The DJ at Billy and Betty's wedding anniversary had been asked to play a song at exactly 9:35 pm, as Billy would say, ‘That's the time happiness danced into my life.’
The opening haunting sounds, of the couples favourite song ‘Changes’ by David Bowie, started to fill the room
'Oh, yeah Mmm.’
Billy struggled to pull himself out of his chair, he took a few seconds to “get his feet” and purposefully strode across the dance floor as the song continued,
'Still don't know what I was waitin' for
And my time was runnin' wild
A million dead end streets and
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
How the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test'
By the time he arrived at Betty the songs chorus had begun to kick in,
'Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
There's gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time'
He coughed loudly to get her attention as she was in an animated “gab” with what she quaintly and fondly called “the young team” that had surrounded her like chicks to a mother hen.
'Are you dancing?' he politely asked
She smiled up at him, 'You asking?'
'I'm asking,’ he replied and took her hand.
'Then, I'm dancing,’ she said with a smile and they foxtrotted across the dance floor like Fred and Ginger.
The song continued,
'As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through'
They both started singing as loud as they could.
'Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes'
Their friends and family had quickly gathered round the dance floor and started to join in with the Billy and Betty “Bowie ritual".
'Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Where's your shame?
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time'
The DJ started talking over the song via microphone.
'OK then, let's have a few words from the happy couple'
Billy shook his hands and head in mock disagreement, but Betty took him by the hand, 'Don't kid yoursel’, big Yin, you've got a speech in your jacket pocket, so on ye go.’
The music faded out as he was handed the cordless microphone, he banged the microphone to check if it was on and the noise got him the attention of the room.
He took a deep breath as the room fell silent.
‘Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking.’
The room erupted with laughter.
‘Aye right!’
'Who are you kidding, ya blether.’
He continued, 'On behalf of my wife and I,’ cheers and whooping filled the room, 'I'd like to thank you all for being here tonight' Betty smiled at him and gave him a wee wave.
'In December 1971 that song was on an album called Hunky Dory and I was at a friends Christmas party, which, by the way, required you to bring your own vinyl if you wanted to hear the good stuff.'
His grandchildren in the crowd shouted, ‘On you go, Granda, was that your mobile back in the day?’
‘Your record vinyl collection is now wanted by the museum, Granda.’
'The Antiques Roadshow called looking for your vinyl'
'That's you 3 OOT THE WILL,’ he joked.
As the laughter subsided he took his speech out of his pocket, ‘I'd like to share some memories with you all on this very special day.’
The room fell silent.
'The first thing you need to know is that life comes in 4 stages, first you have your youth, then comes the middle age and, thirdly, you get told you're looking good for your age.' They all started laughing
'Finally the stage you never get to see is when people say that you're looking like you're still alive.’ Again, this was met with shrill laughter.
'Things have changed since Betty and I were courting.’ The old ones in the crowd nodded their acknowledgment and the young ones seemed perplexed.
'We had to chat to a lassie face to face as opposed to your texting and Facebook shenanigans.’
'A Chinese meal with your beloved was a proper date, a sit down treat in a restaurant with a proper tablecloth and Babycham for Betty and a Guinness for myself, and you asked each other what you'd been doing. Today you young ones just order a hone delivery and eat it in front of that Nettyflix thing and message each other whilst yer in the same room, how's that a date night?'
The young lads went back to looking perplexed and the young lassies nodded their heads in agreement with Billy. Betty was trying hard to remember the last time she had tasted Babycham, as vodka – for quite some time now – had been her alcohol of choice.
'In conclusion I’d like to tell you something freaky that only Betty and I know.’
The Room fell silent.
'The song “Changes” on the album lasts for 3 minutes and 35 seconds and that’s 215 seconds and the house we met in was 215 Castlemilk Drive.’ Betty smiled at Billy and blew him a kiss.
'Ever since, my life’s been going well or, as they say, Hunky Dory, and I wouldn’t change a thing.’