Tarquin cursed as the old car he was driving as it slipped around on the muddy road.

He counter-steered the automobile and recovered slowing down and peering through the windshield at the driving rain.

” Just a little run Tarquin, it will be a breeze!” He said sarcastically to himself as he tried to make sense of the road.

Tarquin was a small young man who tried to make up for his short stature by acting tough.

He was the lead singer of a pop group and he had grown his hair long to give himself an edgy look.

However, the truth of the matter was somewhat a different story.

For his hairless chin along with his delicate features just made him look like a girl.

Tarquins girlfriend Tarnia was forever trying to dress Tarquin as a girl.

Tarnia was bigger than Tarquin and was somewhat of a dominant personality

So far Tarquin had managed to avoid being made to go out dressed as a girl by Tarnia.

However, in their home, Tarnia had made Tarquin wear a short pink gingham dress with all the frills that made him look like a complete sissy.

Seeing Traquin dressed in such a sissy way was a complete delight to Tarnia.

At night Tarnia would false Tarquin to wear a baby doll nighty.

If Tarquin did so with no fuss, he would be rewarded in some small way.

Tarnia was enjoying feminizing Tarquin and Tarquin was secretly enjoying the attention he was getting.

However, if the truth be known, Tarquin resented being made to dress up in such a manner.

Tarquin had no real job of such other than his little pop group.

The pop group itself did not really bring in any money.

The Pop group’s concerts had dried up completely and there seemed little or no chance of things progressing.

Tarnia, on the other hand, was an estate agent.

She was the main breadwinner.

This fact made Tarquin feel trapped.

He was desperate  to show Tarnia he could really man up when he needed to

Tarquin had a first cousin named Jacob who owned a used car dealership.

One day Tarquin asked Victor if he had any vacancies as Tarquin’s financial situation was getting very desperate.

Jacob had offered Tarquin a job as a car jockey.

This job entailed delivering cars all around the country and sometimes riding the bus to bring one back.

Tarquin had jumped at this chance, if only to get away from Tarnia, for her constant pressure for him to dress as a girl was now starting to take its toll.

Tarquin needed some time to think about his and Tarnia’s relationship and it would be these road trips that would help him to do so.

Tarnia was very angry with Tarquin about the job he had taken up from Jacob.

However, in a very rare show of defiance, Tarquin refused to give in.

All that Tarnia could do was to give Tarquin the silent treatment in the hope that Tarquin would change his mind.

After Tarquins’s last road trip, Tarnia seemed to now be accepting Tarquins’ new occupation.

Tarnia started to question Tarquin about some of the routes and shortcuts he took on these trips.

She also informed him that she would like to come along with him.

So far as Tarquin was concerned this was out of the question.

He had taken this job to get away from her.

No longer did Tarnia pressure Tarquin to wear girls’ clothing of a night time, having sensed his reluctance.

However, Tarquin began to get the message.

No dress-up games, no rewards.

One afternoon Tarquin got a call from Jacobs dealership.

The Call came from a voice that he did not recognize.

“Tarquin, my name is Andy and I am the new sales manager of Jacobs dealership.

Listen carefully, I need you to deliver a car  A S A P.

The route has been programmed into the navigation system, all you have to do is follow it to the address.

I am sending the car over now with Simon a new car jockey, he will make his own way back.

Your instructions and bus money will be in the glove compartment.

Head out as soon as you get the car.

It is just a basic car run, so there should be no problems, but be sure to follow the GPS. Got it?”

“Ok , not a problem”.

Tarquin Hung up, grabbed his travel bag, and made sure he was ready to go.

Tarquin called Tarnia on her phone, however it went straight on to voice mail which meant she was with a client.

After leaving a note for Tara, Tarquin headed out in the pouring rain for a simple overnight delivery.

“Easy money”, he thought to himself.

An hour or so into the journey Tarquin received a message on his phone from Tarnia.

Curious about the message Tarquin pulled over the car into a lay by to see what she wanted.

