CHAPTER 145: Where The Girls Are

 

"Milton was a woman, discuss" I absolutely hate those questions!  I mean, is this important?  Can I get to the moon knowing whether John Milton was a man or a woman?  I hate homework like this!  

Now there's a knock at my door!  Who is it this time, mom or dad?

It's mom.

"Hello Jamie, I just came to see if you're OK as you didn't have any dessert with dinner"

"I'm OK, Mom, I've just got a ton of homework to get through"

She looked around the room.  "I don't know how you can get much study done in this light!  It's murky!"

"I like it; it's atmospheric"

"If you say so...so how's homework going?"

I show her the essay question.

"Oh...." she said in a mixture of surprise and trepidation.  "well, an unusual question but I don't think your teacher wants you to answer that directly.  This is more like a test of your skill at making a convincing argument.  So, to begin with, work out what you think is the answer and then figure out ways of backing that up."

Now it kind of all made sense...I invited Mom to stay so I could use her as a sounding board for my ideas.  I was going to ace this project!

"You know, Mom, this is really working...OK, I'm going to argue the case that Milton WASN'T a woman, here's my reasoning why, and my conclusion."

"You see what you can do if you think a little laterally" she said and then she did this annoying thing of touching my forehead to indicate thinking.  She's done that with me ever since first grade.

"Well, I've aced this homework so I'm going to relax a bit now" 

"What are you going to do?"

"I thought I'd go for a bike ride..." I want to go where the chicks are, but I won't tell her that.  "Maybe head over to the park..." Where the girls are  "and hang out with friends" preferably of the female variety.

"Well, be careful out there on your bike...and don't stay out too late either; it's a school day tomorrow"

I grab a few supplies from the fridge to keep me going while I'm down at the park, get my bike and head off for....who knows what?  But it's got to be better than John/Jane Milton.

Desert Bloom Park was fast becoming known as the hang out for high schoolers in this area.  The main reason is the snug area near the BBQ pits.  It had a small library, open fires, comfortable sofas, a bar and a built in radio which played all the popular pop/rock stations.  It was also somewhere to play my guitar...now that really impresses the chicks, or at least it should do.

I was wondering who else would be there tonight.  I'd met Yuki Behr down there, once, and although I like her she's dating that Marcus Mueller these days.  I've seen other cute girls off from afar but, not only that, I have friends who like hanging out there as well so there's every chance one of them will be present this evening.

Yep, I have a good feeling about tonight!

Right, first things first, get to the snug and start playing those sweet tunes.  I've learned a few new licks and songs which I'll try out on the lay-dieeeesss...

"Is someone strangling a cat in here?" 

I look around to see who said that and, would you know it, it's Marcus Mueller.  Typical.  I can't stand this guy.  And he's brought a friend it seems.  Let's see if he's as big a jerk as Marcus.

"I dunno, Marcus, I kind of like it" 

OK, this dude has gone up one notch in my estimation.  

"See, Marcus, this guy's got taste.  Hi, I'm Jamie"

"Rohan...so, are you in a band?"

"Not at the moment" Not at all...maybe I should put one together?  "I'm kind of a singer-songwriter type..."

"So you write music as well?" Rohan looked wide eyed in amazement at that announcement.

"If you can call it music..." 

Shut up and just leave, Marcus!

"So is this a band rehearsal in here or can anyone join in?"

I turn around to see who said that...Oh my gosh!  It's Gillian Hills!

Now on top of my ranking list of most gorgeous girls in Buckingham High is, of course, Judy Keith.  But only one notch below her is Gillian Hills.  She's head of the Fashion Club, does modelling as a part-time job and is always up to date on the latest fads, trends and scenes.  I've never even spoken to her before and yet she's right here, 3 feet away from me...the closest I've ever been to a goddess like her.

"Gillian, great to see you; you look amazing"  said Marcus, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek.  She went all coy and patted him on his arm.  Of course he of all people would know her.

"Marcus, how sweet of you to say that"

"And to answer your question, it's just this guy and his guitar...I must apologise for his playing but he's very much a beginner with the instrument."

