Mandm

Mandm
Part 10.060 ‑ Australia

Caveat

This story is a complete work of fiction. Whilst some research effort has been made, nothing should be taken as factual, in particular anything to do with medical, legal, technical, political, social, educational or religious issues. Any opinions expressed are those of the characters, not necessarily the author's.

Uncle Bob's letter to Kitty

After another couple of minutes, Daniel said "All right, now, this is a little more more serious. I have received something out of the blue for Kitty. Could you sit on the chairs, please? Kitty, you might be best sitting on Audrey's lap."

All four were looking somewhat puzzled, but they did as they were asked.

When all were settled, Daniel said "I'd normally have just the one person this refers to in here, but I think Kitty would prefer you other three in as well. Kitty, do you remember your uncle?"

Kitty started crying, she could just be heard saying "I had many uncles."

Daniel "Uncle Bob?" Kitty, trying to dry her eyes with the hem of her dress, "Vaguely. He was the only one who didn't …" she started crying again."

Audrey found a tissue, held it for Kitty to take. The other three girls were all looking vey concerned, but didn't say or do anything other than hold each others' hands.

Daniel continued, "I've been sent a package expressed from Australia. It contains some information for whoever is looking after you, so that's me, also an envelope marked 'Private and Confidential' with just your name on it. It seems your uncle Bob emigrated there when you were very young. This package has come because, I'm sorry to say, your uncle has died." Kitty just shook her head, "It doesn't really mean anything to me."

Daniel held out the envelope. "You probably should read this without anyone else knowing what's in it. From the other contents of the package, I can partly guess, but I presume it will be quite personal."

Kitty looked at the envelope, looked to the other three girls, she said "I can't imagine what it could be. Would you mind if I take Daniel's advice?" She got off Audrey, took the envelope from Daniel, and used a paperknife from Daniel's desk to neatly slit the envelope open. She went to the wall, sat down on the floor, took a single piece of paper from the envelope, unfolded it.

She read it through twice, folded the paper, put it back in the envelope. She was gently sobbing as she went back to Audrey, climbed onto her lap, curled up. She put out her hand that still held the envelope, she managed to say "Audrey." Audrey took it, asked Kitty "Do you want me to read it?" "To everyone, please."

Audrey took the letter out of the envelope, opened it, and started reading.

My dearest Kitty,

I don't know if you can remember me, your uncle Bob. We last saw each other when you were just five, not long before I emigrated to Australia.

I have always regretted leaving you. You may not be aware that your mother, my sister, had a lot of troubles around the time you were very young.

A while before you were born she became a drug addict. To pay for her habit, she used her body. Of course she became pregnant and you arrived.

She managed to stop using when you were born, she loved you very much, cared for you as well as any single mother living on state benefits could.

I only saw you very occasionally, we lived at opposite ends of the country, but when I did see you, you were a lovely, bubbling bundle of joy, doted on by your mother.

But, I suppose inevitably, your mother started using again. I didn't realise for a long while, and the really terrible part of the story is that she found that your body was worth more than hers, though I do believe she still loved you in spite of what she made you go through.

When I did find out, you were put into care, I got her into a rehab clinic. When she came out, she seemed all right again, you went back with her. But this was only a temporary respite. She finally died of an overdose when you were just eight, you were put into care again.

When I enquired about you, I heard that you were never happy, I don't think the system helped you at all. Which is why I funded your secondary education at the convent school, where I knew you would be safe and well cared for.

I have always felt guilty about not doing more for you. Somehow I couldn't have you taken permanently from your mother. She never stopped loving you, and I still loved her as my sister, so I suppose to a large extent, and to my eternal shame, I turned a blind eye.

I have kept tabs on you from afar, but never had the courage to get in touch. When you read this, I will be gone. I have made some provision that should help you in your future life, as, I suppose, some sort of attempt to placate my conscience over abandoning you and your mother.

If you can in any way not think too badly of me, I would like you, as my only living relative, to come here so we can say goodbye to each other in person, so to speak. If you can bring yourself to do so, whoever delivers this letter to you will have details of arrangements that will have been made to facilitate this for you and a companion.

Kitty, know that I love you, and sincerely wish I'd done more for you.

Your ever loving,

Uncle Bob.

By the time Audrey had finished reading, Daniel had tears running down his face, all four girls and Audrey were crying. The other three girls went round to Kitty. Somehow she slid off Audrey, all four girls just lay on the floor, hugging.

After a few minutes, Daniel said "Girls, I know this is hard, but if Kitty wants to go to Uncle Bob's funeral, things have to be organised immediately." From the huddle on the floor "I want to go."

The four girls separated, Kitty went back to Audrey's lap, the others to their chairs.

Daniel said "The funeral is in under a week's time. Your uncle has arranged for first class flight tickets and hotel accommodation for you and a partner, for two weeks. But you need a passport. Who would you like as your partner? I will say straight away I don't want you going on your own."

Kitty looked round, then "Chloe? Would you come with me?" Then, "Oh, Midge, Molly, it's not that I wouldn't want one of you, but for you to be that far apart from each other for so long …" Midge and Molly both went to her, very quietly said "No, you're right, one of me going would kill me." Midge asked "Chloe?" Chloe managed a smile, "Love to."

Daniel: "Right. I've already got Audrey to book an appointment at a passport office, I'll take you both there, it's Wednesday afternoon. They don't normally move that quickly, but it's for a bereavement. Flight is Thursday, the next day. I'll try to put off my clients then, otherwise I'll have to get a taxi to take you to Heathrow. I've got to get the flight tickets put into your names, make sure they know at the far end, and get travel insurance for you.

"Can you go to Derek's, get passport photos done today? I expect they want them in digital format, get him to put them on a memory stick, also as an email attachment, that might work better when we're there. And get him to print out half a dozen of each of you, passport size. Tell him to bill me. I've been on to the Australian embassy, I think everything else is in hand."

Daniel paused for a moment, then "A little more information for you. An Australian lawyer is dealing with everything. Your final destination is Sydney, you'll be non-stop London to Perth, then an internal flight to Sydney. You'll have to find where to go in Perth, I expect you'll pass through customs and immigration there. Once you've cleared that, ask any airline person where to go, show them your ticket, I'm sure they'll sort you. In Sydney I understand you will be met at the airport by a driver, he is yours for the two weeks you are there. There will be spending money available for you, basically you don't need to take anything other than what you want to travel in, you will be given enough to buy anything you need.

"Any questions?"

Kitty said "That sounds all right. I do have one question, the letter said something about provision to help me in the future, do you know what that means?" Daniel said "No, there's no mention of that in the information I was given. My guess would be some sort of inheritance, but I don't know. Maybe the lawyer at the other end can tell you."

Midge and Molly were looking at each other, then, from Midge, "Kitty, Chloe, you will take your funeral dresses to wear, won't you? Molly: "You both look so beautiful in them."

Kitty almost started crying again, but stopped herself, "Thank you, we'd love to wear them." Kitty and Chloe went to the twins, gave each of them a hug and a quick kiss.

Daniel: "Right. Tell your tutors what's happening, I'll pick you two up at one o'clock on Wednesday to go to the passport office. Now, go to Derek's. If you do want to ask me anything in the meantime, please do, though speak to Audrey if it's during the day. All right?"

Kitty went to Daniel, gave him a kiss, then Audrey. Kitty grabbed Chloe's hand, called out "Come on, twins" and raced for the door.

Half a minute later all four were crashing through Derek's shop door, ending up with them all on the floor. Riana came through from the studio, she said "Might have known. Actually, I did know, Audrey phoned." She went to the heap of bodies, found Chloe's hand, hauled her up and gave her a kiss. The other three picked themselves up, just looked at the embracing pair.

Eventually Chloe pulled herself from Riana, and, gasping, Chloe managed to say "Couldn't breath." Riana smiled, "Daniel said you'd be leaving me for a couple of weeks, call it making up for your time away. Derek's with a client, afraid you'll have to wait for a little while, he's going to squeeze you in before the next one. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes once you're in there. Can you wait here? I'm supposed to be helping him." She gave Chloe another quick kiss and disappeared into the studio.

About half an hour later Derek and Riana emerged with the customer, a lady with a Pekinese dog. She saw the girls, put her hand to her mouth, "What are they doing?"

What they were doing was sitting on the floor in a circle, each punching the one to her left. When the punch had gone right round, a pinch went back round the other way. Next, a prod to the ribs, after which it was back to punches. Riana answered, "Oh, don't mind them, they find all sorts of weird ways to pass the time."

The lady shook her head, walked to the door still staring back at the four. When she'd gone, the girls stood up, Derek said "Right, two of you for passport photos. Kitty and Chloe? Come on then."

Ten minutes later they came out of the shop, Kitty clutching a USB memory stick, Chloe with an envelope with paper photos. They decided to leave them with Daniel, so they took them there and gave them to Audrey. "All right now?" she asked Kitty. "Don't really know, it's a bit of a shock."

On the Wednesday, Daniel took Kitty and Chloe to the passport office. It was an hour's drive, and a ten minute walk from where he could park, but they were in time for their appointment. Some hours later they walked out, passports in hand.

On the drive back, Daniel asked "Do you know what you're taking with you? And have you got cases?" Kitty said "I'm only planning to take another dress to wear in the day, the funeral dress and shoes. But no case." Chloe said "Same here. Do the twins have anything?" Kitty immediately got on her phone to Midge, after a bit of a conversation, Kitty said "Sounds perfect, thank you. We're on our way back, see you in a bit." She said to Chloe and Daniel "There are a couple of cabin bags with wheels that their parents had, they should be fine, we can use those."

Daniel: "What about personal valuables while you're there, passports, money, phones, whatever?" Chloe said "Their mummy's bumbag." Daniel told them "Wear it in front, not behind. You can at least keep it in sight. Do keep in touch, phone somebody, or at least email, every day. Don't worry about the cost. Stops anyone worrying, all right?

"I'm going to take you to the office, we have to get e‑visas for you both, shouldn't be a problem according to the embassy. They are normally approved immediately, but if there's a holdup I have a contact number there to ring."

That evening Audrey cooked a meal for them, Kitty managed to say "At least when I'm away they won't be remembering me for my cooking." The reaction was tears from Midge and Molly, speaking alternately "Both of" "me is" "going to" "miss both" "of you."

Daniel told them that he and Audrey would drive them to the airport, he was borrowing Natalie to field his office phone. He said to Midge and Molly "I am presuming you won't want to go?" Midge said "No, thank you." Molly: "Bad memories."

He'd pick Kitty and Chloe up at four in the morning, that would give plenty of time.

That night, none of the four slept. When they weren't crying, they were cuddling each other, until Kitty's alarm sounded at three‑thirty. They had a quick breakfast, made sure they'd got their bags packed including a hair brush, phone chargers and tooth brushes. Chloe told Kitty "You're in charge of the bumbag." They made doubly sure their passports were in it, also paper copies of their e‑tickets, e‑visas and travel insurance details.

Daniel and Audrey rang the doorbell at five to four. All four went to the door, the twins each gave both Kitty and Chloe kisses, all four were crying. All walked to the car, the twins carrying the two cabin bags. Daniel managed to ignore the twins' nakedness, just took the bags from them and put them in the boot.

To Australia

The journey to the airport was uneventful, they arrived in plenty of time. Daniel drove to a service entrance, he told the girls they were being given very special treatment, he didn't know why.

When they got to the entrance, Daniel had a quick word with the security man, showed him a piece of paper. After a phone call, Daniel was told where he should park, and that they would be met there. As they parked and got out of the car, a lady dressed in the airline's uniform greeted them. She introduced herself as Lucy, she'd be looking after them until they boarded the plane. Daniel told her their names, Lucy shook hands with them all.

She led them through what seemed like endless corridors until they reached the check-in area. Looking back, the door they came through said 'Authorised personnel only' and had a security lock on it. Lucy took them to a first class check‑in desk, where their passports and e‑tickets were checked and they were given boarding passes. She asked about luggage, the girls said they just had the cabin bags. "You can book them in to save carrying them?" "They have our special dresses in, don't want to let them out of our sight."

Lucy said "We have to go through security next, I'm sorry, you'll have to say your goodbyes here. I'll give you a minute." Their goodbyes took several minutes. Audrey and the two girls were sobbing, Daniel doing his best to stop himself. While this was going on, Lucy found someone who would escort Daniel and Audrey back to their car. Daniel and Audrey watched as Lucy led the two girls to a currently unused security station, two others there had fairly long queues of people waiting.

Three security men appeared, one sat at the X‑ray screen, one stood inside the security area, one outside to stop any other passengers coming to the station.

Lucy accompanied them through, they turned and each gave a little wave to Audrey and Daniel. Hand in hand, trailing their cabin bags, Lucy led them to a lounge. She asked them if they wanted anything to eat or drink, she went to a waiter and ordered tea for all three.

As they were talking, Lucy asked why they were going to Australia. Kitty said "My Uncle Bob's funeral." Lucy said "Oh, the Robert who was an executive of the airline and a shareholder died last week, if that's your Uncle Bob, that would explain why you are being looked after. Is that who it is?" Kitty said "I don't know what he did, but it makes sense."

They had to wait nearly two hours before boarding, they phoned Midge and Molly on speaker to say what was happening. They mentioned about Uncle Bob possibly being an airline executive, Midge said they'd see if Daniel or Samuel might know if it was.

After what seemed an interminable wait, they were called for boarding. They were with several other obviously businessmen, no women. Lucy whispered to them "Be careful of straying hands, any girl is fair game for some of them." Lucy made them walk in front of her so she could stop anyone who did try anything, but, although stared at, they reached the gate without incident, where boarding passes and passports were checked.

Lucy took them right to the plane's door, both girls were generally dumbstruck by everything around them, neither had experienced anything like this before. They were greeted by a stewardess, Lucy had a quiet word with her. Lucy turned to the girls "I'll say goodbye now. Oh, do you know what flight you are coming back on?" Kitty got out her paper copy of the e‑ticket. "I'll make sure I'm the one to escort you when you get back."

Lucy was somewhat surprised to get both of the girls hugging her and kissing her cheeks, both said "Thank you." She was even more surprised to find she had tears rolling down her cheeks as she watched the girls being led into the plane.

As the stewardess took them forward, she said "My name is Lian, I'll look after you, though you can ask any steward or stewardess for anything. Is this your first flight?" She'd seen the way the girls were looking round in awe at everything. Kitty managed "Yes, had no idea." Lian laughed, "You are travelling in business class, I suspect you would normally travel in economy, nothing like our business class cabin. Oh, which of you is which?" "Kitty" "Chloe" the two replied.

She showed the girls their seats, they were right at the front of the centre section.

Lian asked "What's the matter?" when she saw the look of disappointment and the start of tears on both their faces. Kitty said "They aren't together." Lian: "Yes, they're separated by the console, that's how most business people want them. But you can still talk to each other easily enough. Let me show you what you've got."

Lian proceeded to show them the various storage compartments, the seat adjustment controls, the entertainment system, and the travel package of toiletries, eyeshade, blanket and so on. "Now, sit yourselves down, do up your seatbelts, and I'll bring you a drink. Champagne?" Chloe answered, "Oh, have you got something without any alcohol, please? We don't want anything like that." Lian reeled off a list of all sorts of soft drinks, in the end Kitty said "Just water, please." Chloe nodded.

Lian brought them plastic cups of water and a plate with a packet of nibbles each, they both said "Thank you" to her. She bent down, whispered "You are a lot politer than most of them here, so thank you." Out loud, "If you want anything, press the button on your console, one of us will come to you. You can ask for drinks, tea, coffee, whatever you want, any time. We'll serve a meal not long after we take off, which shouldn't be too long now. All right?" They thanked her again.

A little while later, the video screens went through the safety information, the two girls just stared at the screen, listening to the commentary. Chloe reached her hand to the top of the divider between them, Kitty put hers there, they interlocked fingers over it. Kitty stretched so that she could see Chloe over the divider, "I don't think we're likely to crash, and no one else seems worried."

A steward walked by, he was checking for seatbelts and that trays and seats were set for takeoff. The two girls were still holding their empty cups and plates, he said "Shall I take those?" They handed them to him, said "Thank you." "No worries" he replied. Then "If I were you, I'd sit back when we take off. Lian tells me it's your first flight?" The girls nodded. "It'll feel a bit like a fairground ride, nothing to worry about." Kitty said "I've never been to a fairground." From Chloe: "Nor me." "Oh, sorry, bad comparison then. A lot of engine noise, you'll feel as if you're being pushed back in your seats, then the front will go up. You'll hear lots of rumbling noises, most of that's the wheels running on the runway. When they go quiet, we're flying. The odd whirr and clunk after that, wheels up, flaps changing settings two or three times until we're in normal flight. Nothing to worry about."

Then, in a conspiratorial manner, "You're lucky, you've got the best pilot in the airline." The two girls smiled at him, both said "Thank you." "No worries" he said. "Lian or I will come to see you once the seatbelt sign is off, make sure you're okay. Anything else I can help you with now?" They shook their heads and said "Thank you" again. "No worries. Oh, the name's Owen." He left them.

They could barely feel the plane move as it was pushed back, then the engines started making their noise. They felt the plane moving again, and they heard some rumbling, though from where they were seated they couldn't really see anything out of the windows. The plane came to a halt, stayed for a short while, then the engines began making a lot of noise. A few seconds later they started to accelerate. It behaved exactly as Owen had told them, which was comforting. It was too noisy to talk, each sat back, but they kept their fingers interlocked over the divider.

It seemed ages before the plane went level, it got a bit quieter. Shortly afterwards Lian came to them, "All right?" she asked. Kitty answered her, "Yes, thank you, but I'm glad the nice man told us what to expect." "Oh, yes, I should have done that. So used to experienced travellers." Chloe grinned, "No worries" she said. Lian laughed, "Picking up the lingo already, then. Good. We'll bring you something to eat shortly. Anything else?" Kitty asked "Is there a toilet we can use?" Lian said "Oh, of course, again, I should have told you. Here, let me show you." Then "Just pull up on that side of the buckle, it's not like a car seatbelt."

