Slur: The Riverhill Trilogy: Book 1 Read Online Free

Madonna was blaring through the
speakers. The girls began, undeterred, to make their way through the crowds.
Julie noticed Amanda and Jacqueline standing at a table in the corner and
waving. As they approached the table, Julie saw the look of scorn on
Jacqueline’s face, which alerted her to Rita and Debby’s appearances. Their tight
tops and short skirts were in contrast to the sharply tailored suits that Amanda
and Jacqueline wore.
    Amanda greeted them enthusiastically,
her smile enhancing her pleasant features, while Jacqueline managed to force a
wry frown. “ She’s just as bad outside of work, ” thought Julie. She had
always been at a loss to understand Amanda’s friendship with sulky Jacqueline,
but she put it down to the fact that she was the only person in Amanda’s
department who was of a similar age. Apart from that, Amanda saw the good in
everybody, and was sometimes dominated by Jacqueline who was her supervisor.
Julie’s relationship with Jacqueline was one of tolerance with Amanda acting as
a buffer between them.
    Julie was
not about to let Jacqueline’s scornful expression spoil her evening, however,
and she put all thoughts of her aside while she recounted her recent
experience.
    ‘You’ll
never guess what’s just happened to me?’ she asked.
    Noting the
anticipation on Amanda and Jacqueline’s faces, she continued. ‘Well, we were just
on the way here when we noticed these two coppers in front of us. Rita fancied a
bit of mischief so she dared me to pinch one of their bums. Well, having had a few
drinks, I was feeling a bit brave. So I thought, yeah, why not? As soon as I
did it, I wished I hadn’t have bothered. This policeman went bloody mad, said I
had committed an offence and all kinds.
    ‘Then, him
and his friend had a chat, trying to decide what they should do with me, and
the other one said there was no alternative but to take me down to the station
and charge me. I nearly died, thinking about the look on my poor mam’s face
when I had to tell her what had happened. So, I tried to talk them round,
telling them that we were only having a laugh and we didn’t mean any harm. The
first copper said that nevertheless it was a very serious offence and not to be
taken lightly, and I thought “ Oh Jesus, I’ve done it now! ”
    ‘Then, I
noticed the big smirk on the other one’s face. They were only having us on
weren’t they?’
    ‘Aye, it
looks like they were the ones that had the biggest laugh when they saw the
terrified look on your face,’ added Rita, laughing.
    ‘Your
pranks will get you into trouble one of these days Julie, you mark my words,’
said Jacqueline haughtily.
    The other
girls joined in the laughter until Julie realised that in her excitement she
had forgotten to introduce everybody. ‘By the way,’ she said, nodding towards
her two friends. ‘This is Rita and Debby,’ and pointing to the other two, she
added, ‘and this is Amanda and Jacqueline.’
    ‘Hiya
Mandy, hiya Jackie,’ Rita greeted in an over-familiar tone which was resented
by Jacqueline.
    ‘It’s
Jacqueline, actually,’ came the frosty reply.
    ‘Oh, pardon
me for breathing!’ said Rita.
    Julie,
sensing the tension between the two girls, decided to divert everybody’s
attention by asking if anybody would like a drink. Jacqueline and Amanda politely
refused while Rita and Debby decided to accompany Julie to the bar.
    ‘What the bloody
hell’s wrong with misery guts? Are her knickers too tight up her arse or what?’
asked Rita as soon as they were out of earshot.
    ‘Oh take no
notice, it’s just her way,’ said Julie.
    ‘Well I’m
glad I don’t have to bloody work with her anyway. Honestly Julie, I don’t know
how you stand it working in an office. There’s some right miserable cows.’
    ‘I don’t work
with her Rita; I’m on the switchboard. Anyway, they’re not all like her.
Amanda’s a great laugh. She might look all prim and proper, but just wait till
she’s had a few