Stephanie - Part 5 - Community

Summary of parts 1-4.

Stephanie and her partner Graham woke one morning in each other's bodies having undergone a mind-swap. They were sixteen year old students at a local school who only knew each other by sight. They managed to meet and bonded in an intense empathetic relationship that would eventually lead to marriage and a family. Subsequently they helped several other couples come together and were helped financially by a community of similarly bonded people who had material advantages, but not superhuman abilities.

Seven was sitting at a table in the penthouse in a tower block in Mayfair in London overlooking some of the most desirable properties in the Capital. Three old women, including Seven, had a bundle of papers in front of them, each file with photographs of a mind-swap couple before and after transition.

The room and the neighbouring rooms had banks of fireproof filing cabinets containing microfilm copies of hundreds of similar files, each one showing smiling faces and lists of dates, qualifications and experience in the labour market.

The three figures had Stephanie and Graham’s file on top of the pile.

“In the last two years Stephanie and Graham have completed their compulsory schooling with flying colours, and are about to start their University courses. I think they will need a boost to their finances as we don’t want them to be forced into unsuitable jobs just to pay off huge debts in three years time.”

“Any sign of an impending marriage?”

“Not yet, Three, but they have been effectively living together for the last two years, with their parents’ consent.”

“Do they still have the bank card we gave them two years ago.”

“Yes they do, and it now has, I think £300 left on it. They have been frugal spending the £5000 we gave them.”

“I think we should give them £10000 a year each, for the next three years to complete their bachelor degrees. It is our normal practice.”

“Are you both agreed?”

Both Three and Nine nodded.

“What about enrolment numbers from now on?”

“The next numbers are 8107 and 8108.”

“OK. Stephanie is now 8107 and Graham is 8108.”

“Is their burner phone still active.”

“Yes, but they don’t turn it on often.”

“Add some credit, then text them on their own phones to please turn it on.”

And so, Stephanie and Graham had a strange enigmatic text asking them to turn on their old burner phone.

A long text appeared.

“This text will self delete in 30 minutes after it is first read.”

“We are delighted that your A level results were so good and am sure that each of you will succeed admirably with your degree courses. We do not want your studies to be compromised by needing to take part time jobs, so you will find that the bank card we provided has now been charged with an untraceable £20,000. That is £10,000 for each of you. You will be credited with the same amount at the start of the following two years to provide for some of your needs until you have been awarded your degrees. Please continue to receive your student loans as opting out of them will raise suspicion.”

“You are now in the second stage of our program for young entrants and it is normal that members of our select group are spoken of by a number rather than names. That is for security. Stephanie, from now on you will be 8107 and Graham, you will be 8108. Your files to date will be archived safely, and new files opened with just your numbers.”

“You are free to live your lives as students for the next three years. Apart from crediting your bank card, please look at the burner phone about once a week for any messages from us. These are likely to be very few, if any.”

“After you have finished your degrees we will be back in touch to help you obtain jobs that are commensurate with your status as new members of The Community. The transition you went through enhanced your academic and physical abilities measurably, but you are not superhuman. Use your abilities wisely and you will come out with First Class degrees without raising suspicion.”

“On the back of the bank card is a number that can be used in an emergency or to contact us. It is not the number of any known bank. If you get engaged, married or pregnant, please send a text to that number using your new Community numbers and not names.”

Stephanie and Graham had only got their A level results that morning. It was mid-August, the sun was shining, they were both eighteen had another five weeks of vacation until the new University term started. Now all their financial worries were removed, life seemed blissful and there was some serious partying to be done!

… but almost as if it had been ordered, there was a subliminal wailing sound that affected both Stephanie and Graham, but didn’t seem to affect any of the students who were celebrating around them.

Graham looked at Stephanie, and Stephanie looked back at Graham. The sound was increasing. Stephanie put her hands to her ears but it didn’t help. The wailing became a torrent of misery, a penetrating keening sound that rattled round their skulls until it was almost unbearable, and their burner phone rang.

“8107” Stephanie answered as she had been told.

“7657 has lost her partner in a road accident. Grief amongst our Community is almost unbearable. She is less than 20 miles away from you. You two are the nearest to her. She needs help and she needs it now. Just being with her will help. You don’t need any training. Just be kind and supportive. Her name is Jen. The map function on this phone will show you the directions to her. Please take a cab.”

Stephanie and Graham ran from the celebration and hailed a cab. They had the postcode of the house and it took less than 30 minutes to get there. All the time the mental torment washed over them until Graham decided that enough was enough, He held Stephanie’s hand and thought hard about the grief that was washing over them.

“We are coming … he thought. We will help. Please stop hurting so much.”

… and there was a questioning then the wailing lessened and finally stopped.

“Who are you?” came a thought question. “How can I hear you?” separated by sobs.

“8107 and 8108”, Graham thought to Jen.

“Where are you?”

“Ten minutes away. We are in a black cab.”

“Michael has been taken away. He was killed in a car accident on his way home.”

“We know. Number 9 rang us as the nearest Community members.”

Graham began to get a sort of a feeling that they didn’t know everything there was to know about what happened when one member of a pair dies. He knew that the bond between couples was intense and lifelong. You couldn’t just manufacture a single person to bond with a bereaved singleton. What were they letting themselves into?

The taxi was drawing up at the house as he thought about these uncertainties. Stephanie was already on her way up the path to the front door to help the bereaved and previously distraught woman. A new wave of tears washed over them as Graham paid the taxi driver and followed Stephanie up the path to the front door that now stood open.

As he entered the house he could see Stephanie sitting on a sofa in the front room holding Jen’s hand, and then it hit Graham like a brick. Jen had bonded with them both, making a three. Clearly neither woman had the faintest idea that that was going to happen until he entered the room, but they looked up together and a new maelstrom of thoughts entered Graham’s and Stephanie’s minds. All Jen’s memories were added to their own, and she shared all their memories in an instant.

Graham felt anger bubble up within him. Why hadn’t they been told that a Community widow or widower would bond with the first members they met. Graham could understand logically that it was like a single pole of a magnet. Impossible to exist without a partner, and a bond would form in the best way it could to satisfy the needs of everyone concerned, but anger bubbled up within him nonetheless.

“How is it that Nine failed to tell us that our partnership would be altered for ever?”

Jen and Stephanie looked at each other.

“We didn’t know. How could we know?”

“I am fairly certain from my feelings now that this situation is irreversible, but I am going to contact Nine and ask for an explanation.”

