An Education - Into the Woods

Postby KP Presents » Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:26 am

“Would you like some more tea?”

“Please,” I said as I looked at the young steward, smiling as he refilled my mug and placed it on the tray in front of me. The remains of a sandwich pack and a slice of Walnut cake were on the plates, as was the napkin and cutlery I had used.

“Not long now,” Angela said as she looked across at me, “looking forward to seeing them?”

I nodded slowly as I sipped my hot drink and looked out over the sea. We’d been in the air for about six hours, leaving London on a hot summer’s day, and hoping to land in Boston on a slightly cooler summer’s afternoon, thanks to the joys of a five hour time difference. Angela and I had been invited to go and visit Sarah and Brian earlier in the year, but we’d both agreed to hold off on the visit until the middle of our summer holidays, which meant this last week in July.

And as it turned out, we needed this break as well, thanks to some things that the two of us had done since the half term break. Grandfather had been invited to invest in a film set in Victorian times, which was been made by the son of an old family friend. In return, he’d offered to let me and Angela play a small part in the film – well, be one of the extras in background scenes, but it meant we spent the Whitsun break and some weekends after that working on the set, and wearing some really interesting outfits.

Interesting as they were authentic – which meant having to wear a corset when we were in the dresses, with all that entailed. We soon got used to it, and we had a great time doing it, as well as getting to know Alun Markson’s family – particularly his daughter Geraldine, who was acting as a costume adviser as well as another of the extras.

Anyway – a couple of weeks ago, we went back to Markson Manor, where a lot of the outdoors scenes were shot, along with Jenny and Cassie Craig, their cousin Patty Pickering and her friend Rachel Rigg, and my cousin Suzie Holderness. The idea was we would spend the weekend there, and also get a chance to see the finished film while Alun and his mother attended the premiere in London.

It was a good plan, and we started the day after we arrived by Gerri helping us to dress up in some of the costumes from the film. Like I said, a good plan...

The steward came back and took my tray, after I made sure everything was on it, and I raised the table up and put it back. Looking at the map on the small screen, I could see we were approaching the coast, and I wondered how long it would be before we started the descent.

Anyway – as I said – the plan was we dressed up in the outfits, all eight of us, and watched the film together, undisturbed, while Gerri’s dad, Viscount Markson, was away for the day on business. We found out the night before that he used to work with my grandparents, as well as Jenny and Cassie’s grandfather, on some – well, dangerous work.

Well, that was what happened – what made it just a little more different was that all of us, except for Gerri and the housekeeper Mrs Danvers, were rather restrained and muted in our response.

Not because the film was bad – actually, it’s rather good – but because there were some uninvited visitors. Visitors all of us, except Angela and Gerri, had met at least once.

Visitors by the name of Jay Edwards, Mrs McPhee, and the people who work with them. They’d picked that weekend to force Viscount Markson to take money from his businesses to pass to them – and we got caught up in all that.

So there we were – dressed up in clothes from days past, and held hostage while the man of the family is forced to work for them over the weekend. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Well, it certainly did to six of us – and Angela knew all about the fifties weekend as well.

That was the time I first met Jay – we were held captive in Jenny’s house for two days and a night, and then we were taken to a house in the country and held there for another day and night.

And when I say held captive, I mean it – hands covered and effectively turned into boxing gloves, arms tightly bound to our bodies with bands of rope around our waists, stomachs, and – well, I think you can imagine – and then our ankles and legs tied just as tightly.

As for speaking – well, let’s go through the stages. The folded cloth that fills your mouth and keeps your tongue pressed to the floor of your mouth... The knotted strip of cloth that is tied between your lips to keep that cloth in place... The white tape that is wrapped round your head to cover that strip... The folded cloth tied over that strip...

Oh yeah – and there were two other things. First, Patty and Rachel – or the Tornado Twins as Suzie calls them – had a new wrinkle. Before the cloth was tied over the white or whatever coloured tape, they got Jay and friends to wrap duct tape over that band as well, keeping it over the coloured tape. The good news is it meant your hair was not trapped. The bad news is it pressed even more tightly on the mouth.

And then – well, we were all in Victorian costume, and that included the bonnets. You know, the bonnets held on by straps or ribbons tied under the chin – and if you tied them nice and tightly when you were already very well gagged, you really could not move your mouth.

