The Settlement

[Sandra B]

Chapter 131.  A Bus Ride.

There was a light rain falling, but Dana had brought two sweet little umbrellas for the babies, with red plastic handles and clear violet plastic canopies.  They looked the epitome of cuteness as they were ushered out of the main gates into the wet street.
“We’re going by bus,” said Jess, much to their chagrin.  We can get straight to Valentina’s from here.”
At the name ‘Valentina’s’, Philip’s heart sank.  Matthew looked puzzled.  But the boys being unable to communicate, he had, for the time being, to remain puzzled.

They approached the bus shelter, the boys in front, the women following, chatting amongst themselves as happy as a bunch of office girls off to lunch, the girls dancing around the group, squealing and laughing.  Waiting for the bus was a middle-aged couple and a young woman with a baby in a buggy and a daughter of about five.  The couple regarded the approaching party with suspicion.  The man had a paunch, a heavy, unsmiling face, and a pair of thick black glasses resting on a bulbous nose, which he adjusted with a single poke of his fat finger.  He blinked with obvious disapproval, anticipating the imminent disruption of his domain, of which up to now he had regarded himself, being the senior male occupant of same, as the sole proprietor.  His wife – (that she was his wife was an inescapable assumption) – his wife was a small, pinched woman with a sharp nose, which, in the absence of any other weapon immediately to hand, she pointed straight at the newcomers, and accompanied the gesture with a threatening stare from her gimlet eyes.  However, to their obvious annoyance, their hostility appeared to go quite unnoticed, for the women and the large babies crowded into the shelter, the former still in high spirits, blocking their view of the road, while the girls ran behind, making faces through the glass.

The young woman, who had been looking anxious, and who was gently pushing the buggy to and fro in an attempt to calm her baby, took an immediate interest in the two newly-arrived full-grown specimens of the species.  A smile of satisfaction spread over her face.  Toni smiled back.
“They’re big healthy ones,” said the mother.  “Hope mine grows up as cute as them!”
“Oh, I’m sure he will,” returned Toni, a brief glance informing her that the occupant of the buggy was indeed a boy.
“Are they boys or girls?”
“Oh, Philippa?  Matilda?  Are you boys or girls?”  The boys both frowned at her.  “Well, I don’t think they’re sure themselves, to be honest.  At the moment they’re just sort of in between.”
The daughter had been staring at the boys since they arrived.  “Mummy?  Why are they dressed as babies?”
Dana joined the conversation.  “Well, darling, sometimes big boys like that get tired of their boring clothes, and then they want to be babies again, with nice pretty frilly dresses, and big dummies to suc-k.”
“Oh.  Do they have nappies on?”
“Oh, yes, of course!  Look, feel their bloomers and see how thick and puffy they are.  Go on.  They won’t mind.  Philippa?  Come and show – what’s your name, dear?”
“Amy.”
“Philippa, come and let Amy feel your pull-up….  There, see?”
“Go on, darling, you can feel.  Baby won’t mind,” urged her mother.
“I can feel…it must be the biggest pull-up in the world… “  She stared wistfully at Philip’s crinolined skirt.  “I wish I had a dress like that, with a bouncy skirt and ribbons…”
“Maybe when you’re a bit bigger, darling.  It is very pretty, isn’t it?”
“Bus coming, mummy!” shouted Lucy, at this juncture, mercifully saving Philip from further examination.
They allowed the couple, muttering disapprovingly, on first, helped Amy’s mother with the buggy, and piled on afterwards.  Dana got on in front to pay.  The driver had already noticed the babies.
“Sorry, darlin’, I think I’ll have to charge you for those two,” she laughed.  “They look a bit older than that one in the buggy.”
“But don’t let on, will you?” whispered Dana.
“I get it.  No worries.”
So as the boys climbed into the bus, she called out, “Two more babies.  No charge for under-fives!”

Unfortunately for the boys, the bus was quite full.  There were just two seats left downstairs, at the back, amidst a little party of young women.  Before they had time to resist, Jess had shepherded them along to these seats, before following the rest of the party upstairs.
The women’s reaction was at first open-mouthed amazement, but they soon tacitly resolved to make the most of the arrival of this unexpected source of entertainment.  Room was made on the long back seat for Philip and Matthew to sit together in the middle, with two women on one side and one on the other, while two more occupied the aisle seats in the penultimate row.  They were soon being examined and interrogated, despite the fact it was obvious they were in no position to offer any articulate responses.
“Mine’s the pink one,” said one, throwing her arms round Philip and planting an ardent, possessive kiss on his cheek, leaving a quantity of her ample red lipstick behind.
“I like the yellow  baby myself, said one of the aisle women, placing a hand on his knee and squeezing.  “Look at these pretty bloomers!  Is your nappy dry, little one?  I hope you’re not going to do a wee while you’re on the bus!”
“I hope he does,” said her friend.  “Imagine what fun it would be to change him!”
And they all dissolved in laughter.
“What a pity they can’t speak to us,” said her neighbour.  She flicked the ring of his pacifier.  “It’s strapped in very tight,” she remarked.
“They’re very big ones,” commented another.
“I bet they are…”
“The pacifiers, Sandra!  Don’t be rude.”
“They are,” piped up a little voice.  “They’ve got great big, funny-shaped teats, too!”
Kimona and Lucy had somehow escaped from the party upstairs and made their way down.
“Oh, are they your babies, girls?”
“Yes, they’re ours.  Do you like them?  Are they behaving themselves?  Cos sometimes they’re very naughty, an’ we have to tell them off.”
“Do you?  What do they do then?”
“All sorts of bad things…” began Kimona.
“Yeah!  All sorts!” added Lucy.  “Like they're rude to the grown-ups, and won’t eat their baby food, and once Baby Philip did swears!”
“Really?  Well, that’s awful.  I think they’re probably big enough to be spanked, don’t you?”
“Yes!”  Lucy was getting very excited now, and very serious.  “I told my mummy she should spank them, then they’d behave better.  I think they should be spanked every time they’re rude!”
“On their bare bottoms,” added Kimona, with a malicious grin.
“On their bare bottoms?” gasped one of the women.  “On their bare bottoms?  Goodness me, who would do that, then?”
“My mummy would, easy!”
“No, Kim, we should do it ourselves.  We’re just as much in charge as our mummies.  And if we’re allowed to change them, we should be allowed to spank them, too!”
The women stared.  “You’re allowed to change them?”
“Well,” admitted Lucy reluctantly, “we’re not allowed to do everything…  But today we were allowed to powder their bottoms…”
At this the women, and indeed half the occupants of the lower bus, burst into uncontrollable laughter, while Philip and Matthew simultaneously turned a deep shade of red.  Upstairs, Dana rose from her seat. 
“I’d better go and see what’s going on down there.  No, you two remain here, please.”
She made her way down.
“Now girls, what’s all this noise?  What have you been up to?”
“Nothing, mummy,” said Kimona, “we were just telling these ladies about our babies…”
“Yeah,” said one, “and how they help change them.  I'd really like to see that!”
“We all would!”
“Oh, I can show you a video if you like!” said Lucy, pulling out her phone.
“Lucy!  No.  Come back upstairs.  Come on.  You too Kim.”
“Oh please, please!  Please let her show us.  Please!”
Philip was shaking his head vigorously.  Matthew’s eyes looked pleadingly at Dana.  She thought for a minute.  But the embarrassment factor was too potent to resist.
“Well, I suppose she could.  They did do a really good job.  All right, dear.  Go on and show the ladies.  But ladies, you must promise not to make fun of the babies.  They’re very sensitive.”
“We promise!  We promise!”
Philip and Matthew almost died of shame, as the five women gathered round Lucy’s phone and watched wide-eyed the boys being attended to.  At the end they stuck to their word, and with serious countenances praised the girls warmly for their efforts.
“You did very well, girls,” said one of the women.  “If you ever have babies, you’re going to be the best little mothers.  Boys, you should be grateful you have such clever little carers.  I hope you said thank you to them.”
“Oh, yes, they were very appreciative,” said Dana.  “Their botties were nice and dry and smooth after that.”
“And they smell beautiful,” said another.
“Yes, they…”
But at that juncture the bus began to slow as it approached the high street, and the remainder of the party from upstairs were descending.
“Dana?  Boys?” called Rosa.  We’re here.”
“Okay.  Coming!”
One of the women was writing something on a scrap of paper.
“Before you go…   Here’s my number.  I’m Ellie…”
“Dana…”
“If you ever want a baby-sitter….”
“Oh.  We just might.  Thanks.”
“No.  Thank you!  And thank you, boys, for making our day!”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 132.  A Reunion.

