Chapter 3: Some Revelations

Gemma's thoughtful mood continued over the weekend and into the next week. She did not go out but stayed in her room most of the time. Gemma's thoughtful mood consisted, publicly, of being uncommunicative and surly but it at least she wasn't getting up to God-knows-what so it was an improvement in a way. Late in the week she seemed to come to some sort of a decision.

"Dad, can we have a talk?"

I looked up from my paper in surprise. "Sure. Sit down."

Gemma blushed but her face was serious. "No, in private."

I glanced at the kitchen where Marion was busy. "Okay. Let's go for a walk. That suit you?"

She nodded. I stuck my head round the kitchen door. "Gemma and I are just popping out for a while."

"Don't be long. Supper's at six."

I waved acknowledgement. Gemma and I walked in silence for a while. Without thinking about it we went to the local park and found a bench in a more out-of-the-way spot. Gemma pulled her jacket tightly around her. It wasn't particularly warm and there was a chill in the breeze.

"What's on your mind, sport?" I asked gently.

She shuffled around not meeting my eye. It was clear she was embarrassed and didn't quite know how to begin. As I didn't know what she wanted to talk about, I couldn't help her.

"We don't talk much, do we, Dad."

"No we don't. I'd like to, though."

"This is very difficult. I don't really know how to talk to you."

"How about you just say what you want in any way you want?"

"You won't get angry or cross?"

"I promise." She glanced up uncertainly. "Sweetheart, if I want to talk to you more I need to be prepared to listen to you. Just as you need to listen to me. I promise, whatever you say, I won't throw a fit, shout and bawl or make a scene."

She gave a lop-sided grin. "I suppose I'm not good at listening either."

"Then we'll listen together. Deal?"

"Okay." She took a deep breath. "It's about that place - the Slipper Club." She glanced up to see my reaction. I was careful to look both interested and concerned. "I need to tell you some things. First, I've stopped seeing those people you don't like. That's why I've been around more. I haven't made any other friends yet."

I was overjoyed but took care not to show it. "Can I ask you a question?" She nodded. "Why did you stop seeing them?"

She paused, her face thoughtful. "Two things mainly. The first was that list. You know, the one you read out to me that first day? It sounded so terrible, the things they'd done. The second was the newspaper article about Andy English being arrested. He had his eighteenth just after you took me to the club. I went to his party. Then I remembered what that man at the club said about going to prison as soon as they turned eighteen and it brought it all home to me, what you'd said about me ending up the same way. Andy was a cool guy, a great laugh, always up for anything and scared of nothing and nobody. It was quite a shock." She looked up at me with a glint of tears in her eyes.