Stand Up and Be Counted

This was submitted for Take A Break but was declined. What do you think of it?

Mandy didn’t want to look too desperate but she was running out of options. After trying on her entire wardrobe she cringed at the last top she’d found, forgotten, like she wanted part of that night to be.

“So what are you going to do now?” her Mum demanded when she was suddenly made redundant, “You’ve got rent to pay.”

Mandy’s mind had been in a flux, she’d spent the last ten years learning how to be an efficient secretary after her Mum had pushed her into it. It’s true she’d grown bored of it but it paid the bills. Living in a small town during a recession, she’d soon realised there weren’t many jobs out there, let alone well paid ones. Her Mum was right to be concerned; her redundancy pay would only last so long.

“Come on Mandy you need to get out there!” Rachel had insisted after weeks of job hunting had taken their toll, “You need to have a laugh.”

She knew she should be saving every penny but she hadn’t been out in ages and she really wanted a reason to wear the gold glitzy top she’d bought impulsively on ebay. She was sick of fading into the background.

Joking as they danced, Rachel said: “See I told you!”

Mandy grimaced at the memory like it was yesterday. Everyone had commented on her new top and had noticed how light hearted she seemed. That was when it hit her. She hadn’t realised how much her job had dragged her down. She shuddered.

She threw the glitzy top on the bed, feeling dull in comparison, her confidence sagging, and started to apply her foundation. She glanced at the time; the taxi would be there in half an hour.

Ever since Mandy was a little girl she’d always wanted to be centre stage but her lack of confidence had stopped her. After a few drinks though, her alter ego took over.

“Don’t worry, it’s the end of the night, everyone is drunk.” Rachel had said trying to reassure her.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this!” her stomach churned nervously, “I’ll just nip to the toilet again!”

“Don’t be long, you’re on next!”

The host of the comedy club had picked her for the ‘open-mic’ slot after Rachel had volunteered her. Everyone was jeering her on; she couldn’t say no.

As soon as she got on stage everyone laughed and her confidence soared.

Mandy tried to adjust the microphone which resulted in a high pitch screech and made the audience howl. She silently cursed the frizzy haired man that had just introduced her for being inconsiderate. Couldn’t he see she was short? She thought irritably.

As Mandy leaned closer to the mirror wondering how much blusher to put on her pale complexion, her face flushed pink and her hand trembled as she remembered...

The laughter had risen in volume. She looked over to Rachel and her boyfriend Ben trying not to laugh. She felt like she was back in school, tongue tied and awkward. She suddenly sobered up as she caught sight of what everyone was laughing at: a trail of toilet paper hanging from her jeans. She had willed the floor to open and swallow her up. Instead the spotlight shined upon her, centre stage.

“Hey give it up for Mandy, it’s not often someone can come up here and get the audience laughing without saying anything!” Shouted the frizzy haired man as he appeared at her side winking at her, she grimaced gratefully at him.

It turned out the host was called Rob and on closer inspection he didn’t have frizzy hair so much as erratic handsome curls, “Thanks for saving me back there.” she cringed with embarrassment, “My mate put me up to it.” He was so easy to talk to; she ended up telling him about the redundancy and how pressurised she felt by her Mum.

“I used to be really funny when I was younger.” She muttered in her defence.

He smiled in sympathy. “It was funny”, he said as she poked him in the chest. “But how did you manage to get toilet paper stuck to you?”

Her cheeks flushed and she was glad she wasn’t on stage this time, “My Mum always told me to put paper around the seat in public toilets, you know, for hygiene reasons. I’m just not usually so public about it.” she quipped.

Undecided on what to wear she glanced at the gold top on her bed with mixed feelings.

The taxi will be here in five minutes. She thought starting to panic. I bet Mum and Rachel are already there.

“You should wear it”, shouted a muffled voice from behind the towel.

She smiled affectionately at the man with the zany curls as he walked into the bedroom drying off his hair. “It’s your signature outfit after all”, he winked, “Thanks again for letting me use your bathroom by the way; the plumber said mine would be finished tomorrow.”

“No problem, what are mates for?”

Rob had encouraged her to find a job she really loved doing and for the first time in years, she felt alive again.

Her Mum had laughed when she told her what she’d decided to do for a living but once she realised she was serious she was supportive. Her only words of caution were: “Make sure you look into it.”

With Rob’s help that’s what she did and she got a job in the bar at the comedy club. She eyed the gold glitzy top with affection. It had changed her life. She chuckled as she remembered the ‘open mic’ nights at the bar and admired anyone who dared to have a go. For a spilt second when she thought every one was laughing with her, she had felt ecstatic.

Slipping on her heels, adrenaline kicked in and she felt nervous. She examined her reflection in the mirror and smiled. She decided she liked the look, it made her stand out, well, it would when she added an accessory.

“Don’t forget this”, said Rob as he passed her some toilet paper, “It’s your opening line after all”, he winked.