Dear Reader,
I'm glad so many of you enjoyed the first part of this little tale, Anonymous notwithstanding, here is the second part, its set some fifteen years before the beginning of Three Square Meals. I hope you enjoy it and, please, vote and rate, it means the world to me.
Love
Dididothat xx
*****
Fifteen years before the start of 3SM
Congratulations on passing the JMC individual education package! Welcome to your future. Please see below for a range of interesting job you could apply for at JMC Red River 4!
Ginger sat alone in her small room reading the computer screen, she scrolled down to see what exciting opportunities the JMC had to offer now she'd finished her education.
Current vacancies that match your skill set - 0
Ginger snorted derisively and ran her hand through her short bob of dark brown hair. She shook her head.
"Well that was fucking pointless," she muttered to herself leaving the claustrophobic bedroom.
"Did you pass?" her mother asked as she stepped into the kitchen.
"Yeah for all the fucking good its worth," Ginger said taking a cup of the cheap coffee and sitting at the small table.
"Well you passed so I got you something," her mother said, putting a plate in front of her.
"Thanks mum," Ginger said, looking at the expensive piece of sweet slice her mother had got for her.
She sat quietly looking at it for a few moments before taking a small bite. She chewed enjoying the sweet flavour.
"Happy birthday anyway," her mum said, taking a drag on her stim.
Ginger wiped up some crumbs with her finger. "That's not till tomorrow."
"What are you going to do for a job?" her mum asked.
"Cory says he might be able to get me a job in admin," she said groaning inwardly as she finished her sweet slice.
"Seriously? When are you going to wake up? He's a fucking mill rat, he hasn't got any pull," Her mum said sharply.
Ginger sighed and looked away. "Do we have to do this? His Dad knows people, he'll ask around."
"His Dad's a shit kicker too, for fuck sake, get your head right, you're not going to get a job there!" her mum yelled.
Ginger bristled with anger, but bit back her reply, trying to keep her temper under control. Her mother glared at her, then her gaze softened and she sat down opposite her daughter.
"Look, I have a couple of good clients, nice guys, clean, not into anything freaky..." She gently brushed her fingers through her daughter's short hair. "You're pretty... I can help you, give you some tips. Maybe you can audition and get a job with your sister? She's got her own room and makes good money..."
"That's your advice?!" Ginger yelled, not able to believe what she was hearing. "Get fucked by your creepy clients and try for a job in a fucking brothel? Are you fucking sick in the head?! You want me to be a fucking whore, like you and Amber?"
"You stuck up fucking bitch!" her mum screamed, standing up. "You've got nothing to sell, nothing anyone wants except your body! You think I should pay for everything?!"
"Fuck you! I don't want to be a fucking whore, I can do stuff! I've got Cory, he's not going to marry a whore!" Ginger yelled, jumping to her feet.
Her mum pulled back her hand, slapping Ginger hard on the face.
"Stupid ungrateful bitch!" she screamed, as Ginger stood holding her cheek, "He's not going to marry you, you're not going to get a job anywhere, you have to pay to live here so wake up and realise we're all fucking whores here! You're no better than me, just because you're a fucking virgin!"
"I thought you'd want something better for your fucking daughters than whoring!" Ginger yelled.
"There's nothing better for us, you'll see," her mother spat.
"Fuck this, and fuck you," Ginger yelled, grabbing her battered leather jacket and London Jets baseball cap she forced her way out of the tiny rooms into the corridor. Leaning against the door she took deep calming breaths getting her emptions under control. Pulling her hat down firmly to hide her face she set off into the common areas to get lost.
***
Hours later Gingers phone buzzed in her pocket as she walked down main street, the eight wheeled mining tucks rumbling past with unerring automatic regularity.
<Hey babe where are you? X>
<Just getting lost> she texted back.
<I got you a birthday present, want to come and get it?>
<sure, usual place?>
<you know it babe, love you xxxo>
Ginger smiled to herself as she made her way deeper into the less used sections of the mining colony. They'd found this when they were just kids, a place away from everyone else. She smiled, remembering when they thought they were the only ones who knew about it; only later did they realise everyone knew.
It was the only place to go to get some privacy, the old red ship docked forever onto Red River 4, an oasis of serenity for those that found it. She made her way up to the accommodation levels, past the old derelict equipment, spotting the odd face of the real down and outs hiding from everything and everyone. They all left her alone, it was an unwritten rule of the place, a sanctuary for all. Anyone breaking the rule was thrown out, and that was usually fatal.
She made her way to 'their' room, an old machinery space, they'd cleared it over the years and made a false front; it was as close to true privacy as the teenagers were likely to get. She pushed her way in past the swinging section of pipework. Cory was sitting on the cushions they'd managed to find.
"I missed you," Cory said pulling Ginger down into his lap kissing her.
"I missed you too babe, I passed, any news on a job?" she asked stroking his face.
"Sorry babe, Dad's been asking, but there doesn't seem to be anything, short of me pushing someone down the stairs there's not much I can do," he said holding her tight.
Ginger planted a row of tiny kisses along his jaw "Okay, just... I'm going to need some money soon."
"I know, I know, I'll give you some, but I need to do three more courses to get to the next level and you know how expensive they are," Cory said running his fingers though her hair.
"I had an argument with mum," Ginger said resting her head on his shoulder.
"Ah forget it, parents can be shit. Hey, do you want your present?" Cory said.
"Yeah, mum got me some sweet slice, haven't had that for ages," Ginger said.
"Did you save any?" Cory asked.
"Sorry, I ate it, I stormed out, there may be some left though," she said.
"Don't worry," Cory said disappointedly, "here you are birthday girl," handing her a small gold tube.
"Oh, wow lipstick!" Ginger said excitedly.