Educating Danielle
Part Six
by Karen E. Lea
Chapter Twenty Nine
The next week
flew by. Monday, I organised Laura’s present, arranging for delivery on the
Friday at her work. Laura came and saw me when I arrived home from the studio.
She related the events of the day. His friend with the coach, faxed over a bill
for the fuel used. Mister Faraday had apoplexy when he saw the price. One
hundred and twenty three dollars and fifty cents. He rang his friend and
accused him of robbing him. His friend said he was lucky he wasn’t going to
charge excess mileage as well. They argued for well over five minutes. She was
sure he wanted to have a shot at her over it, but seemed to think better of it.
“He probably
thought it would use the same amount of fuel as his car.” I laughed. “After the
lunch stop, the way I pushing it along, we were probably only getting about
eight to the gallon.”
The rest of week,
I barely saw the two of them, because of the studio’s schedule. We were
extremely busy and by the time Friday rolled around we were all exhausted.
Friday morning was a bit saner, only two minor jobs in the morning and a chance
to clean the studio up.
When I arrived
that morning, Cindy asked if she, Charlene and a friend could get a lift to her
brother’s place at Dural, a rural suburb not far from where I lived. They were
going to spend the weekend with him on his horse stud. Telling her it would be
fine, with a bit of luck, we may even get an early mark as well.
By two pm, the
place looked great, every thing put away ready to do battle Monday morning.
Looking at my watch, a plan formed in my mind. I sought out Cindy and told her
the lift was now going to cost her. Luckily I was standing out of reach. I told
her to calm down and I would explain.
When Daniel
returned to school after the work experience, one of the boys asked where he
had been. When he explained, they payed out him big time. They called him a
liar, amongst other things. The plan was for you girls to meet him coming out
of school and show him some affection. Cindy loved it.
Cindy’s friend
turned up and I put their bags in the Rover. She introduced Kelly, a tiny five
foot blonde. A flawless milky complexion, her breasts probably a D cup, but
because of her tiny body, looked huge, which she showed off with a scoop neck
top. She had a mini skirt on and four inch heel sandals. Cindy said she was
nineteen, but looking at her, could easily pass for fourteen.
We headed off
putting some fuel in on the way, while Cindy told Kelly what we were doing on
the way. Kelly lamented she still hadn’t found work; the course at TAFE in
Microsoft Office had not opened any doors yet. Cindy told her not to worry,
something will turn up.
§§§
Meanwhile, Laura
was about to have her lunch, she had filled in around the office for everybody,
now it was her turn. She was going for a walk, as the new guy leering at her
had become annoying and uncomfortable. She rose from her desk and was about to
get her sandwich, when Emma from reception called out, “Laura. Someone to see
you.”
She went out to
reception. Standing there was a guy in his mid forties wearing a suit and
holding some paperwork.
“Can I help you?”
she asked.
“John. John
Cameron.” he said holding out his hand, “You are Laura Marsden?”
“Yes.” she said
shaking his hand.
“Happy birthday.
Sorry I’m nervous, but I’ve never delivered a surprise birthday present
before.”
“That’s okay; I’ve
never had a surprise present before.”
“Well, you’ll
have to come outside to receive it; it won’t fit through the door or come up
the steps.”
Laura looked at
Emma, Emma raised her eyebrows. “Lead on.”
Emma jumped up
and followed, what in hell is so big that it won’t fit through double doors she
thought.
Laura stopped at
the bottom of the stairs, nothing in the car park except cars and a guy in
orange overalls smoking a cigarette, who seemed to know John. John had walked
beside a car parked at the foot of the steps.
“I’m sorry John,
what’s so big it won’t fit in to the office?”
Emma glanced at
the number plate of the car, “Um…Laura did you notice this,”
She said pointing
to the front of the car.
Laura stared at
the number plate as if in a trance, it read ‘LAURAW’. She looked at John and
pointed at herself. He nodded slowly and said “Happy birthday from Jeff and
Daniel.”
Emma screamed.
Laura’s hands flew to her face and she cried. “My god, he is crazy.”
John steered her
to the driver’s door and started his spiel, “Volkswagen Golf, two litre auto,
air, power windows, factory…..”
