Just a Bit of Fun

Hi Lorraine,

Thanks for your reply.

This is a true account of what happened to me when I was about 9 years old and you might understand how it had a long-term affect on me.

I'd just left the Convent and been sent to a mixed junior school where I was in class with several girls who used to wear rubber mackintoshes, I became friends with the twins who had matching rubber macks with belts and hoods on, the only difference being that they were different colours so everyone could tell them apart, Jane had a blue one and Janet's was green.

After being to the Convent I was more used to girls and we used to spend morning break and school dinner times together, when it rained I had a navy blue school gaberdine, there wasn't a cloak room as such so coats were hung at the back of the class room and wet rubber macs used to fill the room with a distinctive smell which for some reason I quite liked.

One very hot Friday in summer I was walking home with Janet and because of the heat she was carrying her green mackintosh over her arm. Usually both the twins used to wear them buttoned up to the neck, belted and their hoods fastened up with a flap that went over their mouths and part of their noses.

I wondered if she'd get told off by her mum for not wearing it despite the weather and for no good reason I pulled the mackintosh from her arm and started to put it on. She was very cross and told me to take it off at once and that it was her mac.

I did what she said and apologised saying it was just a bit of fun but really I didn't know why I did it. We walked home in silence and at the top of my street parted company. She then shouted from across the road that she was going to tell her mum what I'd done. I went home not thinking much more about it.

Sunday afternoon and I was at home with Mum when the front door bell rang. Not really expecting anybody, Mum answered it to Mrs Adams the twins' mother. She'd a bag with her - and over one arm was Janet's mackintosh. I went a bit sheepish and guessed why she was there but of course my mum knew nothing about it.

Mrs Adams asked to speak to Mum alone and I was sent out to the garden to play, after what seemed ages I was called in and from the tone of her voice Mum wasn't pleased with me. I went into the lounge where by now the mums were sitting. My mum asked me to explain what happened after school on Friday? Because Janet's mum had said that I stole the mackintosh and frightened her Janet.

I had to admit that I did take it from Janet - but just in fun and never thought I'd stolen it, just a bit of fun.

Mum told me Janet had come down with a bug over the weekend and would be off school for several days. They had decided I should be punished for what I did and that Janet's not being able to go to school suggested a fitting punishment.

Mrs Adams then stood up and held open Janet's mackintosh.

I was told to put my arms in, which I did. And then the mac was buttoned up to my neck and belted tight.

Mrs Adams pulled the hood up and buttened the flap over my mouth.

"There we are, Albi." she said, "all done up in your rubber mackintosh! And such a good fit!   We've decided that you are going to wear it for school tomorrow and I'll be taking you and bringing you home.   So that's that!   Perhaps this will teach you a lesson".

Mum backed her up and remarked that Janet's rubber raincoat really suited me and that I would wear it until she was well enough to return to school in a few days' time, adding that it really would make me look very girlish. In fact, a bit of a baby.

Mrs Adams said that she'd brought her shopping bag because she had to go to the shop up the road.   She asked Mum if I could go with her to carry some of the shopping back as I was dressed to go out.   It would let me really get the feel of my mackintosh, which by the way felt cold on the back of my legs and swished and rustled at every move being made, only amplified by having my hood up.

The rubber had such a strong aroma, and I 'slid' inside the mackintosh. I caught a look at my self in the hall mirror.   Hooded and belted up, I think I was in heaven and hell both at the same time....

I'll even tell you where I was living at the time, a place called Morcambe.

Albi Odd

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