Mackay: Back to school Monday morning. Janet made them all lunch, and packed it into their lunch boxes. "Remember, if you say a word of this to anyone, I'll, I'll, ah..." said Jenny. "You'll hold him down while I bash him unconscious with his school bag." said Carmen. "Carmen! Please." said Catalina. "Welcome back to your school life, ladies." said Mr Daskalov. There was much surprise from the other students. "Silence, please. I'm sure they will tell you all the details about their exciting times during lunch." At the end of the lesson, he made an announcement. "I was going to give you lot a test tomorrow, which I'm sure you are all fully prepared for... However the two girls certainly won't be, so I'm delaying it until next Monday. So Carmen and Jenny, if you could please take this respite to study up on what you have missed in the past two weeks?" The class before lunch was mathematics. Ms Williams, the cute one, expressed her joy at seeing the girls again. She went up to each one and personally welcomed her back, putting her hands on their shoulders. Some of the boys got just slightly envious of such attention. "The maths test that should have been this week will be delayed until next week. If the girls can arrange to get notes from someone in class?" All during this, Mackay made sure to stay as far away as possible from the girls, and never to look in their directions. And they never looked at him, although they did speak to each other occasionally. At lunchtime, Seff and Handel claimed Mackay and they retreated to the far off bench in the school grounds. "What the hell happened? Those girls were supposed to be dying, then you visit them and here they are, back to normal." said Handel. "Yeah, what gives?" said Seff. "Well, ah, I suppose, they got better?" said Mackay. "What sort of answer is that?" said Seff. "And, anyway, how did your visit to them go on Saturday?" said Handel. "Ah, well, they weren't all that happy to see me, which is perfectly understandable, and, well, their health improved and so, well, here they are." "Also, how did your date go, Seff?" Handel and Seff exchanged glances which clearly said "Something is very fishy here". They decided to give up for the time being. Seff told them about his date. He left out all mention of Daisy being raped at some point in the past. "Well, that's certainly a good start," said Handel. "But, her parents don't know about this?" said Mackay. "Relax. I'm sure Daisy will tell them at the appropriate moment." said Seff. Handel then decided to fill them in on his interaction with Harmony. "Why, that's amazing! Maybe you will end up with her after all." said Seff. "No, no, it is strictly platonic!" said Handel. He sounded annoyed. "Never mind, I'm sure everything will work out to everyone's satisfaction!" said Mackay, doing his best to sooth ruffled feathers. Janet: Gets a summary of the progress of the investigation There was also a gathering across the road at the police station. Janet and Charlie walked into the office that had been allocated to detective inspector Parker. "I've heard the news. And I must say you two look considerably happier than the last time I saw you." said Parker. "You bet we are. Things have gone from horrible gut wrenching tragedy to being merely a damned annoying farcical comedy." said Charlie. "But I'll take it, anyway." said Janet. Some more people came into the room. "Sorry, there's not enough chairs, nor much room, so you will have stand at the back." said Parker. "Janet and Charlie, this is the team I've been assigned for the investigation. While you have been occupied the last few weeks with your own troubles, we have made some progress. Unfortunately not all that much." He pointed to one of the people present, who was carrying a bucket with some water in it. "Forensics has produced a detailed report, but in essence this was how the attempted murder was done." He took the bucket and placed it on the floor. Out of his briefcase, he withdrew a small sealed packet. He broke the seal and opened it to show a single clear plastic pill capsule. "This is empty, but the one used would have been bright blue since it contained the poison. It's some sort of chemical which is used during a processing stage involving the manufacture of certain highly specialised high temperature plastics. It just so happens that it is highly poisonous, as you found out." He got a dab of wall putty, and stuck the pill inside the bucket, a centimetre above the water line. "These plastic capsules are designed to rapidly dissolve in water and release their contents. So, as soon as one of the girls had picked up the bucket because it was right in the middle of the area where the projector table went..." He picked up the bucket. Little waves sloshed from side to side. Within seconds the capsule had dissolved. "Instant booby trap, no complex mechanisms required." Janet and Charlie stared at the bucket. The others looked at their faces and decided to be quiet. After a while, Charlie scratched his head. "I've been trying to recall my chemistry classes. If the capsule dissolves so fast in water, doesn't that imply that even being left alone above the water line, it will still eventually dissolve anyway?" "A-ah! That is one of the major points covered in the forensics report. You are correct; it would have dissolved anyway within a couple of hours. This is why the capsules come in individual