The Settlement

[Sandra B]

Chapter 112.  Philip’s Brainwave.

After Shaniya had tucked up Kimona and Dorelia in bed, and Lucy and Abigail had gone home, Dana, Jess and Jill sat down at the kitchen table to discuss the next day’s expedition.  The boys were divested of their mitts, and allowed to remove their pacifiers, (on condition they remained in a state of pacification), and directed to sit in the lounge, whence they happily retired and started to play computer games.  Shaniya told the girls a story – about what, their mothers didn’t know, but they could hear the giggling all the way downstairs.  Eventually even that died down, and a couple of minutes later Shaniya joined them in the kitchen.  Jess had been looking at her phone.
“Showers tomorrow,” she announced.  “Know what I’m thinking?”
“Rain capes!” said Dana, with a laugh.  “Perfect!  I’d forgotten about those.”
“They’ve got rain capes?” said Shaniya, disbelieving.  “How come I didn’t see them?”
“Oh, we put them aside – for a rainy day,” laughed Jess.  “Hold on, I’ll get them out.”
She disappeared into the hallway and returned a moment later with two cardboard boxes.  Each contained a little hooded raincape, made of shiny polyester, quite stiff, and no more than waist length, one red and one yellow.  They buttoned up at the front, and attached to the round collars were little pointed hoods.
“And there’s matching bootees,” she added.  “I’ll show you.”
She fetched the rubber bootees, equally shiny, with silly animal faces on the uppers.
“Matthew?” called Jill, “come here a minute, darling.  We just need to check something for size.”
“Mum, I’m busy.  Just a minute.”
“All right.  As soon as you can, please.”
Five minutes later he appeared in the doorway.  Philip hovered a few yards behind him.
“Yeah?  What do you want?”
“Just try this on, darling,” said Jill, holding up the red cape.
Matthew hesitated.  “Why…?”
“Just do it.  Come on…”
Reluctantly he presented himself for fitting.  He declined to assist her in any way.
“Matthew!  Now.  Turn around.  Now, lift your arms so I can get this on you.  Come on.  That’s better.  There.”
She took him by the shoulders and swivelled him round again so that he was facing her.
“What a sulky face!” she muttered, and she buttoned up the cape.  The top, collar, button, was rather stiff, but finally she had it done up.  She pulled up the little pixie hood and stood back to admire him.  The cape stuck out prettily.  It came down just to his hips.
“There.  That looks lovely.  And it’ll keep you nice and dry in the rain.”
“The sleeves fit him perfectly,” said Dana.  “I was worried they might be too short.”
“But, mum…,” he whined, “look…it hardly comes down to my waist…”
“Nonsense.  It’s perfect,” she said, fussing with the hem.  “Your pants are waterproof  anyway.  You’re surely not afraid of getting your legs wet, are you?”
“The red suits you,” said Dana.  “And it goes well with your blue pants.”
“Yes,” added Jess.  “And I’m going to thread your pacifier onto some nice blue ribbon so you can have it round your neck, within easy reach.”
“You’re going to look so smart, Matty,” simpered his mother.  “My beautiful baby boy…”  With which affectionate remark she took him possessively in her arms, and hugged him.
Shaniya’s eyes were sparkling with glee.  She looked beyond Matthew to where Philip was standing, silent and frowning.
“And you, Philip, don’t be jealous, will you?  You’ll have the yellow one, lucky boy.  And I’ll put your pacifier on pink ribbon, to match your panties!”
“Shut up, Shaniya!” was his only response.

