THE SCHOOL BELL RANG FOR RECESS-TIME. Jane stepped out of the class with 2 boys – Kenny and Stan, who were her new found-friends. Peter was tagging behind her – and he noticed Jane was ‘popular’ with the boys, now that she was the senior.

Peter seemed to be an ‘invisible-teen’ in this-realm, and the-only cobber he had, was Terry Donovan, who-was walking in his-side. Peter HATED THIS WORLD, where the Perth’s Famous Couple-item did ‘not’ exist…

… after tons of hard work… EFFORTS AND RUSES to promote the brand.

Peter saw his twin-Paul coming out from the Boy’s Room and Jane calling-out…

“Pauly!”

Peter saw his ex-girlfriend hugging his depressed-looking twin, and was whispering words of comfort to him. They then-stood and talked… while Peter and Terry joined the rest of the students – walking over to the school canteen.

‘… what is Janey and Poe up-to…?’

-O-

Peter was in the food-line when he-next saw the them-both walking into the cafeteria. He ‘ditched’ Terry… deliberately waited and stalled till they-both got their food… just to sit in the rear. Peter sat behind them-in the canteen where-it was too-noisy to eavesdrop on their conversation. And, Paul was ranting…

“I was so-stupid thinking that it was ‘our’ Ali – and I kissed her and now, I’m in big trouble for sexual harassment… where Mrs Burnell slapped me with 3 months of good conduct and behaviour counselling. By the way, MRS BURNELL IS THE PRINCIPAL in this-world, and Tom Harris is the VP. Here, look-she gave me a memo-slip for the counselling.”

Jane held the memo, while he continued to rant…

“Then, I have to even apologize tomorrow-to this-Alicia’s parents in-person, and Mrs Burnell even would make my ‘other’ mother to come here… err-Jane…you know-right these are ‘not’ our parents ‘per-say’ – but from an altered reality of another version?”

Paul saw her nodding…with her blue-eyes, which were once-blind, were welling in tears.

“Jane. Are you alright?”

Peter saw his twin putting his hand at her upper-back, consoling her.

“Paul, I can’t… read nor write…”

“What you mean…?”

Jane explained the transformation from overnight from a blind to a sighted person, that she could ‘NOT’ RECOGNIZE alphabets of written words nor numeric numbers IN PRINT FORM.

Paul’s mouth gaped as he listened to HER FIRST-DAY’S PROBLEMS – as he-also recalled Mrs Burnell’s file…

… when she showed him that, they-both were AT THE BOTTOM-LAST in class.

She thought of QUITTING SCHOOL AND BLUFF HER PARENT that she had developed amnesia of forgetfulness – and they would believe-her because the teenaged-self version was suffering from depression-illness in this-world. Maybe to-be home-schooled, from bottom-up – until she was fit to sit for-her high school exam, in later years.

Paul’s heart sank – if Jane would quit-her schooling… then-he then would be-all ‘alone.’

“Come-on, Jane – you can’t quit on the first day, because this is ‘not’ our world, and we are ‘trapped’ here-in this reality, against-our-will – and-now, we must find every possible clues-and-ways to ESCAPE FROM HERE… me, I want to really go back home to my-mother and Alicia and you-too in the other-Perth – don’t you want TO GO BACK too, Jane?”

Paul saw her nodding slowly… cascading to self-awareness and realization to the dilemma…

“… ya, I ‘once’ had ‘more’ self-control and confidence as… a B-girl…”

After Paul realized that Jane was on-the-same-page, he ‘then’ developed an escape-strategy…

“All I know is that – the evil-Asmodeus IS BEHIND-ALL OF THIS because we had failed his-plans in Egypt-yesterday, where we blotched him from-using Peter’s blood-and-body, for the All-Father to walk on our-Perth.

“Now he is punishing the Cursed-trio by removing our-superpowers, and make us-normal and ‘whole’ in a world, where we don’t belong – but WE MUST UNITE to find-our strength and to do what-ever it takes to our-last might, to escape this prison of ‘this’ world-reality…

“… so-Jane, ARE YOU WITH ME – or – do you want to quit, and adapt to this-teenaged life, where we are ‘NOT’ AT-ALL PREPARED, after a big-bloody time-jump-of 5 years in flashforward?”