"Marcus is just jealous that he can't play" There, that's my marker put down.

"You're not bad...not bad at all" said Gillian, looking me up and down.  Did she mean my musical abilities or something else?

"I can play a bit of piano!" chimed in Rohan, a little desperately.  There was an awkward silence.

"Well, Gillian, I'd love to stay and catch up but I'm meeting Yuki for a date" Marcus said, smugly.

"Oh, you're still dating her?" Did I detect a hint of disapproval in Gillian's voice?

"Well, it's just casual...you know how it is" replied Marcus, his smugness disappearing.  Anyway, he said his goodbyes and left me, and Rohan, alone with Gillian Hills!  I go dry:  What do I say to someone like her?

"Hello, I'm Jamie"

"Of course you are.  My name is Gillian but you can call me Gilly"

"I'm Rohan!"

She ignored him.  I sat down on one of the sofas in the hope that she would sit next to me but she remained standing.

"So...Gilly...are you into music?"

"Yeah, I like all the latest bands and sounds.  You?"

I try to sound cool.  "Yeah, I like the British invasion bands mostly..."

She raises an eyebrow in surprise.  It's going well Jamie, my son...

"You do?  So do I...who's your favourite?

"I'm really into The Beatles"

"Oh...I prefer the Rolling Stones" Dang it!  Did she have to sound so disappointed though?

"I like Dusty Springfield!" Rohan reminded us he was still here.

"You know, we should start a band!" Rohan continued in his enthusiastic way.  "I mainly play piano but I've tried a Hammond Organ and there's this church I know where there's a piano and a room to rehearse in!"

"Well, I'd love to talk about this some more but I have a busy social calendar right now so I will leave you budding Lennon and McCartney's to it..."

No!  Gillian!  Gilly!  We've only just met!  Your mere proximity to me will boost my social standing immensely!  I'll write you a ballad in tribute!

"Jamie, don't you like my idea?"

"No, it's a decent enough idea...it's just...don't you know who that was?  That's Gillian Hills!"

Rohan shrugged.  

"She goes to my school and she's like...a model and hot and only one of the most desirable chicks in Sim City! And she left...."

"Oh don't worry about that, Jamie.  When we start our band the chicks will come flocking to us!  But we need to practice, rehearse, find a singer, drummer and bass player...then book some gigs..."

"Slow down, Skippy!" 

"Sorry, I get carried away sometimes"

"Don't sweat it...but I like your overall idea.  We'll get together soon and have a jam"

Rohan and I step out of the snug to see who else is around and I swear tonight in Desert Bloom Park it's a target rich environment.  As well as Gillian, there's loads of cute girls around.  Sadly, not Judy Keith but still...

Rohan stops dead in the doorway.  "Where did they come from?"

"Who cares, Rohan, they're here now.  So...shall we mingle with them?  Go over and say hello or something?"

"Yeah...something.  Well, we can tell them about our new band as a conversation starter"

"That's better than the starter I had planned"

"Which is?"

"Nothing at all.  Let's go with your suggestion"

Rohan approached one group of girls but just as he got close to them, he panicked and turned around.

"I...I...couldn't go through with it, Jamie!"

"Why?  What's the matter?"

"Well, one of them...I think she's French by the sounds of her...was going through her diary commenting on all the guys at Buckingham High and how she ranks them....we didn't even get a mention!"

Ouch!  

"OK, time to think of a plan B..."  I consider our options to get ourselves noticed in a good way then I remember I have some foodstuff I'd brought along to share with friends.  Well, Rohan is my new friend and I was willing to make some other friends who were hot chicks.  I fire up one of the BBQs and get cooking.  Barbecuing is about the only kind of cooking I know and even then I just light a fire, slap on some meat and let the heat do the work.  The grill smell is wafting all over the park by now and it smells good...