She took them forward through a curtained doorway. "It'll be all right now, but if you need it later on, let me know, I'll make sure it's clean. I'm afraid a lot of our male passengers aren't very good. Oh, only one stall, one of you will have to wait." She was talking to thin air as both went into the toilet, just hearing "Thank you" as the door closed.

Lian waited for them, during which time she heard some giggling as well as the 'whoosh' sound of the toilet flushing and water running. They came out, immediately had their arms round each other's waist. Lian asked them if they were all right, both smiled, Chloe said "Yes", Kitty "thank" Chloe "you". They were suddenly laughing.

As they went back to their seats, Lian asked "Are you sisters? You both have the same build, but your faces are very different." Kitty replied "In everything but blood, we are." Chloe added "A few days ago we were told we have the same legal guardians, so I suppose legally we are." The two girls gave each other a brief kiss. Kitty sat down, Chloe sat on the same seat with her. It was tight, but they could do it.

Lian smiled, "I don't know what the regulations say about that, just promise me if the seatbelt sign comes on you'll sit in your own seats?" "Promise" they chorused. "And I think you'll be better in your own seats when you're eating." "Yes, miss" the two said, once again together.

She laughed, left them to go to other passengers.

Not long after, Lian brought a tray with a meal to one side, Owen the other. They waited while Chloe, somewhat inelegantly, clambered off Kitty's seat and over to hers. Both girls had a little trouble getting their tables out from the console, but eventually managed it. They both found they were hungry, ate every morsel, drank the juice that was with it.

When Owen came to them again, he saw they had finished, he took their trays. "Tea? Coffee?" he asked. Both said "Coffee, please." "How do you like it?" Kitty said "Just coffee." "No milk, cream or sugar?" Chloe said "We tried all the options, we like it straight out of the jug thing with the press down knob thingy." "Gotcha" he said. "It won't be out of a jug, but I think you'll find it's all right."

Two minutes later they were drinking coffee. They sat quietly until it was finished, Kitty said "Not quite up to Daniel's, but not bad." Shortly after, Lian took the empty cups away. Once their tables were stowed, Chloe said "The meal was all right too, much better than your …" Kitty climbed over, knelt with a knee either side of Chloe, they started a little fight.

Next thing, Lian was there, followed shortly by Owen. Lian said "Stop it, what are you doing?" Kitty stopped, looked up, said "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to disturb you." Chloe, from half underneath Kitty, "We're fine, just playing." Chloe pulled Kitty down, gave her a kiss. Kitty twisted round until she was sitting on Chloe's lap, Chloe put her arms round Kitty, both smiled at Lian and Owen. Kitty said "We'll try to be good." Chloe "We don't always succeed, though."

Owen, relieved, said "Please don't fight, we've never thrown anyone off the plane whilst it's been in the air before, but there's a first time for everything." Immediately there was a look of horror on both girls' faces, Lian immediately reassured with "No, we wouldn't." Kitty and Chloe's expression changed to grinning, Kitty said "We can act as well as fight." It was Owen's turn to grin, "Just be careful, I can fight as well when I have to."

Before they'd stopped laughing, a man in a smart uniform came to them. Lian said "Oh, Captain, these are Chloe underneath and Kitty on top. We've just had to threaten them with premature disembarkation. Kitty, Chloe, this is Captain Evans." Chloe, slightly muffled by Kitty, said "Oh, the best pilot in the airline." Kitty said "Owen told us." Chloe: "If you are the pilot, who's driving?" Lian said "I think they're kidding."

The Captain said "Well, you needn't worry about that. Kitty, I gather you are Robert's niece." Both girls immediately were serious, Kitty slid off Chloe's lap to sit beside her. Kitty said "It's my Uncle Bob who's died, we didn't know he was with the airline, though the nice lady at London thought it might be."

The captain turned to the two attendants, "I'll have a little chat with them."

He squatted down, told them his name was David. He asked how well Kitty knew her uncle, she replied not well at all, she'd last seen him many years ago. He told her he was very well known as one of the good guys, he was well respected by all the board members as well as staff. David said he'd met Bob on a number of occasions, always nice, he did once let slip about his sister and niece, but he obviously didn't want to talk about them. He also told them that the company CEO, Geoff, had insisted on Bob's niece being well looked after.

Kitty listened intently. By the time he'd finished, she was in tears, so was Chloe. Kitty thanked him for taking the time to talk to her, and asked him to thank Geoff for them, they couldn't have had better treatment by the airline and its people.

Cockpit visit

Then David asked "Kitty, would you like to visit the flight deck?" She replied "Oh, yes please, but only if Chloe can come as well." "Yes, of course, I meant both of you. Follow me."

He led them past the toilet to a door at the front. He spoke briefly into an intercom, the door clicked, he led them in, making sure the door was shut behind them.

The cockpit

The two girls looked round in awe, every surface that wasn't window or door seemed to be covered with switches, dials, screens. David introduced them to the man sat in the right-hand seat who had turned round, "This is Tony, he's our co‑pilot. Kitty and Chloe." Tony shook hands with the girls. Kitty, in a stage whisper to Chloe, said "Don't worry, George is steering the bus." Chloe stage‑whispered back "Bet George is a better bus driver than either of these two." Both men laughed. David said "Actually you're right, but he's not so bright if anything unexpected happens, but that's so rare I've never known it."

Kitty started asking questions about what the displays were showing, what some of the knobs and switches did, then asked how they programmed the autopilot. When shown the screen showing the weather radar, she asked what happened if they had to fly round a storm. Meanwhile Chloe was staring at the various instrument panels and controls, always following what Kitty and the pilots were talking about.

It wasn't long before Kitty was asking questions that led deeply into the plane's systems, it seemed every answer led on to more questions. Chloe quietly said to Tony, "She's into all sorts of stuff like this. Hope he's telling her correctly, she remembers everything." Tony smiled, "No chance with all of that." Chloe grinned, "Just test her."

After three quarters of an hour, David said "I think that's about all I can tell you, you're delving into areas I just don't know."

Out of the blue, Tony asked "Kitty, how do we lower the undercarriage?" Kitty was looking at one of the cockpit screens. She answered without turning round, just pointed when necessary. "Push that lever down." "If it doesn't work?" "Pull that handle up, turn it once to depressurise the green hydraulic system, second time to get the covers down, third time to release the wheels, gravity pulls the main gear down, wind resistance the nose wheel. Indications on that panel."

"And what starts the APU?" "Normally two synchronous motors, controlled via start converters, electrical power source can be the aircraft battery, another engine's generators or external power. Can use just one motor but slower starting. Start converters used for cabin pressurisation motors after starting finished."

Both men looked at each other. Chloe grinned, said "Told you." Kitty was looking at the screens, she turned to see the two men staring at her in amazement. "What?" she asked.

Tony asked her "Did you know how aeroplanes work before today?" "Only the obvious aerodynamics. Oh, and George's name."

After a moment's silence, Chloe asked "Don't you get tired being on duty for the length of this flight?" David replied "Much easier question to answer than some of Kitty's, but still very important. There are two crews on board, we work in shifts, there are rest areas for the pilots up the staircase you passed, the cabin crew have one at the back."

Tony: "Sorry to butt in, looks like some turbulence ahead." David said "Sorry girls, back to your seats, Oh, nothing to worry about, plane will get a bit bumpy. Tony, can you escort them, please? Row two, 'E' and 'F'." Then, somewhat formally, "Seatbelt sign: On."

As they were going back, Kitty asked Tony "The seat belt switch was set to 'Auto', why does David need to turn it to 'On'?" Tony replied "Sensible question. Our radar is giving us a warning, the automatic would only come on after we'd actually started to experience turbulence."

A little later in the flight, an announcement was made that they were going to darken the cabin so passengers could get some sleep. A few minutes later, Lian came to Chloe, she asked "Do you need help converting your seat to a bed?" Chloe thanked her, "No, thank you, Kitty's done hers, we're fine." Lian left them.

She came round a little later to find that only Kitty's conversion was done, Chloe's was still a seat. She did a double take, both girls were on Kitty's bed, one curled round behind the other. Their cover was halfway down, neither girl had her dress on. Lian pulled the cover up, immediately a hand came up, pulled it down again. Lian leant over them, whispered "Sorry, you'll have to be covered." The hand re‑appeared, pulled the cover up.

The flight went uneventfully. Some time before landing, Owen came to them, he told them about the sorts of noises they should expect, flaps being deployed, wheels going down, the wheels screeching, maybe a bounce, then rumbling when they were down, the noise of the reverse thrust of the engines and the quite fierce deceleration. They thanked him, "No worries." Then "Oh, yes, you're going to be met by someone who will take you through immigration and customs and make sure you find your way to your connection. "Thank you again." "No worries."

Australia day 1

After they landed, there was what seemed an interminably long time taxiing until finally the aeroplane came to a stop. Lian and Owen came to the girls, made sure they'd picked up all of their belongings. With Lian following behind, Owen led the girls to the exit door before anyone else was asked to disembark. Just outside the door was another lady in the airline's uniform, she watched as both Lian and Owen got kisses on the cheeks from both of the girls, who said "Thank you" and Owen said the inevitable "No worries."

The lady introduced herself as Imogen, she told them she'd be with them until they boarded the flight to Sydney. She checked they had their passports, their e‑tickets and e‑visas, then led them to immigration.

Asked by the official whether business or pleasure, Kitty said "Neither, we've come for my uncle's funeral." The official said "Oh, sorry. How long are you here for?" "About two weeks." He checked their passports, all seemed in order, he stamped them, said "Once again, sorry." Both girls said "Thank you", and followed Imogen through to customs where they were waved through the green channel, then into an area where there were some armed security guards, some with dogs.

They were asked if they'd brought in anything from a farm or similar with them, or could have brought anything on their clothes or shoes. Imogen explained how important it was not to bring any alien species into the country, and that they used the dogs to sniff for anything that shouldn't be brought in.

When they were cleared, she led them to a business lounge, where she sat them down, asked them what they wanted to eat or drink. "Just coffee, please." "How do you like it?" "Black please, no sugar." As Imogen left to get their drinks, Kitty got her phone out, phoned Midge, putting it on speaker so that Chloe could join in. When Imogen returned with their coffee, she heard a girl's voice from the phone, "Be good, but not too good. Love you."

Imogen looked enquiringly at the two girls, who were both in tears. Chloe said "Our friends." Kitty: "We really miss them." Chloe: "Our sisters in every way except parents."

They drank their coffee in silence, then Kitty said "Need the loo." Both she and Chloe stood up, got their cabin bags. Imogen said "You can leave them here, I'll look after them." Chloe said "Thank you, but we'd rather keep them with us." Kitty explained "They've got our special dresses in them."

When the two returned, Imogen said "You've intrigued me, what are these dresses?" Kitty looked at Chloe, Chloe nodded, "Good excuse to check they're still in the bags."

Both girls unzipped their bags, took out the dresses that were neatly folded with tissue paper between the layers. Both held their dresses up in front of them. Imogen said "Oh, beautiful, I can see why you are so protective of them. Which fashion house did they come from?" Kitty answered "Midge and Molly designed them for their parents' funeral." Chloe: "Made by our local dressmaker."

Kitty said "Might have pictures of us wearing them, just a mo." She got her phone out, did a bit of web browsing, muttered "Thought so, Rachel's got a web site."

She passed Imogen her phone which was showing a picture of one of the twins and one of Chloe in their funeral dresses, front view and back. While she was looking, the two girls carefully repacked the dresses into their bags.

Imogen said "Beautiful." Then "That's one of your friends?" "Yes" answered Chloe, "There's Midge and her twin sister Molly." Kitty found the picture of the four of them. "These were all taken later." Imogen looked at them, "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but aren't they a bit, er, showy for a funeral?" Kitty said "Sexy. You can say sexy." Chloe: "They wanted to show what their parents had made." Kitty: "They wanted 'sexy but dignified'." Chloe: "Oh, the skirt slit wasn't that long for the funeral." Kitty: "Don't want to go into details, but Midge's got adjusted, Molly made the rest of ours the same as Midge's got to."

Imogen asked "Is yours still that long?" "Kitty: "Yes, but we wouldn't change it after Molly adjusted it, she'd never forgive us." Chloe: "Anyway, we like it as it is." Imogen: "Are Midge and Molly really their names?" Kitty nodded. "Isn't it confusing them having the same initial?" The two girls grinned. Kitty: "They don't know which is which anyway."

Imogen just shook her head, then "Oh, it's nearly time. Let's make our way to the gate."

Once again they got the full special treatment, this time boarding before anyone else. At the aeroplane door they both thanked Imogen, both gave her a kiss on the cheek. The stewardess at the door introduced herself as Paige, told them she'd be looking after them. "You're famous all over the airline, you seem to have made everyone that you've met smile. Quite a talking point, emails and pictures all over."

Kitty, slightly embarrassed, said "Don't know why." Chloe: "Just being ourselves, and everyone has been so nice to us." Paige smiled, and as they settled into their seats she offered them something to drink, came back a few minutes later with coffee for them.

The flight was uneventful, they got a meal, but apart from when eating and during takeoff and landing, they shared a seat as they'd done before. Paige remarked "Thought you might do that, it's in the folklore that's being developing around you, though I don't think it's officially approved of."

A little over four hours later they landed in Sydney. At the plane's door, they said their thanks and goodbyes to Paige, she also got the cheek kisses. This time it was a man who met them, he welcomed them to Sydney, led them past the baggage claim area, he already knew they didn't have checked‑in luggage to collect. In the arrivals hall there was a young man holding up a handwritten sign, it had 'Kitty' and 'Chloe' on it. "That must be for us", Kitty said, then "Thank you for helping us here. Everyone has been so good." "No worries. Do anything for a pair of sheilas like you."

They went to the man with the sign, said "I'm Kitty" "And I'm Chloe." "Wow" he said, "What a pair of beauts. I'm Rod, short for Rodney." Kitty immediately started crying. Putting her arm round Kitty, Chloe asked Rodney "Do you have another name we could call you?" "Sure, no worries. Family call me Lenny, short for Lennox." Kitty, wiping her tears from her face with the back of her hand, "Thank you, knew a boy. Hurts." "Sorry. Can I take your bags?" Chloe said "Thank you, we'd rather hold them ourselves." "Righto. Follow me, we're in the express car park, it's a short walk."

By the time they'd reached his car, both girls were sweating. Kitty remarked "Hot, isn't it?" "Nah, only thirty‑five. Wait 'till it's in the forties. Here we are, let's put your cases in the boot." "Could we keep them in the car with us?" "Sure, if you like. Plenty of room in the back."

He unlocked the car. Chloe opened the front passenger door, told Kitty to get in. "You will learn more of where we are from there." Kitty asked "Sure?" Chloe said "No worries." Lenny laughed, "Native speaker already." When they'd done up their seat belts, Lenny started the engine, it made a deep burbling sound.

Kitty said "Wow, that sounds powerful. But you don't need to prove it. What is it?" Lenny replied "Five point seven litre V‑eight. Not exactly the most environmentally friendly, but I like it." Kitty asked "Is this the Holden Commodore?" Lenny looked at her, "Yes, the 'VT'. You into cars?" "Not really, I just read stuff. VT. Nineteen ninety seven to two thousand, later ones used an American engine." Lenny looked somewhat surprised. Chloe, seeing his expression, "She reads all sorts, never forgets anything."

After he'd driven out of the car park, he pulled over to the side of the road. "Kitty," he said, "I think you'd better sit in the back. I can't concentrate on my driving with you like that." Kitty had undone a couple of buttons on her dress, she was maybe showing a little more of herself than she should. "Sorry" she said, "Just too hot. I'll climb over."

She did just climb over between the front seats. Lenny muttered to himself, "You're right, too hot by half."

Kitty did her seatbelt up, she and Chloe held hands. Lenny set off again, "Right. Hotel, get you booked in. Dad's got everything sorted, he'd like to see you first thing tomorrow." "Dad?" asked Kitty. "Oh, sorry, my dad's the lawyer that's dealing with your uncle, sent me to look after you while you're in Sydney." Kitty: "Okay. Hope you can be patient with us, this our first time away from home." Chloe: "We'd be happier with someone showing us the ropes, and the language is sort of English, but …" He laughed, "I know, it sort of isn't. Yes, I'll look after you for as long as you want, one of the reasons Dad chose me, he won't have to pay me overtime." "Oh" said Kitty, "We don't want to put you out …" He interrupted her, "No worries, joking. Anyway, having seen you two beauties, pleasure's all mine."

He continued "Touristy stuff, we'll be crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can't see the Opera House very well, do you want to divert to see it?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, then Kitty said "Not this time, we're both tired. Maybe another day." "No worries, another twenty minutes to your hotel. Oh, Kitty, do your dress up before you go in, it's air conditioned." And, glancing in his rear view mirror, "You too, Chloe."

When they reached the hotel, Lenny drove to its underground carpark, he had a swipe card that raised the barrier, he found a spot to park. The three got out, he led them to a lift that took them to the reception area, where Lenny told the receptionist their names. "Ah, yes, could I just see your passports please?" Kitty took them from her bumbag, the receptionist took them, photocopied them and returned them. "Thank you. You have two adjacent rooms." She started to open a drawer to get keycards, Kitty said "We'd rather have a room to share, please." "Oh, a twin?" "With a double bed?" "Oh. All right, let's see what we've got. Ah, yes." She got a keycard out of her drawer, she told them about meal times and suchlike. She then said "I've got a note here, you can use the restaurant, room service, any of the hotel facilities, even the shop, just put it on your room number." "Thank you."

Lenny said "I'll see you up, all right?" "Thank you." The receptionist handed him the card. As they walked towards the lift, he said "Got some other stuff for you, we can sit here, or in your room." Chloe said "Let's go to the room, we're so tired, but I'd prefer the stairs if you don't mind." "No worries."

