This was written with the June story contest in mind, but I decided to go with a different idea instead...
Single mum Jackie watched the rain stream steadily down the windowpane. This was the summer break that she had promised her daughters Anna (12) and Hazel (10). They had been in their rented holiday cottage for nearly a week and the weather had been unrelenting. She was warm only because of the heavy grey sweater she wore over her t-shirt and the black leggings under her cut-off denim shorts. She sighed and opened the fridge to prepare lunch.
“Are you sure Mum’s going to be OK about this?” Hazel asked, perching on a battered wickerwork armchair in the conservatory at the back of the cottage She hugged her legs for warmth. Her bare feet and pink shorts were appropriate for summer but the reality of the weather also demanded the heavy blue sweater she wore.
“She’s cool about our games and she likes practical jokes. Besides, she’s been complaining as much as us about how boring this holiday has been,” Anna replied, looking up from a partially-completed jigsaw puzzle on the floor. Anna was similarly attired in grey shorts and a red sweater, but had added a pair of black and white striped over-knee socks to combat the dismal weather.
“So, what shall we do this afternoon?” Jackie asked as they finished their meal of scrambled eggs on toast.
“Nothing,” Hazel replied, her mouth puckering into a grin.
“Nothing?” Jackie echoed, wondering what the joke was.
“We think you should do nothing all afternoon,” Anna explained.
“...and we’re going to make sure you do it!” Hazel chimed in with a gleeful shriek.
Ten minutes later, Jackie was still sitting on the wooden dining chair, but now had no choice in the matter. Her crossed wrists were tied behind her back with a pair of Hazel’s socks, one wrapped vertically, the other horizontally, both knotted tightly. Another pair secured her elbows to the sides of the chair and two more her knees and ankles to the chair legs. Jackie had packed scarves in case of cold weather and was now tied back to the chair with one around her waist and another around her chest.
“You can just sit there and do nothing while we wash up,” Hazel said, still grinning wildly.
The handkerchief wadded in Jackie’s mouth and the one tied between her teeth ensured she said nothing in reply.
After the lunch things were tidied away, Anna announced, “I’m going down to the village to buy something for tea. Hazel can read your book to you.”
While Anna donned rain jacket and wellingtons, Hazel sat down next to her mother and opened Jackie’s book to begin reading.
The rain was steady and penetrating, driven by a brisk wind, and Anna’s legs were wet through by the time she returned to the cottage. She was surprised to see another car parked alongside her mother’s.
Anna went round to the back door of the cottage, kicked off her boots and hung up her jacket in the porch then let herself into the kitchen. Jackie was still securely tied to her chair and gagged, but it was Hazel that grabbed her attention. She was sitting on another chair beside her mother, her ankles and knees lashed together with long socks and her upper arms bound tightly to her sides with Jackie’s long scarf. Her hands were out of sight behind her back. She seemed to be quite content about her predicament, grinning happily around the handkerchief between her teeth. Anna’s shock gave way to puzzlement; surely Hazel couldn’t have done that to herself?
Anna’s thoughts were interrupted by a hand clapped across her mouth from behind. She squealed in shock then twisted her head around to look up at her attacker.
“Nty Brbra?” she said, her panic subsiding.
“I’m back from Australia for six months and your mum thought it would be a nice surprise if I joined you here for a few days,” Aunt Barbara explained, “but I wasn’t expecting to walk in on a kidnapping. I’ve caught one of the villains, but the other one still seems to be at large.”
Anna giggled behind the hand still covering her mouth.
“You’re soaking wet,” Aunt Barbara continued. “Go and get changed and I’ll unpack the shopping.”
Anna nodded her agreement then ran to her bedroom. She peeled off her wet socks and shorts, substituting a pair of red tights and blue knee-length shorts. She hesitated then added a pair of thick grey socks and took another pair with her back to the kitchen.
Aunt Barbara had emptied the shopping bag. “I’ve put everything away,” she commented, “but I wasn’t expecting to find this in with the groceries.” She held up one of three bundles of rope.
“I thought it might be useful if we played more games,” Anna explained.
“We were running short of clean socks so it’s just the thing for the kidnapper that’s still on the loose,” her aunt replied. “Have a seat while I cut it into handy lengths.”
Anna moved a chair next to her sister then sat down and pulled the spare pair of socks over her hands.
Ten minutes later, Anna found herself as thoroughly tied up as she had ever been. Her wrists were crossed and tied behind the back of her chair. The top half of her body was secured to the chair by a web of rope wrapped around her arms and chest and going over both shoulders. Her legs were held together by a spiral of rope from her waist down to her ankles where it finished with a snugly-cinched binding.
“There aren’t many clean hankies left, so you’ll have to make do with one of my socks,” Aunt Barbara said. “Don’t worry – it’s clean.”
Anna opened her mouth and bit down on the wool and felt the gag being knotted behind her head. She exchanged a bright-eyed glance with her sister. It might be rainy, but this holiday was going to be fun.