Weekend in Troon
.
Mum announced that Aunt May had invited me to spend the last weekend with her down in Troon before returning to my final year. I was surprised, as I hadn't seen her and her husband Uncle Jim for about a year. Uncle Jim was a professional photographer, he'd learned his profession in the RAF and after the war had expanded into fashion and portrait photography. He had studios in both Troon and Ayr and employed folk to take photos of the tourists on the promenades by the shore. He also developed and printed film for the public. He didn't just regard it as a business, as he was a keen photographer, winning lots of prizes at exhibitions all over the country even in England! Aunt May was the main controller of the business side of things and saw to it that it was quite profitable. Although they'd been married about 20 years, they didn't have any children. Although Mum liked them both, Dad was rather cool about Jim, for reasons I couldn't fathom.
Jim had been very kind and extremely attentive to me last year. I blushed when I recalled the occasion. How could I have been so silly!
I said, "that'll be nice, Mum, I can take the train from Glasgow Central station on Friday afternoon and be there in time for tea."
"Yes, but take a couple of nice dresses, in case you go out somewhere." Dad was out of the room when she mentioned this. I liked Aunt May, she was a bit younger than Mum, very pretty with very dark black hair, bright blue eyes and an excellent figure and quite down to earth. She'd been to secretarial college, but after she married Jim had worked fulltime in the photography business. The fact that they were childless was a cause of some sadness and probably explained why, even although Dad was a little cool about the idea. Mum was happy to let me stay with them. As I was the only child in the family, she felt that I should get to know my close relations.
Jim was a good-looking man of in his mid-forties. Tall, quite athletically built and well dressed and groomed. I seemed to remember he wore nice smelling body lotion and was altogether, quite a dish, perhaps that's why Dad, viewed him with suspicion. Dad definitely wasn't a dish!
Aunt May met me at Troon station at 5.00pm and we walked to her house which was close to the golf course. The house was quite a decent size, built about forty years ago after the first world war. It had a large back garden without being overlooked by neighbours and where you could sunbathe on sunny days. She explained to me that Jim, was in a bit of rush as he was preparing for some contract. He'd agreed to do to photo shoot of some summer wear, for a local factory and had been let down at the last minute, by his regular model and was phoning around to see who else was available.
"Why don't you do it then Aunt May?"
"Oh, I'm much too old for that kind of thing!"
"Rubbish, you've an excellent figure and are very photogenic!"
"Jim prefers to use younger models, he says they've a fresher look, more appropriate for summer and beach wear, I agree! Actually, I was wondering whether you might like to try, you have filled up nicely, since we last saw you and even then, you were already quite a looker!"
"Are you saying I have big boobs Aunt May? When's the next train for Glasgow?" I shook my boobs and laughed.
"No, they've the right sort of summery look, I'm sure Jim will agree. And I'll insist that he pays you the going rate. Which by the way is very poor-many girls are happy to show themselves off for nothing, if they think they'll get into Vogue or Playboy!"
"I don't imagine Uncle Jim's photoshoot of summer frocks will qualify for next Spring's Vogue or Playboy!"
"You'd be surprised Louise! He's does quite well."
Uncle Jim had just returned home as we walked in. He grinned at me and gave me a friendly kiss and I was able to check out that he was still wearing his nice body lotion.
"Have you found a suitable model for your photoshoot tomorrow, Jim?"
"More of less May, but she can only work in the morning, so I won't be able to do all I wanted, which is a bit of a nuisance."
"Perhaps Louise could do a bit for you in the afternoon then?" Jim looked a little startled, turned and had another survey of my assets, this time giving me a more professional appraisal.
"You've filled out a little in the right places since last year, Louise, and if you do your hair, you could be quite good for what I have in mind?"
"What's the matter with my hair?"
"It's a little too curly, it can be straightened a little, if you go to the hairdresser in the morning."
"That'd be great!" says May, I'll ring up my hairdresser in the morning and explain what's needed. But how will Louise get to the factory?"
"Oh, that's not a problem, I'll do what's needed here in the afternoon."
"That's ok, then as I have to go to manage the studio in Ayr tomorrow remember and won't be finished till about 6.00. So, you'll have to set it up yourself."
"That's ok. How do you feel about doing a photoshoot Louise? I'll pay you the going rate, Β£2.00 an hour. I think that will be about Β£5.00 for the afternoon, and I'll also pay for your new hairdo."
"Ok, Uncle Jim, but you don't have to pay me, I'm your niece!"
"Of course I do, we want to keep things strictly professional, don't we?" He looks at me and smiles, a little enigmatically.