2000: At University
Leonora - studying English
Glenda - music student, pianist and violinist
Christine - Medical student
Victoria - studying Politics and Economics (That's me)
Hazel - Mature student fine art
Freshers' Week. At last, I'm free, away from boarding school-prison and home. I can finally be me. Freshers' Week is a chance to dive straight into University life. You can go to dances, parties, societies and the Union bar. It's often a drink and drug fuelled week but for me I was already high on the freedom.
I went to the Lesbian Society's meet and greet. There must have been about forty people, with the organisers wearing sashes saying things like 'Secretary' and 'Treasurer.' The 'Chair' was a short, stout butch who circulated saying hello to everyone and encouraging us to grab a drink. Warm white wine and red that tasted like vinegar, and potato crisps and peanuts didn't seem too sophisticated to me but, hey, I was looking forward to the hook ups and lesbian literature and whatever else they could think of.
We were invited to sit and the 'Chair' addressed us all. "This," she said, "is a safe place to be queer, a safe place to be feminist, to be women who love women." Great, I thought, but I'm already all of those things. I want to get laid for the fist time in my life. I want to get to orgasm at another's hands (or whatever) rather than my own. "It's not a dating society, it's a serious political movement." What the fuck? "Our mission is to ensure that lesbians are fully integrated into the fabric of the University, to have influence and access."
I made a pretence of going to the toilet and that was me, out of there. Fortunately, the loo was outside the double doors that gave access to the meeting room so, leather satchel-strap across my chest, I popped into the loo, had a quick piss and left.
"You didn't last long."
She was a few inches taller than I, torn jeans, a denim shirt, trainers. Her hair was long and black and her eyes smiled. She was good to look at.
"If I"d wanted to join a political movement, I'd have found one."
She smiled. "Yeah, me too. What did you hope it might be?" I hesitated. "OK, well I'll tell you that what put me off was that she said it wasn't a dating society. I can 'fully integrate' myself, thanks. You always wear long skirts?" I was wearing a white sleeveless and collarless blouse and a long, blue and white dog-tooth skirt.
I laughed. "No, not always. What's your name?"
"Lennie, everyone calls me Lennie."
"Except your Mum, obviously."
"Oh God, she insists on Leonora."
"I can see why. It's pretty. I'm Vic."
"Victoria?" I nodded. "Fancy a drink at the Union? I think I may remember how to find it and if I'd had to drink any more of that crap in there," she flicked her chin towards the meeting room, "I'd have been ill."
We made our way to the Students' Union bar and Lennie bought us both a bottle of beer and we sat at a table. As we spoke, she rolled a spliff. "You want one?" (You could still smoke in bars back then).
"No, thanks."
We talked for a while and her eyes assumed that dilated look that weed will give them, she became languid but still with me if you know what I mean. She had taken a job after leaving school and, five years on, had decided to get herself a degree and start writing what she called stories about life from a feminist and lesbian perspective.
"I come from Leeds." Her accent told me that much. "Coming here served a number of purposes. It got me away from my ex who was being a total pain in the arse, got me away from my parents who are ok but, well, restricting and get myself a degree so that I can have some respect as a writer. What about you?"
"No idea." She laughed and said that as good. "I want to get my degree but more than anything, I just want to learn more about me."
She looked at me with insightful eyes. "You've never had sex with a girl, have you?"
Be bold, Vic, I told myself, be honest. "I've only ever had sex with me."
Lennie simply nodded and we changed the subject. The bar got busier and noisier and, with drink taken, people began dancing. "Come on," said Lennie. "Let's dance."
We danced. Not together, but close, just swaying and turning to the music and watching the other dancers. A woman touched my shoulder. I turned to look at her but she was looking at Lennie. "Is she with you?" she asked Lennie.
"She's with whoever she wants to be with."
Then the woman looked at me. "Dance with me."
I didn't get a chance to accept or refuse, she pulled me into her arms and danced me away from Lennie who smiled at me as we moved away. She was a little taller than I, with a good, slender body, shoulder length ash blonde hair and about 40. She was wearing a pale yellow button down and cream trousers.
"You're new."
"Yes, I'm here for Freshers Week."
She smiled. "Me too. I'm not a fresher, but I like to inspect all the new girls. I'm Hazel, a 'mature' student which makes me feel about 60." I told her my name. "I wanted to get you away from your friend."
"She's not a friend, well, not yet. We only just met. We escaped the lesbian society together."
"I actually saw you there. Escaped why?"
"Why do you think?"
"A bunch of up their arse dykes if you ask me. You're gay, right?" I said I was. "Well, me too and the reason I wanted to dance with you is I think you're very pretty."