Ruby pushed open the heavy theatre door and walked outside. The evening was warm, unusual for Luxville, the view though was its usual fabulous. The pink dusk that settled on the clock tower of the City Hall on the hill. The theatre lights that reflected in car windows as they passed. The momentary flash of cameras in the Titanic Bandstand. The huge ancient trees that strolled in couples up the centre median. The full moon that couldn’t wait for dark.
All Luxville icons. Frames of fantastic that confirmed for Ruby why she had fallen for the place a few years ago. “Show us ya shopping!” a guy yelled at her as his car flew past up Strut St, confirming that Luxville citizens still needed some polishing.
“Charming!” said Kiri as she appeared beside Ruby. They walked together in post show quiet.
Ruby’s skirt made a swishing sound that melded with the beat of her boots on the path. Rhythm to a daydream. She loved living right in the centre of town, five minutes to anywhere. She took in the luminescent green of the leaves, the bright red lights of the cars as they passed her, and the yellow glow of the street lights. She blinked and the colours seeped like coloured water into her head. Gorgeous clashy colours.
“That chick was pretty amazing.” Ruby broke the silence.
“Nellie is so fabulous,” Kiri responded “no idea why no-one goes to see her.”
“Well I wouldn’t have unless you dragged me. It’s just not my kind of thing.” Ruby lifted her skirt as she stepped over the bluestone gutter.
“Me? I like a challenge.” Kiri stamped in the gutter splashing water onto both their legs. “And I like buying art.”
“Your shout Kiri.” Ruby said as she stepped inside the warm golden glow of the front bar.
The women sitting near the open fire turned and welcomed them with a round of applause. They sat in over-stuffed club lounges, needles and hooks in constant motion, in rhythm with their mouths. The audio regularly peaking with roars of laughter.
At ‘Stich and Bitch’ the bitching was optional. The weekly sessions had grown along with the group’s notoriety. The yarn bombing of the Town Hall last month, lambasted in the local rag, had brought a few more craft rebels out of the woodwork. The fines for ‘criminal damage to a public building’ though had left a sour taste.
“Wrap the whole bloody town in gold yarn. Just let them try to arrest us!” yelled Kitty. “Who’s in?” she was insistent. Her pink fingernail polish flashing as her silver needle hemmed the grey woolen frock she was wearing.
“Oh I know! Let’s put a work around every tree up Strutt St. Art or craft, I’m bi-textural. Surround the bloody council with art.”
Kitty appealed to Ruby and Kiri who were waiting at the bar. “You’re both in right?”
“Nellie’s show closed tonight. Where were you all?” Kiri asked quietly.
“Shit. Her last show? Really?” Ruby said. “I should have told her she was great.”
“She’ll still be there bumping out.”
“Ok then I will.” said Ruby took off out the door.
“I will too.” Kitty took off after Ruby, needle and thread swinging wildly from the hem of her frock.
“I’ll hold the bar up til they get back. One glass of house white. Large please.” Kiri said to Christine behind the bar, as Kitty ran back in, grabbed her cape and twirled it into the air around her neck. Blasts of pink and grey breeze moving as she made her second exit.
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