Chapter 14: Girls

It was Summer and Curtis was keeping well out of trouble, spending a lot of time at the beach, swimming. It was a great way to keep in shape and had the added bonus of being a great way to girl watch.

His sister Tara had two friends who were sisters - Salome and Michaela Mayer - and one day he spotted the younger sister, Michaela, on the beach in what looked like a T-shirt on top but on the bottom....it looked like a thong.

His attention was definitely caught. But he was too far away to see properly. Michaela was a bit crazy and a few of his guy friends said she was too full on, but he thought he should probably judge that for himself.

His grandma was standing in the shallow water cooling off and had seen Curtis' neck straining as he squinted to get a look. Michaela was wading towards the beach and Lesley. Embarrassingly and loudly his grandma called over to him "Its a teeny bit of floss up the butt crack! Never saw anything like it in my day! I can NOT believe what these gals think is acceptable attire on the beach these days. My word!"

Curtis cringed and swam in the opposite direction pretending he didn't know his crazy old grandma. Another potentially interesting close encounter with a half dressed girl - blown, just like that.

Curtis bribed his sister Tara to invite some of her friends over to do homework in the hope she would invite Michaela. She did indeed invite Michaela, but she also brought along a girl called Leonie Locke, who was new in town and in his opinion was strikingly beautiful with platinum blond hair.

Not wanting to seem like a weird creepy brother Curtis hung out in his room playing his drum set. He had developed into an exceptionally gifted musician and loved playing the drums most of all. He thought the girls would be impressed with his skills. He gave it all he had in an attempt to sound cool and mysterious.

Tara asked her Mum if her friends could stay over for a slumber party. Curtis was secretly pleased when Marjorie said yes, they ordered pizza. Salome Mayer, Michaela's older sister, joined them. She was a very forward girl and she seemed intent on getting close to Curtis. Curtis plucked up some courage to talk to Leonie because she was just mesmerising. He could hardly take his eyes of her, but the Mayer sisters kept giving him the evil eye, standing way too close and eavesdropping. He couldn't get Leonie on her own.

Then suddenly, Salome, who was very solidly build and had a grip like a guy, seized hold of Curtis and said "Let's dance Curtis! The old fashioned way where the guy holds the girl really close, like this....that's the way. Closer Curtis....clooooser."

Curtis could see the evil glint in her eye.

Before Curtis could object, Marjorie walked into the room, and he knew she would expect him to be polite and gentlemanly, so he couldn't refuse. Salome was gazing tenderly and unblinking into his eyes. He felt very uncomfortable and he hoped that Leonie would not take it the wrong way, but he was in her grip and there was nothing he could do to escape.

When the song finished playing Salome held onto Curtis' hands and said very loudly "Wow, Curtis, you are such a good dancer and I do believe we have some kind of chemistry going on between us, what do you think?"

Curtis was speechless. He couldn't have felt less attracted to Salome, even though she was giving him an obvious come on. His mother kept watching him with a deadly stare, as if daring him to be rude in her presence. So he just smiled  and stayed desperately silent and non-committal.

He was saved by a ring at the front door. It was Sergent Peacock, his Dad's probation officer. He'd been driving past the house and heard the music and loud laughter. "Hey Sergent P." said Curtis with relief. It gave him the perfect opportunity to get away from Salome.

"Everything okay here?" asked the officer.
"Yep - my sister is just having a slumber party...Mum is here chaperoning if you want to talk to her." offered Curtis.

Salome was not amused at the intrusion.


It was very late and all the girls got into pyjamas and so did Curtis. While Tara was chatting with the Mayer sisters in her room and they were painting each other's toe nails, Curtis made his move. He put a slow romantic tune on the stereo and asked Leonie if she would like to dance.

And dance they did. Curtis couldn't believe his luck, Leonie seemed to get really into it, like she loved dancing. He managed to avoid treading on her toes but couldn't stop staring at her because she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen - or danced with.

Luke Hans came home later that night from his new job, which he had been saying involved "networking and protective services", and almost tripped up over the girls sleeping all over the living room and kitchen floors.

 He smiled to himself, things had been rough for a time, but now they were a proper family again. He felt proud that his kids were growing up well and experiencing all the important milestones of teen hood. His one desire was to see Curtis and Tara do well in a good, honest and satisfying profession.

A week later, Curtis had the great fortune to bump into Leonie (and the pushy Mayer sisters) at the town fair. He commented to her that he had a great time dancing with her and would she like to maybe go on a date with him sometime.

"Oh that sounds like fun Curtis!" beamed Leonie. "I'd love to go out partying with you. I just love to party. I think we are both party animals and together we should have the most amazing fun!" she squeaked.

Curtis knew instinctively that his interest in girls had narrowed its focus onto just this one girl.