Their passage from the bus stop to Valentina’s created quite a sensation.  People stopped and stared, and a lady passing in a car, distracted by the babies, almost crashed into the car in front of her.
“People seem to like your outfits, anyway, darling,” remarked Jill, her arm around Matthew.  “I’m not surprised.  You do look really nice.  It’s not so bad being a baby, is it?  You get lots of attention, particularly from the girls.  I remember you used to complain they didn’t pay you enough attention.  Now…well, I think it’s very positive.  And I have an idea Philip is liking it more and more…”
She was doing her best to convince her son.  Not that he could hear her very clearly through his padded hood.  There was nothing she would have liked more than to be able to mother him, for the first time in years, or even to see him with a nice girlfriend who would mother him.  In fact, her motives were an obscure mix of the selfish, the sentimental, and the salacious.  She was one of those mothers who would, if they could, though they would never admit it, keep their children as children – who don’t want to let go either of them, or their own feeling of parental authority – and then, as the children grow away from them, they resent it, and engender corresponding feelings of resentment, and guilt, in the children.  He could be such a nice boy, she thought, if he would only let himself relax and be looked after, instead of always being rebellious!  What had he got to be rebellious about, after all?  She had always given him everything he needed…
Which, of course, was the problem, and the reason that, subconsciously, she fely justified in inflicting some mild punishment on her son.  But his mother’s words did have some resonance for him.  It was true he just wanted to be with Philip – not that he would have admitted anything so personal to her.  But he did.  And within reason he was prepared to do anything to realise that goal.  But this?  This didn’t feel right.  It was a total loss of cool.  It was irredeemably humiliating.  Imagine if one of his old schoolfriends should see him!  The mere idea gave him a hot flush, and made him feel faint.

