Mum’s Encouragement Part 12

I nervously looked down at my feet embarrassed as I felt Martin’s eyes bore into me before he spoke “you know you look great. Mum told me that I was to call you Lucy today. Are you ok with that?” he asked

“Eh yeah I guess so” I replied whilst still looking down shyly

“Look I know this is strange,” he added “but lets not be shy around each other. We have known each other for years and I promise you I will look after you today”

I found the courage to look at him and managed to speak “thanks Martin. I will need all your help to get through this today”

‘Get through this? You look wonderful. Look you are even wearing Ipswich blue in your outfit” he replied whilst pointing at the blue blouse that I wore before adding, “look you even have blue fingernails. What a star Lucy”

I grinned without speaking and took in what Martin was wearing. He had on blue jeans and a black crew neck sweater. He too looked good although a little underdressed compared to me

‘Do you think your mum and my mum have overdone how I look seeing as we are only going to the football” I squeaked whilst gesturing at the clothes I wore “it’s a bit too much for the football isn’t it”

“No far from it. It makes a change for a girl to actually look like a girl” Martin replied before realizing his mistake and smiling at me and saying “sorry Joe. It’s just that you look so much like a girl and not at all like a boy”

I smiled back at his faux par and without thinking tugged the skirt of my dress down whilst looking in the mirror

Another deadly salience ensued before he broke the silence by saying “We better get a move on Joe if we are to get a drink in the pub before the match starts”

“Martin call me Lucy. Don’t call me Joe in case I get found out” I pleaded before adding “THE PUB? I can’t go in a pub dressed like this”

“Why not? Martin replied, “Your going to a football match dressed like that aren’t you? You will have fun I promise you. I will look after you Luce,” he said whilst smiling at me

I was about to ask him who we would be meeting and whether there was anyone there who knew me as Joe but before I had the chance to speak Julia walked out into the hallway “oh there you are. Your mum and I thought you had got lost” she laughed

She turned to Martin “Doesn’t she look lovely Martin? Look at the effort she has gone to for you” Julia started fussing with my hair and the bow at the back “look Martin, Lucy is even wearing a hair bow in Ipswich’s colours. I hope you appreciate her efforts”

Martin grinned and replied, “She looks great mum”

I nervously smiled at the both of them and didn’t know what to do at that point. Martin rescued the situation “ok you ready?” He asked me whilst lifting his jacket from the staircase banister and putting it on

“Err yeah I think so” I answered.

Julia stepped in “come on lets get your coat and scarf. You can’t go out like that” she beckoned to my clothes “you will catch your death of cold sweetie” she grabbed my hand and led me back to the kitchen where mum was making coffee

Mum smiled and turned to Martin who had followed Julia and me into the room “You will look after him won’t you Martin? He hasn’t been to a football game before and I don’t want him getting into any trouble Martin”

‘Him?” Julia butted in “does Lucy look like a him Claire?” she turned away from mum and turned to Martin “ you make sure that you look after young Lucy. Don’t you dare leave her alone and make sure you hold her hand at all times Martin”

“Yes mum” he sarcastically replied

“ I mean it Martin. Treat her well. If she tells Claire or me that you didn’t look after her there will be hell to pay. Do you hear?”

She was giving Martin a hard time. I giggled and spoke “Aunt Julia. I can look after myself you know”

Mum piped up “ You may think you can Lucy Jane but let me tell you there are plenty of men who take liberties with girls your age”

I felt myself go red “mum I will be fine. Martin and I have been out plenty of times” and before I could finish my protestations mum piped in

“NOT DRESSED LIKE THAT LUCY!”

I again felt myself blush as Julia held out the black coat I was to wear. I reversed into it and Julia did up the buttons and tied the wide belt about my waist.

Mum then put the scarf around my neck and tied it so that it hung down between the lapels of the coat.

“Here I found these” mum said as she started to put black woolen gloves on my hands

“MUM” I protested, “ I’m going to be roasting”

Julia answered, “No you won’t Lucy. Its freezing out and you need to wrap up”

‘Yes Aunt Julia” I meekly replied. Although I often questioned mum I had never once argued with Julia.

Mum handed me the handbag and told me to look after it. I slipped it on my shoulder and turned to Martin who was waiting patiently for me ‘I guess im ready” I smiled

‘”About time” he joked, “you women take forever to get ready”

I playfully slapped him on the arm as mum and Julia did some last minute fussing before each of them kissed me on the cheek. Julia then used her fingers to smooth out my cheek where they had kissed me

‘ Ok you two. Have fun and Martin remember what I have told you “Julia threatened her youngest son

‘What was that mum?” Martin replied cheekily

I thought that was funny and chuckled before Julia added in a stern voice, “I mean it Lucy. Let me know if he doesn’t look after you”

I knew when to be sensible and answered, “I will Aunt Julia although I am sure Martin will be fine”

Both mum and Aunt Julia continued to fuss as we exited through the front door. As we were walking down the path to Martin’s car I noticed the sound of my heels making a noise on the pavement and glanced over my shoulder to see Julia and mum still standing at the front door seeing us off

“Crikey Lucy. You better give me a good report later” Martin joked whilst taking my hand

‘You don’t have to do that you know” I told him pulling my hand away

‘”I know. But I want too if you are ok with it” Martin sheepishly replied

I smiled back and answered “im fine with it” as I let him again take my hand. At that point I felt a little knot in my stomach

As we got to Martin’s little car he acted like the perfect gentleman and opened the front passenger door for me. Remembering mums lessons I sat down on the seat whilst smoothing my skirts beneath me before sliding my legs into the footwell of Martin’s Ford Fiesta. Even though I had taken care whilst getting in the car I still managed to give Martin a view of my hosed legs as my coat and skirt rode up my thighs

Martin shut the door behind me whilst smiling like a Cheshire cat and whilst he made his way around to the driver’s side I pulled the skirt of my dress down to cover the lacy hem of my slip. I arranged the coat under me as Martin got in the car

I went to reach for my seatbelt when Martin leant over me “here allow me” he said and reached over me to pull the seat belt over me before securing it into the catch

“Thanks” I smiled “you know you don’t have to try so hard you know Martin. I’m not a real date’

“Mores the pity” Martin answered, “ Seeing as I saw what you are wearing under your skirt”

‘What?” I embarrassingly asked

“Your slip” he looked at me with a big grin “ I caught a peek of your lacy slip under your skirt when you got in LULU”

“MARTIN” I screeched thinking to myself where was all of this leading