THURSDAY…

THE DISGRUNTLED INSPECTOR MOTHER GROUNDED both of her defiant and disobedient twin sons until school resumed, on next Monday when it opened for the final term. Caroline even too leave from work to keep an-eye-on them…

… especially Peter…

… whom she ‘had’ given up hope for his reform to transform OF ANY POSITIVE CHANGES and…

… her failure too as a mother to her sociopathic offspring – who breaks societal ‘rules-and-norms’ without a blink of an eye -- with no guilt and remorse of its risk and consequences.

Mrs Burnell had told Caroline that Peter HAD ‘DENIED’ his wrongdoing that he committed by ‘making-out’ with the equally ‘bad-girl’ in school grounds – by deflecting the ‘blame’ to her staff who reported it – and ‘almost’ made it into a ‘messy’ racial and religious fiasco.

The mother feared that the anti-social-personality-disordered son would ‘evolve’ from a sociopath to a psychopath – by then, it was too late…

… when she had to ‘act’ in order at the capacity of a police inspector of the law – and ‘arrest’ Peter if he ever to be ‘caught’ for his serial criminal violation. 

-O-

To calm her nerves, she had drunk half a bottle of red wine while she cooked pasta for dinner. After she had her ‘liquid-courage,’ she called out her boys to come to her – hungry Peter was the first responder…

… Paul who had a nap opened his bedroom door to his windowless room later – saw his twin arguing…

“You have ‘not’ finished cooking, Mom – why did you call me?”

“Sit! I want to talk with you both.”

“… huh, one of your 'police' lectures, is it…? Come on Mom, can we do it ‘later’ after dinner?”

“No, I want to talk to you both now – sit!” Caroline said and pointing at the IKEA table. The obedient Paul was the first to roll his wheelchair to the table – looking at Peter going to the refrigerator, still complaining…

“I’m famished here -- and you take ‘own’ your sweet time idling with your-wine-bottle and leisurely cooking your-pasta – why can’t we order a pizza instead?”

… the one-armed Peter grouched as he took a chocolate snack bar from the fridge – immediately, Caroline snatched it from his hand and threw it back in – but the quick-reaction of Peter then grabbed a can of coke, before his mother closed the fridge door -- and he dodge-and-ran to the table.

By looking at his mother’s body language, Paul ‘knew’ their mother was ‘annoyed’ with Peter – but did ‘not’ know what ruckus his twin had created at the school earlier just now – but, he would soon find out.

Caroline glared at him, sitting at his father’s chair at the IKEA, and cracking-open the coke can’s aluminium tab. Peter sipped as he noticed Paul looking at him – and he stared back, until his mother spoke-out…

“Hey, ‘why’ did you run in Treeton field, last Thursday?”

“… oh-boy, here-it-comes, the-Angie Dickinson’s police interrogation – like I told you…

“… ‘before’ in the car, Mom – it was about to rain, I did ‘not’ want to get wet, so I ran to the building – too bad, ‘shit’ happened, yea – case closed!”

“Yes-Peter, shit ‘did’ happen ‘because’ you ran – where 3 people ‘were’ injured when they went after you – that war veteran van driver, Mr Hart, and those Wilson’s daughter-Jane, and your very-own twin Poe. Now, tell me, Peter…

“… have you apologized to 'any' of them – saying sorry that you bloody ran wayward that resulted in them being injured by the lightning?”

Paul anticipated his twin’s excuses…

“What a question, Mom – you ‘want’ a 3-part-answer? I got one– firstly…

“… nobody asked them to come after me… secondly…

“… that electric thunderstorm, was an act-of-God – therefore, the 3 of them, should take it ‘upstairs’ with Him, and-not-me… thirdly…

“… well, Mom, me-myself was hurt too that day – ‘not’ them only, okay? I’m a ‘victim’ too – but do I blame Our God for it – hell-no, I don’t – but I too am grateful ‘no-one’ died that day!!? Well, except…

“… some to-be slaughtered old cows that were abandoned in the field by the ‘cruel-owners,’ just because they can’t produce milk for their profitable cheese and dairy products in the production-line industry – let those men be ‘judged’ for ‘greed’ once they die someday…”

“Shut-up with the nonsense, Peter, you listen to me – I want you to take responsibility and own-up to your mistakes – and tomorrow we are going to the hospital to see Mr John Hart, and you apologise to him!” Interrupted his mother.

