Diamonds. A girls best friend? – Part 1
This will be another serialized post. I hope you enjoy it.
Part 1
“I swear, by almighty God, that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God”
It was the mid sixties and I stood nervously in a London ‘High Court’.
Now, I suppose it would be a good idea to start at the beginning, and give you a little background information.
I had an aunt who had a ’sugar daddy’. He was a married man, but my aunt had had a relationship with him for many, many years. It was one of those ‘understandings’ between he and his wife. The relationship eventually became platonic and continued until his eventual death. He took care of my aunt in his will and it was dignified and respectful of his wife and family. He was a diamond merchant, and had given my aunt many diamonds over the years. Some more rare in colour than others, but all very valuable. Aside from the diamonds that she wore, they were kept in a vault at the bank.
I was about 19 years old and worked in a publishing company in London. I had made friends with all the girls in the office. We went out together lunch times and socially in the evenings. Many of us had even been to each others homes. We all got along really well. This was to be my first lesson in life, regarding friendships.
One day, on one of her visits, my aunt asked my sisters and I if we were interested in buying a diamond very cheap. We, of course said yes. They were £25 a piece. She pulled out a little package and poured the diamonds into her palm. They were varying in size but in my aunts typical style you got whichever she picked up, kind of pot luck. We were all thrilled with our purchase and put them away carefully, planning to get them set into rings at a later date.
Some weeks later I got a telephone call from my aunt (who I will call ‘Betty’ for the purposes of this post). This was strange, because she never telephoned and asked to speak to us girls, it was always mum or dad. She wanted me to ask my work mates if they were interested in buying diamonds cheaply. I would, obviously, be the intermediary. Now this was a scary request, and as soon as I had put the phone down I told my mum and dad what I had been asked.
They were not at all happy about me getting involved, my dad made his feelings clear. “For goodness sake Babs, just give them Betty’s telephone number. Whatever you do, don’t get involved!” I decided to listen to the wise words of my dad.
I would soon realise just how wise those words were.
Stumble it!
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Jaffer
| 17 October 2008 at 0:38
Oh wow ! Most of use would not even thing that our own aunt would do something like that to us ! It always seems to happen to others…
Waiting eagerly for the next part !
Jaffer´s last blog post..Poverty’s vicious face – As mirrored in India
granny grimble
| 17 October 2008 at 0:46
This looks like it’s going to be an exciting blog
and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
granny grimble´s last blog post..LIVING AND LOVING
beetle
| 17 October 2008 at 1:01
Jaffer: I really don’t think she gave it much thought, or saw the seriousness of dealing with loose diamonds.
granny grimble: I think it makes good blogging material, but at the time was not very exciting
Natural
| 17 October 2008 at 3:30
a sugar daddy? why am i using sweet n low and equal?
you know something is up when you get a call from someone you don’t normally. well i’m intrigued. will be back for part II.
Natural´s last blog post..Why Poverty?
Jenn Thorson
| 17 October 2008 at 14:44
Oh boy– this doesn’t bode well for the auntie, as far as I can see! Or Babs Beetle as potential middleman diamond fencer and international jewel thief squealer.
Jenn Thorson´s last blog post..Do-Bees and Don’t-Bees: Rules Our Parents Made Up
beetle
| 17 October 2008 at 15:10
Natural: Something was definitely up, as they say
Jenn Thorson: Ha ha! You are right there! It did not bode well!
Ivanhoe
| 17 October 2008 at 16:33
Oh no, Babs! You know how to keep me in suspense. There better be a post #2 here soon
)
beetle
| 17 October 2008 at 18:23
Ivanhoe: Oh there will be. This one is in three parts
Jeff
| 18 October 2008 at 0:33
Black market diamond trading eh? I had no idea Babs.
Jeff´s last blog post..Mr. Know-It-All
chat blanc
| 18 October 2008 at 4:27
I’m soooo intrigued!
chat blanc´s last blog post..This could be the one
Jay
| 18 October 2008 at 10:45
I have a bad feeling about this!
