Free Back to Madeline Island by Jay Gilbertson Page B

boat-thing, what a hoot. You know, I think I get it now. This isn’t just another money gimmick thing—you guys are for real. I mean, you’re the real thing.”
    â€œI guess you could say that,” I say. “Listen, sorry to be such a nudge, you just came on so strong and—”
    â€œForget it.” She pauses. “I, ah, listen…thank you. Thank you for reminding me of something I seemed to have forgotten.”
    â€œSure, but I’m curious. What did you forget?”
    â€œThat there are still people out there with integrity.”
    â€œI wouldn’t go that far. We’re just a group of people who really are happy with how things are.”
    â€œI like that. Well, listen, gotta go. I think I need to take a walk outside.”
    â€œGood thinking,” I say ready to “good-bye.”
    â€œOne more thing—does Ruby really cook like that? Her weekly recipes are fabulous. Everyone is talking about them.”
    â€œShe really does. I have the waistline to prove it!”
    She laughs, “Wow, well—good-bye—and thank you.”
    I hang up the phone. Ruby looks up from her cooking; we grin. Sometimes it takes others to remind me, I have just enough. I wonder, will Barbara Walters call next or Diane Sawyer? Wouldn’t it be fun to put Miz Walters on hold? Oh, that’s right, we don’t have hold.
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    After a short workday, the boys head home and the four of us ladies are filing into the loft for our initiation into the world of belly dancing . The last part Lilly proudly proclaimed; she’s our fearless leader. I fear. We’ve changed into roomy workout clothes and are already planning on making more adventurous outfits in the future. Lilly and I are in simple grays, Sam’s in purple, and Ruby, she’s fancy in a zebra-striped affair—matching top and bottom no less.
    â€œMy lord.” Sam huffs into a chair. “Those stairs are a workout right there. You ever consider putting in a lift?”
    â€œWon’t be long,” Lilly comments, setting down a large round teal suitcase. “And you’ll be taking those steps—two at a time.”
    â€œDamn.” Sam gets up and walks over to inspect the mirrors. “This here wall lookin’ back with all a’ that me in there is enough to scare any decent person—but good. ’Course I do have first-rate skin.” Sam tucks a stubborn braid up under her purple headband.
    â€œThis is a perfect setup for us,” Lilly says. “All this light and space in here, it’s a wonderful studio. Now, Eve, do we have a tape deck up here, do you know? I brought all sorts of things for us to get into the mood. It’s all about mood , you know.”
    â€œHoward brought this over.” I point to a paint-spattered machine and Lilly drops a tape in.
    â€œThat’s lovely, darling,” Ruby comments. “Sounds like angels with drums or some sort of percussion instrument and I do think this is going to be jolly good fun.” She models a veil Lilly has handed her.
    â€œNow,” Lilly begins, “I’m going to start us off with basic belly moves. But first we need to each pick out a coin belt, for effect, and a hip scarf. I’ve a ton of them, so dig in and try a few on.”
    The room turns into a rainbow of colors as we wave around scarves of the lightest silks. Reds, blues, yellows, bright orange, fuchsia pinks and every green possible, all fluttering around as we try this and that one on and then fuss with each other until we’re satisfied. On to the noisy belts of coins, they clatter a fabulous chiming sound that’s a music all its own.
    Eventually, we get properly fit and line up in front of the mirrored wall, Lilly’s up front looking rather chic, her swirled hair wrapped high with a silver scarf. We each have a different “hip scarf” and over that a coin belt. Rocky has a violet scarf around his