This willowy redhead is walking over in my direction...I look behind me, expecting some big, hulking jock or some smarmy rich kid like Marcus Mueller to be standing right behind and who would be the person she's walking towards.  However, there wasn't anyone standing behind me.  OK then, she's going to the snug.  She looks very striking with the shortest shorts I've ever seen on a girl, a top that clings to her body like a second skin and these amazing red suede boots.  Before she walks past me and out of my life forever I can drink in her beauty for just a few seconds.

"Hello...you might just be a life saver!"  She spoke!  Was she talking to me?  I look around.  "I take it you're the chef?"

"Oh...me?  Yes.  Yes I am although I'm hardly a chef...more like your friendly neighbourhood BBQ guy"

"Could I be outrageous and ask for some?  I'm starving!  My own fault really for not having something earlier"

"You can be outrageous" I said, handing her a plate.

She took a bite of the hamburger I gave her and I swear I've never seen anyone chew on one as seductively as this girl.

"Hmmmm, and who do I have to thank for this?"

"Oh, that would be me:  Jamie McGregor"

"I'm Morgan, Morgan Fyres" she said, holding out her hand for me to shake.  I took it and it felt so soft and smooth.  

"Groovy name, I dig it...erm, would you like to sit down with me for a while and hang out?  I mean, if you've got nothing else to do or....someone else you're meeting"

"I've got no one to meet so, sure"

This is going so well!  How come I've never seen this girl before?  Maybe she goes to a private school but, she doesn't seem the type.

"So are you at high school?  I'm sure I've seen you from afar there"  That's me fishing.

"Yeah, Buckingham High...you?"

"The same"

"Funny how we've never met before.  Is this a usual hang out for you?"

"Yeah, we must just keep missing each other"

She looked straight into my eyes and I was captivated by hers:  The brightest green eyes I'd ever seen perfectly framed by thick. black eyeliner.  She pushed the plate of food to one side and made a kind of bridge with her elbows and hands on the table.  She rested her chin on her hands and fixed me with an enticing gaze again.

"So, is cooking your thing?" 

"One of them:  I play guitar as well"

"Ooh, a man of many talents!  I like the sound of you, Jamie McGregor"

"What about you?  What are you into?"

"ALL kinds of things!" her eyes widened as she said that.  I could well imagine this redhead with legs that went on forever and who isn't backward at coming forwards would be kind of fun, kind of wild and kind of unpredictable...this wasn't your average girl next door!

"Sounds interesting..."

"I am...if I may be so immodest"

"You certainly can"

This was the most flirtatious conversation I've ever had but I was kind of swept along with it...that's what it was like around Morgan:  She led, I followed.  I was just lucky she decided to approach me in the first place.  The place was getting dark and a quick look at my watch told me it was past 10pm.  I suspected she wasn't the kind who paid much attention to time, and I didn't want this moment to end but then there's the deal I struck with Mom to be home not too late...dang it, why couldn't I have met Morgan on a Friday or Saturday night?

"So, I guess I will see you at school tomorrow?" she said.  

"Yeah, I'll keep a look out for you"

"And thanks for the food...I'll make it up to you"

"My pleasure"

"The pleasure was all mine" And with that she gently stroked my hand. I could have thrown caution to the wind and stayed with her but I played it safe, packed up my gear and went to get my bike.  I turned to look at her one more time and she smiled, warmly this time.  I don't know if I'll see her tomorrow, or the next day or the days after that or whether the magic of what happened this evening will ever be replicated but now I know there was one time, and one girl, who looked favourably at me...and what a girl that was!

CHAPTER 130: One Track Mind

 

Corrrrrrrrrrrr! This is the life! A new house, a new place to live, wide open spaces...not like that cramped apartment we used to live in and I can ride my bike without worrying about whether I'm going to knock someone over or having it stolen. Jamie McGregor; today is the first day of the rest of your life, me laddo! I wonder if there are any cute chicks in this neighbourhood?

I held up my end of the bargain...I sorted out my stuff in my new room, put the posters up; that sort of thing.  Mum and Dad are much better at finding places to put the crockery, TV and hanging paintings up than I am.  To be fair, the removals guys did most of the heavy lifting work, I was only going to get in the way of professionals by interfering; fair's fair.

