Shelly

Chapter 2: the second time

Our parents informed us that they had decided to start playing bridge regularly on Saturdays.

"We will be beginners at first and will only be away for about 3 hours."

The vexed question of a babysitter then arose. Lorna and I were adamant that we old enough to be left home by ourselves during the afternoon and besides, the last few sitters had been less than satisfactory - Dad had spotted the boyfriend of one sitter trying to sneak away down the side of the house when they arrived back home.

Eventually, Dad said to me. "Micky, are you okay with your sister being in-charge and I do mean in-charge. You will have to do what Lorna tells you, and Lorna, (he turned to look at her) you will have to be responsible and sensible."

"I will, Dad, of course" she replied firmly.

Dad looked back at me. "Well?" he asked.

So it was up to me. Lorna was standing there with her head on a slight tilt and a small smile on her face. "Will you promise to be nice to me?" I asked her.

"I promise, Micky," she said, "I won't be bossy"

Next Saturday, our parents went off to bridge and the three of us were left at home. Yes, three. Kate was allowed over because she was a 'sensible girl'.

Pretty quickly I was hanging around Lorna's bedroom door with my pesty face on.

"Whacha doing, sis," I asked in my best couldn't-give-a-stuff voice.

"Cutting out pictures from women's magazines"

"We are going to make a montage," Kate added.

There was silence for a few minutes and then, "We would be quite happy for Michele to join us," Lorna gave me her slightly tilted smile.

"I dunno," I said, "bit dumb, isn't it."

"We think Michele's fun." Kate smiled at me invitingly. They were both looking at me and again the silence lengthened.

"I suppose," I responded in a sort of grudging tone trying to imply that because they wanted me to . . . and as I wasn't busy . . .

The whirlwind was a little less frantic this time and with a lot more laughs. The result was much the same, but with a different dress and a thin silver chain necklace.

"Let it grow a bit longer, Michele, then we can do it different ways," said Kate looking at my hair with a critical eye.

The cutting out and laying out of the pictures of ladies in their fashionable clothes was accompanied by a great deal of witty remarks (we thought) and giggling. Then I noticed Lorna was studying me. "Come here, sis, (what was this 'sis' business)" she said taking my hand and drawing me over to her dressing table.

She sat me down and picked up a lipstick. I immediately baulked. "Its just a light coral colour, hardly noticeable. It will just give your lips a shine and enhance your lovely smile." There was another one of those silences. Eventually, I gave a barely perceptible nod. Lorna applied the lipstick telling me how it was done and getting me to do this and that with my lips.

"There, all done" she said.

I wouldn't look in the mirror. I kept my head down and walked back to sit on the bed. After a moment, Kate gently lifted my chin and said: "It really does suit your face, love, you should have a look at yourself." I had a brief sulk, then got up and looked at myself in the mirror. Of course they were right. Okay, it made me look more like a girl, but I couldn't help but like it. On a sudden impulse, without thinking, I ran over to Lorna and gave her a hug.

"You're my sweet little sister," she said hugging me back.