When they reached the room, Lenny used the card to open the door. Kitty said "Sorry, could you show us how you did that, please?" "Oh, sure." He pulled the door shut, showed how to insert the card and pull it out, the little green light ‑ "If it's red, it didn't work, try again" ‑ and an audible click. He pushed it open. "It won't work if you move the card too quickly or too slowly. If you still can't manage it, go to reception. Here, you try it."

He handed the card to Kitty, closed the door. She did as he'd showed them, the door dutifully unlocked. He held the door open for them. "The door's heavily sprung shut, don't lock yourselves out by accident, though reception can always let you in if you do."

The girls went inside, just sat on the bed. Lenny said "I can see you're flaked out. Tell you what, we'll deal with the stuff I've got tomorrow morning. See you in reception at nine? Dad wants to see you at nine‑thirty, it's a ten minute walk, but things to sort first. Breakfast in the restaurant starts at seven, I think. Restaurant's by reception. Oh, bathroom's through that door. Anything else?" Getting two shakes of the head, "Get a good night's sleep, see you tomorrow."

As the door closed behind him, Kitty went to set her phone alarm. She checked its time, it had automatically changed to local time, she also noticed its battery level was very low. She got her charger, found a wall outlet, but her plug wouldn't fit. She told Chloe she'd go to reception, see if they could help. Chloe nodded then just laid back on the bed.

When Kitty returned, she found Chloe hadn't moved. Kitty had got two adapters, found a second wall socket, plugged both their phones in. She just lay down beside Chloe, found her hand, and was instantly asleep.

Australia day 2

Chloe woke first, she carefully got off the bed so as not to wake Kitty, but by the time she'd got back from the bathroom, Kitty was sitting up. They had a little hug, then Kitty got her phone. "Four in the morning here, we're eleven hours ahead of home, so five in the afternoon. I'll ring Midge."

She phoned, Midge answered immediately. After the hellos and how are yous, Chloe said "Everyone's been very nice to us. Very special treatment on the flights." Kitty said "We got here yesterday evening our time, worn out. Slept until now, body clocks most confused." Chloe: "Kitty got to brag about how much she knows about …oof." Molly said "We're missing those Kitty punches here."

Kitty told them "We're going to see the lawyer this morning. His son, Lenny, is looking after us." Chloe "Very nice man. Kitty was trying to show him her tits on the way here." Kitty: "It was just hot." Chloe: "So is he." Which had them all laughing. Kitty said "Let Daniel and Audrey know we're okay." "Bye." 'Love you." There were tears at both ends as Kitty ended the call.

Chloe said "Let's have a shower. Keep your dress on, it'll wash through. I expect it'll dry by tomorrow." Kitty nodded, then "I ordered breakfast in our room for eight, after the shower we can go back to bed for a bit." After showering, they took off their dresses, wrung them out. Chloe said "I'll see if there are any hangers in the wardrobe."

She brought two into the bathroom, they hung the dresses inside the shower so they could drip there. Kitty said "Perhaps we should hang our funeral ones up in the wardrobe? Make sure they aren't creased?" They got them out of their bags, hung them up.

Chloe said "Oh, look, that's a safe in the wardrobe. We can put passports in there." Kitty looked at it, the door was open, there were instructions written inside the door. She read them through, it used a keypad. She programmed it with a number, checked it would lock and would open again. She put their passports and return flight information in it, locked it.

Then it was bed.

The knock on the door came a few minutes after eight, they heard "Breakfast." It was a man's voice, Kitty called out "Wait one." They pulled the covers up over themselves, Chloe called out "Come in."

A waiter came in pushing a trolly, "Where do you want it?" "On the table is fine, thank you." "No worries." He unloaded two trays with their breakfasts, another with tea. "Anything else I can do for you?" "No, thank you." With a grin at the two, he left the room, the door closed behind him.

Kitty and Chloe got out of bed. Without dressing, they sat at the table, ate their breakfasts in silence, both were very hungry. When they'd finished and had drunk their tea, they went into the bathroom. While Chloe went on the toilet, Kitty moved the dresses from inside the shower to hang on the outside. They'd stopped dripping, but were still quite wet. When Chloe had finished, she went into the shower. Kitty did her business, joined Chloe. They cleaned each other, carried on washing each other for several minutes. "Better get dressed, Lenny's coming soon."

They dried off, put on their spare dresses, and were down in reception a couple of minutes before nine. Lenny was already waiting for them, sitting in an armchair.

"Morning girls, sleep all right?" Chloe said "Sort of. Woke at four, but feel fine." "Lenny: "So long as you feel good now, though you'll probably crash later in the day.

"Okay, got you a debit card. Don't go too mad, but anything you need, use it. I've got the PIN for it, just a mo …" He got a piece of paper out, it had a tear-off slip with jumbled numbers written on it. "Pull that off, you should be able to read the PIN." He held the card out, Choe said "Kitty." Kitty took the card and the paper, said "Thank you". Kitty read the number and whispered something to Chloe, who nodded.

"You'll remember it?" Two nods. I'll get reception to shred that paper." He folded it, then went to reception and handed the paper over, the sound of a shredder could be heard.

"And I've got you a couple of phones, only basic, but they have local SIMs. Use them phoning me or Dad or anywhere local, I've put our numbers and the hotel's in. You're probably better off using your own to phone home, oh, you can use the hotel guest WiFi, I think you can do calls on that, hang on." He went to reception again, got a slip of paper, came back. Kitty had got her phone out, found the guest WiFi, she said "Thank you" to Lenny, typed in the characters from the slip of paper. She repeated the exercise with Chloe's phone, looked up, said "Done, thank you."

"Okay then, let's go walkabout."

Holden's office 1

He led them out and along the road for about five minutes and into a building. They got into the lift, Lenny pressed the button for floor five. The lift started, but after a few seconds it went dark and jerked to a stop. After a brief moment emergency lights came on, to reveal Chloe sweating, crying, clinging to Kitty.

Lenny pressed an emergency button, after a few seconds a somewhat distorted voice could be heard, saying the lift would be working very shortly. About a minute later, the normal lights came on. Lenny pressed the floor five button, the lift continued up until it reached the floor and the doors opened. Chloe was out in an instant, she was still sweating and shivering. Kitty asked her if she was all right, Chloe just said "I didn't like that."

They walked along a corridor, by the time they reached the office, Chloe seemed to have recovered. In the reception area was a man at a desk, he looked up. "Hello, Rod. Ah, Kitty and Chloe?" Lenny introduced them, saying "Seth, this one is Kitty and this Chloe. Oh, can you use 'Lenny'? First name upsetting." Seth nodded, said "Sorry." "Thank you" from Kitty.

Seth said "I'll let your dad know you're here." He used his desk phone, they noticed he did use the name 'Lenny' as he said they were here. Moments later the office door opened, the man there said "Please, come in."

He stood back from his door, shook Kitty and Chloe's hands as they came in, Lenny saying "Kitty" then "Chloe". The man said "Call me Holden. Sit yourselves down. Now, how's everything been for you so far?" Kitty replied "Bonzer." Chloe grinned and said "She must have read that somewhere, but we've been very well looked after the whole way." Holden: "Good. Lenny and Chloe, can you wait in the outer office?" Kitty immediately said "Can Chloe stay? We don't have secrets." Holden looked at her, "Are you sure? It concerns some personal stuff and some financial?" Kitty replied "I want her to stay, please."

Lenny got up, "I'll wait outside." He went out of the office and shut the door behind him.

When the door was closed, Holden said "Your man Daniel seems nice." Kitty: "Yes, he and his wife are our legal guardians, they are both very good." "So he's like a father to you?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, Chloe said "I suppose so. I don't remember my dad." "Nor me" from Kitty. Holden: "Oh, sorry. Anyway, you got your letter all right?" Kitty: "Yes, thank you, but there's a bit in it I don't understand."

Holden said "I've not seen it …" Kitty took a folded up piece of paper from her bumbag. "This is a photocopy, you can read it."

Holden took it, unfolded it, read it through twice. He was quiet for several seconds, had to pull himself together. "He didn't tell me anything about it other than he had you, his niece, and he wanted you taken care of. Would it be all right if I copied it?" Kitty nodded. As he put it in his copier, he asked "One thing I'd like to know that Daniel wouldn't tell me, why did you leave the school he put you in?"

Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, Chloe answered. "Unfortunately the school isn't what her uncle thought it was. We weren't looked after, nor did they educate us." Holden could see that both girls had tears running down their cheeks. Kitty managed "Not Uncle Bob's fault, but the place is a hell." Chloe: "And anything we learned there was from Midge and Molly, they got everything from the library." Holden: "They're the twins you're with now?" Chloe nodded. Kitty: "We'd rather not talk about the school if you don't mind."

Holden, as he handed back Kitty's paper, "All right, then. Kitty, I presume the bit you don't understand is where he talks of provision for you." Kitty nodded. "Are you sure you don't mind Chloe hearing?" "Quite sure."

"Your uncle was quite a rich man. He worked himself up into executive positions, he has, over the years, invested very wisely in many companies. One is the airline you flew in on. You were treated well by them?" Kitty replied "Yes, thank you. Everyone was very nice, we got really first class looking after the whole way." Holden gave a satisfied nod.

"The thing is, you are his sole beneficiary. You will be a rich young lady." Kitty gave no reaction, just continued to look at him. "Do you understand?" Kitty nodded, "Yes, thank you. Can you give me any idea?" Holden replied "Not exactly, his investments are spread around quite a bit, but it's several million, that's Australian dollars. It will take a while to untangle it all, but it would help me to know, would you want to transfer his holdings into your name, or would you want to sell them and have the money? I will add selling them will take several months."

Kitty thought for a moment, "Look, I don't know enough about money and shares and stuff, I'd like to take advice from someone back home. Can I give him a ring now, please?" Chloe muttered "It's nearly midnight." Kitty: "I want to do it now." Holden: "I'll go out of the office, let you talk, okay?" As he was going, Kitty was phoning Samuel. "Sorry to trouble you so late … Yes, it is. I'm at Uncle Bob's lawyers, he says I'm his sole beneficiary, he was quite rich and his money's in shares and things … Yes, but he's asking me what I want to do with it, and I don't know what's best … Yes, just a mo." Then to Chloe "Ask Holden to come back, please." Chloe went to the door, beckoned Holden, said "She's on the phone to him, I think he wants to talk to you directly."

Holden came in, went to his desk seat. Kitty said into the phone, "Here he is." She passed her phone to Holden, saying "His name's Samuel."

Holden introduced himself, started what turned out to be quite a long conversation about Uncle Bob's investments. As he was talking, Holden turned his swivel chair round until he was staring out of the window. Some ten minutes later he turned back, the girls were no longer on the chairs, they were sitting on the floor facing each other. He said into the phone, in some surprise, "They're prodding each other. … Oh, if you say so. …" Then "Kitty, he'd like a word." The two girls helped each other up, Kitty took the phone, the two sat on their chairs. "Hello, Samuel … Yes⁠ … Good, okay, sorry to disturb you so late.⁠ … Thank you. Love to Natalie, and from Chloe. … Bye."

Kitty said "Thank you, he says he wants time to look through things, but he thinks cashing in would probably be best for me. I will, of course, accept his advice." Chloe muttered "No point having a dog and barking yourself." Holden: "You've got an excellent dog there, he really knows his stuff. He has suggested that we, that is he and I, sort things through. I presume you are happy with that?" Kitty replied "Completely."

"Okay. Nothing can happen until we have grant of probate on his will, but I can start looking into things. Oh, I will have to charge my time to the estate, of course." Kitty nodded, "Can you let Samuel deal with everything, or Daniel, whichever is appropriate?" "Yes, that's fine. I have to say you are a very sensible young lady." After a brief pause "Unless you are fighting with Chloe, I thought she was your friend." Kitty grinned, "What are friends for?" Kitty and Chloe promptly gave each other a punch on the shoulder. He laughed, then turned more serious.

He said "About the funeral. I'll be there with my wife Harper. Are you all right with Lenny taking you?" Kitty replied, "Oh, yes, he's been lovely to us." Holden smiled, "I warn you, he can be a bit of a ladies' man." Chloe said "Two of us." Kitty: "And she's no lady." For which she received a punch. Holden grinned, "Looks like you'll be able to fight him off all right."

Kitty said "Lost track of time, when is it?" "Day after tomorrow. Lenny can show you the sights for the rest of today and tomorrow, or anything else you want. Oh, have I got your phone numbers?" Kitty got the two local phones out of her bumbag, found their numbers, also for their own phones. Holden wrote them down. Kitty: "If it's about Uncle Bob's things, I'd prefer you dealt with Samuel or Daniel, but personal is fine. I can give you their email addresses?" "I've got Daniel's, but not Samuel's." She told him it, he wrote it down.

Then she asked "Did Uncle Bob own a house?" Holden said "Yes, two, actually, and they will be yours. But I can't let you look in them until probate's through, and, as I said, that will take months."

Kitty asked "If the estate can't be accessed, how is our trip here being paid for?" Holden said "Good question." Chloe muttered "She always does ask the good questions." Holden explained "Your uncle had money put aside for me to use for you. It's easily sufficient for anything you might want. What's left after your trip he's told me to gift to you, but that will be subject to taxation, so if I were you, I'd spend it here.

"Oh, your debit card account is paid from that fund. There's something over twenty thousand dollars left on it, that's something over ten thousand of your English pounds. If needed, I can fund more, I won't tell you how. Your hotel rooms are paid for, though the extras aren't, but I will pay that when you've gone." "One room" Chloe said. "Oh, sharing? I'll have to talk to the hotel, there'll be a refund. Nothing for you to worry about." "No worries" both girls chorused. Holden grinned, putting on a very broad Australian accent he said "Good on you, sheilas."

Then, "Any more questions?" Kitty said "One thing, your fees, can you take them from anything left from Uncle Bob's allowance for us here? I'd guess that would save a bit of tax." "Another good question. Yes, that should be all right, I don't see why not. Good use of the funds. Anything else?" Both girls shook their heads. "If there's something Lenny can't help you with, give me a call. I think Lenny put the office number in your phones as well as mine, that'll take you to Seth if I'm not available." The three of them stood up, Kitty offered her hand for Holden to shake, Chloe did the same. Kitty said "Thank you so much." Holden opened the door for them, they went out leaving Holden smiling after them.

Lenny got up, "Everything all right?" Kitty said "Yes thank you." Chloe: "Your dad's nice." Lenny grinned, "I agree, but don't tell him I said so. Now, what would you like to do?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, neither knew what to say. Lenny suggested "How about I show you a few sights? Then we can have some tucker somewhere, see how you feel. I guess it will take a day or two for your body clocks to adjust, so you may get tired, just let me know."

They said goodbye to Seth. As they left the office, Chloe asked "Could we use the stairs, please?" Lenny said "It's four flights, are you sure?" "Please?" "All right, then."

They went down the stairs, out of the building and walked back to the hotel, where they did use the lift to go down into the carpark to Lenny's car. "Anywhere you know of you'd like to see, ladies?" Chloe: "We should see the Opera House and the Botanic Gardens." Kitty: "Sounds good." Lenny: "Okay, belt up, something like ten to fifteen minutes."

He drove them to an underground carpark, from there it was a short walk to the Opera House. They walked right round it, Chloe was the first to remark "It's bigger than I thought. How tall is it?" Kitty immediately replied "Sixty‑five metres." Lenny looked around, he couldn't see any notices nearby. "Where did you read that?" Kitty: "Probably on the internet." Lenny frowned. "How long is it?" "Hundred and eighty‑three metres, width one twenty. Area about eighteen thousand square metres. Roof made as if out of segments of a sphere. One million, fifty‑six thousand and six roof tiles."

Lenny asked "Are you sure?" Kitty said "That's what I read, if that was wrong then I don't know." Lenny looked at a grinning Chloe, who said "She remembers pretty much everything." All this while Kitty was staring at the building. "But the numbers mean nothing, it's beautiful." "It is big" from Chloe.

They walked right round it again, then up the steps into the foyer, wandered around inside. Chloe remarked "Looks even bigger inside than out." They went outside again, into the Botanic Gardens next door. They got a sandwich and some coffee in the café there, Kitty using her debit card to pay for it all. It was quite busy, but they found a free table outside in the shade of a tree.

Finished eating, they walked round the Botanic Gardens for a couple of hours. Quite large, and a lot to see. Lenny could see the girls were getting tired, "Had enough?" he asked. Kitty replied "Think so, it's very interesting, but I'm just about worn out. "Me too" from Chloe. "All right, let's get back to the car."

On the way back to the hotel, Lenny asked "Enough for today?" Kitty said "I think so, sorry to be so tired, it's not that we're bored or anything." Lenny said "No worries, jet lag will do that. Tomorrow's a free day, how about a boat trip round the bay?" Choe said "Never been on a boat." Kitty: "Nor me. Yes please, but something not too crowded." Lenny: "I'll drop you off, see what I can book, I'll give you a ring for what time I'll collect you in the morning, okay?" "Yes, thank you" from Kitty.

Lenny left them outside the hotel. They went up to their room, "Oh, it's been all tidied up." "Check our dresses." They opened the wardrobe door, their black dresses were exactly as they'd left them, but beside them were the two they'd left in the bathroom. They'd been pressed, they looked immaculate.

They decided to have a rest for a couple of hours, then explore the hotel's facilities. Kitty set her alarm, they undressed and got into bed. They were soon asleep, the alarm woke them at five. "Right" said Chloe, "Let's go walkabout."