Now who's THAT?  Attractive blonde lady...maybe a bit on the older side but, hey, she's can move a bit!  Maybe that's who I need to meet, an older, more sophisticated lady who can show a bright and enthusiastic young man of 17 years a thing or two?  Maybe not...getting involved with a woman the same age as my mom is a little freaky.  I wonder if she has a daughter my age?

Well, that's a successful reconnaissance mission...pity there were hardly any people...especially girls...around.  But, early days.  Better get home because Mom's probably made lunch by now and Dad will be hollering for me to hold a shelf in place whilst he drills holes in the wall.  I know my parents so well.

"Ah the wanderer returns...how's the neighbourhood?" 

"Fine, Mom, it's a nice day for a bike ride.  Hmmm, this is delicious, thanks.  Is Dad going to join us?"

"He's eaten already; he's just finishing putting the bookshelf up.  Now..."

Oh, here it comes...the request.

"...I think it might be good if you offered to help with the rest of the unpacking, or..."

"Or?"

"Do your homework.  I'll leave it up to you"

That's Mom's way:  Present me with two less than desirable options and make it sound like I chose one of them.  The last time I helped my Dad do something involving wood, drills and hammers he missed the nail and hit me square on the thumb.  I had a bruise and cut there for six weeks.

"I'll do my homework"

"Oh, Jamie's doing homework is he?  Will wonders never cease?" 

"Ha, ha, Dad.  At least I won't get my thumb hurt this way"

"I told you, I was startled by that pigeon that hit the window that day"

"What subject are you doing there, Jamie?"

"A book report on Great Expectations...although my expectations won't be so great if I keep getting disturbed."

"That's telling us, Myra!  Come on, let's get the rest of the bedroom stuff unpacked"

After I got to grips with Magwitch I felt I had earned a rest.  The advantage of doing your homework on the dining table is that my folks can see that I'm actually doing the work I've been set.  Mom didn't even insist on reading what I'd written:  Maybe, after all these years, she trusts me to do a decent job?  Maybe she sees that I'm 'maturing'?  Becoming a more well rounded individual. 

"Now don't forget to put your name on your book report and put it...carefully...into your school rucksack.  Don't just leave it lying around there; I need to give the table a good clean before dinner!"

"Yes Mom...got the report here!  Oops, I hadn't put my name on the report.  Ha-ha!  There, that's done!"

"Family meeting!"

"What, now Dad?"

"Yes, we must celebrate our first day in our new home!  Come, let's gather on the sofa!"

He's going to do a speech, I just know it!  "Four score and seven years ago this day, we set out from San Myshuno to Oasis Springs to ensure the McGregors shall not perish from the face of this Earth!"

"Now when we set out from San Myshuno last night..."

I wasn't far off

"...little did we know just how quickly we would settle in.  Now this is an opportunity to improve not just this home, but our lives.  We now have space to entertain, to work from home in more comfort and to enjoy a pleasant, quiet neighbourhood."

I won't bring up the subject of whether I can throw a party just yet...

"I wonder what the neighbours are like, Colin?"

"I have no idea, Myra.  Anyway, that bookshelf is now firmly fixed to that wall and now we can bask a little bit...Jamie, where are you off to?"

"I thought I'd go for another bike ride...down to the park?"

"There's a park?"

"Yeah, it's not far.  I thought I'd check it out.  Part of my reconnaissance mission...phase 2 if you will"

I'm too restless right now to lounge around at home.  I need a boost to my social life and if this street hasn't got any talent, I will find somewhere that does...the park seems as good as place as any to start the search.

The house next door looks very smart indeed; not a single thing out of place.  Now, by contrast, the house opposite...if I can call it a house, is more like an old trailer, jacked up on stilts or something like that, and has definitely seen better days.  I wonder what our neighbours are like?  I wonder if the smart house next door has a groovy chick living there?  A groovy, single chick!

