Saskias: The second book in the Saskia story

damages.

One

Friday evening. Saskia rang. Mobile phone so I answered as Saskia rather than Richie.

Saskia, I’ve had a call from James. He wants to enlist our aid for a project he’s planning. Some sort of charity do apparently. Can we go and see them sometime tomorrow?

Shouldn’t be a problem. We hadn’t planned anything else had we?

Nope. Are you staying with me all weekend as usual?

Mm. If you’ll have me of course.

I’ll have to think about it. She spoiled the moment by giggling.

Ok. See you tomorrow.

Saturday. I presented myself at Saskia’s. Her dad, Rob, answered the door. Hello you. How are you today?

Very well thank you.

Saskia appeared and gave me a hug and a quick kiss.

Rob watched all this with his usual tolerant smile. He loved Saskia and I was fairly sure he considered me the second daughter he’d never had.

Are you going to make your own way to the Robinsons or do you need a lift? I’m going to the garage this morning so it’s no problem.

Thanks, Dad. That’d be great. Saves the legs no end.

I knew she didn’t mean that as we could have flown there in only a couple of minutes. Saskia’s dad had no idea about our super powers - or about my curious background. To preserve the appearance of us being normal girls, it was easier to let Rob drive us. We were decidedly not normal girls, not after our unseen guardian we called simply Voice had done mucking about with us.

Ok. Bus leaves in ten minutes.

Saskia, shall we blag some time in the Robinson’s pool? If we are, we’re going to need to organise quickly.

Right. Upstairs, quick. Just be a minute, Dad.

We rushed upstairs to Saskia’s room, touching only about every third step. Two swimsuits and towels and stuff were pushed into a bag and we were downstairs again in only a couple of minutes. Being able to move at super speed helped of course.

Saskia’s dad was fine until we went over the bridge across the river. Then he went quiet and pensive, obviously remembering the car going off the bridge and into the river and us girls having to pull his unconscious self out of the water.

Brrr. Don’t like that bridge.

Don’t worry, Dad. We’ll look after you, ehh Saskia?

No problem. Saskia and Saskia, the two-girl emergency service.

So I’m just going to dump you here, abandon you at the gate? Will you want picking up? Knowing you two you’ll persuade James to let you ride home in chauffeur driven comfort.

"Yep. Chuck us out as you go past. If we’re not coming home for lunch we’ll let you know. What did we do before mobile phones?"

Shouted a lot?

We got out of the car giggling. We were still giggling when Jeeves, the Robinson’s butler, answered our ring at the door.

Ah. Miss Saskia and Miss Saskia. You appear to be in a good mood today. It will match Mr James who is particularly ebullient this morning.

Jeeves, you need a licence to use long words like that. And before lunch too, said Saskia.

Hey, that’s my line I said.

Good though, isn’t it? I just nicked it and filed off the serial numbers.

The most we could ever get out of Jeeves was a slight grin. In his case that was probably equivalent to rolling on the floor with tears streaming down your face.

Mr James is in the morning room.

We know where that is. We’ll find our own way. You can go back to polishing the spoons or whatever you do in the kitchen. Save your legs a bit

Thank you Miss Saskia. Your concern for my welfare is gratifying.

We left Jeeves and hurried to the morning room.

James was already there. Hello, you two. How are you today?

"Fine thank you. Jeeves says you’re ebullient. He does have a licence for long words doesn’t he?"

If he hasn’t, I’ll see to it right away. Find a seat and I tell you what’s going on.

We curled up in a couple of nice soft chairs and James continued, Every year about this time Lydia and I host a charity auction and ball in aid of cancer research. Perhaps you didn’t know that’s what my father died of several years ago.

Oh, poor James. We’re both really sorry to hear that. I nodded as Saskia spoke.

Why, thank you girls. It’s good of you to say that. Anyway, each year we have a dinner and a little entertainment. I thought you and your friends might like to come and dance for us? If you can make the same impression on fat rich people as you did on Rob’s friends we’ll be in for a good evening. On second thoughts, I take back the bit about fat and rich. Rob will be there so name calling isn’t fair.

Hmm. The dancing isn’t a problem, I’m sure the girls will be up for that. I bet all their dads’ll be at your bash anyway.

You’re probably right at that but you’re plotting something else aren’t you. I can tell.

We-ell. If you don’t think it’s too tacky, Saskia and I think we might persuade the girls to sing as well.

That could be brilliant. Add a bit of charm to a scoffing and boozing do.

