The Bonnets – Part 3. | I choose how I will spend the rest of my life

The Bonnets – Part 3.

The day of the party dawned….

The two girls were very excited. They had all the right clothes, including hats, handbags and shoes, and were really looking forward to the party.

The day seemed to drag by. They met for lunch and some desultory window shopping but all the time they were willing the hours to pass until party time. It was agreed that Charlotte would come around to Daisie’s to get ready and then they would be driven to the party by Hudson, the chauffeur. It was also agreed that they would call the house when they were ready to be picked up again, or if it was after midnight, they would get a taxi home. Charlotte was to spend the night and so the girls would be together at all times.

And now it was time to get ready. Much giggling and hilarity accompanied the getting dressed and Juliet, Daisie’s mother joined in. Some of clothes that came from Maisie’s she remembered seeing all those years ago when her mother dressed to go out. And she was a trifle wistful remembering when she too was excited about going to a party with her friends.

The car was brought around and Hudson was given strict instructions by Juliet not to leave the girls until he saw them safely into the house. Juliet was a little concerned at the thought of the two girls in an unknown house in an unknown district. But she consoled herself with the thought that while Daisie might appear to be flighty she was really a very sensible young woman.

When they arrived the party was in full swing. Loud music and very loud voices. So many people were there that it was difficult to hear oneself speak and as for finding anyone in the throng..well that was almost impossible.

Almost immediately, the two girls got separated and each was pulled into a group, given a glass of suspicious looking punch, offered cigarettes and some other dubious things and didn’t see each other again for some time.

There was dancing and somebody had produced a karaoke machine with 1950s songs and everybody had to take a turn at the microphone. The two girls were really enjoying themselves. Around 1am Daisie, being the most sensible of the two, thought they should go home. But Charlotte was with a group who were going on to a nightclub and she wanted them both to go with them.

Somewhat reluctantly, Daisie agreed, and the group set off in several cars. Once again the girls were separated. The noise at the club was even louder than it had been at the party and Daisie quickly developed a headache and decided that she just had to go home. But Charlotte was not ready to leave. There was a slight argument between the two. Daisie was well aware that her mother thought the girls were still at the party and didn’t know how she would react if she knew they were at a somewhat sleazy nightclub.

After some pleading, Daisie managed to persuade Charlotte to leave with her. They declined the offer of a lift home in somebody’s car – how much had they all drunk that night – and called for a taxi.

It duly arrived and the two girls climbed into the back….