Now we've arrived, let's check out the scene....hmmm, it looks pleasant and quiet.  Too quiet.  There's no one here except for that guy asleep on the bench.  Great.  The only other person here is a bum.  OK, looking around, there's a BBQ area, a fishing pond, it's great for the kids who want to climb on that frame...shame we didn't have anything awesome like that when I was 10.  And...what else?  Wait!

That heavenly vision in red!  That might be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen...and I've seen every Julie Christie movie that's been made!  I should go over to her and say hello.  Who am I kidding?  It'll come out of my mouth as gibberish and she'll look at me as if I've escaped from the loony bin.  But then I might never see her again!  OK, what to do?  Take a deep breath, Jamie, walk over cool and calm as you like and say "hello...my name is Jamie...no, James.  Hello, my name is McGregor, James McGregor...oh no, that would sound really bad coming from me...no, I must be cool, more like Dean Martin cool and...oh, she's gone.

Oh well, that's that I suppose.  Let's check out this area...hmmm, nice.  Nice couches, an open fire, a selection of reading...I wonder if there's anything 'spicy' here.  This would make an ideal hang-out.  I wonder why that guy out there doesn't nap in here instead of on a cold, stone bench?  Wait a minute, who lit this fire?

Actually, I like it here.  It even has a guitar just lying around.  I wonder if it belongs to someone in particular or whether it's part of this clubhouse?  I mean, you don't go leaving a guitar lying around if you don't want people to play it?  OK, let's give it a go...

"Watcha doin'?"

"What, wait?  Oh, hello...you startled me there for a moment.  Lost my place in the song"

Not that I'm complaining!

"You're not too bad"

"Well, I'm finding my style, you know?  Yeah, looking into taking my music to the next level and all that"

Play it cool, Jamie, play it cool.

"So, I recognise you but can't quite put a name to your face.  I'm Jamie McGregor."

"Yuki Behr"

"Oh, would you happen to be Candy Behr's sister?"

*sigh* "Yes...not like I can ever escape her shadow.  'Are you Candy's sister?  Can you get me her autograph?'"

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that!  I mean, I don't particularly want her signature or anything...I meant as a way of....erm...clarification, that's all.  Well, erm, do you play any instruments?"

"Yes, but I'm bored with the whole Beat Scene..."

"Oh..." She's a right barrel of laughs.  "I'm new here to this park...so is this a kind of hang out?"

"Yes.  I come here quite a bit.  Mostly high schoolers though.  I'm at Buckingham High.  You?"

"Same...funny how we've never crossed paths before"

"It's a big school"

"So...would you like to hang out... with me... for a bit?"

"Sorry, I'm waiting for my date"

Nghhhh!

"Oh...date.  Going anywhere nice?  I hear that British movie, Afie, is supposed to be good."

"No.  Off to a party"

"Nice.  Well, maybe if you're interested, you would like to go see that movie with me sometime?"

"Maybe...oh, here comes my date now"

"Hi there, Yuki...well, Jamie McGregor...fancy seeing you here"

"Hello Marcus"

Marcus Mueller...thinks he's something special.  The other day he claimed he was chatted up by this cute female doctor.  I don't believe a word of it!  AND he's Yuki's date as well!  How unfair is life?

"Sorry I'm late, Yuki, but are you ready to head on to the party?"

"Whose party is this, might I ask?"

"Oh, don't you know?  It's at Judy Keith's house...hmmm, but then again how would Judy Keith know you?

Thanks, Marcus, rub it in that I'm invisible to Judy Keith...the most glamourous and desirable girl at Buckingham High.

"So I guess you'll be looking after the youth club on your own tonight.  Have a good shift.  Come on, Yuki, we don't want to be late"

"Bye Yuki, have a nice time"

"Bye, Jamie"

Well, that's just great isn't it?  Marcus somehow, mysteriously gets Yuki Behr to go on a date with him AND they get invited to Judy Keith's party!  Well, I have my books, I have my fire and I have my guitar.  Maybe not everyone's going to Judy's party and they'll show up here?  

Hang on, who's that headed this way?