Give us chance to get ‘em together and have a go and we’ll see what happens.

At that point Jeeves came in with some drinks and stuff. Putting it on the table he said, Miss Saskia, I have made enquiries and can find no information on the requirement for a licence to use long words. Are you sure you are correct?

All three of us goggled at him. James saw the joke first. He almost fell off his chair. Touché Jeeves. I think that’s one to you for a change. Saskia and Saskia will have to try harder.

Oh, Jeeves, be careful. It might turn out you have a sense of humour after all, I said.

Saskia said a little more seriously, Jeeves, does it bother you that we continually try to make you laugh? If it does we will stop as of now.

Miss Saskia, it does not bother me at all. Besides, I know that if you succeed and I do burst out laughing, you will be instantly contrite and apologise - as you did with Milly in the swimming pool.

James was still laughing gently, "Jeeves has definitely got you bang to rights young Saskia. I think he’s quite right too."

Jeeves continued, Having taken note of a bag containing what I take to be towels and swimming apparel I have taken the liberty of preparing the pool for use after your meeting with Mr. James. Will that be suitable?

Saskia put on her best speaking voice, Most suitable. Thank you very much.

It is my pleasure. Jeeves withdrew.

Far be it for me to keep you from a date with my swimming pool. Drink up whatever concoction Jeeves brought you and off you go. No, better still take it with you, go on, shoo.

We know when we’re not wanted. With noses in the air we made for the door. As we reached it I heard Saskia whisper, "Turn and grin. Make sure he knows we don’t really mean it"

I’m sure he knows that, silly.

Nothing like making sure. Three, two, one, go! This meant we both did the same thing at exactly the same time, then we skipped out of the door leaving James with a bemused smile on his face.

As we struggled into swimsuits Saskia said, A cancer charity. I wish we could do more to raise money, more directly than just dancing and singing. Must give it some thought.

Do you think the girls will do it? And what about the singing? I asked.

I reckon we should try Scarborough Fair, you know, the one we sang together when Dad heard us. You said at the time there were more words that needed more voices?

There’s a version by Simon and Garfunkel which is known as Canticle. It has counterpoint lines in it, sort of in between the song lines. It’s a bit anti-war but I don’t suppose that matters.

Can we try it with just the two of us?

Ok. You sing the normal song - remember it? - and I’ll try to sing the counterpoint.

We sang it right through and in true Saskia fashion it was perfect first time. The cat was out of the bag though, Lydia had heard the tail end of it as she came into the pool to see how we were doing.

What are you two up to. That was beautiful. What was it and will you do it again?

Dutifully we sang it again. That’s Scarborough Fair isn’t it? I’ve never heard it like that before.

As we sat on the edge of the pool we explained what we’d said to James. We need to see if the girls can do it first.

Hmm. Don’t wait too long before you try them. The dinner is in a fortnight.

Lydia didn’t know. The girls would be able to do it perfectly first go thanks to the Saskia magic, the ability to pass on experience by a kind of telepathy. All part, apparently, of our super powers.

Lydia was still speaking. Are you two staying for lunch? Milly’s cooking, probably burger and chips."

We’d had Milly’s burger and chips before. No question. We’d love to. I’ll need to ring Dad and let him know.

I’ll do that while you have an hour in the pool. Enjoy. Lydia left to tell James what she’d heard, to ring Rob, and to put Milly on red alert in the kitchen.

An hour in the pool should have left us all pink and crinkly. Given our other super powers it seemed only natural that prolonged immersion affected the girlish complexion not at all. We didn’t really need to get dry, including our hair, we could just change to be dry either with clothes or not. We used the towels, just in case Lydia or Milly came in. We did use the Saskia Hair Organisation Technique, or SHOT, to ‘dry’ and ‘brush’ our hair, much less bother.

Lunch might have been burger and chips but that still meant sitting at a proper table with knives and forks and stuff. Milly served us herself.

Milly, any chance you could give our local McDonalds some tips on how to make burger and chips? No? Thought not. Oh well. Just have to get invited here more often then. said Saskia.

James just grinned. Milly makes these to a secret recipe, handed down from mother to daughter for untold generations.

"Come on James. Burgers haven’t been around that long. Pretty good though," said Lydia.

Perhaps we should teach Milly Saskia’s frisbee recipe, said Saskia.

What on earth are frisbees? You can’t eat them, can you? I thought they were plastic.