So we spent the entire weekend like that – the one thing that made it slightly, and I mean slightly, more bearable is a personal thing. When you’re tied that way, there are two bands of rope that sit above and below your chest, and if you move, the way they can rub against you, particularly if as was the case they are tightened with small lengths of rope under the arms, it can be distracting.

Very distracting. The one thing I had to be grateful for was that Jay and team never went any further than that. Sitting in the seat, I remembered a weekend when Jenny and I had to look after Patty, Rachel and their friends Fiona and Louise. We ended up really well tied that weekend as well – but Patty had seen something that Angela and her boyfriend had used when they were playing games, and...

I wriggled around a little just thinking about it, and then saw Angela looking at me out of the corner of her eye. “Sorry – thinking of that weekend,” I said as I changed my seat position so it was upright.

“Yeah, I figured from the way you were moving,” she said as the pilot announced they were starting the approach to Logan Airport, and I looked at the water.

Anyway – those ropes on the chest can do something, but given we were wearing Victorian dresses, we had on Victorian underwear – and corsets, which meant the only band of rope we really felt was the one above our chests. That still made me feel a bit funny, but it was bearable.

Except for nighttimes, when we were all wearing cotton nightdresses, but were still bound and gagged – as were Gerri and Mrs Danvers. Alone in your bed, those ropes could rub the way they usually do – and, well, I don’t want to go too much into what I felt then.

Jay and Mrs McPhee – who somehow managed to get into the spirit of the weekend and dress up as well, and let me tell you, a balaclava wearing robber looking like the Governess in a film is a sight to behold – were there for two days and nights, before we were finally freed on the Monday morning. We spent another day there, and drove back on the Tuesday – to be met that night at home by our parents, who by then had been told what had happened by my grandparents.

That was an – interesting evening meal, as we explained everything we had done. I know with Cassie and Jenny it’s becoming something of a standing joke about her getting a ‘frequent hostage’ card, but when you think about it – why the heck do we keep ending up in these situations?

That was a couple of weeks ago, and since then Angie and I have been visiting friends and relatives, as well as preparing for this trip. I went into town with Jenny, Mary and Cathy to see the production of High Society at the Old Vic, while Angela went off for the weekend with Eddie, her boyfriend and Mary’s brother, to Edinburgh.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now beginning out final approach to Boston Logan Airport. Please ensure you have stored everything and all tables...”

“Well, looks as if we’re nearly there,” Angela said as she put her seat into the correct position. “What’s the first thing you want to do when we get onto the ground?”

“Go to the toilet?”

Angie grinned as she fastened her seat belt. “I know that feeling – it’s not going to be that bad, honestly.”

Looking out of the window, I could see the sea coming closer, and as I sat back I let my mind wonder back to yesterday when Martin and I went out for a pizza with Jenny and Colin...



“You’re kidding? Louise and Freddie?”

“That’s right,” Jenny said as she bit into her Veggie Supreme, “Patty told us tonight when she came round with Aunt Jess. And they’re not the only ones who are going to have a baby brother or sister this time next year.”

She looked over at Martin, who wiped his chin as I turned and stared at him,

“No – not me, mistress of misdirection,” Martin said with a laugh, “I’m an only child and proud of it. I think she is talking about Kerry and Clive Rigg.”

“Rachel’s parents? Oh my goodness,” I said as I looked at Jenny, “is she pregnant as well?”

“Yup – both about three months. According to Patty, she had to peel Rachel off the ceiling when she called round to her house.”

I smiled at that thought – those two little women can be a little hyperactive at the best of times, but now?

“I take it you’re going to hook up with Heidi and the girls while you’re out there,” Colin said as he took a drink from his glass.

“That’s a given. Apparently they’re coming out to Heather’s place during the week, so we’ll head down there when that happens. Having said which, I’m sure we’ll meet up at other times as well.”

Heidi is my long term pen friend – and distant cousin – who lives in Maine, near to the people Angie and I are going to stay with. That’s Sarah and Brian Holderness-Carter – and how we first met Sarah and Brian is a whole story in itself, which I haven’t got time to explain right now. For now, let’s just say Sarah in particular has been an amazingly close and good friend to our family – and it was because of her we were coming over now.

As I said, Heidi lives in Maine with Cindy and their mothers. We talk most weeks on Skype, and we share a lot together – so I was looking forward to seeing all of them as well. Angela was also looking forward to meeting Chloe, a French girl who goes to college in Heidi’s town. She and her boyfriend James had announced their engagement recently, and apparently Chloe wanted Angela and Eddie to do something for her.

