Room 2D

From Janus 95 featuring Jilly Waistrose from  Moral Welfare Edith Hodge is proud to call herself a spinster. Men have never been any good to her, and her two black cats are all the company she keeps. She has her council flat and her job as a cleaning supervisor, and is known for her tough, down-to-earth manner. ‘Muck me about and see what you get!’ could be her motto. But Edith is not a nasty lady, just very practical and strong-willed, and well able to cope with life’s vicissitudes. No respecter of persons, and not afraid to call a spade a bloody shovel. Unintimidated by man or woman, the big boss or her workforce. To her, Jilly Waistrose is a piece of cake. ‘You’re just a waster, girl! You don’t know what day of the week it is. If I’d had a tenth of your privileges, I’d have made something of myself, I can tell you. You’re a ridiculous creature!’ Hard words but thoroughly deserved, as Jilly had been ...

Story by Julie Holmes from Janus 52 Time and time again she stands before me, sometimes her head bowed in mock contrition, at other times her eyes staring defiantly into my own. I hand out another detention or set of lines, desperately wishing I had the power to prescribe a more appropriate punishment, one that would break through that devil-may-care attitude and cause her to acquire some self-discipline and self-esteem… When I was a sixth-former, mini-skirts were  de rigeur , England swung because we were all backing Britain, and peace and love abounded (or tried to). It was a time of hope and plenty and I was a member of the generation that knew it was strong and talented and in control of its destiny. Our big sisters burned their bras — we never started to wear them. Suspenders surrendered to tights, unless knee-socks were being worn to tease and titillate. I knew that my youth gave me power and I exulted in striding the ...

An enhanced version of Janus’ finest — Miss Nicola Redway, B.Sc. Having appeared with her friend Priscilla Waters first as a schoolgirl in  Teacher’s Pets in Janus 23 and then as a college student in  Nicola and Priscilla  in Janus 46, the lovely Nicola Redway is now an adult woman… What am I doing here with him? Why did I say I’d do it? I am Nicola Redway, adult, graduate in science and mathematics now — not the girl who laughed her way through life with Priscilla Waters at Farnsham Grammar. The mature man and his lovely young consort sit in the lounge of the five-star hotel in London’s Mayfair. He sips coffee, wanting his head to be clear so that every moment of this encounter may be savoured to the full, and remembered later in completest detail. She is having wine, gulping it a bit. Brave, though. Poised and elegant in pin-striped business dress. Almost impossible to believe that very soon those supremely curva...