There was no need. Their phone rang.

“I am very sorry to leave you in ignorance over what happens when a Community member dies. The consequences for the remaining living member are very severe. We have a very imperfect knowledge of all of this. What is clear is that Jen can now live a happy and fulfilled life with you and Stephanie. We have eleven examples of this working very well from the past.”

“All the things like eventually marrying and having children together seem more challenging now. One cannot marry two women!”

“People live in lots of different types of relationships. The three of you have now bonded in a lifelong partnership. We know that these partnerships work. You will not be asked to bond with any more community members. There has never been that need. You both responded to her immediate needs as all caring people would. If you hadn’t responded then Jen would be dead in a few days. Please work this out. It was the best solution to an awful situation.”

“I think we would have gone to Jen’s assistance even if we had known the situation.” Stephanie answered whilst holding Jen’s hand.

“We could not be sure of that. Please forgive us for doubting you.”

“Your allocation of money has been increased. Jen’s bank card should be emptied in the next week. It will be cancelled after that. We will help as much as we can to make sure that everything goes as well as possible.”

Nine rang off.

Graham looked at Stephanie and then at Jen.

“What have we got ourselves into?” and smiled in spite of his concerns about the future.

“What about family and friends. How would Society in general cope with their unusual relationship?”

Graham could see from Jen’s memories, that she had an extended family, as had Michael, her deceased partner.

The all knew now that Michael’s remains were at the hospital some miles away.

Graham had read a book some years ago concerning what needed to happen when someone died.

“Who is registered as Michael’s next of kin?”

“His mother.” Jen replied and started to weep again.

“Do they know?”

“Yes. She has arranged for his body to be transported to a funeral director’s chapel of rest near their home and he will be interred in their family mausoleum.”

“Will she involve you in the funeral and wake?”

“She don’t know much about me. I only met her a few times.”

“How do you feel about Michael now that you have re-bonded?”

“I feel very strange, and a bit guilty. I remember the intense feelings I had for Michael, but it seems distant somehow. No longer relevant, somehow. I ought to feel grief, but I don’t, my bond with you two has replaced the one I had with Michael. Am I wrong? Am I even wicked to have written him off so soon?”

“I don’t know the answer to that. I am very happy that you will be able to have your full life with us, but it is going to take time to explain our unusual relationship with you to our friends and family.”

“Will you give me babies?”

“I hadn’t thought about that? What do you think Stephanie?”

“I think the bond between the three of us is now strong and getting stronger as we sit here. It is like a taught elastic band that is tightening even now. I think in time we will feel happy with both of us having babies with you, Graham, but it is not something that would ever have entered my head this morning.”

“I think we will make this work. How do you feel Jen?”

“I was in total despair an hour ago. I felt as if I was at the bottom of a dark well with just a spot of light far far above me and that was moving further away as I looked. I deeply regret that I feel no grief for Michael now. He is a fading memory even though he is barely cold. I don’t want to be seen as insensitive and uncaring, but it seems to be something distinctive in our community that the current bond is what matters. I remember all the intense feelings I had for Michael have now been reformed with you two. I shall be eternally grateful that you have absorbed me into your partnership. I feel like a bottle of Champagne that has been shaken. The cork hits the ceiling and a fountain of wine shoots over the floor. Can I give you both a hug?”

All three stood and the hug started gently but rapidly changed in its intensity until it was all-enveloping. Graham could feel Jen’s tear soaked top wet his shirt.

Jen laughed. “I am getting you all wet.”

“It is not important” both Stephanie and Graham replied in tandem.

“I will start as I intend to go on.”

She stripped off the wet shirt and her damp bra and showed her small breasts with their dark nipples standing proud on her chest.

“I will put a top back on soon, but this is how I want to be in front of you both.”

… and she hugged them both again.

Stephanie was wondering what they were to do now. They had both just got their A level results that morning, and a few hours later they had a new life’s partner, and all at the age of eighteen!

“Where are you going to University?”

“We are going to the local campus just ten miles down the road to read Civil Engineering, and then we plan to start a business together.”

“I read French there and am already working for an import/export business with trading links to the Continent, so I do all the company translations and deals in French. The Community paid the deposit on this house. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and a nice garden. I just have to pay the mortgage and the various bills. Would you both like to live here and travel on the bus to the University?”

“We were planning on living at home, but I don’t think I could live separately from you now, Jen. I think all three of us living and sleeping together is more or less axiomatic with this intense bond we now have. It is almost as if I ache, just looking at you so vulnerable and bare chested.”
“I know what you mean. I want to cry, and have always thought that tears of joy were just a literary allusion.”

“That is sorted out then. We will live here with you and will love you. ”

“We have just got to deal with the funeral, telling our parents and moving.”

“Should be easy after the excitement of the results and now, meeting you, Jen, in such difficult, and now wonderful circumstances.”

“Is your master bedroom big enough for a bed for three?”

“I think so, if a wardrobe is moved into the third bedroom that we could use it as a large dressing room and closet.”

Jen took them round the house and into the room that had been hers and Michael’s.

“What do I do with all of Michael’s stuff?”

“We will pack it up and offer it to his mother. What we do depends upon her answer, but that may have to wait until after the funeral, unless they ask for his things before.”

“We could pack his things away in boxes in the second bedroom for the time being.”

“How is the house owned?”

“It defaults to the surviving partner, but I will have to get the record changed at the Land Registry once we have a death certificate.”

“What do both sets of parents know of the arrangements with you and Michael.”

“We were at University when the mind swap took place. We each had each other’s memories and had a couple of weeks before we were due to go home for a weekend. We managed to be convincing with each as the other, and on the quite rare occasions we have gone home in recent times, we have never felt that it was a problem staying as we were.”

“Jen only has a mother. Her father had disappeared early in her life, and Jen had no memory of him. She is an accountant and spends all day, and much of the evening working.”

“I don’t think Michael’s death will impact much on her. She hadn’t got to know Michael well, and Jen as Michael had kept his distance in case he gave too much away.”

“What did Michael’s mother think of your partnership, Jen?”

“I don’t think she thought my relationship was permanent. She was quite distant from me as Jen. I didn’t understand it initially, since I had known her since I was a baby, but it fit in with her character.

How will she take the death of the person she believes is her only son?

“I think she will sublimate it.”

“Is that the same with Jen’s parents. How will they be with Michael’s death?”

