They were like chalk and cheese.  Paul met Jackie at a music festival. He and his pals were squelching around in the muck when she slipped in front of them and he came to her rescue.  His friends stood by laughing.  There she was, her black hair in a ponytail, wearing a yellow mini skirt skin tight top and yellow wellies to match, when suddenly she slipped and fell spread-eagled in the dirt.  Paul stretched out his hand to help her up.  “I can manage” she said with a look of disgust on her face. She couldn’t get her balance, and eventually but unwillingly took his hand.  He wiped his own hands in his jeans, and picked up her handbag.  As she fumbled around for tissues, getting more dirt on herself from her bag, he handed her his handkerchief.  She looked a sorry sight.  The lads fell silent but kept their distance.  “What are you lot looking at?” she yelled at them.  Paul still wanted to help and offered to buy her a drink.  “I can’t go anywhere looking like this” she said, like it was his fault, and stormed off.

Jackie finally got herself cleaned up as best she could. The afternoon turned out to be a scorcher.  She made her way to the nearest bar and who was standing there but Paul and his friends! To Paul’s surprise she said, “You can buy me that drink now”. Her hair was loose on her shoulders which gave her a softer look, but she was as arrogant as ever.  The lads would have given her a wide berth, but Paul did her bidding.  Six months later, he would wonder what she saw in him that day. The lads kept their opinions to themselves and hoped Paul would eventually cop himself on.

Fast forward six months, Paul and Jackie were walking along the Quays, near the Financial Centre in Dublin City.  “I can’t walk any further in these heels” she protested, “slow down!”  She was wearing a tight red dress which kept riding up as she walked.  “The restaurant is just across the road” John said, as they headed in the direction of Jury’s Hotel. “Oh my God” Jackie said.  She crossed the road to where an old red MG sports car was parked. “I know the guy who owns that car”.  She looked at Paul and said “Ya, I used to go out with him, plenty of money but a right wally. His family didn’t think I was good enough for their little darling. I soon put them in their place!”  She walked around the car. Paul stood by, admiring the cream leather interior. He’d never seen a car like that before close up. “What a beauty” he said, letting his hand glide over the smooth red bonnet.  He could smell the leather seats. Jackie jumped into the car. Paul stood back with his mouth open ready to protest. “Come on, get in”, she dared him. “You’re a mechanic. You can get this thing going”. He told her to get out. Jackie took a lipstick out of her bag and proceeded to write some obscenity on the windscreen. She then got a black eyebrow pencil and scrawled what she called “a love note” across the other seat. Paul began to panic, telling her again to stop and get out.  “Chicken!” she said with scorn.  He started to walk away. She looked up at him for a second. “You’re such a wimp” she cackled and drew a big heart around what she had written on the seat. Her laughter faded into the distance as he made his way across the street as fast as he could.  As he looked back, Jackie was getting out of the car, heading in his direction.  He knew they had reached the end of the road.