Poor Matthew was powerless against the sheer emotional pressure and will of the women.  He had already surrendered, and his only thought was how to minimise his humiliation.  The immediate developments had rather dashed his hopes, however.  He stood there submissively as his mother unbuttoned his cape.  Then he turned, returned to the living room, and to their delight the women saw him put his pacifier in and curl up on the couch.
“Mum!  Did you see that?  He put his dummy in himself!”
“I saw,” said Dana.  “He’s a quick learner, Jill.”
“My, oh my…” murmured Jill.
Philip scowled at them, turned, and sat down by his friend.
“Matty!  Take it out!  You’re just playing into their hands!”
He curled up tighter, and removed his pacifier.  “Don’t care,” he said, and put it back.
Philip laid his hand on his arm.  “Come on.  Don’t give up…”
But Matthew only shook his head.  Philip sat back.  Maybe he was right.  They had both of them just where they wanted them.  Perhaps it wouldn’t be that bad.  If they kept their hoods up, and their pacifiers in, and their heads down….  He sighed.  In a few weeks it would all be over, anyway.  Maybe the best way was to resign themselves to the inevitable.  He became thoughtful.  Perhaps…  Just suppose, just suppose that, instead of curling up with embarrassment…what if we…went along with it all.  Made a joke of it….behaved like we were willing participants…  But why would we be?  Why?  Suppose…suppose we were doing it for charity…collecting money for…I don’t know….what was that place just off the High Street?  Something about new mums…  They give advice to mothers with babies, don't they?  And have some exchange service for second-hand baby equipment.  He jumped up and approached the kitchen.
“Can I ask a question?  Are you really taking us shopping tomorrow?”
“Of course, Philip,” smirked Dana.  “Why?  Did you want to look at more baby clothes?”
“No…  If you’re going to make an exhibition of us, why don’t we actually do something useful, and try to collect some money for charity?”
They stared at him in surprise.
“There’s a charity for mothers with babies…just off the High Street…”
“New Mums’ Exchange!” interrupted Jess.  “Yes…I’ve been in there.  I know the proprietor…”
“You want to collect money for them?” said Dana.
“Why not?  At least we’d be doing something useful.”
There was a brief silence.  The woman looked at each other, smiles dawning.
“That’s such a lovely idea,” said Shaniya, genuinely impressed.  Why don’t we, mum?”
“Okay…”
“I’ll call them in the morning,” said Jess.  “Philip, that’s so clever.  And such a nice idea.  I’m sure they’ll be delighted…”
Matthew had risen and joined the others.  He stared at Philip questioningly.  Philip winked.  “Explain later,” he whispered.

[Sandra B]

Chapter 113.  Marshfield.

When later that evening Philip explained his idea to his friend, Matthew became quite excited.
“That’s brilliant, Phil!  We won’t have to be embarrassed.  It’ll all be a bit of fun!  I do hope that charity place let’s us do it, though.”
“They should.  I don’t see how they could turn down an opportunity to get some cash, and some publicity.”
“So how will it work?”
“That I don’t know.  Shaniya was talking about getting the girls to make a placard, and having one of them carry a collecting-box.  Anyway, I don’t think it’ll be very busy out.  It’s supposed to rain tomorrow.”

Jess did more than telephone her friend.  She drove into town and called at the shop.
“Janice!  How are you, dear?”
“Hello, Jess.  You look happy.  To what do I owe the pleasure…?”
Jess explained the situation as well as she could.  Janice was a little puzzled by the idea of two big teenagers willingly dressing up as babies.
“I’m surprised they volunteered…but it’s very good of them, of course.  I’d have to thank them personally.”
“Well, they didn’t exactly volunteer…but they’re going to do it anyway.  Now what do you think the best place would be?”
The two women talked for several minutes.  When she left, Jess was carrying two of the charity’s collecting-boxes, and two posters which were used for shop windows or advertising at other venues.  When she arrived back at Dana’s, Toni had already arrived, as usual bringing both Abigail and Lucy.  Everyone immediately set about pasting the posters to pieces of cardboard, and attaching them to handles, made from an old broom handle and a piece of aluminium tube they found in the shed.  The boys were waiting upstairs, and at ten Jess and Jill went up to get them ready.  They stood there glumly in their colour-coded pull-ups.  Dana and Jess dusted them with perfumed baby powder so they smelt like real babies, combed their hair, and began to dress them.  On went their cute new plastic pants, their shiny bootees, their little vests, and finally their new baby capes, all bright and gleaming.  Once they were neatly buttoned in, and their pointy hoods pulled over their heads, Jess produced their pacifiers, now both threaded onto wide coloured ribbons, and hung them around their necks.  They looked splendid in their new outfits, Matthew all in red and blue, Philip in yellow and pink.  Jess and Dana packed a changing bag, (not forgetting to put in their mitts and pacifier straps), and, with little pats on their bottoms, sent them out into the corridor, and followed them down the stairs, to where the others were waiting.  Their capes bobbed up and down as they descended, setting off their contrasting pants perfectly. 
“So cute,” murmured Dana.
When they laid eyes on them, the girls first screamed with delight, then collapsed in fits of hysterical giggles.  Philip wasn’t fazed.  He had made a decision to play his part as a willing participant.
“Baby Philippa not funny,” he blurted, in baby talk, making a sulky face, “Bay Philippa and Baby Maffew smart, pretty babies.  Wear nice capes.  Pretty panties.  Silly Kimona and girls jealous, me finks.  Aunty Dana?  Babies go shops now?”
This statement merely generated more hilarity.  Even Matthew had to smile.  “Baby Philippa stoopid,” he murmured.  “Baby Maffew much prettier.”
“Wow.  They’re really into it!” whispered Shaniya to her mother.  “They look sensational!  I love the way their capes totally show off their plastic pants.  Are we leaving soon?”

