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PRELUDE

This story would never have been written if I hadn't becoinity on the works outing to Weston-super-Mare, just not to that particular man

Arthur Clifton was born in Still House Lane, just like me; even went to the saer than hiirls in my class had a crush on him, and not just because he captained the school football team

Although Arthur had never shown any interest in ed soon after he'd returned from the Western Front I'm not even sure he realized who I hen he asked ht at the Palais but, to be fair, I had to look twice before I recognized hirown a pencil moustache and had his hair slicked back like Ronald Colht, and after we'd danced the last waltz I kneould only be a matter of time before he asked me to marry him

Arthur held my hand as alked back home, and e reached my front door he tried to kiss me I turned away After all, the Reverend Watts had told h that I had to stay pure until the day I was married, and Miss Monday, our choir , and once they'd got it, they quickly lost interest I often wondered if Miss Monday spoke from experience

The following Saturday, Arthur invited me to the flicks to see Lillian Gish in Broken Blossoh I allowed him to put an arm around my shoulder, I still didn't let him kiss me He didn't make a fuss Truth is, Arthur was rather shy

The next Saturday I did allow him to kiss me, but when he tried to put a hand inside my blouse, I pushed him away In fact I didn't let hi and the Reverend Watts had read the banns a second time

My brother Stan told in on our side of the River Avon, though I suspect most of his conquests were in his mind Still, I decided the ti to Weston-super-Mare with theto marry in a feeeks' time?

However, as soon as Arthur and Stan got off the charabanc, they headed straight for the nearest pub But I'd spent the past ot off the coach, like a good girl guide, I was prepared

I alking towards the pier feeling pretty fed up when I beca me I looked around and was surprised when I saho it was He caught up with me and asked if I was on my own

'Yes,' I said, aware that by now Arthur would be on his third pint

When he put a hand on my bum, I should have slapped his face, but for several reasons I didn't To start with, I thought about the advantages of having sex with soain And I have to admit I was flattered by his advances

By the tihth pints, he'd booked us into a guest house just off the seafront They seemed to have a special rate for visitors who had no plans to spend the night He started kissing , and once the bedroom door was closed he quickly undid the buttons of my blouse It obviously wasn't his first tiirl he'd had on a works outing Otherwise, how did he know about the special rates?

I must confess I hadn't expected it to be all over quite so quickly Once he'd climbed off me, I disappeared into the bathroo Perhaps it would be better the second tiht But when I came back out, he was nowhere to be seen I have to admit I was disappointed