Adventures Of The Disparate Crew

The Bicycle P.3

For Christine, My bike-loving aunt. Thank you for all you've done for me.

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Blurb:

Left with alone with Kelly after school, Ariki was going to take the bus home, like he always does But, Kelly offers an alternative means of transport...

Kelly and Ariki learn something about each other and forge a deeper connection in the process.

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Part Three Of Three

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As Kelly was led inside the townhouse, they gawped in amazement. The place was nothing like their house!

"Och aye, pure dead brilliant digs ye'v git here!" Kelly burst out, impressed.

Ariki's golden-brown face took on an embarrassed look, slightly wary of what Belinda's reaction would be to Kelly's bluntness.

Luckily, Belinda, the gracious woman she was, took it in her stride.

"Why thank you, Kelly." She said, smiling.

They arrived in the kitchen, and there was a flurry of movement behind the bench. Belinda shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Come on, don't worry darlings, it's only Ariki and his friend."

Kelly craned their neck, confused. Who could she be talking to?

Kelly got the answer when a childish voice piped up, "No, I'm not coming out."

Almost immediately, another voice spoke up, resembling the other greatly, "I won't either. Ari's friends are weird."

Belinda and Ariki's faces turned to looks of discomfort, but Kelly was just confused.

"'Scuse me, Belinda, bit who's behind th' bench?"

Ariki groaned, and replied, "Ugh, they're my adoptive sisters, Isabella and Emma."

Suddenly, everything made sense.

"Och, richt. Bit 'ow come ye didnae tell me ye hud siblings?"

Ariki shrugged and apologised. "It must've not occurred to me."

"Anyway," He continued, and gestured to a bench stool, indicating Kelly should sit down. "I'll fix you up some afternoon tea."

Kelly sat down, and someone gave an annoyed shriek, and Kelly stood up in a hurry.

"That's the garage!" Someone cried indignantly. "Go sit somewhere else!"

"Yeah!" Another voice echoed.

"Sorry, Isabella, or is it Emma? It's juist tha' Ariki told me tae sit 'ere, and..." Kelly held their hands up desperately; Kelly had no idea how to deal with little kids.

Fortunately for Kelly, Belinda intervened before things could get ugly.

"Isabella, Emma, that's enough. Pack up your things, and move into your bedroom."

There came a wail of protest at this, but Belinda held her ground, and a sigh came, and at last, the two girls stood up.

Kelly gasped in astonishment, "Why, ye'r twins!"

That was true. Both girls had big light-brown eyes, sandy-brown hair in a bob, and pale skin.

"Who are you?" One girl asked.