Jane held his hand, in agreement… as Paul continued…

“I thought about this a lot, just now-in the Boy’s-room, that there MUST BE A WAY for the-3 of us to get back… although Peter told me just now that he was fine being here – and does ‘not’ to leave.”

Paul then shared and narrated his-morning-visit with Peter – to his-NOW ‘ALIVE’ FATHER, who lived in his house that he architectured-and-built, and married to Lola, with 3 young-ones…

… Jane was ‘not’ surprised – and chuckled, and then-apologized…

Jane told him of her-own discovery, of that morning-too – where, the Wilson-household don’t know who-Lola was when she had earlier asked them…

They were-then interrupted, by a passing boy with a tray…

“Jane, don’t forget to come, okay?”

“Alright…” Replied the grinning Jane. When the boy was-away, Paul asked…

“Who is that?”

“That is Kenny McCormick, our ‘new’ classmate – he invited me to his birthday party.”

It was a familiar name, that confused Paul a bit, as he could ‘not’ place a human-face to it – then – he had an OMG moment, when he found out, it was a South Park character, of the TV cartoon, that he watched in Netflix…

… Kenny was an animated character, where the show’s creators ‘kill-him-and-bring-him-back-alive’ in each season of South Park series…

… so Asmodeus had included and assimilated the TV world-reality too into this realm, which-he had CREATED AND TRAPPED the Cursed Trio in it…

… poor-Jane wouldn’t have ‘known’ – as blind-girls don’t watch Netflix…

Paul didn’t want Jane to fall in the ruse-trap… he took out his iPhone and showed her a video. Jane saw HERSELF DRUNK with Peter and Paul and she recognized the ‘talkative’ Terry… was recording the video. She cringed when she saw her hooded teenaged-rebellious-self in…

… her-public property destruction of kicking Garbo-trashcans and ripping deco-lights wires in a street.

“I think you should ‘not’ go to this birthday-party – cos’ you and I can’t hold our-booze.”

Now she had realized ‘what’ her brother had-said in the car this morning of her past-drunken and rebellious behaviour – that landed her into trouble with the law and had also disappointed their parents. Samuel even warned her about the troublemakers and bad-influencer Walkers-twins. But Jane was grateful that Paul had shared – and made her aware of her’ teenager-self…

Jane too wanted to share-intel… and she took out her Samsung – and showed Paul of the wallpaper of her with a blonde-boy…

“Do you know ‘who’ is he?”

Jane opened the gallery of photo-files – of ‘them-both’ kissing for a peek-a-boo second, and withdrew the devise in-embarrassment…

Paul chuckled…

“That is your-Dougie, of ‘our’ world…”

Jane gasped and blushed…

“I want to break-up with him… I don’t want anything to do, with ‘any’ boyfriends anymore.”

Jane was peeved – thinking of her-Mummy of their-Perth… teasing her before, that Douglas was the ‘better’ choice of a boyfriend than the ‘loser,’ Peter.

Everyone in the canteen looked up, at the excited-voice of Principal Ann Burnell – came-on in the PA…

“ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL SHS STUDENTS – AFTER 2 YEARS OF HIS-ABSENCE, WE ARE PROUD TO PROCLAIM THAT OUR 131ST SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY WILL BE CELEBRATED IN 3 DAYS-TIME, WITH THE EMINENCE ARRIVAL OF OUR FOUNDING FATHER, LORD STAMFORD AMADEUS CROWLEY – WHO HAD RECOVERED FROM HIS ILLNESS, AND WOULD BE COMING TOMORROW TO PERTH FROM MANCHESTER, UK…

“… HE WOULD OFFICIATE THIS GLORIOUS EVENT, OF THE OPENING CEREMONY ON THE 11TH SATURDAY-EVENING. THERE WILL BE FUN-FILLED ACTIVITIES ON THAT NIGHT, WHICH-DETAILS OF STUDENT-CONTESTS WOULD BE POSTED ON THE NOTICEBOARD, BY THE END OF TODAY’S LAST LESSON…

“… I URGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE PARTICIPATE AND MAKE OUR-SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TO BE AN EVEN MORE MEMORABLE-ONE THIS YEAR. THANK YOU VERY-MUCH.”