They piled into the cars, stowing the placards and boxes in the boots, and were soon on their way.  The boys went with Dana, Jess and Jill.  Jill held the big changing bag on her lap.  Just for the appearance of authenticity, Philip hoped.  They drove down the High Street.  It was much busier than Philip had anticipated.
“Lots of people out,” said Jess, with relish.
“Holidays have started in earnest,” remarked Dana.
Philip frowned.  In all the confusion, he had sort of forgotten all the schools broke up that very day.  “Where aunty gonna park?” he asked.
“Not here, love.  There’s a little way to go, yet.”
“What?  Where are we going, then,” said Philip, nervously, suddenly forgetting he was supposed to be acting the baby.
“Marshfield.  Janice said she thought that would be the best place.”
“Marshfield?”  Philip froze.  Marshfield shopping centre was always seething with people.  And worse.  It was the place kids from the comp. liked to hang out.
“Shit,” murmured Matthew.  “Why there, of all places?”
“Just as well we’re early,” Dana said to Jess.  “It’s going to get busy there later.”
“But we’ll be home before then, won’t we?” Matthew asked anxiously.
“Home, dear?” said Jill.  “Oh, no, we won’t be home till much later.  I know you'll want to collect as much money as possible for New Mums – won't you?”
“Yes,” said Jess, “I know you’re going to put on a good show.  I called the shopping centre this morning, and explained everything to them, and they’re quite happy for us to set up by the central fountain.  We can even use that little stage thing if we want to.”

They parked near to each other on the rooftop of the car park, and got out.  Four girls, four mothers, Shaniya, and two boy-babies.  It was raining lightly, speckling the boys' outfits with little drops.  There were the four girls, the three mothers, Jill, Matthew and Philip.  Dana handed out the placards and boxes, grabbed the changing bag, and they set off.  They arrived at the lifts at the same time as two teenage girls, and Dana, Jess and the boys shared a lift with them, leaving the others to follow.  The lift seemed to take ages.  The faint scent of baby powder and warm plastic filled the enclosed space, and as the teenagers made vain efforts to stifle their splutters and snorts of laughter, Philip felt his cheeks beginning to burn with embarrassment.  Jess took the opportunity to compound their discomfort by talking to them in baby talk.
“Baby Philippa?  Is baby’s nappy still nice and dry?  Good girl!  Aunty give you a nice feed from your bottle soon.  Baby Matthew?” 
But Baby Matthew had regressed again.  He had put his pacifier in his mouth, and was holding himself through his pants, for all the world like a real tired little baby.
“I think baby Matty will need a little nap soon,” remarked Dana.

