Jessica's Story - Part 28 free porn video

Jessica's Story - Part 28 For the Smith household, the days to the wedding were destined to go slowly, or so they thought. There was an air of excitement in the house, and not just among the children either. The beginning of August brought the realisation of how close the day was to the front of their minds, and Anne and Julia were getting nervous, as well as excited. It was easier for Anne to cope, as she was still at work, and the job provided some distraction. Julia was left to look after the children, along with Helen, and found it harder due to the excitement of the girls, who were now chatting about it. Edward was the least excited, mainly because it didn't involve him as much as the girls. As always, the main problem with school holidays, was finding ways of keeping the children occupied, as they did get fed up of playing in their rooms from time to time. Places to shop were never far off, even when Walsall itself became a bore. Julia therefore bought day tickets on the buses, which allowed them all day travel. The first of these days out, was to Wolverhampton. A much bigger variety of shops than Walsall, so it kept the children happy. It was just shops too, for there were no museums of note to go in. But shops proved enough, as the girls especially, were keen to look at more clothes. Summer dresses were looked at mainly, since the holiday was coming up, and with the weather being warm and pleasant. But Edward wasn't overlooked, and was taken to the boys clothes to look at t-shirts and shorts. It was certainly hoped that the weather was going to be good while they were away, and that such clothes would be worn often, but clothes for bad weather were going to be taken too, just in case. No clothes were bought that day, but Julia kept a mental note of the clothes that they found. Anne would be involved when actual buying came about. Julia's only purchases that day, were meals. There were a good many eateries around Wolverhampton, so finding a suitable place wasn't hard. She did have to tell the children that a ride on the Metro tram service was a no. The tram terminus was not far from the shops, but since it would require further tickets to go on it, the children had to settle in watching a tram arrive and leave. Besides, a combined bus and tram ticket could be bought, that was far cheaper than a return trip on the tram alone. "Where does it go?" asked Sandra, as they stood and watched a tram leave. "It goes to Birmingham," she replied. "We can go there another day, but we'll go by bus." "Why can't we go on that?" asked Kelly. "Because it doesn't go to Walsall," replied Julia. "Now, let's go and find a few more shops to look round." They went back into the Wulfren shopping centre and had a look round TK Maxx, before looking in The Entertainer toy store again. The children were disappointed to come out of the shop empty handed, though they had been told that they would be getting a few presents in Scarborough. They spent all day in Wolverhampton, and before catching the bus back to Walsall, were treated to an ice cream each. Upon arriving back at Walsall Bus Station, they walked across to another bus stop and awaited the bus that would take them home. Carol was finding life at a slower pace a refreshing change. After the years of toil trying to get the London based club off the ground, which had been a strain to say the least, the chance to have time to herself was refreshing. Her nightclub in Walsall still offered a chance to enjoy some of the faster life, but now she was set to settle down with the woman she loved, she was prepared to let it go. There was also the prospect of motherhood. She hadn't given it much thought until realising how much Sally longed to have children, and seeing how she got on with her nephews and nieces, she didn't want to deny her the chance. Sally's work saw her conflicted at times. The shop she worked at catered mainly for crossdressers, rather than transsexuals like herself, though it did sell hormones. Her confliction with the shop was the prices they charged for most of the items they sold. Having known through experience, she knew that a lot of things could be bought off the high street, or online for less. As a result, sales at the shop could be poor, and fears that the shop could be closed down were not to be brushed aside lightly. If such were to happen, she had already decided that being moved to another branch elsewhere in the country was not an option. She wanted to stay put, to remain close to her family. Her shop "family" consisted of 3 others. Two were women, and one was a man. The man was gay and was slightly camp, though he was capable of going overboard at times. Sally was the assistant manager, and thus was almost always at the store, along with the main manager. The other woman and the man were on shorter shifts and alternated days, thus there was only 3 at the shop at any one time. All were well aware of her past, and agreed with her that some of the items they sold were over priced. But since they didn't have a say in the prices, as that was down to the company, and not branch staff, they just had to deal with it. It hadn't stopped them from making a point to the company's highest tier. Sally found herself