Every-students roared like an in-a stadium, while – Paul did a mental calculation…

‘… today is the 8th… the visitors’ arrival on 9th, don’t know what happens on the 10th, and the ceremony on the 11th…’

“Wow, they take their school-anniversary ‘seriously’ over here! Who is visiting here, Paul?” Jane asked, looking-at students, going gaga in the canteen.

“Yea, I was at Mrs Burnell’s office, when I first heard-this some Lord of Manchester coming over – this Lord must-be the ‘son’ of the founding-father, I think…”

Seated behind them, was the-stoic Peter too was watching Stamford High in euphoria and was unfrazzled by-it, like his ‘own’ realm’s counterparts… until an-excited Zoe Williams came running to Jane – this-he was curious, and he got-up and pretended-being in the crowd, as he was eavesdrop with his back-turned…

“Gnarly-Jane – the good-Lord is coming this year. I’m so excited!”

The seated Jane shrugged her ‘I-do not care’ shoulders.

“Hey, have you got Dougie’s message in class just now?”

Jane nodded…

“Well, we are going for practice to the club-later, after school…”

“Not-coming forgot my racquet.”

“No worries, I have a spare – you can borrow mine.”

Zoe left their table, and so did Peter at the back… Jane sighed.

“Pauly, ‘what’ do I do? Should I go?”

“Yea, you-should go. It’s-just the ‘first’ day, let’s ‘not’ rock the boat-too much-yet – by-add more tension to spook these-people in ‘their’ world. We don’t need unnecessary attention.”

Paul looked up to see an afroed-Black tween approaching their table with a girl, who was-also of his skin-complexion. He was surprised that it was JANE’S BABY-BROTHER – who had ‘grown-up’ in this world.

“Sis, do you wanna drive-back or should I drive?”

“Okay-you drive…” Jane said softly, as she fished the key in her pocket, and gave him.

Jane was also surprised to notice THAT THE GIRL WHO was with Samuel – was her friend in her other-Perth, who was a senior student back-there, from Zimbabwe, named Aka Thandeka Ibori. Over here, she was a middle-school tween – and was Samuel’s girlfriend.

“Wow, he had-grown-biggg…” Paul said, and Jane chuckled… looking at the couple leaving.

-O-

THE SCHOOL-BELL rang and students were ready to return to their respective classes.

“So, you have your ‘own’ car, yea?” Paul said, standing up from the table. The embarrassed Jane replied…

“But I don’t know how to drive… don’t want to drive like a blind-bat either…”

Both laughed as they walked over, carrying their dirty-trays. Paul was distracted by the laughter of-the ‘blondes’ – Alicia and Charlotte were still seated talking with 2 senior boys. He can identify the Bruce Bronson, the cricket captain…

… the other teenager was an Asian, with spiked K-pop hairstyle…

‘So-Ali, that’s YOUR 'NEW' BOYFRIEND, huh …?’

His heart sank, as he sighed…

-O-

He walked fast to the west-wing – Peter came to THE HALL-OF-FAME where students came-to ‘first,’ when students passed the ‘display corner’ when they went to the gym. There were 3 showcases where behind the glass-windows where trophies-displayed, which the Stamford High had won, competing in the various school-sporting competition.

He was looking out for the photographs on the-wall – of past-and-present winners of each sports categories. Peter was FINDING FOR-HIS ‘OWN’ – where he won the tennis-Juniors of the school-division when he was in middle school.

He was upset that HE FOUND-NONE … then he saw Jane Wilson’s photo, receiving as an accolade – winning the school’s Sports-Girl of the Year, for this year. He also in a separate photo of Douglas Zimmerman who won the SHS tennis, as #1 in the Boys-category.