They went down to the reception, Kitty queried about their dresses. The receptionist said "House keeping will have done that. We can launder you clothes if you like, there's a plastic bag in your wardrobe, put them in it, leave it where it will be seen, it'll be returned before eight in the evening." "Thank you, that helps us. Should we book to eat in the restaurant for tonight?" "Yes, what time would you like?" The girls looked at each other, "Six?" The receptionist said "Sorry, it starts at seven. Is that okay?" Kitty nodded. "All right, table for two, seven." She worked her computer, "All booked, just give them your room number when you get there." "Thank you, and breakfast in our room tomorrow, please? Eight o'clock?" After deciding what they wanted, the receptionist did a little more typing. "That's sorted." "Thank you, you've been very helpful." "No worries."

Just as they left the receptionist, Kitty's phone rang, it was Lenny. Kitty spoke with him for a couple of minutes, said "We'll be waiting, thank you." She turned to Chloe, "He's sorted a boat, he'll pick us up outside the hotel at quarter past nine. Says to ask the hotel for a packed lunch for us all, and to get some suncream."

Kitty went back to reception, asked about a packed lunch for three. "Ready for you here by nine, okay?" "Perfect, thank you."

The two explored the hotel facilities. There was a shop with all sorts of goods in it, from paper clips right through to jewellery. They bought some suncream there, the girl serving made sure they chose a high factor. Leaving the shop, they wandered around some more, they found a gym, a sauna, beauty salon, conference room, a room labeled 'Business Centre' with several computers in it, a games room. Out the back there was a swimming pool.

By the time they got back to reception, it was quarter to seven. "Just time to go to the room." They went upstairs, used the bathroom. Chloe asked "Ring home?" "Just on seven here, so eight in the morning there. Perfect." She rang Midge's phone. It seemed to ring for a long time before Midge answered, she sounded half asleep, "Good morning, how's everything?" Kitty replied "Everything's fine, you sound as if we woke you up." Midge, or it could have been Molly, "Well, you did. Didn't get much sleep last night, overslept a bit this morning." Chloe: "Playing with each other all night while we're away?" They heard a hesitant laugh, then "Playing, but not with each other. Is the funeral today?" "No, day after tomorrow our time, it's evening here now. Lenny's taking us on a boat trip round the harbour tomorrow." "Don't fall in, you can't swim."

After a bit more chat, Chloe said "Give our love to Daniel and Audrey." Kitty added "And Samuel and Natalie." A few tearful goodbyes, Kitty rung off.

They went down to the restaurant. At the door they told the man who greeted them their room number. He checked his list, led them to a table by a window that looked over the swimming pool. It was quite a small table, they were seated opposite each other, he left them with menus.

The two girls looked at the menus, Chloe said "I don't understand a word." Kitty: "Nor me." After a few minutes a waiter came to them. "Ready to order?" Kitty said "I'm sorry, we don't know what these all mean, we've not eaten in a nice restaurant before." The waiter said "No worries, let me help you." He went through the menu item by item, explaining what each was. The girls chose starters and mains. He asked "Would you like something to drink with you meal? I'll get the wine list?" Kitty said "I don't think we are old enough, we're both only sixteen, but we wouldn't in any case, thank you. Could we just have some water?" "Yes, of course. Staying here for long?" "About two weeks, but we don't know how often we're eating here."

"Is this your first time away from home?" Kitty nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, why Oz? It's about as far from England as you can get." Chloe said "Her uncle's funeral." "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean …" Kitty interrupted, "It's all right, I don't mind people knowing." "Are you being looked after all right? Two young girls such as yourselves on your own …" Chloe answered, "Yes, we are thank you, and everybody's being so nice."

"That's good. The name's Karl, that's Karl with a 'K'. When you book next time, tell them you want a table served by me, I'll see you all right." "Thank you very much, that's kind of you." "No worries. Your starters will be a few minutes, back in a mo."

Some ten minutes later he came with their starters, he put them down and stepped back. Kitty started fingering the choices of cutlery beside her plate, Chloe was just looking at what Kitty was doing. Karl came forward again, whispered "Start at the outside, we always make sure the right implements are there for you." "Thank you" they said in unison. He came back a few minutes later with a jug of water with ice floating in it, poured some into glasses. "Thank you. This is nice." He said "We've got a good chef."

He watched them as they continued eating, sometimes feeding each other from their forks, just sharing the flavours. Four ladies were seated at a table nearby, one of them got his attention. Reaching them, the lady asked "They're a bit lacking in manners, aren't they?" He quietly said "They're just a couple of kids out from England, here for a family funeral. It's their first time in a restaurant, I know they don't mean to offend. I'll say something if you like." She looked at her companions, they all shook their heads. "No, that's fine, they're not hurting anyone."

When the two girls had finished their starters, Karl came and took their plates. "Shouldn't be long." Kitty said "No hurry, thank you."

They ate their main course like their starter, again occasionally offering each other forkfuls. When they'd finished, Karl appeared. "Would you like a sweet?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, both said "No, thank you." Kitty said "Quite full, but we did enjoy that." Chloe added "Very much." "Coffee? Or tea if you'd prefer?" "Coffee would be good. Just black, thank you, no milk or sugar." Karl disappeared with their dinner plates, came back with a tray with a cafetière, two coffee cups and saucers, put them on the table. "Have you used one of these before?" Kitty smiled, "Yes, a couple of times. Just push that knob thingy down after a few minutes." "That's right, just making sure you knew." "Thank you, that's very thoughtful of you."

When they'd finished their coffee, they got up to go. Karl came up to them, "Everything all right?" "Yes, thank you." "Is this on your room?" Kitty gave him their room number. He thanked her, and was slightly taken aback to get a kiss on his cheeks from them. He watched them walk out, touching one of his cheeks with his fingers, a surprised look on his face.

The girls went to their room.

Australia day 3

The next morning had the two waiting outside the hotel, Chloe clutching plastic bags with their lunches. Lenny drove up spot‑on quarter past nine, the girls got in the back. During the half hour or so drive, Lenny asked them if they were all right, had they slept all right, was the hotel restaurant all right? The girls told him about the nice waiter, how he'd helped them.

Sydney Harbour boat trip

Lenny parked the car in a small car park. "That's the jetty there, we've got the boat from ten, there's plenty of time. It's a motorboat with a cabin, so somewhere to hide if the sun's too hot or the wind is too cold." They walked to a small building advertising boats for hire. Lenny spoke to a man there, the man led them down a gangway to a floating jetty with several boats moored along it. He took them to one of the boats, handed Lenny a key. Lenny got on the boat, the two men helped the girls onto it, Lenny thanked the man.

The two girls immediately sat on a seat that ran round the two sides and the back of the well in the rear of the boat, clinging to each other, clearly a little nervous. Lenny lifted another section of the seat, pulled out some life vests. He helped the girls put them on, put one on himself. Kitty asked "Are we likely to need these? We can't swim." Lenny grinned, "Hope not. Things have gone very wrong if we do. In any case, I'm a fully certified lifeguard, I even have a licence to train lifeguards, so I'll keep you safe whatever. Oh, and I'm used to taking boats out around here."

He started the engine, the man on the jetty undid the rope tying the boat to the jetty, threw the rope to Lenny, who caught it, curled it neatly and put it under a strap on the foredeck. Back in the well of the boat, Lenny reversed it from the jetty, turned it to face away from land, and started the tour.

"We have to watch out for ferries and pleasure boats, it's quite busy. If you see one that's too close, yell." He drove the boat round the harbour, pointing out various landmarks. He took them past the Opera House and went under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, approaching it he stopped talking, just said "Very busy along here, got to concentrate."

As they went, the girls started to relax, though it took an hour or so before they would stand. Even then, they clung on to each other. Lenny grinned at them, "It's a bit wobbly, but pretty safe. Takes a while to get your sea legs."

After a couple of hours, Lenny got to a bay that had odd boats moored to buoys. "Time for a spot of lunch, I think." He put the boat's propeller into reverse, brought it to a stop. There was a small anchor at the front, he dropped it over the side, came back to them "That'll hold us while we eat."

Kitty asked "Is there a toilet?" Lenny said "Yes, just let me check it." He went down some steps into the tiny cabin, at the back was a small door. He looked inside, "Yes, it's clean. This rental firm is normally very good like that, but you never know. Oh, don't use more water than you need to when you wash your hands, there's not a big tank, and don’t drink it." Kitty went in first, when she came out: "Smells of chemicals, but it's all right." Chloe went in.

When they came out of the cabin, Lenny had the lunch bags open, their contents spread over the seat. There were three of everything, apples, bananas, sandwiches. The sandwiches were well filled, salad, cheese and pickle, and egg mayonnaise, each was in two halves. There were bottles of water, chocolate bars, fruit yogurts, also plastic spoons and some paper serviettes.

The girls found they were hungry, "That's the fresh sea air" commented Lenny. As they ate, he noticed they were quite delicate in their eating, small bites, no crumbs dropped, and they put all the waste into one of the plastic bags. When they'd finished, there was nothing left, Kitty asked Lenny "Was there enough for you? I feel we've been greedy." Lenny smiled, "Plenty, thank you."

Lenny asked "Shall we go on?" Getting a couple of nods, he raised the anchor and stowed it, started the engine and resumed the trip. The girls seemed much more confident, they stood one either side of the well, leaning out a bit to catch the wind and the occasional burst of spray, which got them giggling. Lenny called out "Make sure you hang on tight, we could get tossed about a bit going over a ferry wake. I'd hate to have you test out your life vests."

After another couple of hours, Lenny shouted "Like to do some tight turns?" They looked at him, both grinning and nodding. "Come inboard a bit, stand either side of me, hold the rail tightly."

He'd found an area with no boats nearby. He opened the throttle, did a sudden U-turn. He looked at the reactions, both were grinning. He shouted "Hang on" and did two tight figures of eight, resulting in Kitty laughing, Chloe going "Wheee."

Lenny said "That's it, not really supposed to do it. Don't want the harbour police getting interested." He was somewhat surprised to get simultaneous kisses on his cheeks, followed by "Absolutely great, thank you" from one side, and "That was really, really fun" from the other.

He drove the boat back towards its jetty, Kitty and Chloe stayed standing by his sides the whole way. They seemed to be leaning against him, he tried not to react. Before he got there, he stopped at a refuelling place. He went onto the foredeck, undid the rope, tied the boat, and filled the fuel tank. When they reached the boat's own mooring, he again tied the boat up. The two girls jumped off without help, Kitty carrying the bag of rubbish. They took off their life vests, he took them, and his own, replaced them under the seat.

The man he hired the boat from came down, "All okay?" Lenny, as he handed back the key, said "Yes, thank you, their first boat trip, they enjoyed it. Oh, we used the toilet." "No worries."

To the girls, "Come on" said Lenny, "back to the car." Kitty and Chloe each shook the man's hand and thanked him. Then Kitty said to Lenny, "The ground feels funny." Lenny: "It's not moving about underneath you, it'll soon feel right again." The girls each took one of Lenny's hands and skipped along beside him.

In the car, "Had enough for the day?" Kitty: "I think so, thank you." Chloe: "Really enjoyed it, but getting tired." After a few minutes of silence, Lenny said "It's your Uncle Bob's funeral tomorrow. It's at midday, but Dad would like you to be at his house for around ten‑thirty, let some people meet you first. Is that all right?" Kitty said "Yes, that's okay." "Dad's doing a barbie afterwards, but if you'd rather not stay for that I can run you back to the hotel. Pick you up at half nine, all right?" Chloe and Kitty both said "Okay." They didn't speak again until they got to the hotel. Lenny said "See you in the morning." Before each girl got out of the car, they leant over to the front, gave Lenny a kiss on his cheek, Kitty said "Goodbye, and thank you." Chloe added "It's been fabulous."

They went into the hotel foyer, Kitty found a waste bin to put her bag of rubbish in. They went to reception where Kitty ordered their breakfast in their room, "And can we book a table in the restaurant for seven, please?" Chloe: "At a table waited on by Karl with a 'K'?" The receptionist smiled, "Yes, he doesn't like people spelling it with a 'C'. He looked after you all right, then?" "Yes, he was very good to us." While they were talking, she'd been typing. "All booked. Have a nice evening."

As they turned from the desk, Chloe said "Race you up the stairs." Both immediately sprinted towards the staircase that went up beside the lift. They had to dodge round a couple of other guests, and could be heard shouting to each other as they disappeared from view.

They managed to reach their room without mishap. Inside, Kitty said "Shower. Salt in hair." They took their dresses off, went into the bathroom. They emerged half an hour later, "Dresses might be ready." Chloe opened the wardrobe, "Not here." Kitty said "We wait until five to seven, if they're not back, we'll have to put today's on."

They pulled the covers down and got onto the bed, started cuddling, but were soon asleep. They were woken by someone clearing their throat. Both girls immediately sat up. There was a girl there holding their dresses, "Sorry, didn't know you were in, no answer when I knocked." "Oh, yes, tired. What's the time?" The girl said "Quarter to seven." Chloe said "Perfect timing, thank you." Kitty noticed that the girl wouldn't look in their direction, "Oh, sorry, we don't wear nightclothes." The two laid back and pulled the covers over themselves. Chloe: "Can you just lay them on the bed, we'll put them straight on, thank you." The girl did so, and pretty much ran to the door.

Kitty said "Ring home?" Chloe: "Quarter to eight at home. They were asleep last time." "Wonder what they meant, 'Playing, but not with each other'?" "Don't know, best not to ask." Kitty phoned, Midge answered almost immediately. Chloe asked "Not been playing, then?" There was a slight but noticeable pause before Midge answered, "Fine today. How was Sydney Harbour?"

They talked a little bit about the good day they'd had. After a bit, Chloe said "Funeral tomorrow." "Oh, hope it goes all right." "We'll let you know. Got to go, we're supposed to be in the restaurant. Love you."

They ran down the stairs. Both, in their usual way, fell down the last few steps. Laughing, they picked themselves up, only to find several shocked or worried looking people staring at them. They looked round, said in unison "What?" Grinning, they walked to the restaurant, arms round each other's waist.

Australia day 4

Next morning, they were awake before eight. When the knock for breakfast came, Chloe called out "Come in" straight away. It was the same waiter who had brought their breakfast before. "On the table, ladies?" "Yes, please." When he put everything down, he said "Did you know you're being talked about?" Kitty, looking a bit worried, "What's the matter?" "Nothing's the matter, though you seem to have surprised a few people. Just you being yourselves, I guess. Brightening the place up, bit of excitement. Must go, enjoy your breakfast."

They ate their breakfast in silence, neither felt particularly hungry, for once they left quite a bit. After their breakfast they had a shower, then spent a while brushing each other's hair. They helped each other put their funeral dresses on, put their black shoes on, looked at each other and used the wardrobe mirror to look at themselves. Kitty said "Hope Uncle Bob likes us like this." Chloe hugged her, "You look positively beautiful. He couldn't possibly not like you."

They were ready by quarter past nine. Kitty phoned Midge, they told the twins they were wearing their black dresses, were being picked up soon. Chloe said they didn't know when they'd be back at the hotel, there was a barbecue after the funeral. Midge (or Molly) said to phone them as soon as they were back, whatever the time, "Except between ten and eleven, of course." When they finished the call, Chloe said "Let's go downstairs, wait down there." Kitty picked up the room keycard. Outside the room, Kitty said "Nowhere to keep this." Chloe said "I'm sure reception will hold it, otherwise Lenny will."

They held hands as they walked down the stairs, didn't see anyone until they reached the foyer. As they went towards reception, the whole place went silent, everyone stopped what they were doing, staring at the two as they walked across. The girls didn't notice, both were deep in their own thoughts. They reached the receptionist, Kitty held out her keycard, "Could you look after this while we're away, please?" The receptionist, recovering herself, automatically said "No worries", then "You both look absolutely beautiful." Chloe said "We're going to Kitty's Uncle Bob's funeral." "Oh, yes, I heard that's why you are here. Well, hope it goes all right." "Thank you."

They walked to the hotel front door. The doorman started to open the door for them. "Are you all right?" "Yes, thank you, we're being picked up in a few minutes." The doorman hesitated, then "I'd rather you waited inside until your lift arrives, you'll be safer." "If you think so."

They stood just inside, looking out. The noise level behind them increased as people started talking again, many of the conversations were about the two girls, though, again, they didn't notice. It wasn't long before they saw Lenny's car pull up. Kitty said "That's us." They thanked the doorman as he opened the door, then walked to the car and climbed in the back.

Lenny had watched them as they came to the car, he just said "Wow." After a few seconds he pulled himself together, moved into the traffic.

It took nearly an hour to get to Holden's house. For the first fifteen minutes, no one spoke. Lenny finally managed, "You looked beautiful before. I don't have words for you now." The girls didn't say anything.

When they arrived, they found themselves at quite a large bungalow in a housing estate that looked very well-to-do. Lenny drove onto the drive, there were several cars parked there. Lenny stopped just outside the house, he got out, opened the car's rear door for the girls.

The front door of the house was opened, Holden stood there, beside him was a lady who Lenny introduced as his mum, she said "Call me Harper. You didn't tell me how stunning they are." Holden answered "They weren’t dressed like that before." Harper said "Please, come in."

They were shown into a large living room, there were quite a few people there, mostly men with their wives, one or two singles. The room went silent as the two girls came in, Holden said to the room "Kitty and Chloe."

Holden led the two girls round the room, introducing them to people there. All said they'd known Bob (some used Robert), were sorry he'd gone. They could hear a few tutting about their dresses, their unsuitability for a funeral. One lady said to Kitty's face "Those are amazing dresses, but, sorry, I'm not sure they are right for a funeral." Kitty started crying, Chloe said "They were made for us to wear at the funeral of our best friends' parents. If you don't like them, we're sorry. Our friends' dresses were like these, but with lace in places. They wanted to show people what their parents had made. Kitty shares genes with her Uncle Bob. So this is her tribute to him."

By this time, Harper was trying to comfort Kitty. She said "Sorry, I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you." As Kitty wiped her tears away, Harper said "And the dresses are gorgeous. Who designed them?" Chloe answered "Our friends." Kitty managed "Made by our local dressmaker."

Holden came to them, "Would you like a drink of anything? Tea? Coffee?" Kitty said "Coffee would be nice, thank you." Chloe nodded, "Yes, please."

