Janie and I knew each other from high school. We both went to the Dark Park High School, which probably has the worst reputation in the state. It has the most petty crime and the laziest teachers and students on the planet, but more on that another time.Janie and I weren't friends at high school. Janie was part of 'the popular crowd' and I thought she was a real show-off, because she used to entertain her group and anyone else who cared to watch, by doing cartwheels and high kicks at lunch-time. Kids used to pay her too, in cigarettes ( she hates those;  they make her cough till she's sick), lollies or even booze. One of the teachers on yard-duty, a Ms.Fiona Fitch (guess what she got nick-named) often watched Janie for a while, and then said:

'Don't do that Janie,people in the next suburb will be able to see your knickers, not to mention the spy satellites overhead.'Ms Fitch was convinced that we were constantly being watched by spy satellites.

'Then what are you looking at, Fitchy?' asked one of the cheekier boys.

Fiona Fitch would move off then,mumbling something about needing to inform the principal. She never did, though.

Janie did Jazz Ballet, had a great figure and lots of admirers. One of these was Mandi Mason, the school thug and leader of the Spite-Club, who lost no time in recruiting Janie into the Club. One evening, she dragged a reluctant Janie along to a meeting. She came in, punching the air and said proudly:

'Look who I found',like she'd won first prize. Mandi and her best friend, Sandy, the deputy leader of the Spite-Club, high-fived.

I was already in the Spite-Club and I thought Janie looked petrified, but she was probably too scared to say no to Mandi. Anyway I went and talked to her and gradually we became friends. We started going to each other's places, mostly hers and I was really surprised when I discovered that Janie actually had quite a nice family. There was just her mum (her parents are divorced) and her sister, Josie and the two cats, Bimbo and Bean-Bag. Her mum had been a lead actress in an old 'eighties' soapie; Boyfriends and Girlfriends. Janie liked and still does;  pop-music, jazz ballet, cats, boys and clothes, whereas I preferred and still do; rock or grunge bands, animals of all kinds (we could never afford any pets, cos there were five kids). I liked clothes too, but never had many until I started working in Phil's Pills Pharmacy and earned some money.

I knew Janie's mum was worried about Janie being in the Spite-Club (my mum didn't know) and was very happy when we both left. This happened when Mandi Mason decided to take a few people to the city on a shop-lifting excursion to show us how it was done properly, but I think Janie wants to tell you that story. Take it away, Janie.

See yah and luv yah

Lainie.xx

P.S. Janie and I both have boyfriends,who like us, are best friends, but we're like not serious with them or nothing.  They'll do for now. Janie's is called Jacko and mine is Robbo. They're  in a bit of trouble at the moment. Actually, a lot of trouble, cos they were both' Ambos', but one morning, they spotted each other's ambulances out on the road; Robbo did a screeching U-turn, pulled up alongside Jacko and started to discuss a party they'd both been invited to that evening. Robbo actually had an emergency in his vehicle and had just turned on the siren and flashing red light ( how he luvs doing that). We've said we'll go to their court hearing to be supportive, but Robbo is in deep doo-doos and will probably have to spend some time in the Dark Park Detention Centre. Silly moron. Serves him right.Will keep you posted on what happens. As if that wasn't enough to get these blokes into trouble, they had to go and fasten antlers to the ambulances, as it was nearly Christmas time. Pair of dickheads.

Watch out for Jacko and Robbo's court hearing later in the year.  For now, though, find out what Janie has to say about Lainie.

I've included a photo of Janie too. In this she's in rehearsal for a performance, dancing with a boy she had a serious crush on. Did he have crush on her too? He liked her, but he was gay.  Janie's more girly than I am, but she has a really naughty streak, something that people aren't aware of until they get to know her. Janie hides behind it; she's clever like that.