I don’t know much about diamond trading, but I would be extremely wary … were they stolen? Was this illegal trading? Did your aunt not realise there were rules she had to abide by? I can’t wait to hear what went wrong and why!
*Taps fingers*
vanilla7
| 18 October 2008 at 12:05
gosh! I can’t wait for the rest of the story!
vanilla7´s last blog post..Company Profile or Catalog?
beetle
| 18 October 2008 at 14:27
Jeff: Ha ha! There’s more to this girl than meets the winking eye
chat blanc: It get’s interesting, trust me.
Jay: No, they were not stolen. Bless her, she didn’t understand what she was doing at all.
vanilla7: I won’t keep you waiting too long
Maureen
| 18 October 2008 at 15:32
Yikes! What a story so far… can’t wait for the rest, Babs!
Maureen´s last blog post..Too Many Choices
durano lawayan
| 18 October 2008 at 16:50
Hi Babs,
This is one site of yours that needs no invite. I finally found an opening after seeing you comment on a post of mine.
That was well laid out. You at 19 in court then flashback further into the wonderful surprise of an aunt who had been a long time mistress; and who wants to use her nieces to trade diamonds she had been gifted with. Great set-up.
Does Leonardo Di Caprio have a cameo in this story? lol!What adds to the intrigue is the overall specter of getting your “first lesson in friendship”; it makes one think of betrayal or support. Kind of like expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Well crafted.
–Durano, done!
durano lawayan´s last blog post..McCain’s Manic Manifestations of Malevolence
beetle
| 18 October 2008 at 17:23
Maureen: Two more parts to come
Durano Lawayan: I am confused that you couldn’t get into my blogs. They are all set up so that anybody can comment. I’m glad you finally managed to though, and thank you for your kind words
Lady Banana
| 18 October 2008 at 17:37
Fascinating story, can’t wait for the next part!
Lady Banana´s last blog post..Me ‘n’ Him
Shinade
| 18 October 2008 at 17:49
Oh my good decision. wow trading in black market diamonds. What a fascinating tale from your childhood. Oh my I never had that happen.
Shinade´s last blog post..PhotoHunt Family
beetle
| 18 October 2008 at 20:26
Lady Banana: Next part will be coming soon
Shinade: I suppose you could say I had a colourful family background
Kathy
| 19 October 2008 at 17:00
Any post that starts off with a courtroom swearing-in has got to be good (or bad, depending on how you look at it). You and Swubird share the same talent for making a trip down memory lane so exciting and suspenseful!
Kathy´s last blog post..Losing Never Tasted So Gouda
beetle
| 19 October 2008 at 20:25
Kathy: Thank you Kathy. To be compared with Swubird is indeed a compliment!
Swubird
| 20 October 2008 at 0:59
Babs:
Great post. Suspenseful. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the tale.
Coincidentally, a woman my wife worked with tried to sell diamonds at work too. It was strange. We opted not to buy any of them.
Happy trails.
Swubird´s last blog post..APOLLO!
*lynne*
| 20 October 2008 at 5:43
i am intrigued… looking forward to Part 2 and more!
beetle
| 20 October 2008 at 12:32
Swubird: Buying diamonds loose can be a real problem. Although my aunt’s were legally hers, you can still run into problems.
Lynne: The second part will be very soon
Sandie
| 20 October 2008 at 19:25
I can’t wait for the next episode either! How exciting:0)
Sandie´s last blog post..Rummaging
beetle
| 21 October 2008 at 3:09
Sandie: It sounds exciting now, but at the time you don’t think it is
JD at I Do Things
| 21 October 2008 at 17:45
Oooh, I can’t wait! The Great Diamond Caper! Babs, you always write in such a way as to leave me wanting more. Can’t wait to read the next 2 parts. Also? I want a sugar daddy!
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..I Know Fred so you don’t have to
beetle
| 21 October 2008 at 19:23
JD: Ahh but would you want a diamond merchant for a sugar daddy? That is the question