“Excuse me John,”
Laura interrupted, “You have delivered a car as my birthday present from Jeff
Williams.”
“Correct.”
“I don’t owe you
anything?”
“No. Mister
Williams paid cash and prepaid the service for the first three years.”
“He paid cash,
how much?” Emma asked.
“I’m not at
liberty to say.” he replied. Emma dashed off to tell the crowd at the top of
the stairs what had transpired.
“Please tell me
it’s a second hand car. Please.”
“Brand new, just
off the boat, thirty six kilometres.” he said peering at the dashboard. “If you
would like to hop in, and I’ll take you round the block for a quick run down on
the car.”
Laura shook her
head numbly and sat in the driver’s seat. They arrived back in the car park and
she parked in a vacant spot. She started to open the door and swing her legs
out, “Excuse me Miss Marsden, your phone.”
“I don’t have a
phone.”
“Its part of the
present.” he said pointing to Nokia phone in a cradle on the dashboard.
He quickly went
through the basics, “Jeff has the books for the technical stuff, and if you
open the console and reach inside.”
Laura opened the
lid, reached in and pulled out a Visa card. “Best you sign it now.” he said
offering a pen.
“Nothing else
hiding in here?” she said after signing the card in complete shock.
“No. Just the
insurance and registration papers, which are in your name. Thank you Miss
Marsden, it’s been a pleasure.”
Laura said
goodbye, locked the car and dazedly walked upstairs to the office. She turned
at the top of the stairs and looked back at the car, expecting it not to be
there. It was there, ‘LAURAW’ on the number plate. She passed in to reception
and showed Emma the phone and card.
Emma shook her
head in amazement, “Steve in IT reckons that’s nearly a forty thousand dollar
car.”
Laura’s head was
swimming, forty thousand dollars. Jeff has lost his mind. Her fear of this
being a dream was rising again. People congratulated her as she made her way
back to the desk. She sat and nibbled her sandwich, still in shock.
In the office,
one person made Laura’s life a misery. Debbie, Mister Faraday’s daughter. The
only reason she had a job, was because her father was the boss. Laura couldn’t
think of enough adjectives to describe her ineptness. People had moved on,
rather than have to work with her.
Debbie sidled up
to Laura’s desk, “My, aren’t we the perfect whore.”
“Excuse me.”
“Getting a car
bought for you, we must be doing something.”
“How dare you.”
Laura stood and glared at her. The thought of justifiable homicide and the
consequences passed. Debbie just smirked. Before Laura could think of something
to say to the bitch, she heard a mobile ringing, it sounded like Jeff’s and it
was coming from her desk. It was the phone from the car. She picked it up and
said,”Hello.”
“Hi honey, it
obviously been delivered.”
“Yeess. My head
is still spinning.”
“You okay.”
“Sort of.”
“Can’t talk huh.
Get the card from the console?”
“Yes. And you can
take it back. I won’t use it.”
“You can and
will. I love you very much. I’m on the way to pick up Daniel. I’ll see you at
home. Bye”
“Bye.” While she
had been talking, Debbie had skulked off. The nerve of that girl, crocodiles
had better people skills.
The rest of the
afternoon went quickly, although Laura seethed at Debbie’s comments. Ten
minutes before it was time to go, Mister Faraday called Laura to his office
“Ah. Laura. It
pains me say this, but since you have moved and now have a boyfriend, he has
become quite disruptive in your routine and the routine of this office.”
“Excuse me.”
“What I’m trying
to say, is that your boyfriend has wilfully disrupted this office today, and he
has caused considerable pressure on me personally by his actions on the bus
trip.”
“Pressure?”
“Yes, well…….his
donation to the church has caused my mother to pressure me in to making a
similar gesture. And not only that, my friend who owns the coach has told me a
better driver would’ve driven the vehicle more frugally.”
Laura stood
there, not believing this conversation, she wanted to say a lot of things, but
instead said, “You were desperate for a driver at the time.”
“As that may be,
he has been most unpleasant, especially on the phone last Sunday. What future
do you think you have with this person?”
“I think that’s
none of your business, Mister Faraday.”
“Ah. I think you
should think over what I have said.”
