Over the Christmas holidays Harriet had made sure to call on Anne across the road at Number 4 Manor Close. Anne could tell she had something on her mind and Harriet told her about how she found her vibrator at Hannah’s bedside.

“Well she is 15, now. It’s not that shocking is it?”, said Anne. As always Anne was very practical and grounded about these things, and as usual Harriet was surprised by her matter-of-factness.

Anne went on, “And are you okay? I take it that this new toy is due to next door being long gone? I suppose it’s a lot less complicated for you now”.

Harriet nodded. She knew she was referring to Witness, but she wasn’t going to tell her about everything that had happened since.

“Well then”, continued Anne, “maybe you should get Hannah her own toy. That would probably be best and would remove the obvious problem of sharing?”

Harriet nodded again. This conversation wasn’t what she expected, but it did make some sense.

“You have a talk with her, don’t be too heavy, you were 15 once, and if you want I will order the new toy. Just send me over the details and I’ll sort it for you.”

Again Harriet nodded, this crisis suddenly seemed like a non-problem, although Harriet knew that when she was 15 she certainly wasn’t thinking about vibrators. “Thank you”, said Harriet, and that was that.

A few days later a smiling Anne turned up at the door with a small box. “Let me know how you get on”, she said with a wink, and was gone.

Days passed as Harriet dwelled on the problem. It was only on the last day of the school holiday in the new year that she finally raised the courage to get Hannah on her own and have the talk.

Harriet knocked on Hannah’s door, but didn’t wait to be asked in. Not knowing how to start the conversation she had decided to be upfront.

She held the new and still boxed vibrator in her hand as she entered. Hannah looked up from the book she was reading, shocked.

“You know what this is, don’t you, miss”, said Harriet in an accusatory tone, as she made sure that the door was firmly shut behind her.

“Mum”, cried out Hannah. She stared at the vibrator not knowing what to say.

“Well?”, said Harriet, demanding.

Hannah started to cry and all the fight left Harriet as she sat on the bed and comforted her daughter.

“I’m sorry. It’s okay”, said Harriet. “I’m just worried about you”.

“Well don’t be”, said Hannah, her attitude still present beneath her tears.

Harriet tried to start again. “Look, I understand what it’s like, but I don’t want you making any bad mistakes.”

Hannah looked up confused. “What kind of mistakes?”

“Well”, said Harriet uncomfortably, “sex. One thing leads to another.”

Hannah just looked at her mother, her mouth open in shock.

Harriet blustered to fill in the silence. “You know, boys. I have to protect your prospects”.

She looked at Hannah who still sat there not believing that this conversation was actually happening. Harriet felt like a total hypocrite given her recent personal journey of discovery, but at the same time she was determined to look out for her daughter. “Well, is there anyone?”, she let the question hang, waiting for Hannah’s response.