Rock Paper Scissors

raphael photography - Models

 

A brief recap

In the early spring of our 13th year, my twin brother, Cousin Micke, and I were at a dress-up party celebrating our grandparent's 60th Anniversary.

The three of us had left the Parish reception hall to amuse ourselves on the playground of the church.

This was after we had visited the Golden Retriever puppy kennels that the Parson and his wife maintained.

 

That was the story told in puppy encounters.

 

After spending a couple of hours at the playground I sadly made the statement that “ We should be getting back soon.”

 

Micke and I were on the swings being pushed by my brother as I said this.

 

From behind us I heard him clear his throat and ask...

 

“Tell me again what those spinster church ladies told you earlier as you left ahead of us?”

 

I explained that they felt it was unsafe for us girls to be outdressed as we were.

 

“What could happen? “

Micke asked, cutting my brother off...

 

Of course, my brother then answered in his way, and I recognized that he had something up the silk sleeve of his shirt.

 

“I know what could happen...”

 

I cut him off at the pass..,

 

“I full well know you do lad, already tried your tricks earlier on me, now didn’t you.

 

(See ‘Puppy Encounters’ for full details)

 

“But this is different. he said softly in a friendly cajoling way trying to tempt us into playing his sneaky games.

 

“Can I show you two?”

 

He asked, his voice quivering in excitement, getting raspy and deeper as it does when he has a desire to play-act.

 

“Just a game he promised, a role play game.”

 

Micke looked at me grinning, she had been a victim of my brother's tricky robbery games before.

 

“Ok I said, a bit warily, but agreeably, enough what do we need to do, pretend Micke and I are innocently walking about ?”

 

“No.” He said, shaking his head with an air of mystery before instructing us on our roles...

 

“Just stay here on the swings. Pretend a friendly-looking bloke (me ) has been watching the two of you playing here alone. “

 

He turned his head snd nodded towards the top of the hill before continuing...

 

“He is at that bench on the hill. You both assume he is from the same party. So neither of you are concerned when comes down as your swinging.”

 

“Here,” Micke said, reaching inside her purse, she held out out a thin silver brush to him. “ You may need this to use for your pistol?”

 

He shook his head, smirking mysteriously as he replied.

 

“Nothing like a hold-up, something a bit more dodgy . Just be gullible, and do what he instructs. Pretend your those church ladies as young nieve girls, about to encounter a suave man wise to the world!”

 

I giggled at suave, but with us, girls both now quite curious over those firmly planted thoughts, we nodded our heads.

 

He turned and left for the benches.

 

We both watched as he jauntily made his way to the starting point.

 

I knew he had been a bit daydreamy as we played, I figured that we were about to find out what he had been mulling over in his thievery plotting devious mind?

 

“Game on…! Micke said, giggling as we both put our backs to him and started to swing.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^*

 

Two days later we talked over the playground story that my brother had had us all acting out while riding in the backseat of mum’s car on our way back home from our grandparent's house.

 

As we each told our side, I really enjoyed my twin’s telling of it from his point of view as the sinister character he envisioned.

 

I found his telling of it deliciously provocative, even though the scenario was I’ll admit slightly unsettling.

 

The character he played had been a true charlatan. Of a sort that the actor Robert Carlyle may have been typecast perfectly to play the role...

 

So that is why I will now tell the story from the point of view of the sly character my brother was role-playing.

 

With Cousin Micke and I in the role of his gullible Victims

 

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Playground Puppies

Chapter 1 Playful Puppies

 

A well-dressed man is watching two young girls playing quite alone on an otherwise deserted playground

 

These words are from his point of view :

 

As I watch the richly attired whelps with bated breath, my mind churns, my fingers tingle, as a delightfully warm devious feeling overwhelmed me.

 

The pair looked as cuddly cute as the squirming Golden Retriever puppies held in the kennels I had so recently trodden past.

 

But that was not the source of my surge of devious feelings.