Oh no, it's Cassandra Goth!  Of course she won't be invited to Judy's party; she'd just bring the mood down.  She's heading straight for the club house!  I'll be stuck here with her jabbering on about the 'inevitability of death' or 'the cold, bleakness of space' or some other kind of doom-laden depressing observations on life...or in her case, death!  I wish she cheered up!  OK, Jamie, your bike is over there...it's just a short run...stay low, stay fast and she won't spot you.  Except for this bright, yellow, light reflecting shirt you're wearing!  Oh no, she's getting closer.  OK, it's now or never...just run to the bike, don't look left or right, focus on the bike and get out of Dodge!

CHAPTER 127: Tinkling The Ivories

 

Ah, the peace and tranquillity of Desert Bloom Park in Oasis Springs on a warm sunny May morning was just what Julia Epstein had needed after the weekend she just had.  Her parents came to visit ostensibly to spend time with their only daughter but also, Julia suspected, to check up on her and snoop on her life.  They couldn't help it:  They were protective parents who didn't even like the idea of her moving out of the family home to come live in Willow Creek.  In between the meals and the time spent playing bridge, Monopoly or watching the TV came the incessant questions about her personal life.

"Are you saving up enough?  You're a doctor, they should be paying you more!" said her dad.

"Gideon, I'm sure she's doing just fine in the money department but the décor could do with a bit of sprucing up and frankly, Julia, so does your wardrobe....how are you going to land yourself a decent man if you dress like a beatnik?"

"Thelma, don't hassle our Julia with talk about men!  It's her financial security that's important!  Julia, you should move into private practice once your hospital rotation is finished."

Talk of men invariably brought up a few names, namely Kerry Fry.  "You know his mother's such a dear" said Thelma Epstein.  "Does a lot for the Rotary Club and her pot roast is divine!  The husband...meh...but he's a decent man.  What does Kerry do again?"

"He's in ecology" said Julia.

"Ecology..." said Thelma, shrugging her shoulders.  "Well, at least it's an -ology.  You should pursue him, Julia, before someone else does!"

Even a visit Saturday night by Aunt Elle added to the chaos but, fortunately, she had taken her medication so her mood was a lot less volatile.  But the overall feeling was that Julia felt like a visitor in her own home as it was taken over by her family.  So it was some relief when they went home early this morning and Julia sought some peace and quiet by visiting her favourite park.

A smartly dressed young man entered the park area and sat down at a table near where Julia was finishing up preparing some food...her idea was to make a batch of grilled sandwiches and take them to work to share around but this young man looked at them with keen interest.  Julia had noticed the man was dressed in what was currently very popular among men:  A pale coloured shirt and tie combination.  It was a look that Julia approved of and wished more men would adopt.

"Hey, good looking, what you've got cooking?" he said to Julia.

Momentarily taken aback, she ignored the attempt at flattery and merely said "Those are hamburgers; I made loads so please help yourself to one".

"I'll just do that" said the man, winking.

"Are you on your way to work?" asked Julia.

"Kind of...I'm ahead of the game today:  Got some time to spare to come down here and I just happened to have lucked out by getting some delicious chow and meeting a little desert blossom here" he said, again smiling flirtatiously.

"Where do you work?" asked Julia, avoiding responding to the attempts at flirting.

"I'm a senior....at Buckingham High...yeah, I'll be soon graduating and going on to Britechester to study law.  I haven't seen you around, do you go to another school?"

"I'm a doctor over at Willow Creek Hospital" said Julia, flatly.

"You mean...you're not in high school?  But I could have sworn...." said the young man, suddenly looking pale and shocked.

"I'm twenty two" said Julia.  "And to be fair, you look a lot older than....17 I guess?"

"Erm, yeah, erm, thanks for the burger, lady...I mean, Doctor...bye!  Got class in a few minutes" and with that he got up and ran off.  Julia did smile this time:  The boy was sweet thinking he could impress her by trying to sound mature.  But he was right about one thing...time was pressing on and she needed to get to work.