I only have Michael’s memories of his childhood and they are fading now. They will be sensitive to my sadness, grief even, but it will not have a long term effect on them as they think they still have their daughter. They will find it very difficult to accept my new relationship with the two of you. It will need careful management if they are to come to terms with our situation. The simplest solution is that they never know, but I don’t really feel comfortable with that. Children need to know their grandparents and I would not deliberately thwart that relationship.”

“I really do feel odd. My life’s partner was killed only hours ago in my old body and I have now passed through a very very dark place to enter a new life partnership with people I have never met before today. To any outsider it would seem absolutely mad to do this. Many people will think me callous, indifferent, insensitive and any other pejorative terms you can think of; but it seems so right to me, but it has also been completely necessary. I would happily have sex with both of you this instant and spend all day with you in bed together. I know this is like a verbal torrent. I didn’t want to die, but knew it was inevitable from the moment I felt Michael’s mind to leave mine. It was like a great black hole of emptiness. Now I am full of joy.”

All three hugged for a precious few seconds.

“Unfortunately we must go. Our two sets of parents have arranged for a celebratory dinner for our A level results. I don’t see how we can introduce you into the equation so soon.”

“No that is quite understandable. I will go down to the Storage Place down the road they sell packs of cardboard boxes for moving house. I will begin to pack up Michael’s things and put them away so his parents can get them if they wish. I need to get on the phone tonight to offer my services for the funeral and wake, and hope that I can sound like a distraught girlfriend when I feel anything but!”

This is really difficult. I have only been to two funerals in my life. Grandparents a long time ago. I didn’t understand what was happening when I was only about five years old. I really don’t know how to react or what to do or to offer. I don’t want to be seen as uncaring but it is going to be an act, whatever I do.”

“Do your best. Maybe you will need to think about cutting yourself off from all three parents in the end. It doesn’t seem as if your first mother, Michael’s mother that is, will take to having a son, now daughter, in a three-way partnership.”

“No I doubt if she would, but when it comes down to it, I really don’t know her at all, and the safest way is probably to phone her often and see her as little as possible. Maybe she will be interested if I start having babies, but that will not be for the time being.”

“I think we can offer to come with you to the funeral as friends. I am not sure about the wake, if there is one. That might be too difficult.”

It was a real lurch to leave Jen in the house that would soon be their communal home. The taxi got them home late afternoon. They had phoned both sets of parents to know that they were busy, but would be home in good time to get ready for the reservation at the restaurant.

“I hope you have been having a brilliant time celebrating with your friends from school.”

“Actually, no. We got news of a woman who has rooms to let fairly near the University. We went round and like her very much. She is happy to rent two rooms to us for a very reasonable rent and some companionship. She is a recent widow, and is called Jen.”

“We thought that you were going to live between our two homes as you have for the last two years?”

“This arrangement will give us more time to share in activities at Uni. The bus is every ten minutes until midnight, so we will not have to leave activities early.”

“I am not surprised that you two want your own place. I know it is cheaper to live at home, but when I was at University I wanted exactly what you are wanting.”

“When will you move in?”

“Jen has to clear the two rooms from her late husband’s belongings. We will go and help her do that and perhaps give a couple of walls a personal touch with a lick of paint.”

“Don’t expect to redecorate too much, as you will be obliged to return it to the previous colour scheme when you leave a rented property.”

“We will be sad to see you go, but if it is what you want to do then I think we have all been there and quite understand the need to move on.”

They were ushered to a table for six at the restaurant, lit by atmospheric lighting. The Maître d’hôtel was solicitous, holding the chair for each of the ladies in what appeared to be seniority by age, and after handing round menus, seemed to disappear as silently as he had appeared.

A bottle of vintage Champagne had been ordered in advance and appeared in its ice bucket as soon as everyone was seated.

Nigel stood as soon as everyone had a full glass.

“I think your partnership has made a huge difference to both of you. We are immensely proud of you both, so only the best for two excellent students, both with three A star, A levels!”

Congratulations. The toast is Stephanie and Graham.”

“Thanks Dad, both teens replied.”

All four parents noticed the dual reference to Dad, and they glowed that little bit more.
was appreciated followed by small bowls of a delicately flavoured consommé with Melba toasts.

The main course followed seamlessly, rare steak medallions with a sumptuous sauce, croquette potatoes and a garland of other vegetables.

“This is a beautiful piece of steak. This was a very good choice of restaurant. I don’t know which parent chose it, but the food is excellent.”

Over the main course the salient features of the meeting with Jen were explained to April and Tom. If either had any misgivings about the new accommodation then they knew that the die had been cast and chose to keep those misgivings to themselves.

“What are you going to do tomorrow?”

“We are going to go over to the new house to see if we can help Jen.”

“If you need someone to drive bags of stuff to the dump let me know. I will be happy to help. ”

“I don’t know exactly what Jen needs to get rid of. It is all Michael’s clothes and books, as well as some of his other things. Quite a lot will go to a Charity shop for resale, but some things are being kept back in case Michael’s mother wants them as keepsakes.”

“When did Michael die?”

“Not sure exactly, but Jen had a little cry when we first got there. She does need some rental income to keep her afloat financially, and we were seen as sympathetic and not just commercial renters.”

Stephanie looked over and mouthed “Be careful, don’t make the story too complicated. Our parents will meet Jen at some time.”

Graham gave her a subtle nod to acknowledge that he had understood.

“What does she do?”

She is the French speaking contact in an import/export business. Her degree was in French.

“You certainly have got to know a lot about this mysterious widow in just a few hours.”

“You will meet her at some point and can then ask all the questions you wish.”

Desert was a trio of sorbets with chocolate wafer rolls.

Any more questions were avoided and as the meal drew to a close with coffee and mint chocolates. Stephanie’s mum leant over to the girl who appeared to be her daughter.

“There is more to this story than meets the eye, I think. Be careful, Jen sound a very vulnerable young woman, recently bereaved and needing lots of emotional support.”

“My lips are sealed. I cannot confirm that one way or the other at this stage.” was Stephanie’s cagey reply, but we like her very much.”

“Can I come with you tomorrow morning? I will take us all out to lunch.”

“I will ask Graham to see what he thinks.”

In fact Graham was asked in person and Jen was aware of their thoughts.

“I know that my family and Michael’s family will be unsupportive. Yes please ask your mother to come with you both tomorrow.”

Somewhat to April’s surprise, Stephanie leant over and whispered “The answer is a yes. Please come with us tomorrow.”

April came round the table and gave Stephanie a motherly kiss on the cheek and another on the forehead.

