A.W.O.L.,

or

A SISTER'S SOLUTION

Petrina

- FAU - 2 - B FPE

FICTION

CHAPTER ONE

The Homecoming

The "underground" train drew into the platform of the North London station of Eastcote. James Butler grasped his kit-bag and stepping quick- ly onto the platform and through the ticket gate he began the short walk home. It was early afternoon as he walked down the narrow tree-lined street. Worried as he was, James could still be impressed by the quiet beauty of the English autumn as by now the leaves had turned from their usual rich green to a deep golden brown.

He turned the last corner and three houses further on was his sister's mock Tudor cottage. The door opened almost immediately to his knock and he stepped into the hallway and into the arms of his sister.

"It's wonderful to have you back, James. I have so much to tell you,” she told him with a smile.

James kissed her cheek, and, standing back, he looked Janet up and down. Even after six months absence she was exactly as he remembered, slightly taller than the average girl (she was almost 5' 8"); slender, with a fashionably (at least at the moment) almost boyish figure, long golden blonde hair framing a gamine face with blue eyes and rosebud mouth set in a typical English “peaches and cream” complextion. Her clothes complimented her “with-it” but not exaggerated look. A pair of corn- flower blue jersey slacks (exactly matching her eyes) worn under a white satin shirt with an extreme “mod” collar, very full bishop sleeves and stockinged feet peeping beneath the slacks.

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