Joelle was barely 18; she had decided that she just needed to get away from her life for a while. Her mother was controlling and her father was clueless. If her mother had her way Joelle would be stuck wearing long unflattering dresses, no make up, and living the life similar to the Amish. Her parents did not know that for the last year Joelle had been wearing one outfit out of the house and changing at the gas station along the walk to school. Her parents would not even let her learn to drive. She had a running understanding with the man who ran the station during the day that she would leave her decent clothing at the station and change each morning.
It was a Friday night, only 6:30, but her parents thought that she was going to be in her room working on her homework for the rest of the evening. She had never actually left the house before nor had she done anything that would make her mother or father upset before, tonight was going to be different though. Tonight she was going to do something just for herself, to have fun, to actually get out and learn something of the world. Opening the window she climbed out.
She didn't even worry about her parents seeing her as she walked down the street to the gas station. She walked straight in and to the back to the bathroom where her clothing was kept.
As she left the bathroom looking like someone new she heard her name called out.
"Joelle, what are you doing here at this time of the night? Shouldn't you be locked in, so that the sin of the world doesn't wash you away?"
"According to my parents I am working on homework, in preparation for finals coming up in a month. Honestly, Al, I needed to get out of there. I have decided to see what the world is actually like."
Al did not really like hearing that such an innocent girl was going out on her own. Even her 'unacceptable" clothing was modest, they were just tee-shirts and jeans. "Joelle honey, are you sure that you want to be doing this?"
"If I don't do it now then I will just do it when I get to college and who knows what will happen there."
"You don't know what will happen hear either." Al really did not want her going out by herself, he may let her use his station bathroom to change out of the horrible clothing her parents expected her to wear, he even took her few jeans and tee's home with him and his wife, who knew the whole situation, washed them for her. Al made a snap decision. "Joelle, I cannot let you go out by yourself, me I am way too old to take you out to show you a bit of the world. I have a son who is home from college for the summer. I am going to go and call him, he can take you to a few places in town and let you get a small, and I do mean small, taste of life."
Hearing that she would not be alone and lost looking from something that she did not know was a huge relief. In a moment of impulse she threw her arms around Al's neck and gave him a hug as she thanked him for being so wonderful.
It was about half hour until Al's son showed up at the station. Joelle was sitting behind the counter talking with Al when he walked in. "Hey Dad, Mom told me that you had a huge favor to ask me, but that I would not mind it that much. So what do you need . . . hey who is that sitting with you?"
"This is the favor that I need from you. Jeremiah meet Joelle. Joelle has lived a very sheltered life. She has not done many of the things that most teens do. She would like to experience some things before going to college so that she is not over whelmed and scared when she branches out by herself in a few months time. I promised her that you would take her out and about for the evening."
Jeremiah stared at his father for a few moments. "I get to take the truck, and you're paying right?"
Al did not comment, just pulled a set of keys from his pocket and tossed them to Jeremiah. Then he reached in a different pocket and handed Joelle $50.
"No, Al, no. I have money. It is ok."
"Joelle, take the money, save yours. Who knows maybe you will find something that you like to do while you are out with Jeremiah and may want to sneak out again." Al said as he closed Joelle's fingers over the bills.
"Well, come on Mademoiselle. Let's hit the town." Jeremiah said as he walked toward the door to the station.
Joelle was excited; she had never actually thought that she would get up the nerve to go out by herself. She would probably have ended up at the library it Al had not gone all protective on her and required his son to take her out.
Jeremiah was holding open the passenger door for Joelle. "So how much did my father give us to spend?"
"$50," Joelle said softly.
"Good, I am going to guess from what my father said about you being sheltered that you don't have any clothing more suited for going out than that outfit there?"
"Ummm . . . not really."
"No problem, we will just hit a discount store on the way. You can pick something out there."
"Thank you Jeremiah, you have no clue how much this means to me."
"I have an idea, and please do not call me Jeremiah, only my parents call me by my full name any more, I go by JB."
They road in silence on the way to the store, when they got there JB took Joelle in and together they went to the women's section. "JB, I am going to have to ask you a huge favor."
JB just cocked his head to the side, "What?"
"I . . . um . . . don't know what to buy."
JB looked over Joelle, taking in her form for the first time. She was probably about five foot seven, nice curves, and a very nice chest actually. With her soft reddish brown hair and light brown eyes she was very attractive. JB glanced at the clothing, grabbing her hand he took her to an area full of tank tops and other summer clothing. "Choose a top from here and either tighter jeans or a short skirt. You can't go wrong. I am going to go look at the magazines near the check out. When you have decided what to go with we will go pay and then we can hit the town."
Joelle wanted to go with something completely daring but was a little afraid, but then she decided that she was doing something that she never expected to do so why not dress like she had never planned to. Seeing a bright yellow halter top she knew instantly what shirt she was going with. Moving over to the jeans she chose a pair of blue jeans that were two sizes smaller than she usually wore. It had only taken her about 10 minuets to find her outfit. She walked quickly up to the magazines where JB was waiting for her. "I am ready."