Julie isn't my real aunt, more a friend of the family, although I've always called her Aunt Julie. She's a bit older than mum, probably late forties, a large cuddly woman, she always used to make a fuss of me when I was younger, giving me sweet and things like that. She and her husband Gerald used to live just down the road from us, and I got to know her about six years ago when mum started to work for them. They owned a chemist shop on the high street, and mum worked on the cosmetics counter, that was until about a year ago, when they won some money on the lottery, and they sold their business and moved to Bristol.
It was about six months ago that mum told me Julie and Gerald had separated. Apparently, it was quite amicable, although unexpected. They split the money they'd won and Gerald had moved away to somewhere in Scotland. Aunt Julie had been a bit upset, and Mum had gone to stay with her for a weekend after it'd happened.
At the beginning of April my company book me on a weeks-training course in Bristol, and I realise that the hotel I'm in is just around the corner from Julie's, and mum suggests I should go and see her one evening while I'm there.
I ring her on the Tuesday from my hotel, she's so happy to hear from me, and pleased that things are going well. Since I last saw her, I've left school and started a new job. I tell her that I'm in Bristol, and we agree that I should visit her on Friday night on my way home.
She suggests I could stay-over Friday Night if I wanted, it would be company for her, especially as we haven't seen each other for so long, I say it depends on how tired I am after the course, and we'll see.
I know that it will be Julie's birthday on Sunday, hers and mine are only a few days apart, I was 18 last week.
On Thursday the training course finishes a little early and I go into town to buy Julie a birthday card, I think I should really buy a present, but haven't got any idea what to get. Then as I'm looking in shop windows for inspiration, I notice a dress shop selling brightly coloured scarves. I remember Julie often wore scarves, and I choose I lovely large red and green silk headscarf, the assistant asks if it a present, and when I say yes, she wraps it in a box with a bow ribbon.
I arrive at Julie's just before five, she lets me in and we go into the lounge. I give her the card and present, she asks if she can open them now and I say that's fine. She unwraps the box and takes out the scarf.
She's wearing a white cotton blouse, and she drapes the scarf around her neck, tying a large knot at the front, and walks over to a mirror to look at herself. She's delighted with it, thinks it beautiful, and can't thank me enough, and comes and hugs and kisses me.
We sit and chat for a few minutes, I ask how she's getting on, and she says she's well, a bit lonely, coming to terms with what's happened, financially she's secure, but finding it difficult to make new friends, and thinking of moving back to Manchester.
I tell her about my new job, and how I hoping to leave home soon and move into my own flat. She asks if I have a girl friend yet and I say no. She comments on the fact that she can't remember me ever having a girl friend.
'You should have lots of girlfriends by now, you're a very smart attractive young man".
I feel myself blush, embarrassed. I've always found myself somehow uneasy around girls, a bit of a loner. I answer the question, by saying I'm just shy and maybe one day when the right person comes along...
She stares at me for a few moments, giving me a quizzical look. Then she comments that she didn't get ma a present for my birthday, and she'll have to do something special for me... something really special.
She asks if I've decided to stay the night or not.
I thank her, but decline, saying I'd like to leave later tonight.
She goes into the kitchen, a couple of minutes later she comes back and sets up a small table in front of the sofa, on which she puts tea and biscuits, it's a large three-seater, Julie's sitting at the far end, she pats the cushion next to her and she motions for me to sit closer to her.
'No need to be shy with me Victor'.
As I sit down, she reaches across and takes my hand, holding it gently.
'Would you give me an honest answer if I asked you a personal question?'
'Yes'.
'Do you like me'.
'Of course'.
'I mean do you think I'm still attractive?'
I'm surprised by the question - unsure of what to say - 'Yes'.
'That's nice, I know I'm not as young as I used to be, a bit overweight but some men like older women - what about you?'
Before I can answer she moves closer to me on the sofa, putting her hand on my knee. 'What do you like most about me'.
I suddenly feeling very uncomfortable with the conversation, 'I don't know'.
She starts to move her hand up my leg, over my thigh.
'Do you like my breast? I've always thought that they were too large, Gerald used to say they looked like a couple of over ripe melons, of course there not as firm as they once were, would you like to feel them?
She takes hold of my other hand, I start to pull away, 'Come here I'm not going to bite you', with that she takes my hand and puts it against her chest.
This is suddenly getting very weird; I pull my hand away and quickly get off the sofa.
'You don't need to be shy with me Victor, I'll show you what to do'.
