“Joe, the nurse said they were born with smiles on their faces. Did you see these smiles and what was your interpretation? “
“Yes Daph, they certainly had smiles on their faces, but why do you ask that question?”
“I asked the nurse the same question and she said they were smiles of mischief, almost wicked. That frightens me.”
“Don’t do that to yourself again, remember our twin sons also smiled when born, and you worried, yet there’s nothing frightening about them.”
“Yes, but that nurse said they were smiles of joy.”
“Yet your superstitious mind interpreted that as bad luck. You do this with everything, and to date none of your misapprehensions have materialized. In their ten years nothing has or will happen with the boys. Rather be happy that both you and our twin girls had an easy birth and are healthy. I think them born with a smile is delightful, not mischievous because that sounds like fun. I don’t see how she could have seen roguishness in their smiles.
“Sally, Sunday is our tenth birthday, and it’s a Spring-tide high at 8pm. We have been invited to have dinner at the Earl’s mansion and the bottom of the drain slide will be under water, so let’s play some tricks on our hosts, especially their droopy sons. Since they will be at church most of the day, as well as most of their staff, we’ll tell Mom and Dad we have homework to finish and stay at home when they are at church.”
“Great idea Betsy, that’ll be fun. We’ll likely find no one at the Earl’s stables so let’s get hold of a couple of saddles, saddle up two of their horses and go for a gallop around the mountain and on the beach. At the same time we’ll let all the horses out of the stables and chase them down to the beach and let them roam as they like.”
“Oh Sally, you have one mischievous streak after another. The horses will love to run free instead of been cooped up in the stable. That will certainly cause a ruckus in in the Castle and the village. It’ll be fun."
"Even better Betty, let’s put his slippery slide on the water drain that runs down to the beach and smear it with soap. Then at 8pm well entice the Earl’s sons to the outlet of the drain and push them down the slide into the sea."
“Sally and Betsy come to breakfast immediately,” shouted Joe sitting at the table.” When they were all seated he continued, “What do you two have to say for yourselves?”
“What do you mean Dad?”
“Don’t come up all innocent. You know what I mean. If any of the Earls horses were hurt it would have cost me a lot of money. Furthermore, your brothers say you pushed the Earl boys down the ramp. Is that true? You told me you stayed home to write your essays. Did you?”
“Yes to both questions. Betsy has written such a funny one, you won’t half laugh.”
“OK I’ll accept that but don’t believe you; yet I don’t blame you for missing church; I always found it a bore at your age.”
“Come on Dad, admit it you still do, and those boys are wimps,” echoed the twins.
“Joe! Don’t you dare answer that? It will just encourage them to play more of their silly pranks. Earl Hanks is furious, and should something like that happen again his wife Natasha says she’ll report the incident to the police. She, as Chancellor at the University, could influence their acceptance when their time comes to go to university.”
“Yes, Daph, you are right, but I don’t think that will happen with what we know about her, and the Earl for that matter.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s our secret.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
“Mom, if Dad tells you the whole school and college will know.”
“Joe, are you going to let them talk to me like that?”
“Yes Daph, in this case I’m going to ask you to accept my judgement and that’s the end of this conversation. But twins, do show more respect towards your mother.”
“Again Daph, it seems your worries about our girls are unfounded, they were accepted into college without a to-do. Also, they are sailing through college with top marks.”
“True Joe, but it seems you have not been reading all the reports about their behaviour outside their studies. They really are wicked.”
“I have, but that’s just the college pranks of two spirited girls. I’ve spoken to them about it and they tell me it was just because they were bored with how easy they have found their studies and did that for amusement. Their exam marks, all A’s confirms that, and surely that’s the main objective of going to college.”
“You call swindling the college club out of $10 000 just a prank when they were on the college fund committee.”
“They gave it back and never intended keeping it. They told me they just did it to show administration how poor their security system was.”
“Joe, they have you twisted around their little fingers, and mark my words, they are up to something. Luckily they graduate this coming Friday and will be off our hands and hopefully will land good jobs with excellent pay”.
“No Daph, that’s just your expectancy, they are both going to start their PhD’s next year. Their BS degrees have been updated to Honours because of their excellence.”
“Sal, here’s a rich one coming out of the Ritz.”
“Yes Betsy, ideal. He’s good looking too and definitely past sixty. I could even enjoy him under the covers when I get him there so that you do your part.
“Wait until he passes that tree. Don’t hurt yourself or else you won’t be able to perform.”
“Watch where you’re running young lady, oh, I see you’re bleeding.”
“Sorry Sir”
“Let me look at it. It’s bad. I’m a doctor, come to my rooms and I’ll dress it.”
“May my friend Betsy come too?
“Sure, you look like twins, and your name is?
“Sally.”
“Read about it in the Sunday Herald – police trap Alluring Twins….”
The twins are still smiling and holding hands behind bars while planning their escape.