At least, that’s what I heard when they talked last week, and Angela was a little bit loud in repeating what she said...


Boston is one of those places you fly into over the sea, and touch down almost as soon as you clear land, as the plane bumped on contact and we started to decelerate. Once we got to the gate, Angela stood up and brushed some crumbs off her jeans, before she opened the overhead locker and took out her black ankle boots, putting them on as I laced up my trainers. We both had on jeans and sweatshirts, adding some padded jerkins before we took out rucksacks and got off the plane.

We went through the usual rigmarole of customs and passport control – technically Angie was the responsible adult, so she went first, but eventually we loaded our cases on a luggage trolley, our bags on the cases, walked through and handed the white form to a US Customs officer, and emerged through the gates.

“There you both are – welcome back to Boston!”

“Good to see you too Brian,” Angela said as the six foot ten blonde Australian came over and gave both of us a bear hug. “How are the family?”

“Waiting and anxious to see their godmother again,” Brian said with a big smile as he looked at me. “They’re starting to pull themselves round the furniture now, as you’ll see when we get there. Come on – I’ve got some water and snacks in the car for the drive.”

And so began a very interesting week...
Read stories of ordinary women in distress at http://www.kppresents.com

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:52 am

Nice!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:05 am

Great beginning!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:36 am

Heidi will be very happy!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby Imp Caesar Augustus » Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:58 am

So they are going to America? This should be interesting!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby Tom Ford » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:26 am

What a wonderful start to a new beginning, well new story at least.

So we get to the third tale set in the States, after Looking For a New England, and The Christening. Like the two tales before, Alicia was involved! This is the second time she is the narrator in a trip to New England, which is fitting since it was her friendship with Heidi which led to the involvement of Heidi's gang in the adventures in Holderness, England.

As usual, the start of the new tale begins with a summary of the previous tale. Needless to say, it was a treat to see the events of the last story through the eyes of a different person. Especially on the chest ropes, the effect of the corset, and reminiscing the babysitting weekend with Jenny of Patty, Rachel, Louise, and Fiona. That I think would end up as the babysitting job most memorable for Alicia and Jenny.

I'm sure that Alicia would want to meet Heidi and company as soon as possible, and then, they would have a lot of catching up to do. Fortunately, not as much as before because of skype and letters, but I'm sure Alicia has some tales that she wants to share with Heidi, Cindy, and Natalie, and the Americans with Alicia too.

Of course, there are some things that Alicia could learn, like swimming tied up, I think. I wonder if the lake at Holderness Manor would be a suitable place to practice that activity?

Looking forward to more, KP!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:30 am

Great chapter!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:31 am

Great update!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby William F Somebody » Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:27 am

So Into the Woods refers to the trip of Alicia and Angela to New England as hinted in the previous tale?

Thanks for the summary of Mystery. It is nice to see Alicia's perspective on the events of the weekend, on wearing Victorian costumes, including the underwear, and the chest ropes. And mentioning bonnets adding to the effectiveness of the gag by the way it is tied under the chin is something I never thought of! Bravo, KP, for Alicia figuring it out! I'm glad Alicia got used to the costumes and the undergarments, and even had a good time of it!

Now we have a week in America. What kind of fun will she have with her sister, and her American friends. How long will she wait before meeting once more her bestfriend and penpal, Heidi? I guess we'll see in the next update!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:17 am

Please please update really really soon!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:17 am

Hope you update soon!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby KP Presents » Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:09 am

“Did you enjoy the flight over,” Brian said as we emerged from the freeway under the city, the late afternoon sun shining down on the SUV.

“It wasn’t too bad – I just don’t particularly like flying,” Angela said as she looked out of the window. “So what is Sarah up to today?”

“Kayla and Anne are visiting – it’s time for the latest of the shots of the kids, and she wanted to give both Sarah and Chloe a check-up.”

“Chloe? So will she and James still be there when we arrive?”

“No idea – find out when we get there,” Brian said with a smile. “Listen – tomorrow, Heather’s invited us down to her place for lunch. I think one or two others may be there as well.”

“Good,” I said as I yawned, “I was hoping I’d get to see the girls when I was over here.”

“Oh I think you can guarantee that,” Brian said with a smile. “But tonight is set aside as a quiet night, give you a chance to wind down and get a decent night’s sleep.”