the busier of the staff, for customers sought her advice on transitioning. It was something she was glad to offer, though she couldn't offer advice on facial surgery as she hadn't had any done herself. "So, hows the wedding preparations coming along?" asked Ian, who happened to be the third person that day. "Very much sorted," said Sally. "Just got to wait for the dresses to arrive, so that we can have them fitted. I hope you've chosen something sensible." "Yes, I've got a suit," he replied, flashing his free hand, displaying painted nails. "No varnish either," added Sally. "Just act straight for one day, that is all I ask. The children that are coming haven't got a clue about why men like you act like you do, and its just too much for their young minds." "Considering that they are surrounded by gays, you're being a bit touchy," said Ian. "Well, the fact is that none of us are butch," said Sally. "You used to be like that though?" he said snidely. "You are a right bitch at times!" snarled Sally. "I could sack you!" She stormed round the back, where Margaret, the store manager was making coffees. "Ian being cynical again?" she asked. "Slap him in the face next time." "Waste of time," sighed Sally, taking a seat. "Butch indeed!" Ian did have a sharp tongue, and it wasn't just for Sally. Margaret and Brenda (the other assistant) had also ended up exchanging cross words with him from time to time. Too often, he had stepped across the line, and Margaret had threatened to sack him. But any chance of telling him off now, had to wait. A customer had entered and Ian was seeing to them. By the sounds of things, it was a regular. "Sal! You're required," came Ian's lispy voice. "Remember Sally, just slap him in the face," said Margaret. "A knee to the nethers would be better," replied Sally, putting her mug of coffee to one side. The customer was a regular, and preferred Sally's assistance to Ian's. Ian returned to the counter and stood by the till once more. Sally was soon demonstrating the skills that had seen her rise to assistant manager. A short while later, and Sally escorted the customer to the changing rooms. While this was going on, Margaret came into the main store and gave Ian a word. "I want less of your tongue, do you understand me?" she asked. "Sally has never been butch, as you so think. She is living the life she has always wanted, and I want you to respect that." When Sally was finished with the customer, Ian made a full apology to her. * * * Sally returned home later that day and found Carol waiting to greet her. They shared a kiss before Sally headed upstairs to take a shower and swap her work clothes for something more casual. Removing the barrette from her hair, she let it fall across her shoulders and brushed it out, before going to the bathroom. "Butch indeed!" she thought to herself as she commenced soaking herself in hot water. She looked at her hands and admired her long fingernails. She had never been butch, but had been forced to dress in the manner that society expected. That's how she saw things. A while later, after getting dressed, she felt better for having the shower. She found Carol sitting on the sofa, watching the television. She sat down beside her snuggled up to her. "You feeling better now?" asked Carol, now putting an arm around her. "Yep," she smiled. "Would you say I was butch when you found me?" "No," said Carol. "Why would you ask such a thing? That Ian hasn't been funny again, has he?" "Because I dressed like a boy when I was younger," said Sally. "But I hadn't got a choice then." "Oh just tell him to stop acting like a drama queen!" said Carol. "Blimey, I've seen enough like him down at the club. You are and always have been a woman, even when having to hide behind that male mask." "Thanks to you," smiled Sally. "Now how about some grub?" "You want me to cook?" "I'll do it if you like?" asked Sally. "What will it be? Indian or Italian?" "Anything hot and spicy," said Carol. "You'll get that later in bed," smiled Sally. "I mean a curry!" replied Carol, smirking. "But I'll hold you that thing later." "Ok, curry it is," said Sally, getting up and heading for the kitchen. After a while, she returned from the kitchen with two plates, each bearing the same meal. "Thanks love," said Carol as she received her dinner. "You're some cook." "It's nothing. Just several minutes in the microwave, and voila!" said Sally. "Oh, I don't know. Some people find a microwave to be beyond them," said Carol. "Well, I'm glad I can use a microwave. I'm not that much good with other forms of cooking. Mom taught me a bit, but I'm no masterchef." "As long as the food remains edible, I'll cope," replied Carol. Sally brushed aside the comments from Ian and got on with life. It wasn't the first time he had crossed her, but she was stronger than she had been before her transition. She was looking forward to her wedding as much as Anne and Julia, if not more. Carol was too, and it was a wedding that was 10 years overdue. But it was, as the saying goes: better late than never. Carol had entered her life when it was at its lowest, and had given her the chance to start over, to become the person she longed to be, and in doing so, had found love. Carol was the one for her. But with just over 2 weeks left, a