Laura was like a
pressure cooker. She wanted to run and cry, but stood her ground, took a breath
and said, “There is one thing. I would like to take my long service leave,
starting Easter, the whole eight weeks.”
“I don’t think I
could allow that……..yes, one moment. That might be a good idea. You could get
yourself together and I could put Debbie in to your position, give her a taste
of responsibility. I agree to your request.”
“Thank you. Good
night.” Laura fled the room, tears welling in her eyes. She picked up her
belongings, went out to the car, left the car park, drove around the corner and
burst in to tears.
§§§
Chapter Thirty
Cindy was still
talking as we neared the school. She told Kelly about Daniel and Danielle,
which I wished she hadn’t, but too late. “He is so cute, when he’s dressed, you
can’t tell he’s a boy.”
I pulled up at
the school and parked the Rover away from the gate and told the girls to hang
around the gate, hoping we were at the right one. Students started to drift out
from the school, the girls in short skirts and heels were certainly attracting
attention.
Three minutes
later, I saw Daniel walking towards the gate, Cindy had seen him too. She
nudged the girls and they started to walk towards him. He was walking, head down
in front of a group of boys his own age, lost in thought. Cindy called his
name.
He looked up,
puzzled, then recognition dawned, “Cindy? Hi……..” Cindy wrapped her arms around
him and kissed him on the lips. She let go finally and Charlene took her place.
“Hi Charlene……”
Soon as Charlene
parted from Daniel, Kelly stepped in, “My turn.” she said looping her arms
around his neck and pulled him for a kiss and a half. After about twenty
seconds Daniel decided he better do something with his hands and placed them on
her waist. Ten seconds later, they came up for air.
Daniel stood
there stunned. “This is Kelly.” Cindy introduced.
“Er….hi Kelly.”
After a bit of
small talk, Cindy grabbed one arm and Kelly grabbed the other and led him to
the Rover. As they walked, a senior boy called out, “When you’re ready for a
real man, I’m over here.”
“Thanks, but
we’ve already found one.” Cindy retorted.
We drove to
Cindy’s brother’s acreage, a ten acre property where he bred race horses.
Introductions all round, Robert invited us in for a drink. We sat around the
pool, sipping our drinks and chatting. The girls decided on a swim, Daniel
declined, “No costume.” he declared.
The girls changed
in the cabana. They eventually emerged; Cindy called Daniel over to the cabana.
Robert discussed business in general when he stopped mid sentence. “My God“ he
exclaimed.
My back was to
the cabana, but I could see the look of shock on Robert’s face. I turned to see
Daniel in a girl’s floral one piece swimsuit, high cut at the leg, his penis
obviously tucked away. He walked to the pool and dived in.
“Well. That
didn’t take much.” Cindy commented as she walked past.
Robert tried to
pick up the conversation where he had left off, finally he said, “You came in
with a boy? Right.”
“Right.”
He shook his
head. The girls screamed and squealed in the pool tossing a ball to and fro,
Daniel being big on squealing. Daniel and Kelly had paired off against the two
older girls. Any pretence to touch each other was taken. After half an hour in
the pool, they finally left the pool and lay in the dying afternoon sun
talking.
After twenty
minutes, I called to Daniel that we better go. He reluctantly rose and went to
change. Robert told him to keep the costume, it had been left there by someone
long forgotten and he looked too good in it.
We all wandered
out to the car, the girls all kissed Daniel again, with Kelly finding a full
thirty seconds for him.
We headed for
home, with Daniel deep in thought. Finally he spoke, “Thanks for the surprise
this afternoon.”
“That’s okay. The
girls wanted a lift and it fitted in with you getting out of school.” We drove
in silence for a couple of kilometres. “Kelly seemed nice?”
“Yea. She’s
cool.”
“Cool. I don’t
know what she would do if there was nobody around. She seemed to like you.”
“You think.”
“I think. Do you
like her?” He nodded his head.
§§§
Cindy cornered
Kelly in the bedroom after their showers. “So?”
“What?”
“I thought you
liked girls?”
“And?”
“Well. Daniel’s a
boy.”
“He’s cute with a
capital C. Not only that, he’s really cute.”
“You didn’t have
to kiss him at the school you know.”
“Cindy. Can’t I
like a guy?”