The roads soon passed into the country roads as we headed north, and eventually pulled off onto a tree lined side road, before we pulled up outside a large colonial farm house. There were two cars parked outside –a black sedan and a grey Mini.

“Looks as if they’ve waited for you,” Brian said as he turned the engine off, and we saw Sarah appearing in the doorway. She was wearing a dusky grey top and joggers, but she was smiling broadly as she came out and embraced both of us.

“Welcome to our home,” she said as she looked at us. “You’re both looking well – how are you enjoying the school holidays?”

“An – experience,” Angela said as Brian got the cases from the back of the car.

“What is this I hear that both of you are in a film?”

“Yeah – has it come out here?”

“Another month or so – but your grandmother has told me all about it. Anyway, come on in – you both look as if you could use a drink.”

Although Sarah is a couple of years older than our mother, you wouldn’t think it to see her at the moment. WE followed her in to hear the sound of laughter coming from the front room.

“Hey – look who’s finally arrived!”

“Angela, Alicia, mes amies – welcome back,” Chloe said as she came over and hugged us. The young Frenchwoman – I’d forgotten she was a year older than Angela – was dressed the same way I always seemed to find her. The main difference was her scarf was not tucked into the front of her sweater, and I could see her Dr Marten boots in the hallway, but the v-necked sweater, denim shorts, leggings and striped socks – all present and correct.

Her fiancé James came over and hugged both of us as well. He looked slimmer and stronger than the last time I had seen him, the unasked question answered by him as he said “Brian’s been doing a workout regime with me.”

“Looking good for it as well, isn’t he,” Chloe said with a smile as she looked at us. “You did a very brave thing for Sarah, both of you, and I thank you for that.”

That very brave thing – last time Sarah had visited us, for reasons I really don’t want to get into now, she had been infected by something that was threatening to kill her. You see, Sarah is different from almost everyone else we know, with one exception.

First, she really is a member of our family – something like our second cousin once removed, but to use a phrase, it’s complicated.

Secondly, some time ago she was infected by a biological agent which left her with... Actually, that’s even harder to explain. The easiest way of putting it is she has some powers, which kick in under certain circumstances, and means she works as a Most Secret Agent for the government. She has saved the lives of Angela and the other women in my family before, as well as those of Heidi and the girls.

The source of her powers also means she’s virtually immune to illness – but this time, she was infected by an agent designed to kill the thing that had changed her. The only way she could survive is if antibodies could be generated by her closest living relatives, of a certain age.

Guess who they were?

It was easily the most harrowing few days I have ever spent – but as a result, not only was Sarah able to recover, her ‘handlers’ for want of a better word, had a way to deal with some other unfortunate side effects of Sarah’s powers.

Only a few people outside our family, and the Craigs, know of what Sarah can do – and that included both Chloe and James, and the two women who were playing with Bart and Sarah Jr as we came into the front room.

I had first met Anne Duncombe a few years ago, the first time I came to the US with Jenny, Cassie and Suzie. She’s an agent with the FBI, something she had denied at first until we got to know her better, and also an old friend of Heidi’s mother. Kayla Smith, the other blonde, was also with the FBI, and between them they headed up Project: Pink Widow.

Or, as we know her, Sarah.

“Welcome back to the homeland,” Anne said as Bart turned round and looked at us, before he walked over, his arms held up as he came towards me.

“Well hello there, little one,” I said as I picked him up and tickled his nose, “and how are you?”

“Good.”

“When did they...”

“A couple of months ago,” Sarah said as Angela picked Bart’s twin sister up. “You remember Alicia, don’t you Sarah?”

The dark haired girl looked over at me, and then nodded as she said “Lisha.”

“Well, this is her sister Angela. Say hello to her, kids.”

Sarah Jr waved shyly as Bart said “Anjela?”

“That’s right,” Angela said as she tickled his nose, making him giggle. “How are you Kayla?”

“I’m very well thanks,” Kayla said as she sat with Anne. “How’s College?”

“Well, I passed the first year, and Eddie passed the second,” Angela said as she out Sarah down, and I let Bart join her while they toddled over to a play mat. “The serious work begins next year. What about you Chloe?”

“As with you, the serious work starts next year,” Chloe said with a smile.

“Look – I’ll put your bags in your rooms, and then I can see about starting dinner.”