I laughed as I said, More frisbee-shaped than actual frisbees. I explained about the filled yorkshire pudding meal we did for Rob every now and then. Saskia’s dad likes it anyway.

Hmm. I’ll get Milly to swap you her secret burger recipe for your secret frisbee recipe. How’s that?

Saskia’s secret frisbee recipe, handed down from mother to daughter for untold generations. I like it

Well, actually, handed down from Saskia to Saskia only at the moment.

Conversation lapsed at that point as Milly produced the food. After lunch James said, Do you two want a lift home then?

Yes please if it’s not too much bother. Saskia’s dad doesn’t like the bridge any more, I said.

I can’t say I’m surprised. It must have been pretty horrible, said Lydia.

"Oh Dad was out cold, it was the two of us that had to cope with the horrible bit."

"Yes but that’s not the point. You did very well by all accounts but your dad probably thinks about what would have happened to you if he’d been killed. And think how he would have felt if you’d been killed."

Lydia, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t thought of it like that. You’re quite right. Extra-special hug for Dad tonight.

That’s the spirit. I’ll get Arnold to bring the car round although from what I hear you could drive yourself given half a chance Saskia Chandler.

"Err. Yes. Well. I probably couldn’t really drive on a normal road, you can’t go round corners on the wrong side for a start."

Did you really knock spots off all the older boys? said James.

While I was looking at my feet in embarrassment, Saskia said, You should have seen her! Lewis Hamilton had better watch out that’s all I can say.

Well, Arnold’s going to drive and he’d better go round all the corners on the correct side or there’ll be trouble.

Of course the truth was slightly different. I could drive quite normally as either Richie or Saskia but I had a feeling I’d better leave that sort of thing to Richie.

If the neighbours around Saskia’s were impressed by us turning up in a posh chauffeur driven car every now and then nobody actually said. We spent the afternoon polling the rest of the girls by phone to see what they thought.

It seemed that all their parents would be at James’ do anyway so they were all more or less enthusiastic - about the dancing anyway. I can’t sing a note, confessed Charlie. She wasn’t the only one who didn’t think highly of their own singing voice. We needed to get them all together.

Reckon we can blag the school hall for an hour or two?

Hmm. Maybe. Let’s set the wheels in motion and see what gets run over.

Saskia rang Lydia. Lydia told James. James spoke to Mr. Turner. Mr Turner spoke to Mrs Turner. Mrs Turner rang Saskia. Mrs Turner was Saskia’s school head teacher.

Rob was still out so Saskia answered the phone. Hello? Oh, hello, Mrs Turner.

I turned up my super hearing to listen to both sides of the conversation.

"The Lodge tom-tom drums have been beating. I hear you want the hall again. What is it this time?"

James Robinson has asked us to do some entertainment at his cancer charity event. We wondered if we could have a practise and try to work out something else we have in mind. The school hall is the ideal place, if you see what I mean.

Well, if it’s anything like last time it should be a roaring success. How about tomorrow? About two in the afternoon? I have to be there anyway so it’s really not going to be a bother.

Oh, could we? That’d be brilliant. Would you mind if I check with the girls and call you back?

That’s fine. Go and warm up the phone lines and let me know. As I said, I have to be there anyway.

Saskia put the phone down. I take it you listened? Right, I’ll ring the girls, you use my computer and printer, write out the words and run off enough copies.

As I clattered at the keyboard I could hear General Saskia marshalling the troops. Right. That’s everybody organised. We’ll have an audience I expect. They’ll all arrive by Mum or Dad’s Taxi.

That’s no bad thing. At least we’ll know if it’s any good.

Saskia said, Are you staying here tonight? I nodded. Good. Part one of being extra-specially nice to Dad tonight involves cooking tea. Are you up for that?

Seeing as it’s you asking. What are we going to do?

"Hmm. Don’t know. What do you think for a change?"

Ok. Ready for another recipe handed down from Saskia to Saskia? Does your dad like Chinese food? Specifically sweet and sour chicken?

Yeah. Apparently him and Mum use to go out to Chinese restaurants all the time.

We’ll have to go shopping then. I’ll need red and green peppers, rice and some other stuff.

Ok, come on then. Oops. Need money. Saskia changed to be holding some notes. That be enough?

Plenty. Come on. We flew upstairs and zipped out of the bedroom window. It took only seconds to fly to the local market. I gathered up the required ingredients including some pre-cooked chicken. Save us oodles of time.

