Take Three Girls. This is about 2 girls and one woman (myself) and their very different route to become the women they knew they should be. It was going to be called Take Two Girls, but an on line friend (she knows who she is) and the girls bullied me into the name change. Some poetic licence has been used to help the flow of the story but not very much.

In this Carl and myself have a heart to heart talk about that kiss and Kate ends up in police custody.
While Victoria is blissfully happy with her hormone treatment organised for when she reaches the age of 16.

I ordered a salad as I was in a dieting phase to continue my weight loss and retrain my stomach to get used to smaller amounts of food. Carl ordered a mixed grill (Large) and we sat talking as we waited for the food.
The talk was somewhat stilted so eventually I had to say something, “Carl” I started, “Please talk to me as you would a friend – at the moment you sound like a ventriloquists dummy and that’s not you!”

Carl looked at me steadily finally he said, “It’s hard Avril when I fancy you something rotten!” There it was out in the open it had been said.
I gently smiled and told him, “Carl I’m very flattered but I’m the same age as your mum.” He came straight back at me saying, “Av age is just a number anyhow you don’t look as old as me mam!”
This annoyed me for some reason and I snapped back at him, “Your mother has every right to look her age. She’s brought you three up and Kate and is in a very stressful relationship – none of this could have been easy for her!”
Suitably chastened he shamefacedly said, “You’re right I shouldn’t have said that about me mam – sorry.”
“Look Carl how old are you 22?” he nodded. “There’s 13 years difference in us, I would love to have you as a friend but no further than that – could you live with that?”
The food arrived and we spent some time eating finally he spoke up, “Avril I’d like you for a friend – but that won’t stop me fancying you. Can you live with that?” I nodded because my mouth was full of food. Swallowing I said, “Yes I can live with that - friends?” I held my hand out for him to shake; which he did then he kissed it.
We carried on eating and chatting away normally not in the stilted way it had been before.

I saw a lot of Victoria well when I say saw what I really mean I shopped a lot with Victoria she loved to window shop sometimes it was with her mother who told me that as soon as Victoria turns 16 she has arranged for her to go straight onto hormones so she can flourish as a girl.
I thought this was an excellent idea and went about suggesting to Helen that she do the same with her doctor – knowing money was tight I offered to pay for anything she couldn’t afford as I wanted the best for Kate which I told her when she questioned me as to my motives.

So the year passed and I continued to have Kate most weekends her 15th birthday came and for a change we took her to the Hungry Horse. Carl and I were still friends but I had the feeling he still wanted something more; and I must admit I did find myself wondering what it would be like to errr well you know!

Then one night something happened to change all this peace and serenity. It was about midnight two months after Kate’s 15th birthday when I was awoken by my phone.
Groggily I answered it, “Hello Avril Grant” it was the police! The vice squad in one of the red light districts had picked up Kate. The police realised that she was under age and the only thing Kate would say was to call her Aunty Avril.

The upshot of this was I ended up at the main police station at one in the morning. The desk sergeant told me that one of the regular girls had seen Kate and had tipped off the vice squad also this girl had kept and eye on Kate to make sure that she was safe.
A female police officer then took me to Kate saying, “When you see her it’ll be a shock!” Wondering what she meant and fearing the worst I followed the officer into a room.
There sat Kate in a skimpy skirt and tight fitting long sleeved leopard skin top and looking like – well there is no nice way to say this she looked exactly like Coco the Clown!
To say her make up was thick is putting it mildly I simply couldn’t help myself I burst into a fit of giggling.
Kate glared at me with those laser green eyes. Wiping tears from my eyes I said to the policewoman, “I see what you meant she has overdone it a bit!” I’ll leave you with her” she told me, “when you are ready to leave just come to the front desk” “Will there be any charges against her?” I asked.

The policewoman shook her head and told me, “Thanks to the street girl no offence was committed we took her in for her own safety. Bye Kate and please listen to your Aunty.” Then she left us alone.
Kate sat there just looking at me looking wary. So I broke the silence, “Kate love what were you thinking about?”

No response she just looked at me with those vivid green eyes so I tried again, “Kate please speak to me I’m not here to judge you I only want to help you – make me understand please.”

“It’s all HIS fault!” this was said with so much venom it shocked me. I asked, “Whose fault?” Knowing what the answer would be. “Me DAD THAT’S WHO!” She snarled, “The bastard said I’d never get and cash to become a girl. Over his dead body he said. I’m not natural he said. I’m hideously ugly HE said. I HATE HIM, HATE HIM!”

I immediately went over to her and tool her into my arms; her slender body was wracked with sobbing, not crying just sobbing she was distraught.
I held her close comforting her until the sobbing died down. Kate looked at me and quietly said, “I’m sorry I’ve let you down Aunty Av – nothing happened honest. I just wanted to get some money for my hormones that’s all.”