“It’s not steak for dinner tonight, is it,” Angela said.

“No – I got some tuna at the market before coming to collect you two. So sit down, relax, and leave everything to me.”






As we stood on the perch, waving the two cars off, Angela said “Let me do the washing up.”

“You just need to load the dish washer, Angie,” Sarah said with a smile.

“Well, let me load the dishwasher then,” Angela said as she looked at our host.

“I know that look – it’s the one Lucinda uses when she’s determined,” Brian said with a laugh. “All right, on you go – you two go and sit in the front room and I’ll bring some cocoa through.”

“Cocoa?”

“It can get a bit cold up here in the woods at night,” Sarah said as we walked back in. The twins were sleeping on the couch, so we sat in the armchairs as Sarah looked at me.

“You really are starting to look a lot like Anne – both of you are.”

“The Holderness genes coming through,” I said with a smile.

“So how are things with Martin?”

I smiled and said “Well, we’re still together, and we do seem to be growing closer together.”

“Oh? Anything I need to tell your mother about?”

“NO – not in that way anyway,” I said with a smile, “I just mean we seem to be learning off each other. We seem to bring each other out of our shells.”

“No bad thing,” Sarah said with a smile as Brian picked Bart up and carried him to his bed, “if I’ve learned one thing since I discovered the way our families were connected, it’s to be comfortable in the family history and in ourselves.”

“And Chloe?”

Sarah raised an eyebrow and said “has someone been talking outside of class?”

“No – but some of the things I heard during those few days are still stuck up here,” I said as I tapped the side of my head.

“Hmm – you also have Lucinda’s capacity for keeping secrets,” Sarah said with a smile. “Chloe is adapting well, as is James.”

“So who else lives round here,” I said as I looked out of the window at the darkening sky.

“Apart from Heather down the way? Not that many – I was brought here precisely because it was off the beaten track, but we take the twins to a playgroup twice a week, and I’ve got to know some of the other mothers there as well.”

“Good – I always wondered if you were going to end up lonely, and I’m glad you’re not.”

“Thanks,” Sarah said as Angela and Brian came in, each of them holding two mugs of cocoa. “So, what exactly happened when you girls visited Markson Manor?”

I looked at Angela, before she said “Well, it started in the right way...”





The masked bandit was standing over me, the bandana covering his mouth as he tied the last rope from my ankle to the peg hammered into the ground. I was lying on the ground, my booted ankles spread ride and attached to two stakes as my riding skirt was stretched by my legs been forced apart.

My arms were outstretched above my head, attached by more rope to two more pegs, my waistcoat opened up as my white blouse covered my upper body. The scarf I had tied round my neck to protect it from the wind and dust was now stuffed into my mouth, as I looked at him.

“Your grandfather will have to sign over the deeds to the ranch now,” he sneered as the sun shone down, “if he wants to see his little prairie rose back again.”

“Ullnfrgtwwwfths,” I said as I struggled.

“Oh – and who’s going to stop me, that wimp of a boyfriend?”

That was the last thing he said, as his eyes rolled up and he slumped to the ground, the Masked Avenger standing behind him as he held the shovel. Dressed in black, including the domino mask over his eyes, he knelt beside me and removed the scarf from my mouth, allowing me to say “My hero...”

“Time to wake up,” he said as he looked at me, only it was Angela’s voice I heard.

“Sorry?”

“Time to wake up...”

I opened my eyes to see Angela standing over the bed, looking at me as she said “Nice dream?”

“Yeah – thanks for interrupting it,” I said as I sat myself up. “What time is it?”

“Eight o’clock – get showered and dressed. We have time for breakfast before we need to head down to the church.”
Last edited by KP Presents on Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Read stories of ordinary women in distress at http://www.kppresents.com

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Fri Jul 31, 2015 4:53 am

Nice!!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Fri Jul 31, 2015 4:54 am

What a nice welcome.

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby Tom Ford » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:04 am

What a nice, nice update! We see the Bowden girls arrive at Sarah’s place, and they got a lot of catching up to do! We get to meet Kayla and Anne Duncombe, but only because they were visiting Sarah. And Sarah’s son already speaks! Pretty soon, they would be running around and giving Sarah, the elder Sarah, and Brian all they could handle. Hopefully, they would be as much trouble as Patty, Rachel, Freddie, and Charlie!

Hopefully, we get to the part where Heidi is there, and Cindy and Natalie. And of course, play some tie up games!

