The Settlement

[babycakes]

As always, an excellent story, Sandra B.  It's always greatly appreciated that you persist with your stories and don't leave your readers hanging.

However, there is some confusion with the character ages.  Philip is stated to be seventeen at the opening of the story.  The girls in his school are either in his grade or a year behind.  While this reader is unfamiliar with the laws in England it seems the girls spend an awful lot of time in pubs and in Chapter 89 Freida is bringing over beers to Shaniya's house.  Aren't your characters a bit young to be imbibing so much? It's understandable that Philip's friends/tormentors are "bad" girls but they seem like lushes also. Are the girls bold due to the alcohol or just mischievous? :-) 

[Sandra B]

Hi babycakes.  Historically, the attitude to teenage drinking has been more flexible in the UK than in the US.  Even today teenagers who visit the US from the UK complain about the rigour (or rigor) of the US laws.  Here, technically you need to be accompanied by an adult to drink publicly if under the age of eighteen.  But until recently this law was “honoured more in the breach than the observance”.  Thirty or forty years ago it was commonplace and considered normal for kids of fifteen to drink in pubs unchallenged.  Certainly my generation did.  These days the law is much more rigorously applied, especially in the purchase of alcohol from shops, because of the introduction of penalties on the purveyors.  However, so many seventeen year-olds look nearer twenty that in pubs they often escape having to show id, especially in the crowded taverns of London and other cities.  In any case, the events described here took place a decade or so ago, when things were a little more relaxed.  But even today most parents prefer to see their children drinking rather than taking drugs. 

[Sandra B]

Chapter 91.  Tinkerbelled.

When Freida left Shaniya’s, she got straight on the phone to Rebecca.
“Okay.  It’s a go. Kimona’s got three friends coming over.  They all know Philip.  Kimona’s smart.  I mean smart.  She understands what’s needed...  Eight, I think.  Something like that.  But she’s old for her age, I guess...  So we’re on?  Great!  Yes, okay…  I’ll see you about three?  Perfect.  Shaniya says her mum will feed us all.” 

Rebecca decided not to give Philip the chance to back out.
“We’re going over to a friend of Freida’s Thursday afternoon.  Shaniya.  I fink you know ‘er?”
“Shaniya?  Yes, I do.  Why are we going there?”
“Just for a meal.  And apparently you’ve got somefing going wiv ‘er sister?”
“I haven’t got “something going”, as you put it,” replied Philip, indignantly.  “Kimona’s seven.  I told her a story once, that’s all.  She’s a sweet kid – which is more than I can say for her sister.”
“What yer mean?”
“Oh, nothing.  She was involved in that film the Arts Club made.  Just trying to humiliate me.”
“And succeeding,” added Rebecca in an undertone.
“What?”
“Nuffin’ Phil.  But little Kim’s really missin’ you, from what I ‘ear.  So be nice to ‘er.”
“Have we got to go?  I’ve got my last exam that morning.  I thought we could go out and celebrate.”
“Plenty of time for that.  I’ve promised, anyway.  I wanna meet this Kimona what’s so keen on yer.”  She laughed.  “Find out what she sees in yer.”

Thursday morning Rebecca got a call from Shaniya.
“I’ve been talking to Kimona.  I have an idea.  When you arrive, ask her what she and her friends are playing.  She’ll say “mummies and babies”.  That’s your cue.  You can say something about Philip and babies.  Kimona will use it to bring the conversation round to her advantage.  See what I mean?”
“Yeah, I get it.  Great idea.  Fanks, Shaniya.”
“Then it’s all down to Kim.  Fingers crossed!”