“Kate, Kate you have nothing to apologise for” I comforted her, “Do you want to go home? Sam and Dillon will be wondering where I am!” She looked at me with hope in her eyes. “Can we? Don’t the coppers want to lock me up?”
Instead of answering her I stood up put my arm around her slender shoulders and said, “Come on let’s go home.”
We walked slowly to the front desk and completed the paperwork so I could take her home.

Before we left I asked the desk sergeant, “You know the girl who looked after her?” He nodded “Tina yes why” I cleared my throat and continued, “Well I’d like you to thank her for me and Kate – would you do that?”
He looked steadily at me and said, “You can thank her yourself – we’ve just booked her in for soliciting!” “Charley” he shouted to a young constable, “get Tina into room 1 this lady would like to talk to her.”

“If you go into room 1” he continued nodding across the corridor, “She’ll be there in a minute. I’ll look after your niece for you.” And with that Kate was admitted behind the desk while I went into the room.

It was obviously an interview room I perched on the edge of one of the seats and waited. In a moment I heard a woman’s voice, “Wot the fuck are we coming here for I’ve coughed up and I’ve no gear on me. Just let me kip!” The door opened and the young policemen and a girl of about 21 entered.
She looked at me and sneered, “Who the fuck’s this then one of them drug workers?” Then she looked at me and continued, “Look luv don’t piss about wiv me you’re wasting your time.”

In a quiet voice I simply said, “I want to thank you.” She looked at me like I’d just grown another head sneering, “Thank me! Wot the fuck for you stuck up cow.”

“Language Tina or else we’ll slap a section five public order on you.” This came from the desk sergeant who had just entered he continued, “Tina she just wants to thank you for looking after the young lass earlier.” As Tina appraised me I said, “Thanks for looking after Kate. I really do mean it thank you from the bottom of my heart if I can ever do anything for you I’ll do it.”

She looked steadily at me for a while finally saying, “Look luv what you can do for me is make sure that young lass don’t end up in here again. It’s dangerous on the streets a young un like her can soon get hurt – don’t let her end up like me – right!”
Dumbly I nodded then I said, “I’ll do my best I promise.” Tina took a step towards me and said, “Your best aint good enough DO IT WOMAN for the lass’s sake right!”
Again I nodded then Tina softened and said, “I wish I had someone like you who cared a few years ago – things could have been different for me now look at me now! A fucking crack head getting shagged by any twat for my next hit!”
She turned to the Sergeant saying, “Can I go to me cell?” He nodded and opened the door.

Tina turned to me and said in a quiet voice so only I could hear, “Look at her arms but be very careful what you say and do - she’s a fragile lass!”
Before she left I pleaded with her, “Tina if you want out of your life I’ll help you as much as I can. Look here’s my card phone me please.” The sergeant said, “I’ll take that luv.” As he took the card from me
With that she turned and followed the sergeant while I went and collected Kate.

We were stood at the front door when the sergeant came back to the desk he came over and said, “Look luv I know you mean well but once she gets hold of you phone number you’ll be like a cash cow for her until she wants to be clean you’re wasting your time.”
He passed me the card I looked at it and said, “You keep it and if Tina ever wants help phone me – ok.” He gave me a grim smile saying, “Don’t hold your breath luv but yes I’ll do that cos Tina is one of the better girls – your hearts in the right place now go and look after your niece.”

With that he turned to Kate and with a glower on his face said, “And you if I ever see you in here again you’ll be in one of these,” and with that he took Kate to an empty cell put her in slammed and locked the door finally closing the peep hole.
He turned to me with a smile and said, “Fifteen minutes in there often cures them – cuppa luv?”
We had a cup of tea and 15 minutes later a very white and shaken Kate was released from the cell. Quietly she came and stood by me – I think (hoped) she had learned a lesson!

We drove home in silence each lost in our own thoughts, what would I find on her arms? Hopefully a tattoo not needle marks.
“D’you want to sleep with me for what’s left of the night?” I asked. Kate simply nodded then said, “No it’s ok – I’ll be fine.”
“You went a bit crazy with the make-up I’ve always told you less is more Kate.” She smiled ruefully and answered, “I thought it’d make me look older.” This made me smile and I joked, “Well with the amount you’ve got on I’m not sure I’ve enough make-up remover.”

We got home about 3am went in and were greeted by the dogs; Kate sat on the floor playing with them. “Cocoa?” I asked, “Please aunt Av” she responded. I made the cocoa picked up a bottle of makeup remover a bottle of cleanser and a bag of facial scrubs and cotton pads then sat with her – this was going to be difficult I would have to tread very carefully here as I had a feeling I could be way out of my depth.

Troubled Waters