“I think something wonderful has happened, but I don’t know exactly what? I think we will be able to win over the other three parents here given a little time.”

The families parted company at the exit and drove home separately. Graham and Stephanie went home with April and Tom and were soon snuggling down together in April’s room.

“Goodnight Jen” they both thought and they received a warm fuzzy feeling in response and the touch of a ghostly kiss on each of their lips. “Until tomorrow, then.”

The morning sky looked as if it was going to be sunny and warm. Graham watched as Stephanie came from the shower just wrapped in a towel. She dropped it without any candour, and proceeded to put on her bra and thong without thinking. Next came a pink sparkly strappy top and pink shorts.

“You look lovely. You have really grown to fill that shirt in the last couple of years.”

“You have changed as well, my love … and is that a small tent under your pyjamas?”

“How could any man remain unaffected by a very pretty girl getting dressed in front of him?

“Perhaps the result would be greater if it was undressing rather than dressing.”

“You have a point.’

“No. I think it is you that has a point!”

They both laughed and Graham stripped off ready for his own shower unabashed by this engorged penis.

“Do you find Jen attractive?”

“Before I answer that let me say that we are both bound by the bond that hold the three of us together. I do find Jen attractive. She is small and neat, about 5’ 3” I should guess. She can go braless for much of the time. She is dark where you are blond and her skin tones are Mediterranean whereas yours are definitely Scandinavian. I don’t think there will be any problem in loving you both equally, but you both can read my thoughts. If you did detect any sort of bias, then I hope we could sort that out quickly.”

“I suppose I should also ask you, is do you find Jen attractive? Can you think of girl-on-girl action with her?”

“I hope it will not offend you, but I have memories of being a boy and yes, as a boy I would find her attractive and as a girl I can see us being intimate.”

“No, there is no offence. I think it would make things awkward if you hadn’t looked forward to that. If we are all naked in a large size bed then why shouldn’t you?”

“That is sorted then, but how big a bed are you thinking about?”

“I don’t think a six foot wide bed will be big enough, perhaps eight foot?”

“Will the floor of her (or our) bedroom take the weight?”

“That is a good question we will have to answer in time.”

“Lets get some breakfast and get over there. Mum has been up for some time, and your Dad has been gone to catch the train an hour ago.”

By nine fifteen Stephanie, Graham and April were on their way to what would be the teens new home. Jen was waiting on the doorstep as they drove up.

“I heard the car she said, somewhat unconvincingly.”

Whilst she was clearly ready for work, she had also taken care with her appearance and was dressed in a check shirt tied at the waist just below her bust. The cut-off jeans flattered her slim hips and tanned legs. The hair held back in a high pony tail with a scrunchie was a good accompaniment.

April avoided the hand offered for a handshake and immediately gave Jen a firm kiss on the cheek.

“Welcome to the family.” she said making it clear that that was a statement of fact.

Jen was clearly pleased and ushered them into the sitting room and busied herself with making coffee.

April took the one easy chair and the others sat side by side on the sofa, with Graham in the middle and the two girls either side. He held both their hands and their clasped hands were resting each on one of his thighs.

“I always wanted more than one child, but it never happened. Do I now have a second daughter?”

Jen laughed. “I think you do. Can I call you Mum or do you prefer April?”

“I would be delighted to be called Mum between us, but perhaps April would be better in company.”

“I have only guesses and some intuition as to what has been going on here. I need some clear explanation if I am going to convince the other three parents that all is going to be well here.”

Graham took a deep breath and began the explanation oof what had happened to Stephanie and Graham two years ago and how it had helped them both … how they were destined to have a long and happy marriage until one of them died at a hundred or so, and then the other would join them very shortly afterwards. He also explained that they had helped several couples come together, but that phase in their lives had finished now, and except for emergencies, they would complete their studies and then be helped to create a successful Civil Engineering business. He also explained that if one of a pair died accidentally or through violence, that the remaining partner would die within a week or so, in a wretched state of grief, unless they formed a trio with another pair within hours of their bereavement.

April asked about the migration of Jen’s bonding from Michael to Stephanie and Graham.

“It is something that I am not proud of. As soon as Michael died I was left with an great void in my mind. I think I sort of cried out mentally in my anguish, and the leaders of this group sensed it and asked Graham and Stephanie to intervene, knowing what would happen when we met. I imagine that they were thinking that their subterfuge was acceptable with the consequences of the alternative.”

“Even though it is only a day since Michael died, my memories of him are fading fast. It seems to be inevitable since my mind is now filled with Graham’s and Stephanie’s memories as well as my own as a child.”

“I am very glad that they did come and I am now completely bound into this loving trio and hope we will be together for eighty or more years.”

“How can you be so certain. Many marriages end in divorce?”

“The bond people like us have is much stronger than what seems to be a rather haphazard arrangement in Society in general. We can communicate at a certain emotional level when we are apart. We have each other’s memories. We all know what it is to be both a boy and a girl and there is this intense attraction almost like a stretched rubber band that pulls us together.”

“I was very sad when Graham and Stephanie had to go home yesterday, but knew that it was inevitable. I cried myself to sleep.”

Graham leant over and kissed Jen full on the lips for a few seconds and gave her hand a squeeze. He then leant the other way and did the same with Stephanie.

April had never seen Graham and Stephanie embrace so intently in the two years they had been together, and was warmed by seeing them so happy with their new arrangements.

“I know that it is expected that couples bonded in this way should marry and have children. I know it is only hours since you met and there has been very little time for you to discuss anything, but when this has happened before, what happens with marriage and children?”

“The Law doesn’t allow polygamy or polyandry in Britain today, and that is unlikely to change. As I understand it from a brief contact with Nine, the majority of three-way bonds occur with a couple who are already legally married. The third person joins and has no legal status. In our case we might have to be inventive, but I know I will marry Stephanie and Jen knows that. Both women will have babies and the Community have said that they will give us money to support the children as they have for our studies. They also helped Jen and Michael buy this house.”

“So when do I become a Granny?”

“We may have more money than the average students and Jen is working and brings in a good salary, but we need time to finish our studies and start the business.”

“So no need for me to start knitting matinee jackets?”

“No, not yet, but I am 26 now, and my clock is ticking a bit louder than Stephanie’s. I expect to have had two babies before she starts!”

“Why two?”

“I can have the other three so they grow up with Stephanie’s eldest three!”

“That is very calculating!” April said with a smile. So I am guaranteed ten grandchildren from this unusual Union.”

