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;}\f14\chbrdr\brdrnone\brdrcf1 \chshdng0\chcfpat1\chcbpat1\fbias0 \fi-360\li6480\jclisttab\tx6480 }{\listname ;}\listid626861858}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid-119\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid-125\listoverridecount0\ls2}
{\listoverride\listid-126\listoverridecount0\ls3}{\listoverride\listid-127\listoverridecount0\ls4}{\listoverride\listid-128\listoverridecount0\ls5}{\listoverride\listid-120\listoverridecount0\ls6}{\listoverride\listid-129\listoverridecount0\ls7}
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{\author steveh11}{\operator steveh11}{\creatim\yr2007\mo10\dy30\hr22\min4}{\revtim\yr2007\mo11\dy7\hr18\min13}{\printim\yr2006\mo10\dy29\hr13\min12}{\version3}{\edmins1}{\nofpages14}{\nofwords3692}{\nofchars21047}{\*\company -}{\nofcharsws0}{\vern8269}}
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\par June came to an end and July arrived. The festival would take place on the Saturday, the Fifth.
\par 
\par Marianne said, \'93Plan on having the whole of the following week off, Simon. I expect we\rquote ll be partying all over the weekend, and you\rquote ll definitely want Monday off \endash  and I\rquote 
d like to be able to spend time with you all that week. Besides, you }{\cs25\i deserve}{ some time off after what you\rquote ve been through, you hero you!\'94
\par 
\par Simon had waved off the last part, but had put in for the leave anyway. To his relief his request had been granted without a murmur \endash  he really didn\rquote 
t want to face Marianne if her wishes had been thwarted. That he might have been given the leave because he\rquote d saved the life of a fellow fireman didn\rquote t enter his head.
\par 
\par All was set for Simon, Marianne and Caroline to go to Knebworth \endash  except transport. Simon hadn\rquote t thought of it at all, and when Caroline asked, \'93How are we getting there?\'94 Marianne and Simon looked at each other in horror.
\par 
\par \'93I could ask John if we could borrow his car,\'94 Simon suggested after a moment. \'93He\rquote s not supposed to drive it at the moment anyway after that concussion.\'94
\par 
\par So Simon hared off to see John. \'93Sure, no problem,\'94 he said, and readily handed over his keys. \'93Just, please, be careful with her?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Of course I will, John!\'94 Simon assured him. \'93I know how much you dote on that car!\'94
\par 
\par That settled, with more assurances from Simon that he\rquote d look after John\rquote s car, he }{\cs25\i carefully}{ drove home.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {
\par \'93Mum says we ought to go and stay overnight at Aunt Jennifer\rquote s, she lives really close to Knebworth, within walking distance of the site, actually,\'94 Marianne told Simon the next morning. \'93It\rquote 
ll mean we can drop the car off there and not worry about parking it.\'94
\par 
\par Simon immediately agreed. \'93Good. That way it won\rquote t be in a car park full of drunken drivers bashing into everything and not even leaving a note! I must admit I was worried about that. How close is your Aunt\rquote s place?\'94
\par 
\par \'93It\rquote s just a couple of miles \endash  a small village called Rabley Heath. Aunt Jennifer bought a little cottage there after she and Uncle Pat got divorced.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yeah! Uncle Pat was a no-good so-and-so, he }{\cs25\i hit}{ Aunt Jenny!\'94 Caroline piped up.
\par 
\par \'93Then he went and took almost all the money, too. I never liked him either, Cari. But Jenny\rquote s cool.\'94 She turned to Simon and added, \'93You\rquote ll like her, I know. She looks like an older version of me and Cari.\'94
\par 
\par Not knowing quite how to react to that, Simon chose humour. \'93I\rquote m not sure that\rquote s such a good idea. I might get into the wrong bed.\'94
\par 
\par Marianne grinned at him. \'93She\rquote d like that. Aunt Jenny\rquote s got similar needs to mine, and no husband to help her out.\'94
\par 
\par Caroline looked a little shocked at Marianne\rquote s words, and told her, \'93She wouldn\rquote t try to steal your boyfriend, Marianne!\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, but she might ask me if I\rquote d care to share. What would you say to that, Simon?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote d say I was your boyfriend, Marianne.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Corrr}{\cs25 rect}{ answer!\'94 she told him \endash  and gave him a wonderful kiss!
