A work-in-progress. Will eventually need to think up a title that isn't knicked from an Undertones song!
Teenage kicks
Jess
It's all a matter of balance, you see. I've got it all under control. I work hard and my grades are fantastic; Mrs Carr has told my mother I could study English at any university I choose. So, of course, Mum's glowing with pride and dreaming of Oxford. Meanwhile, I get to do what I like. If I keep them happy I can get away with pretty much anything. The ‘rents are so naive. The other morning when I got home, around 10am, I was hoping to get straight upstairs to, ahem, study (not sleep, oh no) but got cornered by dad in the kitchen, while Mum bore silent witness. Had to make polite small talk about what me and Lou did last night. They didn't notice my dilated pupils; or if they did, can't know what they mean.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I said, well actually Dad, I was out clubbing all night. It was fucking fantastic. Us girls smuggled the pills in for everyone, because there's some places the bouncers can't touch, you know? I necked two doves in the loo. Every single nerve in my body turned electric, vibrating in pleasure. Alive and tingling with love, oh yeah! Want one, Dad? - That’d be good, actually, my parents all pilled up. What a thought!
Of course I don't say any of this; it'd be suicide. So I trot out some old crap. We met some school friends, blah, blah, blah. Went to the pub, but only for a couple. I throw in a bit of colour at this point, mentioning something about one of the lads getting a little drunk, in a dismissive tone. I round off the tale with us back to Lou's watching telly before bed - I’ve almost bored myself to sleep by this point. But my dear parents just smile at me, happy to see their little girl so mature and responsible. I tell you, my parents will believe anything.
***
Roger
I don’t know who that girl thinks she’s fooling; it’s perfectly obvious she’s had quite a night out on the town. Two drinks in the local? I don’t think so. She was as white as death when she walked in here this morning. I wonder if she’s had any sleep at all. I’m sure that tale about staying at Louise’s wasn’t true. So where? With who? No. I'll stop that thought right there. Oh Jess, Jess of the evasive eyes, you’re certainly displaying a fine aptitude for invention. I don’t want to interfere, really I don’t, I’ve always believed you’ve got to let kids lead their own lives once they get to her age. That’s what I say to Mary, and it’s true. It’d no good sheltering them too much, they’ll just go off the rails once they leave home.
But it’s a difficult situation Jess is putting me in. There she is on one side, her mother’s on the other, and me? I’m the sucker in the middle trying to hold the whole shebang together. Mary’s in denial, of that I’m certain. Perhaps it’d better just stay that way: I don’t want any unnecessary explosions. If I can just hold the peace until after Jess’s A’ levels, that must be for the best. Get her into a good college, away from home. Then we’ll all be able to breath a bit easier.