Mandm

Mandm
Part 10.070 ‑ Australia (continued)

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.

Australia day 6

The next morning they made sure they were well covered by the bedclothes when the waiter brought in their breakfast. They ate it quite quickly, were showered and downstairs in plenty of time. They went to the door of the hotel, Chloe gave the doorman her sketches of him. He looked at the first, said "That's very good, did you do this?" Kitty answered for her, "Yes, she did. Now look at the second." He did so, started roaring with laughter, "That's really great. These for me?" Kitty nodded, "She wants you to have them." "Thank you so much, I love them."

They saw Lenny's car pulling up, they went outside and into the car. "Have we recovered?" he asked. "Just about" from Chloe. "Muscles ache that I never knew I had before" from Kitty. Lenny laughed, "Yes, every sport seems to have its own set. Now, before I forget, would you like to eat at Mum and Dad's this evening, just us?" A quick glance between the two girls, "Yes, that would be good. Not booked anything at the hotel yet, thank you." Lenny said "I'll just ring home to let Mum know." He briefly used his phone before moving off into the traffic.

When they reached the airport, Lenny stopped at a barrier. A security man came to the car, Lenny handed him the paper that Captain Evans had given him. The security man went into his box, made a phone call, came back. "Yes, that's fine." He told Lenny where to drive, then "Your man will meet you there."

Flight simulator

A few minutes later, David was greeting them, a handshake with Lenny, and fending off two hugging girls. "Come on, then. Lenny, could you carry my flight bag for me?" ‑ each girl had grabbed one of David's hands. He led them into a building, along a corridor, into a very large open room. In the centre was a strange construction, standing on stilts. David explained that it was simulating an aircraft cockpit, the legs were hydraulic rams that moved the cockpit around to simulate the forces that are felt in flight.

He took them up some steps that went to one end of the object, opened a door and led them inside, where another man was sitting. David introduced them, "This is Gerrard, he's the technician responsible for the simulator. These are Kitty, Chloe, and Lenny, the poor soul who's looking after them."

The three took turns to shake his hand. He said "Hello. David says he thinks you might be pretty good at this. We shall see. Follow me."

He led them through an archway into what what appeared to be the inside of an aeroplane’s cockpit. Behind the two pilots’ seats were a couple of seats for observers, and one facing sideways against a desk with a computer terminal.

Gerrard asked "David, how do you want to play this?" David replied "Set it flying straight and level at thirty thousand, on autopilot, please." Then, to the girls, "I’ll sit in the pilot’s seat, one of you can sit in the copilot’s, the other can sit in an observer's seat, you should both be able to see what I do. Without fighting, who’s going where?" Chloe said "Kitty, you take the observers, you’ll see better."

David sat in the left-hand pilot’s seat, Chloe got into the right, Kitty into an observer's. He told them to put on their seatbelts, he showed Chloe how to adjust the seat, then told her "Don’t touch anything unless I say so." As he was talking, through the windscreen could be seen blue sky with wisps of cloud below them, towards the bottom of the view there was what might have been green fields that vanished into mist in the distance. David said "The view is representative, it serves the purpose, it's more detailed around airports. George is flying at the moment."

David firstly told them what the main controls were. He turned off the autopilot and started showing how the plane responded to the controls, telling them to look at the instruments as well as out of the cockpit windows. He moved the engine throttle controls, telling them to look at the airspeed indicator and altimeter. "Actually, you should be scanning all the flight instruments."

He spent about half an hour just demonstrating, then he turned on the autopilot again. "Right, who’s going to have a go first?" Kitty said "Well, Chloe’s got those controls in front of her, she can."

Two hours later, Chloe was still in the copilot's seat, Kitty was in the pilot’s, David in the observer's. Kitty was 'pilot flying', Chloe was 'pilot monitoring'. Chloe was following Kitty’s instructions on flaps ‑ typically "Flaps five" to which Chloe responded "Flaps five ‑ set." And "Undercarriage down" ‑ "Undercarriage down … three green." Chloe was also calling out airspeed and height, until, as they got lower, the plane was calling out heights, she just gave the airspeed.

Kitty: "Reverse thrust, full throttle." Some seconds later, "Oh, bugger." They felt some quite uncomfortable cockpit movement as the plane went over the end of the runway before finally coming to rest.

Gerrard turned the simulation off. He was the first one to speak, "You didn’t use the brakes." Kitty, a little tense, "I couldn’t reach the damned brakes." Then "Oh, sorry, but I couldn’t, my legs aren’t long enough."

After a couple of minutes silence, David said "I thought you would be good, but I never thought that good. That was a perfect landing." Gerrard asked "What type of plane have you flown before?" Kitty said "Only ever been in the two coming here. David showed us the cockpit which helped a bit. But I did have a pretty good copilot." Chloe reached across, gave Kitty a prod. "Is that all I was?" Kitty grinned, "Well, you are pretty, and you are good, and you were my copilot."

Gerrard said "Well, that was an incredible display from both of you. But I’m sorry, that’s all the time you can have, I’m going to have to kick you out, I have some paying customers due soon." Kitty and Chloe undid their straps and were ushered out first, each giving Gerrard a handshake, one saying "Thank you, that was really great", the other "Absolutely brilliant, thank you so much." Lenny was next, he also thanked Gerrard, adding "Much appreciated."

When David came out, he said "I hope you enjoyed that." Kitty said "What an experience, how do you do that day in and day out? That was so, I don’t know, intense, nerve-wracking, not sure how to describe it."

After a little more talking about their performance, David suggested going to the café the aircrew used. Picking up his flight bag, he led them down the steps and along seemingly endless corridors, through several doors, until they entered the café. It was self-service, they each took trays, asked for the lady behind the counter for whatever they wanted. When the girls saw the portion sizes, they decided to share one plate.

David insisted on paying for all of them, saying he’d really enjoyed watching them, they were such easy students, picking up everything he said, that they would ask questions if they didn’t understand something. "And I never had to repeat anything."

They sat at a table, the girls on one side, David and Lenny on the other. Kitty had put their plate between the two of them, they each had a fork to feed themselves, but every so often one would offer their fork to the other. Neither man was surprised.

When they’d all finished, David asked "Tea? Coffee?" Both girls responded "Tea, please." David got up, Lenny went with him. Kitty stacked their dirty plates, saw there was a trolly where a waitress was putting used crockery and cutlery, she took her pile to it.

When she got back to the table, Chloe had got her sketch pad out, a picture of David was looking out from Chloe’s pad, somehow her sketch showed him with an air of reassuring confidence. As she was pulling the sheet from the pad, David and Lenny were returning with a tray containing two pots of tea, a milk jug and four mugs. Chloe seemed unaware, just started another. She continued sketching while the two men put the contents of the tray onto the table.

As she was signing it, David started laughing, "Oh, that’s so good." What he saw was the front of an aeroplane, nose digging into the ground, the visible fuselage looking crumpled. Hanging out of the cockpit window was the pilot, his large head complete with uniform cap, apparently shouting, big hands held out as if trying to catch the two girls who were racing away, arms with their big hands held sideways like wings, big smiles on their faces.

Kitty got her phone out, photographed them, then handed them to David, "That’s Chloe’s thankyou." Chloe said nothing, just put her pad and pencil away. David: "Well, thank you, these are really good. Drawing as well as flying." He put them carefully into his flight bag, "Don’t want to spoil them."

Kitty: "She only started drawing two days ago." "Amazing."

They talked a bit more about flying and swimming, Chloe clearly didn’t want to talk about sketching.

Their tea drunk, David said "I've got a meeting to go to in a little while. I'll have to escort you to your car."

This time Chloe held one of David's hands, Kitty one of Lenny's as David led them through the maze of corridors. When they arrived at the car, David got a hug from both girls together and a kiss on his cheeks. They thanked him profusely, got in the car, leaving David just watching them as Lenny drove them away.

Swimming 2

Lenny said "So, afternoon free. More swimming?" Kitty and Chloe both said "Yes, please." Lenny took them back to the hotel, ten minutes later the three were in the pool. Lenny was showing them how to breath in by turning their head to the side out of the water, and breath out underwater. There was much spluttering and laughing, but after an hour, both were swimming a reasonable crawl.

He got out of the pool, left the two girls doing lengths. He got a towel from the attendant, and went to chat to the lifeguard, all the time watching the girls.

After several lengths, both girls were tiring, they stopped their lengths, treading water at the deep end. They started ducking down, trying to prod each other, squirming around to avoid the other's prod. After a few minutes, they hugged each other and both ducked under water. They stayed down for a while, Lenny and the lifeguard were both getting a little anxious, but eventually they came up, hugging, both laughing.

Lenny called to them, "Had enough for now?" The girls swam to the edge, Lenny grabbed Kitty's arm, pulled her up, the lifeguard did the same for Chloe. Both girls were still giggling, the reason became clear, the one with orange cap and bikini bottom now had the green top, and vice versa. They'd swapped their bikini tops while submerged.

"You are naughty girls" Lenny said, but he could hardly stop himself laughing. "Come on, let's get you dry and changed."

Leaving the swimming pool, while the girls took their costumes to their room, Lenny ordered some coffee for them in the reception area.

They sat and talked about flight simulators and swimming, then the girls asked about Lenny himself. He told them he was at university, he did odd jobs during vacations, his dad was paying him for his time with the girls. Kitty remarked "So I am paying you." "Well, yes, I suppose so."

Chloe got her pad and pencil out of her bag, put the pad on the coffee table in front of her, squared it up. She was having to lean forward uncomfortably to draw on the low table, so she got off her chair, knelt on the floor. She proceeded to sketch, soon the face of the lifeguard appeared. She started another. This turned out to be a cartoon of the lifeguard pulling a girl out of the water, it looked like Chloe. Her bikini top dangling by a strap from her mouth. When finished, Kitty took photos of the two sketches, after which Chloe, without a word, took the drawings out to the swimming pool area. She came back a minute later, put her pad and pencils away.

Lenny asked "Did he like them?" Chloe looked puzzled, "Like them? I suppose so, I don't really remember." Kitty asked "Are you all right?" Chloe seemed to snap out of wherever she was, "Yes, I'm fine, why do you ask?" Kitty, a worried expression on her face, just hugged her.

Meal at Holden and Harper's

A little while later, Lenny suggested they go to his parents' house, it was after four o'clock. They arrived at Holden's shortly after five, Lenny led them through into the living room. Harper was there, she got up, gave each of the girls a hug. "So, how are you both?" Kitty said "Still suffering from swimming." Chloe: "Lenny tried to drown us." Kitty: "But we could out-swim him." Chloe: "So we survived."

This had both Harper and Lenny laughing. Harper asked them to sit down. Kitty and Chloe sat together in an armchair. Harper asked if they'd rather sit on a settee, they both shook their heads, Kitty said "We always like to sit squashed together a bit." "Would you like some tea or coffee?"

"Coffee would be nice" from Chloe. "Yes, please" from Kitty. Lenny went out, came back a moment later, "Elandra will bring us some."

Harper asked "So how did your swimming lesson really go?" Kitty said "Lenny seemed pleased with us." Lenny said "Yesterday they were able to doggy‑paddle within minutes, and swimming reasonably well after two hours. Quite incredible. Today they were swimming lengths and breathing properly."

Elandra came in with a tray with four mugs of coffee. After she'd emptied the tray onto a coffee table, both girls jumped up, both hugged her, kissed her cheeks. She smiled at them, "Hello, I don't normally get greeted like that." As they let go of her, Kitty said "Well, you should be." The girls sat down again, Elandra turned and walked quickly from the room.

Lenny: "She was crying." Chloe asked "Shouldn't we have done that?" Harper: "I don't think it was what you did, but …" Harper got up and walked out of the room. Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, Chloe, to Lenny, "We don't want to upset anyone, but we only did what we often do." Lenny: "I don't think that's what it was. Elandra doesn't usualIy show emotion around visitors⁠⁠ … I don't know. Mum's gone to see what upset her."

They sat in silence until, after a few minutes, Harper returned. "She's all right. Something about you two, she said 'So nice. They don't deserve …' and wouldn't say any more. But she's cheered up now, so don't worry. Drink you coffee before it gets cold."

Kitty asked "Is Holden still at work?" Harper replied "Yes, he won't be back until probably half past six, I've asked Jarrah to have dinner ready for seven, hope that's all right." Kitty replied "That's fine, that's when we've been eating." Chloe: "And we don't want to be too late getting back, the flight simulator today was quite tiring, and the slave driver here wore us out this afternoon."

Lenny said that David was very impressed by the girls' performance, and the technician couldn't believe they'd never flown before.

Harper started asking questions about how they were living now, their present schooling, how they got on with sharing with each other and with Midge and Molly.

"Who does the cooking?" Kitty said "We all do." Chloe said "But Kitty's is the worst." In an instant both were wrestling on the floor, but within a very few seconds the wrestling became a hug. They helped each other up, sat back on the chair. Lenny was smiling, Harper looked concerned. Lenny saw his mother's face, he said "Oh, don't worry, they're always doing that." Kitty: "She knew exactly what would happen when she said what she did." Chloe: "But too worn out to have a proper fight."

They carried on talking, the girls said they were going to be bridesmaids at a friend's wedding, described the dresses that Rachel was making. Kitty still had the photos of the sketches that Holly had drawn on her phone, this had Harper asking many questions about the dresses, about Sophie and George, their plans for the future. At one point, Kitty started gently crying, Chloe asked if they could talk about something else.

It wasn’t long before Holden came in. The girls both got up, gave him a joint hug. "Hello, so how has today been?" They excitedly told him about the flight simulator, Lenny said how extremely impressed the captain and the technician both were. Lenny added that he was totally amazed at their swimming ability after such a short time.

They talked for a while until Elandra came in, whispered in Harper’s ear. As Elandra went out, Harper announced dinner would be in five minutes. Both girls got up, Chloe said "Bathroom", they disappeared. When they came out of the bathroom, Lenny was waiting for them, he showed them into the dining room. Harper and Holden were already seated on one side of the table, Holden stood as the girls came in. He sat when the two girls sat, they and Lenny on the opposite side from Harper and Holden. Chloe was between Lenny and Kitty, she hung her bag from the back of her chair.

Moments later, Jarrah and Elandra came in with their meals, there were steaks and various vegetables. Both girls said "Hello" to Jarrah, he just smiled back. Jarrah went out of the room, Elandra went and sat on a chair just inside the door.

They ate in silence for a while, then Chloe commented "This meat, it’s sort of like beef, but very tender, and has more flavour." Harper: "It’s kangaroo, hope you like it." Kitty: "Yes, never had it before, but it’s good."

After their first course, Elandra cleared away their plates. She came back with some pudding dishes, Jarrah carrying in a pavlova.

Once again, Jarrah left the room, Elandra sat just inside. Harper said "I gather you are rather partial to pavlova, so Jarrah’s made this one for you." It was presented a little differently from those they'd had before, a selection of several fruits piled up in the centre rather than just one type spread out. Harper put some in dishes and passed them round. When everyone had a dish, the girls tried theirs. Kitty said "Oh, that’s good." Chloe: "Right up there with Audrey’s."

When they’d finished, Harper asked "Any more? Plenty here." Both Kitty and Chloe shook their heads, Chloe said "Thank you, it was fabulous, but I’m too full." Kitty nodded, "Same here, but thank you, and thank Jarrah, delicious."

Holden asked "Tea or coffee?" Kitty said "Coffee would be good, please." Choe: "And for me, thank you." Elandra came to the table, took the used pudding dishes away, she came back a moment later and took the remains of the pavlova. A few minutes later, she returned carrying a tray with cups and saucers, Jarrah followed her in with a large metal jug. Harper said "Thank you" to them, Kitty and Chloe both got up, went to Jarrah and gave him a hug. "Fabulous meal" from Kitty, "Marvellous" from Chloe. Jarrah grinned at them, and left the room without saying anything.

Harper smiled, "I think you’ve embarrassed him, most people just take him for granted." Kitty said "But no one should be taken for granted." Lenny: "But that’s the way people are."

Holden asked "Now, I believe you both like your coffee black?" "Yes, please" chorused the girls. While they were drinking it, Holden asked "Have you any specific plans for tomorrow?" The girls shook their heads, Lenny said "Nothing arranged." Holden "Could you come to my office for ten o’clock? Oh, nothing to worry about, just bit of official business." Lenny said "I can be at the hotel for quarter to ten, escort you again?" "Yes please."

When Chloe had finished her coffee, she moved her cup away a bit. She reached into her bag, brought out her pad and selected a pencil from her box. Placing the pad in front of her, she squared it and started moving the pencil over the paper. In little more than a minute, the face of one of the twins appeared, Kitty thought it was probably Midge, though no real clues. Chloe signed and dated it, pulled the sheet from the pad, she started again. This became two cartoon girls lying side by side on their fronts, their large heads turned towards each other. Each had a huge hand covering the top half of the other’s back. The uncovered parts of their backs were criss-crossed with lines, marks suggested blood oozing. Signed and dated, that sheet was pulled away.

Lenny, Holden and Harper were looking a little taken aback by this obvious reference to the twins and their whippings. Kitty was looking quite worried, Chloe was totally impassive, expressionless, no sign she was aware of anything that was happening.

The next sketch was the face of the other twin. A certain indication of the hair not being totally tidy and a slight mischievousness to the smile suggested this was Molly. Once again, signed, dated, and pulled, Chloe started the cartoon. As it was finished, Harper held her hand to her mouth, Holden looked somewhat shocked, Lenny was, if anything, looking embarrassed. Kitty wasn't sure how to react. The two cartoon twins were being very intimate with each other. Again, Chloe seemed oblivious to anyone's reaction as she signed, dated and pulled the sheet.

Kitty said "I don’t think Chloe is actually aware of what she is sketching, and there's something else I must tell you about us which may help explain what she’s drawn."

