Chapter 13

June noticed her neighbour Suzy in her garden, and invited her over to join us. June told me that Suzy had only moved in about six weeks ago and she hadn’t had chance to have a real chat with her yet. Suzy accepted the invitation and was soon in the garden. She was wearing a plain blouse and a flowery loose fit skirt that came just below her knee. June apologised for not having fully met before now and she introduced Daisy, and myself, as Daisy’s girlfriend.

June offered her a glass of wine which she eagerly accepted then a cigarette “I don’t smoke, I never have”. “Not one ever” exclaimed June, “no, not even a drag, I am a very boring person, so much so that my last boyfriend left me two years ago calling me boring because I wasn’t prepared to experiment in bed”. Suzy then went on to explain that she had been brought up in a very Christian family where only good behaviour was expected, and this meant limited drinking, no drunkenness and definitely no smoking. She said that both parents had died in the past five years, she has no siblings, and that she had managed to buy the house next door through the inheritance that her father left when he died unexpectedly eighteen months ago. She basically went to work, home, cooked evening meal, bed then repeated the same cycle every day. It was obvious to all of us that she wasn’t very happy.

She asked about our situation. June explained that she was going through a bit of a midlife crisis, telling her that finding out that Daisy smoked she started again after nearly twenty years abstinence, and she was having such a mid life crisis that she had her nipple pierced earlier in the day. “Can I have a look?” exclaimed Suzy. June lifted her top, pulled down her bra, and showed her. Suzy had a very close look, and without thinking felt the nipple. “Sorry, sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking, how embarrassing” said Suzy. June just smiled and I could think what was going in her mid-life crisis brain. Daisy then chuckled “Mum is boring, she only has one nipple pierced, Mia and I have both of ours pierced”, and we both lifted our tops to show her. “Wow, but if you don’t mind me asking Mia, how old are you?”. “Fourteen” I replied. “I presume your parents know, and do they know you smoke?”. “Yes, they do know, and my Mum actually took me to get them done, and she got hers done at the same time. She then gave me a cigarette outside. My sister who is the same age as Daisy has hers done, also smokes and the bitch has a tattoo as well just because she knew I wanted one”. “I couldn’t imagine my parents letting me do those things now, even at 36, never mind fourteen or sixteen”. I then said that my parents and June let Daisy and I sleep together, “but you are not old enough to have sex” Suzy exclaimed. “Age is just a number, and wouldn’t life be boring if we all followed rules” June said, who continued “Suzy, I think you need to start living for yourself instead of thinking what your parents might think. Unfortunately they are not here anymore to tell what you can or can’t do. This is not meant to sound harsh, but you need to live for today, otherwise your life will pass you by and you will grow old quickly and very sad”. Whilst she was saying this June was stroking her arm and not getting any resistance from Suzy.

“I hear what you say June but it is very difficult to change after 36 years”. June smiled “I am older than you but the things I have done the past few weeks have made me realize that you have to enjoy life and take risks. I am happier now that anytime in the past 20 years and I will continue to be bad. It may have repercussions for my marriage but I am prepared to take that risk. Another glass of wine?”. “Oh yes please”. The three of us then lit another cigarette and as we did so we saw Suzy’s eyes light up. “Am I reading your mind?” June enquired, and without saying another word she offered Suzy a cigarette who virtually snapped it out of her hand. “Don’t laugh at me when I start coughing, this will be my very first taste of a cigarette” Suzy said. June leant over to Suzy, lit her cigarette with one hand and stroked her thigh with the other. She took a drag, didn’t cough, then continued to smoke the cigarette, whilst all the time June was stroking her thigh gradually getting higher. I am not sure if Suzy noticed trying hard to enjoy her cigarette or if she did notice she was enjoying it. “How is it?” I asked her. “Very good, I didn’t realize how relaxing it is, especially with a glass of wine. Thank you for listening to me and being understanding, I am so glad I came over. I wonder how many people had their first cigarette at thirty six”. “How old will you be when you have your second?” Daisy laughed, “about 30 minutes older than I am now” was her reply.