‘Camilla told me to take a pair of tights to prove I was hard.’
Sofia let out a giggle.
‘You? Hard?’
‘Look, I was a bit scared of her. For some strange reason I picked a horrible pack of really thick old lady flesh-coloured ones that I wouldn’t be seen dead in, and put them in my bag. Next thing I know, there’s a tap on the shoulder and a “Come with me young lady.”’
Maddie put her hand over her mouth.
‘Did they call your parents?’
‘Oh yes, I had the full works. They allowed me to go with a telling off because I wasn’t aknown face.’
‘And they didn’t even have CCTV in those days. So, it wasn’t like they were monitoring you from afar.’
‘No, they must have been watching us. Camilla strode past me and out of the entrance with half the lingerie department stuffed up her top, so I learnt my lesson there. No more trips to town with Camilla.’
‘What a bitch!’
Maddie put her head on one side.
‘I think she had a few problems of her own. She disappeared in the end, didn’t she, and was homeschooled?’
Sofia nodded.
‘You’re right. She certainly had a problem keeping her hands in her pockets. She once told me she’d nicked the complete range of Miss Selfridge eye shadows and lipsticks.’
‘Yes, but that’s sad because her parents would probably have bought them for her if she’d asked.’
‘I know you love a lame duck, Mads, but I think she needed professional help. Although… she did have great parties. And a swimming pool. Do you remember her seventeenth? When we all stripped off and dived in?’
Charlotte pursed her lips.
‘Not all of us, Sof.’
Maddie put up her hands.
‘Count me out as well. I was necking with Tony somewhere in the garden.’
‘Just me in my birthday suit then.’
‘Who would have thought it?’ Charlotte’s comment was accompanied by a smile.
‘OK, no need to go on.’ Sofia shifted in her seat. ‘Where was I when all this cooking was going on?’
‘You volunteered for DT and metalwork instead, don’t you remember?’ Charlotte poked her in the arm. ‘You said it would be much better for meeting boys, as hardly any girls would volunteer, and you’d have your pick.’
‘Did I actually say that?’ Sofia sipped her wine. ‘I was a calculating little madam, wasn’t I?’
Charlotte smiled again.
‘You said it?—’
‘I mean, it was true. There were only two girls in that class, so it worked a treat. I met my first’—Sofia counted on her fingers—‘second and third boyfriend there.’
‘I’d have been happy with just one boyfriend at that stage.’ Charlotte turned down her mouth.
‘You were far too picky, Char. I think the guys were a bit scared of you. Doug must have worked extremely hard to cut down all those thorns, climb the tower and claim his princess.’