Lenny's face was the next to appear, looking cheerful, possibly even masterful. Kitty had her hand to her mouth, she was worried about what Chloe might produce. The cartoon that followed once again was less than conventional, it showed a cartoon Lenny standing in a boat, large head looking forward, big hands holding the boat's wheel. Standing beside him was a cartoon Kitty, big head looking forward, big hands holding a grab‑rail, and an open dress revealing big breasts on her otherwise tiny body.

Kitty commented "That’s probably my fault. When Lenny picked us up from the airport, it was so hot, I did undo a couple of my dress buttons to cool off a bit, but I didn’t actually expose myself. I think she’s combined that with our boat trip, where I was definitely covered up, but standing like that for some of it."

Harper said "She does seem to be somewhere else, was she like that with her first one of Lenny?" Lenny said "Yes, it was strange, when she’d finished, she seemed to know she’d drawn it, but not what it was."

This was the last sheet in Chloe’s pad. When Chloe saw there was no more paper, she just stared at the cardboard backing of the pad, mouth hung open, looked totally lost, she seemed about to panic. Kitty reached into Chloe’s bag, pulled out a new pad, she took the old away, put the new one on the table and opened its front cover. Chloe momentarily looked relieved, then back to her previous lack of any expression. She squared the pad, and continued as if unaware there’d been any interruption.

The face that appeared was Holden, looking authoritative and confident. Harper remarked "They are quite incredible, that she gets such expressiveness with just a few pencil lines."

As with all of the sketches, when Chloe pulled it from the pad, Kitty photographed it with her phone.

The next was a cartoon of Holden sitting behind a desk, big hands holding a piece of paper, big head looking at it, large teardrops coming from his eyes. Holden quietly commented "That was certainly how I felt when I'd finished reading Uncle Bob’s letter."

Chloe showed no sign of stopping. The next sketch was of Harper, somehow showing a radiant happiness. Next her pencil created a cartoon Harper sat on a chair, her big head smiling and looking down on what was clearly Kitty sitting sideways on her lap, Harper’s big hands were holding Kitty’s diminutive body to her. Although Harper’s front was hidden by Kitty’s large head, it was obvious that Kitty was suckling from Harper. There was nothing sexual about it, apparently just a mother feeding her daughter.

Chloe immediately started another. From the seemingly random pencil lines emerged a happily smiling Kitty. It was contrasted by the cartoon that followed, a diminutive figure kneeling by a coffin, the large hand held against it, the large head was of a crying Kitty, teardrops falling to the floor.

Chloe started yet another. This turned out to be Elandra, her face showing an expression of satisfaction, as if she'd achieved something really worthwhile. The cartoon that followed showed showed three figures, as usual all had very small bodies compared to their heads and hands. Two were of girls lying on the floor, the third was Elandra, kneeling, a concerned look on her face, a huge hand on each of the girls' foreheads.

After another minute, a very cheerful looking Jarrah came out from Chloe's pencil lines. Next, a cartoon figure of Jarrah, in one large hand he held a huge knife, in the other a bread roll, apparently just cut through. Chloe paused, looking at this, as if she wasn't sure of something, then she drew what looked like blood pouring from the bread roll.

As Chloe pulled this from the pad, Kitty put her hand on Chloe's arm. Chloe shook it, as if trying to get rid of a fly that had landed on it. Apart than that, she seemed completely unaware of anything other than the pad in front of her.

Now the abbess's face appeared, ‑ Kitty told the onlookers who she was. It was followed by a cartoon of a nun wielding a whip over two girls laid over a desk.

Chloe's dark place

The next picture that appeared was of Chloe herself, with a happy, smiling face. She pulled this off her pad, stopped for a moment, then started the next by shading the paper from the top to about a third of the way down. This was the first time she'd not started with pencil lines. Below the shading, she drew the usual diminutive body, presumably her own. It was clearly naked, and kneeling, crouched down so her big head was cupped in her large hands that were resting on the floor in front of her knees.

The figure finished, Chloe stabbed the figure's back quite hard several times with the point of the pencil, then she resumed the shading around it, pressing the pencil harder and harder. The tip of the pencil broke, and with tears streaming down her face, Chloe continued trying to draw the shading with the broken pencil tip, she was now whimpering. She dropped the pencil, pushed her chair right back, slid down onto the floor, and crouched as her cartoon figure was. She started wailing and sobbing, sometimes jerking and yelping as if she was being hit.

Kitty immediately went down beside her, put her arm over her, tried to talk to her, Chloe seemed totally unaware of her. Seconds later, Elandra was there, she put her hands on Kitty's shoulders and eased her away. Elandra knelt beside Chloe, put her hand as low as she could on Chloe's forehead, Chloe's wailing quickly diminished until she seemed to be asleep, she rolled on her side, but stayed in a foetal position. Elandra could now get her hand properly on Chloe's forehead, she frowned, then pulled her hand away, giving an exclamation of pain, almost as if her hand had been burnt.

Elandra tentatively put just her fingertips on Chloe's forehead, and with an an expression of total concentration, she eased her hand fully down. She stayed like this for maybe a minute, then, with something of a gasp, she pulled her hand away.

Kitty, through her tears, asked "What is it? What's the matter?" Elandra knelt back, looked from Kitty to the other concerned faces staring at her, and said "She a memory of something dreadful that she has a block on. A little of it has leaked out, I think that last drawing is something to do with it. I need to mend the rip in her block before it tears wide open."

She paused, thinking. "Kitty, I would like to talk to your friends, they may be able to help me. Is that possible?" Kitty: "I can phone them." She got out her phone, rang Midge. Midge answered, from Kitty's voice Midge immediately knew something was wrong. Kitty said that Chloe needed help, asked if Elandra could talk to her. Kitty passed the phone to Elandra.

After a few seconds, they were talking in some shorthand way, but there was an element of frustration. Elandra passed the phone back to Kitty, "Talk you." Midge asked Kitty if she could set up a call with vision "So that we can talk with Elandra properly." Kitty asked Holden, "Could we use your computer for a Zoom session, please?" "Of course." He led Kitty and Elandra through to his study. On her phone, Kitty said "We're setting up a Zoom session, go to Midge's computer."

Twenty seconds later, Kitty was telling Midge what to do at her computer, within another half a minute Midge and Molly's faces appeared on Holden's. Leaving Elandra sat at the computer, Kitty ended the phone call, and, tears streaming down her face, she went back to sit by Chloe. She did manage to email all the photos of Chloe's sketches to Midge.

At the computer, Elandra started using speech with Midge and Molly. As the conversation progressed, the speech got less frequent, more time was spent looking at each other with some eye and head movements and some hand gestures. After maybe twenty minutes, Elandra moved from the computer, she went back to the dining room saying "Kitty, she talk with you."

Kitty returned to the study, Midge and Molly told her that Elandra had much better ability than they did for determining what went on in people's minds, and they'd given Elandra all the help they could about Chloe. Kitty asked "Did her sketching cause whatever happened?" Midge replied "Elandra doesn't think so, it did give her a way to express what was already coming out." Midge continued "You can trust Elandra, let her try to help Chloe." They said some tearful goodbyes, Kitty closed the Zoom session.

She went back to the dining room, Elandra was sitting on the floor by Chloe, her two hands one on each of Chloe's temples, Elandra seemed to be in a trance. Lenny, Holden and Harper were sat on chairs, just looking at the two on the floor. Kitty went to Harper, climbed onto her lap and sat staring at Elandra and Chloe. Harper put her arms round Kitty, holding her tightly.

After maybe twenty minutes, Elandra took her hands from Chloe, went to stand up, nearly fell over. Holden and Lenny rushed to her, helped her to a chair. Kitty got off Harper, went back to Chloe, just held one of Chloe's hands. Elandra managed to say "She be all right now" then closed her eyes, and seemed to fall asleep in the chair.

After a few more seconds, Chloe opened her eyes, she found Kitty holding her hand, realised she was lying on the floor. "What happened? Did I faint or something?" Kitty said "Or something. How do you feel?" "Very tired, as if I'd been doing schoolwork for two days solid." Kitty helped Chloe to a chair.

When she was settled, Kitty phoned Midge. "Yes, she seems okay … She said Chloe is all right now … Chloe says she's just tired, Elandra has just fallen asleep, like you do after a session … yes, that last sketch I sent to you, makes me wonder if that's why Chloe's a little … yes, exactly. She's okay, do you want to talk to her?" Kitty passed her phone to Chloe.

While Chloe was talking, Harper stood up and said, "I'll get us all some tea." She walked out, came back shortly, sat down again. Kitty took Chloe's last cartoon sketch, put it inside Chloe's used pad, but left all the others in a neat pile. She could hear Chloe's conversation: "Hello … yes, I'm fine. You? … No, I don't know why all the fussing, though waking up on the floor was a surprise. … Yes, I think I was sketching … No. I don't remember actually drawing, but I never seem to … No, really, just a little tired. … All right then, and, as they say, be good. Love you, here she is." Chloe passed the phone to Kitty.

Kitty took the phone, stood up, went to the side of the room, had a very quiet conversation. "Did Elandra say anything about what had happened?" Midge replied "Elandra believes that, judging by her last sketch, Chloe has been kept somewhere horrific, possibly in a dark cellar or cupboard or even a cave. She's been very badly treated, beaten and sexually assaulted for many years. She's blocked the memory out, Elandra says not to let a psychiatrist try to unlock the memory, if it got out it would cause a total breakdown."

"Did Elandra say anything about Chloe seeing her last sketch, would that bring it out?" "She didn't say. Could we talk to her now?" "She's still sleeping, I'll get her to talk to you when she can." "All right, then. Ring us before ten anyway."

A few minutes later, Jarrah came in with a tray with a teapot, cups and saucers and a milk jug. He stacked the coffee things onto the tray, put it on a side table, sat in a chair next to Elandra. Kitty said to him "She's all right, just needs a bit of rest." Jarrah nodded, "I understand. Who was it?" "Chloe." "Chloe, how do you feel?" "Oh, just a bit tired, I don't understand what's happened, though." Jarrah said "I can't tell you, maybe Elandra or one of the others."

Holden asked "Jarrah, you know about Elandra?" "Yes, I've seen her help people occasionally. She doesn't want others to know, I pretend not to, though it's hard to hide your thoughts from her." After a pause "Or maybe she does realise I know, but wants me to believe she doesn't." He managed a smile, "This could keep going round in circles."

While they were talking, Harper poured tea for all of them, including Jarrah, there was also a cup ready for Elandra. While they were drinking, Chloe went through the pile of sketches that Kitty had left, she passed each pair to the appropriate person. The ones of Midge and Molly and the abbess, Chloe put into the back of her pad, but Harper saw them. Kitty saw Harper briefly frown as the cartoon of the twins into each other was just in view.

Kitty said to her "Perhaps I should explain something else about us. I don’t know how much Daniel told Holden, did he mention we’d been given a gynaecological examination?" Holden shook his head. Kitty continued "We were trying to get evidence to get our school closed. Part of that is about being made infertile. All four of us were examined by a gynaecologist, as part of that examination, blood samples were taken. He told us that in all of us the levels and ratios of our hormones suggested we all have very high sex drives, warning us that it might make us vulnerable to sexual predators.

"I am well aware we all lack the reluctance most people have to exposing ourselves, but we try not to offend. I think that when Chloe is sketching, it's her subconscious that is drawing, so her sketches lack conscious control. I suppose I should add that amongst the four of us, we are very sexually active, so Chloe's sketch of the twins comes as no surprise to me. I really hope that doesn't offend or upset you too much."

At some stage, Elandra had woken. In the silence that followed Kitty's statement, she said "Kitty's thoughts on Chloe are right, I also saw that in Molly‑Midge. Even over the computer, that came through from her. Oh, thank you" ‑ that last as Harper passed her a cup of tea.

Holden, to Elandra, "You said 'Molly‑Midge', and 'her' as if there was only one person." Before Elandra could say anything, Kitty said "To all intents and purposes, they are one person. They are physically identical, they think exactly the same. The differences you see in Chloe's sketches of their faces, Chloe, could you show us them? Just the faces, please? … Thank you, if you look at these, the differences are subtle, the ruffled hair, the more mischievous smile, that's enough to say 'Molly', the two personae have somewhat different behaviours." Kitty grinned, "One of their sayings is 'Molly doesn't do embarrassed', which one or other will use if someone is heaping praise on them. But they can and do switch between each other, you never really know which is which."

Lenny asked "Doesn't that cause confusion?" Kitty shook her head, "You'd think so, but as Elandra has already understood, you don't need to worry. You can talk to either, they tell each other everything, they think the same. You really can consider them as the same person.

"They did ask if they could talk with Elandra again, could she use the computer, please?" Holden nodded, "Yes, that's fine, I'll unlock it." Kitty said "No need, thank you. I'll just ring Midge, get her to her computer." She and Elandra walked out, Kitty on her phone.

Holden asked Chloe, "Won't Kitty need my password?" "She’ll have remembered it, remembers almost everything." Holden muttered "Daniel did warn me you lot were all pretty remarkable."

A few minutes later, Elandra and Kitty came back. Kitty went to Chloe, "The twins would like Elandra to put you to sleep for a little while, is that all right?" "I suppose so, if they want it." Harper suggested they go to the sitting room, they could sit more comfortably in an armchair. They went through, though Jarrah didn't follow.

Elandra asked Chloe to sit on her lap. When they were settled, Elandra put her two hands over Chloe's forehead, her fingers interlinked. Within a second, Chloe was asleep, Elandra had her eyes closed, expressionless.

Five minutes later, Elandra opened her eyes and took her hands from Chloe's forehead. She looked at Kitty, "I speak with you three." Kitty looked at Holden, he just nodded. Kitty stood up, used her phone to ring Midge, she just said "Computer." Elandra picked the still sleeping Chloe up, Harper put her arms out, Elandra carried Chloe to her.

Elandra and Kitty went to Holden's study, within a few seconds they were on a Zoom call with the twins. As Elandra and the twins communicated, Midge (or Molly) would tell Kitty what they were saying to each other.

"Elandra thinks Chloe is safe. … As best as she can tell, Chloe spent many years probably locked away somewhere unlit and confined. She was generally very badly treated and abused. If it wasn't for her mental strength she would have been driven totally insane. The risk of that is still very much there if her block is breached. … Chloe's sketch 'In a dark place' was a symptom of the mental leak, seeing it won't cause anything untoward, but Elandra doesn't know why the leak occurred. If it happens again, Elandra has suggested how we might help her, but for us it won't be easy, we don't have Elandra's abilities in the areas of the mind. … Elandra says Chloe is exceptionally intelligent, full of fun, full of love, highly sexed, generally a nice person (I think we knew all of that already), Elandra is actually quite surprised about this after the treatment she's endured."

After a few more seconds and some just visible nods, Elandra got up and went out of the study. Midge said "Elandra has amazing abilities, she reads us almost as easily as we read each other, even over the less than ideal Zoom link. She is very concerned about Chloe, but thinks she will be all right. She didn't consciously say this, but she loves both of you as if you were her own daughters, we could read that much in her. Chloe is totally safe in her hands."

Kitty said "She does really seem to care about Chloe. Look, it's just on time for your session with the tutors, we'd better finish. We'll ring later. Love you both, miss you." Kitty was crying as she ended the Zoom session, she stayed sitting at the computer until she'd composed herself.

When Kitty returned to the sitting room, Chloe was still asleep on Harper's lap, Elandra was sitting staring at her. She turned to Kitty, "Your twins are different from anyone I've ever come across. It's difficult to explain, but they are so quick to pick up ideas, so, I don't know, 'intelligent' doesn't cover it. Words just can't do them justice. Anyway, Chloe should be all right now, but I don't know why that happened, so it could happen again."

Kitty asked "Is it anything to do with her sketching? She has never done anything like that in all the years I've known her." Elandra replied "Not directly, but it could be that whatever changed in her mind released this drawing ability as it released her hidden memories."

Kitty said "It's just occurred to me, when we first went to Holden's office, we went in the lift. It got stuck, the lights went out, but it was only for a few seconds. She did seem very upset, almost panicking, could that had done something?"

Elandra thought for a moment, "That could be it. I don't know if that would be enough on its own, but something to be aware of with her." Kitty: "One other thing, we learnt that my uncle took his own life, which seemed to upset Chloe more than I would have expected. Could, I don't know …" She stopped talking, Elandra thought for a moment, "It's possible she'd contemplated killing herself, that might have brought something back to her. Maybe the combination. But I can't be sure, and it's too dangerous to try to find out what the trigger was."

Kitty asked "Can I wake her?" Elandra asked "Can you?" Kitty went to Chloe, whispered something in her ear, Chloe opened her eyes. "Oh, hello, been asleep again." She looked round, "Oh, I was on Elandra before. But you're both very comfortable." She slid off Harper, gave her a kiss on the cheek. "But I'm very tired, do you think …" Lenny got up, "You'd like to go back to the hotel." "Yes, please, if you don't mind."

Kitty went to her, held her hand, "Come on then." Chloe: "Oh, my bag?" Holden got up, "I'll get it."

Kitty gave Elandra a hug, "Thank you for what you are doing." She thanked Harper and Holden, gave each a kiss on their cheeks, said "Sorry we're such nuisances." She took Chloe's hand, led her to the door, leaving Harper and Holden hugging each other, Harper openly crying. Elandra was expressionless, just staring after the two girls.

Lenny drove them back, no one said anything until Lenny was pulling up outside the hotel. He said "Collecting you at quarter to ten in reception, all right?" Kitty said "Yes, thank you, and thank you for everything, it's been quite a day." Lenny just said "Goodnight."

Kitty kept hold of Chloe's hand, called at reception to order their breakfast, then walked with Chloe to their room, where they showered, climbed into bed, and fell asleep just hugging each other.