few last minute arrangements had to be decided. Since they were adhering to the custom that the to-be-weds couldn't see each other before the wedding, it had been decided that Carol would come over to Anne's house to get ready, while Julia would get ready at Sally's house. As Anne's house was bigger, the bridesmaids would be getting ready there too. Both couples did get round to visiting jewellers to get the all important rings. It was just a case of asking for two brides rings, rather than a bride and groom pair, as was the usual. It was just a case of making sure they knew which was which. So, to resolve this problem, they went for rings that were slightly different, even if they were plain looking. It was another large spend, but compared to what it meant to them, it was worth it. With all parties getting excited, there was also room for worrying too. Anne was going over the plans every other night, just to make sure that nothing was forgotten. "Hair stylists, check. Reception booked, check." Anne was sat over the kitcen table, pencil and notepad in hand. She was looking as casual as possible, with t-shirt and jeans, and her red hair tied back high. "Everything will be ok, won't it?" she asked. "Of course it will be," said Julia. "It will be me, you, Sally and Carol. We'll be exchanging rings and vows, then sealing the deal with a beautiful kiss." Julia put an arm around her and leant in and kissed her. "Just relax for a moment. You're not the only one dealing with it all," she added afterwards. She left Anne in the kitchen and went to the living room, where everyone else was gathered, watching the television. "Is she still worried?" asked Helen. "Yes," said Julia. "I've told her not to, but I feel she'll continue to." "She was like this before her last wedding," replied Helen. "I helped her out, along with her own mom. She was a bag of nerves up till the last moment." "I admit that my first wedding was kind of the same. But for me, it was partly about pleasing my parents," said Julia. "This time, I know I'm doing the right thing." "I'm just glad to see my Sally settling down. After what she went through, and what myself and my husband didn't do to help," said Helen. "Just look to now," said Julia. "Sally is happy with her life now." "I know," smiled Helen. As the week came to a close, Anne was wondering which day to take the children shopping for clothes. With Edward being able to use most of Jessica's old school clothes, there was not much call for further clothes for him. Still, Anne wanted to be sure. But for now, school uniforms were certainly not mentioned. The children were on holiday and didn't want to hear about school in any way. So, the shopping trip was all about clothes that they could wear at the seaside. Anne decided to do the shopping on Saturday, her next day off work. "Ok children, don't be too long with your breakfast, for we're going to get you some new clothes today," she said. "Yep, going to get you some new things for school," added Helen. "We don't want to talk about school!" groaned Kelly. "I like staying here." "You have to go back though," said Helen. "Not for a few more weeks!" added Sandra. "Oh, let them enjoy the holiday," said Anne. "They've got a busy few days coming up, and they're really looking forward to them." "Aren't we all?" smiled Julia. "Of course," smiled Helen. "Get a chance to see my new grandson." "With the exception of Sally and Carol, it will be the first chance for all of us," said Anne. "Is Aunty Sally coming to read us Harry Potter today?" asked Jessica. "Yes, she's coming over later today," said Anne. "She hasn't forgotten." The children were all at various stages of eating their breakfasts, having arrived at different times. Not being at school had affected their ability to be punctual, and they were in no hurry. "Come on, hurry up," said Julia. "You'll need to be quicker than this for the wedding." That got them moving along, though they had to be told to avoid choking themselves. Once they were finished, they were taken to the living room and helped into their shoes. Anne and Julia then ensured they looked presentable. "So, where were we going again?" asked Anne as they gathered in the hallway. "Birmingham," said Julia. "Ok, Brum it is," said Anne. "Ready to go?" They headed out and walked to the nearest bus stop and waited for a bus into Walsall. It would be here that they could get a bus to Birmingham. "So, can you remember which clothes they liked?" asked Anne. "I have, but they could find something else they like," replied Julia. "Good point," smiled Anne. "Here's the bus. Now, stay together, children." * * * They were soon at Walsall bus station and went over to catch one of two services to Birmingham. They followed the same route, but one was a limited stop service. They were not bothered about which one they caught and just got on the first to arrive. It was the express service that they caught, and soon, they were heading through the northern suburbs of Birmingham before arriving at the city centre. "Now what are they doing?" asked Anne, as they got off the bus. "If I remember what it said on the news, they are expanding the Metro," said Julia. "Taking it from Snow Hill Station through the town and on towards Dudley." "Finally doing