The Bright Lights Beckoned

At seventeen Ann couldn't wait to leave the constraints of home. She had a good relationship with her mother but not her step-father. 
They'd just left as she settled into the hostel that was to become home in the big city of London. 
She unpacked her few belongings and decided to venture out! 
It was a warm evening and music filled the air. Suddenly she recognised it, somewhere Queen was playing. She followed the sound unaware of where she was going and reached the gates of Hyde Park just as the music ceased. A loudspeaker announced free LPs to anyone collecting rubbish but she needed to find her way back. 

She had been placed in a triple room but one bed remained empty. The other girl, Rita was lovely and they soon became friends.
Ann was a student amongst other students, civil servants and those who stayed short term. She made many friends.

The food was never very tasty but included in the rent and after tube fares she couldn't afford food as well. Her grant didn't stretch far. She also had to buy books and equipment, cigarettes and booze! 

Ann had the weekend to settle in and say hello to a few fellow boarders. 
Then on the Monday she started college. 
She was the only student living away from home even though it was the only college offering the course she wanted.
It meant she had two different groups of friends.

Ann was used to living in a friendly area and found it easy getting to know people.
She did know of someone from school, her sister's age, but only the name of a pub where she may be found!
The following weekend she found the pub but Sharon was not there. People in the pub said that she would be in later so Ann sat alone with a drink. 
Yes she was only seventeen but had been going to pubs for the last two years. She didn't look her age but was never questioned.
Soon Sharon joined her and they found plenty to talk about. This would be the start of many more nights and weekends drinking together and introductions to new people.

As Ann got to know more girls at the hostel they ventured to a few local pubs. At one she often played darts having played in her home town.
One evening she was out with Debbie, a very beautiful, leggy dance student, Marilyn another beautiful, blonde, busty dance student and Jan, the first lesbian Ann had ever met. 
This particular night there were a group of blokes who asked to join them playing darts. They all had a fun evening then shortly before leaving one bloke Steve took Ann aside and asked if she would go on a date with him. She was quite taken aback. She had had a few boyfriends and recently split with Stuart before leaving, him believing a long distance relationship could never work. It had never been very serious. But here she was alongside beautiful girls and he'd asked her.