Kitty explains their dresses

As they sipped their coffee, more of the people came to them, asked about them. After Kitty had to say several times that she hadn't seen her uncle for years, and two more comments about the unsuitability of their dresses, she decided to make an announcement. She went near the door, tapped her cup with her spoon. Everyone stopped talking, looked towards her.

She said "Most of you don't know about my Uncle Bob and me. I think I should tell you I last saw him when I was five. I remember him as a kind man. He wrote a letter for me to read after he died, in it he told me that he loved my mother, he loved me, that he'd done his best for me, though he knew life for me wasn't pleasant."

She paused for a moment, then "It has been suggested that our dresses are not right for a funeral. If the way we are dressed offends anyone, I am sorry, but these dresses were designed and made for us especially to wear at the funeral of our best friends' parents. We have not dressed to flaunt ourselves, we have dressed in order, in our own way, to pay tribute to a member of my family, of which, as far as I am aware, I am the only surviver, and will be the very last in its line.

"Thank you for listening."

By the time she'd finished, both Kitty and Chloe had tears streaming down their faces. Chloe took Kitty's cup and saucer, put it with her own on a nearby sideboard. She led Kitty to an armchair, they both sat down in it. Lenny came to the chair, announced to the room. "I don't want these upset any more. You'll have me to answer to if you do." He knelt down beside the chair, gave them both a hug. He whispered "Anybody makes you cry again, I'll punch his lights out." Which had the desired effect of making them smile. Kitty said "Thank you, I hope that won't be necessary."

Holden and Harper came to them, Holden said "That was brave of you. I don't think anyone will question your dresses any more." Harper: "Come on, come and talk to some people." She held her hand out to Kitty, Kitty took it, stood up, she in turn helped Chloe up.

A couple came to them, the lady said "I think your dresses are fabulous. I only wish I could wear something like that." She asked the girls about the design, she commented on how well they fitted. "I can see a lot of thought went into them."

Lenny was staying close to the girls. At one point his dad and mum quietly asked him why he was so attentive. Lenny said "I've picked up stuff from them. Look, they aren't laying it on, nor are they looking for sympathy. Their lives have been deprived. As far as I know, neither knew their dads, Kitty lost her mum a few years ago. Chloe has said nothing of her life before she and Kitty went to the school where they met their other friends, she just clams up if you say anything. And yet about their present life they are as open as anything.

"Both of these have been hurt more in their sixteen years than most of us will ever see. And still they manage to be so polite, just generally nice to people, so natural. I know one of the waiters at the hotel. They've never eaten in a restaurant before, let alone stayed in a hotel. Yet they've brightened the place up, all the staff there love them, quite a few guests have commented to the staff about them. Much of the time they seem really happy, laughing, playing. But occasionally something triggers some bad memory. Kitty almost broke down when I first said my name was 'Rod' Something about a boy, but whatever it was seemed much, much deeper than just a boyfriend."

Harper said "You love them, don't you?" Lenny, a bit embarrassed, "I suppose in a way I do. Oh, that statement Kitty just made, it hurt her that she had to make it, and she was well outside her comfort zone making it. She's just a vulnerable schoolkid, but she's got the heart of a lion. And Chloe's the same. They really love each other, she's probably as affected by Kitty's suffering as Kitty is over her uncle. I don't want them to suffer any more."

Shortly after, Holden did the same trick as Kitty had, tapping a spoon on a cup. He announced "I think it's about time we made our way to the crematorium." Harper went to Kitty and Chloe, "I'd like you to come in our car." Chloe asked "Will Lenny be with us?" "If I can sit in the back with you two."

In the car, Harper saw that each of the girls was holding the other's hand tightly. Lenny sat in the front alongside Holden who was driving. It was only a few minutes to the crematorium, they got out of the car, Kitty and Chloe still holding hands. Harper took Kitty's free hand, Lenny took Chloe's.

Uncle Bob's funeral

Inside the crematorium, many seats were already filled. Holden led them to the front row, they sat with Holden beside Harper, then Kitty, Chloe and Lenny. A Brahms piano concerto was playing unobtrusively, a celebrant was sitting at the back of the stage. Shortly after they were seated, Holden got up, went to the stage, beckoned the celebrant. They had a quiet conversation, then sat down again. A little while later, the celebrant asked the congregation to stand. Four pallbearers brought the coffin in, they took it up the couple of steps onto the stage and placed it on a raised dais to one side of the stage. They bowed to the coffin and walked out.

The celebrant made some opening remarks, then, in turn, several people came up onto the stage, talked about Robert, how well he was liked, little anecdotes.

After these, the celebrant announced that Robert's only surviving relative was there, she would be introduced. Holden stood up, took Kitty's hand in one of his, Chloe's in the other. He led them up the steps, turned them to face the congregation. He introduced himself as a friend of Robert's and his lawyer. He said it had been his privilege to organise Robert's niece to fly in all the way from England at just a few days' notice. He held Kitty's hand up, "This is Kitty, Robert's niece. With her is her friend, Chloe, who has accompanied Kitty, their first ever trip away from home. I hope if any of you speak with them, you will give them a proper Ozzy welcome."

He said a little more about Robert. Then "I will finish by saying this. I have heard some comments today about these girls' dresses, that they are inappropriate for a funeral. I will quote what Kitty said to us earlier. ' We have not dressed to flaunt ourselves, we have dressed in order, in our own way, to pay tribute to a member of my family'. I ask you to respect their view on this."

He led the girls back to their seats, they immediately held hands with Harper and Lenny.

The ceremony ended with the congregation standing. As the curtains started to close round the coffin, Kitty ran up into the stage, put her hand on the coffin, quietly said "Goodbye, Uncle Bob." She took her hand off and waited until the curtains were shut before returning to the others, saying "He wanted to say goodbye in person." After a pause, the celebrant asked the congregation to sit while the family members left.

As the five walked to the central aisle, Holden whispered something to Kitty and Chloe, who nodded. They let go of Harper and Lenny's hands, and, still holding each other's, they started walking along the aisle. As they passed the first couple of rows of seats, a few people started clapping. This seemed to perk the two up, they lifted their heads up, started striding out. The clapping intensified, until by the time they reached the door at the back, the applause was almost deafening.

It seemed they'd walked out completely on their own, the other three trailing well behind. The girls stopped to wait for the others to catch up. Lenny got to them first, he hugged them both together, he quietly said "That's shown them all what a pair of pommie sheilas can do. Good on you." The girls were laughing at him as Holden and Harper came to them.

Lenny let go of them as Harper said "Let's get you back to the house." Holden added "The barbie should be going by now." Kitty grinned, "Ready for some tucker." Chloe immediately prodded her. Holden said "Don't start here girls. You can bung on your blue when we're home." Lenny stage whispered to them "Start your fight." Kitty stage whispered back "No worries, we will."

Barbecue after Uncle Bob's funeral

They were the first car to arrive back at the house. Holden led Kitty and Chloe in, followed by Harper and Lenny. Holden was going right through the house towards a back door. Kitty stopped and asked Harper "Is there a bathroom we can use?" "Of course, should have shown you before. She opened a door to one side, Kitty and Chloe went in, closed the door. Several minutes later they came out, Lenny was there waiting for them. "Okay?" he asked. "Yes thank you." He led them to the back door, out into the garden. He said "Quite a few people here."

He led them to a paved area a bit away from the house on which was a large barbecue. Standing over it, and wearing a heavy apron and chef's hat, was an aboriginal man. Lenny introduced them, "Kitty, Chloe, this is Jarrah, best barbie chef in the country." "Hello, girls, good to meet you. Hope you're hungry. Ready in ten." Kitty said "Thank you." Chloe: "Looking forward to it, smells scrumptious."

There was a table set out with drinks, some in an icebox, beers, wine, tins of soft drinks, some fruit juice. Lenny took the girls to it, introduced them to the woman behind the table, also aboriginal. "Kitty, Chloe, this is Elandra, best housekeeper in Oz, she looks after Mum and Dad, keeps them in order. Something to drink?" Kitty glanced at the table, then looked at Elandra. "Pleased to meet you. Coffee or if that's not convenient, water, please." "Same for me, please" from Chloe. "If you can wait five, I'll get you some coffee, if not there's water in the icebox here." "Don't want to put you to any trouble, water, please." "Have some water now, I'm getting coffee on the go. Okay to drink out of the bottle?" "Yes, that's fine, thank you." Elandra got out two bottles from the icebox, Kitty said "Oh, one's enough, thank you, we'll share." "Sure?" "Yes, thank you."

Chloe took the bottle, unscrewed the lid, looked around for somewhere to put it. Elandra said "End of the table, rubbish sack there. Oh, and thank you." As Chloe put the lid in the bag, Kitty quietly asked Lenny, "Why did she thank us?" Lenny replied "Most people leave their rubbish on the table for her to deal with, or even just drop it on the ground."

He led them to where little groups of people were chatting with each other, started to introduce them. They got a lot of comments about Bob, comments about how good they looked, quite a few hugs from some of the ladies. At one point, Kitty said, in some surprise, "Look, that's Captain David over there." She and Chloe ran over to where David was talking in a group, he hadn't seen them approach, Lenny walked after them. As they neared David, Kitty said in a loud voice "George is having to do all the flying today." Chloe: "George is a better pilot anyway."

David turned round, grinning at them, the two hugged him. When the girls released him, he said "Hello, girls. After our little chat, I had to come. Asked Holden at the funeral if I could come here afterwards to talk to you."

Lenny asked "Are you going to introduce us?" Kitty said "Oh, sorry. This is Lenny, he's Holden's son, he's been looking after us." Chloe: And this is Captain David. He drove the plane from London to Perth." In unison, the two girls said "Best pilot in the airline." All four of them laughed, the two men shook hands.

David asked Lenny, "You're looking after them the whole time they're here?" Lenny said "It's my pleasure." The girls alternated: "He's taken us to see the Opera House" "The Botanic Gardens" "And took us on a boat" "All round Sydney Harbour." "Made the boat do aerobatics." At this, they started chasing each other in a figure of eight round the two men, calling out "Wheee". They stopped, hugged, dropped to their knees, laughing. The two men were in stitches, a bit of a crowd was looking at them. The girls got up, just grinned.

After the men had regained their composure, David said to the girls, "After your visit to the cockpit, it made me want to do something for you. Would you be interested in going in a flight simulator? Just like flying the plane for real?" Kitty and Chloe both immediately said "Yes, please!" David said "Day after tomorrow, Lenny, can you get them to the airport for ten?" Lenny nodded. "Do you know the service entrance? Go in that way, show the security man this." He handed Lenny a piece of paper. "He'll tell you where to go." Lenny glanced at the paper, nodded, and put it in a pocket.

Meanwhile, Kitty and Chloe had run off, arms outstretched, making aeroplane noises. Lenny said "I believe they both missed a normal childhood. This is good for them. How come you can get them on the simulator? I thought they cost megabucks to run." David said "It's had some maintenance done on it, they're checking it out before it's back in full service. And I've got contacts."

David went on, "In the cockpit, they were amazing. They behaved very well, though looking at them now you wouldn't believe it. They didn't even think of touching anything. Kitty asked questions about everything, incredible ability to understand and absorb information. Chloe was much quieter, but she certainly understood everything that was going on, listening intently, looking at everything. They are two very bright young ladies." Lenny grinned, "They don't always act like ladies." After a pause, "Dad's been talking with their legal guardian. He says their IQ is way up, both of them. He says they've had a horrendous life until very recently, but he won't say any more about it."

A couple of minutes later, both girls came running back to them. At full pelt, Chloe ran into Lenny, Kitty into David, both wrapping their wings round the men. Chloe moved back a bit from Lenny, she said "Hungry." Kitty, releasing David, "Me, too." Both men were laughing at them. Lenny said "Come on, then, see if there's anything left."

The four walked towards the barbecue, Chloe picked up a plate from a table nearby, Kitty was still holding their water bottle, she'd been holding her thumb over its top to stop too much water escaping during their running around. Lenny asked Kitty "Do you want me to hold another plate for you?" Kitty said "Oh, no thank you, we'll share." They went to the barbecue, Jarrah said "Hello, again. You need to eat after all that running about. What would you like?" They could see large steaks, burgers, sausages. Kitty said "A sausage in a bread roll, please?" Chloe added "And some of those things, please." 'Those things' were various vegetables that had been barbecued.

Jarrah got a bread roll, picked up a large knife. Holding the roll in the palm of one hand, with a well practiced movement he sliced the roll through, leaving a quarter of an inch hinge still holding the two halves together. Both girls yelped, Kitty put her free hand to her chest, Chloe clenched her hand into a fist, tucked it under her armpit, both staring in horror at the roll.

Jarrah, concentrating on his job, didn't seem to notice, but Lenny and David both did. While Jarrah was using tongs to put two sausages in the bread roll, Lenny asked them, "What's the matter?" Kitty, pulling herself together, said "Sorry, bad memory." Chloe: "Don't want to talk about it." Kitty: "Maybe another time."

"Plate, please." Chloe, recovering, held her plate out to Jarrah. He put the roll on the plate, used his tongs to put some of the vegetables on as well. As Chloe moved the plate away, he said "Sauces and eating irons where you got the plate from. You too, Kitty?" "Oh, no thank you, we're sharing." "Another roll, then." "No, one's plenty between us, thank you very much."

David and Lenny were next at the barbecue. While he was serving them, Jarrah said "They're so nice, so polite." Lenny said "Yeah. I know, most people treat aboriginals like dirt. Those girls see no difference." Jarrah grinned at him, "You lot aren't too bad."

While the men were being served, Chloe picked up a fork, and the two girls wandered off. They found a place on the grass with no one nearby and sat down crosslegged, facing each other. Kitty, water bottle in one hand, held the plate steady on the ground with the other.

Chloe picked up the roll, offered it to Kitty for her to take a bite. Kitty said "Mouth's not that big." Chloe: "You get a lot of my tit in there when you want to." "Yes, but your tit is squashy." Chloe laughed, then used her fingers to flatten the roll as much as possible. This time Kitty could take a bite, after which Chloe took one. Next, Chloe pushed some vegetables onto the fork, offered that to Kitty, then had some herself. Kitty held the water bottle for Chloe, tipped it so she could take a mouthful, then Kitty had some.

They continued like this, quite slowly, giving each other plenty of time to chew and swallow. All the while they were just looking at each other, just a glance down by Chloe when she wanted to put more food on the fork. Without noticing, they were attracting quite an audience, all of them silent, mesmerised by the two girls.

The last thing on the plate was a lengthwise slice of carrot. Chloe speared it in the middle with her fork, held it up between them. Kitty took one end into her mouth, Chloe the other, she pulled the fork out. The girls worked their mouths along the carrot until their lips were touching, they held them together, staring into each others' eyes.

After several seconds, they moved their faces apart, chewing and swallowing the carrot. Chloe looked down, put the fork on the plate, picked the plate and fork up in one hand by holding the fork against the plate with her thumb. Kitty was still holding the water bottle, now empty. The two pushed themselves straight up from their cross-legged position, each took the other's free hand, and looked up. When they saw the crowd looking at them, they were both horrified.

Harper, who had been watching them with one arm round Lenny, her other holding Holden's hand, immediately came over. Kitty asked "Have we done something wrong?" Chloe: "Offended people?" Harper immediately replied "Absolutely not. That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." She put her arms round them both, kissed each of their foreheads.

The crowd round them gradually dispersed. Lenny and Holden came to them, Holden asked "Do you always feed each other like that?" Kitty answered "Oh, no, it just happens sometimes." Chloe, with a mischievous grin, "We sometimes feed each other mouth‑to‑mouth." Harper smiled, "I'm actually glad you didn't do that, that certainly would have upset some people."

Harper, releasing them, asked "Can I take your plate and bottle?" Kitty: "Thank you, but we want to go over there anyway, we'll take them."

They made their way back to the barbecue area. Kitty found the rubbish bag, put the water bottle in it, while Chloe put their plate and fork with other used ones on a table. They went to Jarrah, who saw them coming, "Still hungry? Want some more?" Kitty said "Thank you, no, but it was delicious. Lenny was right when he said 'best barbie chef'." Chloe: "To be honest, you are the only barbie chef we know, never been to a barbecue before." Kitty: "But it was very, very, good, so thank you." Jarrah was very surprised when each gave him a kiss on his cheek.

As they started to walk away, Chloe looked back to him, "Of course, if Kitty had been doing it, it would be awfu… oof" Kitty had punched her. Naturally Chloe punched her back, they stood there, alternately punching each other. Jarrah called out "Someone, help!" Lenny, never far away from the girls, ran up and pushed himself between them. "What on earth are you doing?"

Kitty grinned at him, "We're bunging on our blue."

By this time, Holden had come to them. He said to Lenny, "Apparently they do this a lot. Nothing to worry about. But girls, it can get people anxious." Lenny added "You've got bruises on your shoulders, you really were hurting each other." The two girls giggled, Chloe stage-whispered to Kitty "Thought Australians were supposed to be tough." Holden said "Yes, but not totally insensitive." "Sorry" the two girls chorused.

Chloe whispered something to Kitty, both girls shouted "Bathroom." Holding hands, they ran to the house, just managing to get through the back door without crashing into the doorframe.

Outside, Holden, Harper and Lenny stood watching them until they were inside. Harper asked "Are they always this full of life?" Lenny quietly said "Not always." After a pause "They can be playing like six‑year olds, or serious like sixty‑year olds. Fighting each other like I don't know what, and then …" He paused "… sometimes something hits one or both them, they start sobbing, or clam up, or both. Did you hear them cry out at the barbecue?" Holden nodded, "Thought they were playing." "No, something about Jarrah cutting that roll made them do that. Their reactions looked horrifying."

They carried on talking, mostly about the girls.

