Mum's Encouragement Chapter 25

I made my way down the stairs to find Julia making herself comfy on the sofa

"Feel better love?" she asked whilst looking me up and down

I couldn't look at her in the face as I replied "Much better thanks. Sorry for making such a scene Aunt Julia. I feel so silly"

"Oh don't worry hon. It's good to have a good cry at times. Your Uncle David is always driving me to tears" She told me whilst giving me one of biggest smiles "My hormones are all over the place"

Her smile made me smile. I tucked my toweling dressing gown under me as I sat opposite her in the armchair

" You know you have such a lovely smile Joe. You should smile more often as it really becomes you love," Julia told me as she passed me a hot chocolate

"Thanks Aunt Julia. You don't have to stay you know. I am fine now and Uncle David is probably wondering where you are," I told her hoping that she would leave me alone

"Oh don't worry about him. He probably hasn't even noticed I have gone. He was stuffing his face in front of the television watching a boring gangster film. No doubt Martin has joined him. I don't get those films sweetie. I bet there not your kind of thing either Joe, are they?" She asked

"There ok I guess" I shyly responded thinking to myself that they weren't really my kind of thing

"Come over here love. Let me give you a cuddle" she said whilst holding out her arms gesturing for me to join her on the sofa

I didn't protest and got up and sat next to her on the sofa curling my legs under me

Julia pulled me into her as I sat beside her and squeezed me affectionately around my waist before starting to play with my hair

I loved my hair being tickled and relaxed into her more with my head finally resting on her bosom

"You are still so young baby. You have your whole life in front of you. I really envy you hon" she sighed whilst wrapping my curls around her fingers

I really enjoyed her fingers playing with my hair and before I knew it I had drifted of to sleep

I awoke with a start when I heard the front door close

"Err what's happening?" I asked in a daze trying to wake up

Mum came into the living room and smiled broadly at Julia and I curled up on the sofa

'Oh crikey we must have dozed off" Julia responded whilst stiffeling a yawn

This made me yawn also "What's the time" I asked still half asleep

Mum looked at the clock above the fireplace and then said "Time you should be in bed young urn. It's nearly midnight"

She came over and gently kissed my forehead and teased, " You looked so cute the pair of you sleeping away there. I didn't want to wake you"

Julia gently pushed me away as she stood up " I better get home. You never know David might be missing me," Julia laughed whilst stretching her arms in the air

" Yes and you little one had better get of to bed if you are going to get any sleep" Mum motioned to me to get up " Before you go to bed though we had better roll your hair otherwise it will look a right mess in the morning"

I groaned at being called little one and protested " Mum do we have to do my hair. I'm tired and want to go to bed"

Mum ignored my plea as she plonked her bag on the table and took off her coat

I didn't have the energy and therefore just walked over to Aunt Julia and gave her a peck on the cheek "Thanks Auntie for giving up your evening for me" I said as she gave me a tight squeeze

"Oh don't be silly. I am just glad you are now ok honey" she smiled "Get yourself off to bed babe if you have any chance of keeping your guests in check tomorrow Joe"

Mum interrupted "Today you mean Julia" Looking at the clock that had just hit midnight "She is going to look a right mess if she doesn't get her beauty sleep"

Oh thanks mum I thought. I'm a mess now am I?

I kissed mum goodnight and made my way up the stairs whilst waving goodnight to Julia

"Sweet dreams JoJo" Julia lovingly said as she made her way to the front door

Once upstairs I brushed my teeth in the bathroom and sat down on the toilet for a wee. On exiting the bathroom I heard Mum and Julia still talking in a whisper at the front door

I couldn't hear everything they were saying however heard my mine and Martin's name mentioned and the words shame and cute.

I crept closer to the edge of stair bannisters so I could eavesdrop better

"Claire, Jo was in such a state when I came around earlier. She was really frightened by Martin's stupid actions. Why are guys such berks at times" Julia questioned

" All that testosterone I guess Jules. Makes them act like apes" Mum laughed" Jo will be ok in the morning once she has managed to get some sleep. I might call her manager in the morning and say she's not feeling well. I think she is shattered seeing her Nan in that hospital bed and anyway I could do with her help with a few chores around the house

"Good idea Claire. It wouldn't hurt for Jo to miss work for one day"

After a few more words they bid each other good night and as mum closed her door I tried to creep along the landing to my room only for the floorboards to creak under me

"Have you had a good listen Jo?" Mum shouted up the stairs " Seeing as you are still awake, I will be up shortly to roll your hair"

" Mum I wasn't listening and I don't want my hair played about with. Anyway this isn't any point if I am not going to work tomorrow" I protested sulkingly

" So much for not listening you little moo" Mum giggled as she came up the stairs

I felt myself go red, as Mum knew all along that I had been listening into hers and Julia's conversation

" I am off to bed mum" I turned to walk away

" Oh no you don't Jo" mum commanded "I am going to do your hair but before doing so you need to remove the rest of your make up. Otherwise you will get ugly spots," Mum commanded

"But Mum I have cleaned my face" I sulked as mum took my hand and guided me into the bathroom

"No buts, sit on the toilet seat" she told me as she lowered the seat down " Let's clean your pores. If you don't clean your make up off properly of your face you will regret it in later life honey. Believe me"

Mum spent a good five minutes using make up remover lotion and cotton pads cleaning my skin, eyelids and lashes. I was amazed at the additional dirt that she managed to remove from my face