They left the lift, and made their way between the shops towards the centre of the complex.  There was the usual anodyne music playing from loudspeakers.  Though it was early, the place was already getting busy.  There were lots of families with children, who stopped and stared open-mouthed at the spectacle of these two oversized, but beautifully-dressed, babies.  At the fountain they were met by a young female security guard, who, having done a double-take at the boys, quickly recovered herself and indicated the area that had been allocated to them.
“If you wouldn’t mind just keeping within the taped lines, ladies, or using the dais” – she indicated a low platform, about fifteen feet square, in a recess in the fountain edge, that was used for musical performances – “you can do whatever you like.  If you want to go shopping, and leave the kids – or the babies – here, you can.  I’ll be around here all day, so I can keep an eye on them.”
“Thank you,” said Dana, “That’s very kind of you.  What’s your name?”
“Not at all, madam.  I’m Sonya.  I’ve got three of my own.  But the babies are adorable!  Why don’t you put them up on the dais where everyone can get a good view?”
“Good idea, Sonya,” said Dana.  “I’m Dana, and this is Jess, Jill, and Toni, and this is my daughter Shaniya.  These are our girls, and these” – she indicated the two blushing boys – “these are our two volunteers, Matthew and Philippa.”
Sonya smiled broadly and nodded politely at them.  Dana continued talking, but Sonya didn’t seem to be paying attention.  Her smile didn’t fade, nor did she seem able to take her eyes off the two boys.  Their discomfiture was increased by the fact a small crowd was now gathering, the children pointing and giggling.  Matthew’s baby-like behaviour was drawing particular attention.
“Philippa?  Why don’t you pop your dummy in, love?  Like Matthew,” said Jess.  “Come on, get in character.”
Philip stamped his foot.  “Shan’t!”
“That’s right.  That’s better.  Be a bit naughty.  Then Sonya can come and tell you off, can’t you Sonya?”
“That’s right, er, Philippa,” grinned Sonya.  “I know just how to deal with naughty little girls.”

The girls began busying themselves in front of the dais.  Kimona and Lucy raised the placards, while Abigail and Dorelia held out the collection boxes.  When the people discovered it was a charity stunt they were watching, they began willingly to donate, partly from altruism, but also because it justified them in remaining there gawping at the ‘babies’.  The problem was, having paid their money, they felt they should be entertained.  And though the spectacle of the boys standing there, fidgeting awkwardly with embarrassment, was in itself quite amusing, they soon wanted something more.  Their frustration was vocalised mainly by the children in the audience.
“Mummy, are the babies going to do a show?”
“Can we go and look at the babies?”
“I want that girl baby to suc-k her dummy too!”
“I think they’re hungry, mummy.  When are they going to be fed?”
“They’ve got baby pants just like Milly, haven’t they mummy?”
Sonya winked at Jess.  “They don’t look very happy.”
“No.  They probably want their milk.”
“Oh, do you have some?”
“I have their bottles.”  Jess opened the bag and showed her two big plastic bottles.
“Oh, my.  Those teats…are so big.  If I get some milk, could I help, do you think…?”
“Be our guest, Sonya.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said, turning and pushing her way through the crowd.
“What a nice woman, that Sonya,” smiled Dana.

[Paddybaby]

Another two brilliant chapters. I think Matthew is enjoy being babied a little too much.

[Paddybaby]

Hi
I really need more. Hope have a new chapter soon.
Pretty please

[Sandra B]

Chapter 114.  Trouble at t’Mall.