“… what…? … to say sorry to that Elvis faker?”

“… yes, then, we are going to the Wilsons – where you will apologise to both Jane’s mother and father…”

“Hey, Mom! Where is this going…? Whose idea is this? Is that Principal Harris or that Ms King?”

…Paul was tensed when his twin said that…

“It is my idea – YOU’RE MY SON, and ‘what’ you do, reflects on this family – I’ve decided that you ‘apologize’ for your mistakes tomorrow!”

“Come on, Mom – which part of the Act-of-God natural-disaster, don’t you understand here?”

“Since you put it that way – as a Christian – you apologise for God, by turning your other cheek!”

“… what… but those Wilson are a bunch of atheists… they won’t ‘get’ it…”

“Hey, look here – have you apologized to Poe? He was a victim that Thursday, once he went ‘after’ you!” Pointing at the wheelchair…

… Paul spoke up…

“Mom, that is ‘not’ necessary…”

… Caroline ‘ignored’ him too, by saying…

“Quick apologise to Poe – if you had bragged that you are a ‘good Catholic’ – do it then!”

… Caroline looked at both of her twins’ odd body-reactions…

“I know ‘what’ you did to me in Perthland – you are the ‘one’ who should be apologising to me…” muttered the one-armed boy…

“… shut up, Pete – don’t get your ‘worlds’ confused…” said the cripple, below his breath…

“… oh-yea, so to protect you ‘secret’ identity, is that it…?”

“… don’t push it, Peter…”

“HOI, YOU 2, what ‘nonsense’ are you both talking – come you 2, go shake hands!”

“Oh-yea, Poe – I’ll forgive Perthland, but I will ‘not’ forget…”

“BOTH OF YOU – NOW!”

… Paul reached out his hand pertaining to his ‘mother’s pressure’ – the cautious one-armed twin poked his index finger at Paul’s wrist once…

“… risk of him ‘electrocuting’ me…?”

… Caroline grabbed both of the twins’ hands to clasp-on to the other – and the antagonistic boys shook hands. Since he ‘knew’ Paul would ‘not’ display his superpowers in front of Caroline, Peter ‘crushed’ hard-grip as he shook hands. In pain, Paul winced…

“Enough-Peter!” the mother exclaimed and saw the hurt Paul withdrawing his recoiled hand.

“You-too, Poe -- tomorrow you have to apologize to the Wilsons for taking-out their blind-daughter to the zoo, without their consent – and endangered her life!”

… Paul nodded…

“Now get out of here – I’ll call you both when dinner is served.”

-O-

Paul retreated to his windowless bedroom – he was ‘digesting’ the thought of tomorrow’s events and its cause-of-action – recalling Peter’s responses just now to find clues, as he himself was clueless of the ‘reset’ Perth.

‘… whose ‘idea’ was this act-of-apology’ was this coming from – this is ‘new’ – we did ‘not’ apologize before…?’

He took up his iPhone to call Jane – but her phone had been switched off since the zoo incident that late morning…

… he too had received ‘negative-vibes’ ever since – and, it had happened ‘before’ when she fought with her doctor-mother – just-like while she was ‘dating’ Peter in the ‘real-Perth’…

Next, he thought of the current ‘version’ of Ms King -- and sighed…

“… did she put up with this apology routine -- despite we had met her earlier at the café and cautioned that PETER WAS DANGEROUS – rub him the wrong way ‘negatively’ in the presence of his ‘triggers,’ would ignite his toxic emotions to do real damages…?’

… Ms King WAS ‘NOT’ RESPONDING to his phone-call either – Paul threw his phone on his bed – it rolled over to the far end of the single-mattress.

‘… I-too had to go-now and apologize to Jane’s parents – the last time I did that in Perthland – I got punched in the face in front of Alicia’s parents -- and kicked in the balls too…’

His phone then rang -- and Paul wheelchaired around the bed to pick it up – it was Ms King.

… Paul instantly asked if she had suggested for an apology-session between the Walkers and Wilsons…

“Your mother Caroline had suggested it, that -- she wanted to ‘apologize’ to the Wilsons – and even asked ‘which’ hospital the van driver with the broken arm was admitted…”

Paul was speechless and prayed the Friday would ‘not’ be the Friday wherein the ‘other’ Perth’s Wilson’s dinner-invitation -- where the earth-quake in Queensland had happened in the past…

‘Oh-God, let tomorrow ‘not’ to be a repeat of Murphy’s Law – where shit goes wrong, again-and-again.’