sealed packets." "So the attempt must have been set up no more than, say, an hour before hand?" said Janet. "Correct. Obviously, that has implications when we try to narrow down the suspects. Also, for lack of any other ideas, for the time being we are assuming that the perpetrator is the same as the one who attacked your daughter." Janet clenched her fists. "Right. So what have you come up with so far?" The meeting continued. Janet: Coping with nuisance and disruption The afternoon at Janet's house was, shall we say, somewhat strained. They sat in a row while waiting for tea. "Normally I do some homework now." said Carmen. "Normally I do my laundry and water my veggie garden now." said Jenny. "Normally I play some computer games now." said Mackay. They sat there, visibly irritated, looks of resentment on their faces. "Well, since the girls have to study hard for their tests why not have Mackay take out his notes and help you?" said Janet. Hopefully. Lacking anything else to do, they studied. They had their evening meal, and did some more after the meal. Catalina arrived, and eventually the teenagers were tucked away in their beds, sound asleep. "This is getting a bit strained, don't you think?" said Janet, speaking to Catalina across the sleeping bodies of three teenagers. "Yes." said Catalina, "but at least the girls no longer think he is evil incarnate." "No. They now merely think he is a complete nuisance and a total disruption to their lives." "This, after all, is perfectly true. Also it's true from Mackay's point of view." "I wish life was just a tiny weensy bit simpler." Mackay: Damage control School lunchtime on Tuesday. "Guess what? I saw Carmen and Jenny eating lunch together." said Handel. "I don't recall they were ever friendly towards each other before." said Seff. "Well, I, err, suppose being in hospital and all must have been a bonding experience?" said Mackay, as he opened his lunch box. "I suppose so, hey! You have the same lunch as they do!" said Handel. "I, err, what? Ah, must be a coincidence! Just a coincidence!" said Mackay. Seff and Handle exchanged some more glances. "And also, from what I hear from Harmony, neither girl is very forward about their experiences." said Handel. Mackay grabbed the opportunity with both hands. "So, you have actually have been talking to Harmony!" he said. "That's right. Not much, mind you, but a little." said Handel. Over the evening meal. "Oh, Janet, one of my friends noticed that I had the same lunch as the two girls." "Ark! Mum, make his totally different tomorrow!" said Jenny. After tea. "Hmm, Janet, thanks for the meal, and perhaps I and the girls should do the washing up for once?" said Mackay. "What! But mum always does that." said Jenny. "Yes, but..." "And I suppose that you were always a perfect little son and helped with the dishes at home?" said Carmen. "Well, no, I was, err, somewhat reluctant. But now that we are..." "Look, just shut up! This is my home, not yours." said Jenny. "Ah, dear, perhaps..." said Janet. Jenny stormed off. Closely followed by Carmen. Mackay was left; face red, facing Janet in the kitchen. "While I appreciate the sentiment and we will have to work out something eventually, but I think it's a bit too early for it right now." said Janet. "Ok." After school, at the school gates, on Wednesday. "I've got another date with Daisy!" said Seff, "We're visiting a coffee shop where you can order coffee and do a bit of study also." "Well, good luck." said Mackay. "Wait. There is something going on here, isn't there. I'm sure I seen those two girls glaring at you, and more than once at that." said Handel. "Ah, well, you know, they weren't all that happy to see me on Saturday morning, and, ah, see you!" said Mackay. And he turned and briskly walked off. Fortunately Janet's house was in the same direction has his own. Before he got out of range, he heard Seff saying to Handel: "There really is something strange going on." Seff and Daisy: Second date Seff and Daisy arrived at the same time at the coffee shop. Down one side, there were a number of small tables separated from each other by head high partitions, giving a bit of privacy. They sat next to each other, a coffee and cake in front of each, some homework notes to either side. Seff: Now's my chance. "Ah, may I kiss you again?" he said. "Y-Yes" Daisy: This is so nice. Someone is eager for my friendship and companionship. Seff: This is so nice. Her lips are so soft and warm. "About what you told me the other day, ah, well, are you going all right?" said Seff. I need to make sure she really is ok with all of this. "Yes, yes, I, I generally cope. It's only sometimes that it comes back and haunts me. And up to now I've never been able to tell anyone about it." She was holding his hand for reassurance. "It's Ok; you can talk it over with me." He squeezed her hand gently. And lowered their hands so that they were resting on her thighs. She let him. One coffee each. One cake each. Half an hour going over their homework and comparing notes. As it turned out, they both had a few tips and pointers to give to the other. An hour later, with improved homework assignments, Daisy decided she had better get going. "I still haven't told my parents, they think I'm studying late at the school library. Although I would only dare doing that if I had the company of two or three girls." "Ok. Ah, well, perhaps, may I call you my