All the participants in sexual activity described in this story are consenting adults over 18.
I heard footsteps behind me, running. I turned to look and was grabbed. A hand came round and clamped over my mouth, the other one circled my waist. He must have been hiding behind a bush in one of the front gardens.
I wriggled and struggled, but the arm round my waist was just too tight, but I had one arm almost free. I remembered a few self-defence lessons I'd learnt and I knew I should use my free arm to try to startle and wind him. I dug the heel of my hand into his ribs with all my strength, then followed it with fingers into the soft bit just below the ribs. There was a grunt and he momentarily took his hand away from my mouth. I didn't worry about trying to shout 'help': I just opened my mouth and let out as loud and bloodcurdling a scream as I could manage.
Almost at the same moment a man appeared from the front garden of a house on the other side of the road. He was running towards us and he was also shouting - bellowing in fact - as he ran. I felt the grip on me relax for a moment and I had a go with my sharp little teeth on the hand over my mouth. He let go.
"You fucking bastard! You miserable little whore! I'll get you," he shouted as he ran off.
Other people had appeared. This was a very respectable street, and a commotion like this was a major event. I saw one man, obviously youngish from the way he was running, gaining rapidly on my attacker; in moments he was close enough to launch a spectacular rugby tackle, brought his target crashing to the ground, and finished sitting on his back.
Someone else ran towards them, and was clearly in the process of 'phoning, I hoped, the police, but someone must have got there before him, calling from one of the houses, because my mates in the police force were there in what seemed like only a few minutes.
*****
"I'm Colin. You know where I live; I was drawing the curtains in an upstairs window when I saw what was going on. I'm not very brave, but I lost any fear. I just felt such rage that I ran down the stairs and out of the front door like a maniac. I was shouting so loudly that I think I might soon lose my voice!" The man who probably saved me a rape - or worse - was standing by me as the police carted off my attacker. He held out his hand, which I grabbed and pulled him towards me to give him a grateful hug.
He walked me back home, which wasn't far. My house was in a cul-de-sac off the road where I was attacked. The police were going to take me home, but I said I was o.k. to walk with this gentleman. They seemed to know Colin anyway.
I don't drink much, but I poured us each a stiff whisky. He was brave, doing what he did, because I should think he was a good twenty years older than I was, and I was pushing on a bit. Well in my line of business 50+ is unusual for a 'working girl'.
He stayed with me long enough for us to drink the whisky, and for me to show signs of being back to my normal chirpy self. But he seemed anxious to get back home. He'd gone back to lock the door and put on a coat before walking me home, but I think he felt a bit awkward alone in my house with me. Funny when you think what I do for part of my living! Anyway he asked me if I would visit him at his place. He said that he'd seen me around and would like to know more about me. Now with some guys that would have rung a few warning bells, but with Colin it just sounded like a kind invitation. We arranged a date and he said he'd make a bit of supper.
*****
A few days later I was sitting in his rather nice sitting room. The house was old, but the room wasn't, if you see what I mean. It had modern colours, and up-to-date furniture. There were pictures on the wall, and the mantelpiece had an old fashioned clock and some china ornaments. But what was most important in that room were the bookcases. There was one either side of the fireplace, and another on the wall facing the bay window, and they were all loaded with books of all shapes, sizes and colours.
We had already eaten a lovely steak and chips which he cooked while I stood and watched. He said it was like walking together: it was a good way of breaking the ice and making sure it didn't get too formal. He even had on a butcher's apron which he was wearing when he opened the door to me.
We'd talked about the way I'd been assaulted and how the police had turned up so quickly. I said I'd tell him later how that might have happened. He had noticed that the cops seemed to know me, although nothing like it had ever happened to me before. Apparently my attacker was known to me: he was at school with my son. Useless mother - not surprising he was such a pain in the arse. I told the police I didn't want to take the thing any further
"I've told you my name, but not much else, and I don't even know your name." was how he started our first conversation.
"My name is Janet, usually known as Jan, and I'm a tart: a.k.a. hooker, whore, sex worker, prostitute, call girl, escort etc. etc. I work from home, part-time, for two days a week, and three days at the supermarket," I replied.
"I thought that might be the case. I didn't know but a few small things that pointed in that direction, and people gossip and speculate," he said.
"Do you mind?"
"Why should I? I was in business to satisfy a demand for what we had on offer. You're doing the same."
He finished cooking, took his apron off, and we sat down at his kitchen table to eat. We spent the time eating, when we hadn't got a mouthful, talking about the area where we had both lived for quite a long time, and some of the people we both knew.
He'd made a lemon meringue pie - one of my all-time favourites - for afters. Then we moved to the sitting room.
"Right," he said, "Now, if you're happy to do it, I'd like to hear your life history."
"Well I'm not saying how old I am, but I am post-menopausal! I wear HRT patches which makes sure I don't forget what my cunt's for and keeps me from drying out like a rosy prune. Oops, I hope you don't mind a bit of fruity language?"
"Not at all. You carry on," he said, smiling.
"I have a son, Tyler, who's in his thirties. He lives about 20 miles away and works 'in IT' like a lot of his generation I suppose. I think he designs and looks after websites and things. He's not married yet, but I think he might be soon."
"Were you ever married?" Colin asked.