"No, once again you are wrong." My sister was in full flight. What had started as a mild discussion over a drink now looked like being a real argument. "The Upjohn Foundation published a monograph about three years ago showing the effects of the Free Trade Policies since their start under Nixon. And guess what- they show that for every 9 jobs those policies have created America has lost 10 and those nine new jobs are jobs with less pay, less conditions and less skill. That is why free trade policies lead – in developed countries at least to less jobs and the jobs that are there still are poorer jobs. Not that that conclusions should surprise anyone who knows any economic history." Kate looked hard at the young college boy whose face was now almost as red as his bright auburn hair. "The same thing is true of Great Britain . Now while you can not blame all of that country’s economic decline on free trade – you have to allow for its class consciousness and for the lack of skills training in comparison with say Germany – nevertheless Pat Buchanan is right in saying that free trade gutted British industry. Read his articles.” She paused for breath.
"And another thing too. Free trade policies lead to the 'race to the bottom; low pay, low conditions -just as the Upjohn Foundation found. That may -and I stress may- be good in the short term for the company but it has two effects. First it lowers demand -think about it, less pay means less spending power- and so it leads to unemployment at least in a closed economy. If Paul Rand were right and lower pay meant higher growth then why are we growing slowly." My sister was speaking before the GFC, today she would just use this as more evidence. "Second, it reduces innovation. High wage economies have always been more innovative- look at our own history- we had people like Carnegie, Alexander Graham Bell and many more ; inventors who came here because America had a higher standard of living."
"I don’t know about that’ the guy - I couldn’t remember his name – tried to resume the fight "but free trade allows poor countries to develop industries."
"Garbage" sneered Kate. "First of all do you know what Adam Smith said about America- that it should remain an agricultural nation importing manufactured goods from Europe . And he is supposed to be the hero of the neo cons. Give me Alexander Hamilton any day. And yes if you give me your email address I will give you the page references to each of these. Second, did you know that during the British Raj which imposed free trade in India until the 1930s when the Indian Congress began to interfere- the Indian GDP per person fell. Yes fell and over a period of almost 100 years. That’s a long term effect. That was because cheap imports destroyed Indian industry. In fact the destruction was so great that one historian calls it The Victorian Holocaust. It was accompanied by famines and yes the historians say that was the result of free trade too. Third name one of the Asian tigers –you know what I am talking about – Malaysia , Thailand , Taiwan or the rest that have free trade policies.” Again she paused. Then after another sip of her drink went on. “No? You can’t? You know why? Because they don’t. None of them. All of them protect their local markets. And China does the same, as well as controlling its currency. Free trade is a bad policy. Free markets- the whole neo con crap is worse. And you know why? Because the assumptions are wrong.”
We had been standing around the bbq sipping drinks while James got it going. He had just turned on the lights- if anything a bit early as it was still light enough to see well but he was proud of his new outside lights. They were laid out to give interesting effects, some set behind bushes, others in trees- the overall pattern was halfway between fairy lights and normal. And of course we were supposed to admire them. And we did. Then the conversation shifted again. And I’d heard Kate before- yes I knew she was right, she had all the information, she knew her stuff, but it got boring.
So after a few minutes I took Mark-James and Kate’s toddler to the pool to paddle. I held him up in the water while he splashed around . He thought it was great. It was a chance to avoid Kate’s lecture- that is what it was, because even if the guy had questions, comments, she knew all the answers. And it was a chance to avoid Andy, without it being too obvious. He had been less than attentive in the last few weeks, and that night he was just avoiding talking to me.
We had argued on the way when he told me he was going on a hunting trip with Alan Lobsey and his cronies.
“Lobsey!” I was furious. “He is odious, he objectifies women. A hunting trip with him will be an excuse to drink too much and to screw some redneck trash." Andy said nothing. He just looked at the road as he drove. I tried again, I pleaded. I so wanted him not to go with that vile man, Lobsey. "Andy,” I patted his knee as I tried to persuade him, “you’re better than him, you told me how disgusted you were at his boasting of how he got some girl to blow him and his mates at an L station.”