“He’s sixteen and
you knew him twenty seconds.”
“I stand by my
original statement, he’s cute.”
“Well wait to you
meet Danielle, she’s hot. Today was nothing.”
“I’m looking
forward to it.”
“Anyway, what
about Megan?”
“We broke up. She
met a forty year old at the club, promised her the world.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, she
was a bossy, jealous bitch.”
“Come on, let’s
get dinner.”
§§§
We drove into our
street, ahead was a silver Golf, “There’s your mum.” I followed her up the
drive to the house.
Daniels eyes
widened at the number plate, “Is that her birthday present?”
“Yup.”
“Now that’s
cool.”
We got out of the
car and walked up to Laura as she got out of the Golf, she turned to me “You
bastard. Money means nothing to you.” she said bursting in to tears.
Taken aback
momentarily, I then hugged her, “Calm down, what happened.”
In between sobs,
she related the conversations from the afternoon. “There must be a special
school for people like this; I might have to rip his head after all.”
She sobbed and
giggled, which came out as a snort. “Thank you for the present, but you
shouldn’t have.”
“My pleasure. You
can sleep in on work days now.”
Daniel hugged his
mum, “Happy birthday mum.”
“Thank you
honey.” she said returning the hug.
“Daniel has had
an exciting afternoon as well. He’s won a heart.” Daniel blushed.
We told Laura of
the afternoon’s events, while we put the cars in the garage. “Feel better.” I
asked.
“I guess. I
apologise for what I said earlier, but I can’t get over what she said to me.”
“Maybe it’s the
only way she knows?”
Laura smiled.
“Well it wouldn’t be from her looks.”
“Forget her,
let’s have dinner and get ready for our girls day out shopping tomorrow.”
“What’s this girl
like?”
“Nineteen, very
pretty, tiny, not even five foot. Nice girl.”
Chapter Thirty One
Laura made dinner
while I helped Daniel with his false boobs. He put on the sports bra, a T
shirt, skirt, lipstick and mascara. He brushed out his hair and there stood
Danielle.
Dinner out of the
way, Danielle went to the bathroom for nail polish, did her toenails and her
own nails after shaping them. She fetched my false nails, while I attached
them; she painted my toenails, then my nails. We took Laura home and went to
bed ourselves.
Next morning, far
away, I could hear, “Aunt Karen, wakey wakey.” The voice vanished, then
returned, “Aunt Karen, wakey wakey.” My eyes slowly opened to Danielle standing
beside the bed dressed, makeup done. “At last, I didn’t think you were going to
wake-up?”
“Wos the time?”
“Seven forty
five.”
“What.” I
exclaimed sitting upright, “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?”
“It wasn’t through
lack of trying.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay; I’ve
got your clothes out ready.”
“I’ve always
wanted a maid.” I said getting out of bed.
“Well keep
looking; I’ve got better things to do, than look after you.”
“My. Don’t we
have airs?” I said laughing heading for the ensuite and shower.
“What do you want
for breakfast?” she asked.
“Toast and OJ.” I
called out as I shut the door.
Showered and
dried, I came out to the bedroom and sat at the dressing table and did my
makeup. Then a tight fitting panty, my 18D bra and falsies to suit. Waist
cincher and a black above the knee skirt. My earrings, necklace, bracelets,
watch and rings quickly slipped on, and then the three quarter sleeve crimson
blouse. Spritzing perfume on my wrists and chest, I checked my appearance,
happy; I headed for the kitchen after finding some flat shoes. There was some
serious walking involved today.
“You look great.”
Danielle said as I walked in to the kitchen.
“If I look great,
you’re absolutely terrific.”
“Thank you.” she
said demurely.
“This is not
stressing you is it, changing sex every weekend is it?”
“No, but I wish I
could stay dressed for longer periods.”
“You’ll get
there, don’t worry.” We talked about places we would visit today, hoping we
would find a dress for the wedding. We finished our breakfast; I washed up, and
I checked my lipstick, while Danielle went to find her mum, after warning her
to enter by the back gate.
Ten minutes
later, we were all standing out at the garage. I insisted Laura take her new
car. Reluctantly she agreed, but was nervous. We arrived in the centre of the
city forty minutes later; we parked the car in the basement of the QVB. The
quest commenced.