that?" asked Anne. "That has been planned for a while." One of the major streets in the city centre was now closed to traffic, and all bus services were diverted. "Ok, lets find some shops for you lot," said Anne, turning to the children. It was the usual case scenario. If looking for clothes stores, you were spoiled for choice. The childrens' preferred type of shop was not in abundance though, but despite this, one of the few did pose a problem. Anne and Julia were after clothes for the children, but thanks to one store, they found the children after clothes that were far smaller. "Clothes for teddies," sighed Anne. "I suppose they want summer dresses too?" She hadn't been present for the time that the four children had left this store with teddies. She had been introduced to them later that day though. Seeing that the children wanted to go in, she took them in and they started looking at the clothes. The girls had soon found dresses and shoes for their teddies, while Edward, unable to find clothing with Thomas the Tank Engine, had been found a blue hooded top and shoes for his bear Peter. But the shopping wasn't done, for Anne spotted something, and it appeared the child in her had been reborn. "Paddington!" she exclaimed, as she found a load of unstuffed bears that resembled the fictional character. "I take it that you like Paddington?" asked Julia. "I used to have a Paddington when I was a girl," she replied. "Watched him on the telly, keeping his marmalade sandwiches under his hat. Surely they have his clothes?" Anne noticed the children looking at her, holding a Paddington. She felt slightly embarrassed to be seen taking an interest in a teddy bear in front of them. Even so, they looked at her (Edward included) and smiled. "You want him, don't you?" asked Julia. "Just promise that you'll save some hugs for me." "Ok, but do they have his clothes? He isn't Paddington without his clothes," said Anne. "They should," said Julia. "I'll have a look." She was back moments later, holding a coat and hat. "Even got his suitcase," she added. "Come on then. This bear is coming home," said Anne. The children eagerly followed, and watched as Anne participated in the completion of the bear, even controlling the machine that filled the bear. She even put a heart inside him. With Paddington now filled with stuffing and sewn up, it was time to get his clothes on. Anne was permitted to put the clothes on there and then, and having done that, created a birth certificate for him. She then took him and the clothes that the children had chosen for their teddies, and paid. "Ok, thats that. Now, can we get you lot some clothes now?" she asked as they left the store. But a quick visit to the Entertainer toy store came first, before the original plan of buying clothes for the children was finally put into action. They visited a number of clothes stores, and Anne was partly regretting buying Paddington for herself, as the girls especially, found a number of items they liked. But she decided to limit them to two dresses each. Edward got 2 more t-shirts, a pair of trousers and a pair of shorts. After that, it was decided to find a place to eat, and Anne found that the children were keen to use this break to take a better look at Paddington. "You can say hello to him when we get home," said Anne. "Now, eat your dinners please. At home, your teddies can say hello to him too." "Emma and Michelle are bringing their teddies with them," said Jessica. "We can have a teddy bear picnic." "And Paddy-ton can join in," said Kelly. "Paddington," said Julia. "He's named after a railway station in London." "Why?" asked Sandra. "He was found there," said Anne. "He was sent to England by his Aunt Lucy, from deepest, darkest Peru." "Poo?!" remarked Kelly. "Peru!" answered Anne. "It's another country, a long way from here." Kelly looked abashed, disheartened by her mistake. "Just forget about it. We all make mistakes," said Julia. "Just continue eating your dinner." After eating, they continued their walk around the shops. The Metro work wasn't all that was going on. The city's major station: New Street, was being given a major overhaul, and the shopping centre above it was partly closed as a result. "It's never been the best looking station," said Anne, as they passed through the shopping centre. "Hopefully, this will help the city's image." "Fat chance," sighed Julia. "I come from around here, and I know that the nation loves to hate us." They looked in TK Maxx as they went, with the store being situated along the passage that connected two shopping centres. After that, they headed back towards Moor Street Station. Most of the redirected buses were stopping in the area nearby, and they were soon on a bus bound for Walsall. On the bus, Anne was once again peppered with requests to show off Paddington, despite her promise to do so when they arrived home. "You can say hello when we get home," she told them once more. "Plus, your Aunt Sally is coming over later, to read you more Harry Potter." "Hurray! She has nearly finished book 2!" said Jessica. "She'll be on book 7 before too long," said Julia. "Not just yet," said Anne. "The books get steadily longer, and we haven't got book 7 - yet." The way in which she said "yet" emphasised that the time would