Brenda Monk Is Funny by Katy Brand

Author:Katy Brand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Comedy
Publisher: Unbound
Published: 2014-06-10T13:38:21+00:00

11

Fenella had explained that the Women in Comedy drinks happened with haphazard regularity – maybe three times a year, and was often prompted by an occasion, such as Christmas in this case. So Brenda found herself in an upstairs room in a central London pub at the Women in Comedy Christmas Drinks. Three tables in one corner had been noisily shoved together and the new mega-table was surrounded by fifteen or so women of varying ages, sizes and abilities. In the opposite corner of the room were three middle-aged men, clutching pints and trying to work out what was going on. Fenella saw Brenda hovering in the doorway by the upstairs bar and shouted her over.

‘This is the famous Brenda Monk I was telling you about. She’s just started doing stand-up about three months ago – got her first paid gig next this week.’

‘Congratulations,’ said one of the three women Fenella was standing with at that precise moment.

‘This is Josephine Pascal,’ said Fenella.

Brenda recognised her from a gig she had been to years ago, before Jonathan was on the scene. She was a distinctive looking woman, not easily forgotten: very small, like a twelve-year-old boy, but with defined muscles in her arms that she showed off to great effect in a loose pale pink sleeveless vest. With dark gleaming skin, black, black eyes and very short hair, shaved up the sides and back with the just the beginnings of a tight afro on top, the beauty was arresting and slightly intimidating.

‘Hi,’ said Josephine, sticking out her hand to be shaken. Her manner seemed a bit chilly, though Brenda didn’t know why.

‘And Nellie Dibbot and Katherine, who works as Miss Linger the Librarian.’

‘Ah yes. I didn’t recognise you without your… clothes, uh, make-up, I mean, sorry,’ said Brenda, frantically trying to remember which acts she had seen on stage over the past few years. Miss Linger was, as far as she could recall, a woman who performed an aggressive feminist burlesque routine and then painted her naked body red whilst shouting a reasonably funny monologue about her observations of animal behaviour.

‘I prefer it that way. I’m not as scary off-stage…’

‘So, you’re working as a stand-up,’ said Josephine.

Brenda was in no doubt now, her tone had a frost to it.

‘Yes, I’ve only just started. I’m not very good at the moment.’

‘No-one’s very good when they first start,’ Nellie said smiling, clearly eager to be liked, playing with her nicely highlighted shoulder length blonde hair.

Fenella, who had disappeared to the bar, returned with a drink for Brenda which she swigged gratefully, wishing she’d had a drink before she arrived. This suddenly felt intimidating.

‘I’ve known stand-ups socially for ages though and I used to review comedy a lot so I’ve seen loads of it. But of course, it’s very different when you’re actually up there.’

Nellie laughed for no particular reason and Katherine nodded in agreement.

‘How’s it been going?’

‘Not bad. I’ve done about thirty gigs now…’

‘And you’ve got a paid one already? You must be good.

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