After lunch on Thursday, Freida arrived, and soon afterwards the three of them set off for Shaniya’s.  Philip wore a blouse and skirt, with his new leather jacket, which he had taken quite a fancy to.  Unbeknown to him, Rebecca had his old fairy costume (minus wings) stashed in her bag, with a pair of white tights, and a pair of silver ballet shoes.  Unfortunately she’d been unable to bring his wand, as it would definitely have given the game away.
They got to Shaniya’s a little before four.  The girls had withheld the intelligence that Kimona’s friends would be there too, and Philip was taken aback when all four of them mobbed him as soon as Shaniya opened the door.
“Philip!  Philip!”  they screamed, jumping on him en masse and nearly pulling him over.
“Girls!  Please!  Let poor Philip breathe.  Yes, you too, Kim.  All right, you can give him a kiss, if he doesn’t mind.  Not all at once, though!”
Rebecca looked on with delight.  She could see already that he was going to find it difficult to resist the demands of this little crowd of imps.  When he finally regained his composure, he turned to Kim’s mother.
“Thanks for inviting us, Mrs Williams.  This is my girlfriend, Rebecca.”
“Nice to meet you, Rebecca.  It’s Dana, please.  Oh, and meet my best friend, Jess.”
Dorelia’s mother was leaning on the kitchen door, smoking a cigarette and looking on with amusement. 
“Hello, Philip.  Nice to see you again.  Hello Rebecca.  Hi Freida.”
“Oh, hi…er, Jess.  Nice to see you too,” returned Philip.
“Where’s your fairy costume?”
“Yes, where is it, Philip?” piped up Kimona.  “We were so hoping you would wear it for us!”
“Oh, I think it’s lost.  I haven’t seen it for ages…”
“This what you’re lookin’ for, darlin’?  I brought it specially, just in case…”  Rebecca smiled a wicked smile.  Philip shot her a furious glare, somewhat spoiled in effect by his simultaneously turning bright red.
Of course, his little band of admirers were ecstatic.  Rebecca handed them the costume so they could eulogise over the silver satin and sequins.
“Oh, that’s so nice,” said Dana.  “You can change in the living-room, Philip.  Here, come through, and I’ll close the door and give you some privacy.” 
She took the costume from the girls, thrust it into his hands, and conducted him through the kitchen.  It was a cleverly-engineered fait accompli.  He knew there was no way out without disappointing the children and generating general acrimony. The little girls were bouncing up and down as if on springs, while the others looked on smugly.  Dana ushered him into the living-room, closed the door quietly, and she and Jess exchanged knowing winks.

Philip got changed, complaining under his breath the whole time.  He stripped down to his panties,  pulled on the tights and the little soft silver shoes, and stepped into the little fairy leotard.  It hadn’t got any bigger since last time, but maybe his budding breasts had.  He had to tug and wriggle to get it on, and when he had, he looked at himself in the mirror over the fireplace.  The stretchy silver satin was taught across his chest, making his nipples stand out proudly.  He wondered what Matthew would think if he could see him now.  His cheeks reddened again.  The thought made him shiver slightly, and sent a dangerous tingle through his body.  He collected himself, fanned his cheeks with his hands, and headed for the door.  He hesitated with his hand on the doorhandle, then summoned up his courage and turned it.  He might have guessed.  Everyone was gathered in the kitchen, awaiting his reappearance.  Kimona and her friends squealed and applauded, the others, grinning, took pictures and videos.  He folded his arms casually, trying not to seem as if he were trying to hide his breasts.  But embarrassment was written all over his face.  Rebecca hugged herself internally at the thought of what a sweet, cute guy she was dating.
“Come play with us, Philip!” shouted Lucy.
“What are you girls playing?” asked Rebecca, innocently.
“Mummies and babies,” replied Kimona at once.
“Ooh!  Philip knows a few fings about babies, don’t yer, darlin’?”
He shot her a warning look.  But she turned away and dropped one knee, focussed on the children.
“Does he…?” asked Kimona, with equal insouciance.
“Well, yes, dear.  Don’t tell anyone, but he’s going to baby camp this summer, to learn all about them.”
“I’m not!”
Kimona turned big eyes on him.  “Are you, Philip?”
He didn’t reply, but shook his head irritably, and turned aside.
“How are you, Jess?  Nice to see you again.”
“I’m well now I’ve seen you, my boy,” replied Jess, allowing her gaze to wander over his body.  She smiled.  “You’ve grown…developed…since we last met…”
He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again.  Humiliation, whichever way he turned!
“Let’s go upstairs and play with the dolls!” interrupted Abigail, impatiently.  “Come on!”
“You’d better go,” said Dana, “or none of us will get any peace.”
Kimona took him firmly by the hand, and helplessly Philip allowed himself to be led out of the kitchen.  At the bottom of the stairs she called back, “Mum?  Can we have some snacks?  Not now.  Maybe in an hour or so?”
“All right, darling,” she laughed.  “Have fun!”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 92.  Out of the Mouths…

After they had gone, Jess looked at Dana and shook her head slowly. 
“Poor guy.  He never had a chance.  But I love that outfit on him.”
“He’ll be all right.  They’ll look after him.  Hope you’re not jealous, Rebecca.”
“Not ‘alf!  ‘Ope ‘e don’t leave me for one of ‘em.  Or all four.”
Shaniya beckoned her friends into the living-room. 
“We’re gonna have a chat, Mum.  See you in a bit…”
They seated themselves, still grinning.
“That was a nice touch, Becca,” said Freida, "the costume, I mean." 
“I fought it might ‘elp to make ‘im more malleable – more open to persuasion.  Sort of gives the kids the upper ‘and, if you get what I mean.”
“It definitely won’t do any harm,” agreed Shaniya.
There was a brief silence.
“I wonder what’s goin’on up there,” said Rebecca, softly.

