I really didn't have anyone to talk to.
Suzanne was always out with Rob. Teresa had now changed job and was working in Liverpool, so I no longer saw her. I'd all but lost contact with my friends from school. Carol was now a legal secretary hoping to get a job as an air hostess, engaged (again) and rarely available to meet up with. I never heard from Kim and Morag had already had a baby and was busy being a house mum.
At the office, the group I saw daily consisted of Frank who was middle aged and happily married (the Manager), another Frank (semi-retired and a Clerical Officer), Sue who was also married and had a couple of children - (she was a returner to work and another Clerical Officer).
As I transferred details daily by facsimile, I got to be quite friendly with the officer based in Titchfield, (Fareham, I think) who received this information. This transfer of information could take anything between 10 - 45 minutes. Both of us would remain at the phone to ensure that the details were clear and avoid any known issues in the transfer (loss of data/poor quality print-out etc). He had a lovely telephone voice and friendly manner.
During the number of months we'd been talking, we'd started to ask each other the usual pleasantries i.e: "Did you have a nice weekend?" and this had progressed as time went on, to the extent that he knew all about the situation with Kev etc. I'd even invited him to my 18th birthday party and he'd accepted. He'd booked his train to arrive at Liverpool, Lime Street Station on the Saturday (my birthday) around 2pm. I was looking forward to actually meeting this telephone colleague and friend. Sue was also preparing to celebrate her 30th birthday on the same day as my 18th (we were both 3rd October Librans).
Friday 2nd October, everyone from our office went to The Merton pub for lunch, which was next door to St. John's House (where we worked) and easy stumbling distance. Although I'd also invited them along to my party, I think it was because of my age they'd declined, presuming it would be a large group of teenagers of the same or similar ages.
Saturday 3rd October, the party was to be fancy dress. I was dressing as 'Cleopatra'. On my way to meet my colleague (who's name I've forgotten) from the train station, I collected the 'fancy dress' outfit. I'm not sure I had any particular image in mind when I went to the station, though tall dark and handsome would have certainly crossed it.
However, I can't deny being hugely disappointed (if not shocked) when I met my telephone colleague. He was under 5ft tall, rotund, had long (albeit sparse) hair, and felt far more affectionate than I was comfortable with. Truth be known, had he got back on the train and left immediately, I would have been happier. Upon meeting him I regretted offering him overnight accommodation at my parents home.
The rest of the day seemed to drag on interminably until it was finally time to dress for the party and welcome my guests. The majority of whom I'd never met before, it seemed that my sisters friends made the greater numbers of the group attending. As soon as all of my friends had arrived, we went off to the nearest pub for a couple of hours before returning to my home.
Though there was music playing, only myself and my friends were dancing. Kev wanted to get me on my own and sent a message (via his friend Rob) that he was waiting in the bathroom to speak to me. We were kissing when my Mum started knocking on the door demanding it was opened. She warned me she'd want to speak to me 'later'.
Janet, my sister, turned the music off and insisted we play some party games.
My friends immediately started to make polite excuses and leave shortly after this
I found myself in a group of much older women, who I didn't know.