<><>

FRIDAY…

THE ELEVATOR DOOR OPENED with a ding – and Caroline pushed Paul’s wheelchair out to the hospital ward – Peter was lagging behind, carrying a fruit-basket in his single-arm.

“Peter! Walk faster!”

The Walkers found the Harts – admitted in an open ward. Mr Hart instantly greeted Paul from his recent acquaintance on the field trip ride.

Peter saw the veteran lying on the bed with an arm cast. 2 members of his family were there too – he knew at first-sight of the obese-woman who introduced herself to his mother as Mary Hart…

‘… it was the ‘same’ cow at the petrol station driving her old-man back, in the other-Perth… she waved at me then-too…’

Next, was the chubby-son in the early ’20s who introduced himself as Jessie Aaron Hart, who worked as a geologist – who apace, stepped back to give room in the limited space to the visiting Walkers. After some pleasantries small talk, Caroline turned her head to Peter with the fruit basket…

“Okay-Peter, what are you here for…”

… Peter came forward handing the fruit basket…

“Mr Hart, here is a peace-offering from us the Catholics to you-Methodist-folks...”

The Harts were speechless when they heard that – and so did the cringing Walkers to his sarcasm.

“Peter!” cried the mother, suffered the embarrassment – but Peter kept-on speaking, showing his scarred palm…

“Mr Hart, sorry yea – you got hurt like me – now we some war-scars to show about, yea…?”

Paul was wincing in his wheelchair – and, John Hart replied in a firm voice…

“You think this is a joke, Peter? You should ‘not’ have run away from the group in an open field when there is a thunderstorm – you all were my responsibly – I can’t run after you due to my past war-injuries but – your brother and friends ran after you, and were injured.”

Peter shrugged his shoulder-and-stump…

“… well-anyways that turned out ‘right’ for you, yea – the papers call you a veteran ‘Capt. Australia’s John Hart-Rambo’ as you too went after us to rescue ‘our’ sorry-handicap-selves from danger…”

“I don’t care what those papers say – the point is -- I was helpless in that situation and prayed hard when I went in – thank the Good-Lord, you all are still alive after being struck by lightning – I know some didn’t ‘before,’ while I had 3 of my friends died in freak thunderstorms in Operation Damask when we fought in desert Gulf War…”

“What happened, Mr Hart?” Paul asked…

… he was penchant to war-stories where he ‘had’ heard some good WW2 combat tales from his late grandfather – Mr Hart obliged and told a couple of war-stories…

… Peter rolled his eyes and retracted to the back slowly from the ‘hot-spot’ as -- he was ‘not’ interested in some spittle tattletales that happened in the past millennium…

Standing beside Arron Hart, struck a conversation with him instead…

“… your father named you Jessie because Elvis had a twin brother named Jessie, right?”

“Yea, I guess so – Dad is a big Elvis fan,” chuckled the young man.

“No wonder – for sure he won’t name you Elvis, because you’re ‘not’ popular Bruce, right? But 'Jessie' instead – who died at child-birth, and buried in shoe-box, yea…?”

The young man was appalled when he heard that remark -- but did ‘not’ want to argue with a 12-year-old one-armed tween.

-O-

After a brief moment of visitation, Caroline excused herself and told they were going to the Wilsons next. The inspector mother took-upon-herself to sincerely apologized to John Hart -- for the mistake of Peter’s outrageous action last Thursday at Treeton dairy farm. The Walkers left the wardroom with the Harts behind, sympathizing with the inspector of Perth who she had to raise – the delinquent son – but...

... they were full of praises for the crippled twin, Paul instead.

In the Audi…

… Caroline shouted at Peter for he ‘had’ embarrassed the Hart family with his anti-social behaviour and bringing up ‘insensitive’ religion remarks -- and reminded him too of his racial slurring at the school’s peon yesterday that should ‘stop.’ The ignorant Peter told that he doesn’t care what they ‘thought’ of him, as he doesn’t ‘owe’ them anything.

From the backseat, Paul saw the family squabble – but he was roped into the spot when Caroline shouted at him…

“Poe! Will you also be embarrassing me at the Wilsons later!!?”

“No, Mom – I won’t…” said the obedient-son.