Kitty gets molested

A few minutes later, they heard a scream coming from the house. Lenny was instantly sprinting to the back door. Inside, he found a man using his body to press Kitty against the wall of the corridor, one hand behind her head holding her mouth to his, the other on her thigh. Chloe was trying to pull him off, but he was far too big and strong for her.

Lenny yelled "Get off her." The man didn't respond. Lenny shouted "Chloe, move." Chloe backed off, Lenny punched the man in his side. This made him move his head from Kitty, he turned towards Lenny and said "She's asking for it." Lenny immediately punched the man in his jaw, the man dropped, unconscious. Chloe immediately hugged Kitty, both were crying. A few seconds later, Kitty broke away from Chloe and ran into the bathroom, retching.

Chloe started kicking the man on the floor, aiming for his groin. "Where's" ‑ kick ‑ "Molly" ‑ kick ‑ "when" ‑ kick ‑ "you" ‑ kick ‑ "need" ‑ kick ‑ "her?"

By this time, Holden was there, he took hold of Chloe's shoulders, pulled her back, though she continued trying to kick. When she couldn't reach him any more, she wriggled herself from Holden, ran into the bathroom. Moments later, Harper came in through the back door. Holden looked at her, just gestured towards the bathroom. Inside she found Kitty over the basin, filling her mouth with water, spitting it out, doing it again and again. Chloe was sloshing water on Kitty's thigh, rubbing it with her hand.

Harper knew immediately what they were trying to do. She went to Kitty, quietly said "Shower in my bathroom." Kitty looked up, said "Yes, please." Kitty allowed herself to be led out, Chloe following. They went past the man, now standing, Lenny and Holden were remonstrating with him. It was Chloe's turn to say "Lenny, move." Lenny moved back, and, hitching the skirt of her dress up a bit as she moved towards the man, Chloe rammed her knee up between his legs. Probably already bruised there from her previous kicking, he collapsed on the floor, doubled up, groaning. Chloe ran after Harper and Kitty.

Harper led the girls through a bedroom into its en‑suite bathroom. Harper said "Please, use the shower, I'll get you a clean towel. She returned a minute later, both girls were in the shower together, their dresses hung over the back of a chair. Kitty had her mouth open, her head tipped back, allowing the shower to wash into her mouth. Chloe was soaping Kitty's leg, gently massaging it right the way up to her groin. Harper could see Kitty start to relax, the tension going out of her. Kitty brought her head down, the two girls started kissing. Harper got the impression Chloe was wiping round the inside of Kitty's mouth with her tongue.

After a few minutes, the girls were just hugging each other, then Kitty turned off the shower, Chloe opened the shower door. They stepped out, to find Harper holding the towel out to them. "I'll get you another one." "Oh, no, thank you, we can both use this one." They proceeded to dry each other off.

When dry, Kitty laid the towel over the side of the bath, Chloe got Kitty's dress from the chair, passed it to her. Kitty stepped into it, pulled it up, then turned her back to Harper, "Could you do my zip up, please?" Meanwhile Chloe was getting her dress on, she turned her back to Harper, "Me, too, please." She would normally have asked Kitty, but Kitty was in front of Chloe, they were hugging. Harper had to ask them to stop for a moment so that she could pull Chloe's zip up.

A few more seconds, Kitty turned to Harper, said "Thank you, I feel a lot better." Harper asked "Ready to go out?" Kitty nodded. "I think so." Harper led them out into the bedroom. She picked up a hairbrush from her dressing‑table, handed it to Chloe, who brushed Kitty's hair, Kitty then did Chloe's.

Harper led them into the corridor leading to the back door, where Holden was just putting his phone in his pocket. Lenny looked at Kitty, "Are you all right?" Kitty said "I think so, thank you, your mum sorted me out." Chloe asked "Where is he?" Holden replied "He's gone. I've phoned the police." Kitty looked open mouthed at him, "No, I can't …" Holden interrupted her, "No, it's all right, he was drunk, he drove away. He'll be caught driving under the influence, you won't be involved."

Kitty said "Maybe the dress …" Once again Holden interrupted her, "There's nothing wrong with your dress, don't think that for a moment. This is in no way your fault at all." Lenny, perhaps trying to take Kitty's mind away a bit, "Chloe, you put him down for quite a while with your knee. Where did you learn that?" Chloe replied "Molly." Kitty: "But Molly would probably have killed him." Lenny said "Chloe did pretty well." Chloe, quite quietly, "When Kitty said 'killed', that's what she meant."

Holden: "You're serious, you really mean that." Both girls nodded. "What is she, some sort of Amazon weightlifter or something?" Chloe replied "No, they look like us." Kitty: "Only blonde." Chloe: "And much prettier." Harper smiled, "That I don't believe." Chloe asked "Have you got a computer? Kitty can show you." Lenny grinned, "This I have to see." Holden: "Come into the study."

Half a minute later Kitty was sat at a desk at Holden's computer, working keyboard and mouse. Chloe said "She'll show you pictures taken for the dressmaker who made these dresses, taken not long after the funeral of Midge and Molly's parents." Kitty had got a picture up, "That's Chloe and either Midge or Molly." Kitty stood up, saying "There are a few pictures there."

Holden said "Harper, you browse them." Harper sat down, she used the mouse to click through several pictures, pausing on each for several seconds. She stopped on one with the face of either Midge or Molly filling the screen, with something of a mischievous grin. Harper said "They are certainly very pretty, those blue eyes, and lovely blonde hair." She clicked on another, it showed one of the twins with tears streaming down her face. "She's crying." Nodding, Chloe said "This was a few days after their parents' funeral. Kept hitting them. Still does."

Harper rapidly went back to a picture of one of the twins turning at the end of their pavement walk. "That is absolutely gorgeous, I could eat her." Then "That lace, it really does something, but for a funeral?" Kitty said "They wanted to show what their parents had produced, the dresses were their way of doing it." Holden: "A bit like you said about your Uncle Bob." "Exactly."

Lenny muttered quietly "I wish I was showing all four of you round." Chloe said "It's a good job they weren't here, or we would have had to explain what happened to that man." Lenny: "I can't believe those could do anything like that." Kitty: "I might be able to show something of their handiwork, may I?" Harper got up, let Kitty back at the computer, where she started searching, a frown on her face. Holden asked Chloe "What's she looking for?" "Probably a newspaper report."

Another minute, Kitty had found it, an article with the headline 'Boys hurt by gang rivals'. Kitty stood up, "Read that." Holden sat down, expanded the text so all could read it, though he read it out loud. "Six youths in hospital with severe injuries after attack by gang rivals. Two are in a critical condition, one with a life-threatening knife wound, the other with a life‑changing injury. The police expect an early arrest."

Lenny asked "And you are saying you four did that?" Kitty: "No, just the twins, though we were there." Chloe: "We couldn't do anything anyway, we were both hurt." Kitty had started crying. Chloe said to her "Kitty, I think we should tell them." Kitty nodded, but couldn't speak. Chloe said "Harper, can Kitty sit on your lap, please? She will need comforting. This is a long story, it's extremely painful for both of us, though more so for Kitty than me. But if I have to stop, please forgive me. Oh, this brings together a little of what I know you've seen in us."

There were two other chairs in the study. Harper sat in one, held out her arms to Kitty, who went and sat sideways on her lap. Chloe knelt on the floor beside her, momentarily touched Kitty's ankle with her hand. Holden sat at his desk, Lenny sat on the other chair as Chloe started speaking.

"I'll start with what led to that article. The four of us were walking home. We'd met four of the six boys before with a somewhat less injurious outcome, I'll tell you about that in a bit. Anyway, they wanted revenge. Three of them came from behind, three in front, all of them out to hurt us. The three behind, Midge broke one of their arms, downed another with a punch to the stomach, the third she twisted his testicles right round, I think that's the life‑changing bit in the article. She joined Molly at the front. I couldn't follow what happened, it was so quick, but all three boys were on the ground, one with another's knife in him, all unconscious.

"We'd been walking from the home of a boy that Kitty was, still is, in love with. The boy's name is 'Red', Lenny, that's why Kitty reacted to your first name, it's so similar. We were there because his mum came to ours, asked for help with Red, he was in a depressed state because they'd had to split up, he loves Kitty as much as she does him." Chloe stopped for a moment, composing herself.

She continued, "They'd split two days before, after his mum learned that Kitty, like the rest of us, couldn't have babies." Chloe stopped again, tears beginning to flow. "You saw our reaction to Jarrah cutting the bread roll. That was because poor Kitty cut herself after that split, decided she wasn't a woman, shouldn't have breasts. I cut my hand trying to take the knife off her after she'd got half way through." Chloe was rubbing the palm of one hand with the thumb of the other, Kitty was weeping into Harper's front.

Harper herself was crying, Lenny and Holden were just staring. Holden managed "That's awful. You said 'revenge', what was that for?" Chloe: "Sorry, I'm finding this so hard. I'll try from their starting together. They'd met in the local library, really hit it off. They arranged to meet in the park the next day. While they were there, the four I mentioned before set upon them, luckily Kitty was able to phone us, probably while Red was trying to stop them. When we got there, one was trying to get his way with Kitty, the other three were kicking Red on the ground. The twins dealt with them, but let them run away without needing to go to hospital.

"Red was badly bruised, twins said cracked ribs. We took him to ours to help him, where we learnt that one of the four had taken his phone. Two days later the twins went to their school, thoroughly embarrassed the boy by making him give Red his phone back with half the school looking on."

Chloe stopped. "Sorry it's so jumbled, but that's the gist of it."

Holden: "So many questions." Chloe said "You can ask, but I don't know if we would want to answer." Holden: "How bad was Kitty's cut?" Chloe said "Much worse than mine. She looked at her palm, "You can just see my scar." She got up, went to Holden, pointed out the faint line running right across her palm. Lenny looked, Holden said "Show Harper. Chloe went back to her, showed her.

Harper asked "And Kitty's was much worse than that?" Chloe slipped Kitty's shoulder straps off, Kitty took her arms from round Harper, let them drop, allowing Chloe to pull Kitty's dress down and reveal her breasts. Chloe pointed to the scar round Kitty's breast, she said "That's not just cut round, it was straight across."

Kitty muttered "The others can see if they want." Chloe stepped back, first Holden then Lenny had a look. Holden said "You are lucky you didn't lose it." Kitty mumbled "Twins fixed it" as Harper helped Chloe put Kitty's dress back into place.

Holden said "It's not that I doubt you, but the times are all wrong. If Red had cracked ribs, how could he be at school after only two days? And if Kitty was hurt like that, how could she be walking along a street a few days later? She would have been in hospital."

Kitty looked up again. "Twins fixed it." Holden: "You said that before, what do you mean?" Chloe answered "I can tell you, but you won't believe it." "Try me." "All right, I'll start with the easy stuff. You know that Kitty and I have bruises from where we hit each other. That's all play by the way, we deliberately goad each other into it. If we were at home now, one of the twins would hold her hand on my shoulder. Within a very few minutes, that bruise would have gone. No one knows how it works. Daniel is aware of it, he says he presumes it's some sort of enhanced placebo effect.

"With something more serious, like Red's ribs, or Kitty's or even my cut, it takes much longer, and it drains the twins. The healing process seems to go into overdrive with warmth or something coming from them. And Kitty's cut took so much out of them it nearly killed them."

Lenny shook his head, "Makes no sense." Holden frowned, said to Lenny "Ask Jarrah and Elandra to come here." Two minutes later, Lenny came back with Jarrah and Elandra, who stayed standing just inside the door. Holden asked "Chloe, can you tell them what you said about your bruises?"

Chloe looked at the two by the door, "Our friends hold their hands over our bruises and they go away within minutes." Holden: "And your cut?" "My hand had a nasty cut on it." She held out her hand, pointed to the faint scar. "They each put a hand, one above, one below it. After a couple of sessions, I don't know how long, I'd guess half or three quarters of an hour each, my hand was near‑enough as you see it now."

Jarrah said "We know this can happen. Gubba won't believe." Elandra said "Ngangk was with this gift." Holden translated for Kitty and Chloe, "Gubba means white people, and I think Elandra is referring to her mother." Jarrah said "All healing comes from the earth. The gift lets them focus the earth's power." Elandra: "Only very few have this gift."

Holden said "Thank you for your insight."

Chloe asked "Please, do these people have any other gifts? Our friends are special in other ways." Elandra: "They can get someone to sleep by touching the forehead. The stories tell of very strong ones, the strength of ten men, the reactions of a fly, the speed of lightning."

Lenny asked "Can such people exist among races other than Nunga? Gubba?" Elandra: "That I don't know." Jarrah: "But if you know such as these, you are very fortunate." Elandra: "They are very rare, maybe one in a generation." Chloe said "Our friends are twins." "You are doubly fortunate."

Holden: "Thank you, you've been very helpful." The two aboriginals turned and left the room.

After a couple of minutes, Harper said "You said that Kitty, like the rest of you, couldn't have babies. Is that true?" Chloe just said "Yes." Harper asked "Why? You said you weren't related, so it can't be genetic." Kitty lifted her head, "Fucking nuns" and buried her face again. Chloe: "Our school. They didn't like what we did. They sterilised many of us. That's not all they did to us." Harper muttered "So that's what Kitty meant when she said that she would be the very last in her family's line."

Holden asked "What else?" Chloe: "Whipped us." Harper, aghast, "What? Why? How?" Kitty lifted her head. "Over a desk with a fucking whip." She paused, then "Sorry about the language. I can show you the video." Chloe said "No, not without Daniel's say‑so." "Ring him." "It's the middle of the night." "If you won't, I will." Kitty got off Harper, walked unsteadily to Holden who was still sitting at his computer.

She stood there until Holden got up, Kitty sat in front of the computer, used it to set up a voice call to Daniel's phone. After several minutes, a very sleepy voice answered, "Hello?" Kitty said "Daniel, it's Kitty." "What's wrong?" "No, nothing, I want to show Holden the drone video. Please may I?" "Give me a moment to think." A pause. "Just Holden?" "And Harper and Lenny." "Lenny?" "Rod, we call him Lenny." "All right, so long as they promise it goes no further, but I'll have to wake Philip to get his log‑in details." "It's all right, I've seen him logging on to it, do you think he'll mind?" "I think it'll be all right, but I will have to tell him, he will want to change his password. Is that it?" "Just to let you know, we've told them we are sterilised, and about the six boys and …" Kitty paused, biting her lip, "… Red, and how the twins helped Chloe's hand and my cut, and some other stuff."

Daniel said "Just a moment, let me think a bit more." After half a minute, "All right, go ahead. Ask Holden if we can talk over it all at a better time." "He's here, Holden?" Holden spoke: "Hello Daniel, yes, I think we should. There's much more going on than I ever realised, it might also explain … no, that's for later. I'll get Seth to contact Audrey, they can arrange a call between us, I know we're both busy." "All right. Kitty?" "Still here." "Are you going to be okay?" "I think so. Sorry to have woken you, but now's the best time here." "No, that's all right. Ring me later. Love to you and Chloe. Goodbye, all."

Kitty closed the call, thought for a moment, started working keyboard and mouse. Half a minute later the computer screen showed the drone's view of the outside of the convent. Kitty got off the chair, just said "Space bar." She went to Chloe, took her to the far side of the room. They sat cross‑legged on the floor, holding hands, looking across at the other three.

Holden sat on the seat in front of the computer, Harper and Lenny stood just behind. As they settled, Chloe said "You will see first either Midge or Molly, then the other. They wanted this to be done to them so as to get video proof of some of what was happening. We can't watch it."

Holden touched the space bar. They saw the window light up, the image zooming in, the desk. Harper gasped as one of the twins was forced over the desk. After the first lash, she couldn't watch any more, she went and knelt down by the girls.

Holden and Lenny continued to watch until the first twin was dragged from the desk, the second one laid over it, Holden stopped the video, he asked "Second same as the first?" Chloe just nodded. He then remarked "She doesn't seem to react, but I can't imagine how much that must have hurt." Chloe: "It hurts them as much as anyone else, but I've only once ever known them show any real sign of pain. That was when they were describing their escape from there, they rubbed their backs against the edge of a hatch or something." Kitty: "That scream came straight from hell."

It was Lenny's turn to mutter "Fucking nuns."

Holden said "Look, I've so many questions, but I'll ask Daniel most of them later. Kitty, Chloe, did you ever receive a whipping?" Both girls nodded, Chloe said "Not as often, nor as bad as the twins, but often enough." Holden nodded. Then "Kitty, I have something to tell you about Uncle Bob. Harper, can she sit on you again? I'm sure it will be painful for her."

Harper got up, holding Kitty's hand she went to a chair and helped Kitty sit on her lap. Chloe sat on the floor beside Harper and Kitty, the two girls looked up at Holden.

"I haven't told you how your uncle died. What you've told me might explain the circumstances. In his letter to you he said that he'd kept tabs on you. I now believe he must have learned what they were doing to you. I think he couldn't face the reality of what he'd put you through, albeit inadvertently. Kitty, there's no easy way to say this, your Uncle Bob took his own life."

Kitty started howling, she covered her face with her hands. Her howls turned to shouts of "No, no, no." Before Harper could stop her, she'd slid onto the floor, where Chloe grabbed her, they lay there hugging each other, intertwining their legs, cheeks together, Kitty wailing, Chloe sobbing.

Lenny went to the girls, knelt on the floor close to them, just looking at them. They were like this for maybe a minute, when the door opened and Elandra came in. Without looking at anyone else, she walked to the two girls. She knelt down, put her hands one on each girl's forehead. Within seconds the girls seemed to be asleep. Holden looked at Elandra, "You?" Elandra replied "no one knows. But I couldn't let them suffer like that. Whatever ails them, no one should have to bear. They will wake in a little while, they will feel a bit better."