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {
\par Simon, Marianne and Caroline arrived at Rabley Heath at tea-time on Friday. The festival was the next day.
\par 
\par The cottage was a small, white painted house, with an equally small, well-tended garden to the front. There was room to park the car on the driveway, so Simon parked John\rquote s mini in front of the garage door and cut the engine.
\par 
\par Marianne grinned widely at him, opened her door, got out and held the seat up so that Caroline could emerge from behind her. Simon locked the doors behind them and walked after the twins as they }{\cs25\i skipped}{ along the path to their Aunt\rquote 
s back door.
\par 
\par \'93Hi Mari! Hi Cari!\'94 he heard as he rounded the corner.
\par 
\par Jennifer was, as Marianne had said, an older version of the twins. She looked to be in her mid-forties and had rounded out a little, but the resemblance w
as striking. The same curly dark hair, the same heart-shaped face, and those same wonderfully sparkling grey eyes. She smiled and held her hand out to greet Simon.
\par 
\par \'93You\rquote ll be Marianne\rquote s boyfriend, I take it?\'94 she asked him, drawing him in and giving him a peck on the cheek.
\par 
\par \'93Yes ma\rquote am, that\rquote s me. Simon Cook.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well it\rquote s wonderful to meet you, Simon. Come in, everybody, I\rquote ll make some tea.\'94
\par 
\par So a while later the three women and Simon were sitting in Jennifer\rquote s small but cosy front room. It was tastefully 
cluttered in shades of cream and brown, with photographs of horses and family, mementos of places visited, and commemorative plates from various events.
\par 
\par After bringing in the tray with the delicate china cups and Rich Tea biscuits, the twins\rquote  Aunt said, \'93
The whole village is abuzz with rumours about the concert this year. There were all sorts of things supposed to be going on last time, and they say it\rquote ll be worse this year.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, what sort of things?\'94 Marianne asked with a smirk.
\par 
\par \'93Drink, drugs\'85 and inappropriate behaviour,\'94 Jennifer told her with a straight face, before dissolving into laughter. \'93You should hear some of the old maids. \lquote Nothing like it in }{\cs25\i my}{ day!\rquote  they say. What they\rquote 
re forgetting is that, really, all the same things were going on \endash  just hidden under the carpet, and often the poor girls concerned got in the family way and were sent away, poor things.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Barbarians,\'94 Caroline said.
\par 
\par \'93Yes, but people of their time. Things happened, they just weren\rquote t spoken of,\'94 Jennifer said.
\par 
\par The conversation continued around him, and Simon sat there, unable to say a word. Jennifer broke open a bottle of wine, pouring for all four of them. He took it all in, disbelieving. Just how open }{\cs25\i were}{ these people? He couldn\rquote t }{
\cs25\i imagine}{ a conversation like this with }{\cs25\i his}{ relatives! Though he noticed a difference; while Marianne and her Aunt were quite comfortable talking about }{\cs25\i that}{ (\lquote Sex!\rquote  his inner editor insisted. \lquote It
\rquote s Sex \endash  why don\rquote t you relax a bit?\rquote ), Caroline was quiet.
\par 
\par Talk eventually turned to other subjects, and
 Simon joined in rather more. Another bottle was produced, opened, and consumed. He wondered if it was just the alcohol that was making everyone so free and open, allowing the two girls and the older lady to talk about sex, politics, sex, religion, sex an
d just about any other subject seemingly without inhibition. He remembered earlier in the evening, and concluded that it wasn\rquote t \endash  they really were this open. It wasn\rquote t what he was used to in his own home \endash 
 his father was very much of the older mould, while his mother seemingly went along with him.
\par 
\par It was to his surprise when Jennifer announced that it was already after half-past ten, and she was going to bed.
\par 
\par \'93Girls, you have the spare room, of course. Simon, I\rquote ll fetch you a couple of blankets and a pillow,\endash  you get the couch, I\rquote m afraid.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
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\par Simon was drifting in that stream-of-consciousness state just before sleep when he became aware that he wasn\rquote t alone on the couch.
