This is a new occasional series that takes its basis and some of its storyline from the cancelled Tokyopop Manga, Yubisaki Milk Tea by Tomochika Miyano. It's a great series and well worth looking out, it's a mystery why they cancelled it. For my version I've changed the setting from Japan to England and of course the names, then I've added some new characters and situations to produce Jamie and the Peach . The original series was cancelled before completion but due to popular demand has been reinstated.!
Maddy Bell, June 2010
"Well that went well." Mum stated once we were back inside the house.
That went well?
"Eh?"
"Tonight."
"Well if plying my girlfriend with alcohol and giving her the third degree is 'well' then I guess it did."
"Don't exaggerate Pea, it was only three glasses."
"Ha! You admit to the grilling then?"
"I'd prefer to call it exploratory discussions."
"Call it what you want, it was still embarrassing."
"I think it was very revealing."
"Coffee?" I offered.
"Thanks."
I'm sure that parents go to special 'How to Embarrass your Kids' classes and what's worse is that Mum had free reign tonight as I've been in Peaches mode. And when Sal joined in with tales of my youth - well it was a big effort to keep a bemused smile on my face. And the wine took its toll on me too - hence the coffee.
Even getting home had been a charade. To give Mum her due she already had a plan, Peaches returned to our house to collect her shopping then Mum 'took her home' - in truth a drive around the block with a stop at the petrol station.
“Wait up!” Sal's voice caused me to pause.
“Hi Sal.”
“Where were you yesterday?”
“I went over to Jonno's.” I fibbed.
“Your Mum took Karen, Peaches and me to dinner.” She enthused.
“She said.”
“It was brill, a proper restaurant and everything.”
“Yeah.” I tried to sound non-committal.
“You'd have enjoyed it, Karen told us all about her Mum's work.”
I know, I was there.
“And just why would I be interested?”
“I dunno, Peaches didn't say much.”
“Shy I guess, Mum can be a bit full on.”
“She looked really stunning though, she really is pretty cool.”
Hmm, I felt my self-start to colour up.
“There's Jonno, have to go – see ya later.” I didn't pause long enough for her to even reply.
“What're you running for?” Jonno enquired when I did eventually catch up with him.
“Noth-huh-huh-ing-real-huh-ley”
“Whatever, can you do us a favour bud?” He put an arm around me and pulled me close.”
“Geroff!” I shook myself free, “what kind of favour?” well you have to ask.
“Next time you see Peaches give her this?” he proffered an envelope.
“What is it?”
“An invitation dummy.”
“I don't think she's interested.”
“How would you know?”
Indeed, how would I?
“Er just a feeling.”
“Just give it her, please?”
“If I see her.”
“Nice one buddy.”
“Lets get into registration eh?”
“Your legs are getting hairy.” It was a statement of fact nothing more, nothing less. “You could see them through your tights last night. Here.” she presented me with a bag.
“What's this?”
“The solution.”
I took a peek inside expecting to find a razor, after all that's what Jess uses, disposable razors, instead there was a box.
“What is it?”
“Exfoliating pads.”
“You what?”
“Geez Pea, get with the show, you use them to keep your skin smooth.”
“I thought that was what all those lotions did.”
“They help but its these babies that do the hard work!”
“So like how does this get rid of hair on my legs?”
“Sheesh! Come here, I'll show you.” She dragged me to the nearest bench; we were on the riverside path in the town centre. “Give us your arm.”
“That tickles.”
“Hold still.”
She rubbed my forearm for several minutes.
“There, feel that.”
I ran my fingers over where she'd been working.
“Smooth eh?”
“Not many!”
“It's like a super fine sandpaper, it removes the dead skin and hair in one go.”
“What!”
I stared at my now partly bald arm, partly amazed, as I hadn't really noticed it had hair and partly in panic.
“Cool huh?”
“What am I gonna do now, everyone will see, I look like a freak!”
“Finish the job?”
It doesn't look like I've got much option really, either look weird or sand myself down, this is just so wrong! On the other hand it's a nice feeling, a bit erm, erotic.
“And don't forget your legs.”
“If you say so.” I feigned resignation despite the sense of excitement I was feeling.
“So what did you want to talk about?”
“Jonno, he gave me this today.”
I passed her the envelope.
“Hmm.”
She opened it and extracted the note.
“Cheapskate, he could've bought a card.”
“Karen!” I moaned.
“Okay Pea, so what are you going to do?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
“Accept.”
“Accept? For why?”
“Look girl, he's deeply smitten, he's not getting the signals that you aren't interested so you have to take it to him. Go on the date but tell him it's a one off never to be repeated experience.”
“But…”
“We discussed this before.”
“Yeah.” I sighed.
“Come on, I'll treat you to tea and cakes.”
The promise of food was tempting so without delay I gathered my stuff.
“What are we waiting for?”
“You'd look cute in one of those uniforms.” Karen mused.
“Spluthmp!” I nearly choked on the cream muffin I was biting into.
Of course we were in Mario's, the site of my first ‘date' with Karen.
She giggled as I regained my composure.
“No way!”
“Why not?”
“Well I er…”
“I was only kidding.” But the seed was sown.
“Really?”
“I'm just the messenger, that's what she said.”
“Brilliant! Damn, where should I take her? What should I wear?”
“Just be yourself.”
“That's easy for you to say.”
Oh Jonno, how wrong can you be?
“Where do you go with Karen?”
I don't think clothing boutiques and the makeup counter at Boots would work for this.
“We just hang most of the time, what about going for a meal?”
You could see his head calculator working.
“That sounds good, mature even, do you know what food she likes?”
“How am I supposed to know?”
“You could ask.”
“I'm sure anything will be okay, just avoid spicy stuff.”
“Why?”
“Well duh! Curry breath?”
“Oh right, hey you and Karen could come too, make it a foursome.”
“I don't think that would be a very good idea.”
To Be Continued...
Maddy Bell 03.10.10© 2010
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