"No, to be fair he was really sweet and I felt sorry for him as he ran away in embarrassment" said Julia, recounting her story to Francesca and Harper at work.

"Your problem is that you dress like one of those bookish high school seniors, Julia" said Harper.  "One day you, me and Francesca will head on down to the Fashion District and give your wardrobe a thorough makeover!"

"Anyway, Dr Epstein..." interrupted Francesca "...we need to clear some bed space this morning so you'd better get on with it.  Here's a list of patients and their prescribed treatments"

"I will get on to these with pleasure....Harper, put your idea on hold...indefinitely!" said Julia.

The first patient was Judy Keith, age 17.  The girl was a very pretty blonde and Julia surmised that she was the type that was used to getting attention and didn't like it when she didn't.

"Finally, a doctor has come to see me!  I've been in here nearly 2 hours and have seen no one, no one!" said Miss Keith.

"That's because our doctors have been analysing your samples and making diagnoses, Miss Keith" replied Julia, checking her notes.  "Now it turns out that it was just a stomach upset, nothing more serious than that.  Here's some medication for you to take and it should sort out your problem over the next 24 hours.  Until then, get some rest"

"Get some rest!  I've got a date tonight!  Doc, tell me straight...this stuff you're giving me; it won't give me spots or make my hair fall out?" said Judy, worriedly.

"It won't...but I'd call a rain cheque on that date if I were you" said Julia.

"Well, I'm not you.  I've got a date with a real dreamboat tonight and I've got to be there otherwise he'll go off with that Lulu Strang!  Grrr!  Lulu Strang!  She's always sniffing around the guys I like!"

"I can tell you that if you do go on that date and you get a recurrence of your stomach problems then you'll be barfing all over the place and he won't like that at all.  Plus, if he's so easily lured away by this...ahem...Lulu Strang or whatever her name is then he's not the right guy for you in the first place"

"Ugh, you sound like my mom!" replied Judy.

"Just take the medicine, Judy" said Julia, handing her the cup.  Judy looked at it suspiciously for a moment before pinching her nose and gulping it down.  

After that, the young girl was told she could leave and she hurriedly put on her trendy street clothes and checked her makeup before running out of the hospital to meet her parents in the lobby.  Julia watched her leave; all flustered about being late and continually checking her hair and brushing any lint on her skirt away.  Teenagers, Julia thought, she didn't understand them any better now than she did when she was one.

The next patient was a Miss Michelle Prather, age 29.  "That's more like it" thought Julia.

"What seems to be the problem, Miss Prather?" asked Julia

"Ugh, I keep getting these headaches, hot flushes and jittery nerves" replied the patient.

"OK, I'm going to perform some tests and ask you a little about your health in general..." said Julia.  She felt around the head, then around the stomach...looking for some signs that might indicate whether Miss Prather was pregnant or not.

"Now are you sexually active at the moment?" asked Julia.

Miss Prather started to breathe rapidly and shallowly.  "NO!" she said, loudly, and with tears welling up in her eyes.

"OK...we can rule out you being pregnant" said Julia, awkwardly.  Clearly she'd touched an emotional raw nerve there.  "OK, let's get a scan of your head instead..." Julia led Miss Prather off to X-Ray.

The X-ray having been performed, Julia went to write up her case notes whilst she waited for radiology to report back.  As she typed up the diagnosis and treatment of Judy Keith and began a preliminary report on Michelle Prather she could detect that her supervisor, Dr Murakami, was looking up from her own work to cast a beady eye on her.  She never missed a trick to put Julia on the spot...well, she thought, I have to make these notes thorough.

As she typed, she noticed that one of the lab analysers had broken and the water reservoir inside it had sprung a leak, disgorging its contents all over the floor.  Murakami looked up, noticed the sparks and the puddle and looked over at Julia.  With a cough and and a tilt of her head, Murakami let her know that she expected Julia to deal with it.  With a supressed sigh, Julia got up, switched off the analyser and grabbed mop from the janitor's cupboard.

But there was to be no respite:  The reports on Miss Prather came back and it appeared that there was nothing on her brain...no injury, no tumour and nothing to cause immediate concern.  