I wonder if perhaps, Alicia, Heidi, Cindy, and Natalie could play in the woods? Assuming that it is private, perhaps Alicia could experience being tied up to a tree for the first time ever? I know they are too old, but they could be silly since nobody is around to stop them.

I wonder if the Holderness-Carters could have a cabin or shed deep in the woods that they could use for camping, sleepovers, and such?

And how about Alicia see some of the native New England wildlife, which cannot be seen in England?

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:05 am

Great chapter!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Fri Jul 31, 2015 6:38 am

Great update!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby The Wrapster » Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:01 am

Intriguing story so far,but Kayla's name is Smith, not Brown!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby KP Presents » Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:45 pm

Fixed that
Read stories of ordinary women in distress at http://www.kppresents.com

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:02 am

Please please update really really soon!!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:05 am

Hope you update soon!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Sun Aug 02, 2015 7:00 am

That was a very nice dream of Alicia. Too bad she was rather interrupted by big sister. Big sisters could sometimes be a pain! Even when they did not intend it to be so.

A rather nice update, KP, though clearly a transitional one until we get to the meat of the tale—meeting her penpal and best friend Heidi, and her friends Cindy and Natalie, and other American friends too, and we can get some tie up games!

And like Tom said, Sarah’s place in the woods is the perfect place to play outdoors without fear of being seen! I imagine Angela would do something else, so Alicia would have to play with girls her age. Not only play, but I imagine, gossip too!

I do wonder if Sarah’s place has a lake too?

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby William F Somebody » Sun Aug 02, 2015 7:13 am

Well, the fun begins. I wonder what surprises Sarah and Brian has in store for Alicia and Angela? What nefarious plots, and wonderful twists are coming towards the English girls in New England? So far, things have been a little bit calm, but I am sure that it would soon go to an exciting games. I wonder, would there be true and genuine perils like robbers? Though I pity the robber that would try to rob the house of the Pink Widow.

I wonder who will go to Sarah’s place? As John and Tom suggested, most certainly the penpal and best friend Heidi. Who else? Hopefully Natalie and Cindy, making complete the circle of American friends that was there during that first great game of Summer 2012.

At least Angie has met her French friend Chloe, and the girls have settled themselves on Sarah’s place. Will Sarah get a job as the Pink Widow while the Bowden girls are there? Not an unexpected job by a robbery in her house, but something to rescue a family in peril?

What will happen next? Hopefully, the next update will pick up the pace and have some games, after some introductions or rather, reunions.

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby Imp Caesar Augustus » Sun Aug 02, 2015 7:19 am

Can't wait to see the girls in the ropes soon!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby KP Presents » Mon Aug 03, 2015 3:16 am

As we drove up the road that led to Heather’s farm, my mind went back to the last time I visited here, just over a year ago before the christening. That had been the last time I had met the girls as well – and I was sure we had a lot to talk about.

“I see it hasn’t changed much,” Angela said as she looked out.

“When were you here,” I said as I looked at her.

“When Gran and I came over that time,” she said quietly, and I knew that was going to be the end of that conversation for a while. As we stopped in the main yard, Heather came out, wearing a long denim skirt and a sleeveless blouse, her bare feet clearly visible.

“Hey there,” she said as we got out, “welcome back.” Although we had been to church, we’d all dressed in polo shirts and shorts, given it was a warm day.

“Good to be back,” Angela said as she hugged Heather. “I can see you’ve both grown a bit as well,” she said as she looked at us. “So come in, come in – the girls are in the front room Alicia, and we’ll eat some lunch in a little while. I hope you don’t mind some salad just now – I thought we’d eat properly later once it’s cooled down.”

“Fine by me,” I said as we came in, and took our shoes off – Heather has a strict no shoes in the house policy, and I suspect if she really could do it, she’d have a strict no shoes on her land policy instead. I then opened the door to her front room and went in, while Angela went with the others.

“There you are,” Heidi said as she jumped up and embraced me, “how are you?”

“Better when I can breathe,” I gasped as she let go and looked at me, her blonde hair down to her shoulders as Cindy and Natalie looked over. “It’s good to see all three of you though – where’s Alice and Jannifer?”

“Alice had to go somewhere with her parents, worst luck,” Nats said as she put her book down. She was wearing a long patterned skirt with her rope bracelets on her ankles, and a v-necked top, while both Cindy and Heidi seemed to have adopted the informal dress code for the day of polo shirts and shorts. “As for Jannifer...”

