Unlikely Places Read Online Free

called in, the receptionist
pointed to the corridor. “Second on the right”. 
    “Thanks”. I knocked on the door looking at the plaque reading
Probation Officer Caroline Richards. Entering the room I saw a mature woman
wearing an undersized black skirt suit retrieving files from an overstuffed
filing cabinet as she took her seat behind her desk she offered me the seat
opposite. Looking at a file open in front of her she looked up at me.
    “Miss Alexandra Philips, criminal damage, I see its alcohol
counselling and community service, you’ve never been in trouble before?”
    “No”. I shook my head focussing on the upside down paperwork
in my file.
    “But you have had a bit of a time of it, you father died in
a car accident, you had counselling for five months...did it help?”
    Where was she getting this information, I looked at her as
my frustration built. “Yes all better”. I shot back sarcastically.
    She frowned returning her gaze to the paperwork in front of
her. “I see you doctor prescribed you medication for depression and sleeping?”
    I glared at her. “I haven’t taken any in over a year”.
    Taking off her glasses she really looked at me for the first
time. “I sorry if this is difficult...but we have to make sure your put in the
right placement.....to do that we need to ask these questions”.
    “Of course...I’m sorry”. I berated myself for being so rude
I needed her on my side after all.
    “I think we’ll get you started on your counselling then
finalise your placement, is that agreeable?”
    I nodded in concurrence, anything to get out of here.
    “I’ve got the details here for your sessions with a Mike
Green, he works at the YMCA in town, your first session is on Thursday evening
7 – 8 o’clock, and Mike will keep a record of your attendance and send reports
to me”. She handed me a wad of paperwork. “There’s also a leaflet and other
information on community service, if your employer needs to confirm any of the
details of your counselling or anything give them my number”.
    “It won’t be a problem....I work freelance from home....how
many sessions do I have to attend?” I asked cringing at the thought of
counselling.
    Referring to her file again. “There’s ten hours put aside
but if we feel it necessary it could be increased”.
    Is she kidding ten hours, what am I going to talk about for
ten hours. “Who makes that decision?” I ask feeling slightly panicked at the
thought of it being increased.
    “It’ll be Mike Green mainly but he will consult with me and
we’ll make a joint decision”.
    “Right....okay...thank you”.
    I got up to leave with my paperwork in hand, heading back
out to the waiting room I could see the dishevelled skip dweller was still
waiting he seemed to be weeping as I left. I wondered if the acrid smell of
baby sick had finally made his eyes water.
    As I was in town I took the opportunity to pay my court
fines at the council offices across town, what is it with these places they
seem to draw the freaks out of the woodwork, myself not included of course.
This time there was a short black man/woman I’m not sure which arguing with the
man at the counter about how much he/she was going to pay. Until a big daddy
type security guard towered over he/she as the fine was paid. The clerk seemed
quite relieved when I paid in full without any hassle as I had already seen the
security I decided it was best, no need for any big daddy splashdowns or pile
drivers today.

Chapter 3
    Thursday
    I arrived at the YMCA building a little before seven, the
thought of the next hour was starting to fill me with dread, let alone ten
hours of talking about drinking, my parents’ divorce, dad’s death and my
previous counselling wasn’t filling me with joy.
    I had passed by the YMCA building many times but as I
thought about it, it was one of the many buildings I had taken very little
notice of considering its size. The four storey building stretched about