Sonya took a while, but when she returned the reason became clear.  She had not brought ordinary milk, but had actually gone to the chemist’s and got formula, which she had then prepared with warm water in her office.
“Might as well give them the real thing,” she grinned – then added, “well, not quite the real thing.  I couldn’t arrange that, I’m sorry to say.”
She helped Jess fill the boys’ bottles.  Because of their size they could hold about a litre each, but for the time being the women only filled them two-thirds full.  Whilst they were doing so, another security woman arrived, dragging two big beanbags.
“Oh, Jess.  This is my colleague Teri.  We’ve borrowed these from the furniture place.  I thought they’d be ideal for…you know…”
“Perfect.  That’s brilliant.  Thanks, girls.”
“I was wondering…” continued Sonya, “do you think I…  I mean, could I help…?”
“Jill?  All right if Sonya feeds Matthew?”
“Of course, go ahead.  Now Matty?  Behave yourself for Sonya, won’t you?  Drink your milk and don’t fidget.”
“Yes, mummy…”
“Good boy,” said Jess.  “I’ll take care of Philip.”
“Thanks, Jill!  I just love feeding babies.  Makes me feel so…peaceful.”
They arranged the beanbags on each side of the little stage.  Philip and Matthew looked on helplessly.  It was as if they were celebrities: the crowd had grown, and there was an excited hubbub of voices, and the occasional flash of a camera.  Then Jess seated herself on one, and Sonya on the other, and beckoned to boys over.  They went readily; having to stand up there in front of everyone with their cute plastic pants in full view was no joke, and they were glad to have the opportunity to curl up and hide themselves a little.  Sonya was delighted to find that Matthew latched on quite eagerly; apart from being thirsty, he wanted desperately to be coddled and comforted.  He was feeling more and more infantile every minute.  She didn’t have to squeeze the bottle.  He held on to his surrogate mother tightly and suc-ked hard at the big smooth teat.
“There, there, Matthew…good baby…baby’s very thirsty, isn’t he?”
Jess was having less success.  She cradled Philip’s head in her arm, and presented the teat in from of his face.  He stared at it cross-eyed and wrinkled his nose.
“Come on, darling.  Open wide.  Nice milkies for you,” she said encouragingly.
Philip turned his head aside.  “Why did you have to get bottles like this?  I don’t want to suc-k that thing in public.  It’s embarrassing.”
“Well most people haven’t even noticed, Philip.  But unless you start suc-king soon, they will.”
Philip saw the logic of this argument, and after a snort of annoyance, consented to part his lips and allow Jess to push the teat home.  He didn’t start feeding at once, however, prompting Jess to give the bottle a squeeze, sending a spurt of milk into his mouth from the tip of the rubber phallus, which he was forced to swallow.
Sonya had been keeping the audience back from the dais, but now that she was otherwise engaged, they moved right up to it, a mere couple of feet from where the boys were being nursed.  Inevitably the children were congregated in the front row. 
“You’d better keep it well in,” whispered Jess, “or they’re going to see.  So take your time, cos when you finish, out it’ll come!””
Philip frowned.  She gave him a wicked smile.  “I’m sure you like the feeling anyway.  Don’t you?”
Philip’s cheek was resting against Jess’s left breast.  It was warm and firm, and he could feel stirrings under the thick pad of his pull-up.  At the same time, there was the teat.  He was keeping his teeth clamped around the short length of shaft, just behind the bulge of the head, so that it should not slip out accidentally. He ran his tongue over the smooth rubber bulb, and in the cleft on its underside.  It really was very realistic.  The feeling of it nestling so comfortably in his mouth was also somehow exciting.  He suc-ked at it gently, and was rewarded with a little stream of milk.  He could feel pressure growing inside his pull-up, and his cheeks began to burn again.  He was feeling strangely confused.  Jess seemed to sense it, because she began to play games.
“Had enough, baby?” she asked, loud enough for the onlookers, craning forward to get a better view, to hear.  And she made as if to withdraw the teat from his mouth.  Philip, alarmed, closed his teeth tighter and went with it, much to everyone’s amusement.
“Look, mummy!  Baby doesn’t want his bottle taken away!” laughed a little girl in the front row.
“Oh!” said Jess, in mock surprise, lowering it back into its former position.  Then, mischievously,  she repeated the process several times, forcing Philip to raise and lower his head to stop it slipping out of his mouth, and raising a ripple of laughter from the audience.
“You don’t want to let it go, do you darling?” said Jess.  And then, in a whisper, “I expect you wish it was Matty, don’t you?  Don’t you?  Here, let me remind you.”  And she started moving the bottle back and forth rhythmically, making the teat oscillate in his mouth, and quickly generating a full-blown erection.  After a minute or so, she suddenly hissed in his ear, “Oh!  Oh!  I think…I think he’s going to come!” – and she gripped the bottle in such a way that the warm milk burst forth from the teat in a series of little spurts.
Jess was jubilant.  At last she had Philip just where she wanted him – utterly compromised and quite in her power.  He had rolled more onto his right side, and she could see the bulge in his pull-up under the clear pink plastic.  Good, she thought.  Anything that helps associate baby stuff with pleasure will be to our advantage.  She lowered her head till her mouth was a couple of inches from his ear, and began to murmur sweet nothings.