<><>

THAT SAME FRIDAY MORNING, Jane was in the living room with her baby brother watching ‘The Jungle Book’ live-animated movie. She was ‘not’ in speaking terms with her doctor-mother who she had a major argument with yesterday regarding her ‘disobedience’ by visiting the zoo, behind the parents’ back.

Samuel was chucking away to the movie, while Jane who had ‘listened’ to that ‘same’ movie a dozen times before with her ‘other-version’ of her baby-brother in the ‘other-Perth’ -- and even knew ‘what’ dialogues were said next.

Blind-Jane soon began to drift in her thoughts…

… comparing one-world-to-the-other – the doctor-mother from Perthland was her ‘ideal-mummy’ version, who was understanding and accepting to her teenager-self who was suffering from depression. But ‘regrettably,’ she had to ‘escape’ from that realm, as the Cursed-trio had ‘flee’ to get away from Asmodeus…

… and was sad for that Perthland’s-Mummy – who had to accept the ‘death’ of her-only-daughter…

The doorbell rang twice…

… Shelley Wilson was in the kitchen with Lola, prepping lunch. Blind-Jane acknowledged…

“I’ll get the door, Lola…”

Jane got out from the couch and walked to the door – she knew her steps and the living room’s layout – navigated herself without bumping ‘blindly’ into items…

… she opened the door, to an excited voice calling…

“… my-Janey-gee!”

“Ali…?”

The doctor-mother sneak-peeked her head from the kitchen – and saw Alicia hugging Jane…

… Shelley Wilson ‘disliked’ this one-particular friend, who was the BFF – who was influencing her B-girl’s fashion sense -- which was ‘unacceptable’ loud-and-wild…

… that was ‘not’ pleasing to her-eyes -- but ‘more’ suited to her B-girl’s rebellious nature.

‘… what is this girl doing here -- when I’m ‘expecting’ visitors…?’

“My Sammy-boy is watching Jungle Book…”

… Alicia said while ruffling the baby-boy’s afro, and kissing his forehead – but the engrossed kid was narked when the Chinese girl blocked his view…

“Lisheeya, go-away!”

Before Alicia sat comfortably on the couch – Jane took her arm…

“Ali, let’s go to my room, I got something to show you.”

“What?”

They walked up the stairs, and the blind girl said…

“Uncle Jack sent me a replacement AI device.”

“Cool! Coo-coo-cool! SIMY Lives Again!” Exclaimed the Chinese girl.

“… ‘not’ exactly – I made some modification…”

-O-

In her bedroom, Jane introduced her ‘new’ substitute AI named Boyyo – they both laughed to hear ‘his’ voice – Jane wanted to reprogramme her ‘lost’ studies back-up into its system, before the final term on Monday.

Next, the girls spoke of Treeton where they both were involved in the terrifying thunderstorm – Jane removed her beanie to show her diamond-shaped Lichtenberg-figures scar on her forehead, caused by the lightning…

… but she DID NOT REVEAL the 3rd-eye superpowers which she gained by being ‘cursed’ – where ‘this’ version of Alicia SHOULD ‘NOT’ KNOW of the Cursed-trio’s existence – for the FUTURE SAFETY OF THE BFF.

They both were lying on the Queen-sized bed, hugging – Alicia was still ‘shellshocked’ of the Treeton field trip tragedy…

“… when you ran – I came over, and thought you ‘died’ -- when I saw you lying beside the Walker-twins…”

“You won’t get rid of me that easily, girlfriend.” Jane chuckled.

The next conversation, got Jane real-worked-up when she told that she had a heated argument with her doctor-mother yesterday when she followed Paul to the zoo, without her parents’ consent…

… in the past, Jane had told her of Shelley’s intervention to every facet of her life to mould her to be the mother’s perfect B-girl Barbie doll -- so that she had the ‘approval’ of family and Facebook friends. But the ‘independent’ blind girl wanted to be left alone…

… to ‘self-discover' moments on her 'own,' in her tween life.

… Jane recalled after been discharging from the hospital and came home – Shelley gave her a long bath and shampooed her hair that was when -- she un-braided the B-girl’s dreadlocks to wash-away the mud – resulted by several times, blind-Jane had fell sloshed in the muck dairy-field in Treeton.

To get back at her domineering and control-freak mother – Jane said…

“Ali, I want you to re-braid my hair – please give me 3 dreadlocks here, at the right side of my face as before…”

“Are you sure – your Mummy would freak-out!?”

“Just do it.”