“Becca, honey, I haven’t been away with the guys for ages.”
“Don’t change the subject, I don’t mind you going away- just so long as it’s not with Alan Lobsey.”
After that the conversation petered out, we sat in silence for the rest of the journey. And I was grumpy. Playing with Mark helped, it was impossible to be grumpy with my cute nephew.
While playing with him I chatted with some of the guys standing round the pool. Andy needed to know he couldn’t treat me like this.
I handed Mark to David- one of the guys I’d been talking to- when my nephew wanted to get out. I smiled my thanks and ran my hands through my hair. Mark ran off to my sister who scooped him up and dried him off.
I got out myself and David handed me my towel. “Oh thank you so much. You’re such a gentleman.” I smiled. He helped me dry off. “That is so good.” I encouraged him and gave him a peck when he finished.
“Becca, can I get you a drink?”
“Why thank you that would be lovely”. I squeezed his hand. We made our way over to where my sister and her husband had a tub full of drinks on ice. I felt Andy’s eyes on me every step of the way. And I knew his weren’t the only eyes on me. As they say “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” The genes gave me something to flaunt but it was the hard work from frequent trips to the gym that gave me a reason to flaunt it. That, and the tiny white bikini and the great job as a veterinary made for plenty of men who be more than happy to replace Andy.
The back door slammed, I turned; so did half the males. A tall –probably about 5ft 11-slender young - she couldn’t have been much older than 22-redhead, strode down the steps as if they were a catwalk. She sauntered over, David’s eyes popped. Her boobs- they must have been 36DD’s almost popped out of her sky blue bikini.
“David meet Sara” David’s brother Adam introduced her. “She’s home from college for the summer.”
The way David eyed her off I wished she had stayed at college. He got her a drink though anyone could see from how she spoke that she had already had a few, which Adam confirmed by answering his brother, “Yes, we’ve been to a party, I’m the driver, I called in to see how you were going.”
“Just fine, especially now.” He looked straight at Sara. “And when did you meet my little brother?” he chuckled-they were both well over six feet tall.
Sara already had one arm around Adam’s waist and she slipped her free arm around David’s. “I wouldn’t call him little” she cast her eyes down to his crotch and then over at David’s “I assume that size runs in the family.” She giggled and then stepped back from both men – but their smirks told me she had given each a good squeeze and it wasn’t around the waist.
I rolled my eyes at that and snorted. I didn’t mean for her to hear. Well maybe I did, but not consciously. It just came out and I guess she noticed.
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to steal your boyfriend.” She giggled again which just drove me crazy.
“Oh, Becca’s not my girl friend – just a friend.”
I could have killed him.
“Well, then nothing to worry about. Even if I were trying to steal him, I cant steal what you don’t own.” She giggled and ran her hand through her red flaming red hair. Her flirtations were so obvious.
“Oh that’s okay, David doesn’t cradle snatch.”
“Oh honey” her voice just dripped with sarcasm, “That’s what all older women say. And sorry but it just aint true. Don’t believe me? Just ask any man here whose snatch he’d rather have – a woman in her prime or” she paused for affect “someone well past her prime?”
I turned to David and stage whispered “Adam likes babies, you like babes" Yes it was almost a trashy comment –way beneath me – but this red head was getting on my nerves.
And then she snatched my arm. "Baby? How's this for a baby?" she tried to throw me into the pool I grabbed her and together we fell in with a splash.
I heard the guys chuckle. I turned to Sara "Not a baby, not a babe; just a bitch"
She laughed. She grabbed me by the hair dunking me three times. Between the second and third time she hissed "If you say so. I'm glad to play the part of bitch for you, you mouthy hag."
I spluttered as I went under for the third time. I seized her shoulders. I shoved her hard, into the deeper water. The bitch didn’t miss a trick; she held onto my hair, she dragged me with her. Even if she stumbled she still punched me hard. I choked on a mouthful of water. She regained her footing. I tried to knee her in the tummy. That wasn’t the smartest move since we were in a pool. Would have been smarter to punch her where the water would slow down the thrust. But I was getting desperate She grabbed my knee. At least she let go of my hair. She tried to shove my leg up in the air, to push me back under the water again.