After two hours
and hundreds of dresses on racks, we were beginning to despair that anything
would be right. Nothing seemed to click. We stopped for a coffee and a break
from walking. Coffee break over, we checked our makeup and continued the
search.
Two shops later,
we found two dresses that were promising. Danielle tried the red one on first,
a halter neck with the bodice covering her breasts just leaving a hint of
cleavage. It flared out over her slim hips to just above the knee. Simple but
elegant. Next she tried on the black dress, Scoop cowl neck with spaghetti
straps, a silver fleck through the material. The hem on the right side was just
above the knee flowing across to the left side below the knee. Sophisticated
and chic.
Now we couldn’t
make our mind up. The saleswoman fussed and cooed around Danielle saying how
good she looked. We hummed and hahed, they were both very nice. “We’ll take
both.” I finally said.
“Karen. She can
be happy with one or the other.”
“No. We’ll take
both.”
Danielle changed,
while we had the sale rang up. I convinced Laura to use her new credit card.
“Easy.” I said.
“Too easy.” she
replied.
We headed for a
shop that sold shoes for special occasions. We showed the salesgirl the dresses
and she bought out some four inch black satin pumps and a small matching
handbag. Danielle tried on the shoes. Perfect first go. For the red dress, we
bought a pair of red sandals with ankle strap with a four inch heel. Now we
were getting somewhere, we decided on a lunch stop and rest our weary feet.
Entering a small
café in Centrepoint, we heard a little voice calling out, “Aunty Dani, Aunty
Dani, over here.” Timothy and his mum were seated in a booth at the back. He
rushed to Danielle; she scooped him up and carried him back to the booth. Laura
and I followed and said hello to Marcie. They had just sat down and she asked
us to join them. Timothy was telling Danielle every thing rapidly as possible
that had happened to him since the wedding.
Marcie commented
that Daniell will make an excellent mum, but may have trouble with such narrow
hips. We nodded our heads knowingly. Lunch ordered, Timothy loudly announced
that he wanted to go to the toilet. Marcie rolled her eyes, “That’s the third
time in two hours.”
“I’ll take him.”
Danielle offered.
“Thank you.”
They wandered off
hand in hand. “She’s a sweet girl, nice manners…..I have a friend with a
seventeen year old daughter, swears like a state trooper, doesn’t lift a finger
around the house, it’s nice to know there are good kids like Danielle around.”
“Yes, she’s a
good kid.” Laura said.
“Mum told me the
other day, she’s only sixteen?”
“She’s very grown
up in her approach to things.” I said.
“I wish I had a
daughter.” Marcie lamented, “I nearly burst in to tears when they told me I had
a son, I was so sure I was having a girl. I think every mother wants a least
one daughter. Don’t get me wrong, Timothy is wonderful, but we keep trying for
another child.”
The conversation
was interrupted by our lunch being served and the return of Danielle and
Timothy. “Aunt Karen?”
“Yes.”
“That woman out
in the mall, the one near the pillar, lots of makeup.”
“Yes, I see her.”
“She asked me if
I wanted to be a model, I said no, and then she followed me back here.”
“Mummy. Danibell
sits down in the toilet like you.”
“I’m sure she
does dear, and her name is Danielle.” Timmy happy in that piece of information
being imparted, tucked in to his sandwich.”
While we ate, the
woman was still waiting outside the café. We finished our coffee and checked
our makeup and redid our lipstick. Timmy wanted to do the same; Danielle put a
little powder on his nose which seemed to satisfy him. We paid the bill and
stood to leave; kissing Marcie and Timmy, Danielle told Timothy she would see
him during the school holidays.
Finally saying
goodbye and entering the mall, the woman pounced on Danielle, “I don’t think
you understood me earlier, I can help you in to the modelling business. You
could make a great deal of money with your looks. If you sign a contract today,
we will do a portfolio for you for at half price……”
“I’m sorry,”
Danielle interrupted, “But I’m not interested, I have a portfolio and contacts
already.” Silently congratulating Danielle on keeping a level head and putting
the woman in her place, I moved closer to intervene.
She spoke, “Ah,
but we have much better contacts, who did your portfolio?”
