Free Body on the Stage by Bev Robitai Page A

her gentle pressure, and then it all turned to
custard without a grandchild to show for it and her best efforts
were wasted.”
    “Yikes, I’d better watch that.
Don’t want to turn into Mum this early in life!”
    “Oh, no danger of that, sis.
Your hubby would soon jump in and put you straight if he saw that
happening.”
    “Ha! I’d like to see him try!
Anyway, my original question still stands. Are there any nice girls
at the theatre? Or maybe at the gym?” She must have picked up on an
inadvertent reaction because she pounced immediately. “At the gym?
Oho, are you falling for that Amazonian body-building woman with
thighs that can crack walnuts? Come on, ‘fess up! You were going to
dinner with someone called Cathy, weren’t you? How did that go?
Tell me all!”
    “There’s nothing to tell,” he
protested. “Yes, I had dinner with the woman who owns the gym, but
we’re not making any announcements yet! I’m sure she hasn’t picked
a dinner service for the wedding gift list!”
    “All right, don’t get your
boxers in a bunch, I was only asking.”
    “And I appreciate your interest,
Janice, I really do. It’s good to have somebody so concerned about
my well-being.” He stifled a yawn and looked at his watch. “Look,
it’s late. I promise I’ll tell you about any juicy romantic
entanglements as soon as they happen, OK? Let it go. Need some
sleep now.”
    “Fair enough – just remember I’m
getting my romantic fix through you nowadays ‘cause there’s
damn-all here with two under-threes in the house. And enjoy that
nice uninterrupted sleep you’ll be having, won’t you? Night,
bro!”

Chapter Four
    When Dennis next went into the
theatre he found a buzz of conversation in the Green Room centred
round a table where a newspaper was spread out. He joined the group
looking at the letters to the editor column and tried to see what
held their attention.
    “How did they get wind of what
show we’re doing?” Jessica asked no-one in particular. “We haven’t
even opened ticket sales yet. We were going to make the
announcement with a big bang and a burst of promo and
advertising.”
    “Looks like somebody’s doing
that for you,” grunted Gazza. “Free publicity – can’t complain
about that.”
    “Yes, but it’s a bit negative,
isn’t it? We don’t want people thinking the show is all smut and
sleaze, and that’s what this protest is implying. I bet they
haven’t a clue what Ladies Night is about – they prob
    ably think it’s just a strip
show.”
    Dennis followed her finger to
the letter in question, tilting his head to read it. The
letter-writer seemed to think the moral well-being of all Whetford
citizens was being threatened by a planned lewd display of nudity
and corruption at the Regent Theatre, and called on all
right-thinking people to boycott the performance and prevent others
from attending.
    “That does seem a bit over the
top,” he ventured. “Couldn’t you send in a letter of rebuttal,
putting the record straight? There must be something you could say
about freedom of choice as well as explaining what the show’s
really about.”
    “Good point, Dennis,” said
Jessica with a nod. “Would you write a short letter to the editor
as a member of the public, saying you resent the suggestion of
enforced censorship or some wording like that? I’ll do an official
letter as a representative of the Regent Theatre but it would be
good to have some back-up from someone else.”
    “Sure, if you think I can help.
I don’t know what weight my opinion will have though.”
    She flashed him a smile. “It
will all keep the theatre in high profile, so yes, I’m sure it will
help. Thanks Dennis, I appreciate it.” She turned to Tony and
Gazza. “It’s a pity our esteemed president isn’t here instead of
gallivanting around the South Pacific on a cruise, but I guess we
can keep the flag flying in his absence, eh? Do you guys have any
suggestions?”
    “Yeah, let’s make a heap