I broke free, I swam away, I swam hard, panicking, out of breath; Sara had half drowned me. I thought I was clear when I felt her fingers lock onto my ankle, I tried to break away again, I was frantic. Defeat, humiliation loomed. Sara tugged me backwards, shoved her free hand on my back and forced me under yet again- I'd had just enough time to gulp some air before she did. I felt the young girl move up along side of me, letting go of my ankle. I stood, gulping air into my bursting lungs. I had no time to think of defence before her arms- the bitch had such a long reach- wrapped around my chest just below my bustline. She squeezed hard, whispering in my ear. "You’re finished, you old bitch."
I struggled, I tried to slam my elbows into her sides. I did but it did me no good. She grunted but kept a firm hold.. She lowered her grip a little then she lifted me. She was taller than I was, by bending her back she was able to lift me higher still. She raised me till my tummy was out of the water.
She was humiliating me. The guys, the girls all saw me struggling vainly, my elbows flailing, my legs kicking. They saw her lift me like a baby. They saw her sway me from side to side. in the shallow water she showed her height, arching her back she lifted me out to my knees.
The boys laughed, "Yea Sara finish her!" Adam chuckled
"Drown the bitch!" that bastard Lobsey crowed, he hated me.
At least David was worried “Don’t let her beat you Becca”
And Andy still cheered, “You can do it, break away Becca!”
Sara slipped her grip. I thought I had weakened her with my elbows and kicking. Far from it. She dug her nails into my tits.. The pain was intense, I was being held up by my tits, her fingers digging into my soft flesh. I tried but I couldn’t help screaming. I knew it would be like music to the bitch's ears.
Adam turned to his brother "I didn’t know Becca sang" and laughed.
And Lobsey said simply, "I think your girl is fucked Andy."
I was determined Sara’s moment of glory would be short lived! Her grip was looser. I twisted to one side. I threw my head back. She let me go rather than risk the head butt in her nose.
I slipped down into the water and pushed away.
And I heard Andy say “What’s the matter with you today Becca?" I knew he liked me fighting and beating this redhead bitch would be a sure way of getting him back where I wanted him- away from Lobsey and doing what I wanted. I just had to do it.
“She’s old," Adam said.
I brindled at his comments but it was taken up by some other men. "That young girl has her on the ropes already.
My ears burned as David said “Becca’s in trouble. Sad to say, but I don’t think she’ll last another five minutes"
Lobsey just crowed "Becca can't keep up. She's gone a million. She's meat." I hated him. I was going to prove them wrong. I growled but kept playing possum letting Sara advance . She was more cautious than I expected, standing in her place, waiting for me –surely she wasn’t being chivalrous and waiting for me to recover. Her next comment told me she wasn’t "What's the matter, hag? Did I wear you out already?"
I snapped "Come on bitch are you scared you can’t last? You’re all flashy moves. Sure your sneak attack got me wrong footed but I guess you’re all froth, no substance; all surprise no endurance. Yes like all you babies, you might be good to begin with but you got no staying power, I'd bet you'd be a real disappointment when it counts."
I’d noted that she resented my comments about her youth. True to form she spat. "Did you just say 'young ones'? What, were you born in the 40's? Do you know what year it is granny?" She tried to raise a laugh.
Only a few men joined in, most were older than me. Her comments simply reminded them of their age. And I was going to milk it. “Sure I do, and I know how to keep on keeping on. But do you? Or are you just good for a quickie?" I turned to Adam "Hey I'll bet she's not good for a one night stand, how about a one minute stand." Adam laughed loudly. I had bought some time, I had regained my stamina, I stood, body flexed, ready for whatever Sara dished out.
She flushed, the insult hit, she struggled to restrain herself, "Well, I'm sure any one of the guys here would love to see if that were true." Several men cheered as they agreed- perhaps they thought they’d score if they agreed with her. “And even if it were true, I'm sure that one minute would be much more exciting than a whole night with you."