 

That had developed as my eyes were caught up with the enticing glitter of the shiny baubles they are so indiscreetly wearing!

 

Pricy baubles that would fetch someone a nice selling price.

 

And someone should teach these young ladies about the hazards of wearing such pretty things when venturing out alone.

 

It was high time to tutor them on that, I told myself, as I mulled over how fortunate the fates were that had freely handed me this opportunity.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

It had been, and still was, a bright and pleasant sort of afternoon.

 

I had taken my usual shortcut through a church cemetery and was passing by the woods between the cemetery and the ancient stone church, heading towards the attached playground and the woods beyond.

 

There was a party going on in the church basement, that much was apparent, judging by the number of cars parked there. Rather fancy cars I might add. But I was known in the area, so decided to pass on a closer look.

 

As I passed through the cemetery, I heard the yelping of young pups from the kennels, which was not unusual.

 

What was unusual was that I heard, up ahead, the squealing voices of children playing just over the hill.

 

Unusual since the playground below was usually deserted, now that the school had long ago closed. The children now played at the much bigger, newer playground down the road.

 

As I reached the small knoll overlooking the playground, I was mildly surprised at the scene I saw playing out down below.

 

I immediately sat down on one of the antique wrought iron benches that were set out upon the knoll and took it all in with contemplation.

 

^^^^^^^

There were two of’em. Tweens I would guess, both girls, scurrying around at the playground, looking cute and soft as those puppies.

 

The richly attired pair of young vixens were wearing adornments that sparkled with a bright frenzy in the sunshine!

 

 

By their chattering, overhead as they went and sat upon the swings, I soon figured out the pair were cousins. One a jolly blonde, the other a serene redhead.

 

As they cheerfully played on, I caught snatches of their conversations…

 

The pair were attending the posh party being held at the church reception hall, and had gotten permission to play as long as they stayed clean!

 

And the darlings were being cutely careful, as they had been instructed to!

 

The affair the children had been at was a fancy-dress party with affluent guests.

 

 

This I ascertained, not by what the children said, as much as how these particular children were dressed up in their fancy party attire.

 

The two girls wore expensively shiny tops, green and yellow, and elegantly swishing midnight black,sleekly swishing skirts

^^^

The red-haired cousin is wearing a long-sleeved green satin blouse with ruffles at her throat and wrists. A long black skirt ending with ruffles hangs down from her waist.

 

A double-strand pearl necklace with an emerald pendant holding the strings together bounces invitingly along from the front of her blouse! The rest of her jewellery matches the necklace; pearled Earrings, bracelets, and Rings are all set with pearls and bright emeralds.

 

The blonde-haired cousin, the one with the black skirt hanging in tiers, is wearing a silver necklace and yellow sapphire gemstone set pendant, with matching sapphire and silver earrings. Her ring and hairpiece both are jewelled with gems that match the colour of her yellow silk tank top!

 

She also had been wearing a black satin jacket that is now laid out upon a swing seat next to her. On top of the jacket, the blonde had laid her small, gold lamee purse.

 

^^^^^^^^

Of course, the children have noticed me sitting on the bench nearby, but have innocently assumed I’m an adult from their party come to watch over them while they’re at play.

 

If only they knew my real reason for watching them I smirked.

 

I was advantageously wearing a nice suit after all, since I was heading to a wedding reception held in the gardens of a local Lords massive estate, right next to the new school and the large playground that had made this one obsolete.

 

This is what gave the girls the idea I was one of their fellow party-goers from the church.

 

So these two had no idea that I was actually a stranger.

 

No clue that my interest in watching was not piqued solely by boredom, as I had overheard the blonde mention.

 

I was also pretty sure the pair are also clueless that the pricey jewels they are sporting would be an alluring target for a spot of clever thievery!

 

^^^^^^^^^

 

Playground Puppies

Chapter 2 Coddling Puppies

 

As I was developing my ideas of how to teach these young pups about the risks of wearing good jewels, I overhear that the blonde wished to stay longer than the hour they have been allowed.