happen. But they were missing books 5 and 6 too. The girls especially, continued to look at the box in which Paddington was kept, as though hoping he would climb out and wave to them. They were just impatient, and almost considered the bear to be theirs, and not belonging to Anne. Soon, they were on the bus that would take them from Walsall to their house. As soon as they were indoors, the girls headed upstairs to get their bears. Edward went up and fetched Peter too. Soon, Michelle, Sarah and Katie were downstairs and awaiting to "say hello" to the newest addition to the bear family. But Anne added to their wait. "Now girls, why don't you give your bears their new clothes?" she asked them. Helen was in the room with them, and also waiting to see Paddington. "I thought you were getting too old for teddies?" she asked. "Just a childhood memory that I hold dear," replied Anne. She and Julia were soon having to help the children put the clothes on their teddies. "I wonder what your cousin will think when she learns that you have a bear that shares her name?" asked Helen to Jessica. "I think she'll like it," smiled Jessica. After a short while, all 4 bears were dressed in their new clothes. Edward was wondering if Peter should have had some trousers or shorts. "Don't worry, Edward," said Anne. "Paddington hasn't got any either." "So, our bears are dressed. Can we see him now?" asked Sandra. "Ok, you can now," said Anne, picking up his box and preparing to open it. Just then, the doorbell rang. * * * "I'll get it," said Julia. "Go ahead with introducing someone." "Thanks love," said Anne. She proceeded to remove Paddington from his box and showed him off. The children then brought their bears over so that they could be introduced more formally. "Any marmalade sandwiches under his hat?" asked Helen. "None that I know of," said Anne, removing his hat to check. "None at all." "Hi all. Having a teddy bear party I see?" said Sally, entering the room. "Oh hi Sally, wasn't expecting you just yet," said Anne. "Just come back from work, and I thought I'd waste no time in getting here. Hi mom," she replied. As she came in and sat down, it was clear she wasn't alone. Carol had arrived with her. Julia followed them in. "Teddy bears?" asked Carol. "Having a picnic?" "That's what I was wondering," said Sally. "And Anne is joining in." "Well, sort of," said Anne. "My childhood hero." She held Paddington up for them to see. "Oh, he looks adorable," said Carol. "Remember watching him on the telly. Always has a sandwich under his hat." "Put the kettle on, Julia, please. I think a cuppa would be nice," said Helen "That ok with you two?" asked Julia to Carol and Sally. "Yes please," said Sally. "Help lubricate my throat for reading time." This delay didn't seem to bother the children, as they were too busy playing with their teddies, who seemed pleased at their new clothes. After Sally had finished her coffee a short while later, she got up and decided to ask the children if they were ready. All 4 of them got up and followed her, leaving the living room a lot emptier. Anne picked up Paddington and held him close. "With just two weeks to go, Julia is finding that she has a rival," smiled Carol. Anne pondered, then looked at the bear in her arms. "I can't marry a teddy though," she replied. "I don't know," said Carol. "I've heard of stranger marriages." "It makes no difference," said Anne. "Julia is the one for me." Upstairs, Sally was preparing to read more Harry Potter. "Ok, now next Saturday will be the last one for a while," she told them, resulting in disappointed faces. "Look, the Saturday afterwards is the wedding, and we'll all be very busy," she continued. "And the following Saturday, you are on holiday. So, that's two Saturdays. But after that, I'll be back for you." The children seemed satisfied for now. They were just waiting for her to begin, teddies on their laps. "Ok, now lets see," said Sally, counting the chapters left in the book. "I've got 6 chapters left. I'll read 3 today, then the final 3 next week. So, when you come back from holiday, we can begin book 3. Ok?" She got a few smiles there. An extra chapter for two consecutive Saturdays was a good deal in their eyes. Seeing no opposition, she began. Back downstairs, Anne and Julia had begun discussing the final two weeks before the wedding, and what they could do to keep the children occupied. "More trips to Birmingham and Wolverhampton, I think," sighed Anne. "I just can't afford to spend too much before the wedding and the holiday." "Always a problem when yout budget is put under pressure," agreed Sally. "Prices are always on the rise, and you just can't keep up. Abba were right. It is a rich mans' world." "If the weather stays nice, we can always go to the park," said Julia. "Aren't there any free places to visit?" asked Carol. "Not many. Birmingham City Council has decided to charge admission on several of its museums," said Anne. "That's news to me," said Carol. "But when you spend a 10 years in London, you do miss things." "It hasn't been that long since they started," said Helen. "Just give them a few days down at the park. Give them some fresh air." "Of course, I've forgotten," said Anne. "We can have their friends around." "Take them all round to the