Chapter 21: Friday morning

When I awoke the next morning, I lay in my bed smiling at the ceiling and thinking I felt good. I was having a great time. Sure, it was weird if you stopped and thought about it, but it was good, real good.

It wasn't so cold in the mornings now and suddenly I bounced out of bed and began grabbing clothes to get dressed.

Mrs Keaton must have heard me for there was a tap on the door. "Lynda, are you up?"

She came in and helped me pick out what to wear.

"Do you want to look cute today, love?" She held up a stripped mini-skirt.

I twisted my mouth.

"You'll look good in it," she smiled at me.

I yielded.

Firm-fitting panties, a camisole, lightweight tights, the mini-skirt, a loose top with a big flower on it and pink sneakers.

"Terrific."

I pulled a face. "Are you sure?"

"Definitely. Now sit down here."

I sat down on the dressing table stool and she did my hair and applied some pale pink lipstick.

"Oh Lynda, you are lovely."

I stood up feeling unsure. "I don't look dumb, do I?"

She gave me a stern kindly look and said, "Come on."

I knew that I did want to see what I looked like, but I felt very nervous. She took me across to the bathroom and stood me in front of the big full-length mirror. For a moment I didn't recognise myself.

"Is that really me?" I gasped.

Mrs Keaton was grinning broadly. "That's you all right, love; bit of knockout aren't you?"

"Geez. How did this happen?"

Instead of answering, a strange expression replaced the grin on her face and she sighed, "Oh lord, come on sweetheart, come and help me with the breakfasts."

We fussed about in the kitchen. We were going to have pancakes this morning and bowls of cut-up fruit. I didn't realise it at first, but I had started calling Mrs Keaton, 'Mum'. I could see that she liked it.

At the table and I'm getting stuck into Randolph for trying to eat too many pancakes.

"Mum, I haven't had that many," he pleaded.

"I think Lynda's right, dear. Eat your fruit instead."

Randolph pulled a face at me; I smiled and gave him a wink. He started chuckling to himself as he ate his fruit, then he said, "Hey, Dad, what about showing Lynda the dam wall this morning?"

Mr Keaton fixed me with a steady gaze and murmured quietly, "There may be other people there."

I blinked at him and then turned my head and asked earnestly, "Mum, they wouldn't be able to tell, would they?"

She understood. "No way, sweetheart, absolutely no way."

I suppose strangely, I felt really pleased with her response and I turned back with a smile. "I'll be right, Mr Keaton. I'll stay with the family, I don't want to talk to anybody else."

He nodded with a sly grin, "Okay then."