Long Tall Sally

I've Just Seen A Face

My alarm clock rang at my bedside at exactly 7:00 am and I slapped it off with one hard hit. Today was my first day of college but I really didn't care. I'd stayed up into the early hours of the morning reading Bram Stoker's "Dracula" for the fifth time. It was September and outside my window, beyond my blackout curtains, the orange crisp leaves fell from the trees. I always felt that "Dracula" was the perfect book to read in the autumn months.

After lying in my bed for at least fifteen minutes, I realised that I had to get up if I was ever going to make it to the bus stop at the end of Forthlin Road to meet my best friend, Julia. Julia and I met on the first day of high school in the canteen. We were the only two girls who didn't know anyone else there so from then on, we clung to each other for support. When our old guidance teacher, Mr Healy, told us we needed to start thinking of our future, Julia and I decided we would go to the City of Liverpool College to continue studying there. We both hated school, as Julia and I were the popular girls' favourite victims. I wondered when I sent in my application if college would be any better. And today was the first day of our "future."

I was never one to wear makeup, I was very pale and I could never find a foundation light enough for my milky complexion. All I did was conceal my dark under eyes and the couple of spots on my chin and cheeks with some concealer, I very lightly brushed a shimmery golden pink blush across my cheeks to give me some colour, I thickly layered mascara on my short and stubby black eyelashes and lathered my lips with a peach tinted vaseline. I brushed the kinks out of my shoulder length dark golden brown hair and I placed it in a high, scruffy ponytail. As autumn had definitely reached North West England, I wore a black pinafore with gold buttons going up the front which sat just above my knee. Underneath it, I wore a silk white shirt which I left open at the top. I wore thick black tights and my suede black ankle boots. The heel on them added to my already tall height. Julia was always the smallest girl in our class. I towered over the other girls all my school life. However, guys were always still taller than me. I pulled a wool black cardigan from my wardrobe and slid it over my bony arms. I didn't pack much in my bag, just my purse, some pencils and a notebook. In my spare time, I always wrote stories and wherever I was, if I felt inspiration, I would sit and write it down. Writing was the only thing I felt good at.

"Good morning Sally!" My mum shouted from the kitchen as I ran down the stairs. She knew it was me, as it was only us who lived here.

"Morning mum!" I dragged my satchel along as I sat at the kitchen table and poured myself a glass of orange juice.

"I can't believe its my baby's first day at college." My mum looked out the window, wearing her apron with her long blonde up in a bun, looking as though she was going to cry.

"Mum, please! I'll be fine!" I could understand how I was her 'baby' though. I was her only daughter and the youngest child. My brother was in his thirties and he lived with his wife and son in Manchester.

"So, how does your day look?"

I told my mum about my timetable I received in the post a few days ago as I ate my cereal.

"Well then, good good." My mum got up and took the plates to the sink. She had no reason to be up this early and she never stopped working. I always tried to help out whenever I could. "Sally, you better get going now if you're ever going to make your bus!" I snapped out of my day dream and looked up at the clock on the far side of the small kitchen to see that it was in fact a lot later than I thought it was. I kissed my mum on the cheek goodbye and I quickly pulled my thick coat on and walked out into the cold Liverpool September morning. I wrapped my scarf over my chin and realised that it felt even chillier that morning. Forthlin Road wasn't too far from my house. Just two short streets away. All in all it was about a five minute walk.

I walked down the street staring at my own feet humming the tune of 'Roll Over Beethoven' quietly. Suddenly I was charged into and knocked off my feet. I fell back on the footpath.

"Hey, watch it!" I said simultaneously with the teddyboy who literally just knocked me off my feet. I placed my hand on my forehead even though I fell on my back. He was probably about my age and his hair was magnificently quiffed back by grease. His drainpipe trousers clung to his bony legs and his leather jacket drooped over his shoulders.

"Oh madam, please forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt ya." He put out his hand which I reluctantly took. He was gorgeous but he knocked me over! I felt a spark as our fingers touched and he lifted my back onto my feet. He wiped the little dust off my back and hung his other arm loosely around my waist. We looked into each other's eyes for a moment or two before he pulled away. I was speechless. "See ya around."

"Bye," I squeaked out as my teddyboy walked off into the sun, away from my touch. His touch was magic. I wanted to hold his hand.

I turned around and started to walk towards the bus stop with a smile on my face, ready to tell Julia all about the lovely teddyboy I had just seen.. I wont ever forget the time or place where we just met. Forthlin Road at half past eight. I wondered if I'd ever see my teddyboy again.