park," said Carol. "And Julia and I will have to play 'just good friends'," sighed Anne. "You know that one of the parents is homophobic." "If the other parents are around, then surely it wouldn't be too much bother," said Carol. "If you feel uncomfortable, I'll join you. You are not obliged to tell anyone, and unless you advertise, no one will know." "You're right," said Anne. "Even so, we can always let them loose in the back garden." "Have your teddy bear picnic," said Carol. "Don't forget the marmalade sandwiches!" Anne just smiled and looked at the box in which her Paddington was once again placed. "I think Sally has been taken hostage," said Helen. "She doesn't take this long, usually." "Carol, you have competition for Sally's affections," smiled Anne. "She has a way with kids," said Carol. "I don't deny it!" Sally finished the last of the three promised chapters and closed the book, bookmark in place. "Well, you lot. You'll have to wait till next week to see if the chamber of secrets is located," she said. "It's getting exciting. We want to hear it now," groaned Kelly. "Next week," said Sally firmly. "You promised." They all sighed and accepted that Sally wasn't going to change her mind. Instead, Sally decided to say hello to their teddies. She had seen them before, but never with clothes on. The girls were happy to let their teddies show off their new clothes, and just to make sure he didn't feel left out, Sally requested that Edward give her a closer look at Peter. After admiring all the teddies, she got up and headed downstairs. The children followed her, for they had yet to say their goodbyes. "Ah, you've escaped then?" asked Carol, as Sally entered the living room. "We thought you were being held prisoner," said Julia. "Not quite," said Sally. "I decided to read them one extra chapter. I'll finish the book next week." "Would you care for another drink?" asked Helen. "No thanks, mom. I want to get home and get some dinner done for myself and Carol," replied Sally. "Coming love?" "Sure," said Carol. "See you then, bye!" The children lined up by the front door to say goodbye to both Sally and Carol. Sally still got more attention than Carol, but the fact that the children still acknowledged the latter was a good sign. "Well, children. I think that we should invite your friends over during the week," said Anne. "And if its a warm sunny day, you can play in the back garden." "Can they visit every day?" asked Kelly. "Not every day, but I'll see if you can visit them too," replied Anne. "Yippee!" smiled Jessica. * * * It was settled, and their friends were invited over on Wednesday. They would be visiting Lisa's house on Sunday, and Rachel's house on the following Tuesday. It was once again required to keep Pam, Rachel and Charlie's mom, in the dark over Anne and Julia's relationship. The routine was now well known when it came to having the children at their house. It was just a problem when it came to taking them to their friends houses. Luckily, neither house was far, but just to make things easier, Anne would take Julia and Kelly so far in the car, and drop them off a short distance from the destination. They would walk the remainder of the way. But for now, the first meeting with their friends was to take place at their own house. The friends arrived almost together, and once again, Julia was required to hide upstairs until Pam had been and gone. Pam was, however, feeling slightly downbeat. Her husband had been forced to apologise on her behalf, and now, it appeared she was ready to do so herself. "Sorry I've been a bit hard on you all," she said. "So, your sister-in- law is gay. That's her business and not mine. However, I will not bring up the subject again." "Ok, but since my sister-in-law is a good friend, I will not refrain from talking about her," said Anne. "So, you would mention her problem to the children?!" she exclaimed. "That is never mentioned," replied Anne. "Blimey, do you honestly think we talk about that in front of the children?" Pam slunk back, feeling even more ashamed. "I'm sorry. I'll be back later to pick up my two. Bye then." "Bye," said Anne. Anne shut the door and went inside. "Ooh, that woman!" she hissed. "What's her problem now?" asked Helen. "She has apologised for the spat over Sally, but its just clear that she hasn't changed her viewpoint," said Anne. "Forget it," said Helen. "A leopard never changes its spots, and its no good trying to persuade it to." "But she thought I would mention Sally's sexuality to the children! I wouldn't talk about anyone's bedside manner in front of children!" said Anne, in a bit of a fluster. "Never mind," said Helen, though she clearly took Anne's side on this. "Still intend to have the children play outside?" "If they wish," said Anne. "Julia, ask the children to come down please." Julia was still upstairs, and soon, she was down, with 5 girls and 2 boys. "The weather is nice, and I feel you should enjoy it," said Anne. "You can have a game of cricket if you like." Sandra, Jessica and Kelly were all keen to have a game. Rachel and Lisa were willing too. But there was an obvious problem: there were 7 of them. "Ok, we have a problem with the numbers," said Anne. "Unless one team has an adult." "I'll play if it makes things easier," said