" See what I mean Joanne" she lectured whilst showing me the dirt deposits on the cotton pads " If you don't clean your face properly of make up you will get blackheads and no one will fancy you when you have spots dear"

I grimaced at her mini lecture and her addressing me as Joanne. I didn't want anyone fancying me and anyway I wouldn't be wearing make up anymore I thought to myself

"Now wash your face with warm water and then pat your face dry. Then apply this cream to your cheeks, neck and forehead" she told me whilst handing me a bottle of Nivea cream

After doing as I was told she told me to join her in her bedroom

" Before we start on your hair let's get you in to your nightwear Joe. It's getting late" she instructed pulling out something from her wardrobe

"I am ready for bed mum. This will do," I protested motioning to the terry dressing gown I wore

" That old thing? Take it off and put this on" she instructed me as she passed me a silky garment "This will feel much better to sleep in"

I reluctantly grabbed the silky material from her and saw that it was a pale rose coloured nightdress. I held the little nightdress out at arms length as if it was contaminated

"Oh don't be silly. It won't bite you. Get that dressing gown off" Mum commanded as she started pulling the dressing gown from my shoulders and took the nightdress from my hand

As my dressing gown dropped to the floor she saw I was wearing underpants "What are you wearing those horrid things for? Take them off and I will get you some proper knickers to wear"

I blushed as she turned away from me and pulled some knickers from her bedside cabinet drawer. They looked like they were the same colour as the nightdress and I soon found out that they were.

I turned my back on Mum and embarrassingly pulled my underpants off and taking the knickers from her quickly stepped into the little silky garment and pulled them up to my waist. I then noticed that the knickers were actually a g-string. I found that they were edged in black lace at the waistband and leg openings

" That's so much better Joanne" Mum smiled as I felt the g-string go into the crevice of my bum. I wriggled to get comfortable whilst pulling the string away from my bum

"Oh stop fidgeting and put your nighty on" mum instructed me whilst slapping my hand away from my posterior and handing me the nightdress.

I took the intricate nightdress from her and was figuring out how it went on when mum hurried me along "Come on you are acting like an infant. It's really late and we still need to roller your hair. It goes on this way"

Mum motioned for me to sit on the edge of her bed as she lowered the nightdress over my head. As I stood up the nightdress settled about my body and I felt the thin straps of the nightdress settle on my shoulders and against my bare upper back

"Oh it looks lovely on you honey" mum gushed as she played with the lacy hem of the overly feminine nightdress "you look so cute and virginal honey. Well apart from that horrible love bite on your neck" She stated

I had forgotten about the love bite until mum had brought it up as I thought it had faded enough

Mum must have read my mind "Yes your Nan and Aunt Heather both noticed the bite on your neck" Mum teased " Nan reckons you are too young to be hanging out with older guys like Martin and I have to agree with her, although Heather reminded me that I was just like you when I was your age, flirty and chasing the fellas and always receiving love bites" mum reminisced as I groaned embarrassed

"Have a look in the mirror and tell me that you don't look better in the nighty than that awful dressing gown" she challenged

I looked in her long mirror and saw my reflection. The nightdress was very silky and a feminine pretty pink colour. It had thin single spaghetti shoulder straps and on glancing over my shoulder I found that four further spaghetti straps adorned my bare back from the nape of my neck to the small of my back. The bodice was covered in fine intricate black lace.

The hem of the nighty was also covered in black lace approximately three inches wide. The hem only reached mid thigh on me which showed of my silky hairless legs

The garment felt really soft and luxurious and although I would never tell Mum, it did look really sexy on me as it exposed my bare shoulders and arms. I did however feel very vulnerable and naked

"I guess its ok," I said even though I secretly loved it. It was similar to a slip and made me feel awfully feminine as the silk contoured my body

"Its ok? Nonsense, It looks wonderful on you princess" mum gushed whilst straightening out the spaghetti straps that adorned my upper body "You look so cute. I don't think you appreciate just how beautiful you are. Must be my genes "Mum laughed

" Anyway stop admiring yourself in the mirror you vain little thing" Mum laughed "Come and sit at the vanity whilst I curl your hair"

'Mum can't we do it in the morning. I am so tired I..." before I could continue my protest mum cut me off

"Joanne do as you are told and stop arguing. You can be a right little cow at times. I won't tolerate it" Mum admonished me "Stop being selfish. If you hadn't noticed, I am also tired what with being at the hospital all day and yet I am still willing to do your hair before we go to bed"

Losing the will to argue I sat on the stool at mum's vanity in silence as the lacy hem of my nightdress rode up to my upper thighs. I tried to pull the flimsy hem down as far as I could to protect my modesty without any success

Mum slapped my hands away "Stop being a prude Jo. It's only us girls. Be proud of your lovely legs. I wish I still had legs like you. You just wait until your older and you have cellulite. Then you will wish you could turn back the clock and show of those shapely pins of yours"

"Sorry mum" I said too tired to argue as she started covering and pinning my hair in small purple hair curlers . In doing so tugged my head this way and that way

After a while I cheekily stated" I don't think I will be getting cellulite when I am older Mother"

" Oh is that so. What makes you so special Joanne? All women get cellulite as they age. What makes you think you are any different missy?

I sat there staring at my glossy thighs, knees and ankles taking in my varnished toenails and thought "what makes me any different? Are you for real mum? As she continued to torture my hair

End of Chapter 25