girlfriend?" said Seff. Daisy took a breath. "Ah." "Ok." "Yes you may." Big smile from Seff. Nice smile from Daisy. They got up and left. Mackay: Lead up to an all hands on deck discussion Seff may have enjoyed his date, but as for Mackay's Wednesday night? "Jenny, have you watered your vegetable patch yet?" asked Jiro. "No. How can I when I'm stuck next to him?" She jerked her right hand up and pointed to her left. Since she was always on his right hand side. It was sheer chance the first time they sat in a row, and they had maintained the order ever since. "Oh, that's all right, I'll do it for you." "Shall we do some studying now?" said Mackay. "Why do we have to always be studying when he says so?" said Carmen. The two mothers worked overtime and eventually managed to soothe some feathers. On Thursday, the tension began to spill over at school as well. The two girls were sitting at a table in the cafeteria when Mackay happened to walk past. He had no intention of sitting with them, or even acknowledging their presence, but Carmen was not able to control herself. "Stop bugging us, you horrible boy!" said Carmen. "Ah, Carmen?" said Jenny. "What? You taking his side now?" said Carmen. This was all overheard by Seff and Handel. And by coincidence, as the three boys kept walking past the tables, they saw another little drama. Turquoise was sitting alone at a table, eating her meal and carefully not looking at anyone. "Why, it's timid mousey Turquoise." said Hyacinth, who had just appeared from another direction. "This is the only spare table for my group, but it's got you spoiling it. So be a good little timid girl and just go, hey?" Turquoise looked up, a little mouse that had just had its tailed pinned to the ground by the foot of a large cat. She nodded and grabbed her stuff, ready to bolt for it. As soon as the cat lifted its paw. Normally Mackay, and the other two boys also, would have ignored this low level bullying. Normally they would not be confident enough to intervene. But having had an Angle of Death glare at him and talk about being responsible for his so-called harem, Mackay was no longer in that happy normal state. "Hey, she can sit there, she got there first you know." Hyacinth glared at him, a full power ten-kilowatt glare. It might not have been as bad as Esmeralda's, but he discovered he still wasn't immune against it. "Ha, sorry, sorry." He started to retreat. And to add to his discomfort, Turquoise also gave him a disparaging look. Sigh. Apparently, she regards me as being just as threatening as Hyacinth. What's she so scared about, anyway? "What the hell was all of those interactions about?" said Handel. "Ah, can we change the topic, please. Like, how did Seff's date go?" "Sure, sure." said Seff. Seff gave his updates. "Wow, so now you have a girlfriend, no doubts about it." said Mackay. "That's pretty good!" said Handel, "I honestly didn't think you would be able to make so much progress in such a short time." "I'm envious." said Mackay, "The way things are going for me, don't be surprised to find out one of these days that I've been murdered in my sleep." "Eh, what?" said Seff. But Mackay refused to say anything more, much to the irritation of the other two boys. The atmosphere was brittle at that evening meal. "Dad, could you pass the tomato sauce, please?" said Jenny. In spite of the fact that Jiro had to reach further for it than Mackay would have. "Sorry." mumbled Mackay. "Mum, could you tell him not to scrape his knife over the plate so much. It's a really irritating noise." said Carmen. "Sorry." said Mackay. "And I'm sick and tired of all of this intensive study. Can't we have a break for once?" said Jenny. "Sorry." "And stop saying Sorry all of the time!" said Carmen. In a voice that indicated she was getting to the end of her tether, and her next actions might include a hand axe and lots of blood being unfortunately spilt all over the place. "So-" Gulp. Later that night, Catalina and Janet sat in their beds next to their sleeping daughters, looking at each other. "Janet, if they keep this up I'm going to end up murdering someone myself." "That could be extremely embarrassing, especially considering the number of police officers in our ad hoc family." "I know what; let's call in all the parents tomorrow night. And get Mary to run some sort of group session. After all, that is one of the things she does professionally." So the next morning, the teenagers were informed that there would be a little discussion group that night, all parents invited. Discussion Group That Friday night, they pushed the furniture in Janet's lounge area up to the walls, leaving an area in the middle. The three teenagers sat in the middle, surrounded by a circle of adults, each pair of parents roughly behind their child. The teenagers were sitting comfortably on the carpeted floor. The mothers were managing well, also. The fathers, not so much. Their legs and backs were a bit too stiff, so they leant awkwardly against the nearest wall or sofa. "As Jenny in particular knows, I run various counselling groups at the hospital, so that is what we are going to be doing here." said Mary. "It is becoming more and more noticeable that you three are not getting along as well as we would all like, so how about we talk about it?" Nods of cautious assent from them. "To start with, how about we have some words from each of you, starting with