Susanne was waiting for them.  A pre-arranged visit, then, thought Philip.  Of course.  Out of the corner of one eye he could see the big ice cream cone in the corner.  He shuddered slightly.  But Susanne was embracing him, planting a kiss on his cheek while trying to avoid her face coming into contact with the ring of his pacifier.  Surely they would have take their dummies out, if only to allow them them eat.  But so far there was no sign.  Susanne had turned to Matthew, and Philip glanced surreptitiously to his right to see how many customers were already staring at them.  Had it not been firmly filled with the teat of his pacifier, his mouth would have fallen open in dismay.  Arranged around two tables were a row of smirking faces, all of which he knew.  He ran his eyes along them, from left to right.  Nikki, Jennifer, her mother, Sam, Sadie, Freida, Desdemona, Shaniya – Janie, Cynthia and Madison from Arts and Media – and, worst of all, next to Shaniya, a bloke!  A bloke their age, with a shock of yellow hair and a huge grin on his face.  As the women ushered them towards the group, Matthew gave a little squeak of terror.  Philip looked at him, and he looked back with despair in his eyes.  He guessed this was probably that friend of Shaniya’s – John, was it?  His guess proved correct.
“Boys,” smiled Dana, dumping her bag of baby things on the floor and speaking in a loud voice intended to penetrate their padded hoods, “I think you know everyone here?  Oh, apart from Shaniya’s boyfriend, perhaps.  Philip, Matthew?  This is Johnny, Johnny Donovan.  Johnny, meet Baby Philip and Baby Matthew.”
She pushed them forward so they were standing side by side facing him.
“Hello, babies.  Hello, Matthew.  Hello girls.”
“Hi, Johnny,” said Kimona.  “These are the babies we told you about.  Do you like them?”
Philip felt betrayed.  Kimona, telling on them, to this idiot, behind his back!  And he had thought she was such a nice kid...  But it seemed that, while he had been away, his place in Kimona’s affections had been usurped by Shaniya’s boyfriend.
Johnny suppressed an inclination to whistle with delight.  He assumed an expression of innocent surprise.  “I wondered what you were getting up to these days, Matthew.  I knew you must be busy, or you would have come to see all your old mates.  But I guess they come second when you’ve got a new girlfriend…”  He glanced meaningfully at Philip.
Matthew looked as though he was about to cry.
“Yeah,” added Shaniya, “all your old mates – ‘specially Dave.  I hear he’s longing to see you both again…”  She snorted with laughter.
“Oh, yeah, Dave…”  The grin on Johnny’s face grew even broader.  “You heard he split up with Sharon.  Well, to be honest, she dumped him.  But, Matthew, remember that girl you were into for a while at school?  What was her name?  Oh, yes, Karen, that’s right.  Karen.  I mean, she was always hot, but now…  Yeah, well, she’s going out with Dave now.  Just thought you’d like to know she’s not been wasted.”
Matthew’s brow crinkled, and he emitted a muffled moan.  Philip glared at Johnny – or tried to.  It just made him look even more comic.  Johnny burst out laughing.
“This is the best!  Thanks for bringing me, Shan.  I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”
“Well, Johnny, I knew how much you like babies.  You’re so good with your little sister.  I thought you could show us how we should treat these two as well…”
“Yeah?  Oh, I can show you, all right.”  He stared at them gleefully.  “You say they’re a couple, too?  Just like Karen and Dave?  Okay, well they should be holding hands, for one thing.”
“Well, that’s going to be difficult,” said Freida, “seeing as how they’ve got mittens on.”
“Oh, yes, I see,” said Johnny.  “What are they for, then?”
“I think it’s to stop them playing with themselves – or each other,” suggested Shaniya, under her breath.
“Oh, but we can link them together,” suggested Jess, getting into the spirit of the thing.  “I’ve got these little screw links with me, in case we want to fix their hands behind them.  But I could easily join them at the wrist.” 
And so saying, she made the boys put their wrists together and fastened a link between the rings of the mitten straps.
“There.  Is that what you wanted, Johnny?”
Desdemona was seized by a sudden fit of the giggles.  “Why not do both wrists?”
Johnny and several of the girls agreed.  “Yeah!  Both wrists!”
The younger girls, who had been looking on with growing delight, added their concurrence.
“Yes, mummy, do…” cried Dorelia.
“They’ll look so sweet…” added Lucy, seriously.
Dana’s face lit up.  “Come on, Jess.  I’ll help.”
And so the boys were placed face to face, their wrists linked together, staring into each other’s faces.  The company fell about laughing.  The other customers were also engrossed in proceedings, neglecting their ice creams, which were melting in their dishes.  Johnny looked at the boys with satisfaction.  He noticed the rings of their pacifiers were now not far apart.
“I’ve got an idea.  Have you got any more of those links?”
“Several.”
“They look like they want to kiss, but they can’t.  It would be nice for them to be closer, anyway.  Why not…?”
“Great,” cried Jess.  “Yes, let’s link their dummy rings.”
It was the work of a moment.  In order to keep their balance, the boys found themselves forced to stand toe to toe, trying not to move, their crinolines and their bloomers, bulging over their thick pull-ups, crushed together.
“Brilliant idea, Johnny,” said Jennifer.  “They look much happier now, all cosy and lovey-dovey.  Maybe we could order now.  I don’t think they’ll be going anywhere for a bit.”

The women took their seats, and the waitress – a new waitress, Philip noted – came and took their orders.
“And the…babies?” she asked, taking the opportunity to have a good close-up stare.  “Will they be having anything?”
“Oh, don’t worry about them for now,” said Rosa, carelessly.  “They’ve got other things on their minds.”  The waitress turned to go.
“No, wait!” called Dana.  “They could have milkshakes, couldn’t they?  Waitress, could you bring us two – no, say four milkshakes, please?”
“Certainly.  Would you like strawberry or banana?”
“Oh…two of each, I think.  Then we can mix them.”
“Oh, don’t let them go, Mrs Williams,” said Johnny, disappointed.  “They look cute standing there like that.  Look, everyone in the restaurant is admiring them.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m not planning to let them go, Johnny.”  She unzipped her bag and produced two big cylindrical plastic bottles and two lengths of rubber tubing.  “We have special feeding bottles.  Here, come and see.”  She beckoned him over.
Johnny looked puzzled.  He rose and approached the babies.  He watched with interest as Dana, with some difficulty, reached in between their faces and flicked open the boss of Matthew’s pacifier, revealing the plastic nozzle.
“See?  The pacifiers are equipped with little nozzles and valves.  We can feed the babies without taking them out, which makes life so much easier for us mummies – and also quieter.  We don’t have to listen to all their silly baby talk and constant demands.”
“So it comes out through the teat on the inside?”
Dana lowered her voice.  “Yes, Johnny.  Inside each pacifier has a big soft rubber teat, shaped exactly like the head of a real…well, use your imagination.  When the milk is pumped in, the “teat” fills up until it’s big and firm, and then the pressure makes it start leaking out of the very tip.  Or if the baby’s very hungry, he can squeeze it with his tongue and make it spurt into his mouth.”
“Wow!  Er…would you let me have a go, Mrs Williams?”
“Of course, Johnny.  Shaniya’s told me how good you are with babies.  Maybe you could feed one, and Shaniya the other.”
“Great!  I’ll take care of Matthew, then.”

The waitress was serving the ice creams and drinks.  Dana and Jess mixed the shakes and decanted the creamy pink fluid into the feeding bottles.  They each held a full litre, and they were three-quarters full.  They pushed on the tubes, then rose and approached the babies.  The babies were not happy.  They squirmed and squeaked angrily.
“Hold still, sillies,” said Jess, “you don’t know what’s good for you, that’s the trouble.  Lovely thick milkshakes!”  She licked her lips.  “What could be nicer?  Now don’t be ungrateful, Matthew.  Good boy…that’s better…” 
The women finally succeeded in connecting the tubes to the pacifier nozzles.  They held the bottles up.  Dana gave hers a squeeze to check the viscous liquid was flowing freely.
“Perfect.  Johnny?  Shaniya?  When you’ve finished, everything’s ready for you.”
They needed no second bidding.  Jumping up, they took the bottles from the women and began to feed the babies, Shaniya feeding Philip, Johnny Matthew.
“Now take your time, guys.  Let them swallow.  We don’t want them to choke, do we?”
They did take their time, letting the younger girls and several of the others have a turn as well.  Johnny was enjoying himself immensely.
“There, there, Baby Matthew.  Is that nice dwinkies?  Does ums like uncle Johnny feeding ums?  Baby Matthew will soon have tummy full of nice strawby-banana milkshake.  Then, later on, he can do big, big wee-wees just like proper babykins!”
Matthew’s eyes widened as the sweet sticky gloop was pumped slowly into his mouth.  At Johnny’s words his cheeks reddened perceptibly.  Johnny looked at him with concern.
“I’m not sure, Mrs Williams…but I think he might want some more after this…  He seems terribly thirsty.”
“All right.  I’ll order another round for both of them.  I can see how they love you two feeding them.  You make such good parents.”  She looked at them thoughtfully.  “You know, any time you want to babysit…we’d be quite happy to employ you…”