For a moment I don't understand what she's saying, whether it's my inexperience or naivety I don't know... but then I suddenly realise what she means.
'Uh...sorry..., no ...really I must be going', I move towards the lounge door.
'Victor please, I just thought we could just have some fun. I know it's your first time, you've no need to be embarrassed about it with me, I'll help you...you'd like it, I promise... look I'm sorry, please stay'.
'No...no, I think it would be best if we just forgot what happened and I leave now'.
'Victor please, come back and sit down'.
'No, that's fine really'.
For a moment she says nothing.
'Okay, if that's what you want, but before you go, I need to give you your Birthday present', with that she stands and walks past me and goes upstairs.
I'm trying to call after her, to say she doesn't have to give me anything, I stand at the bottom of the stairs.
'Aunt Julie', no response. I walk up a few steps and call again.
'Aunt Julie'.
'Aunt Julie'.
'I'm in here'
She's calling from a bedroom, I think about just turning, going down stairs, but that would be rude.
As I enter the bedroom Julie's taking something out of a drawer.
She comes towards me, 'Close your eyes and turn around'.
'What!'.
Julie's smiling, laughing, 'I want to give you your Birthday Present, now close your eyes and turn around', she takes hold of my shoulder and gently pushes me around.
'Eyes closed...now put your hands behind your back'.
I start to nod my head, but Julie's already taken hold of my arms and pulls them behind my back.
For some reason I don't resist her, don't suspect anything. Maybe it's the casual way she asks, or maybe I'm just want to get this over with, but before I realise what's happening, I feel something cold, sharp against my wrists. Too late I try to pull my hands apart and hear a metallic click, looking over my shoulder I realise that she's handcuffed me.
'What are you doing!'
Julie ignores me and walks over and firmly closes the bedroom door.
'I don't think you'll be leaving quite yet!'
I try to pull my hands apart, but the handcuffs scrape down the side of my wrists.
'I wouldn't waste your time, they're solid steel, and the only way out is if I decide to unlock them, now why don't you come and sit down here on the bed and I'll give you your birthday present'.
She moves towards me holding out her hand, 'Come on'.
I don't know what to do, I back away from her, kicking out with my right leg, a wide sweeping arc well in front of her, just as a warning for her not to come any closer.
'Now come on, there's nothing you can do, I promise I'll be gentle, you'll enjoy it'.
'No...please just let me go'.
She starts to approach again.
Frantically I look around the room, has she gone completely mad.
'I'll scream... really, I mean it, release me now, I'll go and we'll forget all about this'.
For a moment she stops, 'Don't be silly Victor, this is every boys fantasy, we can do whatever you want, no-one will ever know, it'll be our secret'.
'I'm going to count to ten, if you haven't released me by then I'll start screaming, one - two - three'
'All right, all right, if you're sure that's what you want?'
'Yes, I just want to go'.
'Okay, come and sit over here while I get the key'.
There's a dressing table by the window, with a high-backed chair, which Julie pulls out.
I'm wary of her and don't move.
If you want me to release you, you'll have to come here.
Cautiously I let Julie guide me to the chair, as I sit, she positions my arms over the back of the chair.
'Good'.
I watch her in the mirror, instead of getting the key she's untying the scarf from around her neck. 'You know I just wanted to thank you for buying me such a lovely present'.
'Aunt Julie, unlock the handcuffs, please'.
'Sssssshhhhh...Such a useful, versatile present'
She takes one corner of the scarf and lets it fall open. Ignoring my pleas, I watch her as she ties a large knot in the middle of the scarf and raises it above my head. Then in one sudden movement she pushed her knees into my arms, pinning them to the chair and brings the scarf down, I try to call out, but as I do, she forces the knot into my mouth. I try to twist my head, but she uses to scarf to pull me back, before tying it tightly into position, gagging me.
'MMMMMMmmmmmm'.
I force myself up out of the chair, half-stumbling I push past her but there's nowhere to go. I try to push the gag out of my mouth with my tongue but it's tied far too tight, I call out through the scarf gag but can only manage is an incoherent mumble.
'hhheeppp'
'Now then, where were we, oh yes I was going to give you your birthday present', again she moves towards me, and again I kick out, trying to shout through the gag.
'nnnnoooooooo'.
'Now we can either do this the easy way or the hard way it's up to you', she moves towards me and again I kick out.
'Okay, the hard way', wait there', with that she leaves the room.
Wait there! what the hell is she going to do now?