Who were and indeed still are an exceptional live band. Little Spirit aren’t even the headline act here. Can you justify that statement for the readers?’

  ‘You think it’s surprising Little Spirit are a support act?’

  ‘Well, yes, that’s what I’m suggesting.’

  ‘Come and find me after they’ve played and we’ll talk again. You’ll see just how surprising it is.’

  ‘I’ll certainly do that,’ Mandy said.

  ‘This band’s got its foot to the floor, momentum is building and the pressure they’ve been applying through gigging and busking is starting to pay off.’

  ‘Well I’ve heard the single, which I love, I’ve met you and found you all very decent and extremely well styled. I can’t wait to see you on stage.’

  They thanked her and she followed her photographer swishing blonde hair and dark roots.

  As if she’d never been in the room Richard said, ‘Grace told you about Laser558?’

  ‘Don’t think so,’ Raphael said. ‘She mentioned a ship?’

  ‘That’s it. It’ll be sailing into the North Sea; a pirate radio station that’ll constantly stream UK hits including Only When it’s Saturday. I’m mates with the station’s founder. He reckons Laser558 will take millions of listeners from all these DJ babbling radio stations.’

  ‘Sounds amazing,’ Danny said.

  ‘Well, for legal reasons the DJs are American but listeners will never be more than a minute from the music.’

  Raphael said, ‘Another fantastic avenue. So what about Chrysalis and … ?’

  ‘WEA – the guys who stole Howard Jones from under Vanquar’s nose. They saw you play The Electric Ballroom and Chrysalis’ delivery rep saw you busking outside Our Price. When he went in you guys were on the video screens too so he reported back to base and someone checked up via me.’

  ‘So hang on a minute,’ Calvin said. ‘Wasn’t it a bit risky for Dave to sign us only for one single? Mandy’s right it is sounding insane.’

  ‘Yeah, surely labels will bid for us now,’ Raphael said.

  ‘Slow down. It wasn’t risky for Dave. It’s only become risky since we’ve pushed the single ourselves so hard. Remember no other record companies are bidding; they’re expressing interest and that should help Dave make his mind up. But remember what I said, don’t believe the hype. That bottle blonde just told you she loves the record; we’ll see if that’s true when Smash Hits next comes out.’