While the feeding continued, customers came and cooed over the two pretty babies, and Susanne took photographs.  When it became clear neither of them could swallow any more, Jess detached the tubes and snapped the bosses of the pacifiers shut.
“There.  Babies nice and full.  Pity they couldn’t finish it all, but they can have more later if they like.”  Matthew shook his head vigorously.  Philip looked daggers at Jess. 
Most of the group had finished their ice creams now.  Philip wondered what was next.  He hoped they could at least be released so that everyone could leave.  He was feeling very full, and a little sick.  Maybe they’d go back to Dana’s.  He would happily have gone back to Resborough there and then, but he doubted that was going to happen.  Anyway, he couldn’t hear clearly what was being said, but it looked as if preparations were being made to leave.  Jess approached them and went to unscrew the link on their pacifiers.  She was just about to do it, when a shout from Shaniya stopped her in her tracks.  She was pointing at the doorway.  A couple had just entered.  Philip could just turn his head enough to see them out of the corner of one eye.  A rather attractive girl…and…oh, god, it couldn’t be!  It was!  Dave!!

[sarahpenguin]

Poor babies it must  be hard for them to nurse so much so close togather. :)

[Sandra B]

Chapter 133.  Babysitters.

They were greeted by Susanne, and didn’t notice the company at the far end of the restaurant until Johnny shouted out, “Dave!  Here!”
They both looked over at the group, surprised.
“Johnny…” Dave began, “what you doin’ here….?” 
Then he stopped and stared, taking in the spectacle of the large cojoined babies.  The girl began to laugh, but Dave, whose comprehension seemed slower by a substantial factor, remained gaping.
“What…?  Who…?  Is that those fuc-kin’ jokers again?  Is it…?”
“David, please,” said Toni.  “Not in front of the girls.”
“Yeah,” said Johnny, smirking with delight.  “Your mates Matthew and Philip, all in their best duds.  Come and join us, mate.  Come on.”
Scowling with anger, Dave took the girl by the hand, and made his way slowly towards them.  Philip could tell from the expression of abject misery in Matthew’s eyes that the girl must be Karen.  So it proved.
“Hello, Karen, darling,” smiled Johnny.  You’ve arrived at just the right time.  We were about to separate these two but I’m sure Dave would rather have them just as they are.  Wouldn’t you, mate?”
Dave wasn’t listening.  He came right up to the pair, leading Karen with him, and bestowed upon them a glare of triumph.  His wrath was cooling into something more like malicious glee, as the full implications of their powerlessness began to penetrate his sluggish consciousness.  He looked them up and down.
“These are the same two wankers I told you about, darlin’.  Thought they’d fool me, didn’t yer?  Well oo’s the fools now?”
He turned to the others.
“Last time I saw them they was all togged out in plastic pants, showin’ off in the mall.  This is even better.”  He turned back.  “’Ello Maffew.  Remember Karen?  You asked ‘er out once, didn’t yer?  Wha’ a laugh!  You, wiv ‘er!  But you’re ‘appy now, right.  Wiv yer little boyfriend an all.  Bet you wish you could do kissy-kissy like outside the school, don’t yer?  Well, maybe later.”

Neither the ladies nor Kimona and friends were greatly enamoured of Dave. 
“I think we should be going soon,” said Jess.  “The girls musn’t be late in bed.  You understand, Dave.  We’ve already been here quite some time, and…”
“Nah, that’s all right,” returned Dave, becoming quite cheerful.  “I’ve seen all I need to see.  Just let me get a couple of snaps for my mates….  Oh yeah, that’s perfect…  No Maffew, look at me, son.  Great!”
“They’re lovely babies, aren’t they Dave?” said Lucy, misunderstanding.  We got to change them earlier, and they were so good…”
Dave stared.  “You got to…change them…?”
“It’s true,” grinned Shaniya.  “Lucy showed me the video, and very kindly sent me a copy.”
“Lucy!”  said Rosa.  “That was private!”
“Yes,” said Dana, “it’s private, Shanny.  Just keep it to yourself.”
“Oh, but I already sent it to Johnny…”
“Did you.  Well Johnny, I trust you to keep it to yourself.”
“Oh, yes, Mrs Williams.  Don’t worry…”  But the glance he exchanged with his friend was not reassuring.

The women gathered up the children, Jess released the links on the boys’ pacifiers and on one pair of wrists, and they prepared to leave.  Meanwhile Dave and Karen, both now in very good humour, were being introduced to the others by Shaniya.  They sat down at an adjacent table and were soon laughing and joking with the rest, most of whom elected to stay, and move on to the pub later.  Shaniya, perhaps anticipating the fun might not be over yet, persuaded Johnny to accompany her back home.  Freida and Desdemona elected to come too.  Dana rang for cabs, and they were soon heading back to the house.  By this time Matthew and Philip were both dying for the toilet, but Dana, either out of sympathy or because she didn’t much relish the prospect of more baby-changing, promised them they could relieve themselves in an adult manner once they were indoors – which promise she kept, though since she declined to release them from their mittens or their wrist link, it was necessary for Shaniya to provide appropriate assistance, which she did despite being helpless with giggles during most of the procedure.