Up in Kimona’s bedroom, Philip was seated on the bed, with Kimona next to him, and the other three sprawled on the floor, holding their dolls.  Kimona had intended to be subtle, but her excitement was getting the better of her.
“Philip?”
“Yes, Kim?”
“Philip, which doll would you like to have?  You can choose any of mine.”
“Thank you.” 
He looked around the room.  Dolls were everywhere, sitting on the dressing-table, on the windowsill, on the chairs, on the bed, and with their blank faces peeping out over the edge of the duvet.
“I’m spoiled for choice.”
“You should have a baby one.  We like playing babies best, don’t we?”  She looked at the others.
“Babies are fun,” said Dorelia, who was in on the operation, but also sworn to caution, “aren’t they, Abi?”
“Yes.  I love babies.  I wish we had a real baby to play with…”
“That would be so great,” said Lucy.  “Wouldn’t it, Kim?”
“It would be the best.  But of course, we would never be allowed to have one by ourselves, would we?  They’re very delicate.”  She turned to Philip.  “Lucy’s mummy is going to have one soon.  But when they’re very tiny, only their mummies are allowed to play with them.”  She paused.  “What did your friend mean…about baby camp?”
“Oh, nothing.  I’ll have that one in the blue dress.”
“No, tell us, Philip.  It sounds amazing.”
“It’s nothing, really.  Anyway, I’m not going.”
“Not going?”  Kimona was incredulous.  “Why?”
“Yes, why?” echoed Abigail.
Philip went to reply a couple of times, and changed his mind.  Eventually he said,
“Look, girls.  It’s not what you imagine.  I’ll be honest.  You go there, and you get treated just like a baby for a whole month.  Everything.  You understand what I mean?  Everything!”
All four of them stared at him.  There was a moment’s silence.
“That’s amazing!” cried Lucy.  “You’re so lucky!  And we’d be able to come and help, wouldn’t we?”
Philip was getting flustered.  “No.  Yes.  I don’t know.  In any case…”
“You have to go,” wailed Kimona, “you must!  Then you can be our real baby!  We’ll look after you and everything!  I promise!  Won’t we?”  She appealed to her friends.
“You have to, Philip,” said Dorelia, firmly.  “You’ll be our special baby, and we’ll love you so much, and we’ll be your mummies forever and ever, and…”
“And it’ll be so fun…” added Lucy, “ and…”
“Look, I can’t go, that’s all….  I’ve got things to do…  You know, girls, I don’t want to disappoint you, but….”  He trailed off.
Kimona looked at him aghast. Then she threw her arms round him and pressed her face against his shoulder, sobbing.
“Kim, come on…,” he said gently, stroking her hair.  “Please don’t get upset.  I…  I…  I can’t….”
The other three, meanwhile, had thrown themselves on the ground in a sort of general lament, Abigail stabbing the carpet with her fingers in impotent suffering.  Philip sighed.  He looked at Kimona’s puckered face pressed against his arm.  A tear was trickling from one eye, and another, apparently, from her nose.  He could feel his heart aching in his chest.  He sat like that for at least one minute before he surrendered.
“All right….  Stop crying.  Okay...  I’ll go,” he murmured.
The abruptness of the change in their mood surprised even him.  Kimona jumped off the bed with a whoop of delight.  The others leapt to their feet joyfully.  Then all four of them jumped on him at once, pummelling him mercilessly in the ferocity of their affection.

[Paddybaby]

Getting better every chapter

[Sandra B]

Chapter 93.  Invitations.