Australia day 7

In the morning, after they'd had their breakfast (without teasing the waiter too much) and had their shower, they went to the reception area to wait for Lenny. While they waited, Kitty phoned Midge. Before she put it on speaker, she had a brief conversation, allowing Midge to ask how Chloe was, to which Kitty replied "Absolutely fine, putting you on speaker."

They talked about the meals they'd had at Holden's, the kangaroo steaks, then the pavlova, how Jarrah was an excellent cook. It wasn't long before Lenny appeared from the lift, the girls said their goodbyes.

They greeted Lenny with kisses to his cheeks. "Are we all right?" he asked. "Yes, thank you" from both. "Come on, then, let's go to Dad's."

Holden's office 2

Ten minutes later they were in Holden's outer office (Chloe once again insisted on using the stairs), where Seth told them he shouldn't be long. Moments after they'd sat down, Holden opened his office door, he said "Good morning, ladies. Kitty, more about your finances. Do you want Chloe with you?" Kitty nodded, pushed Chloe off her (Chloe had chosen to sit on Kitty's lap), grabbed her hand and led her into Holden's office.

Uncle Bob's life insurance

When they were settled, Holden said "Two things of significance. The first is that the present funds for your keep and education have stopped, but don't worry" ‑ Kitty had shown a look of dismay. "Your uncle has made provision, he has two life insurance policies. One is to replace those funds, it will continue to pay until you are eighteen, though there may be a short delay before the payments start. I'll let Samuel and Daniel know about the details. The other policy pays out a lump sum, it is for two hundred thousand Australian, something like a hundred thousand pounds sterling. That should be paid within a very small number of weeks. It will probably be subject to inheritance tax in England, I presume you would like Samuel to deal with it?"

Kitty thought for a moment, then "Yes, please. I will have to talk to him, but it sounds like there's time. It still pays because of the way he died?" Holden nodded, "A sensible question, but yes, it will be fine. There was a two year suicide clause in the policy, but it was taken out some years ago. I've been on to the insurance company, there shouldn't be an issue, it's just a matter of paperwork.

"Talking of which, I need a couple of signatures, these two documents." He passed across two folders. Kitty had a brief look, then "It's not that I don't trust you or anything, but I would like Daniel to read these before I sign, could you let him see them, please?" Holden nodded, "Yes, you are right to be cautious, there is a lot of money involved. I'll email him copies. It would be best if he can approve it before you go, otherwise there'll be long postal delays.

"That's all of the official business, unless you have any questions?"

Kitty replied "Not that I can think of, thank you."

Holden: "Complete change of subject. Have you ever been to a proper concert?" Kitty and Chloe both shook their heads. "Would you like to go to one? I can get tickets for an afternoon concert the day after tomorrow. I don't know if you remember the music that was playing for your uncle, but that's one of the pieces they are performing."

Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, gave each other a brief nod. Kitty spoke, "Yes please. I don't really remember the music, but it seemed nice. We won't be taking anyone else's places, will we? We wouldn't like to deprive someone." "No, not at all. I know the conductor, he has some complimentary tickets available. And we could have a barbecue dinner afterwards if you like."

Another glance between the girls, "Yes, please, we'd like that." "All right, then. I'll get Lenny to take you to ours, we'll go together from there. Oh, casual dress, you are fine as you are now. Even in Australia people do tend to dress up a bit for the evening concerts, but not the afternoons.

"Right, if there's nothing more?" The girls shook their heads. "Okay, I'll see you out, and I'll just have a brief word with Lenny. He is looking after you all right, is he?" Two nods, Chloe said "He's been great." Kitty: "Couldn't be better, thank you."

They went into the outer office, Lenny stood up. Holden said "They'd like the concert the day after tomorrow, I'd suggest you take the girls to ours for one o'clock, should give us plenty of time to get there." Lenny nodded, "That's fine. Home afterwards?" "Yes, I think they like Jarrah's efforts at the barbie." Chloe added "And Elandra's coffee."

Holden: "Seth, could you email those two documents to Daniel? Covering note, Kitty wants him to read through them before she signs them, answer as soon as possible?" Seth: "I'll do that straight away."

"Thank you. Right girls, I'll have to kick you out, work to do." Both girls gave him a hug, he got a kiss on the cheek from Kitty.

In unison, the girls said "Bye, thank you." They turned to Seth, "Bye." They grabbed Lenny's hands, started to pull him towards the door. Kitty said to him "Come on, he's pretending he's busy." Chloe: "He just doesn't like us cluttering up the place."

As the door closed behind them, Seth said to Holden, "What a breath of fresh air. Are they always like that?" "Most of the time they are." Then, more to himself, "But sometimes they are not."

As the three went down the stairs, Lenny asked "What would you like to do now?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, Kitty asked "Swimming?" Chloe confirmed, "Oh, yes, swimming." Lenny grinned, "Right. Let's see what we can teach you today."

Swimming 3

Back at the hotel, Lenny got his costume from the car while the two girls got theirs from their room. By the time Lenny had changed, the two girls were already swimming lengths. For the next couple of hours Lenny was helping them improve their technique, sometimes swimming with them, sometimes watching. After a while he got out, went to chat with the lifeguard. When the girls finally got tired, they had another little prodding session, ending with a hug. They ducked under the surface, stayed down for half a minute or so. When they came up, they were laughing as well as hugging, they each reached an arm out for Lenny and the lifeguard to haul them out.

This time they'd swapped their bikini bottoms. But the knot on one side of Chloe's wasn't completed, the tapes started to slide apart until it was only the wetness that was holding it up. Kitty immediately started to pull one of the tapes away, said "Oh, look, you didn't do it up properly." Chloe: "You did that one." They started arguing about whose knot it was, meanwhile more and more of Chloe was being exposed. Lenny almost shouted, "One of you, do it up, NOW."

Kitty knelt down, made a great show of tying it. When she'd finished, she said "There you are. I've done it up for you, you obviously can't knot for nuts." Chloe immediately bent down to punch her, saying "My tying is better than your frying." A moment later they were both down, scrapping, until they rolled right off into the water. The lifeguard was about to jump in, but Lenny held his arm, "It's all right, they know exactly what they are doing." But after a little while even he was beginning to worry, until the girls once again bobbed up to the surface, spluttering and laughing.

This time when they were hauled out, their tops were matching their bottoms. An exasperated Lenny told them to go and get dry.

After they'd changed, Kitty suggested they should have lunch in their room. Chloe asked Lenny if he'd like to eat with them again that evening. They went to reception, ordered tea and sandwiches for their room, and booked the restaurant for the three of them.

Back in the room, Kitty and Chloe tossed their swimming costumes and caps into the shower, "We'll rinse them out later."

While they waited for their lunch, Kitty and Chloe started asking Lenny a bit more about himself. Did he live with his parents? "During vacations, but in digs during term-time." Had he ever been out of Australia? "New Zealand a couple of times, once to America, never to Europe." A few more questions, then Chloe asked "Does your girlfriend mind you looking after us?" "I haven't got a girlfriend, been out with some girls, none seemed to click."

They talked a little more, then Lenny started asking about Midge and Molly, any other examples of their strength abilities. Between them, Kitty and Chloe told him of the episode at their parents' wake, how Midge had downed four men by herself, three with only one arm. While they were talking about this, their lunch arrived, they ate their sandwiches in silence.

While they were drinking their tea, Lenny asked "If Midge and Molly can take a powerful blow from each other, how come a punch from a normal person could do so much damage to Midge's shoulder?" Kitty said "I'm not sure. Never thought about it. She did say 'I let him hit me. It was a bit a harder than I expected'. I can only presume they need to prepare in some way to take such a blow." "So why did she let him hit her in the first place?" Chloe replied, "I asked that question at the time, Molly's answer was 'She wanted an excuse to kill him. If she could have used both fists, he'd probably be dead'."

Lenny shook his head, "You're not telling me they go around killing people." Kitty replied "As far as I am aware, they've never killed anyone. They have done some serious damage, and on that particular occasion I think they might have killed." Chloe added "If provoked, they will always give a warning, but it that is ignored they are ruthless in their response."

They carried on talking. A little while later, the room service waiter came to clear away their lunch, he found them deep in thought, though Kitty did manage a thankyou. Shortly after that, Lenny got up, "Got to use the bathroom." When he came out, he found Kitty and Chloe whispering to each other. They immediately got up and went into the bathroom, Chloe calling out "Rinsing our cossies."

First time with Lenny

A few minutes later, they came out, they'd taken their dresses off. Lenny looked open mouthed, Kitty said "Didn't want our dresses to get wet." Kitty went to the bed, pulled back the covers, while Chloe went to Lenny, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to it. She pushed him backwards onto it, he made no objection, just shut his eyes while they pulled up his tee‑shirt, he moved his arms to let them pull it right off.

One of them started to kiss him, the other took his shoes and socks off and undid his trousers, between them the two girls pulled his trousers and underpants off.

Several minutes later he opened his eyes, looked from one to the other, said "I'm supposed to be looking after you, not …" Kitty put a finger over his lips, Chloe said "You are looking after us." Kitty: "Very, very, well." "And we want you to keep looking after us." "Very, very, well."

Lenny grinned at them, "If you are absolutely sure about this." Both girls, in unison, "Absolutely, absolutely sure." They promptly laughed at each other, said, again in unison, "It's a twin thing." Lenny looked a little puzzled, Kitty said "The speaking together." Chloe: "They'd like the sex as well."

This seemed to put a dampener on the girls' mood, Lenny asked "What's the matter?" Kitty: "That we are here with you and they're not here with us. They would love you." The two girls gave each other a kiss, got off the bed, went into the bathroom. When they came out, all three were dressed, Lenny had pulled the covers back over the bed.

They sat back at the table, Kitty suggested "Afternoon tea?" She said this in a very prim manner, which had all three laughing. Lenny said "Actually, I really could do with something." Chloe used the room telephone to order tea, "English breakfast tea for three. And maybe some biscuits, please?"

Ten minutes later, the waiter came with their tea. He knocked on the door, called out "Room service." Kitty got up to open the door for him, she went back to the table where the other two were sitting. The waiter wheeled a trolly in, deposited teapot, milk jug, cups and saucers, tea plates and a larger plate with an assortment of biscuits. He removed its clingfilm covering, Kitty thanked him and he left.

The mood lightened more as they drank their tea and each had some biscuits. They started talking, surprising Lenny somewhat at how open the girls were discussing sex, telling him he was great, Chloe saying "You being inside me was the best." Kitty said "My turn next time, but he does know how to use his tongue." He soon found himself talking about his sexual experiences, girls he'd been with, "None were a patch on you two." After a while, he asked "How come I'm talking to you about this stuff? I wouldn't with anybody else, but you're so, I don't know, natural about it" to which Kitty responded "It is natural, so why not?"

"Well, please promise me you won't say anything to Mum or Dad, I think they'd kill me." Kitty replied "We wouldn't anyway, not unless you said something first." Chloe added "But if they ask us directly, we would have no choice." Lenny asked "You won't tell a fib about it?" Kitty: "We just don't lie." Chloe added "Except about Kitty's cooking. It's worse than I've ever said."

The two girls were immediately on the floor, fighting, very soon ending with the girls' dresses round their waists.

Lenny wasn't sure what to do, so he just watched, feeling very aroused. Eventually the girls got up, giggling, one went to each side of Lenny. They took it in turns to give him kisses on his mouth, but were interrupted by a knock on the door, "Room service." Kitty sat down, while Chloe went to open the door for the waiter, who collected their tea things.

Swimming 4

Kitty said "A bit more swimming, then we can say we were doing that this afternoon?" Which is what they did for another couple of hours, though the pool got noticeably busier while they were there.

They were back in the room by about half past six. Chloe asked "Ring home?" Kitty immediately found her phone, rang Midge, who answered within seconds. Midge asked "All well?" Kitty replied "Yes, everything's very good. You're on speaker with Chloe and Lenny." Midge (or it could have been Molly): "Lenny, how are you holding up looking after these two?" Lenny hesitated for a moment, then said "It's not easy, but it's a real pleasure." A pause, then Midge asked "Kitty, Chloe, have you been leading Lenny astray?" Chloe replied "Only along paths he wanted to travel." Kitty added "We'll be exploring those paths again."

They could hear the grin in the voice as they heard "Molly likes exploring. Goody, goody." Then "That does sound good, it's about time some of us found some men." Lenny said "I hope you don't blame me, they didn't give me much choice." Midge: "We'd only blame you if you didn't give them what they wanted. They deserve a bit of fun." Kitty said "Please don't say anything to anybody in case it somehow got back, Lenny thinks his mum and dad wouldn't approve." Lenny added "They'd kill me." Midge: "Your secret is safe with us."

Kitty told them they were going to a concert in two days' time. There was silence from the twins, Kitty said "Oh, sorry, never thought, your mum and dad …" Eventually they heard "Yes, but we have to deal with it. Really hope you enjoy it, and please, do tell us about it afterwards." The call closed.

Lenny asked "What was wrong?" Between them, Kitty and Chloe explained how the twins' naughtiness sometimes spoilt their parents' evenings out, and how much they now regretted it.

After a short silence, Lenny asked "How come they knew what we'd been up to? Nobody said anything." Kitty replied "They may not have Elandra's abilities when it comes to mind‑reading, but they're still pretty good at it." Chloe: "More about how we were speaking than what we said."

Shortly afterwards, it was time to go down to the restaurant, all were hungry. When they'd finished eating, Chloe suggested they had coffee in the room. Quarter of an hour later, they were in the room, the two girls sitting next to each other, coffee on the table.

The girls sipped their coffee in turn. As one sipped, her dress would have a button undone by the other, until both had their dresses completely undone and pulled wide open. They ended up on the bed as before

Some time later, Kitty said "The waiter will be back to collect the dirties soon." The three scrambled to get dressed again, and were only just back sitting at the table when the knock came on the door.

Shortly after the waiter left, Lenny said that he'd better go. He got a lingering kiss from both girls.

After he'd gone, Chloe said "There's time before ten at home, let's ring the twins." Kitty: You ring them, I've got to talk to Daniel about stuff, I'll join you when I'm done."

They sat on opposite sides of the bed, each with a phone to their ear. Kitty phoned Audrey, and, after the usual pleasantries, Kitty asked if she could speak with Daniel about the documents Seth had emailed. Audrey put her through to Daniel, he told Kitty that at a quick glance the documents looked all right, but he wanted a more thorough read through and to have a talk with Samuel about some of it, it would take a day or two, but he'd let her know well before they were due to fly home.

Daniel said he had to go, he'd a client coming soon, so they said their goodbyes, a little tearfully in Kitty's case.

When Kitty ended her call, she walked on her knees across the bed to join Chloe, who put her phone on speaker. Kitty asked "Talking about me?" Midge said "Just to say how nice it is without your cooking." This was followed momentarily by a sob, "But we'd much rather be putting up with it." For once, Kitty didn't punch Chloe. Kitty just said "Miss you too." Chloe said "We were really talking about Lenny, how good he was."

Midge said "Kitty, are you going to be all right when you have to leave?" Kitty replied "Oh, nothing like Red. Lenny's a boy, he's a friend, but he's not a boyfriend. I'm more worried about him than me. Or than us, though Chloe always worries me. Ouch."

Chloe: "I'd like to find some boys when we get home, but only ones we like. Such a delicious experience." Laughter from Midge and Molly, then "We've got to go, tutors in a mo. Kitty, we'd like to talk to Elandra again if we could." Kitty: "We're there day after tomorrow, but the times might be tricky." Midge: "It's important, we'll put the tutors off."

Before Kitty could say anything, they heard "Love you both. Bye" and the call was ended.

Kitty turned to Chloe, "What was that all about?" Chloe replied "Don't know, but it must be very important, they've never put the tutors off before." Kitty: 'We'll do it if we can."

Then "Well, in all the excitement, we've not arranged to meet Lenny, nor have we ordered breakfast." Chloe: "Let's order breakfast. I'm pretty sure Lenny will turn up tomorrow without us having to order him." They both laughed.

Australia day 8

Lenny did turn up, they got a knock on their door at about half past nine. They spent about half an hour on the bed this time, the girls teasing him unmercifully.

Swimming 5

Half an hour later they were back in the swimming pool, where the two girls played a game of tag with each other. First one would chase until she touched, punched or pinched the other. Then they'd swap. They did find there were more people in the pool than there had been.

Meanwhile Lenny was in his swimming trunks, but hadn't gone into the water. He had a chat with the attendant, went along to the lifeguard, all the time keeping an eye on the girls. After a brief talk, he went to the side near where the girls were playing, managed to attract their attention and beckon them over to him. He squatted down and said to them he'd been told that many of the people here had come simply to watch them. "The last thing I want to do is stop you enjoying yourselves. So, please, no costume changes, knot the bows so they can't just be pulled undone. And if anyone touches you, scream. Understood?"

The two girls ducked under the surface, they did as Lenny asked with their knots. When they came up, somehow their playfulness had vanished. They started swimming lengths. Lenny watched them, after a couple he stopped them at the deep end, dropped into the water, showed them how to do a racing turn. Both girls picked it up after a couple of practices, and continued their lengths, doing the proper turns except on a couple of occasions when it went wrong and there was a bit of spluttering, always followed by laughing.

Eventually they tired, both stopped at the deep end. Lenny asked if they'd had enough, the girls both nodded, but Kitty said "Just a mo." The two ducked under, when they came up, their costume colours were opposite from their swimming caps. Lenny was about to tell them off, but realised they'd only swapped their caps. He just shook his head, put a hand down and hauled one out, the lifeguard pulled up the other.

Both were a bit wobbly, Lenny held a hand of each of them as they walked the length of the pool to the changing area. There were quite a few people just watching them, many had phones out taking photographs. By the time they'd got half way, both girls were putting on a bit of hip movement, not excessive, but enough to make a few mouths drop open. They picked up towels from the attendant, and as they went into the changing room, they turned and waved.

