At twenty-seven, I was unexpectedly made redundant. At the time, I went through a barrage of emotions, but once my hefty redundancy cheque cleared in ...y bank, it softened the blow somewhat! For the first time in my life, I had some serious money to spend!My older sister Rachel married an Australian and moved out to Oz four years ago. She lived in style - a large five-bedroom property with a pool, on the outskirts of Brisbane.Weighing up the pros and cons of going travelling before my thirtieth. I couldn'tbelieve how I'd cried in the principal's office or the ferocity of myanger at my mother when we argued. I found it hard to bring myself toapologize as did my mother, so an uncomfortable silence had settled onour house.The week passed awkwardly until the weekend before classes were tobegin. Saturday morning I went down to get some breakfast and foundthat Mom had made me a batch of French Toast. Her smile told me that wewere on good terms again."You're in a good mood this morning," I. " Good now get down stairs and put the kettle on. I need a brew."It was a really weird day at work, when I was sat in my office I keptcatching myself stroking my camisole through my shirt, I even unfastenedmy new waistcoat to give easier access. Out of the sanctuary of myprivate little office was a totally different situation. My waistcoatwas firmly closed before I opened the door and every moment I was out Ifeared my discovery. What would happen if somebody patted me on theback? Would they. I never had a single girl ask to audition during the entire forty-five minutes I was there. The only offer I did receive was from a guy who I might have actually enjoyed watching the Vermin feast upon.Zack Hamilton was an asshole of the highest order. The football jock, whose muscle-to-brain cell ratio probably measured about 10 to 1, confidently strutted up and started talking shit about how I was going to accept him and his buddies as my companions and, together, they would select the girls.