She stopped, frowned, looked at the girls again. She put her hand as low as she could on Chloe's back, opened her mouth, closed it. She put her hand on Kitty's. She said quietly "Both of them." Then "The poor things." Lenny asked "What?" "They can't have children. No wonder they suffer. Particularly Kitty. Both feel it, but for Kitty it's worse." She put a hand back on Kitty's forehead for a minute, then Chloe's. "Both have suffered much even before this. I don't know what, but Chloe worse than Kitty." Elandra stood up, "You will look after them." This wasn't said as a question, it was an instruction. "They will wake in a little while." She quietly left the room.

Harper said to the men "You should go back to the others, I'll stay with them." Lenny, himself crying, said "No, Mum, let me stay." Harper stood up, went to Holden, took his hand. They left the room, closing the door behind them.

A few minutes later, the girls woke up. They kissed each other, then looked up and around. Seeing just Lenny here, Chloe asked "Mum and Dad have gone?" Lenny nodded. He said "You've been asleep. Something Elandra did to you." Kitty said "I do feel a bit better. It's as if the twins had … Elandra? Is she like them?" Lenny said "I think so, but she doesn't want anyone to know, and from the way she was speaking before, I don't think she has your twins' strength or speed."

The two girls stood up, each reached a hand to Lenny, they helped him up. Chloe said "I'm thirsty." Kitty said "Just a moment." She released Lenny's hand, went to the computer. It was showing a screen saver. Kitty touched a key, then typed in some characters. The browser window appeared, it was still showing one of the twins leaning over the desk. Kitty just closed the window, she said "Can't leave it logged on to Philip." Lenny asked "How did you know Dad's password?" "Saw him type it." "You're dangerous."

Kitty took Lenny's hand again, the two girls led him outside, they went to where Elandra was serving drinks. First Kitty then Chloe gave her a hug and a little kiss on the cheek. Kitty quietly said "We know what you did." Chloe: "So, thank you." Elandra smiled at them, she said "Coffee ready." Chloe: "Oh, yes please." Kitty: "Two cups, please, she's too mean to share coffee." Chloe punched her, Kitty returned the punch. Elandra laughed, she said "No coffee if fighting." The two girls stopped, grinned, each accepting a mug of coffee as Elandra poured it, both said "Thank you."

Lenny said "One for me, please." By the time he had his, the girls were looking the other way, a lot of the people there were staring at them. Harper came to them, "I'm afraid you were heard, they were worried." "We're fine now, thank you. Oh, look, there's Captain David. Let's make sure he hasn't changed his mind."

As they walked away, Lenny was looking at them. Elandra said "You like them." Lenny replied "More than like. Something Dad said Daniel had told him, oh, Daniel is acting as their father. He said that these and their two friends cast a spell on anyone they get to know. They've done that to me. And thank you for what you did for them, it really seems to have worked." "Had to. Their spell is on me."

Half an hour later, the two girls found Lenny, he was with Holden and Harper. Chloe said "We're very tired, do you think we could go back to the hotel, please?" Lenny said "Of course. Wait here a moment, I'll make sure I can get the car out."

Holden asked "Are you all right?" Kitty said "Oh, yes thank you." Chloe said "You've all been kind, except …" Holden "Yes, I'm really sorry about that." Kitty muttered "Had a lot worse." Harper hugged her, "Hope you don't get that again." Kitty said "I think Lenny wants you to change your computer password." "He told me. I didn't see you looking at me typing it." "I wasn't really looking, I just happened to see."

Lenny came back, "Car's free." Kitty and Chloe each gave Harper and Holden a hug. Harper asked "Maybe we could have you round for a meal, just the family?" "Oh, yes please. We'd like that." "All right, we'll get Lenny to sort something out with you. Off you go." The two said "Goodbye, and thank you", they followed Lenny through the house to his car.

The two girls remained silent in the car for much of the trip back, then had a whispered conversation, after which Chloe asked "Lenny, would you like to eat with us in the hotel this evening?" He immediately replied "Love to, that's very kind of you. I'll just have to ring Mum up, they're expecting me back there." Kitty: "Are you sure they won't mind?" "No, it's quite all right. Anyway, I'd much prefer your company to some of the people who will still be there. Make sure I've got the carpark card ‑ yes."

Ten minutes later, they were at reception. Kitty went to the receptionist, "Could we have a table for three of us tonight, please?" The receptionist looked at her computer, said "Seven o'clock again?" "Yes, please." "That's booked, and with Karl." "With a 'K' I hope." The receptionist smiled, "Yes, Karl with a 'K'." Kitty ordered their breakfast in their room, thanked the receptionist, turned to find Lenny and Chloe talking.

"Is this a private conversation, or can anyone join in?" Chloe replied "I'm trying to persuade Lenny to teach us to swim. He's saying there isn't time." Kitty said "Is it that you don't want to?" Lenny replied "Oh, no, nothing like that, I'd love to. But there are only a few days."

Kitty said "Tomorrow is the first of those few. Let's make the most of them." Lenny grinned, "Okay, you're on. Got your cossies with you?" Seeing two blank faces, "Swimming costumes." "Oh, no, but I think the hotel shop sells them." The two girls dragged Lenny to the shop. They went round it until they found a display showing a bright orange bikini on a manikin. Kitty said "Here we are." An assistant came to them,"Can I help you?" "Yes please, two cossies like that." She pointed to the manikin. "Oh, it doesn't cover much, are you sure?" "Looks fine to me." "And me."

"All right, I'll see what we have. She opened a drawer under the counter, "I'm afraid we've only got one here." She brought out a bikini top and bottom in a fluorescent green. Kitty said "That's nice." The assistant said "But that's all we have." Chloe: "The display one." "I don't know if we can sell that. But, maybe for you. Just a moment."

The assistant made a phone call. A minute later, "Yes, that's all right. You can have the manikin one, we'll give you a discount." She undid the bows that held the two halves of the swimsuit to the manikin. "Shall I wrap these for you?" "Oh, no thank you, we're wearing them here." The assistant whispered something to Chloe, Chloe said "Ooh, didn't think of that. If so, can you suggest anything?" The assistant said "Beauty salon." "Thank you very much." "This is on your room?" "Yes, please."

Two minutes later, they left the shop, Lenny was waiting outside. "A bit embarrassing for me."

Chloe whispered something to Kitty. Kitty nodded, said "Quite right. Have to test. Lenny, can you wait down here, maybe get us some coffee? Put it on our room? Got to try them on." Without waiting for an answer, the two raced for the stairs, each trailing a bikini part in each hand. Twenty seconds later they came down again, ran to reception. Panting a little, Kitty said "Keycard, please." The receptionist, trying to stop laughing, held their card out. Kitty looked at it, then at the bikini top held in one hand, the bottom in her other. She put a strap of the top part into her mouth, clamped it with her teeth, grabbed the keycard in her hand, said "Fankoo", both girls turned and again raced for the stairs.

They were down within minutes, arguing over which way to the beauty salon. They ran off in different directions, seconds later Chloe came running back and went the way Kitty had gone.

Another few minutes, they reappeared, found where Lenny was sitting, threw themselves either side of him. "What was that all about?" Kitty said "Chloe's too hairy." "So are you." "Yes, well you chose them." Lenny held his hand up, "Stop. I don't think I want to know." Kitty told him "We won't be able to start swimming until maybe ten." Chloe said "Got an appointment to …" Lenny interrupted again, "No. I still don't want to know. Ten's fine. I'll be waiting for you. Now, drink you coffee before it gets any colder."

Kitty asked Lenny "Can you hold this for us please? Or I could ask reception." He took the keycard she was holding, slipped it in his pocket.

They sat sipping their coffee. After a bit, Lenny said "You're still wearing your black dresses. I would have thought you'd change." Kitty replied "We like these so much." Chloe: "They can only be worn at a funeral." Kitty: "We hope we don't get another for a long while." Chloe: "So this is the only time we can."

Lenny said "Well, you do look really good in them. I suppose you don't look too bad in your other⁠ … ouch." He had received a punch from both sides, though neither very hard. "Yes, but your dresses really are something else. Please don't spoil them, you are far too active in them.

"Now, can I talk to you about swimming? Tomorrow, I don't want you acting the goat. Running along the side, the surface is slippery, you could easily fall and bang your head. All right?" Two nods. "Mind you, that might knock some sense into you."

They drank their coffee in silence, until Kitty said "Should phone home, we were supposed to when we got back here." "Phone's in the room." "Lenny, you can come with us if you like, we could introduce you." Lenny: "I would like to meet these girls, everything you've said about them makes them pretty special." "Come on, then. Oh, where do we put our dirty cups?" Lenny said "You leave them where they are. That's what you are supposed to do. You two are far too nice."

The three went up the stairs, Lenny used the card to open the door. Kitty got her phone out of the wardrobe safe and went to the table, there were only two chairs there. Kitty sat on one, pulled Chloe to sit on her lap, Lenny just smiled to himself as he sat on the other chair.

Kitty phoned Midge, it was answered almost immediately. Midge asked "How are you both? How did it go?" Kitty replied "We're okay now, though it did get a bit tense. You're on speaker with Chloe and Lenny. Lenny, say hello to Midge and Molly." Lenny immediately came out with "Hello to Midge and Molly." A moment's pause, then "Oh, sense of humour. Good. Hope you are looking after them all right." Lenny: "Trying to, though they make it difficult at times. But I have to say, they are an absolute pleasure to be around." Midge said "We know, but don't tell them we said that. Now, Kitty, Chloe, tell us."

The two girls gave a summary, Midge and Molly just listened, just the occasional comment or query. When they paused, Midge asked "What's wrong? What happened?" Kitty said that a man tried to molest her. "Tell us." Chloe said "Lenny punched him, knocked him out." Kitty added "And when he came round, Chloe kneed him in the balls, floored him again." Midge asked "Kitty, are you all right?" Kitty replied "Fine now. Harper let us shower, we washed his filth off me. Chloe made sure everything still worked." Midge and Molly both laughed. Molly said "Good for Chloe. If it happens again, we'll come over." Chloe: "We said you would have killed him, Lenny didn't believe it." Lenny spoke, "I do now, they showed me the newspaper report on those boys."

Kitty: "We told them a lot of what was going on at the school. I showed them the drone video, asked Daniel first." Kitty started crying, Midge said "What's the matter? It's all over." Chloe said "Holden thinks her Uncle Bob found out what was happening to Kitty at the school. He committed suicide. Poor Kitty …" ‑ Chloe couldn't go on.

Lenny took over, "Poor Kitty reacted as if it was her own fault, though clearly it wasn't. Something else. They'd told us you helped them heal after they were cut. These two were on the floor, Chloe was very upset, Kitty was in real distress. Our housekeeper, Elandra, came in, put her hands on the two girl's foreheads, they were instantly asleep. She admitted she had some of your abilities, but didn't want anyone to know. She just couldn't bear the girls crying."

Midge: "Thank her from us."

Kitty managed to speak again. "Something else about Elandra. I don't know if I should tell you, it might upset you." Chloe: "You'll have to now, they'll get it out of you anyway." "What?" from Midge.

Kitty: "Holden had asked Jarrah, oh, he's their chef, if there were any like you amongst the aboriginals. This was before we knew she had those abilities, Elandra said her mother did. She also said there was maybe one in a generation. Please, Midge, Molly, don't hurt each other. Could your mum possibly …"

Silence. After a minute, Chloe asked "Midge?" A reply came, through some sobbing, "Maybe. Might explain some things. We're all right, only hugging. Got to think. Please, ring another time. Love you." The line went dead.

Lenny looked questioningly, "Don't hurt each other?" Chloe said "If they can't relieve stress in any other way, they will hit each other." Kitty: "Full strength." Chloe: "Could easily kill a normal person." Kitty: "Nearly killed us once." Chloe: "We'd tried to stop them." Kitty: "Story for another time."

Lenny said "Maybe something else I don't want to hear. Anyway, eats in ten minutes." Kitty: "You can meet Karl with a 'K'. He's been very good to us." Lenny grinned, "I already know him, we were at school together."

Chloe starts sketching

Without saying anything, Chloe got off Kitty, she went to a bedside table where there was a small notepad with the hotel's logo on the top of each page. She brought it, and a pen, back to the table. Without looking at Kitty or Lenny, she hoisted herself back onto Kitty's lap, squared the pad in front of her, looked at the pen, started drawing lines on the pad. Lenny looked at Kitty, he mouthed 'What?'. Kitty shook her head, mouthed back 'Don't know'.

With intense concentration, Chloe carried on drawing apparently random lines, until they seemed to coalesce into a face. Kitty exclaimed "That's Karl. How …" She stopped, lost for words.

Without any reaction, Chloe pulled the top sheet off the pad, put it to one side. She started putting more lines on the next sheet, again, they had no form until she'd almost finished. It became a caricature of Karl, a big head, a small body, large hands. One hand was holding a fork, in the other was a piece of paper with the word 'Menu' just legible. The head was drawn twice, so that it looked at both hands, a couple of lines suggesting it was rapidly turning between the two.

Chloe put the pen down, stared at her drawing. Kitty said "Chloe, I didn't know you could draw." Chloe looked up, as if coming out of a trance. "Nor did I, it just sort of happened. But something's wrong with it." "Looks all right to me." Chloe: "Shading. Pen won't shade." Lenny suggested "Pencil?" Chloe: "Might be better. But I'm hungry, time to eat. I'll give them to Karl, he's been lovely." Kitty said "You'd better sign and date them." "Yes, he might forget otherwise." Chloe wrote her name in the bottom right hand corner, together with the date. Chloe was about to pick them up, Kitty said "Just a mo." She got her phone, used it to take photographs of the two pages. "Otherwise they might not believe it. For that matter, I don't believe it."

Kitty picked up the bumbag, put her phone and the keycard in it, they left the room. Downstairs, as they crossed the reception area, Kitty said "Still a couple of minutes. Shop." She went to the shop, it was still open. The assistant there said "Something wrong with your costumes?" "Oh, no, do you have any pencils and paper for drawing on?" The assistant led her into the shop, "Not much really, but there are these pads, and some ordinary pencils." She picked up an A4 sized pad which had several sheets of quite thick plain paper. Kitty said "Looks good."

Kitty picked up a box of half a dozen pencils with a range of hardnesses, then asked "Rubber? Sharpener?" The assistant passed her what looked like a good quality eraser and a small sharpener. "Do you need something to carry them?" Kitty said "A shoulder‑bag, but not too big?"

"I might have just the thing, but it's got a designer label, might be a bit too expensive." She led Kitty further into the shop, picked up a nice leather bag. It was maroon in colour, just big enough to hold the pad in its main compartment and an outer pocket that would take the smaller items, both had zips.

Kitty said "Perfect, I'll take it." The assistant showed Kitty the price ticket, Kitty just glanced at it and said "It's for my friend. Please put it on the room."

She put everything in the bag, took it out of the shop where Chloe and Lenny were waiting. Kitty thrust the bag at Chloe. "Put this over your shoulder." Chloe asked Lenny to hold her sketches, she took the bag and looked at its contents. "What if it doesn't happen again?" "Then I'll have to keep pinching you until it does. Come on, let's go and eat." The three went into the restaurant, they were shown to a table and given menus.

When Karl came to them, he said "Hello girls. And Rod, good to see you again. Looking after my lovelies between meals for me?" Lenny said "Could you use my second name, Lenny, please? Favour to the girls?" "For them, anything."

Lenny said "Here, Chloe's done this. What do you think?" He gave Karl the first sketch of his face. "Hey, that's not bad at all." He went to pass it back, but Lenny passed him the cartoon. Karl immediately laughed, "That's brilliant, making it look as if I'm the one who doesn't know the menu or the cutlery. Amazing." Kitty said "She wants you to keep them, a sort of 'thank you' for being so good to us." "Well, thank you. I shall treasure these. Going to put them somewhere safe, back in a jiffy. Ro… er Lenny can start translating the menu, since I obviously don't understand it. I'll take your order when I get back." He walked away, looking at the sketches, they heard him again saying "Brilliant."

As they ate their meal, Lenny and Kitty wanted to talk about Chloe's sketching, but this seemed to upset her. They talked about swimming instead, Lenny telling them about some experiences he'd had when he was a lifeguard or surfing. When they'd finished eating, they ordered coffee.

With the table almost clear, Chloe quietly got her pad out, opened the box of pencils, tried a couple, picked one and put the other back in the box. She squared the pad up, once again started drawing apparently random lines. It was only a minute or so before Lenny's face appeared, it was smiling. Chloe wrote her name and the date, carefully pulled the page from the pad. Without pause, she started again. She was drawing more quickly, as if gaining confidence. After another minute, Kitty, grinning, "Oh, Chloe, really?" Chloe didn't seem to notice. Lenny turned to Kitty, a frown on his face, "I don't see anything." But, when he looked back to Chloe's sketch, "Oh, my god, Chloe."

The picture he saw was a caricature of himself, large head, small body. There was a girl, again, large head, tiny body, obviously Chloe, kneeling in front of him. Chloe signed and dated it, then seemed to realise what she'd drawn. "Oh, did I do that? Anyway, these are for you." She pulled the cartoon from the pad, put it on top of the first picture, pushed them towards Lenny.

Kitty intercepted them, took her phone from her bumbag, separated the two and photographed them. Lenny said "Are you sure you want me to have them?" "Quite sure. That's if you want them." "I do, but I don't think I'll let Mum or Dad see the second one, that's really quite naughty of you. I don't want them creased, could you keep them in your pad until I can put them in the car?"

Chloe placed one on top of the other, made sure they were perfectly aligned, and put them in the back of her pad against its cardboard backing. She put the pad and pencils in her bag, did its zips up.

Kitty asked her "No more?" Chloe shook her head, "Maybe another time."

When they'd finished their coffee, Lenny asked "Would you mind if I left you now? Mum and Dad might need me to run some stragglers home." Kitty said "Quite all right. We'll see you tomorrow, in reception." Lenny: "I can take those pictures with me. Chloe, I love them. Going to get the one framed, the other, I don't know, probably hide it behind the first."