Lenny was waiting for them when they came out. "You don't mind showing yourselves off, then?" Kitty replied "If it gives people a bit of pleasure, why not?" Chloe added "Don't worry, you are the only one we'll let touch." Kitty: "We are relying on you to keep us safe." Chloe: "And make us all warm inside." In unison "Let's go to the room."

They didn't order room service, nor did they play, the two girls were quite tired after their swimming and merely dumped their costumes. They decided they'd go out for a walk, somewhere away from the hotel. They found a café with shaded seating outside. They ordered sandwiches and coffee, sat and chatted, Lenny asking more about the twins.

They told him some stories, then he asked "You said they nearly killed you. Could you tell me about that?"

They explained how something had really upset the twins when going through their parents' things and they'd punched each other, and when Kitty and Chloe went to intervene, they'd been punched hard enough to hurl them across the room.

Chloe had broken ribs, Kitty had a couple cracked. They'd had to go to hospital because neither could breath properly, though the twins had them up and around in a day, released from hospital after two nights, almost totally better. They explained how Daniel had got the twins to put a mental block on themselves so they couldn't punch the two again. "They tested it, it worked." "Doubt we'd be here if it hadn't." "Doesn't stop our fights, though, just their really dangerous punches."

"And why do you like fighting so much? You are hurting each other." "Don't know, though …" "… it does give us the excuse to have sex afterwards." "Talking about having sex …" "… let's go back to the room."

Having paid their bill they walked back to the hotel. "Do you want to eat with us tonight?" "I don't think so, I need some rest, you two are wearing me out." "Well, you've got to collect your cossie from the room now."

When they reached the hotel, Kitty passed Chloe the room keycard and went to reception to book their table for dinner and breakfast in their room for the morning. When she got to the room, Kitty found the door had been latched so that it hadn't locked. She went in, released the latch, turned to the bed to see Chloe splayed out flat on her back. Kitty promptly took her dress right off, laid herself beside Chloe.

A little later, the three collapsed in a heap, Lenny panting, the two girls laughing. After a few minutes, they pushed Lenny up. Before he knew what was happening, his tee‑shirt was pulled off him, Chloe's dress was on the floor, the three were in the shower, the girls soaping Lenny all over.

Eventually, Lenny roughly pushed both girls away and staggered out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry himself off. When he looked back into the shower, the girls were lying in the shower's base, kissing, working their mouths, it looked like they were passing something between them. After a while they got up, turned the shower off, used the other towel to dry themselves and each other.

They got dressed, the two girls grinning. "Cup of tea?" asked Kitty. "Good idea" said Lenny, "but no more of anything else, all right?" Kitty phoned room service, ten minutes later they were sipping tea and nibbling biscuits. Lenny asked what they wanted to do in the morning, reminding them it was the concert in the afternoon. "Apart from tiring me out, that is." The two girls looked at each other, Kitty mouthed 'Swim?' Chloe nodded.

Kitty asked "Would you mind us swimming again? We're really enjoying it." Lenny: "Fine by me. Would you like to try different strokes? Sidestroke? Breaststroke? Backstroke?" Chloe grinned, "I like my breasts being stroked when I'm on my back." Kitty asked "Is there an inside‑stroke? 'Cos that's the best stroke of all."

Lenny just shook his head, muttered "I give up." Then "Perhaps we can talk about something else. Kitty, where did you learn about computers? You clearly are very au fait with them." Kitty replied "I didn't really learn about them, just seemed to pick it up." Chloe: "That's the one thing she is good at." Kitty: "You're for it later. Still recovering at the moment.

"It started with our computers a few weeks ago, we needed them for our schooling." Chloe: "Hers was set up by the fool who brought them, Kitty watched him, then set up the other three. After that she installed lots of stuff that we needed."

"And that was your first time with computers?" "Browsed on them a couple of times before."

"So, what made you think the man who brought them was a fool?" Chloe answered this, "He tried to put his hand up Midge's skirt." Kitty: "He got a fairly bad stomach ache." "She did leave him able to finish Kitty's computer." "Midge isn't a fool."

Chloe: "And then he came with a mate that night and tried to steal them." Kitty: The twins gave them each a punch to the chest." "After a bit one tried to get up." "He got a broken collar bone." "See? A fool."

"Were the police called?" "Yes, the full bit, forensics, the lot." "Even the policemen thought he was a fool. His words were 'They tried to burgle you? Must have a death wish'." "They admitted everything." "Didn't want Midge and Molly after them again." "Learnt something."

Lenny said "I really wish I could meet these girls." Chloe: "I'm sure Midge would let you put a hand up her skirt." Kitty: "So long as you were putting your other one up Molly's." "Wouldn't you two be jealous?" "Good heavens, no." "So long as you did it to us when you'd finished with them." "Pity you've only got two hands." "So, if you ever come to England, look us up."

They spent the next couple of hours talking about the twins, their tutors, Rachel and their dresses, even about the photography sessions and Derek and Riana. At the mention of Riana, Chloe stopped talking, she got her pad and pencil out, did the usual squaring of the pad in front of her. Shortly, Riana's face appeared, it had a mischievous smile. Chloe signed and dated it, pulled the sheet from her pad.

The cartoon that followed showed Riana and Chloe together. Chloe signed and dated this one, pulled the sheet off, put her pad and pencil away.

Kitty said to Lenny "That's Riana, Chloe has a crush on her." Chloe, meanwhile, had a slight smile as she stared at her sketch of Riana's face.

Kitty took her usual photographs of the sketches, emailed them to Midge. Lenny was looking a little puzzled, Kitty explained how they'd once found the two in a position just like in Chloe's cartoon. Lenny asked "Doesn't Derek mind?" Kitty replied "He worries a bit, but at the same time he's first to admit Riana is happier and more loving around him."

While they were talking, Chloe seemed to come round, she said "Oh, we'll have to go to see them when we get back." Then she saw her cartoon, "That was one of my best times. It was for Derek afterwards as well." Kitty told Lenny " Riana had Derek on the carpet in front of us. It was amazing. Looked almost as good as sex with you." She gave Lenny a prod in his ribs as she said this.

As they carried on talking, Chloe put her sketches with the others she hadn't given away in the cover of the empty pad, this she was keeping in her cabin bag in the wardrobe.

A little while later, Lenny decided he would leave them. "Reception, nine‑thirty?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, nodded, Chloe said "Yes, that's fine."

That evening they went to the restaurant as usual. After they'd eaten their dinner they went back to the room and phoned Midge. "Liked Chloe's sketches of Riana, I emailed them to her. Not had a reply yet."

They talked a bit more, Midge and Molly wanting details of their playing with Lenny. When they'd finished saying how they were passing his semen between them in the shower, Midge said "Got to go. Molly's dragging me upstairs. Just time before tutors. Goodb…" It sounded like the phone was dropped before she'd finished, Chloe ended the call, Kitty and Chloe grinned at each other, then they ordered some coffee from room service.

Australia day 9

They spent much of the morning in the pool, Lenny teaching them different strokes. He even tried them on butterfly stroke, but they got tired very quickly with this. In any case, the pool was a bit too crowded, there wasn't sufficient safe space.

The two started their game of tag in the water, trying to sneak up on the other by swimming underwater, if one managed to get to the other without being seen, she'd pull her under. Lenny got out and sat talking with the lifeguard, just watching the girls. They kept their play going for an hour or so, eventually they tired, came to the side for the two men to pull them out.

They decided to have coffee in the reception area, the girls put their wet swimsuits in Lenny's plastic bag. When they'd finished, they went up to the room. Without any talking, they all undressed and got into the shower.

Eventually they turned the shower on just to rinse themselves off. After they'd dried, Lenny said "Should just be time for a quick sandwich before we have to leave." Kitty got on the phone, asked if they could be brought to them as soon as possible, please. They were delivered within five minutes, they ate them quite quickly, just with water in a glass that they shared between them.

The concert

When they'd finished, Lenny drove them to Holden's house, where the two girls greeted Harper and Holden with hugs. Holden said "We should be in plenty of time, but I suggest we leave straight away, I'd rather be early than late. Jarrah is driving us, so no parking problems." Kitty asked if she could visit the bathroom, Holden said "Yes, of course." The two girls disappeared, came back a couple of minutes later. Holden led them all to the front where Jarrah was waiting with a minibus. The seats were arranged as doubles down one side, singles the other. The girls got into a double, Lenny sat in the single beside them, Harper and Holden shared a double behind the girls.

Jarrah dropped them off a little way from the Opera House, they joined many more people walking to it. Inside, Holden showed his ticket, he led them to a side box that was above and level with the front of the stage, they had five of the front row of seven seats, the other two remained empty.

From the moment Brahms' First Piano Concerto started until Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony ended, both girls were mesmerised, leaning right forward, staring at the conductor and around the orchestra. In the interval between, they could only give monosyllabic replies to the questions they were asked. When it was over, the applause from the audience finally seemed to bring them into consciousness. After people started to leave, Harper took Chloe's hand, Lenny took Kitty's, Holden led them out. As they left, Holden phoned Jarrah, they walked to where they'd been dropped off, they had to wait a few minutes before Jarrah drove up.

When they got into the minibus, the two girls sat and just hugged each other, only releasing when they arrived back at Holden's house. They went into the sitting room, where Elandra brought in coffee.

Eventually, the girls started talking, "Fantastic", "Phenomenal", "Never heard anything like it."

Harper asked "You enjoyed it, then?" In unison, "Oh, yes." Chloe: "Beautiful." Kitty: "And so clever."

Holden grinned, "Good. I've a surprise for you. I told you the conductor was a friend, well he's coming round, together with the pianist, she's his wife. They'll probably be a little while, but hopefully not too long." Kitty: "We won't be in the way, will we?" Holden: "Good heavens, no. We want to show you off to them." Chloe: "But we know absolutely nothing about music.

Harper said "You are obviously taken with it. That is sufficient."

A few minutes later, Elandra showed in the two. The two girls immediately stood up, Harper introduced them. "Stuart and Simone, these are Kitty and Chloe." As each girl's name was said, she gave a little curtsy. The two girls said "How do you do" in unison, which made both of the musicians smile. Simone said "It's all right, we're not royalty." Stuart asked "So, did you enjoy the music?" The two girls looked at each other, Chloe said "Amazing." Then Kitty, "It was unbelievable." After a few more superlatives, the girls started asking questions, "How do you do it?" "How does anybody dream up this stuff?" "Why does it make me feel so good?" "Or so sad?"

"It's just beautiful."

Simone asked "Have you never heard music like this before?" Holden answered for them, "Until the last few weeks, they've had what can only be described as very difficult lives. They have never had the opportunity for culture of any sort. This is all totally new to them."

Stuart: "That must change. You have to hear more, you clearly love it."

The two girls and the two musicians started talking about music, about different composers, instruments, different genres. After a bit, Kitty inevitably started asking the more technical questions, from "How do you move your fingers so quickly?" to "Why does playing a tune on one instrument then on another, but higher or lower, make me feel all wobbly?"

Holden, Harper and Lenny just sat back, listening to what was going on. At one stage, Harper whispered to Holden, "I think we can say this is a success."

After a while, Elandra came in, whispered to Harper, who stood up and said "I think it's time we went outside to eat. Hope everyone is hungry."

They all stood up. Stuart and Simone looked a little surprised when one found Kitty holding their hand, the other's by Chloe. Harper saw this, she just said "They are very tactile." Outside, the girls waited while Stuart and Simone got served by Jarrah, Harper told the girls to get theirs next. They did what they did before, got one plate, asked Jarrah for a sausage in a roll, and some of 'those things'. What was a little different was that he had rolls already cut, he didn't need to use a knife. Having got a bottle of water from Elandra, they walked off away from the others.

Harper noticed them looking back and carefully positioning themselves so they could sit on the ground with one of their backs towards the rest, hiding what they were doing. Harper waited for a few minutes, then quietly said to Simone and Stuart "I think you can see something rather beautiful, though unconventional." She led them in a wide arc so they were to the side of the two girls.

They watched as Kitty took a bite from the roll, chewed for a moment, put her mouth to Chloe. When they parted, Chloe was chewing then swallowing. Now Kitty picked up the fork, put some vegetables on it, put it in Chloe's mouth. Chloe chewed for a bit, their mouths went together, when they parted, Kitty was chewing, then swallowing. They continued in like manner, swapping who held the roll or fork or occasionally the bottle of water, who chewed first, who swallowed.

All the while, the two were just staring into each others' eyes, except when glancing at the plate.

After a few minutes, Simone turned away, she walked hurriedly back to where Jarrah and Elandra were. When Harper caught up, she asked "Sorry, didn't you like that?" Simone said "You were right, It was unconventional but very beautiful. I think I feel a bit like they did on hearing our music, very emotional. I'd have burst into tears if I'd watched them any longer."

When the girls had finished, they walked back, holding hands. Kitty asked if Elandra could talk to the twins, Holden nodded, he said to Elandra, "It's all right, we can serve coffee for ourselves." To Kitty: "I've not changed my password."

Kitty phoned Midge, "I'm getting Elandra for you, couple of minutes." As the two walked into the house, Elandra said "What you are doing with Lenny, it's very kind of you, it is doing him a lot of good. I think it is doing both of you good as well." Kitty just said "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you know."

Kitty set up the Zoom call to Midge and Molly, she said "Elandra for you, love you." Kitty walked back into the garden, she whispered to Chloe that Elandra knew about them and Lenny. Chloe nodded, smiled, she said "Inevitable, I suppose. She's all right with it?" Kitty nodded, "Fine."

The conversation between Elandra and the twins, mostly visual, went something along the lines of:

Twins: 'You know what they are doing with Lenny?'

Elandra: 'Yes, all three show it.'

Twins: 'We want none of them to get hurt. Kitty is still suffering from the breakup from her boyfriend, we have no idea what Chloe is suffering. With Lenny, our impression is that he will be sorry when they leave, but it shouldn't hurt him too deeply. But we are worried about our two girls.'

Elandra: 'Lenny will be fine. He will be sorry, of course, but nothing too bad. Your friends, as far as I can tell, will also be all right, though I am unable to read Chloe deeply without finding out more from within her hidden mind, this could be dangerous. But to prevent her having fun because of an unknown risk would be cruel to her, when that fun does her so much good. Both have great strength of mind, Chloe's block in itself demonstrates that. When they get back, you will have to keep a close watch on her, if she shows signs of anything bad, put her to sleep, talk to me, I will try to help. Kitty did have her lapse, but the pressures on her were immense, her past, your school, her break‑up. I don't think she will do anything bad to herself again.'

Twins: 'Thank you for your insight, thank you for what you did for Chloe.'

Elandra: 'Had to. Both of them have this [impossible to put into words, aura? loveliness?] about them, no choice but to help. You have that about you as well.'

Twins: 'From the first moment we saw them at school, we had to help them. As for us, we are not always lovely.'

Elandra: 'Yes, with you that loveliness can switch to a terrible rage if provoked, it frightens me.'

Twins: 'You read us well. It frightens us, too.'

Elandra: 'I would like us to talk occasionally, is that possible?'

Twins: 'We would welcome it. We can do it easily, can you?'

Elandra: 'Not so easily, I would have to ask Holden to use his computer. I won't have one of my own.' The twins didn't ask why Elandra said that, she clearly didn't want to talk about it.

Twins: 'We think Holden would be happy to, certainly Lenny would help.'

There was a visual exchange of feelings between them, and of thanks, they ended the session.

Meanwhile, in the garden, Kitty and Chloe were talking with Simone and Stuart about the music, asking about the composers, how they did what they did, why the music caused such emotions. In a lull in the conversation, Kitty started asking about melodies, harmonies, chords, though she didn't know what they were called. Simone suggested they go to Holden's piano, she could show them some of what was going on.

The whole group went into the house, into the music room, where against one wall was an upright piano. Stuart, Holden, Harper and Lenny sat on chairs that were in the room, Simone sat at the piano, the girls standing one either side of her.

She demonstrated octaves, chords, what combinations sounded 'nice', what were discords. She played a few bars from the concert, Kitty said "It doesn't sound quite right." Holden called from his seat, "Sorry, piano's a bit out of tune." Simone smiled, "You can choose music to suit the piano." She promptly played the first part of Scott Joplin's 'The Entertainer', which had both girls almost howling with laughter.

First four bars of 'The Entertainer'

When Simone stopped, she saw Kitty staring at the keys, moving her fingers as if playing. Simone moved away to let Kitty get close to the keyboard. Kitty, using the forefingers of each hand, tentatively pressed down on two keys, producing the first pair of notes of 'The Entertainer'. With a look of extreme concentration on her face, she proceeded to play the first three bars, but only using her two forefingers.

Kitty stood back, then "How on earth do you play like you do? It's impossible." Chloe answered "The same way you type on your computer so quickly." Simone: "Chloe's right, practice. But you seem to have some natural ability, you played that without a wrong note and getting the rhythm right."

Kitty shook her head, "Impossible."

They talked about the piano, other instruments in the orchestra, the job of the conductor, how the conductor and soloist have to be in tune with one another.

At some stage, Chloe found her bag, sat cross‑legged on the floor, put her pad in front of her. She drew a sketch of Stuart, with a commanding look on his face, then she drew a cartoon of him, usual big head and hands. One hand was holding a baton with which he was trying to swat a fly buzzing around him.

Without pausing, she drew Simone's face, it had a satisfied smile on it, as if she'd achieved something. The cartoon that followed showed Simone sat at a piano, a very surprised look on her face. Her large hands were positioned above a keyboard as if having just played a chord, and several of the piano keys were flying off.

Signed, dated, Chloe put her now empty pad and pencil back in her bag, she stood up and went back to Simone's side.

After a while, Stuart interrupted the piano demonstrations Simone was giving, saying they were due to meet some other people, they would have to go.