“Starburst.”
“I don’t like to
denigrate people, but you couldn’t have picked a worst place, they know
nothing. How much did they charge for your portfolio?”
“Nothing.”
“Who do you work
for?” I asked.
“Sid Nolan’s
Agency, but that’s none of your business.” she answered haughtily. I might have
guessed, Sid Nolan was a fat, balding, lecherous prick and that was being nice.
After a six month contract, nobody signed for a second term, most of the girls
didn’t want to model again. “It is my business, that’s my brother you are
slandering.” I said my voice hardening, trying hard to keep Karen’s voice.
“And you are?”
“Karen Williams,
my brother owns Starburst and this is his daughter.”
“Oh.” The woman’s
smile faded.
“Come on honey.”
I said grabbing Danielle’s hand and storming off with Laura in our wake. I was
ready to throttle the woman and I wanted to get away from her.
“That was nice.”
said Danielle. I looked at her eyebrows raised.
“Well, to be
called Jeff’s daughter.” she said smiling.
“You’ll always be
Jeff’s daughter.” I said hugging her.
We went to a
lingerie shop for new underwear to suit the new dresses. First we found a red
halter neck bra and matching panties, and then after a search, a black
strapless bra, panties and pantyhose. Purchases paid for, we headed for the car
and home.
Chapter Thirty Two
Laura drove in to
the garage and parked next to the Rover. We unloaded the purchases and took
them to Danielle’s room and hung the clothes, removed the tags from the
underwear. Putting the shoes in to the wardrobe, Danielle announced she had
homework to do on the computer. Laura asked me to come down to her house to
help her.
We let ourselves
in through the back door and in to the kitchen. I closed the door and Laura
said “Its Karen’s turn.” We kissed, our lipstick mingling, she dragged me to
the bedroom.
One hour later,
we lay on the bed, me in my bra, waist cincher and wig. Laura was naked,
cuddled in to me.
“Your makeup is a
mess.” Laura giggled.
“Yours is not
much better.”
We lay there
kissing and cuddling, when Laura had a thought, “The wedding next week, I think
I found a way around our little problem. Jeff and Daniel couldn’t make it at
the last minute because of a special job.”
“Hmm.”
“So, Jeff’s
sister Karen and her daughter Danielle take their place.”
“I didn’t know I
knew a genius.”
“You like that
solution.”
“I love it.” I
had barely said it, and the back door slammed.
“Oh my god.”
Laura said jumping from the bed, grabbing her robe. We heard the footsteps go
to Daniel’s room and then retreat, and the back door slammed again. “My son
dressed as a teenage girl, nearly catches me bed with my boyfriend, who’s
dressed as a woman.”
“Sounds like a
headline out of a tabloid.” I agreed. We retrieved our clothes, redressed and I
repaired my makeup, found my shoes, pecking Laura on the cheek on my way out.
I found Danielle
on the internet in the study. She looked up and said “Hi, help mum okay.”
“Yep, fine.”
Danielle giggled.
“What’s so
funny?” I enquired.
“Nothing.”
“You think it’s
funny.”
“I think it’s
great. I bet we’ll all be living together by the end of the month.”
“Would you like
that?”
“You bet.”
“Well, I have to
go turn back in to Jeff for tonight and you had better think about getting
ready yourself. Are you going to wear the red or black dress?”
“I think the red
one; keep the black one for the wedding.” We went our separate ways to shower
and dress.
Chapter Thirty Three
Emerging forty
minutes later, I sat in the lounge and read a magazine waiting for Danielle.
Twenty minutes later she glided in to the room, she was stunning; with a
capital S. “You look great.”
“Only great. I
was going for stupendous. Do I pass muster?”
“Okay. I’ll admit
stupendous and yes. You obviously learnt some things from Cindy.”
“Yes, and a bit
of practise and experimenting after school.”
“It certainly
paid off. Let’s go and get your mum.” We went down to the house, entered
through the rear door and waited for Laura. She came out a few minutes later
dressed in a little black dress and four inch sandals. She looked beautiful.
Danielle turned towards her mother, who let out a gasp of surprise. “He was
going for stupendous.”
“It worked.” she
replied.