"Tee hee, sweetie, experience is so much better than enthusiasm, " I paused "but perhaps despite your youth, you are " again I paused "very very experienced" I winked at David standing next to his by now red faced brother. "Perhaps even a little,” and again I paused, ”err used?"
I’d got her angry. She charged in trying to reach out to grab my throat. "You fucking bitch! I'll show you used!"
I dodged her angry attack, she splashed past, I turned, I pushed her head under water. I held her there for a long minute. She panicked, she gargled, she must have swallowed a heap of water. She elbowed me in my nose, my cheek, my throat. She was trying anything to force me away and let her up for air again. She need not have tried so hard; I wasn’t trying to drown her; I let her head go. I seized her long red hair , dragging her back off her feet. I thrust my free fist into her tummy. “"tee hee, not so experienced at this are you sweetie."
She coughed, sputtered, gasped. I’d weakened her. Ducking her and punching her had told. She croaked defiantly, "Fuck you," as she threw both her hands up, raking, clawing her nails up and down my face, gouging my eyes.
"Shit! What a bitch, what gutter did you drag her from Adam?” his brother asked. I turned, still clutching her hair trying to get away from her hands, yanking her hair, dragging her head down, down, back under water again. Experience beat enthusiasm; she started well- her attack surprised me, momentarily overwhelmed me, but she didn’t know how to keep the momentum, how to turn a great opening into a winning fight. I heard her gasp just before I drove her under.
She tried to kick- I think she hoped I was too angry to notice her move. I wasn’t, I was focused on winning the fight. I turned blocking her foot, taking the kick, I knew this slut aimed for my crotch, on my thigh. Yes it hurt so much that I loosened my grip on her hair, so much that I’d limp for an hour or two but I’d beat her yet.
I wasn’t the only one who knew where Sara had tried to kick. Andy knew, saying, "Did you see what the slut tried to do? Whip her ass babe!” He got so turned on when I fought.
"She sure is a dirty fighter" James joined in, I was surprised to hear him. He didn’t like girls fighting, - or perhaps he did, he just didn’t admit it because Kate would rouse on him.
"She is that, but can Becca take her?" Adam said, it seemed he was still barracking for Sara. Let him. He was an oaf.
I’d looked away, I’d thought I’d have a moment to myself. Sara was breathing hard. I thought she would need a few seconds to recover. Instead she slammed her elbow into my gut. I staggered back gasping.
"Becca won’t take her if she doesn’t pay attention" David added. I so didn’t want to hear that. I’d hate to think he was supporting her. I rallied; I would show him, and his stupid brother. I closed, on Sara, for all her smart move –and it was smart, I’d not expected it- she was still gasping for breath. I clasped her shoulders, slamming her off balance. There was a big splash as my move seemed to succeed. She bobbed up quickly, floating on her back, kicking hard – her kicks both helping her to get away and hitting my chin and shoulders. She could still think quickly, she could still move well.
"Man, I think Becca is beaten, Sara is just too good.” It was that oaf Adam again.
I seized Sara’s ankle, I pulled her hard towards me. I stepped to the side. I pressed firmly down on her knee. I yanked her foot up. She screamed in pain. Yes she could think quickly, I could think quicker.
David answered his brother, "Nah Becca's not beaten she’s still going strong. Your red head is tiring."
Adam snapped back, “So is Becca." He didn’t want to see the girl he had picked up that evening defeated- but everyone knew she would be. He was a sore loser.
Marlene Cohen hissed, “who cares what those 2 sluts are doing" She was seriously annoyed at the attention we were getting. “Just two trash fighting bah!" She and I would have words later.
Sara tried to kick, she didn’t succeed. Then she swung her heel hard, she tried to hit my chin, But it is hard to kick like she was- she couldn’t see properly with her head in the water. I dodged her foot. I yanked the foot I was holding. I slammed my free elbow into her tummy, and then a second time.