Kitty turned, saw Chloe holding her pieces of paper, she held out her hand. Chloe passed them to Kitty, she looked at all them, smiled, got her phone out and photographed them. "These are for them?" Kitty asked. Chloe nodded. Kitty passed Stuart the two of him and gave Simone hers. Kitty just said "Chloe's thankyou."

Stuart and Simone both were delighted with their pictures, they each gave the two girls a hug. Then Simone asked "Would you like to come to ours tomorrow? We have a free day, we could show you more of the piano, perhaps let you listen to some music?" Chloe and Kitty looked at each other, both nodded. Kitty "We would love that. Oh, Lenny, can you take us all right?" Lenny: "Of course. Change from swimming." Simone suggested "Maybe about ten?" Lenny: "Yes, we'll be there."

Holden, Harper and Lenny walked with the two musicians to their car, Kitty and Chloe stayed in the music room, Kitty trying to play a bit more.

A few minutes later, Harper came to them, she shut the door. "A quiet word" she said. "Look, I know what you've been up to with Lenny, a mother can tell. In all honesty, I've never seen him so happy. Please, be careful, I don't want his father to find out, he would be very angry, nor do I want you to be hurt.

"Now, let's go and have some more coffee."

Half an hour later, the girls went to the bathroom. When they came out, Holden was in the corridor waiting for them. He said "I'm pretty sure you've been, how shall I put it, very, very friendly with Lenny. As far as I am concerned, this is very good for him. I know what I said to you, warning you about him, but I have the impression you know exactly what you are doing. Just don't let his mother find out, she would be distraught."

Chloe started to speak, "But …" Kitty put a hand on her arm, shook her head. She turned to Holden, nodded, she just said "We understand."

The three walked back into the garden.

Later, the girls said their goodbyes to Harper and Holden with hugs and thankyous, though perhaps it was a little less intense than previously, both girls maybe a little nervous about Holden and Harper knowing what they were doing with Lenny. For the same reason, they asked Lenny to just drop them off at the hotel. He looked a little disappointed, but each girl gave him a good kiss in the car before getting out. His parting words: "Pick you up at nine."

They ordered some room service tea, and phoned Midge.

Midge and Molly asked about the concert, both Kitty and Chloe said how much they enjoyed it, also that they'd met with the conductor and the pianist. Midge emailed the photos of Chloe's sketches, saying they were going to see them tomorrow. Chloe said that Kitty could play the piano, Kitty gave her a punch, "Can't. It's impossible."

Laughter from the twins.

Chloe told them how all three of Elandra, Harper and Holden had guessed what they were doing with Lenny, they all seemed to think it was good. But Harper and Holden each thought the other wouldn't like it. Midge (and/or Molly) said "It's not surprising, they just don't read each other as some do. Respect their wishes, don't say anything. You'll never be asked by one whether the other knows."

Then Midge asked "Why isn't Lenny with you?" Chloe replied "Somehow the mood wasn't right. Kitty added "Maybe tomorrow."

Midge: "We hope so, he's good for you."

Australia day 10

In the morning, Lenny picked them up, drove them to a nice house not far from Holden's. At the door, both Stuart and Simone got hugs from the girls. Lenny said "Mum did tell you they are very tactile." Kitty immediately said "Oh, sorry, we just …" Simone interrupted her, "It's all right, we don't mind."

At Stuart and Simone's

They spent the morning with the two musicians talking about music, different genres, Simone able to play bits on her piano to illustrate many of them. Stuart talked about timing, tempo, pauses, how the conductor could change the whole feeling of a piece just with his baton, his hands, body movement and facial expressions, again, the two demonstrated with him conducting Simone, playing the same piece but different timings and expression.

For lunch, Stuart phoned for a pizza delivery, Simone explaining that they didn't keep fresh food in the house because they were away so much, but she had got milk so they could have tea to drink.

Whilst they were eating, Stuart put on a CD of Elgar's Cello Concerto. From the moment they heard those haunting cello opening bars, the two girls were totally mesmerised. When it finished, They were both in tears. Kitty: "That was so beautiful." Chloe: "The cellist, so expressive."

Simone said "Jacqueline du Pré. Tragic, she died of multiple sclerosis, came down with it in her prime."

They spent the next few hours just listening to music, between each piece they'd discuss what they'd heard, always the girls really interested, always affected by the music.

When it came to about five o'clock, Stuart said they'd have to call it a day, they had to catch a flight later. The two girls looked a little disappointed, but said how grateful they were. They thanked both Stuart and Simone profusely, both of whom got hugged and kissed by both girls.

All this while, Lenny had sat quietly, listening, rarely saying anything. He, too, thanked Stuart and Simone, gave both handshakes, said that he had also really enjoyed the experience, he'd learnt a lot as well.

On the way back, Kitty asked Lenny if he would eat with them again. When they reached the hotel, Kitty booked their dinner, and their breakfast.

While they were in reception, Kitty asked Chloe "Should we see if we can get something for Midge and Molly?" Chloe replied "The shop is open, let's go and see if they have anything." Kitty said to Lenny "Do you want to come with us to the shop, or would you rather go to our room?" Lenny said "The room, can I order us some tea?" Kitty handed him the room keycard.

The two girls went into the shop, started looking round. They noticed that the swimwear manikin had a bright red bikini on it. "They must have got some more in. How about a bikini each?"

They bought two bikinis, both purple, also matching swimming caps, "The twins would want to wear the same colour as each other." They had them wrapped so they could pack them safely. Back in their room, they sat at the table and talked about the music they'd heard and what they'd learnt.

Their tea drunk, Kitty decided to phone Midge. Once again, it seemed a long time before Midge answered. "Playing again?" asked Kitty. "Something like that" from Midge. "Chloe and Lenny with me." "Keeping him entertained?" "Sometimes. We had some education in music today." Between them, Kitty and Chloe, with occasional input from Lenny, outlined their day with Stuart and Simone.

Midge said that their parents had quite a collection of records and CDs, maybe they should play some when they got back. Kitty asked "Won't that upset you?" To which Midge replied "Yes, but we have to learn to deal with it. And, who knows, we may like to listen to it."

It was soon time for the three to go to dinner, they said their goodbyes.

At dinner, Chloe wanted her coffee in the restaurant. Kitty gave her a questioning look, Chloe just smiled.

Back in the room, Chloe thrust Kitty at Lenny. They started on the bed and ended with all three in the shower.

A recovering Lenny asked "What was that all about?" - his first words since they'd returned to the room. Kitty grinned, "Oh, Chloe gets some funny ideas sometimes, best to let her get on with it." Chloe asked "Any complaints?" Lenny shook his head, "Absolutely not. Just a little surprised at your, er, intensity." Chloe: Well, we missed out yesterday."

Lenny smiled. Silence for a while, then Lenny asked "So, what about tomorrow?" "Oh, yes, we could do the same tomorrow." "No, what about during the day?"

Kitty asked "Could we swim in the sea?" Chloe: "That's a good idea." Lenny: "Yes, we can do that, unless it's too dangerous. There can be some very nasty waves and rip tides. I'll have a check on likely beaches, pick you up tomorrow at ten? That'll give me time to look at where will be best. And maybe a packed lunch? See if you can borrow towels for you, probably from the pool attendant."

Australia day 11

The next day had them driving to Palm Beach. Lenny explained that many of the beaches can be difficult for swimmers, most were more suited for surfers, the forecast showed that Palm Beach shouldn't be too bad. He warned them about going in too deep, about unexpected large waves, also rip tides that could catch the unwary. He told them always to make sure he wasn't far from them.

He found a place to park the car.

While he was parking, Kitty's phone rang, it was Daniel, he said she was okay to sign Holden's documents. He did say her signature would need witnessing, she should have her passport with her in case proof of identity was needed. Daniel added that he'd emailed Holden, so he should be ready for her. The call ended, Kitty let Lenny know that she would need to see his dad.

Lenny told them to leave any valuables in the car, just take towels and suncream, maybe even change into their swimming costumes in the car, leave their dresses there. But they would have to walk to the far end of the beach, if they felt shy about walking that distance in their costumes, they could change on the beach.

Needless to say, they changed in the car, giving Lenny as much of a display as they could.

Lenny told them "You don't need your shoes. I'll carry your things, put the lunches in one bag, I'll use the others for the towels and stuff. No need to put your caps on yet, you won't be going into the water until we're settled."

They walked down onto the sand. Kitty said "It's beautiful." Chloe: "The sand, it feels really nice." Lenny asked "Haven't you been on a beach before?" Both girls shook their heads. Chloe asked "Can we run?" Lenny, grinning, "Yes, but don't kick sand over anyone. And don't go in the water until I'm ready."

The two girls started running, holding hands, seeing how fast they could go. Inevitably they fell when one tripped on a raised bit of sand, pulling the other down with her. On the third fall they managed to keep holding hands, but rolled right over and back up onto their feet.

They were getting a lot of stares from people on the beach, but they didn't interfere in any way, zig‑zagging to keep away from anyone.

Eventually they got near the far end, somewhat out of breath. They found a spot in a fairly open space, just past a family group. While they caught their breath, they lay flat on their backs, just panting and giggling.

After a few minutes, they sat up. Seeing Lenny still a way off, they both waved. He'd stopped, he was talking to someone. He didn't see them, but a little girl, part of the family they'd just passed, did see them and waved back. The mother and father were in deep conversation, she was probably telling him off for ogling the newcomers, so neither parent saw the girl take her brother's hand and walk over to the girls.

"Hello" said Chloe. "Hi" from Kitty. Chloe said "I'm Chloe, this is my friend Kitty. What's your name?" The girl replied "I'm Isla, this is my little brother William. You talk funny." Both girls grinned, Chloe told them "We came from a country a long way away called England, we speak a little differently from you."

Kitty asked "How old are you?" Isla replied "I'm five, William is three. How old are you?" Kitty said "We're both sixteen." Chloe: "And what are you doing here?" "We're building a sandcastle. We can show you." Isla took Chloe's hand, William took Kitty's, the two girls were led to where their mother and father were, which is when the parents looked up and saw the four coming towards them.

Isla spoke first. "We are showing Chloe and Kitty our sandcastle." Mummy asked "They're not annoying you, are they?" Kitty replied "No, not at all, they're lovely children." Daddy daren't say anything, but he did manage to close his mouth that had been hanging open.

The children took Kitty and Chloe in front of the parents, where there was, indeed, a sandcastle. Its base had been made by upturning three lots of wet sand from a bucket, the bucket had another load of wet sand in it, Isla said "Watch, I'm putting this on top."

Isla took the bucket, upturned it, put it on top of the base trio. Unfortunately, the base started to collapse, Isla was about to cry. Kitty immediately knelt down and started to re-shape the base, managed to stop it crumbling any more, Isla was immediately laughing.

Mummy said "Oh, thank you. You're very good with children, you'll be a wonderful mother one day." Kitty got up, ran back to where they'd been lying, knelt down, crying. Chloe just said "Sorry, we can't have children, hurts." She went after Kitty, put her arms round her, hugged her, said "She didn't know."

Just then Lenny reached them, he went to the girls, "What's the matter?" The mother had come over, said to Lenny "Something I said, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean …" Kitty blurted out "No, it's not your fault, it's the fucking nuns fault." She managed "Sorry for the language."

Lenny quietly explained, "They were in a convent school, the nuns there had them sterilised. It's very upsetting for them." Mummy said "They are so good with William and Isla." Lenny, more to himself, "They're good with everybody." After a minute, Kitty pulled herself together, turned to sit, Chloe sat beside her, still hugging.

Kitty wiped the tears from her eyes, said "I'm sorry, I shouldn't react like that. Your children, so nice, I just wish …" She paused. "No, no use wishing." Chloe asked "Would you excuse us if we went for a swim? Take her mind off it?" Lenny said "Both your minds." Kitty asked "Could we come and see you in a bit?" "Of course, we're here for a little while, talk to you later." She went back to her husband and children.

Lenny got a towel out of one of the bags he was carrying, laid it out on the sand, put the rest of what their things on the towel, he found the girls' swimming caps.

"Come on then, this is why we're here. Rules: don't go out beyond waist deep, don't swim too far away from me. And, if you do get into trouble, wave a bikini-top in the air, every man on the beach will come running to your rescue" which made both girls laugh. Lenny repeated his warning about waves that could come unexpectedly, also surfers who might be out there and how cold the water was.

Swimming 6, the sea

When they'd got their swimming caps on, Lenny took hold of their hands and ran them down and into the water until they were a couple of feet deep. Chloe exclaimed "It is cold!" She took her hand from Lenny's and dived down, Kitty following suit. Lenny was pleased to see that the two stayed close to each other which meant it was easy for him to keep both in sight, he just swam to keep within a distance that he could get to them quickly should he be needed.

The girls were swimming along the length of the beach, so keeping deep enough to swim but never going too deep. After a few minutes, Lenny caught up with them to turn them round, he didn't want them getting near where a few surfers were. Even though there weren't any decent surfing waves, there were a few surfers paddling about on their boards.

After they'd swum up and down a few times, the girls decided they'd had enough for the moment, stood up and walked out of the sea. They put their arms round each other's waist, looked around to see where their things were. Lenny came up, said "This way", and started to lead them, but they decided to run.

When Lenny reached the towel, Kitty and Chloe were lying down beside each other. Lenny picked up the other two towels, "Here, have a towel each, I'll borrow one of yours when you're done." Kitty stood up and took one of the towels from Lenny, she said "You use the other, Chloe and I will share." She hauled Chloe to her feet, they wrapped the towel round both of them, and started squirming against each other inside the towel and giggling. "What are you doing now? No, don't tell me, just behave."

They moved apart, each took an end of the towel and started rubbing themselves and each other. When they'd finished, Lenny said "Now straighten your costumes and put some suncream on."

The two girls started putting suncream on each other, smoothing it with the palms of their hands over all their exposed skin, and frequently where their skin was covered, pushing hands under their bikini tops and bottoms, both clearly enjoying their interaction. Lenny, exasperated, said "Stop it, behave." He walked over to Isla and William's parents, "I'm sorry, they sometimes act like four year olds. Oh, I don't think yours are anything like that bad." Daddy said nothing, Mummy said "I suppose they're not hurting anyone. Now what are they doing?"

Lenny turned to look at them, they were fighting each other on the towel. Lenny said to the parents "They do that a lot as well. I don't understand it, but they seem to enjoy it, pure affection, though it doesn't look like it. They'll stop soon."

The mother asked Lenny "How do you know them? They're from England, but you're local." Lenny replied "They're over here for a couple of weeks, they've been to a funeral. I've been given the job of looking after them." After a moment he added "An impossible job." "What's the matter with them?"

Lenny thought for a moment. "Difficult to put into words. They are lovely girls, they try not to offend or upset, but their behaviour can be, how shall I put it? unconventional. Like now, they often have these little scraps, which are, as I said, pure affection. They have little sense of modesty, they chose those swimming costumes which are pretty revealing, they'd wear nothing if I let them.

"Keeping up with them isn't easy, physically or mentally. They have boundless energy, and IQs in the stratosphere. You saw them swimming just now?" It was Daddy who replied, "Could hardly miss seeing them," for which he got a glare from Mummy. Lenny continued "Six days ago they'd never been in a swimming pool, not even seen the sea before. They were able to manage lengths in their hotel pool on their second time, breathing pretty well on the third. Never seen anything like it. This is, I think, their sixth swimming session. All I can say is they listened to what I told them, and did it. One of them said something like 'Other people do it, so why not us?'. If they weren't so intelligent, I'd call them stupid in their bravery."

Mummy said "Oh, they're coming over." Talking about us?" asked Chloe. "Yes" said Lenny, I was telling them how stupid you are." He got a punch from each of the girls. "Using me as a punchbag instead of each other?" "Well" said Kitty, "I punch Chloe because she's my friend." Chloe said "So that shows you are our friend." Mummy said "It seems like you do other things to your friends as well, you both have bite marks. Looks like from more than one occasion." Kitty: "We only bite our really special friends." Lenny: "Aren't I a special friend?" Chloe: "Yes, but we've not known you long enough." Lenny: "Thank goodness for that."

"Anyway said Kitty, "We'd like to bite on some food, Chloe hasn't got much sustenance in her. Is it lunchtime yet?" Lenny said "If you're hungry, it's lunchtime." Chloe, to the parents, "If you'd excuse us, please?" "Of course, you go and eat."

The three went back to their towel, Lenny got out their lunches. The two girls sat cross‑legged facing each other, Lenny knelt down facing between them. He got out all their food, each took a half sandwich. Lenny fed himself, the two girls took it in turn to bite their own sandwich, then offer it to the other for her to take a bite. When they'd finished their sandwiches and yogurts, the girls got up, took their chocolate bars and bananas over to the family, asked the parents if their children would like either.

"That's so thoughtful of you" said Mummy, "Are you sure?" "Of course" said Kitty. "There's too much for us" from Chloe. "William, Isla" called Mummy. The two children came from where they'd been digging. Mummy said "Would you like a banana each?" William reached out a hand, Isla said "Yes, please." Kitty gave her banana to William, Chloe to Isla. The girls just turned and ran back to Lenny, both were in tears.

Lenny hugged them both, "Nothing I can do or say for you, just tell you I'm sorry." Kitty managed "I knew this would happen. But I had to do it." Lenny squeezed them both, "You're both just nice people. Try to cheer up a bit, their mother is looking this way, she's worried." Kitty said "Let's go in the sea again." The three stood up, "Same rules."

The three raced for the water. Lenny was first in, then Kitty. But, as they entered the water, Lenny called to them, "Now go and get your swimming caps." The two girls gave each other a punch, ran back hand in hand to their towel, put on their caps and raced back to the water, where they swam to a laughing Lenny and tried to duck him under. This ended up with the three squirming and writhing together, until Chloe backed away and held up Kitty's bra. "Gotcha" she said. Kitty called back "Goody, goody, all the men will come to rescue us."