“Watching over Bobby.”

“Bobby?”

“Oh that’s right – we never told you,” Heidi said quietly. “When we got back from our spring break visit, Jannifer was whisked off by her dad. Her mom was in labour – Bobby’s three and a half months old now.”

“Must be the season for babies – don’t tell your mums I told you, but Freddie’s mum is expecting a baby at the end of the year.”

“Wow,” Cindy said as she stood up, “what else are you going to tell us about?”

“Lots of things,” I said with a smile, “but is there any danger of getting a drink first? I’d forgotten how hot it gets round here?”

“Oh we can soon get you cooled off,” Natalie said with a laugh, “after lunch though. Come on – we can join the others for a while. I think we’re eating outside.”

As we went through the kitchen and into the back yard, we saw Angela sitting with the other mums in the back yard. Amy and Dorothy were sitting next to each other, while Veronica and Katherine, Natalie’s biological and adopted mums, were helping themselves to some salad.

“Hi Alicia,” Veronica said as she looked over, “we were just going to call you girls out to eat.”

“Good timing then,” Heidi said as we grabbed some plates, put food on them and sat down. “Listen Aunt Heather – if we’re having a meal later, is it all right if we go down to the watering hole for the afternoon?”

“So long as you get back before we eat, then yes,” Heather said. “In fact – give Alicia the full treatment?”

“With extreme pleasure,” Heidi said with a grin, “with extreme pleasure...”





“Well, she did say to give you the full treatment,” Natalie said as I felt my arms being pulled into my sides by the rope around my chest.

“You girls know how this feels, right?”

“Oh yeah – but nobody else is going to see you, and our mums won’t say anything,” Cindy said as she held the sponge ball in front of my mouth. I opened wide and felt it press my tongue down, before they smoothed a length of white medical tape over my lips, and then put the sleep mask over my eyes.

I walked with them, my feet on the wooden floor and then the warm ground as I heard Heidi say “We’ll be back in a little while.”

“Have fun,” Angela called over as I felt the grass under my feet, while the sound of the chatter died away, replaced by the sounds of birds in the trees, and our feet on the ground.

“Whtrthsbrds,” I said, unable to see what they were.

“Mainly local birds – but they sure sound good today,” Natalie said as they walked along, and then they suddenly stopped. “Whttsswrng,” I said as I listened to the soft sound of something moving.

“Possum – let it go past,” Heidi said, as I listened for a few minutes, and then we started to move again. The summer air was considerably cooler under what I presumed was the tree canopy, until I was made to sit down on the cool grass, and I felt some sort of tree behind me as more rope was tied around my stomach and waist, holding me in place.

The feel of rope around my bare ankles as they were brought together, and then the rope around my legs, told me I wasn’t going anywhere before there was another sensation – one of the fingers of six hands starting to tickle my feet, legs and sides.

“Hmgddddntdthssss,” I said as I wriggled round, but come on – how on earth was I going to stop them from doing this?

“Admit it Ali – you would do the same to each of us in a heartbeat!”

I nodded as the sleep mask came off, and I found myself in the clearing by the watering hole, sat against a tree to which I had been tied.

“So,” Cindy said as she removed the tape and I pushed the sponge out, “How’s the rest of the family?”

“Probably having their evening meal,” I said with a grin. “Seriously, Andrew’s walking now, and starting to string a few words together. As for Suzie – she’s completely besotted with Lucy.”

“Oh yeah – got any pictures?”

“Not on me, doofus,” I said as I wriggled round, “but Angie’s probably showing them to the others as we speak, so you’ll get to see them later.”

“Okay – extra tickle for the doofus remark,” Heidi said as she tickled my sides, and then said “What about you and Martin?”

“We’re good – so are Jenny and Colin, and as for Cassie and Bobby, I think the odds on them being a permanent item have shortened considerably.”

“Ah l’amour, tojours l’amore,” Natalie said as she lay on her back, looking up at the sky. I looked at Cindy and Heidi, who laughed as she said “she’s missing Alice, that’s all.”

“Oh? OH – you mean?”

“Hmmm,” Cindy said as she sat next to me, “they’re trying to keep it quiet, but we all know.”

“Know what,” Nats said with her eyes closed.

