

Such
a lovely girl, what an angel, isn't she wonderful, such a good
girl. Sally Lomax was adorable and adored. She was extremely polite,
tirelessly friendly, always amiable and genteel. She was chatty
and respectful to the elderly and much-loved teacher of youngsters.
She kept herself trim, never let the ends of her hair split and
always folded clothes away at the end of the day. She cooked well,
cleaned well, and although she could knit, she made enviable things
on her sewing machine. When in her car, a spotless if noisy six-year-old
Mini Cooper, she was courteuos and never lost her temper, never
overtook on the inside and slowed down well in advance for pedestrian
crossings - even on a deserted Sunday. Just in case.
When Sally was a child, she was angelic in physique and
character. Skin as smooth and opalescent as her prettiest Bakelite
doll, features and figure doll-like too, her demeanour open and
engaing. Sally at six was altogether flawless, faultless. It was
as much a pleasure for her parents to invite ageing relatives
for tea, as it was for them to venture out of retirement bungalows
to be sung to and danced for. At tea-time, sally never stretched
over, never ate with her mouth open, and always asked if she could
have some more with a 'please'. At her birthday parties she never
snatched her guests' presents and was always keen for her entertainer
not to show her any favouritism. But Sally was simply everyone's
favourite.
At twenty-five, her skin is still flawless and, though we
would be hard-pressed to call the Sally we've just met angelic,
it took very little hard pressing for the Rodin to deem the
ways and wiles of her body throughly heavenly.
Well where do we find Sally today? It is the day after the
Big Bonk. She is spending Sunday afternoon by herself, in the
one-bedroom flat she rents in Highgate. He had stayed for breakfast-cum-lunch
and had thus deprived Sally of her sacred hour with the Observer,
so she is reading it now. Her routine is out of sync, she
really should be ironing. It will wait a week. Today Sally is
not flustered by such a thing, today she is enjoying aloneness.
Today she enjoys the self-condoned libertation from the previously
self-imposed Sunday schedule. She is very proud of herself and
finds she frequently bursts into an ecstatic smile.
What does it mean, this smile what does it mean?
Her answer is defiant.
I feel wonderful. It was good. It was a good thing to
do.
She laughs at the paradox. In the clear light of a November
day, and looked at objectively, she had indeed committed a wanton
act of slack morals and shameful lust which, justifiably, could
be categorized by most as bad. Yet Sally feels good and can see
nothing to be ashamed of. She feels elated, happy and downright
proud.
My flesh might be ravaged, my mind sullied, but Grcious
Good lord do they feel better for it!
sally knows what she wants, and what she must do.
It'll be a swift and easy transistion, and it must start,
quite simply, with a change of waldrobe. I shall do ms Collins
proud and move with one fell swoop from Laura Ashley to Whistles,
from Marks and Sparks undies to none whatsoever. Hampstead here
I come, cheque book at the ready.
Should I be ironing?
No.
I should be buying clothes that are Dry Clean Only.