Lenny, once again exasperated by them, just said "Give it back." Chloe, laughing, swam back to Kitty, and made a great play of putting the bra back on her, finally testing it by running her hands under it. "Just making sure it's tight enough."

Lenny pulled Chloe away from Kitty, he said "Please, behave." The two girls both gave him a disappointed look, then started swimming as fast as they could, Lenny trailing behind. When Chloe began to get a little ahead of Kitty, Kitty grabbed her legs, hauled herself along Chloe, turned her face up, gave her a somewhat salty kiss. They turned round and swam back again, both ducking Lenny as they swam one either side of him. He chased after them, managed to push both of them under.

They carried on swimming, racing, ducking each other, until all three were getting tired. They helped each other back up the beach to their towel, pretty much collapsed. Lenny got the two hotel towels, passed one to the girls, used one for himself.

Playing with Isla and William

After they'd put some more suncream on, Kitty took Chloe's hand and led her to where the family were. Kitty asked "Can we play with William and Isla, please?" "Of course." The two girls went to where William and Isla were trying to build up the sand castle some more, the two children apparently delighted to see them.

The two girls spent the next half an hour or so playing sand castles, occasionally running with a bucket towards the sea to get some wet sand. When the children seemed to tire of that, Chloe started using their spade to put sand over Kitty's legs, Kitty dutifully laid flat on her back while the two children set about burying her.

The children stopped after a while, started clambering over Kitty. Chloe stood back, she went to the parents, asked "Are you here for a little while?" Mummy replied "Yes, we're making the full day of it. Is Kitty all right?" "Yes, I think so." Chloe went to Kitty, knelt down, whispered in Kitty's ear. Kitty said "No, that's fine, just don't be too long." Chloe went to Lenny, spoke to him. Lenny came over to Kitty, "Are you all right for a bit?" Kitty grinned, "Just getting energy back for later. Yes, I'm fine."

Lenny said to the parents, "We'll come back for her in a little while." The two half ran, half walked back to Lenny's car, where Chloe got her sketch pad bag and Kitty's bumbag. They returned to their towel, Lenny broke off to where Kitty was still lying on her back, she was, in turn, throwing William and Isla into the air and catching them, both of them screaming with laughter. He bent down to her, just said "We're back" then sat with the parents, chatting with them while watching Kitty and the children.

Meanwhile, Chloe had gone straight to their towel, knelt down and started sketching. After she'd drawn four, she took Kitty's phone from the bumbag and photographed the sketches she'd done, put them on top of each other and returned the phone to the bumbag. She walked over to the parents, said "These are for you if you'd like them." She passed them the four sketches. They looked at the top one, it showed the two faces of the parents, both looking at something, most likely their children, both smiling. The second was a sketch of the two, the usual diminutive bodies and legs, their big heads kissing, each one hugging the other.

The third sketch was of the two children's faces, each holding a peeled banana, its bitten end just visible, both looking really happy. The fourth showed the two children apparently building a huge sandcastle, just Kitty's face and hands sticking out from halfway up one side.

Daddy said "They're brilliant, are you sure they're for us?" Chloe just nodded. Mummy, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, managed "They're lovely, thank you so much."

Chloe just quietly walked back to the towel, where she sat, hugging her knees, staring out to sea.

After a while, Kitty saw Chloe, she stopped what she was doing with the children, she said to them "You've worn me out, we'll have to stop." She gave William and Isla a quick hug, smiled to the parents, and walked over to Chloe. "All right?" she asked. Chloe looked at her, Yes, I think so. I photographed them, I know you like to do that."

Kitty sat down, put her arm round Chloe. She said "I don't know where you go when you sketch, but they're marvellous." Chloe seemed to snap out of it, "Oh, yes. I'm tired, do you think we could go?" Kitty kissed her cheek, "I'll get Lenny."

She only had to beckon Lenny, he was looking at them with a concerned look on his face. He came over, Kitty said "Can we go, please?" Lenny said "Of course, but I suggest one last dip in the water to wash the sand off you. Oh, go deep enough to get it from anywhere you really don't want it, if you see what I mean."

This seemed to cheer Chloe up, she grabbed Kitty's hand and pulled her, running, into the water, where they spent about ten minutes washing themselves and each other.

Meanwhile, Lenny took the towels they'd been drying themselves with well away from anyone else, he gave them a good shake to get as much sand off them as he could. He waited until the girls came out, handed them one of the towels, then went into the water himself for a couple of minutes, and back to where the girls had just about finished.

While he dried himself, the girls went to the family to say their goodbyes. Kitty gave each of the two children a kiss on their foreheads, turned away, tears coming from her eyes. Chloe said to the parents, "Thank you for letting us play with your lovely children." She too started to well up, got hold of Kitty's hand, they put their arms around each other and started walking along the beach.

Lenny packed everything into the bags, went to the family, he said "I'll say goodbye, and thank you for being nice to them. Sorry they can get so emotional, but I hope you understand." Mummy said "Nothing to be sorry for. Will they be all right?" Lenny said "Yes, I think so, I've seen them like this before, they're strong, they'll pull themselves out of it."

He set off after the girls, he saw them change from walking with their arms round each other to holding hands and running, dodging around people to avoid scattering sand over them.

By the time Lenny reached the car, the girls were standing, putting on very bored expressions. "Come on, slow-coach." Lenny grinned, "I had to carry all your stuff. Can you try to brush any sand off your feet, please? It gets everywhere in the car and is a pain to get out."

The girls brushed themselves off then just got into the back and put their seatbelts on, Kitty saying "We'll wait until we're in our room to change." Chloe added "We like being dressed like this."

Without a word, Lenny set off back to the hotel, trying to ignore the giggling he could hear and what they were doing to each other that he could see when he glanced in his rearview mirror.

In a lull in their playing with each other, Chloe asked Lenny "You are eating with us this evening, aren't you?" "Must I?" he asked. "Yes, you must" from Kitty.

When they got out of the lift from the hotel carpark into reception, Kitty and Chloe went to the desk and asked for room service to bring tea to their room, then booked their table for dinner and breakfast in their room, meanwhile getting a lot of admiring looks from guests and staff in the area. Lenny nipped out to the swimming pool to return the towels the girls had borrowed, when he came back, the girls were standing by the stairs, occasionally prodding each other. They were getting some quite anxious looks, but no one tried to intervene.

"Can't leave you for a moment, can I? Ouch" ‑ the last as both girls gave him a prod. They grabbed each other's hand and raced up the stairs. By the time Lenny reached their room, they were sitting crosslegged on the floor leaning against the wall, one either side of their door. "Come on" said Kitty. "You've got my bumbag with the key." He passed Kitty her bag.

Kitty opened the door, Lenny went in and held the door open while both girls rubbed past him. When they were all in the room, Kitty said "I've ordered some tea for us, so Lenny, make sure you're decent for when the waiter comes." Both girls were laughing as they went into the bathroom, Lenny heard the shower running as he sorted the stuff out of the bags.

Shortly after, the room service waiter brought in a trolly with their tea, Lenny thanked him just as the two girls emerged from the bathroom. They, too, thanked the waiter as he left. As he closed the door, Chloe decided to sit on Lenny's lap, she started joggling and wriggling. "Don't you ever stop?" he asked. Chloe slid off him, muttering "Someone doesn't love me any more." Kitty said "I still love you." Chloe went and sat on Kitty's lap, her wriggling and joggling were rewarded by Kitty putting her arms round and fondling Chloe's breasts.

Lenny poured out their tea, which made Kitty shove Chloe off her, Chloe went round to the third chair. The three sipped their tea without talking, each with their own thoughts.

Their tea drunk, Chloe said "I want to talk to Midge and Molly." Kitty: It's after six here, so after seven at home. They're probably awake." Chloe: "Unless they've been playing again." Kitty: "I wonder what that was about." Chloe: "Don't ask. If they want us to know, they'll tell us."

Chloe got her phone, rang Midge. Chloe asked "Not too early for you?" "No, we're up" came the reply. "Everything all right?" Chloe said "Yes, thank you. Lenny and Kitty with me. Went swimming in the sea today." Midge (or Molly): "You didn't get swept out to sea or eaten by a shark, then?" Chloe: "No, Lenny told us what to do to stay safe." Lenny " And for once they did as they were told." Midge: "First time for everything." Molly: "Molly wouldn't like them getting eaten by a shark. Midge asked "Lenny, are they really difficult?" Lenny: "Yes, but, don't tell them, I wouldn't want them any other way. Though they do frazzle me sometimes."

"That's a new name for it" from Midge. "Now, Chloe, what's wrong?" "I didn't say anything was wrong." "Come on, tell us." Lenny answered, "They had a bit of a crying session on the beach. They were playing with some young children, got to them." There was silence for a few seconds, then Midge said "All right now?" Kitty replied "No worse than before. We have to learn to deal with it." Midge: "Yes, but it's not easy, we know."

They started talking about how Kitty and Chloe were playing with the children, after a bit Kitty remembered Chloe's sketches, she said "Emailing you Chloe's drawings." She did so, Midge said "Ah, they're coming through, let's look at them." Silence for a little while, then "Lovely children." Another silence, maybe a quiet sob, then "Was Kitty really under all that sand?" Kitty replied "Chloe showed them how to cover me with sand, but not quite as much as her sketch." Chloe said "I had to get the sand out of her afterwards. Lenny told me to." Kitty: "He told us to go into the sea and use our fingers to clean sand from each other." Lenny: "That's not quite how I put it." Chloe: "It was fun, though." Kitty: "Even more than when you took my bra off." Chloe: "Lenny fibbed, all the men on the beach didn't come to rescue us."

That had all five laughing.

After a little more banter, Midge said "A bit of news for you. The school got burnt down." Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, Kitty asked "Any of the girls hurt?" Midge "No, the school was empty." Chloe: "What happened? It's never been empty before." Midge said "According to the newspaper report, there'd been an infestation of cockroaches, they'd taken everyone out so they could use smoke bombs to try to clear it."

Silence for a few seconds until Kitty asked "What's happened to the girls? Where are they all?" Midge: "They were being put up in hotels for a couple of nights while the fumigation was going on, but we don't know what will happen now."

Chloe said "I know a nice big building which could house them." Midge: "Now, there's a thought. But there's their schooling to worry about. And the nuns are going nowhere near our building."

Chloe asked "Any sign of their records in the debris?" Midge: "Not that we've heard." Kitty: "How about giving them something to discover in the ashes?" Midge: "We did talk to Philip about that, we knew Daniel wouldn't let us. Philip says it would be impossible to do it convincingly." Kitty: "Leak some of what they do." Midge: "Already thinking about that."

Kitty: "Seriously, if you offered the building free of rent, with the condition that the nuns weren't involved, that would save the council a considerable expense. Get some mattresses or camp beds for them, some old tables and chairs. Use supply teachers. The building is sound with all services. Bet the girls would jump at it."

They talked some more about the school, Lenny disappeared into the bathroom and had a quick shower. When he came out, they were just saying their goodbyes, he added his. Midge said "Look after them for us, won't you?" Lenny replied "I'm doing my best."

Chloe lets Lenny play

Shortly after they ended the phone call, the three went down to dinner. This time it was Kitty who wanted them to have their coffee in the restaurant. When they got back to the room, Kitty stripped the covers off and shoved Lenny so he was sitting on the side of the bed. Now she pushed Chloe towards Lenny, Kitty said to him "She'll let you do anything. Go for it."

Chloe went right up to Lenny, standing with her legs either side of one of his. She closed her eyes and just stood there, arms hanging loosely by her sides, a little crooked smile on her face. Lenny looked towards Kitty, who grinned and nodded.

After a while, Kitty joined them on the bed. Eventually Chloe was just lying spreadeagled between Lenny and Kitty, all three of them laughing.

After some more minutes, Lenny sat up, looked across at the two girls lying there. "I don't know what that was about, but thank you. Never known anything like it." He was going to ask how they could trust a man like that, but decided it was better not to, knowing Kitty had received bad treatment from men, and almost certainly Chloe as well, probably worse than Kitty.

Kitty was next to sit up, "Shower" she said. She stood up, pushed Lenny down and put a foot on on his chest to walk over him to get off the bed. She reached over to take his and Chloe's hands, she pulled them both until they followed her into the bathroom, where they had a leisurely shower, washing each other. They emerged, went back to the bedroom to get dressed again. Kitty asked "Coffee?" She got two nods. As she was ringing room service, Lenny and Chloe made the bed. The three sat at the table, talking mostly about the seaside.

Sipping their coffee, Lenny said "Nearly forgot, Kitty, Dad wants to see you, would you like to come to the house in the morning? I understand he has documents for you to sign?" Kitty nodded, she said "Chloe, remind me to take my passport tomorrow. Oh, why not the office?" Lenny replied "He's having the day off. I expect they'll feed you lunch. You won't need your passport, they know you well enough. Pick you up, what, nine‑thirty?"

Australia day 12

The next day Lenny picked them up, they arrived at Holden's at about half past ten. Just inside the front door they were greeted with hugs from Harper and Holden, then they went into the living room. Harper asked "Coffee?" She went out of the room, came back shortly afterwards. Holden said "Let's get business out of the way. We need two witnesses, Elandra and Harper will be fine."

Elandra appeared carrying a tray with coffee and mugs, Holden asked her to go with them into the study, where he got the two documents out, two copies of each. He said to Kitty "It's a bit of a pain, but you have to initial every page of them as well as sign on the last page." He sat Kitty down at his desk, she dutifully did as she'd been asked. Holden did the same as Kitty, then Harper and Elandra signed as witnesses. "I'll post your copies to Daniel, save you bothering with it all."

Back in the living room, Holden said to Kitty "The life insurance will be paid within a week, it's gone through more quickly than I expected. You probably need to get Daniel and Samuel ready for it."

Kitty thanked him, then frowned. "Something wrong?" Holden asked. "No, it's just that …" She hesitated, then "The school burnt down …" Chloe muttered "Best thing for it." "… I was just wondering if we could use that money to help the girls." Chloe: "That would be brill." Kitty said "Would you excuse me for a second, I'd like to email the possibility."

She got her phone out, wrote the email. "I've sent it to Midge, Daniel and Samuel. They'll see it in the morning, it's midnight there at the moment."

Holden asked "What's this about the school burning down? Your school?" Chloe replied "Yes, no one hurt, empty at the time." Kitty: "The twins own a large building, currently unused. It could house quite a lot of the girls." Chloe added "And have space for classrooms." Kitty: "But it would need money to do it. The twins potentially have enough, but it's tied up in a trust, it would take too long to release it." Chloe: "And that's even if Daniel and Samuel agreed to it." Kitty: "They'd agree to it if the twins decided they wanted it." Chloe: "True, but it would still take too long."

Holden: "I can see you are serious about this, and there is clearly some urgency. I will do my best to expedite payment, make sure there are no unnecessary delays. At your end, I expect there is tax to pay, Samuel will sort it, but apart from that, you can do whatever you want with it, it's not tied up at all, it will be your clear cash."

Kitty thanked him, still thinking. She muttered "Need beds, teachers, housekeepers, kitchens, bathrooms …" she shook her head. Chloe said to her "Nothing we can do about that now. Lots of details to be sorted, I'm sure they can think about that after they've read your email. Now, drink your coffee." Kitty gave Chloe a prod, "For once, you're right." Chloe returned the prod.

Within an instant, the two girls were fighting on the floor, grunts, little yelps, the occasional 'ouch'. This seemed to go on longer than usual, but without much enthusiasm. It ended with them hugging, both were in tears. Lenny had been watching, he went to them, knelt down. "What's the matter? You've always been laughing when you finish." Kitty managed "I'm upset because I miss the twins, and we're going home in a couple of days, then I'll miss you." Chloe just said "Me, too." Lenny said "Well, for what it's worth, I shall miss you. I'd be crying too if we Australians weren't so tough." As Lenny had hoped, this had the effect of making both girls laugh, they allowed Lenny to help them to their feet, they both gave him a hug.

Holden and Harper were both sat watching. Harper said "I think we are all going to miss you. But I'm afraid we'll all have to live with it. Your coffee's cold, I'll get Elandra to bring us some fresh." Harper went out, taking the tray with her. She came back a minute later, with Elandra. She said "Girls, Elandra would like to talk to each of you alone, is that all right?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, both gave each other an almost imperceptible nod. Kitty said "All right, the twins said we should trust Elandra."

Elandra held her hand out, Kitty quietly said to Chloe, "Me first." Chloe gave her a quick kiss on her mouth, let go of her. Kitty went to Elandra, who led her out of the room. Chloe looked to Harper, then to Lenny, she went to Lenny, sat on his lap, just stared at the floor. Lenny put his arms round her, he looked a little embarrassed, then said "Mum, Dad, I think you should know, I've got very close to these two girls, very, very close. I hope that won't upset you or make you angry with me, or even worse, stop me looking after them." Harper looked at Holden, who was showing no expression, she said "I already knew, to me it was obvious." Holden looked at her, then at Lenny, "And me. Harps, we should talk more, I thought you'd be upset." Harper: "I thought you would be angry with him."

Harper turned to Lenny, "Thank you for coming out with it. My only worry is for you not to be hurt. And the girls, of course." Chloe spoke up, "It was we who forced ourselves on him. We're certainly not getting hurt, he's doing us the world of good." Lenny smiled, "It's doing me good as well, though I will be hurt when they go. But I'll get over it." A short pause, "I hope." Another pause, "Kitty's right, day after tomorrow." Chloe grinned, "Kitty's always right. Infuriating." Holden asked "Is that why you're always fighting with her?" Chloe answered quite quietly, "No, that's because I love her."

A short while later Kitty and Elandra came back into the room, they were holding hands. Kitty was smiling, then saw where Chloe was sitting. She let go of Elandra's hand, went to Chloe, "Swap?" Lenny let Chloe slide off him, Kitty immediately got on his lap. "You've told them?" she asked. "Yes, thought I should." Kitty just said "Good." She reached for Lenny's hands, pulled them round to her tummy.