Julia. "Thanks," said Anne. "Just sort yourself into two teams please. I'll be bowler." Julia was joined by Kelly, Sandra and Lisa. Rachel, Jessica, Charlie and Edward made up the other team. "Ok, non-stop rules. Each team keeps on batting until they are all out," said Anne. "If you're not ready to bat when I'm ready to bowl, then tough." That was the main point of non-stop cricket. The game didn't stop, even to allow the next batsman to take their position. So, once one had hit the ball, they had to pass the bat to the next player and move to the end of the line to await their next turn. The next player then had to take their position at the wicket, and hope that the ball hadn't already been delivered. Helen sat on the back doorstep and kept score. All hits scored one, unless it hit or went over the fence that spanned the middle of the garden. Those scored two. For ease of returning the ball, the fielding team had a player on the far side of the fence. Julia's team batted first, and proved to be quite good at batting. It wasn't until the team were having their fourth turn that they suffered their first out. Sandra connected well with the ball, but sent it straight to Jessica, who held the catch easily. "You're out sis!" cried Jessica. "I'll get you out for this," said Sandra in mock anger. "Sandra! The bat!" cried Julia. Sandra had forgotten to hand the bat over to Lisa, and as a result, Lisa was almost out too. Jessica's slight celebration at getting her sister out saw her hesitate in throwing the ball to Anne. After racking up a total of 32 runs, Julia's team were finally all out. They quickly swapped around, with Rachel taking up the bat first in a race to 33 runs. Thanks to Jessica, the runs started well. She told them to hit the ball to the side if possible, as the fielders were all expecting the ball to be hit down the garden. It got the fielding team agitated, though they had done similar. Jessica was the strongest player on her team, and thanks to Sandra's eagerness to pay her back for getting her out, the fielders positioned themselves so that their chances of getting her out were more favourable. But she hit the ball low each time, so that they could never catch it. It was no surprise that she was the last one remaining. As a result, she had to run a short distance for every turn, but by the time she was eventually bowled out, she had taken her teams score past the required 33. "Ok, lets go indoors and have something to eat," said Anne. "Well done, that was some game." Sandra was feeling disappointed that her plan to get Jessica out had failed (Anne had succeeded in bowling her out). Having the winning team chant "We won!" over and over didn't make her feel any better. "Never mind, sweetheart," said Julia. "It was a good game, and it was some exercise too." The food and drink offered the children a chance to relax after the game. The opted to do something more relaxing next - play outside with their dolls and teddies. Rachel and Lisa had brought their teddies along, so were not left out. Charlie hadn't brought a teddy though, but was interested in Edward's bear. But he was more interested in playing Thomas the Tank Engine. Therefore, the rest of the day went at a slower pace. Anne, Julia and Helen decided to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine too. Only when Pam and Yvonne arrived to pick up their children, did the period of relaxation end. Julia stayed outside, just till Pam was gone. "Ok, the coast is clear," said Anne to Julia. "I think I'll get dinner started. Children, come and see what you want for dinner!" "I'll give you a hand if you like," said Julia. "You're welcome," said Anne. The next few days, saw the weather remain warm, and the children were persuaded to spend as much time outside as possible. Edward saw a chance to play with the remote controlled Thomas that he had received for Christmas. They did play more games of cricket, and seeing that there were just 4 of them this time, it was decided to have them play as individuals rather than in teams. Anne would bowl as normal, with those not batting, fielding. The player with the bat would bat until caught or bowled out. With every hit, they would have to run to a marker and back to the wicket, before Anne could make the next delivery. Once all the children had batted, and were out, their scores were compared. Sandra and Jessica were still the better batters, though Kelly and Edward were certainly improving. * * * The eventual arrival of the weekend saw everyone in the house get even more excited. But the wedding was not what was getting the girls excited. Wednesday was when the wedding plans really got under way. It was the day that their cousins arrived. Saturday saw them go out shopping, though it was just for the weekly round of groceries. It also saw them get to hear the final three chapters of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Sally was a good narrator, and knew how to inject a bit of excitement into the story when necessary. Even if the story did get tense at times, the children didn't seem bothered. They knew that Harry would win in the end. "So, thats the end of book 2," said Sally, closing the book. "No more until after the weddings and holiday." "Boo!" exclaimed Kelly. "Never mind