After the younger girls had all been put to bed, the teenagers retired to the lounge, while the mothers opened a bottle of wine and sat round the kitchen table.
“What a day!” sighed Rosa.
“What a day for the boys,” added Jill.
“They’re all right,” grinned Dana.  “They’re together.  That’s all they really care about.”
“Anyway,” remarked Toni, “I reckon we really deserve this drink, after all our hard work.”
“Yeah,” said Jess.  “Pity we can’t make an evening of it.  I mean, it’s still early.  Any more booze here, Dana?”
“Some.  Mainly beers and stuff for the kids.  Maybe another bottle of wine somewhere, or some gin…”
There was a silence.
“Why can’t we go out for a while?  I mean, Shaniya’s here in case the girls need anything,” suggested Jess. 
“What about the babies?”  They all laughed.
“Well, I’m sure she and Johnny would be happy to babysit.”
“I’m sure they would be,” smiled Dana, “but I’m not sure the babies would be as happy to be babysat by them!”
“Come on, love, let’s do it,” urged Jess.  “And let’s see if Mary would like to join us.  I wouldn’t mind hearing a few more anecdotes about life at Resborough.”
After a little more discussion, the motion was passed, and a phone call to Mary produced the desired result.  They put their coats on and Dana stuck her head into the lounge.  Johnny and the girls were lounging on the floor, holding bottles of beer, while the babies, still linked together, sat side by side on the sofa.
“Shanny?  We’re just going out for an hour or two, okay?  Can you look after things here.”
“Sure thing, mum.  Take your time.”
“Help yourself to anything you want.  Order a pizza or something if you like.  Here, take this.”  She came in and gave her daughter some notes.  “And take good care of the babies, won’t you?”
“Oh yes, mum, course.  Don’t worry about that.  We’ll take very good care of them…”

Toni had just opened the front door for the others when Shaniya appeared from the lounge.
“Auntie Jess?  Before you go…  Do you have those links?  Just in case…you know…”
“Oh, of course, darling.  Here you are.”  She reached into her bag and handed them to Shaniya.  “Good thinking.  Just in case they’re inclined to misbehave…”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 134.  An Absquatulation. 

Philip and Matthew were not overjoyed at being left at the mercy of the three girls.  Philip in particular had good reason to be wary of them.  As for Johnny, Philip had him marked down as the sort of mindless idiot who, having no ideas of his own, would go along with anything anyone else suggested. 
Shaniya wasted no time in ordering pizzas and fries and drinks.  After finishing her beer, Freida wandered into the kitchen to see what she could find, and emerged a minute later with a nearly full bottle of gin. 
“What about this?  Got any tonic, Shan?”
“Yeah.  Look in the fridge, or in the cupboard on the far right.  Ice is in the freezer.  And bring some lemons.”
“Johnny?  Want one?”
“Nah.  I prefer beer, thanks.  Go ahead.”

Two or three drinks later the girls were getting tipsy.  Desdemona couldn’t stop giggling, Freida was making rude comments and rude noises for the edification of the company in general, and Shaniya was snogging Johnny shamelessly – (though he seemed happier when he was snogging the mouth of his beer bottle).  Suddenly she jumped up.
“Oh!  I forgot!  I never showed you the video!”
“What video?” slurred Freida.
“You know.  The babies.  Getting changed!”
“The babies?”
“These babies, dimmo!  Look!”
She had grabbed her phone and thrown herself down between her friends.  They craned over her shoulders to see what she was talking about.  For a few seconds they watched in silence.  Then Desdemona started screaming with delight, and Freida snorting with laughter.
“No!  I don’t believe it….  Oh my god!” shouted Desdemona.  “No…she’s not going to…oh my god, she is!”
Freida’s mouth had fallen open.  “That’s Abigail’s mum, right?” she gasped.  “Putting on the cream?  She’s actually putting it on his…thing?  No!  Oh my god…it’s getting all big and…and your mum’s doing Matthew!  Oh, this is the best thing I’ve ever seen.  Are they going to…you know…”
“’Fraid not, Freida.  Wish they had, though.  No, they have to be powdered now.  Wait till you see this.”
By now Johnny had joined the group and was watching the video as well.  He was fascinated but also horrified, imagining if that had been him.  These women, he thought, they’re dangerous!  Desdemona was helpless with laughter.  “Look, they can’t turn over now cos of their silly stiff dinkies!  Shanny, I’ve gotta have a copy of this.”
Freida turned to the boys.  “Great performance, guys.  I bet you loved every minute.  What’s the matter?  Why are you blushing?  Nothing to be embarrassed about.  Such cute little baby willies!”
“Keep watching,” said Shaniya.  “Here comes the best bit.”
“Ouch!  He turned over anyway.  That was sudden.  Poor little squashed sausage!”
“And here’s the reason why.  Kimona and the girls!”

They must have replayed the powdering of the babies’ bottoms ten times, Desdemona squealing at every replay, Freida lying back choking with laughter.  Finally the hilarity subsided a little.
Shaniya poured them all another gin.  “Babies are fun, don’t you think?”
“Yeah…” said Freida, thoughtfully, looking at them.  “Maybe they might need changing now.  Do you think?”
“I don’t think so, Freida, I mean, they used the loo only an hour ago, and…”
“No, I think they might, Des.  I think we should check.”
Desdemona stared at her, then giggled.  “Yeah, we probably should…”
“Yeah,” added Shaniya, “mum asked me to take good care of them, didn’t she?”
“We could just take their nappies off to make sure they’re still dry,” continued Freida.  “Better safe than sorry.”
Johnny was becoming uncomfortable.  “Girls?  Come on, they’re fine.  Let’s have some more drinks, and…”
“What’s up Johnny?  Does the sight of a baby’s little winkie embarrass you?” asked Shaniya, archly.
“No…I just…”
“Well, we’re all agreed we’re going to check them.  So if you don’t like the idea…”
“Er, yeah, actually…I do have stuff to do tonight….my mum…”
“Yeah, go and see mummy, why don’t you.  Now, we can unbuckle their bloomers at the back, can’t we?”
But Johnny had grabbed his coat and was out the door in a minute flat.  They were serious, and he didn’t want to be around for what he feared would follow.  “Girls…” he muttered as he hurried down the front path.  “What’s wrong with them?”  He shivered.  “I wouldn’t like to be those guys…”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 135.  Finger Traps.

