Girl, Nearly 16 Absolute Torture

Justwhenthingsweregoingsowell.Jesshadtheperfectsummerplanned:SheandFred,lounginginthepark,gazingintooneanother’seyesandengaginginwittyrepartee.Itwasgoingtobesoromantic.Andthenhermaddeningmumsteppedin:Shesuddenlyannouncedatwo-week“roadtrip”toCornwalltovisitJess’sdad,somethingJessmighthaveenjoyed,actually,wereitnotforthemonstrouslybadtiming.NotonlywillthisforceJessandFredapartfortwowholeweeks,itwillalsoleavethedarlingandhandsomeFredintheclutchesofJess’sblindinglybeautifulbestfriend,Flora—who,youmightrecall,expressedaninterestinFrednottoolongago.Asifallthisweren’tenough,Jess’smumseemstoexpecthertoweepatthegraveofeverydepartedliteraryheroinBritain’slonghistory.It’sabsolutetorture.AndlittledoesJessknow,ahugesurpriseawaitsherwhenshevisitsherdadathishomeforthefirsttimeinyears.