They were in the middle of feeding the babies, when two female police offers passed by.  When they saw the crowd they stopped to see what all the fuss was about.
“Baby feeding-time!  My, they’re big ones, Julie!”
Julie laughed.  “Isn’t that Sonya?  Hey, Sonya.  What’s going on?”
The people moved aside so they could approach the stage.
“What’s all this then?” said the other.
“Oh, Susie, please.  In a minute you’ll be saying, “’Ello ‘ello ‘ello”” remarked Julie.
“But what is it…Sonya?”
“Nothing really, girls.  These are just a couple of babies that came to the shops with their mummies, and needed their morning feed.”
“I see,” said Susie.  She winked.  “I think we may have to arrest them for causing an obstruction, and take them back to the station.  What do you think, Julie?”
Matthew pushed his bottle away and looked at them fearfully, not entirely sure they were joking.
“I think we will.  I’ll handcuff this one, you take the other.”  And she produced a pair of bright steel handcuffs, snapped on end round Matthew’s wrist, and the other round her own.  “Come on, little one.  You’re coming with us,” she said sternly.   She gave him a tug, and, still looking confused, he stood up.  Susie handcuffed herself to Philip, and announced to the audience, “We’re taking these two naughty babies into custody.  They will be imprisoned, tried, and probably sentenced to having their dummies taken away.”
“Oh,” said Jess, “that would be such a shame.  Could we not just give them an on-the-spot spanking instead.”
“All right, I guess so,” said Julie.  “But first, I want a few photos for the ‘Police Gazette’.”
Sonya did the honours, and afterwards the boys were released and given a simultaneous mock spanking by the officers, much to the edification of the onlookers.  Matthew was over Julie’s knee, when he saw movement at the front of the crowd, and two faces appeared which looked somehow familiar.  Being horizontal, he could not place them at once.  But then he froze.  They were, indisputably, the faces of Dave and Sharon!

[Sandra B]

Chapter 115.  A Change of Plan.

The evolution of the expression on Dave’s face would have been hilarious had it not been so alarming.  It began with a sneer of dismissal, morphed in to frown of incomprehension, then proceeded at a slow pace, suggestive of an intelligence of low perceptive abilities, to one of dawning recognition, and then, the identity of Matthew having finally sunk in, was suffused with the light of savage delight.  He turned to Sharon and started gabbling, jabbing his finger in Matthew’s direction.  She said nothing, mildly amused at his antics.
Then his attention turned to the other detainee.  It took him even longer to recognise Philip.  When he did so, his response was very different.  He turned to Sharon again, with knitted brow.  Matthew saw her nod, and stifle a laugh.  Dave turned first white, then red.  His brow clouded and his face became contorted with anger.  He began shouting and shaking his fist, as if he were an actor in a bad nineteenth century melodrama.  Sharon was doubling up with laughter now, probably remembering how much he had fancied Philip and how he had tried to chat him up.  Philip and Matthew looked at each other nervously.  The two police officers looked at each other with annoyance.
“Excuse me, young man.  Yes, you.  Kindly keep your voice down.  There are children present,” said Julie.
“And babies!” added Susie, with a smile.
When Dave continued to fume and rage, Julie uncuffed herself from Matthew and made to approach the troublemaker.  But he quickly took his leave, only hesitating to shout over his shoulder, “We’ll get you, you fuc-king perverts.  Me an’ the boys will get you, an’ beat the shit outta you!”

The episode cast something of a damper on proceedings, so the participants descended from the stage, and the crowd slowly dispersed.  Sharon stayed behind, however.  She approached the boys.
“Nice show, guys.  ‘E’s not ‘appy, though.  ‘E means what ‘e says.  I’m done wiv him, any’ow.  If I was you, I’d lay low for a bit.  I was gonna say you two should be on the stage, but I guess you were, in a manner of speakin’.  If it’s any consolation, I thought you was great!”
The police officers said goodbye.  “I’ll treasure these snaps forever,” smiled Julie, as they left. 
“What we going to do, Philip?” whispered Matthew.  “Those so-called mates of mine…they’re nasty and they’re evil.  I don’t want to run into any of them…”
“Take no notice,” said Shaniya.  “leave it to me.  I’ll have a word with my mate John.  He’s knows Dave and all his crowd.  Sometimes he goes round with them.  But now it turns out Dave had a thing for you, Philip” – here she looked him up and down in mock surprise – “I think we’ll be able to exert some leverage.  I mean, suppose his mates found out he’d fallen out of bed over some bloke in drag?  He’d never live it down.”
Philip made a face.  “Thanks, Shaniya.  You’ve got a point.  Even so, I think we should keep a low profile for a bit.”  He turned to Matthew.  “I have a suggestion.  Why don’t we ask if we can go off to baby training early?  Maybe this will all die down a bit in a week or two.”
“Do you think so?”
“Couldn’t do any harm, anyway.”
“Okay.  Let’s try, then.”
“Come on boys,” put in Toni, “let’s get  out of here.  We can use the side exit, just in case that ugly brute is hanging around waiting for us.”
“I’ll go ahead and make sure,” said Shaniya.  “I’ll signal you if it’s clear.”
The rest of them said farewell to Sonya, and followed on, trying (but inevitably failing) to be inconspicuous.