After Johnny’s departure, the girls turned their full attention to the boys.  Unsurprisingly, they began to fidget uncomfortably on the cushions, uncertain of what was coming next.  Shaniya spoke in a low voice, quite inaudible to them though the padding of their hoods.
“I think they need to be reattached.  It’ll make them a lot more accessible.”
So the boys were pulled to their feet, and the steel links once more attached to their free wrists and their pacifiers.  They looked into each other’s eyes anxiously, standing with their legs slightly apart to maintain their balance.
“We’re just going to check your nappies, babies,” said Freida, loudly, partly so they could hear her, partly because she was now quite drunk.  “Make sure you’re dry.”
She and Shaniya stepped behind them and unbuckled the waistband of their bloomers.  They tugged them down by the frilly leg-bands, and made the boys step out of them, without taking off their little boots.  They were powerless to object or resist.
“Des?  Can you check Baby Matthew’s nappy, and I’ll check Baby Philip’s,” said Freida.  She poked at the padding.  “Hmm…he seems dry…but we’d better make sure.”
She began to slide the thick pull-up slowly down over Philip’s hips.  He began to panic, wriggling and making muffled sounds of protest, but Freida simply ignored him.  He thrust out his bottom in a vain attempt to impede her.  Desdemona stared, shocked at her friend’s boldness.  She flushed visibly as the elasticated waistband descended steadily over Philip’s tummy, until his private parts popped out into full view, then started giggling hysterically.  Even Shaniya clapped a hand to her mouth.
“Freida, you’re such a naughty girl!” 
“Come on, Dessy, Matthew’s turn now.”
Unwilling to be thought prudish, and emboldened by the gin, Desdemona followed suit, dragging Matthew’s pull-up down to his boots, despite his squirming, then sitting back on her haunches in mock disgust.
“Wow, they’re both dry!” cried Freida.  “Good babies!”  She paused.  “Well, might as well give them new ones, anyway.  Come on babies, lift your feet.  Let’s get these silly old nappies off you.”