Philip’s chagrin at having been cajoled into submission had to be suspended for the time being, since he was required to adopt the personality of the little mannequin in the blue dress, and enter with utmost seriousness into the realm of the doll world, where all beings speak volubly in squeaky voices not their own, swagger around without bending their legs, and address each other with expressionless faces.  Concentration is a prerequisite for this harmless charade, and the names of all the inanimate participants must be carefully memorised.  The slightest lapse may be punished with universal censure.  Philip was quite relieved when finally it was time for the immortals to go to sleep, and the mortals to be entertained with stories.  This juncture happily coincided with the arrival of the snacks, which gave him a few minutes to collect his thoughts on the subject requested, namely “fairy babies and pixie babies”.
“At baby camp, are you going to be a fairy baby or a pixie baby?” asked Abigail.
That was the big question, thought Philip.  He opened his mouth to reply, but was anticipated by a voice from the doorway.
“’E’s put ‘is name down as a fairy baby,” said Rebecca.  “’Ope that’s all right wiv you girls.”
“Hurray!” said Kimona.  “Pixie babies are naughty, aren’t they, Philip?  I’m glad you’re going to be a girl baby.  Girl baby clothes are so much prettier…,” she added, wistfully.
Philip had reason to glare at his girlfriend yet again.
“What she means is, she’s put me down as a fairy baby.  I don’t have a choice.”
This distinction was lost on the girls.  Rebecca’s interruption became nothing more than an excuse to discuss baby clothes suitable for their overgrown fairy friend.  Philip actually put his fingers in his ears to block out the excited chatter, but eventually removed them, thinking the best way to end the conversation was by reminding the girls about their story.  The first thing he heard was Rebecca saying “course, wiv matching pants an’ everyfing….”
“Look…darling…” (sarcastically).  “I was about to tell the girls a story…if you don’t mind?”
“Sorry, Phil.  I’ll let yer ge’ on.  Girls?  We can talk about this later, okay?  We’d like to ‘ear your ideas…”
“Ooh, yes, Rebecca.  We’ll come down after our story,” said Kimona, excitedly.
“I’ll ‘ave a look on line…see wha’ I can find…”

Philip really wasn’t in the mood for telling a baby story, but he gritted his teeth and did it anyway.  It wasn’t the most sentimental narrative – at the end the Mother Fairy was captured by a troll and taken away in a sack – but if Philip had thought that he could shock his audience, he was mistaken.
“What happened next?” asked Lucy.  “Did the Mother Fairy escape and chop up the troll with his own axe?”
“Or did she strangle him with the rope?” said Dorelia.
“That’s for another time,” sighed Philip.  “Kim, I can hear your mother calling us for supper.  Come on, you lot.”

The “grown-ups” sat at the table in the kitchen, but the children – and that included Philip – were allowed to eat in the conservatory.
“They’re so sweet together,” said Jess.  “What a lovely boyfriend you’ve got, Rebecca.  He’s just like one of the girls when he’s with them.”
Rebecca smiled knowingly.  “Yeah, it’s true.  ‘E is good wiv the kids.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, Becca, but it seems to me that Philip’s personality changes with his outfit.  Remember what a good baby he was when we were looking after him?” remarked Freida.
“Yes.  And when we were filming him he was the perfect maid,” added Shaniya.
“An’ once ‘e’s in ‘is new baby cloves at baby camp ‘e’s gonna be the perfect baby again.”
“Baby camp?” said Dana, eyes widening.  “What’s that?”
“Oh, yeah…  Well, it’s like this.  A friend of ‘is aunt runs a summer camp for babies – you know, big babies.  An’ your little daughter’s just talked 'im into goin’.  Very persuasive is little Kim an’ ‘er mates.”
Jess burst out laughing.  “Really?  Oh my god, how perfect!  I’d love to see that.”
“Well, I fink you probably can, Jess.  I fink we can all visit, an’ even maybe ‘elp out.  ‘E’s gonna be there for a munf, anyways.”
The women stared, delighted.
“Yeah,” added Freida, “and Kim and the others should be able to go as well.  It’s not far, is it, Becca?”
“No.  Estella said it’s over near Resborough.  Lady called Mary runs it.  Very strict, I ‘ear.  An’ Philip’s friend’s going wiv ‘im.  Maffew.”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 94.  Amusing Pastimes.   

