Free Clouds Below the Mountains by Vivienne Dockerty

become a rep’ for Periquito Travel and the girl listened avidly, to what she considered was a very exciting life.
    â€œWhy don’t you try it, Jenni?”, asked Lucy after she had finished her tale. “You’re a pretty girl and I’m sure you’d love the work.”
    â€œI don’t know what I’m going to do at the moment,” Jenni replied. “I passed a few G.C.S.E’s in the summer and this year I will be taking my Mocks. I thought maybe I’d try for Uni’ if I got the required A levels, but since I’ve been going out with Simon, I’ve sort of lost the plot a bit.”
    â€œDo you think you’ll get together, live with him, marry him even, in the future?”
    â€œIt had crossed my mind. I suppose every girl likes to think they’ll get married one day and have a couple of babies, but with my mother’s track record I’m a bit hesitant, especially with Simon behaving in the way he has.”
    Jenni began to confide to her new friend about some of her mother’s checkered history and then of how she had met up with Simon, but then Tina and Anna the children’s rep’s came along to join them and the conversation that the girls were having came to an end. It was agreed that they would bag a few chairs at the far end of the room while Bingo was being played, as the Mini disco had come to an end and the little ones were departing.
    ***
    â€œI’ll take Evan up to bed,” said Sonya to her parents. “ He’s worn out and sweaty with all that running about. Kiss Granddad and Grandma goodnight, Evan and we’ll see them in the morning.”
    â€œDon’t want to,” the little boy muttered, his bottom lip quivering at the thought of having to go to bed. “Want to stay with Jack.”
    â€œYou’ll see Jack tomorrow at the Kid’s club. Come on little man you’re worn out.”
    She scooped him up in her arms, ignoring his screams and his wriggling, pinning him closer to her so that he couldn’t escape. She smiled ruefully at the onlookers as she took him out of the place.
    â€œI suppose we should be thinking of taking Jack to bed,” said Cheryl, “ though he looks as if he might fall asleep in that chair.”
    â€œI don’t want to go to bed yet, Mummy,” said Annabelle pouting at her mother. “I’m not tired even though I’ve been dancing. Didn’t we have a nice time doing “Music Man?”
    â€œYes, we did Annabelle, we had a lot of fun and we’ll have to learn that new dance tomorrow night, I don’t think I was getting the steps right.”
    â€œYou weren’t, Mummy. It was slide to the right, then slide to the left, you got it all wrong.”
    Cheryl ignored her and asked Paul what he wanted to do?
    â€œWell, things are calming down now, Cheryl and providing the children settle in their chairs, we can watch the duo when they come on. Did you want a Bingo ticket, the girl’s still selling them over there?”
    â€œGo on then, get one between us and while you’re up get me another drink.”
    â€œI’ll get the drinks,Cheryl,” said Greg standing up quickly. “Here Paul, get Kate a ticket as well while you’re there and I’ll give you the money for it later.”
    ***
    Doreen stood up from the table in the quiet Bar opposite, watching as a few children and their parents came out of the entertainment room.
    â€œHey up girls, I think the Mini disco’s finished. Let’s take our drinks next door and get our Bingo tickets. Excuse me, young man,” she said sarcastically, as Jenni’s boyfriend lurched into her, as he made his way from the bar to a nearby table.
    â€œYou nearly spilt your drink over me then,” she said in her authoritative voice, glaring at him.
    â€œPiss off, Missis,” he said and sat down with a thump, sipping at his beer after it had frothed sloppily onto the