“That is what we have been told is normal for Community members.”

“You will need a bigger house.”

“Certainly, but if the business is successful with lots of work generated in France, Belgium, Switzerland and other French speaking countries like Canada and parts of Francophone Africa then that should not be a problem.”

“This young woman you have bonded with is supremely confident.” April said looking at Stephanie and Graham.

“We all are. We have many years of health and parenthood to look forward to.”

“Rather getting back to the mundane. How is the house clearance going?”

“I think it is my responsibility to put Michael’s things together for the lady who thinks Michael was born to her as her son. I didn’t get on with her very well as her sort of daughter-in-law, and my memories of her as a mother are not good either but my birth father was permanently absent so she had a lot to contend with as a single parent. After the funeral I think I will let contact lapse, or leave it up to her to contact me in the first instance. In the days since Michael’s death I have rung her several times, but she has never got back to me to tell me of any arrangements to do with the funeral and so on.”

“That is a shame. I would have thought that keeping in contact with someone her son loved was really important.”

“So would I, but I don’t think she sees it that way. To keep our unusual status hidden we didn’t see them very often - perhaps a couple of times a year.”

“Had you been able to confide in your parents it might have been a very different scenario.”

“It might have been but both Michael and I had parents who were not at all demonstrative. There was very little in the way of a loving home. We were both well looked after in material ways, but hugs just never happened.”

“I do remember the times when Michael and I lay skin to skin just revelling in the closeness that we had been deprived of as a child.”

“I don’t think there will be any shortage of skin to skin contact between you three.”

Graham looked down, but he was clearly blushing. His hand was resting, well … one might call it the upper thigh of Jen and Stephanie, but if their clothes were absent, his index finger would have been within millimetres of each girl’s clitoris, and his other hand was already rubbing Jen’s unfettered nipple between two fingers.

“I am getting left out.” Stephanie said as she unclipped her front opening bra and one full breast was made easily accessible.

Graham’s fingers were soon wrapped round one of her nipples and both were soon erect through his ministrations.

“Do you want to go out to lunch, or go to bed together instead?” April said with a laugh.

A quick glance was enough to say unequivocally that bed was the favoured option.

“I am going to go out to the Indian Takeaway and the supermarket. I will get a selection of dishes and the makings for some Lassi to go with it. I will be back in an hour and a half. Is that ok?

“I shall talk to Tom tonight and get him on board. I think that conversation might end up in bed. You make me aroused just watching you three.”

Within seconds of the front door closing there was a trail of discarded clothing up the stairs to the bedroom and the three were fully occupied until the need for a shower and lunch became pressing.

None of the three felt the need to put tops back on after their showers, and the two girls took turns drying and brushing their hair. They heard the front door open and went down topless.

“We hope you don’t mind, Mum. Being like this is comfortable and we like it.”

“In your own home you can do together whatever you wish, but if you want to entertain Claire and Nigel topless you may need to prime them first.”

“Point taken. Do you think we need to invite them here for dinner?”

“Almost certainly. All four parents need to be able to keep your relationship a secret and any idea of lying or even just hiding the truth will be regarded badly.”

“So Tom first and then Claire and Nigel.”

“Yes”

The weather was warm and the clearing of the house went well but they were all perspiring after a couple of hours.

April was fanning herself with her hands. “I am hot” and she pulled the damp fabric of her T-shirt away from her skin, and when she let go it slowly withdrew to her skin where it stuck once again to her perspiration.

“Don’t feel pressurised, but will it be better without a top on?”

“When in Rome … do as the Romans do!” and she took her top off and her lacy bra. All three children looked and admired the firm breasts that were now prominent.

“I know you expect to look, but I only had one child and I look after my figure. You will find it difficult to keep your figures after five babies!”

She put both garments over the back of a dining chair and had a drink of water before continuing to pack things away in the cardboard boxes.

By the end of the day Michael’s effects were packed away and were stored in the middle bedroom.

“Come back with us Jen. Have a meal with us and then we can talk together with my father, Tom. He will want to meet you anyway once he knows what has happened. You can have showers at home. Just bring a change of clothes.”

Within 20 minutes, all four were driving the few miles to April and Tom’s house. Tom was not home yet from work.

“Why don’t two of you go and shower and Stephanie and I will start preparing the dinner, then we will swap.”

The large wet room was in the master bedroom. Jen and Graham stepped out of their soiled clothes and soaped each other up under the shower head as the warm water cascaded down over them. Inevitably they touched each other everywhere and there was much giggling before they emerged wrapped in large fluffy bath sheets.

They were very aware that April and Stephanie were waiting, so they dressed quickly and were soon helping get the meal ready and the shower was working again.

“You are really getting a very womanly figure now, Stephanie. You used to be such a thin flat chested child.”

“Getting 36Ds or thereabouts is one of the advantages of becoming part of the Community. I have no idea why Jen has never developed in the same way as I have. I shall ask her. I know she rarely needs to wear a bra.”

“I have already enjoyed playing with her nipples. They get engorged and are highly sensitive. I gave a her a climax that way when you were out getting the curries.”

“How do you know about what turns women on?”

“All teenage magazines have detailed instructions of how to do that. The original Stephanie read the magazines and I have her memories.”

“It must be strange having two, or three sets of memories.”

“It is strange, but also seems quite normal … but what seems normal to one person does not to another.”

“We must hurry. Tom will be home soon and I want to be downstairs to greet him. He needs to be introduced to Jen carefully.”

“OK”

All four were downstairs when the front door opened and Tom came in to some lovely smells and kisses from his wife and daughter.

He knew that Graham had once been his daughter and they had a hug as well.

Jen held back until April introduced her as Graham and Stephanie’s landlady.

Tom shook her hand politely, and commented when he saw five place settings at the table.

“I see we are entertaining you to dinner. Please sit beside me and we can talk a bit.”

“The dinner will be half an hour. We can all sit down with a glass of wine and talk about what has happened today.”

Bottles were unscrewed and soon everyone had a glass of red or white in their hands.

“So this is unusual.” Tom began. “I think I am going to be given a running commentary on today. Who is going to start?”

Stephanie took most of the half hour to complete the story from Graham and Stephanie’s mind swap, until today’s lovemaking.

Graham went round twice topping up the glasses during Stephanie’s monologue.

At the end, April opened the discussion.

“Please bring your drinks to the table. Graham will you do the honours?”

“So what we are being asked to do is to accept Jen into our family as a second daughter and to accept all three young people as being in a relationship that is destined to give us lots of grandchildren.”

