JAMIE (ePub)

JAMIEReminiscences of a 'Jack the Lad'SynopsisThe story is written in the first person and is essentially a 'romp' – rather tongue in cheek – based on a 'rags to riches' theme and is written in two parts.The plot revolves around Jamie – the central character. Jamie is a Lancashire Lad and the bookfollows his rise from naïve youth, to hugely successful entrepreneur in the esoteric world of 'female fantasy'.Part One tells the story of how a chain of events led him into the world of female erotica and Part Two, written some twenty years later, brings the reader up to date with his achievements.The Prologue sets the scene: following the death of his dad; killed in action in Borneo whilst serving as a Sergeant in the British Army, Jamie, together with his mum and younger sister Sarah are obliged to leave the security of married quarters in Fulwood Barracks, Preston, for a nearby council estate, where they struggle to make ends meet.In his eighteenth year, Jamie takes a job on a local farm where Chloe; the farmer's wife, initiates him in the pleasures of the flesh. Near disaster follows, in the shape of a shotgun wielded by the irate farmer on catching Jamie and Chloe in a compromising situation.A spell working as a porter in the kitchens of a nearby mental hospital serves to make Jamie aware of the wiles of women. However, he becomes disenchanted with this environment and, determined to improve his prospects, attends a three year course for mature students funded by the Department of Employment as part of a government initiative to reduce the dole queue.Aged twenty five, a chance encounter with Ralph at a sports club in Preston leads him into the world of the male escort. He is introduced to Tabatha – a divorcee from Chester and boss of 'Tamarind'; an escort agency in Manchester catering for business women seeking no strings-attached liaisons with young studs. Tabatha puts Jamie through a searching and startling interview process which has him reeling. But he makes it through (just) and moves from Preston to Manchester and rooms with two students; Neil, a medical student with a fondness for the bass trombone and Naomi, a bright young girl from Ghana studying modern languages, who is devoted to the local church mission where the quixotic Pastor Kerr officiates.Jamie recalls his first professional date, with the beautiful Lauren; a Public Defender from Aspen, Colorado. She is attending a symposium together with delegates from Europe to discuss the rehabilitation of offenders. Jamie has been asked to escort her to a concert given by the celebrated Hallé orchestra.Continuing his reminiscences, Jamie recounts his encounter with the attractive but snooty Lady Jacintha; elder daughter of the Earl of Cheldown, himself a colourful character. Lady Jacintha requires Jamie to act as her fiancé at the wedding of her younger sister, Amie, to allay suspicions the family may entertain that Jacintha is not interested in men, or has been 'left on the shelf'.Due to Lady Jacintha's sarcasm, Jamie forgets himself and storms out of the reception. However, an interesting twist occurs when Jacintha's mother; the Countess Barbara, demands satisfaction from Jamie in her private chambers at the conclusion of the Wedding feast, in what could well have been a scene from the film, The Graduate.As a result of his behaviour, Tabatha reprimands Jamie for letting the agency down but gives him a last chance.Jamie becomes aware that Tabatha is becoming withdrawn and tearful but his attempts to discover the reason infuriates her. The mystery is solved when Tabatha takes Ralph into her confidence and reveals she has been threatened by one of the...