Sara groaned. She was weakened and weakening more by the minute. Marlene spat out "Are you two sluts done yet? Can we just get back to the party already?"
One of her friends said. "Yeah, stop showing off you whores!"
I couldn't see my sister inviting those jealous bitches back to her house. Maybe they were right but still, their words only told everyone just how much attention I had .I rammed my elbow into Sara’s belly again As if to reinforce my success some guys cheered. I turned; grabbing hold of Sara’s hair as she lay gasping for breath after I’d pounded her belly three times in as many seconds. I hauled her underwater. I tugged her towards the edge. "“I’m just about to haul in the catch of the day. Too bad it’s an overly ripe carp.”
Andy chuckled, “Show us her tits" I smiled at Andy. Like all guys at such times he was thinking with his cock.. I remembered how he had loved me marching that blonde around the beach after I’d beaten her earlier back in May. That had been a good day, Kate and I had beaten the blonde’s friends at volleyball, then I trashed the blonde. Now I wanted to trash Sara. She struggled under water, she tried to get her head up, I didn’t let her. She sent her elbows thudding into my sides, my chest, my tummy; anywhere to break my hold. I grabbed hold of the tie on her bikini-I was lucky it was one of those easy off bow ones- and pulled. The bikini came off in my hand. I whirled it over my head. “Catch as catch can!” I threw it. David, Adam and Alan Lobsey all leapt to catch it. I was furious to see Lobsey succeeded.
Sara worked her way loose- I didn’t want to drown the girl so I’d let her get her head above water. Her boobs bounced as she breathed deeply.
“Give girl?”
She was stupid. She must have convinced herself that she still stood a chance. She hissed "Never!" She raked her nails across my face. Marlene and her coven of hags broke their angry huddle and spread out around the pool, taking positions as they anxiously await an outcome for the fight. None of them wanted either of us to win, they just wanted the fight over so they could get back to chatting with their boyfriends or husbands. “They are both bitches" Marlene hissed, "some of you guys should wake up to yourselves! What’s so good about 2 sluts fighting?”
“Becca is a hottie, she is sexy, she fights, you wouldn’t last as long as Sara” David let her have it with both barrels.
I tried to punch but Sara dodged me and swung her own punch. She missed as well, I’d seen it coming and sidestepped. I punched her gut. She almost folded, she staggered forward, holding onto me with her hands on my shoulders, she drooped. I thought she was out of it. Instead she swung her head back and forward hard. It was only experience, that vital something that Sara lacked, that made me raise my own head so that her head butt slammed into the base of my nose. If I hadn’t she’d have broken it. As it was it bled. A lot. I staggered back "Arrgh, fuck, fuck, fuck!" My nose erupted in pain.
"What was that about landing the redhead? I think that big fish might still have more than a few tricks! Go for it Sara" Adam chuckled.
Sara attacked with hard jabs aimed at my midsection as I backed away. As I reached the side of the pool she grabbed my shoulders. I knew what she wanted- to jam me against the edge, and again it was that vital experience that counted. I raised my knee. She impaled herself on it. She stumbled but came forward again swinging her elbow into my already bloody nose. I squealed in pain, but again experience told. I lashed at her boobs, ripping deep furrows into them and once again slammed my knee into her gut.
And that was it. Sara had shot her bolt. She fell on me, pushing us both under water. I got up first. I held her head down. "Becca you'll drown her" Adam hissed.
Reluctantly I let her up. She bobbed to the surface, i rolled her onto her back. She lay there almost out to it. I dragged her to the side of the pool. David and Andy lifted her out. She lay on the side They helped me out. I rested my foot on her tummy –the classic victory pose.
Andy kissed me. He put his hand around my waist. “You are so hot! Let me find some cream for your cuts.” He led me inside “Lets go away next weekend. Just you and me.”
“I thought you were hunting with Lobsey.”
“Not any more Becca. “ he kissed me.
My thanks to the lovely Gemma and Judy for helping me and to my fellow Australian James for pushing me to write this- he even gets a cameo but I should add that the characters are fictitious, I am sure James and his family do not act in the way I've written here.