The pull-ups were dumped in the kitchen bin.  The girls, with a view to causing the boys as much embarrassment as possible, lounged on the floor with their backs propped against the chairs and their glasses in their hands, regarding them with interest.
“I wonder… what they’re gonna do…now,” whispered Desdemona, drunkenly.
Philip and Matthew were indeed in a dilemma.  They could stand as they were with their hips pushed apart, giving the girls, relaxing nearby, a perfect view of their most personal property; or, they could move close together, which would conceal their assets but – well, bring them into direct contact.  Philip tried to read the message in Matthew’s eyes…but all he could see was a sort of pleading despair.  The girls were pointing, and conversing in low voices, every now and then dissolving in fits of giggles.  Philip guessed they were discussing and comparing.  He twisted sideways, attempting to block their view, but in doing so his proud little willie brushed against Matthew’s.  He froze.  Matthew, in trying to correct the situation, only made it worse, and for a moment they struggled to keep their balance, their members unintentionally rubbing together.  To his horror, Philip felt himself becoming aroused by the proximity of his friend, and, glancing down, saw that Matthew seemed to be in a similar predicament.  Perhaps the girls hadn’t yet noticed.  Anyway, there was nothing for it but to close ranks.  Matthew had obviously had the same idea, because they pressed themselves together simultaneously.
“Look! They’re making love!” screamed Desdemona.
“Well, they are boyfriend and girlfriend,” said Shaniya calmly.  Now they’re out of nappies they can be their true selves.”
“They look like they’re enjoying it, anyway,” said Freida.  If they didn’t have dummies in I bet they’d be kissing too.”
Philip and Matthew were not in fact enjoying it at all.  But their bodies were behaving in complete accordance with their instincts, and in complete opposition to their wishes.  Their pen-ises were in a state of mutual response to each other, dilating and thrusting upwards despite all their efforts to restrain them.  Now they were lying vertical, side by side, compressed between the boys’ bellies.  Philip could feel the heat and fullness of Matthew’s, and Matthew could feel the firmness and gentle throbbing of Philip’s.  The girls had got to their feet to take a closer look, and the boys pressed even closer together, not for pleasure but for concealment.  However, the tactic had the unfortunate effect of coaxing a flow of slippery juice from one or both of them, lubricating their skin and allowing their tumescent members to slide about between them as they manoeuvred to avoid the girls’ gazes.
The girls, of course, were ecstatic at their obvious embarrassment, the gin having easily overwhelmed the few inhibitions they may have had previous to its consumption.  Incited by Freida, they began to tickle and pinch the boys’ bottoms, making them twist and squirm, and making their predicament all the more critical.  It was only when their gyrations revealed the extent of their arousal that the girls really took notice.  Desdemona gasped and drew back.
“Did you see?  Freida, did you see?  Shanny?”
“I saw,” grinned Freida.  “I’m not surprised.  Let’s see what happens.”
She placed her hand on Philip’s bottom, making him lurch forward, the head of his pen-is sliding almost into his friends navel.
“Ooh, you’re very frisky, Baby Philip.  What are you doing with that stiff little sausage of yours?  You’re going to hurt Baby Matthew if you thrust it at him like that.”
“Oh, I don’t think he minds,” said Shaniya, “he’s pretty much in the same state.”  The boys had given up trying to hide what was evident to all.  They stood there, swaying, face to face, their little pricks crossed like two swords preparing to duel.  Shaniya reached out and gave Philip’s a gentle squeeze.
“Mmmmf!”
“Did you like that?  I bet you did, you bad boy.  Well I’m not doing it again.  I’ve found out what I wanted to know.  Matthew’s got you in such a state, hasn’t he?”  She lowered her voice.  “I bet you wish you had that thing inside him…”
“Shanny!  You shouldn’t.  What is Dana going to say?”
“She won’t say anything, Dessie.  Why don’t you feel it?  Go on.  Don’t be so shy.”
“I’m not shy!”
“Go on then.  Feel Matthew’s.  It’s just as hard.”
“Maybe she doesn’t dare,” said Freida, with a smirk.
“I do!  Here…”
Desdemona tentatively extended a hand, and touched Matthew’s pen-is with the tip of one finger.
“It’s so hard.  You’re right.”  She grew bolder, and, taking it between finger and thumb, gently drew back the foreskin.  Matthew shuddered and groaned, and a copious flow of clear juice issued from the tip and trickled down the shaft.
“Well done, Dessie!  That’s more like it,” said Freida, impressed.  “All right, you can let go now,” she added, with a laugh.
“Gosh, it does feel nice, though.  So firm and straight and quite hot, too!”
“You know what?” said Freida.  “We should tie them together too.  Then they’d be completely connected, just like they were married!”
“That would be funny,” said Desdemona, warming to the situation.  “We could use surgical tape.”
“We could do anything -  put them in two hot dog buns, for instance!” laughed Shaniya.  “There’s some in the kitchen.”
“Trust you to think of food, Shanny.  You’d probably want to lick the ketchup off them, wouldn’t you?”
“Wait a minute!” cried Shaniya, suddenly.  “I’ve had an idea!  Wait there!”  And without another word she rushed out of the room, and the girls heard here running up the stairs.  They looked at each other questioningly.
In a minute she was back, carrying a little straw basket.
“What is that?”
“It’s Kimona’s.  She has a collection of these things.  You know?”
She held up a little red and green woven tube.  “These!”
Oh, yeah…” said Freida.  “…No!  No way!”
“Yes!  Chinese finger-traps.  Look.  There’s one giant one.”
She held it up.  It was red and yellow.  Stretched out it was eight or nine inches long, and a little more than an inch in diameter.  She pushed it together like a concertina, making the ends expand.
“See?  It’s about the right size, isn’t it?  A Chinese willy-trap!”
“Oh my god, let’s try it.  Come on.”
Shaniya, who’d had the idea, did the first honours.  She squashed it up, and worked it onto Matthew’s pen-is, as far as it would go.  It was slippery work, but she got it in place.  She turned to Philip.  Philip shook his head vigorously, but Freida gave him such a pinch on his thigh that he knew he had no choice but to co-operate.  His erection was subsiding a little at the prospect of being the butt of such a humiliating joke, but that was probably in the girls’ favour.  Freida guided him in as far as he would go – until both pen-ises had virtually disappeared into the tube.
“Awesome!  They must actually be touching now,” said Desdemona, fascinated by her friend’s ingenuity.
They were.  And the feeling of being pressed against his best friend immediately restored Philip’s erection.
Shaniya stood back.  “Go on.  Try and pull yourselves out.”
Philip tried to withdraw, but as soon as he drew back the tube tightened around the bases of both their pen-ises, making his harder than ever, and pulling Matthew towards him.  The girls laughed with delight.
“It works,” screamed Freida.  “They’re stuck!”  She pulled out her phone.  “I must get this.  Siamese twins!”
“What are they going to do…? Murmured Desdemona.
“We’ll soon see,” grinned Shaniya.  Dessie, why don’t you film them from the other side.  This could be quite a show.
Soon all three phones were recording the boys’ discomfort.  Philip was thinking hard.  Even if he pulled back a little, he could still feel the head of Matthew’s prick against his, making it impossible for his arousal to subside.  And Matthew had the same problem.  So he tried to convey with his eyes that they should stay as still as possible, and think of something else, in the hope that their erections would soften.  Unfortunately, an idea as complex as that was not transmissible by mere eye contact, and instead of relaxing, Matthew began rather to panic, pulling back and then thrusting forward in a doomed attempt to free himself.  Philip tried to shake his head, but the joined pacifiers made that impossible too.  Moreover the fact that their faces were so close together, while their hips were the length of two stiff pen-ises apart, made them even more uncomfortable, and kept them in a permanent state of agitation, which only made things worse, and provided added amusement for their audience.  The sight of the two boys, in their funny hoods, naked from the waist down, connected at the mouth, wrists and genitals, struggling to maintain their cool under impossible conditions, was too much for Shaniya.  She propped her phone up on the back of an armchair, lay on the ground, and was seized by a fit of hysterical giggles. 
But for the boys, it was no laughing matter.  The main problem was that, whatever they did, however they moved, the trap always gripped their foreskins, so that any movement resulted in a sort of inescapable mutual masturbation.  Soon their juices were flowing freely, oozing through the woven sleeve and hanging in a sticky string from the centre of the trap, and dripping onto their wellies.  Matthew, desperate to regain a comfortable posture, suddenly thrust forward so hard that the lubricated head of his pen-is actually slipped over the top of Philip’s.  They stared at each other in surprise for an instant.  But at least it had eased their postures, so in tacit co-operation they both thrust forward together.  Now they could stand more normally, but their members were squeezed together in the tube so tightly that they could feel each other throbbing with excitement.  It was too much for Matthew.  He could hear little, he could see only his friend’s expressionless face, but he could feel Philip’s arousal as if it were his own.  Gripped by lust, he began moving his hips very slightly, allowing his well-lubricated glans to slide gently back and forth against his friend’s.  He closed his eyes in ecstasy, the mere sight of which sent a pang of desire through Philip’s body, and soon, in total disregard of the onlookers or the consequences, he began to respond.  They stood there face to face, thrusting gently against each other, quite disconnected from everything around them.  They were oblivious of the return of the women, who now stood at the lounge door staring at the spectacle with disbelief.  Rosa took Jill’s hand and squeezed it gently.  The other three exchanged gleeful glances, and Dana placed a finger on her lips – not that the boys could have heard them, or would have cared had they even noticed their presence.
The string of clear juice now connected the centre of the trap to the toe of Matthews left boot, little drops sliding down it in quick succession.  The climax came soon enough.  Matthew made a muffled sob, and Philip, feeling his friend’s pen-is suddenly quiver, and his own inundated with hot sperm, came himself almost immediately.  The sudden violent mutual eruption in the confined space of the trap sent jets of slimy fluid spurting through the mesh at some velocity, spattering the carpet, the chairs, and, with poetic justice, Shaniya’s new shirt.
As their orgasms subsided, the boys, in perfect sympathy, sank slowly to their knees.  There was an awkward silence.
“S-sorry, mum…” began Shaniya, guiltily, wiping her shirt with a tissue.  “Er, it was like this….er....”
“Don’t bother to apologise, darling,” said Dana, archly.  “Only you could have dreamt up something like this.  Now, forget about your shirt.  Clean my carpet first, please.  You know where the cloths are.  And then these boys need to go to bed.  The poor things look exhausted.  And yes, we can relieve them of all that baby stuff.  We’ve just had a nice long chat with Mary, and she’s told us she’s come to the conclusion that these two are palpably unsuited to babyhood, and need to be transferred to a more appropriate institution.  And all this little performance has demonstrated is just how true that is.”
“So…what will happen to them…?”
“Let’s get this sorted out, and then we’ll have a little talk.  All right?”
“Yes, mum.  Course, mum.”
“And I’ll have your phone, please.  I want to see just how all this was engineered…”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 136.  An Offer They Can’t Refuse.