Mackay." "Well, Ah, This is all so embarrassing. I've never so much as had a girlfriend, and suddenly I'm living with two girls, and sleeping right next to them, and they regard me with contempt or outright fear, and, really, the price I'm paying is starting to drag me down." While Mackay was taking a breath, Carmen barged right in. "The price you pay? What about the price we pay? I have my life to live, but I'm chained to this callow boy. Ok, I'll grant you that you appear to be a reasonably nice boy, but nonetheless. I'm stuck with you! I have to sleep next to you! It's so horrible, and what am I going to say to the kids at school if they ever find out?" She was on a roll. She had been building up steam the last few days and was taking the chance to let it all out. "I had my life planned out. Pass my school exams. Get into university. Get some degree that showed that I was intelligent and a hard worker. Find some rich and influential alpha male to marry. Someone who appreciates my good looks and my intelligence and who decides I am a worthy enough match for him. And instead, I'm shackled to some teenage boy! No one's going to look at me now." Carmen's parents carefully kept neutral looks on their faces, and did not look at the other adults. The others all looked a little surprised. "Huh? You want to marry an alpha male based on material possessions. What about love?" said Mackay. "What would you know about such things? Of course there will be love, we will be such a good match it will be inevitable!" "Ah, yeah, you're right, I wouldn't have a clue." Carmen gave him a look that could scorch paint. Fortunately, it did not reach as far as the walls of Janet's lounge room. They had just been freshly painted. She half turned away from him, crossing her arms in front of her. "You and your Angel of Death. You must have planned this, didn't you? Since you are obviously totally incapable of getting any girls in any other way." "No, really, this is all beyond my mortal powers to influence." "Carmen, remember, without Mackay's, and Esmeralda's, intervention, you would have been, ah, you know..." said Catalina. Sigh. "Yes, yes." Carmen became silent for a moment. So Jenny took the opportunity to vent her own frustrations. "The price you both pay? What about my price? Last year I was raped. It shattered my feelings of safety and comfort I used to have. Now, whenever I go outside of my home I move in fear. For every man I see, I see a potential attacker. Every time I hear footsteps behind me, my heart starts racing, I feel the fear rising, is some man's hand going to reach around and grab me? It's even worse at school. I keep thinking that the one who raped me might be, this very instance, within sight. Or, perhaps, sitting behind me in class. Looking at me, thinking about the time he raped me. It is so exhausting, dealing with my fears. I try to hide them, but I know I don't always succeed. So consequently, I'm now regarded as a weirdo. I don't have any friends, I'm too nervous to speak to anyone, least it ends up to me having to speak to a male." Jenny was panting, beginning to shake. She was pointing at Mackay as she spoke. Right behind her, both parents had outstretched arms, but they managed to refrain from holding her at the moment. "My parents looked after me, they are wonderful. And my home was my sanctuary. A safe refuge from the terrors outside. Where I could relax, tend my veggie garden, do my homework, read books. And now even that is invaded! Not only are there extra adults, but I have to put up with Mackay's intrusive presence in my personal life. Invading my personal space. Ok, Ok, I have accepted that he is not a rapist. He is safe, yeah, but that doesn't stop my automatic associations, you know. I know that the vast majority of men outside are safe, are kind. Not all men and all of that. But all men, except my dad, trigger my horrible associations. Even knowing Mackay is a nice person, I still feel horribly at ease. And my life is dependent on his presence! What sort of sick joke of a price to pay is that?" Jenny was getting more and more agitated. She was now waving around her hands. Her parents were holding each other’s arms and freaking out almost as much as she was. "I just wish I didn't have to sleep right next to a stupid man! Why couldn't it have been a girl? Or just my mum? I hate it!" By now, she was crying. She gave one last frantic sweep of her arms - and managed to whack Mackay just under his jaw. Mackay gasped in pain, and slowly toppled sideways onto the carpet. Since he was already sitting, there was no harm done. That is, no extra harm done. "Mackay!" said his mother. Both parents lunged forward to grab him. They managed to collide with each other and took a few moments to sort themselves out, before propping him up. "Ugh, ah, it's Ok mum, it doesn't hurt all that much. Really." "Oh. I hit him. I hit him. I'm no better than any other violent person." said Jenny, looking at her hand. "Now what?" She leant forward, head down, hands on the ground supporting her, crying. At this point, Carmen crawled over and hugged Jenny from behind. Just beating Janet from doing so. "Jenny, it's all right. I really do think you should regard Mackay as another safe man in whose presence you can relax. I mean, look at him. He has tears in his eyes. You just belted him one in the face, but he has made no attempt to fight back. He's