\par 
\par It was pitch dark, even after his eyes sprang open he couldn\rquote t really see anything. He came back to full alertness when he felt hands on the underwear he was wearing \endash  well, he couldn\rquote t sleep naked on someone else\rquote 
s couch, could he? \endash  and his manhood lay revealed. The next thing he felt was soft lips kissing his cockhead, then a warm, wet tongue lapping at him. He rapidly hardened and started to say something but felt a finger on his lips, and kept quiet.

\par 
\par The lips and tongue went back to work, joined now by an expert hand. Simon found himself being brought towards a peak quickly, but then kept just short. His hips moved of their own accord, his hands went to the girl\rquote 
s head to force himself home, but she expertly backed off, and took his hands in hers, laying them by his side. 
Once more she went to work on him, bringing him to the edge of ecstasy but not over it, holding him there for a while. Dimly Simon was aware that he could only feel one hand, and realised that the other was busy elsewhere.
\par 
\par Finally she went rigid around hi
s cock, taking him deeply. He could feel her straining, tense like a bowstring in the dark, and when she moaned the vibrations set him off, pumping away into her mouth. She went limp against him and he, too, relaxed his muscles, finding that he\rquote 
d almost lifted himself into a wrestler\rquote s bridge, his buttocks inches off the sofa, heels and shoulders digging deeply into the blanket covered soft upholstery.
\par 
\par His visitor crawled lazily up to kiss his face. \'93Thanks, Simon!\'94 he heard Jennifer\rquote s low voice, before she kissed him lightly and rolled off him to the floor.
\par 
\par In shock he felt rather than saw or heard her lithely come fluidly to her feet and move off in the darkness. He heard her bedroom door snick shut, while he laid there, heart pounding, waiting for the s
leep that had once been so close but was now a distant objective.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {
\par Morning came, and Simon woke. He groggily came to the conclusion that he\rquote d slept despite himself.
\par 
\par What had really happened last night? Had it been a dream? His underwear was bunched up, pulled partway down his thighs. It really }{\cs25\i had}{ happened.
\par 
\par Blearily he wiped his hand over his face and rubbed his eyes. He pulled his underwear back up and yawned, stretching. Just then he heard voices in the corridor and the door opened. Marianne and Caroline walked in.
\par 
\par \'93My, }{\cs25\i don\rquote t}{ }{\i you}{ look lovely this morning?\'94 grinned Marianne, and Caroline giggled.
\par 
\par No witty retort coming to mind, Simon grunted and quickly got dressed. Having both his be
autiful girlfriend and her twin sister watching him ought to have aroused him, especially as they made appreciative noises, but embarrassment and guilt were overriding his lust. By a long way.
\par 
\par Caroline left to help her Aunt with setting out breakfast, and Marianne sat next to her boyfriend on the sofa. They sat in silence for a moment, then Simon yawned, mightily.
\par 
\par \'93Didn\rquote t sleep well, huh?\'94 she asked him.
\par 
\par \'93Er, no, er, not well at all. I er, woke up in the middle of the night.\'94
\par 
\par Marianne\rquote s expression grew more concerned.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, Simon, are you getting nightmares? You should have said something!\'94
\par 
\par \'93No! Well, I mean, sometimes, but not last night. No, I, er, I just woke up, and couldn\rquote t get back to sleep afterwards.\'94
\par 
\par Just then the door opened and Jennifer popped her head through.
\par 
\par \'93Breakfast will be ready in a couple of minutes. Hungry, Simon?\'94 she asked, face innocent.
\par 
\par Simon blushed. Marianne turned away from him to ask her Aunt if she could have some toast, offering to help, but Jennifer laughed, and told her that she\rquote d already helped enough.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {
\par Getting through the meal was agony for Simon. How could he tell his girlfriend that her aunt had sucked him off? He was anxious and quiet, and in the end Marianne pulled her aunt into a whispered co
nversation. Then she grabbed Simon and pulled him into the room she\rquote d shared with her sister overnight.