Philip and Matthew were undressed and assisted to a double bed in the spare room.  They were asleep within seconds of their heads touching the pillows.  They weren’t the only ones who were tired, either; but Dana took five minutes to reveal the essence of their conversation with Mary before they all retired for the night.
“She told us that certain boys are not, and will never be, amenable to babyfication.  Among those are our two friends, and another boy by the name of Billy.  She suggests that they all be transferred to her friend Jessica’s establishment at Westonbrook – the Westonbrook Institute for Male Personality Sissification, it’s called.  She thinks they’ll all fit in much better there, and Philip especially will be able finally to make a full transition to girlhood, if he wishes.”
“But Mrs Williams, do you think they’ll agree to go?” asked Desdemona.  “I mean, I sort of got the impression they were already considering the idea of running away…”
“I think you’re right.  We have to consider that.  But first of all, Matthew will do whatever Philip does.  So it’s really only Philip we have to worry about.  Of course, we do have a certain leverage, given all the footage we have of him – he'd do anything to keep that out of certain hands.  However, maybe I’m being naĂŻve, but I’m not sure he would seriously object.  He may put up a show of protest, but I’m hoping…”
“Mum.  I don’t get you.  Why on earth would he agree to it?”
“Because, my little cynic, because, underneath it all, I believe he really wants to be a girl – or at least, to present as one.  Don’t you remember how he loved his school uniform?  And being at Caroline Norton?  And dressing up for Matthew?  And do you ever hear him complaining about his cute little breasts?  Anyway, I’m going to frame it like we’re doing him a favour.  Let’s wait and see, shall we?”

The boys were still asleep at nine, so Shaniya took them breakfast in bed.  They were sitting up sipping their coffee when Philip noticed the clothes folded up on the chair.
“Hey, that’s my old jeans…and my Necrophagia T-shirt!  And it looks like you’ve got some normal stuff too.  Maybe…”
“Our baby stuff’s being washed, that’s all.  But it’ll be nice to have a break.  My jaw’s still aching from that stupid dummy.”
“Oh, Matthew, I’m hurt.  I thought you liked having that in your mouth…”
“Shut up and eat your croissant.”
“Okay.  But let’s get dressed before they change their minds.”
“Or before the wash is finished…”

After breakfast they rose, took a quick shower (together), and dressed.  Everyone else was up and about.  The house was crowded.  As soon as they walked into the lounge the kids jumped on them, screaming.
“Oh…” cried Kimona, disappointed, you’re not in your baby clothes!  Mummy?  When are the boys going back in their baby clothes?”
“Not for a while, darling.  Now, if all the children would kindly vacate the lounge, we need to have a chat with Philip and Matthew.”
“What about?”
“Never you mind, young lady.  Now, out, please, all of you.”

Once the disruptive elements had been removed, the boys were sat on the sofa and the five women disposed themselves in chairs.  Dana opened the conversation.
“Did you sleep well, boys?”
“Thank you, yes.”
“Good.  And how do you feel today?”
“Knackered,” said Matthew.  “Mrs Williams, you can’t leave us alone with those…girls.  They don’t have any boundaries.”
“Well, I don’t suppose the experience did you any harm.  When we came in you seemed to be enjoying yourselves all right.”
Matthew blushed.  “You saw…all of it?”
“Not all, but enough.  Anyway, that’s not what we want to talk about.  Jess?”
“We met up with Mary last night - you know, your principal,” continued Jess.  “We had quite an interesting conversation.  She doesn’t feel that either of you has been progressing to her satisfaction.”
“So…what?  We’re going to be punished?  What now?  What could be worse than what we’re already going through?”
“No Philip,” reassured Dana.  “Not punished.  No.  There’s the possibility of a change of direction.  It’s a limited offer, and you’d have to commit to it fully.  Of course you can say no…”
“What ‘change of direction’?”
“I don’t know if you remember meeting another lady at your aunt’s, when you met Mary?”
“Yeah….can’t remember her name though…”
“Jessica?”
“Yeah…Jessica.”
“You may remember she runs a school for boys transitioning to girls.  A few places have become vacant.  There are many applications for those places, and she’d need an answer in the next twenty-four hours.  It’s up to you.  Otherwise it’s back to Resborough.”
The boys looked at each other.
“So what goes on there, exactly?” asked Philip.
“You would dress as females – there’s a huge range of clothes, and I understand you'd get to choose many of them yourselves.  You would learn female mannerisms and behaviour.  You'd have access to makeup and beauty experts.”
Philip looked doubtful, though internally he was imagining himself in a pale blue silky dress, with pearl earrings, and…
“What do you think, Phil?”  To everyone’s surprise, Matthew sounded quite excited.  But he was not thinking of himself.  He was remembering that time outside the school, with Philip in his little skirt and leather jacket, and the lipstick, and the scent, and afterwards…
“Er…dunno…”
“It couldn’t be worse than Resborough…”
“No, I guess that’s true….”
“No more baby clothes…”
“No more baby clothes,” put in Jill.  “Nice dresses and skirts…fussed over and mollycoddled…”
“I think we should do it.  I don’t wanna go back there…”
“Maybe…”  Philip was going to let himself be persuaded, but first he wanted to put on a show of reluctance.  “How long are we going to be there?  And who’s going to be paying for this?  I assume there are fees?”
“You’ll stay until you have to leave for uni.  As to fees, that’s all taken care of,” said Jess, with a sly wink at the others.  “Special arrangement, as Mary couldn’t complete your courses…”
“Okay.  Matthew and I will discuss it.  Twenty-four hours?  Right.  But today…?  Today we can wear these clothes…?”
“You can wear what you like,” said Rosa.  “And you can go out if you please.”
“Really?” said Matthew.
“Really.”
“Come on, Phil.  Let’s get out of here.”
“Let’s”
“Back by midnight please,” called Dana, as they headed for the door.  “And have an answer for us.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs Williams.”
“Yeah, Dana.  Don’t worry.”

The women looked at each other with satisfaction.
“I think we sold it,” said Jess.
“Yeah, I think you did,” added Toni.  “But it was just as well you didn’t mention Billy!”