At home, Philip put their proposition to Dana, Jess, and Jill.  He explained the history.  Of course they understood – in fact, they were rather gratified they wouldn’t have to suppress any last-minute protests – and Dana rang Mary there and then.  Mary was in the middle of preparing for her new intake, but was quite happy for the boys to come down early.  It was arranged they would be delivered to her the following morning.  So everyone was happy.  The boys were happy they wouldn’t have to fight Dave and his gang – at least, not for a few weeks.  The women were happy the boys were happy.  And Kimona was happy, because her friends were allowed to stay over to say goodbye to the boys the next day.

When the next morning came, all those goodbyes had been said, and all the hugs and kisses exhausted, the boys piled into the back of Dana’s car, accompanied by Shaniya, (who was desperate to see the training centre so she could tell her mates all about it), their luggage stowed in the boot, and Dana and Jess in the front.  They had been allowed to travel in their everyday clothes.  Philip was particularly keen to have some ordinary clothes there, just in case the necessity of escape arose.  Before Dana could start the car, however, a figure was seen running down the street towards them.
“Who’s that?” said Jess.  “Not one of those guys, is it?”
Philip peered out of the window.  Then suddenly he threw open the door and jumped out, and caught the figure in his arms.
“Becca!”
“Just come ter say bye, innit?  I only ‘eard you was leavin’ early this mornin’.”
“It’s so great to see you…”
“Yeah, well, you’re a glutton for punishment, ain’t yer?  But I’ll be ‘ere when yous both get back, an’ I ‘ope to ‘ave some good news for yer.”
Philip held onto her and for a moment Matthew feared he was going to be deserted.  But Rebecca wasn’t having any.
“Go on, idiot. Get in the car.  I want yer fully trained when you get back.  I’ve got plans for you, baby!  Now, go on.”
As the car drove away she stood on the pavement, watching but not waving.  There was plenty of that being done by the others.

[Sandra B]

Chapter 116.  Resborough.

Resborough was a good fifty miles away, in the next county.
“I can imagine just what it’s going to be like,” said Philip.
“What?” asked Shaniya and Matthew simultaneously.
“Old Victorian house in its own grounds, dark and spooky, towers and stuff, punishment room in the basement…”
“What?” said Matthew, alarmed.
“Only joking.  But we’re gonna be prisoners.  There’ll be some sort of security.  Maybe women in thigh boots with whips an’ chains an’ stuff…”
“Dream on, Philip,” laughed Shaniya.  “Anyway, you’ve met…what’s her name…Mary.  What’s she like?”
“I dunno.  Sort of  nondescript really.  Middle-aged.  Shortish.  Got a permanent twinkle in her eye, if you know what I mean…”
“Well, we’ll be seeing her soon enough,” remarked Matthew, grimacing.