After supper, Philip and the children trooped back into the kitchen and deposited their empty cups and plates in the sink.
“Let’s go back up and play!” shouted Kimona.
“Off you go then, girls,” said Dana.  “Philip?  Stay here a minute, darling.  I just want to ask you something.”
“Okay, mummy,” said Kimona.  “Come on, let’s go!”
Philip was left standing in front of the table.  Dana sat there ogling him.  The others were also staring at him impertinently, with expressions of faint amusement on their faces.  He fidgeted under their gaze, and shyly pulled down the legs of his leotard.  Dana smiled at his discomfiture.  She didn’t address him immediately, but sat relishing his embarrassment.  His little shiny outfit left little to the imagination, a fact of which he was clearly acutely aware.
“Y-yes?” he stammered.  “W-what did you want?”
“Oh, yes…  What did we want?  Well, Philip…  We were just talking about your baby camp, that’s all.  What a lovely idea, isn’t it, Jess?  Tell us about your friend, Matthew…”
“Matthew?”
“Yes.  He’s going with you, isn’t he?”
“I don’t know….maybe…”
“’E is, darlin’,” put in Rebecca.  “’E’s promised.”
“Oh, well, I suppose so…”
“Is he nice?”
“Well Philip likes ‘im all right!” laughed Rebecca.
“That’s so sweet.  You’ll be able to keep each other company.”
Philip was shifting from one foot to the other.  He didn’t like the way the conversation was going.  Nor the way everyone was staring at him.  He would gladly have retreated upstairs and rejoined his playmates.  But Jess in particular was enjoying herself.  She thought Philip delightfully cute, and there was only one thing she liked better than to see him dressed in his tight little leotard and squirming with embarrassment, and that was to tease him mercilessly.  She had no intention of letting him off the hook.  She decided to take advantage of his confusion.
“Philip, darling.  Don’t be shy.  Here, come here.” 
She held out her arms.  It would have been difficult for him to ignore her.  He approached, expecting a little hug, but instead she pulled him down onto her lap, and held him tightly around the waist.  This was ten times worse.  He felt like a frightened child.  He could feel her breasts pressing into his back, and her arms were folded low on his belly.  He held his breath.  She detached one hand and patted the top of his thigh comfortingly, then left her fingers there, resting on the leg of his leotard.  Her long scarlet nails picked absent-mindedly at the binding.  It was very distracting.  Dana was speaking again, but he was not listening.  He wriggled on her lap, trying to displace her hand, but instead she started tugging gently at the spandex, as if adjusting it.
“Philip?  Philip!” Dana was saying.  “I said, how do you know Matthew?  Have you known him for long?”
“Matthew?  Oh, yeah, I…I, er…I knew him at my old school…then we met up again recently.”
“He must be very fond of you,” remarked Jess, simpering.  “It’ll be nice for you to have a friend with you.  But tell us…  Are you really…?  I mean, I don’t fully understand…  Will you actually be dressed as babies…?”
“Course!” exclaimed Rebecca.  “We’re already findin’ ‘em some nice outfits.  If you got any ideas….”
Jess feigned surprise.  “Oh, how sweet!  Dana, shall we find them something?  I know you can get grown-up baby clothes online.”
“Would you like that, Philip?”  Philip opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Dana continued, “Of course you would” and added, mischievously, “But Rebecca, in return you know we’re going to have to visit, don’t you, dear?”
“Like I said, it ain’t a problem.”
Philip looked from one to the other in dismay.  But Jess hadn’t finished with him yet.  She began  abstractedly describing tiny circles on the spandex with one sharp nail, perilously near the little bulge of his boyhood.  He bit his lip, but her apparently unconscious ministrations were having their effect.
“We’re going to need their measurements, aren’t we?  I can take Philip’s now, but you’ll need to let us know Matthew’s, Rebecca.”  She pulled out the chair next to hers.  “Here, darling, hop up on there and I’ll get my tape measure.”
“But…”
“Come on, up you get.  Quickly.  Then you can run off and play again.”  She spoke to him as if he were the same age as her daughter.
Reluctantly, Philip climbed up onto the chair.  He stood there self-consciously, alternating between trying to pull down the legs of his leotard and covering his front, while Jess hunted for her tape.  While she was searching through the kitchen drawers, Dana and Shaniya decided to take advantage of his exposed situation to take a few more snaps.  Philip, red-faced, as an excuse to turn away from their cameras, pretended to be looking to see what Jess was doing.  But Dana got a cute picture as he peeped back over his shoulder at them.
“There!  Look Shan, this is a lovely one.  It would make a nice poster, wouldn’t it?”
“Oh, yes.  He looks like a naughty little kid caught stealing a cake!” 
At last Jess found the tape, and a pen and paper, and  prepared to take Philip’s vital statistics. 
“Hm, let’s see…chest…ninety-six…waist…eighty three…hips….ooh, sorry, dear!  I didn’t mean to…”  She giggled.  “Really, Philip, sorry if I…squashed you.  It was an accident.  Look, tell you what, I’ll just deduct a couple of centimetres…well maybe five or six…and that should be about right.”
There was a deal more messing around until everyone had had their fun, and Philip was finally allowed to resume his playtime.  He made his way upstairs with his cheeks still burning, and opened the door to Kimona’s room.
“Philip!  Where have you been?  You’ve been down there for ages!  All the dollies are waiting for their supper!”
Philip sighed.  Today definitely wasn’t what he’d had in mind to celebrate the end of his exams.