This is an unexpected continuation of ‘Anything Goes’ that started to gel while the original was being posted. The ABC in the story is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Historical references and all places are real.

Chapter 1

I was standing at the kitchen sink, washing up the breakfast things, It was a Sunday, the sun was shining, and I could see my husband and daughter frolicking in our swimming pool. It was now ten years since we had moved from Chelmsford to Australia, and things had changed.

Chapter 15: The Book

Kate's hands trembled slightly as she picked up the book and slowly read aloud the handwritten title above the first page. "Look ... Out ... Seattle"

Candy’s eyes flashed and she squealed, "Oh my goodness Biddie you’re right! I do remember now. That was one of Maggie's best stories "

Chapter 11: Maggie's Memories

When Kate gave her a puzzled look she continued, "Do you remember when Biddie was talking about your stories you shared, and how much everyone enjoyed them?"

The government wants to erase Kate Thomas in 24 hours, but fate had other ideas

Look Out Seattle

Chapter 2: Early Memories

Maya was full of nerves after the call with Brittany, the other girl had been so comforting and had just listened without judgement. A silent bastion of strength as Maya bared her soul. When Maya had been finished Bethany had been nothing but supportive and soothing. If their previous conversations in class had been stilted and faltering it was quickly proven that it was purely down to boy that Maya portrayed. With Maya unshackled from her Mason persona they quickly bonded as and began conversing with each other as two teen girls.

A Grumpy Old Man’s Tale 68 Dancing Spanners
Continued in the best side of the Green Dragon Inn from GOM 67

Anything Goes

‘In Olden days a glimpse of stocking,
Was looked on as something shocking,
Now heaven knows,
Anything goes.’

I faded out the song and introduced the show.

“Good evening, good people. This is Karol Nowak with the hour of show power. Lay back in those comfy hospital beds and sing along, but not too loudly, you may upset the nurses.”

A Grumpy Old Man’s Tale 67 All Changes but Stays the Same

“Pease, Sir Mister, have you any food you would spare? We haven’t had anything to eat for eight days and are hungry. We should be grateful and remember you in our thoughts tonight before we fell asleep if you would help us.” Arathane truly believed he had seen the worst that outsiders were prepared to subject their children to, yet as he turned to face the voice the sight of the three barefoot little girls dressed in little more than rags took him aback to a place he hadn’t ever in his darkest moments believed could exist. None of the emaciated girls, barely more than toddlers, looked older than three.

Brown sat off to the side, an outsider. Not family, not friend. Not Catholic. In the packed assembly, gathered together to celebrate a life, to mourn a death, he felt alone.

Mad scientist John Crevil and his wife swapped bodies with billionaire Jacob Astoria and his wife, but they got found out, and performed a second swap into the bodies of the Astoria’s chauffeur and maid in order to try to escape. How’s it all going to end?

“Cromwell was as rich as any of those clowns, but he wasn’t after money. I couldn’t figure out what he was after.”

“We offer truth, not justice. And I rather doubt the sky’s going to fall.”

Mad scientist John Crevil and his wife Betty have pulled off the perfect crime: They used gene-editing technology to make themselves perfect doubles of billionaire Jacob Astoria and his wife Margaret, used the same technology to make the Astorias look like themselves, and left the Astorias knocked out so they are unable to find the nutrition needed to survive the changes. Or have they? They were worried when an unknown extra person unexpectedly stepped into the fray.

Mad scientist John Crevil has figured out the perfect crime: Use gene-editing technology to swap places with billionaire Jacob Astoria and his wife, and set them up to die after putting the Astorias’ into their own guises. What could go wrong?

It turned out that three of the remote, transformed family members had trans children who were bullied for their beliefs, and who volunteered to be the beginning of a new settlement.
I was designated the leader of this project, and got the three prospective settlers to join a Zoom call.

it was a meeting that i was worried about, how my family would react to the new me, although I had already made my decision and hoped that they would understand.