They found Mary’s place easily enough.  It was nothing like Philip had imagined.  It was at the end of Resborough High Street, set back from the road.  It was an old building, probably Edwardian, but it looked like a cross between a house and an old hospital – which it turned out it had been, until about ten years before.  They drove into the forecourt.  Jess had rung ahead, and there was Mary, waiting at the entrance, hands clasped and a welcoming smile on her face.  She was a fairly buxom woman, dressed like a ward sister, in blue uniform and white apron, with a little cap on her head, a pair of surgical gloves peeping out of her breast pocket, and a little notebook hanging at her waist.
“Philip!  How lovely to see you!  And this must be Matthew.  Good morning ladies.  Thank you so much for bringing my latest recruits all this way.  And Philip’s aunt has asked me to thank you for looking after him in recent days.  Come in, please.  I’ll give you the tour.”
Mary explained it was the old cottage hospital.  It had fallen into disuse many years ago,  but Mary had bought it, and had it completely renovated.  The ground floor boasted a dozen rooms, some, which had obviously been small wards, with long windows, others smaller and cosier.  Philip noticed that many of them had their doors closed, and Mary passed them by without comment.  A young woman in a nurse’s uniform appeared from one room, gave them a casual glance, and disappeared into another.
“These smaller rooms were for private paying patients,” said Mary, as she conducted them around.  At the back of the building, at the foot of the rear staircase, windows looked out on a huge lawn, with flower beds all around, stocked with all sorts of play pens and play equipment.  Peeping into a side room, Philip saw about eight or nine little prams.  He laughed.
“I don’t think we’re going to fit in those!”
Mary looked at him sternly.  “They’re for the babies to play with, not to get into,” she snapped.
On the opposite side a few stone steps descended to a low arched door with a big old lock.
“Oh.  And what’s down there?” he asked, undaunted.
Mary glared at him.  “You ask a lot of questions, young man.  That’s private.  You’ll be told where you can and where you cannot go at induction.  Now, the upstairs.”
“Punishment room,” whispered Philip to Matthew.
Upstairs, she showed them one empty room.  All the other doors were closed.  Somewhere a baby was crying.  Shaniya glanced at Philip and frowned questioningly.  But clearly Mary liked to keep her secrets.  She turned and led them downstairs.
“I’m sorry I can’t show you more at the moment, but no doubt you’ll come on visiting day.  I’ll email you the dates and hours.  I’m sorry to hurry you, but we have a rather busy day today, and…”
“No, that perfectly all right,” said Dana.  “Thank you so much for showing us round.”
Mary led them back to the front door.  Another nurse was bringing in the boys’ bags.
Mary smiled ingratiatingly.  “I took the liberty…  I’m sorry to rush you, but…you know what it’s like.”  The boys briefly took their leave, and before they knew it the main door had been shut and they were alone with Mary.  At once her demeanour changed completely.
“Right.  Follow me.  In here.”  She opened one of the closed doors and ushered them into a small room with grey walls and two high windows.  There was a chest, a wardrobe, a big clothes basket, several wooden chairs, and against the far wall, two barred steel cages, each about six feet long and four feet high.
“Wait here.  Millie will be in to attend to you shortly.”
She closed the door, and they heard her calling “Millicent?  Millicent?  They’re ready for you.  In the reception room.”  They stared at each other.  Matthew went to examine the cages.
“Th-they’re, like, playpens!  Look – there’s a plastic mattress, and toys and stuff.”
“Some playpens,” said Philip grimly.  “Bars across the top, and the end is a door with a bolt and padlock!  Shit! I don’t like the look of this.”
“Nor me,” said Matthew, moving back towards the door and trying the handle.  “Philip!  She’s bloody locked us in!”  He rattled the handle ineffectually.  But at that very moment a key turned in the lock and it opened.  A tall, slim woman with cropped black hair and red lipstick entered, wearing a nurse’s uniform – somewhat incongruously with a pencil skirt – and plain surgical gloves.  She gave them a supercilious stare.
“Not trying to leave already, boys?  You’ve only just arrived.”
“N-no…we were just…” began Matthew.
“The rules are very clear.  You go nowhere without permission.  The external doors are locked at all times.  You will be told all the rules at induction.  Until then, just do as you’re told.  Now, get those clothes off, please.  All of them.  And put them in the clothes basket.  I’ll be back in a minute.”  She looked them up and down.  “We were told your sizes.  Everything is ready for you.  From now on you won’t need to do anything for yourselves.  The Centre will take care of everything.  You have five minutes.”
With which encouraging remark she went out, closing and locking the door behind her.
The boys looked at each other nervously.
“What shall we do?” asked Matthew.
“I don’t know about you, Matty.  I wouldn’t like to argue with her.  I’m going to do what she said.”
He started to take off his clothes.  Matthew looked helpless from his friend to the door and back again.  Then he followed suit.