Tom continued “I don’t think I have any choice in the matter. I am happy to have such an attractive young woman as a new daughter. Perhaps I should introduce her to other people as a recently discovered love child from my youth, but I would have been only fourteen when you were born!”

“Stretching a point I think.”

“I am sure you were fertile and vigorous at fourteen, Dad.”

“I may have been fertile and vigorous, but I don’t think any of the girls at my school would have looked at me twice as the rather spindly specimen I was then.”

“If I am your long lost Love Child what happens if I become very pregnant several times in the next few years? Won’t it start tongues wagging?”

“Probably, but you will be in your own home heading up a successful international business by then. So I will be in the clear of committing incest!”

“Now. Perhaps we should order this Super King bed for you all. It can be delivered during tomorrow and you could be snuggled up in it tomorrow night.”

“That is fine as long as you don’t want to see us in it. We don’t wear anything in bed.”

“I will have to use my imagination to see that in my mind’s eye.”

“I understand that we are being invited to dinner next week. Can you rustle up some clothes for that event?”

April smiled. She knew that her husband had had a hankering to join a sun club for many years. Perhaps this would be the stimulus for them as well as their newly reconstituted family.

“How about desert and coffee?”

Conversation continued for some time, then Graham whispered to his two partners. “Where are we sleeping tonight?”

“I think we got into Jen’s bed at lunchtime at a pinch, so we can squeeze into it again tonight and we can top and tail if needed, but I look forward to the new bed being delivered tomorrow.”

“Will one of you give us a lift home please?”

“Yes, I will if Tom fills the dishwasher. I have had less wine than him.”

Sometime later the three were getting ready for bed and Stephanie noticed a red mark across Jen’s back where her bra strap had been.

“I think your bra was too tight tonight.”

Jen tried two more bras that she wore only rarely. “I am too big for these 32a bras. How can being with you two for only a day make me start getting bigger chest?”

“Maybe you are just a late developer?”

“At 26 years old?”

… and they were still having a bit of a giggle about it as they managed to get comfortable in the standard double bed and then dropped off to sleep. They had, of course explored Jen’s developing bust for some minutes.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The following morning it was decided that Jen needed an urgent visit to a lingerie store, but it was a work day for Jen at least and buying lingerie had to wait.

Stephanie and Graham now had a key to the house, but needed to stay in for the bed delivery.

They were wondering what to do, when there was a knock on the door.

Thinking that the bed was being delivered early, they rushed to the front door, only to find a woman they didn’t know standing there.

“I am Michael’s mother” the woman said.

Stephanie and Graham had to do a double take, but had the presence of mind to say that they were house sitting for Jen who had had to go to work because she was not entitled to any bereavement leave as she and Michael were not married.

“I know she said on the phone that she was distraught over Michael’s death. How is it that she is well enough to go off to work?”

“The company she works for has had a run of orders from French speaking clients. I think she thought that work would keep her mind off her sadness. How are you feeling? I understand that Michael was your only child?”

“We had grown apart since he left University. I wasn’t very keen on him setting up home with Jen, but it was their lives and they chose their own way.”

“Can we help you? We thought we might come to support Jen at the funeral if that is alright.”

“You are welcome to come to the funeral. It is on Friday week in the City Crematorium at 3.45pm.”

“How did you know Michael?”

“We didn’t. We have only recently got to know Jen, and we happened to be available and could help when she was very distressed.”

“I am sorry that Jen is not here to be able to speak to you. If there is anything that we can help with then we are happy to do that.”

“Do you know what you would like to happen to Michael’s belongings?”

“I know that the funeral director would like some clothes for him to wear in the coffin. There is a blue suit and shirt that he looked well in, and a blue tie with a silver thread running through it. Can those be delivered to the funeral director in the next day or so.”

“I don’t know about the rest of his things. Can they stay here for the time being?”

“I am sure they can, but Jen is going to box up his belongings so it will be easy for you when you have made a decision.”

“How much stuff is there. I have no idea.”

“About five or six boxes of personal materials. We are assuming that furniture will stay here when it was bought by Jen and Michael together.”

“I have no problem with that.”

“We will recount everything you have said when Jen gets home and I am sure she will know the clothes you mean. We will make sure they get to the funeral director as soon as possible. Do you have their address?”

“Here is one of their cards.”

“If I may say so, I think you are dealing with what must be truly awful, very well.”

“There are so many things that need to be done. I am on my own, with no one to help. It will no doubt hit me soon, but there is no time to grieve now.”

“We have little experience of bereavement. We are both only eighteen and have just finished our A levels. I suppose the only thing I have heard over the years is to make time for yourself in all of this.”

“It is the last thing on my mind at the moment to have time on my hands. I am determined to keep busy.”

“I think we can both understand that.”

Would you like Jen to meet you before the funeral?”

“I don’t think there is time. I have to carry on working. I am self employed. No work, no pay.”

At last, Stephanie and Graham were able to close the door on what could have been a very awkward visit.

“She is going to feel it very badly in a little while. Having lost the opportunity to re-build a relationship with her only son is a big deal; at least, it would be for us.”

“Then we will make sure that never happens to our children!”

“Of course.”

A large furniture van was driving down their street as they were still talking.

“I am glad the bed delivery didn’t happen when Michael’s mother was here. That could have been very awkward.”

The bed was delivered in five different boxes. All had to be part carried and part dragged up the stairs. The delivery driver was only allowed to get the boxes to the front door.

The first part of the venture was to dismantle the old bed and put both bed and mattress into the second bedroom with all of Michael’s belongings.

“We must be able to get to Michael’s boxes if Jen is to get out the clothes that his mother wanted.”

The book of instructions was more than 100 pages long for constructing the Super King size bed and there wasn’t a lot of room, but with some careful manoeuvring and lots of laughter, the frame was put together by the time Jen returned from work.

In another hour the bed was complete and the huge mattress was in place. All three lay on the bare mattress for a few minutes exchanging what had happened during the day.

Jen knew exactly what the clothes were that Michael’s mother had asked for and whilst they were waiting for a delivery from a local Chinese restaurant, the clothes were folded into a large carrier bag and would be ready to deliver to the undertaker the following morning.

“I don’t think it will be difficult to sever links with Michael’s mother. I think she will devote herself to work to the exclusion of all else. What she does when she ever gets to grieving is open to question; but both we, and the World will have moved on.”

During the evening one burner phone rang. It was Seven.