A car horn
sounded, announcing the arrival of the cab I had booked. Ten minutes later we
were pulling in to a five star hotel, which had a nice restaurant attached. I
paid the cab and entered the restaurant hand in hand with both of them. The
maitre d led us to our table and every male eye in the crowded restaurant
followed us, even some jealous female eyes.
Two waiters
rushed over to seat Danielle and Laura. We ordered champagne and studied the
menu. The wine was served while we still made decisions on what to have.
Danielle giggled as the bubbles tickled her nose and finally we gave our order
to the waiters. When our meal was served, we ate and chatted.
Just as we
finished the main meal, a small band had started to set up near a small dance
floor. Sipping my wine, I was watching the drummer putting his kit together
when a young man approached our table, “Excuse me.” he said.
Danielle looked
in his direction, she started, and putting her hand to her chest and a small
gasp left her lips.
“I’m sorry…..I
didn’t mean to….startle you.”
“You caught me
unawares.” Danielle answered blushing.
I studied the
young man, eighteen maybe, six foot, and well dressed, black wavy hair. Not
ugly by any stretch of the imagination. I was trying to work out Danielle’s
reaction to him; she was like she had seen a ghost. The confident young man
that approached the table was no more, he stammered, “Um….I was hoping….when
the band starts……would you have the first dance with me?”
Danielle sat
there for a second, her mouth opened and closed as if to say something. “I’m
sure she would.” Laura answered for her.
I stood up and
shook his hand, and introduced myself, “Jeff.”
“Greg…..Greg
Wilson.” he replied.
“This is Danielle
and her mum Laura.” They said hello in unison.
“Danielle. Time
to powder our noses.” They rose and left the table, heading for the ladies.
§§§
The girls heels cluttered
on the tiles as they entered the ladies. Laura turned and faced Danielle, after
checking they were alone, “Honey what’s the matter, you were like you saw a
ghost out there.”
“Not quite, Greg
is the school captain; I was shocked when I looked up and saw who it was.”
“And?”
“I was afraid he
would recognise me.”
“Hell. I don’t
recognise you, there’s two years difference between you, plus, he wouldn’t even
know who Daniel Marsden is, let alone recognise you.”
“I guess.”
“I think you were
shocked that a boy came over and asked for a dance, weren’t you?” Danielle
nodded.
“Honey, boys are
attracted to pretty girls and you are prettier than most, and to top it off,
you look twenty tonight.”
“Mum, I don’t to
want to attract boys.” Danielle whispered.
“Not every girl
who goes out wants to attract boys either, but it happens. Just remember you
are in control. I wish I had let you dress when you were younger and let you
grow up in this over a period of time. But the places we have lived in over the
years probably would have made it impossible.”
“Oh mum.”
Danielle said hugging Laura. They moved towards the stalls and business
attended to, checked their makeup.
“Tomorrow, I
think we have a mother daughter talk, okay.”
“Yes mum.”
“In the meantime
have a dance, enjoy yourself, Jeff and I will always be there to help you.”
“I’m just
nervous.”
“You’ll be okay,
remember, you are in control.” Before Danielle could answer, two girls entered.
They picked up their handbags and headed for the door. Laura reached for
Danielle’s hand and gave it a squeeze and they headed for the table.
§§§
I looked up as
Laura and Danielle walked up to the table, raising an eyebrow in Laura’s
direction, she answered, “Greg’s the school captain, she freaked when she saw
who it was.”
“Ahh hah.” We
listened to the band tune up, then launch in to their first song. Greg was back
in an instant and escorted Danielle to the dance floor. They danced through two
songs, and then Laura and I joined them for the next two. We went back to the
table for the dessert and coffee. Greg seated Danielle at the table and after
promising another dance to him, he went back to his table.
“Well?” Laura
asked.
“I’m not entirely
comfortable, but it’s okay.”
Danielle had just
finished her dessert and was sipping her coffee, when a guy in his early
twenties, appeared as if by magic beside the table. Introducing himself as
Wayne, he asked politely for a dance. She accepted, touched her lips lightly
with the napkin, rose from the table and allowed herself to be led to the dance
floor. While this had been happening, I had noticed Greg heading in our
direction, then turn back with a disappointed look on his face and return to
his table.