\par 
\par \'93Simon,\'94 she told him quietly but firmly, \'93this has gone on long enough.\'94 Marianne looked him directly in the eye, put her hands on her hips and went on, \'93I\rquote m sorry. I should have asked if you\rquote d mind beforehand, I just didn
\rquote t think you }{\cs25\i would}{.\'94
\par 
\par Simon\rquote s jaw dropped as she went on, \'93Aunt Jen asked me if I\rquote d mind lending you to her last night, and I told her she could. She said she just wanted to suck you, not full sex \endash  she seemed to think that wouldn\rquote 
t be right. She told me that\rquote s what happened, and that you seemed to be all right with it \endash  is that correct, Simon?\'94
\par 
\par \'93You }{\cs25\i knew?}{\'94
\par 
\par \'93Of course I knew! She wouldn\rquote t have done that otherwise!\'94
\par 
\par \'93You could have asked }{\cs25\i me!}{\'94 he shouted, angrily.
\par 
\par Marianne closed the distance between them and put her arms around him, face lifted for a kiss. Despite his anger he felt himself responding to her touch. He met her lips.
\par 
\par After a long moment she pulled back and laid her cheek on his.
\par 
\par \'93I know I should have asked first, Simon. I really am sorry. But it was just as we were going to bed, and I really didn\rquote t think you\rquote d object!\'94
\par 
\par Marianne\rquote s aunt spoke up from the doorway, where she\rquote d appeared unnoticed by the pair.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote m sorry, too, Simon. I shouldn\rquote t have done it. I took advantage of you.\'94
\par 
\par Simon and Marianne broke apart and turned to look at Jennifer. It was obvious she\rquote d been crying.
\par 
\par Marianne went to her aunt. Simon hung back, thinking.
\par 
\par \'93You know, what bothered }{\cs25\i most}{ was not being asked, but what bothered me }{\cs25\i first}{ was that Marianne wouldn\rquote t like it. Obviously, that\rquote s not a problem!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Obviously!\'94 Marianne interjected.
\par 
\par \'93Okay. You and I can talk later, in private,\'94 he told Marianne, \'93But you\'85\'94 he said, turning to Jennifer, \'93well I guess I should say \lquote thank you\rquote . I can\rquote t say I didn\rquote t enjoy it, and I guess you did too.\'94

\par 
\par \'93Yes, I did. But \endash \'94
\par 
\par \'93Then let\rquote s leave it at }{\cs25\i that}{ between us, Jennifer. Let\rquote s not do, or say, anything to make things more complicated.\'94
\par 
\par Marianne reached for Simon\rquote s hand and pulled him back into the front room. Caroline was there, face blank.
\par 
\par Jennifer wiped her eyes and looked at Simon with relief and a small smile. \'93You get your dick sucked in the middle of the night, and you react like I\rquote d slapped you. Are you }{\cs25\i sure}{ you\rquote re a young man?\'94
\par 
\par When Simon opened his mouth to retort Marianne silenced him by kissing him soundly. Simon closed his eyes at the intensity of his girlfriend\rquote s kiss.
\par 
\par He heard Jennifer continue, \'93I guess you answered that question last night when you came buckets in my mouth \endash  I had trouble swallowing it all!\'94
\par 
\par Simon\rquote s eyes popped open in surprise just in time to see Caroline clap her hands over her ears. \'93Too much information, Aunt Jen!\'94 she squeaked. This broke the tensi
on, setting Marianne and Jennifer laughing while Simon turned an interestingly dark shade of red, contrasting markedly with his blonde hair as he blushed right to the roots.
\par 
\par But Jennifer looked pointedly at the clock. Simon followed her gaze and realised that time was passing faster than he'd thought.}{\f0 
\par }{\~}{\f0 
\par }{"Time to get ready, ladies," he told Marianne and Caroline, "get your stuff ready \endash  it's going to be a long day."}{\f0 
\par }{\~}{\f0 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\~}{\f0 
\par }{Simon still hadn\rquote t told Marianne about Alison, or her offer about the party. He was pretty sure he should simply let that particular sleeping dog lie, but he couldn\rquote t quite shake the thought of her from his mind.