Chloe went to Elandra, who led her out. Lenny asked Kitty, "Can I ask, what did you talk about?" Kitty grinned, "Don't know. She put me to sleep. Thought she would." He asked "You didn't mind?" Kitty replied "Of course not, Midge and Molly said we should trust her." Holden asked "And you trust them?" Kitty said "Without question." Lenny commented "I've listened to their conversations quite a few times. The twins do have an air of assurance about them, and there is a quite incredible bond between the four. It was a real gut‑wrench for these two to leave them."

Kitty prodded him, "But if we hadn't come, we wouldn't have met you." "But I know I am no competition for them when it comes to you." Kitty muttered "True. Sorry." Holden asked "Would you leave them for anyone else?" Kitty looked at him, said "Nearly did, once." With tears streaming down her face, she got off Lenny and went to Harper, curled up on her lap. Holden went to her, knelt down, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Kitty lifted her head, used the lapel of Harper's blouse to wipe her eyes, she said "No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't let it get to me." Then, realising how she'd used Harper's blouse, she said "Oh, I'm so sorry …" Harper put her finger on Kitty's lips, she just said "Hush." Kitty smiled at her, said "Thank you."

Moments later, Chloe walked into the room, she was smiling until she saw Kitty on Harper's lap. She ran to Kitty, knelt down by Holden, she asked "Kitty, what's wrong?" Holden answered, "Something I said, I'm sorry oof" as Chloe punched his shoulder. Kitty said "It's all right, I shouldn't react like I did." Holden said "That hurt." Lenny grinned, "They told me they only punch their friends." Holden, smiling, said "I bet you don't hit your friends that hard." The two girls, in unison, said "I thought Australians were supposed to be tough."

This had the whole room laughing. Kitty got off Harper, offered a hand each to Holden and Chloe, helped them both up. She let go of Holden, led Chloe to an armchair, where they sat together. As they were sitting, Jarrah came in carrying a tray with coffee and mugs, he said "Elandra asleep. Asked me to do your coffee." Harper asked "She's all right?" Jarrah nodded, he said "Tired."

Kitty: "If Midge or Molly have done anything, they always get tired. But they always recover after a short sleep." Jarrah just smiled and left the room. Chloe said "He doesn't speak much." Holden said "He didn't grow up among people, he was orphaned quite young. He spent years on his own, living off the land in the outback. We don't know quite how, but Elandra came across him, asked if he could work for us." Harper added "He seems to like it here, he learnt English very quickly, and what to do." "And how to cook" from Kitty. Chloe: "So much better than yours ‑ ouch."

The two girls were off the chair, fighting and rolling over each other on the floor. No one did anything to stop them, though Holden had to put a hand on Harper's arm to prevent her. After a short while they were hugging and kissing, they got back onto their chair, laughing at each other. Holden said "You must be extremely good friends, the amount of punches you give each other." Both girls grinned at him, Chloe said "True."

Harper said "Chloe, there's blood on your shoulder." Chloe looked at it, squeezed it, a bit more blood oozed through her dress. "It's all right, she just bit me. That's not bad at all, she's done much worse. As have I to her." Kitty asked "Do you want me to lick it better?" Chloe momentarily glanced at Harper, "Maybe not." Harper shook her head, "I don't understand why you hurt someone you really care about. Do you fight with Midge and Molly?" "Of course", said in unison.

Holden asked "Do the twins fight each other?" Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, Kitty said "One or both with either or both of us, but not just the two of them, not like we just did." Chloe added "At least, not that we've seen." Kitty: "They sometimes hurt each other, but not as a fight. We've seen that, I don't think it's very often." Chloe: "They did it at their parents' funeral." Kitty: "It was horrible, they just stood there, trading blows."

Harper asked "Didn't you try to stop them?" Chloe: "They told everyone not to intervene whatever happened. I think they knew there was a risk of them doing something like that." Kitty: "Someone did try to stop them." Chloe: "He was lucky to get away with just being winded." Kitty: "They'd earlier done something to each other at the airport when they went to collect their parents. Chloe: "They'd at least bitten each other, they had some nasty bites, quite a lot of blood on their clothes." Kitty: "What's really strange is how matter‑of‑fact they are about it."

Holden: "And you are happy to fight with them?" Kitty: "Of course. We only got really hurt once." Chloe: "They were going through their parents things." Kitty: "Found something that really upset them." Chloe: "Started punching each other." Kitty: "Tried to stop them." Chloe: "We each got a punch that flung us to the other side of the room." Kitty: "Chloe's ribs were broken." Chloe: "Kitty wasn't quite as bad, just cracked." Kitty: "Doctor said both of us had internal injuries." In unison: "It hurt."

Lenny said "They told me about it. Apparently Midge and Molly can't hurt these two any more, some sort of mental block." Kitty: "It works." Chloe: "Just as well."

There was silence for a while as they sipped their coffee. Then Harper asked "Do you have any plans for the rest of today?" Kitty and Chloe both shook their heads. Harper continued "I'd like to take you to the shops, buy you something to remember us by."

Both girls looked at each other, Kitty said "I don't …" She stopped, not knowing what to say. Chloe said "I've never had anything bought for me except my clothes. Oh, and when Kitty got me my my sketching bag." Holden shook his head. Harper looked as if she might cry, then, pulling herself together, "Let me be the first to get you something as a present." The two girls looked at each other, then Kitty said to Harper "Thank you, but I've no idea what I might like." Harper said "Let me worry about that. I've got an idea. After lunch."

Elandra came into the room, went to Harper and whispered something in her ear. Harper said "I'm sure it will be all right. Kitty, Chloe, Elandra would like to talk to the twins, she actually said 'Molly‑Midge', this evening. Would you mind?" Chloe said "No, not at all." Kitty said "It's fine, but not between, what, nine and ten in the evening here, they'll be with the tutors. Other than that, any time after, say, six this evening, that's seven in the morning at home." Elandra looked at Holden, he said "Just let me know when, I'll ring Midge and set up the computer." Elandra nodded to him, gave the girls a brief smile, and left the room.

Holden asked "Don't you want to know what she wants to talk to them about?" Kitty smiled, she said "If the twins want us to know, they'll tell us." Chloe added "If they don't want us to know, it's for a good reason." "You're not curious?" Kitty answered "Yes, of course, but there's no point worrying about it."

Holden said, more to himself than anyone else, "You really are an unusual lot." Chloe said "I'm unusual. She's just plain weird." Kitty was about to punch Chloe, but Lenny intervened, "Please don't start, you're upsetting Mum. She really doesn't like seeing you hurting each other." Both girls immediately said "Sorry."

Necklaces

After lunch, Lenny drove Holden, Harper and the two girls to a shopping centre, he dropped them off. Harper led them into a jewellers, she said to an assistant "Please, gold necklaces, twenty‑four carat, flat. For these" - indicating the girls. The assistant smiled, "I'll see what we've got." The two girls couldn't help themselves, they wandered off, looking at all the display cabinets around, they'd never seen anything like what was shown in them.

The assistant came back with several necklaces, she laid them out on a black velvet cloth on her counter. "Something like one of these?" Harper called to the girls, "Kitty? Chloe?" They went to her, saw the necklaces. Both were speechless, just staring. Harper said to the assistant "They've not had any jewellery before." Harper picked out one, held it up to Chloe's neck. "That looks good on you. Can we try it on her, please?" The assistant nodded, Harper put it round, did up the catch.

5mm wide 24 carat gold necklace

Chloe was looking at herself in the mirror behind the counter, Kitty was just staring at Chloe. Harper said "It's too long. Hanging loose won't suit their lifestyle one bit. Do you have it shorter?" She took it off, handed it back to the assistant. The assistant nodded, she took the necklaces away, came back a minute later. She laid two on the counter, Harper put one on each of the girls, who looked at each other, then at themselves in handheld mirrors that the assistant produced. They were quite short, but more than chokers, lying round the base of their necks, completely flat against the skin, following every contour.

After a couple of minutes, Holden asked "Do you like them?" Kitty managed "They're beautiful." Chloe just nodded, lost for words, tears beginning to flow.

Harper said "Right." Then to the assistant, "Do you have two more the same?" The assistant nodded, "Yes, I think so." Harper said to the girls, "I know you won't be happy unless your friends have some as well."

As the assistant went, Kitty said "It's too much, they must cost a fortune." Holden answered, "We want you to have these. No argument. I'm not telling you the price, I will put the receipt in an envelope for you to produce when needed, I'll explain more about that when we get home."

When the assistant returned, she found Kitty hugging Holden, Chloe hugging Harper. The assistant cleared her throat, Holden and Harper managed to peel the girls from them. The assistant had four boxes, she opened them, two had necklaces in them. Holden handed her a credit card, followed her to a till. He returned to find Kitty and Chloe each fingering the other's necklace.

The assistant said "I presume you are wearing them now?" Harper smiled, "I think you'd have to fight them to get them off." Smiling, the assistant closed all four boxes, she put them in a bag.

Kitty managed to ask "Can we wear these in the shower? Or swimming?" the assistant nodded, "Yes, you won't need to take them off for anything like that. The gold won't corrode and they have good catches. Some people wear them all day and all night, never take them off."

Harper said "But I wouldn't do any fighting while wearing them." The assistant looked a little surprised by this, but made no comment. As something of an afterthought, Harper added "Or any other activity like that."

All four thanked the assistant, who watched as they left the shop, Chloe holding Harper's hand, Kitty Holden's, he had to phone Lenny one‑handed.

When Lenny saw them as they got in the car, he just said "Lenny likes." Holden and Harper wouldn't have understood the Molly impression, but it made the smiles on the girls' faces even broader. They arrived back at the house, Elandra brought them coffee. She saw the necklaces, she gave a nod of approval, but made no comment.

Kitty asked "Can we tell Midge and Molly?" Harper said "I would suggest you tell them about yours, but give them theirs as a surprise when you get home."

Holden said "While I think about it, there's what is known as a tourist refund scheme to get back the tax we paid. I think there's an office after the outward immigration that you go through as you leave the country. I believe you will be being escorted again, your escort will know where. You show them the necklaces and the receipt, they'll put the returnable tax onto your debit card account. If there's a problem, they simply won't refund the tax, we will just lose it, but it won't affect your taking the necklaces with you.

"When you get to England, you show the receipt to customs, they may want to see the necklaces. They may also want to look through your bags, some people hope a more expensive item in their bag will be overlooked if you declare a cheaper one. Pay any import duty using your debit card, I'll reimburse the account. Any problems, find out what you need to do and we will sort it. If necessary phone me. Again, no argument."

Kitty asked "Can I continue to use the card in England? The money could be useful with what's happening at home." Holden replied "I think what's left should be taxed as part of your Uncle's estate, it's no longer classable as expenses. I suggest you talk to Samuel, he is more familiar with your tax laws. The card will certainly work so long as there are enough funds in the account to cover any purchase. I'll leave whatever's left over in the account for you and Samuel to decide how to deal with it, though if you need me to, I can empty the residue and add it to the rest of the estate as I had originally planned." Kitty thanked him.

Harper asked if they would stay for their tea, a quick glance between the girls, Kitty said "Yes, thank you, so long as you don't mind putting up with us." Harper responded "We love having you around."

In the silence that followed, Lenny said "Tomorrow is your last full day. Any idea what you'd like to do?" Kitty said to Chloe "Sea?" Chloe nodded, "Good idea." Kitty asked Lenny "Would you take us to the same beach again?" Lenny nodded, "Yes, but I will have to check on the state of the beaches. Same as before, pick you up at ten? Towels and packed lunches?" Chloe said "Yes, thank you, perfect."

Shortly after tea, Elandra came to Harper, whispered in her ear. Harper said "Elandra wants to talk with Midge and Molly, Kitty, would you like to set up the Zoom session? You and Chloe can talk with them first?" Kitty checked the time, "Yes, they are probably up now." She got her phone out phoned Midge. She didn't put it on speaker, so only her side of the conversation could be hear, as she and Chloe got up. "Yes, we're both fine … We're at Holden and Harper's, just had tea … Yes. How did you know? … We'll show you on Zoom … Chloe and I are just going to Holden's computer …"

Lenny, Holden and Harper heard no more as the two left the room. After they'd gone, Lenny said "It sounds like the twins knew they'd been given something." Elandra, still with them, said "It is so obvious." Lenny smiled, "To you, maybe."

At the computer, Kitty and Chloe showed the twins their necklaces. "Molly likes." And from Midge "They look good on you, but what aren't you telling us?" Chloe said "A secret. We'll tell you when we get home." Kitty added "Please let us keep it as a surprise." "Molly likes surprises." Midge: "All right, but we can see it'll be a nice surprise."

They talked a little more, then Chloe said "Elandra wants to talk to you, I'll get her." Kitty: "Not sure she'll like seeing you with no clothes on." Midge replied "I doubt she'll notice." Kitty: "Oh, here's Chloe with Elandra now, we'll say our goodbyes, but we'll try to ring before the tutors." Chloe and Kitty both said goodbye and left Elandra at the computer.

Ten minutes later, Elandra came back into the sitting room, she whispered something to Harper. Harper said "They've finished their talking, Elandra didn't touch the computer, the Zoom session may need shutting down." Kitty got up, came back a minute later, said "Done." Seeing that Elandra had left the room, she asked "Why does she whisper to you?" Chloe added "And why won't she touch the computer?"

Harper shook her head, "I don't know. She is perhaps a little shy which might explain the whispering, and she seems almost afraid of computers, or any technology. For her to use the computer as she has been doing, well, I've never seen her do that before."

They talked a little more, then Holden asked "Day after tomorrow, what's your flight time?" Kitty replied "Twelve‑fifty." Holden said "Would you like to come here after you check out of the hotel? We'll run you to the airport from here, leave here at, what, eleven? Should get you there in plenty of time." Kitty and Chloe looked at each other, Kitty replied "Yes, that would be nice, say our goodbyes." Lenny said "Early pick‑up from the hotel, say eight‑thirty?" Chloe said "Yes, that's fine, just time for breakfast."

Chloe asked if they could go back to the hotel. Lenny stood up, Kitty and Chloe each gave Harper and Holden a hug, said more thankyous. On the way to the hotel, Kitty told Lenny to park so they could have coffee together in the room. When they were back in the room they put the necklaces for Midge and Molly in the room safe, after which they phoned Midge, talking on speaker, describing what they were doing as they played with each other.

Midge and Molly remained silent until they'd finished, then Molly said "Molly envious." Midge added "You two are for it when you get back." "Molly and Midge want Lenny." "Midge and Molly want all three of you. Ring us another time, bye."

After their shower they dressed (including putting on their necklaces) and ordered coffee. Having drunk his, Lenny gave each a hug and a kiss, and left them.

Chloe sat at the table and started sketching, Kitty just sitting, watching, as Chloe produced a whole series. The first was Karl, the cartoon that followed showed Karl watching Kitty and Chloe sitting at the table, unclothed, each with her fork in the other's mouth.

Next was the waiter who showed them to their table, a professional welcoming smile on his face. Kitty was amazed at how Chloe could get these subtleties of expression in so simple a lined sketch. The cartoon showed him dropping a pile of menus as he stared open‑mouthed at the two naked girls walking past him.

The shop assistant appeared next, her helpful expression very evident. Her cartoon showed her looking very concerned, holding up a tiny bikini top in front of the two girls, obviously totally inadequate for their large breasts that were visible.

The beautician's expression was welcoming, her very nice hairdo clearly shown. Her cartoon showed the two girls running from her as she chased them brandishing a very large cut‑throat razor.

Following this was the housekeeper, the cartoon showed her holding up two dresses, apparently shielding her view of the two girls sitting on their bed.

Now came the room service waiter. His cartoon showed him running from the room being chased by the two girls. The doorman's face was drawn wearing his uniform cap and looking very smart, the cartoon had him chasing after two girls, one brandishing his cap in the air.

The pool attendant was next, his portrait showed him with a smile, as if helping a guest, his cartoon showed him with his eyes screwed shut as he was handing towels to the two girls standing in front of him, water dripping off their breasts that were thrust out from their tiny bodies.

This last cartoon finished the paper in the pad, Chloe stared at the back cardboard, as if not knowing what to do, but without the near panic the last time she finished a pad in the middle of sketching. Kitty got Chloe's bag, put it on the table where Chloe could see it, slid a new pad out, and swapped it for the empty one. There was a glimmer of relief on Chloe's face as she opened the pad, then back to her usual lack of expression while sketching.

The lifeguard was drawn with his eyes closed, he looked asleep, the cartoon showed him diving into the pool towards the two girls, who were waving their bikini tops and bottoms in the air. The last of the hotel staff Chloe drew was the receptionist with a helpful smile on her face. Her cartoon showed her handing lunch bags to the two unclothed girls.

Now Chloe drew Holden and Harper on one page, followed by a cartoon of the two of them each holding two necklaces being proffered to Kitty and Chloe. Kitty knew the twins would notice it was four necklaces that were being offered, she hoped they would think Kitty and Chloe were being given a choice when they saw her email with the sketch photos attached.

Next drawing was of Lenny with Kitty on one side of him, Chloe on the other, all were smiling. A sketch followed, all three standing holding each others' large hands, tears coming from all big heads. Kitty was actually glad that all three figures were dressed, knowing Lenny would want to show these to his mum and dad.

Now a sketch of Elandra and Jarrah, both with happy faces. A sketch followed, the two embracing. Kitty wasn't too sure where this came from, but made no comment.

As each sketch was pulled from Chloe's pad, Kitty photographed it and emailed the photo to Midge.

Chloe just put her pad away, she was smiling. Kitty asked her "Happy?" Chloe looked at her, just nodded. Kitty asked "Tea or coffee?" Chloe replied "More coffee would be nice." Kitty phoned room service for coffee, also ordering breakfast and packed lunches. After phoning, she got Chloe to help make the bed, Chloe was still a little distant. Kitty remarked "I really wish I knew where you go when you're sketching." Chloe, becoming more herself, grinned. She said "When you find out, let me know, because I have no idea."

