My father hated them. '
You stay away from those boys, Ellen!' he shouted. 'It's not right. I don't want them in my house!'
'Why not, Dad?' I asked. 'You bring your women here, don't you? Why can't I bring my boyfriends?'
'Shut up, girl!' he shouted. He was very angry. Sometimes he hit me, and once I had to go to the hospital.
So what did Al do, you ask? Him? Nothing. He just watched, and laughed, and played football with Dad.
Then I met John. He was twenty-two years old, and big and strong like Arnold Schwarzenegger. All the girls thought he was wonderful. One day he asked me to go to a party with him - me! I was very excited, so I went home, and put on my best clothes and shortest skirt, to look nice for him. Then I heard John's motorbike and went downstairs. Dad was at the door.
'Where are you going?' he asked.