\par 
\par They were early enough at the site to get reasonably close to the stage \endash  close enough that they\rquote d be able to 
see the people on stage as people, not just blobs. It was a beautiful morning with a cornflower blue sky, promising to be long, hot and dry. Simon, Marianne and Caroline sat down on the grass and made plans.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote m going to go and get something to drink. Lemonade or Pepsi or something,\'94 he told them. \'93I\rquote ll be as quick as I can \endash  don\rquote t go off with any strange men!\'94
\par 
\par Simon returned some time later, smoking a roll\endash up, with several cans of Carlsberg Export and some Coke. The site was now packed; he was afraid he wouldn\rquote 
t find the two girls. He eventually found Marianne and Caroline standing in the crowd. By now things had started, Graham Chapman had been on in his military character from \lquote Monty Python\rquote 
 and Linda Lewis had played her set. It was loud, at least.
\par 
\par He got rid of the cigarette and bellowed \'93Hi!\'94 to them both, putting an arm around Marianne.
\par 
\par \'93Hi, Simon. We were wondering where you\rquote d got to!\'94
\par 
\par \'93There\rquote s a hell of a queue at the beer tent. I thought I\rquote d lost the pair of you!\'94
\par 
\par \'93You missed the start!\'94 Caroline shouted.
\par 
\par In answer Simon merely shrugged and popped open the ring-pull on a can of beer. Marianne grabbed a bottle of coke, and they listened to the music.
\par 
\par By late afternoon Simon had a good buzz going on the beer. Marianne and Caroline had both sunk a couple but were still pacing themselves. For that matter Simon hadn\rquote 
t been going all-out to get drunk, either, unlike some of the crowd around them. Roy Harper and Steve Miller had both been on with their bands, and they were waiting for the next band \endash  \lquote }{\i Rocksette\rquote }{. Simon couldn\rquote 
t work out how they\rquote d managed to get so high on the bill, but for whatever reason they were on just before the much better known Captain Beefheart. Of course, \lquote The Floyd\rquote  were the headlining act, after Steve Miller.
\par 
\par \lquote }{\i Rocksette}{\rquote  came onto stage, and Simon remembered the invitation. He }{\cs25\i still}{ hadn\rquote t mentioned it to Marianne or Caroline. Then all was forgotten as they began their set.
\par 
\par No covers in this. Simon remembered Alison\rquote s songbook, the one she\rquote d torn a page from to give him her parent\rquote s address. She\rquote d obviously come up with some more material, and it was }{\cs25\i good}{ \endash 
 these were good songs, some might be \lquote commercial\rquote  but even so\'85 this was good material!
\par 
\par The lead singer \endash  Simon had to dig deep to come up with a name, }{\cs25\i Shaun}{, that was it \endash 
 was good in a typical fashion, skinny and athletic and with a strong, high-ish tenor voice with some gravel in it when he wanted it. He had a strong personality which came over on stage well, too.
\par 
\par But it was, once again, Alison who caught, and held, Simon\rquote s attention. 
\par 
\par She was lean and she wore a silver jumpsuit, which hugged her skin. Her hair was swept down to where it was gathered in a bunch each side. She looked like a guitar-playing Ursula Andress. She looked like a goddess.
\par 
\par She played well, too. None of the Hendrix copying any more, just solid guitar work with some }{\cs25\i dazzling}{ virtuoso breaks when they were called for. Shaun was the leader but Alison was the star.
\par 
\par Suddenly the set was over, and \lquote }{\i Rocksette}{\rquote  were walking off stage. Simon couldn\rquote t believe it. Surely there would be more?
\par 
\par But no: the roadies were quickly onto the stage clearing and setting up for Captain Beefheart. Simon let out a deep breath and came back to his senses. He looked around for Marianne and Caroline.
\par 
\par He couldn\rquote t see them.
\par 
\par He realised he\rquote d moved forward into the crowd, trying and succeeding in getting closer to the stage. Concerned, he scanned the crowd behind him, searching, then he suddenly caught a glimpse of one of the twins jumping up and looking worried. He w
aved and called, but wasn\rquote t heard \endash  but that didn\rquote t matter, he could now find his way back to them.
\par 
\par He was met by a feminine missile, and this was quickly followed by another one, along with an anxious and angry question: \'93Where did you }{\cs25\i get}{ to? I couldn\rquote t see you, neither could Caroline, and we were }{\cs25\i worried}{. I didn
\rquote t know where you were!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sorry, Marianne, I really am. I just got lost in the music, I guess.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Looked more like you were lost in the guitar player, before you started drifting towards the stage!\'94 grinned Caroline. Simon couldn\rquote t exactly deny it, and his silence drew a furious look from Marianne before she visibly put it behind her.