that. Just think about what is going to happen next week," added Sally. "I'm really looking forward to it." "Michelle and Emma are coming on Wednesday!" said Jessica. "I know, and so are your Uncle John, your Aunt Liz, plus James and Andrew." "I think one shares my birthday," said Kelly. "Andrew, I think," said Sandra. "He's the baby we haven't seen." "Andrew is the new baby," said Sally. "I think I remember being told that he shares your birthday." Kelly smiled broadly. "Now, just look forward to looking really pretty," added Sally. "Oh, and Edward, you'll always look smart, no matter what you wear." Sally couldn't hide the fact that she was excited too. Her dream of becoming a bride had required her to make one huge move in her life: to become female. Her visit would be the last until Wednesday. She was coming over to greet her brother and his family, and to help get the wedding plans under way. Sunday saw the children go out once more, this time to Lisa's house. Edward went too, since Rachel was to be attending with her brother Charlie. It was still hoped that Edward and Charlie would end up in the same class in September. It wasn't a guarantee, since each year had two classes. Edward travelled with Jessica and Sandra, while Kelly came for half the journey. She walked the remainder of the way with her birth mother Julia, just to prevent Pam from realising the truth. It proved the right thing to do, as Pam was just dropping Rachel and Charlie off. "Hi Pam," said Anne. "Here first, I see?" "Got a programme on the telly that I want to watch," she replied. "Better be going." As Pam left, Anne spoke with Yvonne. "She apologised last week. But she hasn't changed." "Good for you," said Yvonne. "Got the boys to look after too. Don't mind of course. Wish I had a son. Oh, here comes the last one." Julia and Kelly had arrived. "So, she's just gone then?" asked Julia. "Yep, she's gone," said Anne. "I'll give you a lift home. Bye children. Be good for Yvonne then." The children were good. While the girls went to Lisa's room, Edward and Charlie remained in the living room, where Yvonne offered to put them some DVDs on. Charlie had brought some of his cars along, so there was some thing else for them to do. However, the girls were once again talking of weddings, and Rachel and Lisa's desire to see Jessica, Sandra and Kelly in their bridesmaids dresses - plus a desire to say hello to Michelle and Emma again. "I wish I could be joining you," said Rachel. "It would be so much fun." "Same here," said Lisa. Once the talk of weddings was over, Jessica, Sandra and Kelly decided to explain the ending to Harry Potter 2 as best as possible. They then discussed the cricket game, and how they wanted another team game at the next opportunity. It was during lunch, that Lisa asked her mom about going to visit Jessica and her family, just to see the bridesmaids dresses. "I have no problem with you going," said Yvonne, who was aware of the weddings taking place. "But what about Rachel?" The reason was Pam, of course. She didn't know about the weddings, and it was hoped that it would stay that way. But getting around her was possible, as Anne came up with a solution. "Just bring Lisa around on Friday," she told Yvonne, when she came to collect her children. "We can arrange for my girls to show off their dresses in private." This was then arranged with Pam. It was just another chance for her children to meet their friends. There was still the visit to Pam's house on Tuesday, but that went without any problem at all. Charlie spent all day in his room with Edward, playing with toy cars. He had got a few characters from the Pixar movies, and he loved to race them. The girls were once again talking about the wedding again though, especially as Michelle and Emma were due to arrive the next day. It was a strange meeting, for Jessica, Kelly and Sandra couldn't wait to go home. They were just eager to meet their cousins again, even though it would be a good many hours before they saw them. Anne and Julia could understand their excitement perfectly. Their big day was now in sight, and the excitement that was usually reserved for occasions such as Christmas Eve was very much present. But even with the goal in sight, each day had to be lived as normal. But there were still times to worry. "Do you think we have enough chairs now?" asked Anne, to Helen. "You did the maths," said Helen. "Its more a case of whether the kitchen table is big enough." After last Christmas, which had seen Anne prepare dinner for 11, the need for extra seating was made apparent. But the problem had increased. Tomorrow would see the number increase to 15, though one would not be requiring a seat. Anne had bought some more chairs since then. Anne looked at the kitchen table, which was not small by any means. But having 14 people sit around it was just not possible. "We can't do it," sighed Anne. "Some will just have to eat in the living room again." "I doubt anyone will mind," said Helen. "The family will be together again." "All that wish to be present," said Anne. "Forget about him. He's no longer a member," replied Helen. Anne just nodded, and went about starting dinner for a smaller number. Her second time as a singleton was drawing to a close, and she couldn't wait.