1982 Janine by Alasdair Gray Page A

you entertained yourself again.
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    Superb, telephoning, says firmly, “What I need to know is, if Max calls you tomorrow, will you make the right noises?”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œThank you mother,” says Superb and puts down the receiver. She rearranges herself on the bed then dials another number. She says, “Hullo Charlie. We’re all right. Mother will cover up for me. I’m leaving an hour from now.”
    â€œWhy not leave right away?”
    â€œI’ve this husband, remember? We still eat together. That’s about all we do together.”
    â€œHow do you look?”
    â€œFresh and clean. I’ve had a shower, and washed my hair, and I’m wearing these new white denim dungarees bought just today, so don’t say I don’t love you.”
    â€œWhat about the top?”
    â€œNothing special. A demure little blouse.”
    â€œBra?”
    â€œOf course not. I know you don’t like them.”
    â€œTerry, take off that blouse.”
    â€œYou bad mad boy!”
    â€œTerry, when we meet tonight, I don’t want you wearing anything but those dungarees. Right?” 
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    She must dress this way for three reasons.
    1 The colliers’ sons, who played rough games my mother did not like, wore dungarees of the bib and brace type, so this garment has an exciting flavour of forbidden games which is enhanced by DUNG, the first syllable of the name.
    2 The colliers’ sons’ dungarees were black to hide the dirt. Superb’s are white so that I can see clearly how dirty I make her.

    66 EATING WITH MAX AGAIN   
    3 (a) If Charlie embraces her from the front he can put a hand under the braces to caress her shoulderblades and feel lingeringly down the spine to where my (no) his other hand has unfastened four buttons over a hip and slid inside to explore the two hills of her bum.
    (b) If Charlie embraces her from behind I (no) he can put his hand under the bib to caress her breasts while my other hand has unfastened four buttons over her hip and slid inside to explore the hillock of her belly, feeling delicately down it to the rough mat and soft step before the sweet door of home.
    A distant door slams and Superb says, “Charlie, Max has just come in, I’ll see you at six.”
    She replaces the receiver and goes downstairs. 
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    Max sits in the lounge staring at the blank television screen. She walks past him to the kitchen where the table is already set saying, “Come and get it.”
    They sit eating. He pleads with her to stay with him this weekend. She refuses. He suddenly says, “Why dress like a whore?”
    â€œSay that again, Max.”
    â€œWhy dress like a whore to visit your mother?”
    She smiles sweetly and says, “What are you afraid of, Max?”
    He glares at her. She rises, strolls to the garage door, turns, spreads her arms sideways and shakes her hips in a sexy little shimmy. She says, “Do whores really look like this?”
    â€œThey certainly do!”
    She pouts, unfastens the bib of the dungarees, removes her blouse, drops it on a chair and refastens the stiff fabric over her nude breasts. Legs astride, hands on hips, she smiles at Max tauntingly and says, “Think I’ll get more customers like this?”
    Why can he not spring upon her, force her to the floor and enjoy her thoroughly? Because we cannot rape someone we know well. I can’t, anyway. Neither can Max. He has risen to his feet and stands dazzled, daunted by the bonny perfection of her challenge. All he can say is, “My GOD Terry you’re not going to drive to your mother’s house like that?”
    â€œWhy not Max? It’s a warm night. And I promise not topick up any hitchhikers unless they’re very young, very handsome and very, very strong.
    67 RED ROLLTOP TWOSEATER 
    She goes into the garage. He follows. As she lays her hand on the car door he