\par 
\par Simon saw that now wasn\rquote t the time to say anything about the party. He cast a silent sigh. \lquote It probably never }{\cs25\i will }{be the right time, now,\rquote  he thought. \lquote Oh, well.\rquote 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
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\par Beefheart finished their set, and they were replaced by Steve Miller. Simon wasn\rquote t a fan of either, particularly, he hardly paid any attention. Now it would be the highlight of the day \endash 
 Pink Floyd. He smoked another roll-up, courteously declining the offer of a \lquote herbal alternative\rquote  from a neighbouring couple, and waited while they set up.
\par 
\par There was an interruption when the MC, John Peel, announced that the Floyd wouldn\rquote 
t go on until someone got off the tower that was linked by a line to the stage. Soon after that, two spitfires flew low over the festival site, and shortly after that, the band came onto stage, and the music began.
\par 
\par Actually, they began badly. The sound didn\rquote t seem right at all, but gradually the sound engineers and roadies got it together, and the band themselves were professional throughout. They did all of \'93Shine on you Crazy Diamond\'94,
 with a cameo spot for Roy Harper on \'93Have a Cigar\'94 before launching into \'93Dark Side of the Moon\'94. Simon, Marianne and Caroline stood together with one of his arms around each of the twins as they swayed and sang along. A model plane \lquote 
flew\rquote  down on a wire to herald \'93Dark Side\'94, there was the usual Floyd circular screen, the lighting show was great\'85 but Caroline pointed out that Roger Waters\rquote  vocals were out-of-tune several times.
\par 
\par While they were waiting for the band to come back on for their encore, Simon, much the worse for wear on beer and euphoric with hearing his favourite band play, asked Marianne and Caroline in a loud voice, \'93Fancy going to a party afterwards?\'94
\par 
\par \'93What?\'94 from both girls.
\par 
\par \'93Party!\'94
\par 
\par Caroline looked unsure, but when Marianne shouted \'93Yeah, sure!\'94 she looking at her sister, and finally nodded.
\par 
\par \'93Great!\'94 declared Simon and then before more could be said, the Floyd came back on.
\par 
\par The band finished, of course, with \'93Echoes\'94. It was flawless, Simon was once more completely taken over with the music. The three of them stood once more arm-in-arm, mesmerised by one of the world\rquote s best progressive rock bands.
\par 
\par They started to drift away with the crowd before Marianne asked Simon, \'93Where\rquote s this party, then?\'94
\par 
\par Simon stopped and brought his mind back down to earth.
\par 
\par \'93We\rquote ve got to get into Stevenage, somehow. I wonder if we can get a lift from someone?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Who, at this time of night? Oh, give me a break, Simon!\'94 Marianne was }{\cs25\i not}{ amused.
\par 
\par \'93We could always walk, you know,\'94 Caroline told her, but her sister disagreed.
\par 
\par \'93Too far! I\rquote ve been on my feet almost all day and I don\rquote t feel like stumbling around in the dark!\'94
\par 
\par \lquote Oh, well,\rquote  thought Simon. He hadn\rquote t really been thinking of going anyway, it was the alcohol that had loosened his tongue.
\par 
\par The three of them made their way to the exit. Just as they were filing out, Marianne spotted someone standing off to one side.
\par 
\par \'93Pearl!\'94 she cried, and ran over to the older woman. They hugged and exchanged air-kisses while Simon and Caroline walked over more sedately. Chris was there, too, and the five of them chatted excitedly about the day. Chris was a }{\cs25\i devout}{
 Pink Floyd fan.
\par 
\par Eventually though Chris told Simon, \'93Sorry mate, gotta go \endash  party to go to.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yeah, sure. We\rquote ve got an invite to one as well but I don\rquote t think we can get there, it\rquote s a fair walk and I sure as hell can\rquote t drive!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh? Whereabouts, I might be able to give you a lift!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Stevenage,\'94 Simon replied.
