Samantha Part 12
Below is part 12 of my story Samantha. For part 11 which links back to previous chapters please visit http://newauthoronline.com/2013/01/20/samantha-part-11/
Sam and Peter reached the County Court pub in Woolton Village just as the clock in the local church chimed for 5 pm. “There they are” Peter said gesturing towards a young couple sitting at a table close to the bar. Hand in hand they walked across to where Mark and Lisa sat. “Good to see you Mark. How’s the head?” Peter said with a grin. “I don’t know what you mean. I was drinking fruit juice all Friday evening”, Mark replied smiling in return. Peter turned to Lisa. “Lovely to see you Lisa. I guess that you too where awash with fruit juice on Friday?” “What are you implying? Of course I was drinking orange juice all evening” Lisa said trying not to laugh. “This is my girlfriend Samantha” Peter said placing his arm around Sam’s waist. Mark shook Sam’s hand while Lisa gave her a kiss on the cheek. “What are you drinking?” Peter asked. “I’ll have a glass of the house white please” Lisa said. “A Fosters for me please. I’ll help you get the drinks” Mark replied. “I’ll have a glass of white wine as well please darling” Sam said squeezing Peter’s hand.
The men went to the crowded bar leaving the two ladies alone. “You are lovely Lisa. I can understand why Mark fell for you” Sam said gazing admiringly at Lisa’s light brown skin and long black hair. “Thanks I guess you are wondering about where I’m from?” “Actually I was” Sam said looking embarrassed. “My dad’s from Jamaica and my mum’s English that’s why I look Mediterranean. Lots of people think I’m Spanish” Lisa said a warm smile lighting up her face. “What about you Sam? I don’t think you are from Liverpool. You speak what my mum calls the queen’s English”. “I grew up in Oxfordshire on a country estate and I went to a girl’s boarding school” Sam said her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She felt that Lisa might regard her as a stuck up girl from a privileged background. As though reading her mind Lisa said “None of us can help our background Sam. I grew up in Toxteth which is still remembered for the riots there in the 1980’s. It is the person that matters not their skin colour or their background”. “You are so right” Sam said starting to relax and warm to Lisa, “I came to Liverpool to get away from the horsey set. I wanted to live my life away from people who can only talk about horses, the price of their children’s education and how much money they have in the bank”. “So what do you do Sam? Are you a student?” “I work as a nurse mainly looking after elderly people. I’m on call with a nursing agency”. “Really! What a coincidence. I work as a nurse in the Royal Liverpool Hospital”. “Well, actually I’m not a nurse I’m a carer” Sam said. Sam’s cheeks where burning. Surely Lisa could sense her discomfort she thought. “There is no shame in being a carer. It’s a very important job. It’s a shame that governments don’t value it more highly. Did you read the latest report from the CQC?” Sam looked blank. “The CQC?” she said the panic rising in her. “The Care Quality Commission. The organisation that regulates the caring profession!” “Oh of course, silly me. No I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the time to turn on the television let alone read a newspaper recently” Sam replied. “When I said recent I meant the report that came out about 3 weeks ago. You must have heard of it. The Commission blasted the standard of care provided to elderly and disabled people in some of the countries leading care homes” Lisa said looking straight into Sam’s eyes. Sam couldn’t hold her gaze and looked away. “As I say I’m not a great follower of world events” she mumbled. “Not even of events which directly impact on your field of work it seems” Lisa said. There was an edge to Lisa’s voice which Sam found disconcerting. “Excuse me I need the toilet” Sam said. She needed time to think, to collect her thoughts. “I’ll come with you. The heat in this place has made my make up run. I need a mirror” Lisa said following Sam into the toilets.
Once the toilet door had closed behind them Lisa put a hand on Sam’s shoulder and turned Sam so that the two girls stood facing one another only inches apart. “Matilda told such dreadful lies, it made one gasp and stretch one’s eyes” Do you remember that one Sam? Its funny how fragments of poetry pop into one’s head unexpectedly isn’t it?” Lisa said. “Let me go Lisa” Sam gasped. Lisa released her hold on Sam. “Sam you can run away now but you can’t hide forever. Whatever it is that is eating you up inside will come out sooner or later. Peter’s a lovely guy. Mark and Peter have been friends since they met at university. I’m not having my boyfriend’s best friend lied to and treated like a fool. I won’t stand by and let that happen Sam”. Sam took Lisa’s hands in her’s. “Please Lisa. Please don’t say anything” she pleaded. “Sam I want to help you but I can’t unless you trust me. Tell me what’s eating you up inside. Behind that smile you aren’t a happy lady are you?” Lisa said. Her voice had lost it’s harshness and Sam could see compassion in Lisa’s face. “I’m a prostitute” Sam whispered. Sam buried her head against Lisa’s chest and sobbed like a child. Lisa said nothing. For several minutes she gently stroked Sam’s face until at last Sam’s crying subsided. “It wasn’t a choice” Lisa said. It was a statement not a question. Sam nodded. “Yes I was/I am being blackmailed”. In a few sentences Sam told Lisa about how she had been drugged and forced into prostitution. Looking into Sam’s eyes Lisa could see only pain. The deep hurt in her face told Lisa that Sam was speaking the plain unvarnished truth.
“You must go to the police Sam. You know that don’t you. It isn’t just about you. Barry is exploiting other young girls and if you don’t report him you will have that on your conscience.” Lisa said hugging Sam close. Sam nodded numbly. “But first you need to tell Peter. He has a right to know”. “I can’t!” Sam gasped. “Yes you can. I believe in you Sam. I’ll be there for you but you have to talk to Peter. He has a right to know”. Sam nodded her head almost imperceptibly. “Do you have money for a cab? I’ll tell Peter and Mark that you didn’t feel well and that you had to go home. You can have time to compose yourself. Christ I am sorry I know that you can’t compose yourself, what a bloody stupid thing for me to say but you will have time to be alone and think how best to talk to Peter about the terrible situation you are in”. I’ll go back to my flat. I don’t have a key to Peter’s flat”, Sam said. “Do you need money for a taxi?” “No I’ll walk, I need the fresh air. Thanks Lisa” Sam said giving her new found friend a kiss on the cheek. “See you later Sam. Are you sure that you will be OK going back to your flat alone?” “Yes Barry hasn’t been opening the agency for the past few days so I’m sure I’m OK, he won’t be calling me tonight”. With a final squeeze of Lisa’s hand Sam exited the ladies and left the pub unobserved by the two men who had just returned to their table from the crowded bar.
