Most of it was fairly obvious from their condition - dirty, tired, hungry, and broke. They had had some sort of trouble with their father and their stepmother and they had left Dallas ‘forever' - ‘But, Mama, this was before we knew that you were planning to sell this house. We'll have to find somewhere else to go... because Donnie and I are not going back there.'

‘Don't be in a hurry,' I said. ‘You are not out on the street.

I'm going to sell this house, yes - but we'll put another roof over our heads. This is the right time to sell this place because I let George Strong - he's in real estate - know that this place would be available once Susan was married. Hmm -‘ I went to the screen and punched up Harriman and Strong.

A woman's face came on screen. ‘Harriman and Strong, Investments. Harriman Enterprises. Allied Industries. How may I help you?'

‘I am Maureen Johnson. I would like to speak to Mr Harriman or to Mr Strong.'

‘Neither is available. You may record a message-scramble and bush are on line if needed. Or our Mr Watkins will speak to you:

‘No. Relay me to George Strong.'

‘I am sorry. Will you speak to Mr Watkins?'

‘No. Just get this message to Mr Strong: George, this is Maureen Johnson speaking. That parcel is now available, and I punched in to offer you first refusal as I promised. I have carried out my promise but I am going to deal today. So now I will call the J. C. Nichols Company.'

‘Will you hold, please?' Her face was replaced by a flower garden, her voice by a syrupy rendition of ‘In an Eighteenth Century Drawing-Room'.

George Strong's face came on. ‘Greetings, Mrs Johnson. Good to see you.'

‘Maureen to you, old dear. I called to say that I am moving. Now is the hour if you want to bid on it. Do you still want it?'

‘I can use it. Do you have a price in mind?'

‘Yes, certainly. Just twice what you are willing to pay.'

‘Well, that's a good start. Now we can dicker.'

‘Just a moment. George, I need another house, a smaller one. Three bedrooms, within walking distance of Southwest High. Got something like that?'

‘Probably. Or across the line and close to Shawnee Mission High. Want to swap?'

‘No, I'm planning to skin you on the deal. I want to lease by the year, automatic renewal unless notice given, ninety days.'

‘All right. Pick you up tomorrow morning? Ten o'clock? I want to look over your parcel, point out to - you its shortcomings and beat your price down.'

‘Ten o'clock, it is. Thank you, George.'

‘Always a pleasure, Maureen.'

Donald said, ‘Dallas phones are all tanks now. How come KC still uses flatties? Why don't they modernise?'

I answered, ‘Money. Donald, any question that starts out "Why don't they - " the answer is always "Money". But in this case I can offer more details. The Dallas try-out turns out not to be cost-effective and the 3-D tanks will be phased out. For the full story see the Wall Street journal. The back issues for the past quarter are stacked in the library. It's a six-part series, front page.'

Tm sorry I brought it up. They can use smoke signals for all of me.'

‘Be glad you brought it up and make use of the opportunity I offered you. Donald, if you intend to cope with the jungle out there, you need to make the Wall Street journal and similar publications such as The Economist your favourite comic books.' I added, ‘Ice-cream and cake?'

I put Priscilla into Susan's room, and Donald into the room Patrick had had, just beyond my bath. We went to bed early. About midnight I woke up, then got up to pee, not bothering with a light, as there was moonlight streaming in. I was about to flush the pot when I heard an unmistakable rhythmic sound - bed squeaks. Suddenly I was goose-flesh all over.

Priss and Donnie had left here almost as babies, two and four years old; they probably didn't realise that this old house was about as well soundproofed as a tent. Oh, dear! Those poor children.

I kept very quiet. The rhythm speeded up. Then I heard Priscilla start to keen and Donald to grunt. Shortly the squeaks stopped and they both sighed. I heard Priscilla say, ‘I needed that. Thanks, Donnie.'

I was proud of her. But it was time for me to hurry - much as I hated to, I must catch them in. the act. Or I couldn't help them.

Seconds later I tapped on Donald's door. ‘Darlings? May I come in?'

Chapter 19 - Cats and Children

It was after one o'clock before I left the children; it had taken that long to convince them that I was not angry, that I was on their side, that my only concern was to sec that they did not get hurt - because what they were doing was exceptionally dangerous in all sorts of ways, some of which I was sure they knew but some of which they, may not know about or had at least not thought about.

When I had gone in to see them, I had not grabbed a robe. Instead I had gone in as I was, bare naked, because a fully dressed authority figure such as a parent, walking in on two children caught in delectable flagrente, is all too likely to scare it out of them - cause bladder and bowel to cut loose. But another human as naked and vulnerable as they were themselves simply could not be a ‘cop'. As Father had taught me years earlier, to know which way the frog will jump, you have to put yourself in the frog's place.

They still would not like being caught - they didn't! - but, if I did not catch them in bed together, they would lie about it later if I tried to question them. It is parallel to the old rule about puppies: if you don't catch a puppy at it, it is useless to bring the matter up later.

So I tapped and asked to come in, and waited.

A suppressed gasp, then dead silence -

I waited a while longer, then counted ten chimpanzees and tapped again. ‘Donald! Priscilla! Please! May I come in?'

There was a whispered conference, then Donald's strong, manly baritone called out - and cracked. ‘Come in - Mother.'

I opened the door. There were no lights on, but there was moonlight and my eyes were adjusted to the low light level. They were in bed together, sheet pulled up, and Donald was simultaneously protecting his sister against all dangers with his strong right arm around her while pretending hard that she was not there at all and that he was just waiting for a streetcar - and my heart went out to him.

The room reeked of sex - male musk, female musk, fresh ejaculate, sweat. I am expert in the odours of sex, with many years of wide experience. Had I not known better I would have judged that this was the site of a six-person orgy.

I must add that some of the odour came from me. Perhaps it is perverse that I should be sexually excited by catching my son and daughter in the most scandalous of all sex offences. But volition does not enter into it. For the moment I recognised those squeaks and deduced what and who, I bad been flowing. If King Kong had wandered by, he would have found me a push-over. Paul Revere I would have pulled from his horse.

But I ignored my state, reminding myself that they could not possibly smell me. ‘Hello, dears! Is there room in the middle for me?'

Silence, then they moved apart. I went quickly to them before they could change their minds, pushed down the sheet, crawled over Donald, got between them on my back, snaked my right arm under Priscilla's neck, reached for Donald. ‘have a shoulder pillow, Donald. Turn toward me, dear.'

He did so, stiffly, then remained tense. I said nothing and cuddled both my children, breathed deeply and tried to slow my heart. It began to work, and my youngsters seemed to relax somewhat, too.

Presently I said softly, ‘How sweet to have both my darlings in bed with me,' and gave them each a quick squeeze and relaxed still holding them.