 

“So, I almost missed this show, if I had been by here 15 minutes later, the playground would have been deserted!”

 

I murmured this churlishly under my breath as I looked at my pocket watch. My mind now grasping at a new angle.

 

The redhead sagely says they should head back now… but agreed it would be nice to have a second hour.

 

I watch as the blonde picks up her slick black jacket.

 

A longish fancy pin set with more shimmery real gemstones blazes to life from the jackets’ lapel!

 

“Sweet Jesus, that pin alone would fetch a pretty price!”

 

I wished I had been there to help her on with the jacket... or off.

 

I whispered this to myself as I quickly played out in my mind an epiphany of a new angle that occurred to me.

 

I shook my head in self agreement, if the plan I had dreamed up to dupe the whelps into giving me those jewels didn’t appear to be working, I could at least easy enough come away with the blond’s fancy pin...

 

^^^^^^^

I arise and quickly going up to them, kindly say I will go and ask their mums for permission as long as I am here watching anyways.

 

The pair cheer up at that, thanking me sweetly… and both turned as I began to leave.

 

They had started to prance back the swings to continue their play…

 

And now it was time for me to play also.

 

I turn back around, holding them up from reaching the swings, as I call them back to me.

 

They obediently come, their skirts and hair fluttering in a cool breeze that had started up, foretelling a future rain.

 

It appeared to me at that point, I was like a fisherman reeling in a pair of hooked fish.

 

They look up into my eyes, with blinking doe-eyed curiosity.

 

“There may be some rain coming. You may want to take care if it starts to head for cover.”

 

“Yes, Sir” they both sweetly said at the same time.

 

“And also, I would take care of your pretty jewelry, surprised that you have not lost some of it while playing. “

 

I said this with a false concern in my voice.

 

They both shook their pretty heads in unison, happily agreeing that they had not lost any, as they eagerly were waiting for me to dismiss them.

 

Now, as I said that last bit, I am lifting the cousin’s gemmed pendant from her glossy top, admiring the shine!

 

Then I begin my lecture...

 

Sternly staring down at their nervous faces, I say that I am surprised that their parents had let them outside without taking any means to prevent losing their pretty things while they played!

 

I suggest that they should take precautions!

 

I then proceed to explain to their now worried faces, that if they want me to watch them so they can play a little longer than they need to protect their jewellery!

 

I suggest to the girls that they should remove their jewellery and keep it inside the blonde’s shiny purse for a safekeeping!

 

The two darling girls look up into my eyes, nodding their heads in agreement!

 

I had said my bit with an earnest appeal, having to act quickly before the darlings had any time to think suspiciously about what I was saying.

 

“Good girls ”

 

I was also congratulating myself as I reach into a pocket….

 

I would rather do it this way. But If it didn’t work, I would just back off, suggest I help the blonde off with her jacket, then head away with that consolidation prize.

 

Well, with the way these two were looking at me, innocently waiting, it would not come to that.

 

^^^^^^^^^^

Playground Puppies

Chapter 3 Shedding Puppies Fade

 

I take out a white handkerchief and lay it out onto a bench.

 

“Attention now my ladies, we will place your jewels upon this handkerchief to keep them all snugly together.

 

I instruct the two girls each to approach in turn…

 

I then “generously” help them to carefully remove their precious jewellery from their sweaty warm figures!

 

The redhead is first.

 

I help her unclasp her pearl necklace and guide her hand to the handkerchief where she places it down gently.

She removes her bracelet and ring and smiles most fetchingly at me as she places them on top of her necklace.

As she unclasped each of her earrings, I admire her slippery slick-looking green ruffled blouse and pat my fingers down along her skirt.

She smiles at the attention as she added her glittery earrings to the white silk handkerchief!

 

I then beckon the blonde to come.

 

The blonde obediently approaches as her red-headed cousin steps happily aside.

 

I lift her gemstone pendant and she reached behind her neck and unclasps it. I then let it drape carefully over the pile of pearls.

