She wanted piano lessons, had probably wanted them all her life. I became an excuse to learn. If she took me to 'my' piano lessons, it was convenient ...or her to learn at the same time. It was the only thing I ever saw my mother not face head-on. A part of me always understood we were in those quiet piano rooms for her so I took every lesson without complaint.My mother was talented but constrained, a precise and unfriendly musician. She passed her gift to me but made sure I had no demons so I. Carefully and slowly she rubbed it on to my sore flesh. Alongside me, Tanya was getting a similar treatment. Both of us moaned pitifully with the pain. Whatever the oil was, it eased the fire but the pain was still terrible and I could hardly lie still for more than a second or two. The gentle massaging of the oil continued for some time and at intervals we were turned over so that our backs and fronts were equally treated. However, the movement of turning us, caused more pain and each time we. .and wait...Then finally he replies with a winky face asking where. I tell him to come to mine. I'm so excited that I can't wait, I sit there watching the clock tick. As it gets to 11, I'm feeling pretty drunk, I stumble into the bathroom to try to straighten myself up. I struggle and find myself stood facing the mirror, lent on the sink.Then I heard the door go, slamming shut. I hear a shout but take a moment to make it out... "It's just me Rob, I think I left my wallet in your bathroom...". Jena affectionately told me to come to her room and sit on her bed. The room was small as compared to mine and there was one single bed. I sat on Jena’s bed and she sat beside me. “Lie down, darling,” Jena said. “Let me try to put you to sleep,” she said gently. After I lay on my back, Jena sat close to me, slowly stroking my hair. She bent her face close to mine. I could feel the perfume of her hair, the freshness of her breath. I wondered how her breath was so fresh at that late hour. Jena.