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Amanda was a teenager at school in the 1940s. She lived with her mother in Hemel Hempstead. Her father was away in the services. She was an only child and her parents were older than the average when she was born. She went to a smart school which had the usual drab uniform including a shapeless navy gabardine raincoat. She didn't enjoy wearing it.
She envied her mother, who on wet days, donned a lovely dark green mackintosh cape and longed for one like it. At weekends she sometimes used to borrow it and would wear it with style and often wore it on lovely sunny days. At long last she left school and went to work in London. She had a reasonable wardrobe but had no intention to go on wearing a navy gabardine raincoat. One Saturday, she decided to go shopping and found herself in Gamages. She found the rainwear department where there were rubberised capes and coats in profusion. She went straight to the capes and tried on numerous ones before deciding on a satin one in maroon. She paid for it and went for a coffee. She decided to wear her new cape home rather than carrying it in a bag and as it was a warm day she went to the Ladies and took off her suit jacket and put on her cape. She fastened the buttons and made her way to the underground feeling very pleased with herself and secure as her handbag was out of sight. She made her way home midst many admiring glances for she was rather good looking and her cape was such a striking colour and the sunshine brightened it even more.
Her mother told her she had done well.
That evening she was going out with friends to a party so she donned a colourful dress, and topped it with her new cape. Just for fun she put up the hood, and set off for the first phase, a drink at the local. Her friends were there to greet her, she lowered the hood and sat down. Her friends were longing to see her dress but she told them to wait until the party and kept her cape done up. An hour or two later they reached the party and she shed her cape. She proceeded to dance the night away and a lovely young man took a fancy to her. She took to him and both had a wonderful time. In the early hours the party ended and the revellers walked or cycled home. Amanda's home was within walking distance as was that of her new boyfriend so they set off together. She was delighted to feel the smooth rubber on her shoulders as she drew on her cape.Tony looked on entranced as she fastened the buttons, pulled up the hood (it was drizzling) and saw her lovely slender arms slide out of sight. They walked slowly, savouring each other's company until reaching Amanda's house. Here behind a tree they said goodbye, kissing long and passionately with the hood dropping down and then she sensed her cape being undone button by button, so that Tony could have a last look at her dress. After arranging the next meeting they parted and Amanda let herself in and went to bed.
She went out with Tony a lot after that. He loved her in her cape and she loved wearing it. There were even wet Saturdays when she went shopping with her mother looking very distinctive in their capes.
John
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