Too Young

Janet was about sixteen when she met Simon, he was twenty. She always seemed to be asked out by older men.
He lived on the next street so they had often seen each other but met up properly when Janet was out with friends at The Crown. They got chatting and would often meet up there amongst a crowd. 
When he found out she was good at Art he asked her to design a logo for his mobile DJ van. He wanted to call his business Aquarius. 
Janet found a small picture of a water carrier and checked it was what he wanted. She squared it up and made an enlarged drawing. Simon then took the design to be spray painted onto his van, he paid her too. 
One Saturday night he asked her to go with him to the club where he was working. She asked one of her friends to phone and tell her mum where she would be. 
They travelled in the van and it was an amazing night, she'd never been to a club before due to problems with transport. All the girls kept gathering round and asking for requests. Janet was pleased that she was the one with Simon and he wasn't interested in anyone else.
The club closed at one but when they arrived at his house it was nearly two in the morning. Immediately they turned into the driveway Simon's mum came out saying that Janet's mum had been round and she was livid!
Simon walked Janet round the corner immediately but still lingered long enough to give her a good night kiss. 
When Janet was in the house her mum started with the usual ranting and raving but when asked if Janet's friend had phoned she had. That was how she was able to go to Simon's house! She was fuming that Janet was out so late but at no time said that she had been worried. No it was all about control and not wanting her to go out with friends even though she knew she couldn't stop her. She knew this because when her sister was the same age and went out she once called the police! A lovely police woman came round who then listened to their mother ranting about how there should be something they could do to stop it. Her sister never even stayed out late! The police woman questioned what she expected the police to do and that as she was sixteen she could leave home if she wanted to and do as she wished. She did the following year! 
Janet continued seeing Simon and on a couple of occasions went to clubs with him but told her mum in advance knowing she could do nothing. After that she was always asleep when Janet returned home! 
They had been seeing each other for a few months and managed to sleep together on odd occasions when she came home from school and he had the house to himself!
Then out of the blue he asked her to marry him, he was ready to settle down and start a family and wanted his wife to be Janet.
She was so shocked! He told her he knew she needed time to think it over.
She spoke to friends at school saying that she felt too young, hadn't known him that long and had plans for a career! 
When Janet next saw Simon she had to tell him she wasn't ready to settle down. He said he understood, she was still young and he was willing to wait. She explained that she intended moving away as soon as she could. 
She never saw him again apart from at a distance.

Before Janet moved away she met someone else. 
Tom was a Royal Marine so older than her. He came from a nearby village where she went with friends to drink.
He had been to many countries already. He was tall, dark and handsome and not long after they started dating he took Janet to meet his mum. She let them stay together when Janet stayed over. Even Janet's mum approved of him not that she had met all of her boyfriends. 
He had a car so they were able to travel around. 
They had been together a few months when Janet was told she had been accepted at a college in London and would be leaving. 
Tom was due to go on duty in Ireland and even though he was an officer would still be involved in the fighting. They both hoped to continue the relationship.
When Janet was in London she had a special number to call so was only charged local rate to call Tom. 
It was a terrible time with all the bombing. One time she phoned he had been in hospital having glass removed from his back. He had been close to where a bomb had exploded. 
He wrote regularly and sent Love Is.. characters with his own Love Is... quotes. It made Janet's heart melt. 
But as time went on Janet found the long term relationship a strain. Eventually she met someone else. 
Then out of the blue Tom turned up, he was staying a few days with a friend in Knightsbridge not far away.
Janet had to quickly make excuses for not seeing her new bloke that weekend.
Tom and her had a great time and she wasn't sure what to do.
They continued to write until one day she told him she couldn't continue the long distance relationship.
He was very upset and the next time he was on leave went to see Janet's mum saying he loved Janet and could she do anything.
Janet was upset to hear this but realised she had made the right decision. Tom was ready to settle down but she wasn't.
She often would look at the Love Is... he had sent her and the fabulous love letters along with the photos of him in uniform his mum sent her. She would always cherish them. 
Then one day her new boyfriend saw them, he was very jealous and told her to throw them away. She had started falling in love with him and didn't want to lose him, so she did.
She would regret that action forever.