-O-

While working on her hair – Alicia chuckled and asked…

“Tarzan and Jane – ‘when’ did all happen? I thought you were ‘into’ Peter – your ambitious ‘quest’ trying to give him a ‘purpose’ and all.”

Jane had to thread words and events carefully -- as in the ‘other-Perth’ her BFF was Paul’s love interest – and he even went to Diyu to rescue her soul from the grim-reapers when Alicia was in an irreversible coma.

“Hah! Screw-him, I gave-up on Peter when that asshole ran into the field in Treeton,” replied Jane -- and Alicia got ‘her’ last-laugh...

“See – I told you so – he is sick in the head, mad cow…”

Yea, I know – should have listened to you – anyway don’t judge me – I’m just a simpleton blind girl, who can’t see someone’s body language and I’m always ‘wrong’ in getting my first-impression ‘right’ of others.”

Jane could ‘NOT’ TELL HER BFF that she had ‘NOT’ GIVEN-UP on Peter…

…who was ‘possessed’ by a powerful demonic entity from the Underworld called Asmodeus – where PAUL AND HER would keep on fighting the Evil-one to the-end…

… to save HIS SOUL AND THE PERILS that befell to Perth City.

The inquisitive Chinese girl dug her question deep, by asking…

“Details please – for 2 years, you both were shy to talk to one another – and here you are, both in the news-headlines of the zoo – how did that happen?”

… Jane could ‘not’ say that her BFF in the other-universe – where she was clobbered in the head by a ‘meth-addict’ named Jimbo and was put in a coma – WHERE DURING THAT TIME, she ‘got’ close with Paul…

… where they gave solace and moral support to lift each other up.

“What is it to say, it just happened – after 2 years, he ‘asked’ me out and suggested the zoo – and we both went... I guess…”

“Janey, I’m so ‘happy’ that you hooked up with Paul – he’s a ‘keeper’ – unlike his twin – he’s bloody double-trouble.”

… Jane was ‘lost’ of words -- and just grinned sheepishly towards her BFF’s ‘approval.’

<><>

ANTHONY WILSON’S MERCEDES PULLED INTO the driveway of the residence. In her-bedroom, Blind-Jane recognized the sound of the vehicle – while Alicia was fashioning her hair.

“That’s my Dad – I wonder ‘why’ he left work early to come home.”

Moments later, she heard ‘another’ car – and the voice of his father ‘greeting’ someone. The busybody-Alicia jumped out-off the bed and looked out the window, at the green Volvo…

“… ehh, what is the school counsellor – what’s her name… doing here?”

“You mean Ms King?”

“…yea, her…”

… Jane was confused about Diane King’s presence ‘here’ today – when she and Paul had met secretly with THE CURSED-TRIO’S ‘ALLY’ YESTERDAY morning at the Tea Leaves Café – where they had discussed strategies to contain Peter’s negative and destructive emotions.

The Chinese-girl then exclaimed out when she saw another car coming, and parking outside – it was a white Audi…

“Isn’t that Paul’s mom car?”

“… huh-what…?”

“Janey, are you-all expecting ‘visitors’ for lunch – I saw your mom cooking just now with Lola…?”

“I don’t know – I’m just a blind B-girl – they don’t bloody tell me anything around here…”

-O-

Caroline got off from her car and popped open the trunk to get Paul’s wheelchair. At the front passenger seat, Peter surveyed the milieu of the upper-class neighbourhood at the hillside. He scoffed when he saw a green old Volvo 740 parked at the gate of the Wilson residence…

‘… what is she doing here…? That bloody fake student counsellor with her Made-in-China tech…’

“Peter, get out of the car!”

The one-armed boy panicked…

“Hey-Mom, I’m sitting in the car and listen to my music – while Poe and you go-do to your apology-routine with the Wilsons – make it fast, yea, it is almost lunchtime…”

“No, you’re coming with us!”

‘… is it a trap? Is that Ms King going to hold a counselling session for me making out with Frenchie yesterday…? Are they going to ‘embarrass’ me in front of Janey?’

… Peter shouted out…

“This doesn’t CONCERN ME – Poe was the one who got into trouble at the zoo with Janey – I’m staying put here!”

“You get out of the car NOW! What anti-social behaviour is this when they see you sitting in the car on your own here…!!? When we go visiting – we go together as a family!”

… Peter scoffed -- as he followed behind Caroline who pushed his twin on the wheelchair.