Girls' Fun: The Cast - Kirsty and Mac

[I'm transcribing edited highlights of a diary I kept when I was 15 / 16 years old, in 1985. Index here.]



So, Kirsty and Mac. I found a letter containing background info. But first a reminder:

Sat 5th Jan 1985
"Kirsty met Mac, her boyfriend in town but quarrelled with him straightaway and so was depressed all day and we didn't go round town wiv him so I didn't get to meet his fantastically good-looking friend wot woz wiv him. Kirsty really cares about Mac, so I got 'em back together again just before I went home."

I love this letter she wrote to me - it's such a wonderful insight into the world of the teenager:

"Dear Clare,

I hope you don't think I'm stupid but I just had to write this to get it out of my system. My mother and father are being stupid (to put it mildly, bastards) again. It's only 8.30 and already they have suceeded in making a nervous wreck of me. Mac woz on the telephone a bit ago and my mum answered it and when she knew who it woz called my dad through and asked him to speak to him.

Well the stupid pillock, gave him this crap about, remember shes still at school I don't want you ringing up every night and coming down. Well you can imagine he was decidedly cool with me on the telephone. He doesn't seem to understand that I really do love him. (That is I mean Mac, you can't exactly imagine me loving my dad can you)

God Clare this might sound really stupid to you but I'm coming to the end of my tether, I can't stand much more of it, nothing I do is good enough for them.

Then after that, as if what he had done wasn't enough he gave me a bloody great lecture on, setting my sights a bit higher. (The old marry into money bit) and to think I thought it was 1984 not 1700 oh well time does fly, mind you I never knew it flew backwards.

I know Mac will think I'm being pathetic if I tell him to buck his ideas up. As much as I know he likes me he wouldn't stand that he'd pack me. Did I tell you he was engaged last Christmas it's not as if he hasn't got plenty of admirers cos I know he has.

My dad objects to the way he speaks on the telephone and says that if thats how he speaks when he doesn't know someone then he will not be put thru' the torture of having to get to know him. He even went so far as to say that he doesn't say 'Good Evening' when he speaks to him.

The more things go on the more I'm becoming convinced that this is 1700. Clare Help! My dad also said to me in these exact words that I am to tell him not to ring me up every night and also said was he to tell him 'to behave a little more properly' (Ahhhhh...) Oh My God it makes me cringe to think of it.

When I said 'no' to his beautiful suggestion he said (and I am not exaggerating or making this up) 'oh well I will then' (exact words). This is getting beyond a joke. I hope you didn't mind me relieving the tension on you it's just that if I hadn't done this I would have sat here all night and become really depressed. (I woz crying my eyes out as it woz)

please auntie Clare

HELP!

lots of love
Kirsty
xxx

PS. Clare you just can't know how much I love Mac in such a small space of time, I'd kill myself if my mum split us up. And that is no threat.

Bye...

P.P.S. I think Im gonna write a letter to Mac. do you not think so? You'll have to help me. O.K.

P.P.P.S. it isn't 8.30 it's 7.30 and I still hate them. no prizes for guessing who they are.
I think they're driving me mad. Between them. They should never have been allowed the responsibility of having children."