“We note that you have observed a change in Jen’s body. It was never clear why she did not develop curves when she and Michael went through their mind swap, but you may expect changes (even daily) for the next few weeks. We also need to tell you that whilst we do not have enough data to be sure of how, or why it happens, that a trio like yours has always had twins. That is, both women can become pregnant at the same time or one foetus develops at a different rate so that both women give birth on the same day. We think you should know that. What we also know is that Jen will become younger physically to match you two, and her compliment of eggs will increase in consequence. She has no need to worry about fertility diminishing any more than any eighteen year old.

“You are absolutely right we did need to know all of that. Does the contraceptive pill still work?”

“Yes, there has never been an example of it failing in transformed women.”

“Seven, before you ring off. How much of our thoughts are open to you?”

“Very little. When someone becomes very emotional they broadcast to everyone in the community. This is why you could ‘hear’ her anguish. We can only sense a state of well being in other members of the Community unless a question is directed to us.”

“If you concentrate together you should be able to ‘feel’ the presence other members of the Community within range, as they will be able to sense you. Your range will increase as you get older. A mentor like Three, Nine and myself can sense any Community members anywhere in the World.”

“Please don’t forget to empty Jen’s bank card in the next four days. Her burner phone card will be invalidated at the same time, although the phone will still work if a new card is inserted.”

“Thank you, Seven.”

“Well what do you make of that. Double pregnancies are the only option, and eight years of regression for you Jen together with a womanly figure. How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t know. It seems too calculating to have babies on exactly the same day, but there is a lot about this that seems strange and magical. Getting younger is fine, but eight years is nearly 100 extra periods! Not something I would choose.”

“I don’t dislike the idea of a more curvy figure. I am already aware that my walk has a little more sway, and I have been dying to scratch my boobs. They have been itching interminably whilst I have been at work.”

“Let’s see.” Stephanie asked.

Jen’s shirt was removed and it was clear that Jen would not be able to go out without a bra without turning heads.

“What do I do now all the shops are closed?”

“Try this one of mine.”

Stephanie hadn’t moved her clothes to the new house yet, but stripped to the waist and offered the bra she had just taken off to Jen.

“What size is this?”

“34C.”

“Heavens, 32A to 34C in two days. Where will it end?”

“Don’t know, but you need to get fitted properly as soon as possible.”

Jen returned the bra to Stephanie, but stayed topless. “They still itch a bit, but not as much as during the day.”

“Try some moisturising cream.”

“Jen smiled as she handed the jar of cream to Graham. I hope you will enjoy this.” She said.

“I am sure I will.” as Graham applied a good layer of cream on each breast and took time to rub it in well.

“Better?”

“Better in that the skin doesn’t itch, but I have another itch that cannot be sorted out with moisturiser!”

“Later, Jen.” Graham said, looking at Stephanie who had hung the bra over the back of her chair.

“I don’t think we will be wearing bras inside the house from now on. Jen’s boobs are a turn on for me as well.” and she ran a finger round each nipple until they stood proud from the surrounding tissue.”

“I think things are really moving very fast. We are accepting what is quite extraordinary as being normal. Jen needed us, and we found her. We could do with some cash and a Community has provided. We have been told that our business plans will be a success and that we will raise lots of intelligent children in pairs. We also know that we are part of a Community of similar people who are brighter than the general population and they stay healthier than the rest of the population. I know there is nothing to dislike, but is there anything to fear in everything being so easy.”

Graham continued.

“I know that Michael’s death was a tragic accident, but we were told that once we had undergone a mind swap that we would develop physically, but Jan never did. Did Michael develop a particularly masculine physique?”

“No, I don’t think he did. We were very much in love, and that didn’t seem to matter. He liked me with a girlish body and I wasn’t into Adonis like men.”

“Doesn’t it strike you as odd that within hours of bonding with us, your figure is transforming into a shapely woman, and your bust development is happening hour by hour.”

“I had never thought of that. Perhaps there was something odd in my bonding with Michael.”

“I have never thought to ask, but were you and Michael born within hours of each other. Every bonded couple we know of was born at exactly the same time.”

“No, we were born nearly a week apart.”

“That is odd that you bonded at all.”

“We must try to get an answer to this question, because clearly there are eight years between our births.”

“If we think of the question to one of the Committee then we may get an answer.”

Almost as if on command, the phone rang. Graham put the phone on speaker mode.

“We have been discussing the changes that take place in us, and why Jen is changing so fast now, but didn’t change when she was bonded with Michael. He, also, didn’t change as expected.”

“We don’t know everything about these transitions. Most of the time the mind swaps produce the changes we expect, but occasionally the mind swap seems to be incomplete for some reason. We think that this was the case with Michael and Jen. It was perhaps that they mind swapped when they were too distant at the time of their birth, or some other reason.”

“I think I would like some reassurance”, Graham continued “that Michael’s death was not a consequence of this incomplete bonding.”

“We had absolutely nothing to do with Michael’s death if that is what you are asking. Michael and Jen would have lived out their years without any problems created by us. We just do not have that power, but we are aware that this process of mind swapping and bonding has something that controls it. We don’t know if the accident was a consequence of incomplete bonding.”

“I take your word on that, but if all that is true, how is it that Jen, Stephanie and I have bonded so completely when we were born eight years apart, and we now learn that Jen will regress by eight years to match our ages. It is very difficult to believe and even more difficult to understand.”

“I am sure it is. As I said we don’t know all the intricacies of the process. Each time there is a new situation, we get a new answer. In your case a bereavement creates an unfulfilled need as you know. Jen has not swapped minds with you. She had already swapped minds with Michael. There doesn’t seem to be the possibility of swapping minds again with anyone, single or pair, but whatever mechanism there is, makes the best decision for the bereaved partner. In your case it was to form a trio. Where the bereaved partner is old, then the person is allowed to die peacefully. Bereaved parents may be healed and carry on as un-partnered people, but they lose the advantages of having transitioned apart from the change of gender. I hope this answer is sufficiently helpful because we do not know any more.”

“How big will Jen become?”

“We don’t know, but no women develop hugely. We don’t think the changes will continue for long.”

“That is good news.”

“If that is all I can help with then I will ring off. Please contact one of us if there are further questions.

“One final question. I know that we got on very well with Serephena when we were going through the transition. Would it be safe to meet with her and her partner? We wouldn’t coalesce into a larger group?”

“No that has never happened, and if you met up with the couples that you helped, the they would just be friends. Nothing more.”

“Thank you.”

