I was relieved to learn that Denise’s young friends had found someone to take her place, and that Jenny’s mother would now be driving them to the convention. Denise and I had been looking forward to a weekend away with Jean and her daughters, but there was nothing that either of us could do about it once she was admitted to the hospital. However, at least I no longer have to feel guilty about letting them all down. I’ll also be quite pleased to get away to our cottage in Wales with Denise for a few weeks as soon as she’s able to travel, but I’ve made it clear to her that we will be taking things easily this time. There will be no more of the usual exhausting shopping trips to Liverpool or Chester; there is no more space for new clothes in her wardrobe or chest of drawers as it is.

After she came home after her operation Denise asked me, if I would collect her friends so that they could come round to our house and cheer her up. I was happy enough to do so long as she promises not to try anything silly such as attempting to dance along with them. I’m getting to know Karen quite well, and think that she is a sensible girl but I’ve only seen her sister and their friend Jenny on a couple of occasions. They are a little more flighty, but I guess they’re all typical teenage girls.

When I arrived at Jean’s house at lunch-time there was also another girl with them. She was a little shorter than the others, about the same size as Denise. She was quite pretty with lovely long brown hair, which looked as if it had been styled recently.

‘Hi Mrs Crawford and thanks for giving us all a lift this afternoon, said Karen. ‘By the way, this is Jenny’s cousin, Josie, who will be taking Denise’s place at the Convention,’ she continued, referring to the newcomer.

The new girl smiled a little shyly and shook hands with me.

‘I was very sorry to hear about Denise, and glad she’s now recovering. I hope she wasn’t too disappointed about having to miss the competition,’ she said.

‘Yes, she was a little upset, dear, but her father and I plan to take her away on holiday as soon as she’s signed off by the hospital,’ I replied.

‘That’ll be nice for her. Thank you for letting me go in her place, and lending me her costume.’

She struck me as being a polite, sensible kind of girl.

‘That’s all right, my dear. I was just pleased to know that the other three won’t be disappointed as well. I understand that your Aunt will also now be going in my place.’

The new girl looked puzzled for a second, but Jennifer joined the conversation.

‘Yes, my cousin is staying for a few days and then Mum will be driving us to the convention. She is also going to stay for the weekend in your place. By the way, she asked me to find out how much she owes you for the tickets.’

‘Tell her not to worry about the payment, I’m just glad that she’ll be able to take over from me. I’m also relieved that Jean will have a second adult to help keep an eye on the four of you.’

‘But we would never give anyone any trouble, would we girls?’ said Sue to the others, laughing.

The new girl smiled but seemed a little hesitant.

I’d told Denise that she ought to stay in bed on Thursday morning but that we’d help her to go downstairs to sit on the sofa once her friends arrived. I therefore directed the four girls to go up to her bedroom.

‘Come in everyone and put your costumes on my bed,’ said Denise as they entered.

I stayed for a little while as the visitors made enquiries as to my daughter’s health, but I could see they were all waiting for me to go. This was fair enough, I know that I wouldn’t have wanted my Mum present when I was with my girlfriends at that age. As soon as I left there was loads of excited girlish chatter and giggling coming from her bedroom, which of course immediately subsided as I re-entered the room half an hour later with some drinks for everyone. The girls did however permit me to join them to watch their song and dance routine in our sitting room.

‘Girls that was very good,’ I said, ‘you all look great, just like a real 1990s girl group.

(I wouldn’t have said anything else to them, but in actual fact it was quite true.)

‘Thank you Mrs Crawford. Three of us have been practising for much of the last fortnight and Josie has worked hard over the last few days to fill in for Denise,’ said Karen.

Denise looked impressed as well.

‘Alright, so that’s the first competition covered. So now may we see you in your historical costumes,’ she said. ‘Josie, would you like me to help you get changed and put on that dreaded corset?’

Before Josie had a chance to answer, I interrupted.

‘No dear I don’t want you doing anything that might put a strain on your stitches. I’ll help Josie to get dressed’.

The new girl seemed to be horrified by the prospect of my helping her to get changed.

‘No, honestly Mrs Crawford, it will be alright I’ll do it for her’ said Karen, ‘after all we have to be able to get one another ready on Saturday evening’.

‘Mum, if I promise not to do anything to help, can I at least go with them and watch Josie get herself ready,’ said Denise, ‘after all she will be wearing my dress’.

‘Alright then,’

The girls took another forty minutes or so to get changed into their long dresses and to help one another to style their hair. I knew from experience that the dress I’d bought for Denise would require the services of someone to tie of the laces on the corset.

Eventually the four of them came downstairs in their new outfits, and paraded round the sitting room. They all looked lovely, but there was no doubt that Josie looked the best, and I felt quite sorry for Denise that the dress which had been bought for her would now be worn by another girl, but of course I couldn’t say anything. That didn’t prevent my daughter from saying what was on my mind.

‘All four of you look really great, but I’m bound to be a little biased since I chose Josie’s dress in the first place, so I think that looks best of all.’

Josie didn’t say anything and avoided the gaze of the others, but I could see she was quite pleased.

Our visitors changed back into their everyday clothes and spent the rest of the afternoon entertaining Denise in her bedroom until it was time for tea. After tea they all watched a video until Jack announced that it was time for him to drive them all home.

‘Good luck to everyone tomorrow evening and over the weekend,’ said Denise as they were leaving, ‘I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you all. And as for you Josie, I’m amazed at the progress you’ve made over the last week’.

I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant by that but Josie seemed to glow with pleasure.