trying to protect you. He's a safe man. I mean, think about it. If he really didn't care about us, what is there stopping him from just going away? The police? Our parents would try, but he would complain to their bosses. What law would he be breaking? None. How far do you think this story about angelic intervention would go, with the official police force? He could leave us to die, but he doesn't. Even at great cost to himself, he is still doing is utmost to look after us. And then, he is also caring for us by respecting our boundaries, as much as possible. What could we do, or our parents do, if he demanded some 'favours’ from us? He could make lots of revolting demands of us; we would be left with the option of either succumbing to them, or dying. But he does nothing like that." Carmen stopped to get her breath back and her thoughts together. "Perhaps I should apologise to Mackay. I will." Big breath. "Mackay, I really am sorry for all of my not very nice remarks to you. I recognise that this is also difficult for you, and in future I shall try to be friendlier." "That's fine, ah, fine." said Mackay. He extended a hand, and Carmen, who still had both hands wrapped around Jenny's waist, extended one. They held hands. And, as an incidental benefit, Carmen could sense healing power she was now receiving from him. Not a benefit to be ignored. Even in spite of everything that was happening right now, it made her feel better emotionally. "Safe. A safe person to be with. Mackay is. Ok, I'll do my best to take that." said Jenny. She reached out a hand herself, and held his other hand. And also, as an incidental benefit, receiving the healing power. They held the pose for a minute, then released and sat back from each other. Their parents relaxed and let the tension drain from their bodies. Half an hour later, for lack of anything else to do, they were in a line in their beds, sleeping. Their six parents walked softly out of the room, and gathered in the dining room. "Catalina, you can drive. 'cause I need a beer." said Charlie. "Like hell I'm driving. I need a beer too." she replied. "Hey! No arguing. As the ranking officer here, I order you to both have a beer or two, then sleep over. After all, we have a bedroom reserved just for you for these occasions. Now, if Jiro would like to bring out the beer, and a bottle of wine for us?" said Janet. "Oh, and what does Mary and Merton drink?" she added. "Coffee. One strong coffee each, please." said Mary. "Jiro! Two strong coffees. Also, you two might as well sleep over too. After all, everyone here wants to see how they act tomorrow morning, don't they?" said Janet. "What about your youngest daughter?" said Catalina, as she opened a cold can of beer and poured it into a glass. "We arranged a sleepover for her at her friend's" said Merton, sipping his coffee. Charlie drank straight from the can. "Bloody hell. I actually didn't realise just how badly Jenny was messed up by all of that." Neither Janet nor Jiro replied, they were busy drinking their wine and staring into space. "I'm afraid that Jenny is one of those victims who are the most affected. Every case is different, some cope better, some worse. And Jenny is definitely on the worse end of the spectrum. I won't say anything more because of confidentiality and so on, but... I really feel for her." said Mary. Janet was feeling just a little bit mellower now, with a glass of wine inside her. "My congratulations to Mary and Merton for raising such a safe, responsible boy!" "Hey, I can go with that!" said Charlie, holding up his empty beer can. "Well, what do you know. Melissa is going to go into shock when she hears that someone has called Mackay responsible." said Merton. The next morning. Three teenagers, not looking particularly perky, shuffled into the empty dining room. They were dressed and ready for breakfast. Carmen sniffed. "Has someone been drinking beer?" She looked into the bin. "Yep, thought so, empty cans. Probably my parents." "And judging by the empty wine glasses in the sink, my parents had a drink as well." said Jenny. Mary and Merton came into the room, looking frazzled and tired. "We just drank coffee. More to the point, how are you all?" said Mary. Mackay was now sitting, with Carmen to the left and Jenny to the right. "Well, I do feel more relaxed. I believe that no one will be murdered in the near future." said Mackay. The girls nodded their agreement. There was another all hands on deck meeting at lunch time. "This meeting is of a more practical nature." said Janet. "The thing is, you can't keep this a secret forever, you know. Eventually it's going to come out that Mackay has acquired what appears to be a harem. The more you try to suppress the information, the more your school companions will read into it." said Charlie. "Harem? Like hell, I wouldn't be in a harem with..., ah, no, wait, I mustn’t be negative. At least not too negative." said Carmen. Catalina decided to get in fast, before Carmen could make any more comments. "Good idea. We really need to map out a campaign to release this information, and work out what you lot can say to your school mates..." "Well, just as long as the fact that I was, was, you know, what happened last year, is kept a big secret." said Jenny. "And no one says a word about my future life plans." said Carmen. "Ok" said Mackay. "And I will have a chat with the school principle." said Janet.