 

I lift her hand, admiring her ring as she slips it off and places it on the handkerchief. As she removes her earrings I take the time to keep her thoughts distracted by lightly caressing and admire her pretty yellow silk top, and skirt, complimenting her on both!

 

She started to step back, but her cousin, bless her soul, reminds her of the pretty jeweled hairpiece the girl is wearing.

 

She nods her head, and delicately lifts it out, then adds it to the pile.

 

As she reaches up to fix her silky blonde hair, I reach up with both hands and undo the glittery pin away from her soft jacket’s lapel. It was a looker, a jeweled sunflower, diamond center, and gold leaves filled with diamond chips, all on an emerald jeweled stem.

 

She actually chirped to me a thank you for helping!

 

I smiled at her as I added it to the shimmery pile heaped on the silk handkerchief.

 

They both had beamed at my compliments on their attire, not realizing that I am making sure their pockets and clothes contain nothing of value that may have been missed, say a loose ring that may have been taken off

 

The handkerchief now has a nice heaped pile of glistening silver, gleaming pearls, and glittery gemmed pieces...

 

^^^^^

As I was doing all of this, I never stop talking to the girls, distractingly assuring them how smart they are to be acting so mature!

 

I then carefully fold up the handkerchief as I ask if they had been to see the puppies yet.

 

They both look towards the kennels talking lively about how they had, and how just so adorable they were.

 

You two are quite adorable also I think to myself as I then make a show of having the blonde open her purse as I place the bundled handkerchief deep inside.

 

With a winning smile, I then release the beaming young ladies, sending them back off to happily play!

 

I stand watching the elegantly attired young ladies for a few precious minutes!

 

It had all gone brilliantly smoothly and was regrettably over far too soon!

 

I turned and began to walk off.

 

^^^^^^^^^^

Playground Puppies

Chapter 4 Wiggly Puppies, NOT!

 

The author's point of view...

 

I smirked at my brother as he turned and began walking away

 

Micke just watched us, clutching her purse with a confused look on her face.

 

“Happy now? I call to him, “We had better be off lad, we can stop by for another look at those adorable puppies. “

 

He stops to turn and looks at us with a happy smirk upon his sly-looking face.

 

He waits for us to catch up.

 

“what now Micke whispered to me, does he steal my purse ??”

 

“Look inside the handkerchief silly.” I say

 

Micke pulls it out, opens it up, and looks at the contents astonished. She lifts one end, letting the pebbles it now contained fall to the ground.

 

My brother began chortle as he reached into a pocket while woefully saying...

 

“ I had hoped to see looks of surprise, was sure I had fooled you both. Should have known better, you were all too an unquestioning victim sis.”

 

“How?” Asked Micke bewildered.

 

“Two handkerchiefs my Lass,” my brother said cryptically,

“Gran told me a gentleman always carries two, one to give a lady if she needs it. I switched them as you two were prattling on about seeing the puppies !”

He then added with smiling relief...

“But it is a relief to know you two would not have been fooled if I had been a real con man.”

 

I praised his ingenuity:

 

“It was a great scam you came up with, very original luv.”

 

“Not mine.”

He admitted with a wee bit of reluctance”

 

“Read it in One of our uncle's true crime mags. Three young girls in Scotland, one loaded down with 14 caret gold jewelry, the second wearing pearls, the third wearing good rhinestones.

 

The ninnies had snuck out and playing alone outside in a park, next to a hotel where the wedding reception they attended was held. A stranger worriedly approached them expressing concern over the likelihood of their jewelry being lost as I did. Told them he would have them go back inside unless they did something about making sure their jewellery was safe. “

 

My brother took a breath. Then continued

 

“Though the handkerchief was my idea, the man who conned them Scottish girls used a small brown bag to collect the jewels up in, which was later found to contain nothing but loose gravel! “

 

From behind us, I could hear Micke snort

“Gullible twits”

 

Fini

 

Done