Kitty asked "How are you off for paper?" Chloe looked, "Just what's left on this pad." Kitty said "We'll better get you some more, I expect the hotel shop has got some in. Otherwise we'll get Lenny to find a shop outside." Chloe nodded, "Thank you."

Shortly after, Kitty's phone rang, it was Midge. After the initial greetings, Midge asked "Chloe, where are you getting these from?" Chloe replied "I don't know. I don't seem to know I'm doing it, I just remember it as if it was a dream." Kitty added "She's more relaxed doing now than she was when we started." Molly said "Must be Lenny relaxing her." Kitty said "I don't know about that, he gets us both quite excited at times."

Midge then turned more serious. "Kitty, your offer of your insurance money for the schoolgirls, are you really serious?" Kitty replied "Totally serious." Midge said "Daniel has already started looking into things. He thinks it's feasible, but a lot of practicalities to sort, as well as getting the council on board." Chloe: "Get the newspaper behind it." "Molly thinks that's a good idea."

Shortly after that the twins had to break off for the tutors.

Australia day 13

Next morning, while eating their breakfast, Kitty's phone rang, it was Midge. "We've got Isabel enthused, she will write an article, she's sure Ed will agree to let it be printed. Daniel is very keen, he feels for the girls, wants them out of the nuns' clutches." Maybe it was Midge, maybe Molly, continued "Samuel knows a lot of companies, people who could do work, people who could supply the necessary building materials, also the furniture that will be needed."

Kitty asked "Do we know how many will need putting up there?" "Not yet, Daniel is talking to the education people in the council, they'll work it out. They have already been told, unofficially, of some of what the girls were living through, he's keeping the video in reserve."

They talked a little more, said their goodbyes, closed the call.

A little later, Kitty and Chloe went down. The shop did have some more paper in, Kitty got two pads. "Should be enough." Chloe put them in her bag then she went to the pool area to borrow towels, while Kitty went to the receptionist to pick up their lunches. When Chloe came back with the towels, she found Kitty sat in an armchair, she plonked herself down to squeeze in beside her. They sorted the three lunches into one of the lunch plastic bags, put their towels and swimming costumes into the freed ones.

They started a gentle prodding game, until the doorman came to them, "People are worried about you, they think you're hurting each other." Kitty smiled "We are." Chloe added "That's the point." In unison they said "But we'll stop." They laughed, and, again in unison, said "That's a twin thing." Which made then laugh more. The doorman went back to his post, shaking his head.

Shortly after, Lenny came from the lift. "Ready?" he asked. The girls got up, each gave him a hug and a kiss on his cheek. Kitty said "Can't give you a proper kiss here, already been told off by the doorman." Lenny, a somewhat exasperated expression on his face, "What were you up to?" Both girls immediately prodded him in the ribs. "That", again said in unison, which made them laugh again. "Come on, then."

Down in the car, Lenny said "Same beach as before." Kitty asked "Do you think William and Isla will be there again?" Lenny: "Will you be all right if they are?" Kitty replied "Shouldn't react like I did. It would be nice to see them again."

Once again, the girls ran along the beach, leaving Lenny trailing behind. When he finally caught up with them, he found Chloe sat with William and Isla's parents, William and Isla were chasing Kitty in circles.

Lenny said "Nice to see you again. My children behaving themselves?" Mummy answered "Yes, though poor Kitty seems to be being run ragged by my two." Chloe, smiling, "She's loving it. She's really good with children."

When Kitty saw Lenny had arrived, she let the two children catch her, they had a brief tumble in the sand, then Kitty extricated herself. She went to the others, said "Come on, they've worn me out, let's go swimming so I can recover." She smiled at the parents, got hold of one of Lenny's and one of Chloe's hands, dragged them a little way away, where Lenny dutifully laid a towel down.

Swimming 7, the sea

The girls put on their swimming caps, dashed down to the sea, Lenny trailing after them. Once in the water, the girls started swimming along, to and fro, egging each other to go faster and faster. Lenny was gently swimming, just making sure they were okay and didn't stray anywhere unsafe.

Two and a half hours later, the girls had worn themselves out, they could barely stand as they held each other and staggered up the beach to where their towel was laid. Lenny came up after them, but sensed they just wanted to help each other.

Back at the towel, the girls simply laid down, without bothering to dry themselves off. When Lenny reached them, he said "Come on, at least take your caps off." Without sitting up, each girl took the cap off the other. Lenny tossed a towel over them, watched as they did start to dry themselves and each other.

Another five minutes, they sat up. Chloe said "Hungry." Kitty added "And me." Lenny said "Not surprised, I'll get the food out."

The girls once again ate by taking a bite of a sandwich then offering it to the other for a bite, similarly sharing a bottle of water. Sandwiches and yogurts finished, without a word they took their bananas to the family who were still there. The mother had been watching them, she just smiled and nodded to the girls, who offered their bananas to Isla and William.

The girls watched as Isla peeled hers, William took his to Mummy to start peeling it for him. Mummy said to the girls, "Those necklaces, they really suit you." Chloe smiled, "We love them, Lenny's mum and dad got them for us." Kitty said "Something of a going away present, we're going home tomorrow." Mummy said "Well, it's been very good meeting you, thank you for being so nice to the children."

Kitty and Chloe both bent down, each gave Mummy and Daddy a kiss on their cheeks. For once, Daddy didn't get a glare when he watched the two as they went back to their towel, where they started applying suncream to each other. Lenny sat, just looking at them, he didn't even complain when their hands strayed under each other's costumes, but they didn't seem to have much enthusiasm. After a few minutes, Lenny did ask "What's the matter? I'm normally having to drag you off each other." Kitty just said "Last day." Chloe added "We're going to miss you." "Not half as much as I'm going to miss you."

Chloe picked up Kitty's swimming cap, thrust it into Kitty's hand. "Before I burst out crying." Once again, the girls raced hand‑in‑hand into the sea. Lenny stayed sitting briefly, then chased after them, started going between the two girls, alternately ducking one then the other. They soon managed to work together to duck him, soon all were laughing between their duckings and their spluttering.

Two hours later, they decided they'd had enough. Out of the sea and dried, they packed up their things, and with a last goodbye to Isla, William and their parents, they walked back to the car.

Back in the hotel, Kitty went to reception, she asked for tea in the room, booked dinner for the three of them, also breakfast for the morning.

Once in the room, the girls had a shower, came out wearing their dresses, Lenny had a shower by himself. The room service waiter came with their tea while Lenny was showering, he came out and the three sat round the table, drinking their tea in silence.

After they'd finished, Chloe went to the room door, she hung the 'Do not disturb' sign on the outside. She came back, started taking her dress off, Kitty immediately following her example.

Eventually the two girls laid back. The first to speak was Kitty. "Chloe, you didn't remind me to take my necklace off." Chloe said "We weren't fighting." Kitty: "Harper said 'Or any other activity like that'." Lenny, grinning, "They do get in the way of neck‑nibbling" for which he received two playful punches.

They dressed again. Kitty decided it wasn't too early to ring Midge, who answered almost immediately. After the usual hellos, Midge said "You've been at it again." Chloe: "Making the most of him." Kitty "And hoping to make him remember us when we've gone." Lenny said "There's no way I could forget you. Don't know what I'll do when you've gone." Molly said "We've had to make do without them, we just have to have as much fun as we can without them." Lenny: "It's nothing like as much fun on your own."

The three went down for their meal, which they ate with almost no talking. Even Karl noticed the somewhat somber mood. "Something wrong?" he asked. Lenny replied "They're leaving us tomorrow." Karl looked a bit downbeat himself, "Well, I think we'll all miss you. You've really brightened the place up." Both girls stood up, both gave him a hug, Kitty said "Thank you for looking after us so well" Chloe added "You've really helped us enjoy our meals here." First Kitty, then Chloe gave him a kiss on his mouth. He spluttered "I don't think I'm supposed to go around kissing our guests." "We kissed you." "Not sure management would take that view." "Send your manager to us. We'll explain." "I hope that won't be necessary." They let go of Karl, sat down again, Lenny asked if they could have coffee.

Half an hour later, they were back in the room, once again together on the bed.

Eventually they all had a shower, washing each other. They left the shower and dried themselves off, then went back to the bed.

Some minutes later, Lenny said "It's getting late, I ought to be going. Thank you both for the best evening I've ever had." Kitty said "Best for us as well." Chloe added "To have a real man, fabulous, thank you."

Lenny got dressed again, gave each of them a prolonged kiss, then a playful tweak, trying to stop the girls' tears. "Pick you up at half eight by reception."

The girls put their dresses back on, Chloe took in the 'Do not disturb' sign, after which she sat at the table and started sketching again. As usual, Kitty sat beside her, watching her draw, then photographing each sketch and its corresponding cartoon as they were pulled out of Chloe's pad.

First off was the man who'd met them off the plane at Perth. The cartoon showed him with a surprised look on his big head as he was being hugged by two girls.

Next was Paige, the stewardess on the plane from Perth to Sydney. Her cartoon showed her big hand with a finger wagging side to side, her big head looking at the two girls sat in one seat, their big heads showing expressions somewhere between laughing and guilt.

Now Imogen, their escort in Perth, appeared. The cartoon showed her looking at the two girls, using their big hands to hold up dark coloured dresses.

Tony, the copilot on their London to Perth flight was next. The cartoon that followed was of him holding a manual, Kitty apparently trying to explain something in it to him.

Captain David was drawn smiling but at the same time looking authoritative. His cartoon showed him asleep in a jump-seat behind the two girls, who were sitting in the pilots' seats, flying the plane.

This finished her pad. She frowned, looking at the backing cardboard, then seemed to brighten up as she remembered she had more. She put the old pad to one side, got out a new one, much to Kitty's relief. Chloe's face went expressionless again as she continued sketching.

Owen, the London to Perth steward, appeared next. His cartoon showed him standing at the open door of the plane, hands held up having just pushed two girls out, they were still fighting each other as they were falling.

Lian, the stewardess from London to Perth, showing a very cheerful face. In her cartoon, she was looking shocked at two uncovered girls asleep in their cabin bed.

Lucy, airline rep at London airport, her cartoon showed her punching two men who were about to touch the two girls.

Chloe had a slight smile as she collected the pile of sketches. she looked through them one by one, and placed each neatly in the used pad. Her expression changed a little as she looked, Kitty watching her for signs that she might have any leak of her hell from her blocked memory, but there were none.

When Chloe put the last in the pad, she said "Phew, that was a lot. Some of them aren't too bad." Kitty gave her a hug, "They're all remarkably good. Are you giving them to the people?" "Oh, yes" from Chloe. "That's the whole point." She frowned for a moment, then as an afterthought "I think."

She followed this by "I'm tired. Can we go to bed?" Kitty said "Good idea, early start tomorrow. I suggest we get dressed before our breakfast is delivered, save time afterwards." Chloe nodded. the two went into the bathroom, did what they needed to do, washed themselves and each other in the shower, climbed into bed, and were asleep in seconds.

Australia, day 14

Next morning the room service waiter was a little surprised, and possibly a little disappointed, to find the two girls dressed when he came in. He was also surprised, but delighted, that the two each gave him a hug. Then "Leaving today" from Kitty. "So thank you" from Chloe.

Their breakfast eaten, they used the bathroom, then made sure they had all their belongings in their cabin‑bags, their dresses neatly folded. Kitty double‑checked that she'd got their passports, eTicket paperwork and the necklaces for Midge and Molly.

When they got downstairs they found that Lenny was sat waiting for them, but also all of the hotel staff with whom they'd had any contact were standing around. Lenny went to the girls, he took charge of their cabin bags, enabling them to go round all of the staff members, each of whom got a hug and a kiss, most on their cheek, but Karl got a full one on the mouth from both girls. Chloe was holding her pad with her sketches of the staff, as they went to each, she found the appropriate sketches to give to them.

The reaction from each was similar, delight at the drawing of their face, then shock at the cartoon, the shock turning to embarrassment, then usually to a smile or even a laugh. Invariably, the cartoon was hidden behind the portrait.

It took a while for the receptionist to get them to her counter to book them out, Kitty handing her the keycard and the two adaptors for their phone chargers. The receptionist printed off a receipt, suggesting she handed it to whoever was paying for their room.

Eventually they got into the lift to go to the carpark level, leaving many in the reception area with tears in their eyes, a few openly crying, as were the girls.

They were silent in the car on the way to Holden and Harper's, there they were greeted by the two. Inside. Elandra brought coffee, she and Jarrah joined them.

Chloe took the opportunity to hand out her sketches, all received with a combination of delight and sadness, except for the pair of Jarrah and Elandra, the two each gave Chloe a hug and a thankyou, but remained pretty much expressionless.

Kitty got the hotel receipt out, gave it to Holden. Kitty also handed him their two local phones, "No value to us back in England."

They talked some more about the school, though the girls had little idea of any progress. Holden talked about the insurance payout, said he'd been assured it would be paid within a very few days.

Very soon it was time to leave. Elandra and Jarrah were both somewhat surprised to get full on kisses from both girls, Jarrah just said "Will miss you." Elandra told them she would be occasionally talking with Molly‑Midge, maybe with Kitty and Chloe as well. The two thanked Elandra for what she'd done for them, she was crying as they left.

With Lenny in the passenger seat, Harper with the girls in the back, Holden drove to the airport. Having parked in a short‑stay carpark, they walked to the departure lounge. At the check‑in desk, having seen their passports, the lady made a phone call. After checking their tickets and giving the girls their boarding passes, she told them their escort was on his way and asked them to wait to one side, He duly arrived in a very few minutes, it was the same man who'd escorted them before.

Having greeted them, he said he hoped everything had gone off all right. He led the party to the security queues, this time the queues only had a couple of passengers waiting. It was time for them to say their goodbyes, all five were in tears. Kitty and Chloe gave all three kisses on their mouths, but none could speak.

The girls were asked to take off their necklaces as they went through the body scanner, they slipped them into Kitty's bumbag to go through the X-ray conveyer. The other side, the girls made sure Holden and Harper could see them as they helped each other put their necklaces on again. With a wave, they turned a corner and were out of sight.

The man led them to a first‑class lounge, it was half an hour or so before boarding. He got them some coffee, while he was getting it, Chloe found the sketches of him. When he'd put the coffees down, she handed him the two pieces of paper, he was delighted. "Thank you, that's very good of you, but I'm not sure the hugging is appropriate." Kitty said "We seem to hug more than most people."

Soon he led them to the boarding gate. Their boarding passes checked, he took them to the plane, where he did get his hugs.

In the plane, it was again Paige who welcomed them on board and showed them to their seats. Once settled, she left them, returning shortly after they took off. She had a brief chat with them, asking how everything had been. Chloe produced her sketches, Paige smiled broadly, said "They're very good, though I wasn't exactly telling you off. But I love them, thank you."

Leaving the plane in Perth, Paige got a kiss on her cheeks from the girls, they were met by Imogen. She took them to the check‑in for the London flight, Kitty asked about the tax refund for the necklaces. Imogen led them to the outward immigration, their boarding passes checked and their passports stamped, she took them to an office where Kitty produced the envelope with the receipt for the necklaces. She showed the official the ones they were wearing and the two in their boxes, he took the details from Kitty's debit card, and transferred money using his computer.

Kitty thanked him, put the twins' necklaces back into her bag, then Imogen took them to a lounge where they had some coffee, just talked about some of what they'd been doing, the concert, swimming, though Imogen looked a little doubtful when they told her how quickly they'd learnt to swim.

When it was time to board, Chloe got her sketches of Imogen out, handed them to her. "Oh, they're marvellous. As were those dresses, thank you. Now, come on, or you'll be boarding with the rest of the passengers." She got her hugs as the girls were about to step through the plane's door.

Owen greeted them on the plane, "Hello, again. Nice to see you." He showed them to the same seats that they'd had coming. They asked if they could have some water to drink, while he was fetching it, Chloe got out his sketches. When he came back with their water, Chloe passed the sketches to him. As he was looking at them, Kitty remarked "You did threaten to push us out." Owen laughed, "Thank you, love these."

When he left them, Kitty asked Chloe "What about Lian's?" Chloe said "Choosing the moment" with something of a smile.

Not long after they'd had their first meal, Tony, the co‑pilot came to them. "Hello again, David asks if you'd like to go to the cockpit? He did tell me you would be capable of flying the plane, but he's not going to let you."

Asking Tony to give her a moment, Chloe got some sheets of paper from her bag, then the two girls followed Tony into the cockpit. Tony sat in his seat, David got up and gave each of the girls a hug. Chloe passed him his sketches, passed Tony's to him. Tony remarked "I think she does know more than I do about the plane." David added "I suppose that if we were in the horror movie scenario, you two would be about the best on board to get the plane down." A short pause, then "Just choose a long runway." For which he got a playful punch to his shoulder from a grinning Kitty.

Tony still seemed very doubtful at what David had told them about their time in the simulator. In the end, David said "Ask Gerrard next time you have your session there."

They spent another twenty minutes or so talking, then David said "We'll be darkening the cabin soon, I'll take you back." They said their goodbyes to Tony, David escorted them back to their seats. Any passengers who saw them might have been surprised to see the two girls kissing the plane's captain, he wasn't overly surprised, he'd seen how they were with people before.

Shortly after the cabin was darkened, Lian came round checking on passengers. Once again she found the two girls sharing a bed, the covers showing their shoulders, she pulled the covers up. As before a hand came out, only this time it reached to the side, picked up two sheets of paper, held them in the air. "For me?" asked Lian. The hand moved towards the voice. When Lian took the paper, the hand went under the covers and pulled them up over their shoulders. Lian, trying to suppress her laughter, leant over and kissed the two cheeks she could see.

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Introduction