"Miss Prather; your tests show that there's no injury or nothing on your brain.  I think it's to do with stress...do you currently take any medication for nerves?" she asked.

"Well, just some Valium...maybe 1 or 2 a day...or maybe 3 or 4." replied Miss Prather.

"In that case I would recommend cutting right down on those and take up something more involving and non-drug related like join an exercise class or even a yoga session.  I routinely attend yoga classes and it helps me stay calm and focussed...and, might I suggest, it's a good way to meet other people.  Other, single, people"  Normally Julia would counsel AGAINST romance but this young woman was clearly too stressed out and taking more and more Valium was not the answer for her.  

And after that there were more patients to see....businessmen who had injured themselves playing squash...

...and the return of Mr Savalani:  The man who thought he was god's gift to women doctors.  Well, what if she made it that he had to go for some tests at the same time as Miss Prather...maybe they'll strike up a conversation.

It was getting near the end of her shift and Julia had fixed the analyser, cleaned up the mess, cured 3 patients and diagnosed a couple more and then finished her reports.  She felt exhausted and in need of a rest...it was then that Dr Murakami appeared in the staff room.

"Doctor Epstein...I've read your reports and observed your performance today" said Murakami.

Julia's heart sank, Murakami usually spoke to her like this when she thought Julia hadn't done enough in one shift.  Here comes the rebuke...

"You've done very well, recently.  I'm promoting you one grade as of today" said Murakami.  Julia was lost for words.

"Well, don't rest on your laurels...more is expected of you now." said Murakami but Julia didn't mind that part so much; she'd been promoted!  However, she was in need of some fun...and she had an evening gig at the Blue Velvet this evening!  A bit of tinkling the ivories would help.

Julia was keen to perform her cool jazz set this evening to see if the regulars down at the Blue Velvet would like that kind of music.  It was known as a pretty hard core Blues venue but a little bit of jazz would broaden the repertoire.  As she played, more and more people started to gather around the piano and started to listen appreciatively.  This was cool jazz so no dancing or bopping here but people stood, sat and nodded along to the music.  Then the audience started to throw money into the large brandy glass placed at the end of the piano for tips.  The more she played, the more full that glass became.

The tips alone could buy her a meal at the club and have plenty left over so she made her way to the bar after her first set to get a plate of the chef's special.  Along the way she received plenty of plaudits for her playing.  This was, without doubt, the best public performance she had ever given:  The gamble to play a jazz set had paid off.

As she sat at the bar, enjoying a rest, Liberty Lee showed up and was full of bounce and joy.  "Julia!  Great set!  I should come down here more often to catch you performing!"

"I'm glad you liked it" said Julia.  "You don't think it was too...jazzy, do you?"

"I wasn't a fan of jazz before, I am now!  Anyway, let me buy you a drink and celebrate lots of good things!" said Liberty.

"Well...I got a promotion today" said Julia.

"It's your day today, isn't it!" said Liberty, enthusiastically.  "Well I have good news to celebrate as well:  I've been assigned as one of the pad crew for the next Gemini mission!"

Julia didn't know quite what that meant but she raised a glass of cheer to Liberty. 

"So I fly down to Cape Canaveral in a few weeks time and I'll be there, with the actual capsule, doing the pre-flight checks for the crew" continued Liberty.  Julia just about could work out what that might mean.

"So you're not actually going to go into space?" asked Julia.

"Oh no!  You still have to be a pilot to fly into space" Liberty shrugged.  "But this is the next best thing as I get to actually sit in the capsule and flick switches"

"Well, we do have a lot to celebrate tonight...let me buy you another drink from my takings" said Julia.

"Good set tonight, Julia" said the barman.  "You've packed the place!  You can have a weekly residency from now on"

"Wow!  Gosh!  Thank you!" said Julia, wide eyed with excitement.

"Just one suggestion..." added the barman.  "...the beatnik style really isn't the scene around here:  Could you spruce up what you wear when you gig here next?"

Julia let out a sigh...