He was praying to God that she was not angry with him.

The message itself was frantic.

It read the following,

“Tarquin call me now! Jacob has been arrested, Your car is hot, Call me Now!”

Having received this message Tarquin’s heart was racing over time.

What was happening?

Tarquin was now in a Panic.

Quickly he called Tarnia, all the time with his gut sinking.

“Tarquin?”

“Yes What?”

“No time to explain, where are you?”

Tania’s voice was very anxious, which hardly put Tarquin at ease.

“I am about halfway across Cowper road”, Tarquin replied.

“Tarnia, can you please tell me what is going on?”

“Cowper road, that is great, listen Tarquin and do exactly what I tell you”.

“Tarnia I..”

“Tarquin listen, the car you are driving is full of naughty substances, they are stuffed in the spare tyre”

“How do yo….” Tarnia cut him off again.

“Tarquin my Aunt Margaret lives on that road, you can hide at her place, put the car in the barn and wait for me.”

“This is madness,” Tarquin retorted.

“Tarquin the police will already be looking for you. Aunt Margarets house is the last one on the left before the bridge, you should almost be there. Go now and I will see you soon”.

“Okay, I will do so now”.

Tarquin was now having a complete panic attack at the thought of him being caught with a car full of illegal substances.

“What a mess”. he thought to himself, which was classically an understatement

“Last house before the bridge, on the left.”

Tarquin floored the car and almost slid off the road as the tires threw mud everywhere.

Soon Tarquin saw a bridge sign, then a house with a long drive and a big red barn behind it.

Tarquin turned up the driveway and saw a middle-aged woman standing in the lighted doorway of the barn

She was dressed in wellington boots, blue jeans, and a rain slicker with a wide-brimmed hat.

As Tarquin got closer she waved him into the barn and closed the door behind them.

As Tarquin shut off the car engine and climbed out the lady took off her wet hat and shook the water off it.

Her dark hair had a slight touch of grey to it and her eyes were blue and kind.

“Hello, you must be Tarquin”, she said.

She held her hand out to introduce herself.

Tarquin had to look up to meet her gaze for she was several inches taller than him.

“My name is Margaret and I am Tarnias Aunty.

“It is nice to finally meet you, I have heard quite a bit about you”.

Aunty Margaret looked at the car.

“I think we have a little problem here Tarquin”. She continued, stating an obvious understatement.

“Did you know anything about the substances that had been packed into the tires Tarquin?”

Her blue eyes seemed to gaze right through him.

“No I did not, I thought it was a legit car dealership!”

Tarquin was on the verge of a panic attack,

“I do not deal in illegal substances!”

“No Tarquin, you have been used as a mule. However, you can still do a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years for transporting these substances.

“15 to 20 years!” Tarquin squeaked.

Tarquin was starting to well up with tears in his eyes.

“I do not want to go to prison”, he sobbed.

“Well, you are safe here for the moment Tarquin, though I imagine the police have your name by now and will be looking for you and the car”.

“What if I tell them that I did not know I had substances in the car?”

“Well, they will still charge you. You will have to go to court and you will be remanded in custody until your trial. You know that bail for substance dealers and mules is very high.”

Tarquin was now blabbering like a baby.

“I only wanted to show Tarnia that I could pull my weight and bring in a pay packet”.

“Well these things happen my dear”, Margaret said as she gave little Tarquin a hug.

“You are safe here little one, Aunty Margaret will keep you safe.

Tarquin hugged Aunty Margaret back, suddenly not feeling so tough and independent.

“I have friends in high places who can help you deal with this little mess you have got yourself into Tarquin. In the meantime, let us pop into the house and get you something hot to drink. Are you hungry?”

Tarquin felt reassured by Aunty Margaret’s presence, her tone and bearing made him feel like he was going to be okay.

“Yes Ma’am I could eat.”

“Good,” Aunty Margaret put her arm around Tarquin and led him from the barn.