“I could feel her thoughts. I am quite sure she believes that Michael’s death was completely accidental, but I am a bit suspicious about such things. If a bonding is faulty but is correctable, then a guiding principle might mean that the flaw was corrected. We will never know, but I am delighted to have Jen on our team and we will work out any problems.”

Jen snuggled up to both Graham and Stephanie, then the penny dropped. “It is late night opening at the Mall. The lingerie shop will be open until 9pm. “Shall we go and get Jen fitted out then get dinner at a fast food outlet afterwards.”

Jen struggled into a sweat shirt and they dashed for the bus. Ten minutes later they were in a store just piled up with bras, knickers and every other undergarment needed by women.

“Isn’t this a bit odd for you Graham?”

“Not in the slightest. I was a girl until just over two years ago. Stephanie and I have been lingerie shopping together all that time. I have helped her choose all the underwear she now wears. She only had a teenage boy figure when we swapped.”

Jen was measured, and she was sent out to look for 34C bras. In fact all three went out to choose all types of bra for all occasions and in every colour a girl might need. Most of the bras had matching knickers or thongs. By 8.55pm the three were leaving with a large bag. Jen hoped they would fit in the morning and that she was not destined to have a large chest that was out of proportion with her slight body.

The clothing for Michael’s funeral was packed up neatly and Graham agreed to take to to the Undertakers first thing in the morning.

It had been a tiring day. The new bed was made up and after showering the three tumbled into bed and were soon fast asleep.

Jen was up first. No one had been to a supermarket since all the changes, so Stephanie made up a list and went off to do a big shop. It needed a taxi to get everything home, but Graham had completed his visit and was able to carry the food into the house from the taxi.

Jen went off to work with one of the new lingerie sets on, but none of her tops fit and would not do up over her bosom. She had to rifle through Michael’s shirts and Tee’s to find something suitable.

“I think Jen’s face looks a bit less mature. Her face looks a bit less angular. She could certainly pass for eighteen now with the right clothes. At the moment she is dressing like a twenty-something woman.”

“I thought she looked beautiful when we saw her off to work this morning. I am really glad she is part of our trio.”

“I agree. I can say that she is the first woman that I have desired.”

The move from Stephanie’s and Graham’s parents houses to Jen’s house took place gradually. Jen bought a beautiful midnight blue dress for Michael’s funeral and she looked stunning in it. She didn’t grow any more and it would be acceptable for interviews or other formal occasions as well.

Stephanie borrowed a dark grey dress from her mother for the funeral and Graham had an ‘all purpose’ grey suit. He wore a midnight blue tie to support Jen.

The funeral was low key with only a handful of relatives in attendance at the crematorium.

There really wasn’t a wake. There were too few people there. An aunt and cousin came together and had to leave early because they had a long drive home. The others went to the upstairs room of a pub where sandwiches had been set out.

Graham and Stephanie described themselves as Jen’s lodgers who were there to support her. That seemed to have been accepted.

After an hour they felt comfortable making their exit.

Jen had very little contact with her parents, and they didn’t appear at the funeral. A few of Michael’s belongings were claimed by his mother, but the majority of his things were collected by a charity shop, or binned.

There was a frizzle of excitement when Michael’s mother enquired about the ownership of the house, but the Land Registry showed clearly that the house was owned jointly, and on Michael’s death the ownership of the whole property passed to Jen.

Michael died intestate and with almost no assets. His estate, such as it was, was closed without probate being needed.

Michael had a tiny pension he had accrued from four years at work. That had been allocated to Jen should he die. The pension paid a pittance each month, after tax and Jen decided to give it anonymously to a Charity every Christmas.

Apart from a death certificate held by his mother, Michael had ceased to exist and he was rarely spoken about by Jen, Stephanie and Graham.

Some weeks later, Three, Seven and Nine were meeting in their suite.

“Graham was pointed in asking if there could have been any intervention in Michael’s death from elsewhere, considering the incomplete bonding of Jen and him.”

“They didn’t know that their bond was incomplete, and neither did we.”

“Is there anything we can do to see if there might be any truth in the suggestion?”

“I don’t see what. We have no way of communicating with a higher being, even if there is one. We don’t know what motivation such a being may have except for the expectation that each bonded couple should have an average of five pregnancies.”

“Have we ever tried to contact a higher being?”

“No. No one in our position has ever thought one existed.”

“Let us try.”

The three pairs of gnarled fingers interlocked. The three sages of great age, thought and concentrated their combined intellects towards something, maybe nothing.

After a few moments there did appear something. Something etherial and insubstantial. Something transitory and amorphous. The something seemed to turn and look with a penetrating eyeless gaze at the three. It was surprised and then the surprise morphed into disinterest and it mentally turned away and seemed to evaporate.

“I didn’t think that at my great age that I would experience anything new, but that was certainly new.”

“What can we do about this knowledge? Does it help Graham understand why he has two partners?”

“I don't think we can ever track down or confine this being. Assuming it is, they that control the process that defines the Community, their effects have been wholly benign so far and have always been for the best for the various partners. I think it is best that we store this information away and release it on a 'need to know basis’.”

“I think it offers a turning point as well. All three of us are over a century old. One died with her husband, two some years ago, Five died within days when her husband died. Only three of us remain from the original five and our husbands are also old. We need to provide a new committee.”

“I think you are right, Seven. This new information does change things for ever.”

“There hasn’t been an election before. How do we proceed?”

“There are about 7000 living members of the community. They are all entitled to enter the election and to vote, but all are successful in their own spheres. How does anyone choose if they don’t know who the candidates are, and how does anyone know if they want to be a candidate anyway?”

“We will circulate a job description by secure message on the burner phones, and will take it from there.”

Job description

“It is time to appoint a new Committee for the Community. Residence for members and their spouses provided in very select premises in London is obligatory. Candidates should have completed their child rearing to apply. A Committee of five couples needs to be appointed. There is no expectation of particular qualifications or experience, but the appointees need to be able to sustain and support a Community of high achieving people who have been through life changing transitions. There are considerable fixed and financial assets to be managed and dispensed to new entrants.”

“There is no salary or pension provided. No formal holidays or hours of work. No retirement age. Accommodation provided for life at a select address. Financial needs of the appointees will be provided. Guaranteed ‘inheritance’ for descendants. Three, Seven and Nine, together with their spouses are not eligible to vote, and will act as Returning Officers.”

“Records of life experiences are already known. No curriculum vitae required. Enquiries and applications by mental message to Three.”