The school-bell rang to end of recess. He ran towards the way to the gymnasium – there was ‘something’ he was itching-to check-out…

Behold, he saw the basketball court was ‘in-tack’ – he ran-out, to the exit door to the outdoors… the 3 tennis-courts were in-tack too… BECAUSE IN-HIS WORLD, an earthquake had destroyed the school’s sports facilities…

‘… then why-Janey, are you bloody going to ‘your’ country-club for training?’

-O-

Jane and Paul both walked to their classroom – and were in their ‘further’ in-their discussion of this-world where the school’s phone-bombings did ‘not’ transpire-here – and neither did the Perth Great Fires. Paul told to Jane that he google-searched Queensland’s Great Barrier Reefs and its eco-system was safe too from harm, from the wrath of Asmodeus.

They-both were glad that EVIL HAD ‘NOT’ FOUND ITS ‘WAY’ over-here…

-O-

Paul wanted to go to the Boy’s Room and he excused himself to Jane. Paul stepped in, to find a vacant urinal with other students using them. His turn came, and he emptied his bladder.

He walked to wash his hands, at the 3 mirrored water-faucet sinks. He saw-up at the reflection a group of 4-boys, COMING FROM HIS REAR. They were Chinese.

2 boys came shoulder-to-shoulder to Paul, at the running-faucet. Then, the 4 of them, shouted at him at once, in their mother-tongue, and pointing fingers to warn – verbally abusing with cussing, to intimidate him. Paul did ‘not’ make any-eye contact, as he looked-low, at the running water.

Paul realised that he had kicked the Green Hornet’s nest – and pissed-off the clan of Bruce-Lees by kissing Alicia Wong just now.

They then left, leaving Paul shaking-all-over – as he regained his composure, and washed his face – realising that he was defencelessly vulnerable just now, surrounded by many, like his cripple-days…

… before he HAD-HIS SUPERPOWERS…

-O-

Paul stepped-out and he stepped-into his classroom – and faced hissing female-classmates who called him names like ‘pervert,’ ‘sex-maniac,’ and ‘Root-Rat.’ While the guys were laughing and hooting in-chorus.

Paul did ‘not’ make any eye-contact either…

He-felt further humiliated and sighed, before he sat behind his desk.

<>

THE CURSED TRIO SPENT THE NEXT FEW lessons-periods in deep-thoughts, of being-back in their own-Perth – a place where the 3 have ‘not’ possess their perfect-bodies…

… but they have CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES. both at home and at school.

Jane was back being insecure of herself who could ‘not’ read nor write – with teachers-to-her were scribbling gibberish, with squiggling markings on the whiteboard. She regretted ‘not’ having her AI Boyyo study-aid – where she was-then, being among the Top-students in her class.

Now all she saw was question-marks of her future final examinations.

Paul can’t concentrate as he was thinking of his beloved-Alicia ‘back-home’ who had recovered from her irreversible coma after being ‘clobbered’ by Jim Hatcher… ‘but’ was a Geography teacher in this Perth-country. He also thought of his mom, of whether the versions of her twin-sons, ‘still’ exist in-their world, staying under-one-roof, of the Walker House.

His first-day in Perth-country had been disastrous ever since, he stepped into the classroom – where he got into trouble for kissing the ‘other’ teenaged-Alicia.

Now, he had a bad name in the classroom, and would-be in further trouble, once when he went back to Joe Dickson’s house later.

Furthermore, he had to go to a 3-month of personal counselling… with the school counsellor whom he would-see later…

‘… how ‘different’ would Ms King-be…? She was the friend-of-the Cursed-trio, and our-ally...back-there…’

-O-

Where-else Peter was confused about IN-BETWEEN ‘BOTH’ REALITIES – and was judging-Jane severely and harshly for her achievements in tennis… from his ‘overnight’ drug-withdrawal…

… which-was making him edgy, by every jealous and envious thought.

Later, it was Mr Alexander Hull’s History lesson that last period...

… both Peter and Terry’s DESKS WERE EMPTY – they both were in the school’s car park and were smoking and passing around a crack pipe in the car. After they were ‘charged-up,’ Peter started the DeLorean, and had plans to go to town and…

… repair his broken BABOLAT – HIS WEAPON-OF-CHOICE.