Back in the kitchen I proceeded to show Saskia how to do sweet and sour. Part way through Rob arrived home.

Something smells good. What are you two up to now?

Don’t blame me, Dad. Saskia’s declared the kitchen a Dad-free zone. Put on your slippers and await developments.

Rob grinned but did as he was told and didn’t bother us. Soon food was ready. We decided to do it in Chinese fashion. Huge bowl of rice and huge bowl of sweet and sour. Big spoon, help yourself. I’d drawn the line at chopsticks, forks would do fine.

We sat around the table and tucked in. Which of you Saskia’s thought this one up then?

My Aunt Diane showed me once. It’s not difficult. That wasn’t quite how it had gone. Richie learned it at university - from a girl called Diane - so at least that part wasn’t a fib.

Well I hope you were taking notes, Saskia. This is another thing that can be produced at regular intervals. It’s really very good. Reminds me of your mum, we used to like this sort of thing.

Saskia and I looked at each other. We were slightly apprehensive as to what sort of memory we’d evoked from Rob. We needn’t have worried, Rob had a faraway look in his eye and a slight grin on his face.

Eventually he said, "Right. Kitchen is now declared a Saskia-free zone. I shall sort out the devastation and do the washing up. Although, if I know you two, the devastation will be minimal."

Who are we to argue, oh Great One. We shall withdraw and contemplate how next to please you. said Saskia. She walked backwards to the door bowing as she went. I had no choice but to do the same.

We spent the evening doing nothing much. Saskia raised an interesting subject. Saskia, when do you want your birthday?

Dunnow. What do you think?

Well - you do know that any surprise won’t be don’t you?

I untangled that sentence, then said, What do you mean?

Any plans will involve Richie so any surprise arrangements will be told to him and so obviously to you. Do you follow?

Ok. So don’t make it a surprise.

That might be a little late. I happen to know that the girls are tentatively planning something. They’re not giving me any details, presumably in case I talk in my sleep or crack under torture or similar. Something’s in the wind though. I’m going to have to give them a date soon.

I thought about this. I can pretend it’s all a surprise. If it’s you telling Richie then just don’t. If it’s one of the girls, or more likely their parents or even your dad, then I’ll just go with the flow and keep my mouth shut.

Ok. So name a date.

Hmm. Four weeks time. Two weekends after the charity do. Is that ok do you think?

"Brilliant. Err - while we’re on the subject of forward planning, I want Dad to have a holiday this year. We don’t usually bother, him and me. This year I want to take him away for a while - well he’ll take me of course, but you know what I mean. Anyway, I want you to come as well."

I’d like nothing better, you know that, but will it be ok?

"Saskia, you know Dad loves you like a second daughter. Of course it’ll be ok."

You have plans, don’t you. I know you.

Am I that transparent? Yes, yes. I give in. I want us to go to Florida. There’s a Shuttle launch during the school holidays. I’d love to see that.

"Saskia, you do know that NASA give out tickets to the VIP viewing areas? Basically you only have to ask."

They do what? Are you serious?

Well perhaps not really VIP but certainly better viewing than normal.

This we have to do. She indicated her computer, Show me.

I showed her what I meant. Right. I’ll start work on Dad right away. She laughed. "You can work on Richie."

Two

Sunday morning. I had first go at the bathroom. Saskia went downstairs, To begin Operation Launch. By the time I got there negotiations had already been successfully concluded.

Saskia, I know you know all about this already, being in on the plot, but I hereby formally ask you. Will you come with us on the holiday my daughter has obviously decided she needs?

"We need, Dad. We need."

"Ok, ok. We need."

For myself, I’d love to. I will have to clear it with Richie and Aunt Diane, I answered. Since the one was already there and listening and the other didn’t actually exist, permission would naturally be granted.

Oh yes. That’s quite understood. Make general representations, details to follow.

Yes, sir. It’ll be done ASAP.

Saskia rushed upstairs to finish getting ready to face the day. Rob said, You sure you’re ok coming on holiday with just Saskia and me?

Rob, I know how you feel about me. Maybe the question should really be - are you sure you want to come on holiday with Saskia and me? Then I spoiled the moment by laughing. That made Rob laugh as well and we had to explain the hilarity to Saskia.

Saskia said, Right, you. Come for a walk. Plans to be made.

Yes, Oh Mighty One. To hear is to obey. We left Rob laughing to himself.

We didn’t get far. At the main road we were passed by a car going really quite fast. In fact very fast. Followed by