The Very Thought of You
Chapter 14
The two girls reached their destination, Herne Bay. They had some lunch in a local pub and spent a little time walking around the town. At three O'clock, they enjoyed tea and cake in a small tea shop.
"I suppose we should start heading for home now?" Charlie suggested as they left the tea rooms. "Up hill all the way!"
"Yes, and we've got that big lunch and tea in us now to slow our progress." Observed her companion. "But maybe it'll give me the edge when we race. That extra piece of cake you had is sure to slow you down, fatty!" Joey said with a big grin.
They cycled through the town and back along the quiet country lane they'd travelled upon earlier. After a while, Charlie was bursting to ask Joey more about her life. She slowed their pace.
"When did you realise that you were..." Charlie blushed, unable to finish her question. Joey grinned.
"I suppose I always knew. You get to an age where you should be observing members of the opposite sex, but it just never happened to me. I was aware that I was having crushes on female friends, teachers and even the girl in the fish shop!" The girls laughed. "I didn't really understand it at the time. Well, why would I? Nobody ever talks about this sort of thing, do they? We took a sort of working holiday in France. Dad had to sail across to Boulogne-sur-Mer to do some business. The man who he had to see lived a little way into the countryside – can't remember the name of the village now, but it was very pretty. Mum and Dad spent time with Uncle Henri, as we knew him and Brian and I spent time with his children. Uncle Henri had two boys and a girl. The boys went off and played rough games, but Michelle, that was her name, and I would walk around just talking – she was leaning English and I picked up a few French phases – all clean, I hasten to add! Michelle, well, she was typically French. Short dark hair, an all year round tan and very beautiful – in a continental sort of way. Well, she was about seventeen and I was sixteen at the time. Let's just say she showed me the light!"
"JOEY! NO! Charlie gasped! Are you saying that you and she...?"
"Oh yes!" Joey laughed. I can honestly say I've never looked back since. What a holiday that was!"
Charlie sat staring at her companion with her mouth open; half in shock and half in wonder.
"Have you seen this Michelle since then?"
"No. I've never been back to France since. To my knowledge, she's never been over here either. Then the war started."
"Gosh!" Charlie said, quietly.
"Have I shocked you?" Joey said, with interest.
"I don't know. Maybe I just envy your liberation. Makes me feel quite repressed!" Charlie smiled sadly.
"Liberation? I hardly call a few liaisons with a French girl, liberating, but she did help me sort out my confusion. No Charlie, to be truly liberated, would be to love and be loved without scorn being thrust upon one. That, unhappily, will never happen in my life time."
Charlie stopped her bicycle. Joey did like-wise and glanced at her companion.
"Let's walk for a bit." Charlie suggested.
She was feeling like she'd landed in another world. Ever since she had met Joey Collins, her mind was opening up to new and strange things which she had never encountered before. They were strange indeed, but exciting. The more she learnt of Joey, the more she wanted to know and be with her. What was it about this young woman that attracted her so much?
Suddenly,
"WOW! Charlie! Look over there!" Joey yelled.
Charlie, shaken out of her reverie turned to face where Joey was pointing. She saw a lake shining in the afternoon sunlight.
"Come on!" Joey shouted, "Let's go for a swim!"
"But Joey, we don't have any..." But Joey was gone in a flash, bicycle and all, through a hole in the hedge and into the field beyond. "Bathing clothes." Charlie finished in vain.
Charlie followed the other girl to the lake. It wasn't a big lake but large enough to swim in. Joey placed Ruby's bicycle on the grass and started to take off her clothes.
"Joey, do you think we should?" The Policewoman asked anxiously, checking the surrounding fields for spectators.
"Charlie, d'you know, something has happened to me? I don't know what it is, but suddenly I feel the need to live dangerously!" She said, taking her blouse off. "There's a war on and we don't even know if we will live through it. So much has happened to me just recently, horrible things which I don't even want to think about this afternoon. Therefore," she said taking her trousers off, "I'm liberating myself, even if it's just for today!" And with that, she jumped into the lake in just her underclothes.
Joey remained out of site of a few long moments. Charlie began to feel worried for her friend when, SPLASH! Joey appeared at the edge of the lake in front of Charlie, her hair slicked back with water and her eyes sparkling. Charlie thought, not for the first time, how attractive Joey was.
"Joey! You had me worried there!" Charlie scolded.
"Charlie! It's wonderful, come on in! There isn't too much weed down there so you're quite safe."
"Isn't it cold?" Charlie asked, sheepishly.
"Yes, but so refreshing to be out of that heat! Come on in!" She laughed.
Charlie stood for a few moments, unsure of what to do. Half wanting to join her 'liberated' friend in the lake and half wanting to remain on dry ground, safe and sound; the sensible thing to do. She made her decision. She took off her clothes and jumped in.