\par 
\par \'93Perfect! That\rquote s where we\rquote re going! There\rquote s a record company bash at the }{\cs25\i Caribou}{.\'94
\par 
\par Simon\rquote s wide, sloppy, somewhat drunk grin told all the story, but of course he couldn\rquote t refrain from telling Chris, \'93Same party!\'94 
\par 
\par \'93Have you got room?\'94 asked Marianne, thinking of the Stag. Fitting three in the back of that car would be a very tight squeeze, especially with Chris\rquote  camera equipment.
\par 
\par \'93Sure, I brought the Cortina Estate \endash  otherwise there wouldn\rquote t have been room for the cameras and Pearl\rquote s makeup!\'94
\par 
\par Pearl smacked his arm affectionately. \'93A girl\rquote s got to look after herself you know, Chris. You like me looking good in your pictures!\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {
\par A little while later Chris pulled up in the car park of the spacious Inn. Pearl was sitting next to him, while Simon was sitting in the middle of
 the back seat with Marianne and Caroline on either side of him. Marianne was cuddled up close, her head on his shoulder, dozing. Caroline, having drunk less, looked across at her sister and grinned at him. \'93She\rquote 
ll liven up once we get into the party,\'94 she told Simon.
\par 
\par No one was going to mind the traffic slowly winding past as they got out of the car. The Inn must have been taken over completely by the record company, because even from the car park the music playing inside was }{\cs25\i loud}{.
\par 
\par There was, of course, a pair of large muscular guys in suits standing outside. Simon seemed to be shuffled to the front by the group, so he gave his name and said, \'93We were told to ask for Horace, and say that Alison sent us?\'94
\par 
\par One of the bouncers went inside, presumably to check. He came back and said, \'93Okay, }{\cs25\i you}{ can go in. Who are these?\'94
\par 
\par \'93These two are my girlfriend and her sister, and\'85\'94
\par 
\par Chris took over. He gave his name, told them who Pearl was, and after some whispered conversation with a narrow-faced gent in a sharp suit, they were allowed in.
\par 
\par Narrow-Face introduced himself, \'93Giles, I\rquote m with the record company,\'94 he said, with an insincere smile and a tone in his voice that suggested he was superior to all lowly peons like these, and they should be subservient to him. But
 he brought them through to what Simon realised was normally the restaurant, but today had been taken over by a small PA, a guy spinning discs and a scrum of people swilling copious amounts of booze.
\par 
\par \'93Enjoy,\'94 he told them and left them alone.
\par 
\par \'93How did you get an invite to a party like }{\cs25\i this?}{\'94 Marianne asked Simon.
\par 
\par \'93I, er\'85 I know the lead guitarist for \lquote }{\cs25\i Rocksette\rquote }{,\'94 he told her absently, while trying to find Alison in the crowd. Spotting Shaun, he began to make his way over, obliviously trailing Marianne and Caroline after him.

\par 
\par Simon felt like he was in a train crash. He could see everything falling down around him, and he didn\rquote t think there was }{\cs25\i anything}{ he could do about it. \lquote Why did I have to mention this fuckin\rquote  party anyway?\rquote 
 he thought, \lquote I should have just taken the girls home\'85\rquote 
\par 
\par }{\cs25\i \lquote Christ!}{\rquote 
\par 
\par \'93Simon!\'94
\par 
\par Marianne was calling him. He realised that she\rquote d been calling him for a while, she was quite vexed now.
\par 
\par \'93I just thought,\'94 he told her, \'93you\rquote ve got to ring your Aunt \endash  she\rquote ll be worried about you both.\'94
\par 
\par \'93That\rquote s what I\rquote ve been }{\cs25\i trying}{ to tell you!\'94 she said, eyes flashing dangerously. \'93There\rquote ll be a phone in reception, come on. You can find\'85 whoever, later.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sorry, Marianne.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Huh!\'94 But she moved to him, gave him a peck on the cheek and said, softly, \'93You\rquote re forgiven. I want to enjoy the party \endash  let\rquote s go tell Aunt Jen.\'94
\par 
\par She marched off, the way she held her small body effortlessly parting the people before her. Caroline was with her, and with Simon in their wake they made their way to the reception desk.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s40\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f27\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {- - - - - - - - - -
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\par }}