“About what Fi’s grandmother did for you and Alice when we spent spring break down there,” Heidi said as she sat on the other side of me, and put a straw to my mouth to allow me to take a drink of water.

“Oh – that,” Natalie said as a smile played on her lips.

“Fi? Where do her grandparents live?”

“Outside San Antonio – we all went down for Spring break. Learnt to ride a horse, saw ranchers at work, visited The Alamo, all that sort of thing,” Cindy said as she looked out over the water. “Big place they had as well.”

“Anyway, what about you two,” I said as I looked at them, “how are your boys?”

“They’re good – In fact, you’re both invited to our place Tuesday to append the night, if you’re up for it,” Heidi said.

“Jo’s anxious to meet up with your sister again,” Cindy said with a smile, “you know she and Alexa have decided to make a full commitment of it?”

“Yeah - is there a wedding in the air there as well?”

“Who knows – about as likely as Anne and Kayla,” Heidi said with a smile. “What about the Craigs?”

“Well, Connie and Dave have the two kids now – and the twins are almost as mobile as Andrew and Dan now. Sometimes, we look at them all playing together, and we wonder what’s going through their heads as well.”

“Think they’ll play the games as well?”

“Who can say for certain?” I closed my eyes as the sun shone down on my face, and felt the warmth on my skin.

“So, what is this I hear about a certain weekend recently?”

“Hmm – oh lord, how did you hear about that?”

“Your grandmother, my mother – they do talk you know, and I heard about what happened. Seriously – do you girls have this large neon sign that says “JAY EDWARDS WE’RE HERE?”

“It feels that way at times,” I said with a laugh, “but yeah – we spent the entire weekend as Victorian hostages.”

“Bad enough that day we spent as fifties girl detectives,” Natalie said, “but a whole weekend in long skirts, nobody able to see if you have anything on your feet or not...”

She then opened her eyes and looked at us, as she said “I like the sound of that.”

“See if you say that after wearing a whalebone corset,” I say with a smile as I wriggle round, the ropes rubbing on me. “I will say this – tied and gagged full job like that feels very, very different.”

“I can imagine,” Cindy said as she wriggled on the ground, “Oh damn it – who’s up for a dip?”

“We haven’t got any costumes,” I said.

“Who needs them,” Heidi said as she took off her top, Cindy doing the same, and then ran to the water, jumping in and swimming round in the clear water.

“They have a point,” Natalie said as she got up, and came over to the tree, untying me and helping me to stand up. “Come on.”

“Hey – aren’t you going to untie me,” I said as I jumped across the grass, the ropes rubbing on me as I did so. “I mean, you can’t swim when you’re tied up, can you?”

“Who says,” Nats said as we started to jump along the little jetty, my feet hitting the wood with each hop.

“Nats – seriously, what are you doing?”

“Showing you how much fun it can be – when you take the next jump, make it a big one and then float on your back.”

“The next jump? What do you mean the next HEY!”

I felt Natalie’s hand on my bottom as she smacked me, making me jump forward and off the pier, and then the cool water as I fell into the watering hole. The water covered me for a moment, before I push myself back up, using my bound legs like a flipper and then lie on my back after I break the surface.

“See,” Heidi said as she swam over and joined me, “easy, isn’t it?”

“How often have you done this?”

“Often enough – do a butterfly kick and you’ll be fine...”
Read stories of ordinary women in distress at http://www.kppresents.com

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:33 am

What fun!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby The Wrapster » Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:53 am

An enjoyable tale, KP! The first chapter is the first time Brian's height has been mentioned. Talk about head and shoulders above everyone!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby Tom Ford » Mon Aug 03, 2015 6:09 am

Heidi. Natalie. Cindy. Especially Heidi. Best friends of Alicia. And now having the time of their lives at Heather’s farm. After gossip, more gossip, tickling, even more gossip, tying up, they took a dip in the watering hole. It seemed as if Alicia is going to be swimming tied up!

And who needs costumes when they are all alone with no prying eyes (that they know of? Who knows if some peeping Toms are actually hiding behind trees).

I have a question. Did Alicia actually swim with her full clothes on? She didn’t have a chance to remove her top. I don’t think going back with her polo shirt dripping wet, unlike the other girls who removed theirs, would be looked to too favorably.

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Mon Aug 03, 2015 6:39 am

So the gang's all here!!!

Re: An Education - Into the Woods

Postby John Kennon Smith » Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:41 am

Great chapter!!