While Chloe went into her bag to get the pad out, Kitty gave Lenny a proper kiss. When she released him, she took the sketches from Chloe so that Chloe could do the same. After Chloe let him go, he shook his head and said "Wow." He took his sketches from Kitty, he made sure the first was on top, said "Tomorrow, ten." He walked off, they heard him say "Wow" again.

Chloe put her pad back in the bag, they walked quite sedately out of the dining room and up the stairs. Back in the room, they took their dresses off, hung them in the wardrobe, went into the bathroom, toileted and showered. When they came out, Kitty said "Can't phone home until after ten. Could phone Daniel. Yes, you phone Daniel, no, you'd better phone Audrey, he'll be working. I'm going to email your pictures to Midge and Molly. They'll be gob‑smacked."

Chloe phoned Audrey. Kitty was concentrating on emailing Chloe's sketch pictures, but could hear "Hello … Yes, we're both fine, thank you. … Yes, nasty. But Lenny hit him pretty hard, and I managed to hurt him as well. …Yes, that's right. I've seen the twins do it, I can't do it as hard, but it was still very effective. … He's going to teach us how to swim tomorrow. … No, the hotel's got a swimming pool, we've got some lovely cossies but got to get shaved. … Well, they are allowed to sell them, so we can wear them. … That's what he said, but at least we can use the days we are here. … No, the day after tomorrow, Captain David is teaching us to fly his aeroplane. … He's the one who piloted the plane from London to Perth. … He knew Uncle Bob, he was at the funeral. … No, a simulator. … Yes, don't think we can really crash it … Oh, yes, she's here, just a mo, I'll pass you over."

Had she been listening, Chloe would have heard Kitty talking. "Hello. …Yes, fine now. He didn't actually hurt me, but I felt sick. Lenny knocked him out, and after he got up Chloe kneed him pretty hard. Didn't know she had it in her. … Yes, Harper let me use her shower, Chloe made sure I was clean everywhere. Talking of Chloe, did you know she can draw? … Yes. … Really surprised me, but brilliant. Oh, she's doing a sketch now, can't tell what it is yet. … She draws random lines, and a picture seems to appear out of them. Ah, it's of you, I'll take a photo of it and email it. She's started another, she seems to do the face or head of someone, then some sort of cartoon of them. Just a mo."

Using the phone, Kitty photographed Chloe's first one of Audrey. By the time she'd emailed it, Chloe had finished the cartoon. Kitty said into the phone "Still there? You've got it? Not bad is it? But wait for this one." Kitty could hardly stop herself laughing. It showed a small globe, Australia near the bottom. Standing on Australia was an upside‑down Audrey, Chloe's typical sketch of a tiny body and large head and hands. She'd got the body doubled up so her head and arms were the right way up. Her hands were holding a dish with a pudding on it with a whole pineapple on the top. Kitty photographed the cartoon, emailed it. After a few moments, Kitty heard Audrey laughing. Kitty said "Putting you on speaker."

Audrey said "Chloe, that's wonderful, I love it. Where did you learn to do that? Chloe: "I don't know, it just seems to happen. Don't really want to talk about it." Chloe was putting her pad and pencil back into her shoulder‑bag.

They talked a bit more, then Audrey said "I'd better get on, things to do here." They said their goodbyes, Chloe closed the call.

Kitty said "It's still not time to ring the twins yet, how about a cup of tea?" Chloe nodded enthusiastically. Kitty used the room phone to ring room service. "Could we have tea for two, please?" She listened for a bit, said "I'm sorry, I don't know what you are talking about, just tea, like we have at breakfast. … That makes sense, so yes please." She gave their room number, said "Thank you" and put the phone down. She said to Chloe "There must be a million types of tea. We're going to get English breakfast tea, hope it's right."

Chloe said "Perhaps we should put our dresses on." "Yes, good thinking."

After hers was on, Chloe got her pad and pencil out. Kitty just watched while the face of the waiter who had brought their breakfast appeared from under Chloe's pencil. Signed and dated, Chloe pulled the sheet off her pad, started drawing again. This turned into the cartoon waiter, big head, small body. There was a little trolly with big wheels and a large teapot on it. The waiter had his hands over his face. In front of him was a bed with two grinning girls sat up in it, their big breasts on diminutive bodies clearly showing.

Chloe signed and dated it, pulled it from the pad and put pad and pencil away. Kitty immediately photographed them, she emailed them to Midge. Kitty asked Chloe for her phone that she was using when she photographed the Audrey sketches, she emailed those photos.

Shortly after, Kitty's phone rang, it was Midge. Kitty said "Hello, you're on speaker with Chloe." Midge said "Chloe, did you really do these?" Kitty answered, "She did, but doesn't want to talk about it, she did say she'd never done anything like it before." Midge: "Well, the one of Audrey is very good, the others certainly look like real people." Kitty: "They are. Can we change the subject, please?" She'd seen Chloe's face, there were tears in her eyes.

Kitty continued "Lenny's going to teach us to swim tomorrow." Midge: "Surely it'll take more than one day to learn to swim." "That's what Lenny said, but we've got the rest of the time here, except the day after tomorrow. Captain David is going to teach us to fly, though only in a simulator."

They had to explain who Captain David was, how they'd been shown the cockpit. Chloe said "Kitty probably knows more about their plane than they do, asked them loads of questions, a lot they had to look up in a manual." Midge just replied "Typical Kitty."

There was a knock on the door, "Room Service." Kitty called out "Come in." Chloe said into the phone "We're getting a cup of tea from room service." Midge immediately said "At least you won't have to put up with one of Kitty's." Chloe started to say something, but came out with "Ouch. I didn't say that." "No, but you thought it. Now, give the waiter his tip."

Chloe looked up, it was the same waiter who'd brought their breakfasts. Chloe picked up the two sheets of paper, Kitty had placed them with the sketch of the man's face on top, she handed them to the waiter. He took the first, and after a moment there was a look somewhere between pleasure and amazement on his face. "That's really good, you have quite a talent. He looked at he second sheet, his face changed to one of embarrassment, he said "No, I didn't see anything, you were covered up."

Kitty said to him "I think she just allows her imagination to draw, I don't think it's conscious thought, don't worry." He muttered "Thank you, but please, don't make that become real, I'll get the sack."

After he left, Kitty said to the phone, "Did you hear that?" Midge: "Yes, it sounded as if he really liked it. Not sure what we're going to do with Chloe when you get back." Kitty heard a sob in the background. Midge said "We really miss you." Kitty: "Goes both ways." Midge: "Drink you tea before it gets cold." The line went dead, Midge must have ended it.

Chloe muttered "They were crying, I think they were talking alternately while the other one sobbed." "I think you're right. Come on, we mustn't start. Tea."

As they were drinking, Chloe got her pad and pencil out again. Kitty just watched, as the face of the receptionist evolved. Chloe proceeded to draw a cartoon, it had Kitty in stitches.

Australia day 5

In the morning, the room service waiter knocked on the door, "Are you decent?" Kitty called out "No." Chloe: "But we're covered up." The waiter opened the door, glanced at the bed before coming in and putting their breakfasts on the table. He couldn't get out quickly enough, the girls both laughing at him.

At five to nine the two girls came tumbling down the stairs into the reception area, Chloe was holding the two parts of her bikini, one in each hand, Kitty's was stuffed into her bumbag, though a couple of its straps were dangling out. She was holding Chloe's sketches in her two hands, when she hit the floor she managed to keep the paper tucked in while she rolled right over and back onto her bare feet, neither had shoes on.

There was a large group of people queuing for the receptionist. Kitty dodged her way to the front, said "Sorry, can't be late", and thrust the sketches at the receptionist, saying "Chloe did these for you." Kitty vanished before the receptionist could pick up the papers. On the top one was a picture of her face. She smiled, then looked up at the first person in the queue, she said "Sorry, they're a bit of a force around here." She glanced at the second picture and burst out laughing. It showed her with the usual big head, big hands and small body. One hand held a keycard, the other a bikini bottom, hanging by its strap. From her teeth there was a bikini top dangling, and a very puzzled look on her face.

Meanwhile the girls had gone to the beauty salon. After a brief talk with the girl there, Kitty phoned Midge. The usual greetings, then Kitty said "We're in the beauty salon, you're on speaker with Chloe and the nice lady here. Our cossies are quite small, Chloe's too hairy …ooh, that hurt."

Chloe: "Swimsuits are small, pubes showing, but we like them." Kitty "The nice lady has asked whether to trim or take it all off." Midge: "Definitely don't shave it all." Chloe: "Okay, just get a trim round the edges." Kitty: "Thank you, love you, 'bye."

The 'nice lady' looked somewhat taken aback, but recovered herself. "Shave or wax?" Kitty asked "What's the difference?" "Shaving is easier and less painful, but it needs doing every couple of days, waxing pulls the roots out and will last a couple of weeks or so, but doing it hurts a bit."

The two girls looked at each other, and in unison said "Wax."

About five to ten, they were back in the reception area. They saw Lenny sat in an armchair, they raced over to him. Kitty pretty much shouted "Decent, now" to him. He stood up, his mouth open. Then "I'm not sure about that, come on, we'd better get you to the swimming area, those cossies are definitely not for anywhere else. People normally use the changing rooms there." The two girls were just wearing their bikinis, Chloe had her dress in one hand, Kitty with her dress in one, bumbag in the other.

Lenny led them past several people who were just staring at the girls, the girls seemed totally unfazed, they just skipped along behind Lenny.

Out into the pool area, Lenny led them towards the changing rooms. The attendant asked for room numbers, Kitty told them theirs, and added "Lenny's going to teach us to swim, is that all right?" The attendant said "Ah, thought it might be you. Yes, that's fine. Karl told me to expect you, he overheard you talking at dinner. Lenny, is it? Changing room for men through that door. Girls, if you go into the ladies' room, you'll find lockers for your stuff, they're key‑pad coded, enter four digits with them open, then close them. Only your four digits will open them. And when you've finished, leave the door open, okay?" "Yes, thank you."

Lenny had waited, he said "Remember, no …" The girls interrupted him, in unison shouted "Running." They immediately started walking as quickly as they could towards the changing rooms. The attendant said "You've got your hands full with that pair." Then "Oh, I didn't mean …" Lenny interrupted, "I know exactly what you meant, and you're quite right."

Swimming 1

When Lenny came out, he found the two girls holding hands, sitting cross-legged right at the edge of the pool facing the water. He said to them "Just wait a mo, I'm going to speak to the lifeguard." He walked round to the deep end where the lifeguard was sitting in a chair.

When he came back, he said "I told him what we were doing, he'll keep a special eye on you in case anything goes wrong that I can't handle. Now, you see those depth markers along the side? Don't go deeper than the one-point-two-metre sign. But remember you can drown in five centimetres of water, you still have to be careful.

"You can see a couple of blokes doing lengths. They'll probably keep over to the far side, try not to get in their way. Okay, you can get in, but don't do anything until I'm with you."

Still holding hands, the two girls simply tipped themselves forward, went head first into the water. Immediately Lenny jumped in and the lifeguard was off his seat and running towards them. Before either could get to the girls, their heads appeared, both were spluttering. They were hugging each other, their spluttering rapidly changing to laughter.

Lenny said "That I never expected. There's good and bad. The good is that you are not afraid of the water. The bad is that you are not afraid of the water. Do you understand what I am saying?" Kitty said "Yes, we could drown." Chloe was nodding, "We do realise that."

Lenny: "Good." He waved to the Lifeguard, gesturing that they were all right. "Right, both of you, there's a bar along the edge, I want you to hold it … Now squat down until just your head is above water … Good. Walk your feet back as far as you can, try to straighten your body, your feet will go light. Kitty, hold there. Chloe, I'm going to put a hand under your chest … now, straighten your legs … good, slowly take one hand off the rail … That's very good. Keep both arms outstretched, try removing your other hand, I won't let you sink."

Chloe started moving her hands and arms to help keep her head above water. Lenny gradually lowered his hand from her chest, her arm motion started to move her forward, she grabbed the bar to stop her head hitting it. Lenny said "Okay, relax. Kitty, let's try that with you. Oh, don't need my help?" Kitty was doggy-paddling, she was holding herself on the spot. While he was looking at Kitty, Chloe had let go of the bar and was doing the same.

Lenny got them to face away from the bar towards the middle of the pool, told them to wag their legs up and down, both started moving forward. "Hey, stop, you're going to get in the way." Both girls managed to get their feet down, though with a bit of spluttering. They stood up, both had broad smiles on their faces.

Lenny got them to move their arms more like a crawl, got them to turn. He soon had them going along towards deeper water, him swimming between them, ready in case either got into difficulty, then told them to turn to swim back. He had them going to and fro, after a few times he stopped going with them, just calling out encouragement and odd instructions to get them to swim better. After a couple of hours, he told them to go right to the shallow end to the steps.

Both girls found they had very little strength left in them, both just lay down on their backs, both were laughing. Lenny went to the attendant, got some towels, laid a towel over each of them then started drying himself. While he was doing so, the lifeguard walked to him. "I thought you said they'd never been in the water before." Lenny replied "That's what they told me, and I do believe it, though I am absolutely amazed by what they achieved in such a short time."

He turned to the two girls who were now sitting up, towels round themselves. Kitty said "Help us up, we're a bit wobbly." Lenny went to one, the lifeguard to the other, pulled them up, made sure they were standing all right. Lenny thanked the lifeguard, "I think we're going to call it a day, they're knackered.

"All right girls, go and get yourselves dressed." He watched as they staggered to the ladies' changing room, then he went to the men's. When he came out, they were stood there waiting for him, each hand holding a piece of wet bikini. Lenny was carrying his costume in a plastic bag, he gave his towel to the attendant, thanked him, turned to the girls. "Hungry?" "Famished." Kitty suggested "We could go to our room, get room service. Want to dump these anyway." Lenny said "Sounds all right." Kitty said "I'll just go to reception to book our meal tonight, and breakfast for tomorrow." Lenny said "You can order room service there. Come on, let's see what they've got." They ordered sandwiches and tea at reception, the receptionist said she loved Chloe's sketches, thanked her profusely.

As they left reception, Kitty said "I think we should get Chloe some more paper, at the rate she's going she'll run out." Kitty led them to the shop, asked if there were any more pads. The assistant looked in a drawer, "We've got two." Kitty said "We'll take them both, thank you."

A few minutes later they were in their room, Kitty with Chloe on her lap, Lenny on the other chair while they waited for their lunch. Lenny looked thoughtful, then said "Your hair." "What about it?" asked Kitty. "I want to get you breathing properly as soon as possible, you'll be twisting your heads in the water. Your hair will get in the way." Chloe, rather petulantly, said "Not cutting it." Lenny: "Wouldn't dream of asking you to. They should have some swimming caps in the shop, you can tuck your hair into those. Let's see what they've got. If not, I'm sure they've got some scissors."

Chloe got off Kitty, went to Lenny, punched him on the shoulder, went back to sit on Kitty again. Lenny rubbed his shoulder, smiling he said "That hurt." Kitty responded with "She practises on me." Chloe: "But Kitty doesn't complain." Together they said "Thought Australians were supposed to be tough."

The banter was interrupted by a knock on the door, "Room service." Chloe called out "Come in." As the door opened, Kitty called out "Tits are covered" and put her hands over Chloe's breasts.

The waiter stopped for a moment, then wheeled his trolly in, trying not to look at the girls. He put two trays on the table, muttered "Just a mo." He went to the door, reached into the corridor and brought in another chair, he said "Thought you could use this" and backed out with his trolly. Lenny called out "Thank you, and they're not with me."

When he'd left, Lenny asked "You've not been flaunting yourselves, have you?" Kitt said "No, Chloe sketched something. Here." She took out her phone, showed Lenny the photo of Chloe's cartoon sketch of the waiter. "And before you ask, we've been covered whenever he's delivered to us."

Lenny smiled, "You are two very naughty girls."

While they were eating, they talked about swimming, Lenny asking how they managed so well. Kitty said "Other people do it, so why not us?" Chloe "And you told us what to do." Kitty: "So we did it."

When they'd finished their lunch, Chloe suggested they go to the shop to see about swimming caps. They all went down the stairs, in the shop they were shown some, they chose orange and a green, the same colours as their bikinis. Lenny asked "Do you want to do anything else today?" The girls looked at each other, Kitty said "I don't think so. Maybe we'll just go and lie down for a bit, would you mind?" Lenny replied "Of course not. Pick you up tomorrow, quarter to nine?" They walked across the foyer, Lenny: "You take the lift, I'll wait." Chloe: "No, we'll use the stairs." She gave Lenny a kiss, said "See you tomorrow." Kitty kissed him, then "Thank you for today."

Lenny watched them until they disappeared up the stairs, then he pressed the lift button.

When the girls got to their room, they found their lunch debris had been cleared, though there were still three chairs. Without saying anything, Chloe sat at the table, took out her pad, started sketching. Kitty just watched, until the face of the doorman appeared. As before, Chloe signed and dated it, pulled the sheet from the pad, she started another. This became a cartoon doorman, large head and hands, small body. He was standing, arms outstretched, trying to stop two girls wearing dark dresses who were running past him, ducking under his arms. Signed, dated, Chloe pulled it from the pad, put the pad and pencil in her bag.

Kitty photographed the sketches, she turned to find Chloe had taken off her dress, and was climbing into bed. Kitty followed Chloe's example, and after a very brief kissing session, they fell asleep.

They were woken by Kitty's phone, it was Midge calling. Midge asked "Everything all right? You took an age to answer." Kitty replied "Just taking a nap, yes, everything's fine, just worn out. Are you all right?" "Yes, everything good here. So, how did your swimming lesson go?" Chloe: "Lenny seemed pleased with us, he's going to get us to breath properly." Kitty: "But it's the flight simulator tomorrow."

They talked a bit about nothing in particular, until Kitty noticed the time. She said "We'll have to go, our dinner is booked for seven, just time for a shower." Midge said "Miss you lots. Love you." Chloe: "Us too." Midge ended the call.

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Introduction