by Ian Berry
We were both quite looking forwards to Christmas this year. All our friends would be back from university, we could have a grand get-together. Rather than impose what we wanted on the others, we’d persuaded Ellie the Fixer to organise something. As yet we had no idea what that would be. But before all that, there were other things to arrange. It began with a summons to James office.
“Hi Amanda. The High Panjandrum wants us in the presence.”
“He’s free. Just make sure to bow to the correct angle,” then she laughed. “But you know all about that don’t you?”
“A little bit, yes, Amanda,” grinned Saskia. “But we usually curtsy. Doesn’t work in trousers and a shirt, needs a long full frock. Don’t suppose we’ve got time to go home and change?”
“Shouldn’t think so. Doesn’t do to keep him waiting. Just go in as you are and hope for the best.”
Saskia pulled a wry face and crossed her fingers - then couldn’t keep her face straight and burst out laughing. We were still grinning as we tapped on the door and pushed it open.
“Good morning, oh Boss. What can your servants do for you today?”
“You can knock off the hilarity for a start. I heard you laughing with Amanda. A little more decorum if you please.” Then he spoiled it by laughing himself.
“Sorry, Boss,” said Saskia. “I’m sure you didn’t call us just to have a laugh. What do you need us to do?”
“Come and sit down. Saskia, go ask Amanda to hit the cafeteria for us.”
We never usually know which Saskia he means. It doesn’t usually matter anyway. I was nearest so I went. With Amanda on red alert, I went and sat down next to Saskia.
James began. “You know why I got the knighthood? You should do, you were responsible for it. Well, that means we, that is the Corporation, are well thought of in the higher circles of the government. Again, that’s your fault. That means we get included in all sorts of stuff, such as a visit by the Prime Minister.”
“You mean an actual visit by the PM?” asked Saskia.
“Yes, unfortunately. He’s doing this as part of a thing with the CBI and Board of Trade and other things. That means he’ll want to invite other people from other companies and give a speech and stuff. And that means the press will want to be here as well.”
“But, James,” I said. “Isn’t Jeff supposed to organise this sort of thing. He’s Head of PR after all.”
Saskia got there first. “Jeff’s in Russia next week, playing the balalaika with Sergei or something. Is that when this visit is?”
“Yes. They don’t believe in giving too much notice. With Jeff away, I want you two to organise it. You’ve got as many contacts as Jeff anyway, if not more,”
“Ok, Boss. We’re on it. Got any details yet?”
“Amanda has some correspondence in a file somewhere and Jeff’s in the loop as well, at least until he leaves for Russia.”
We left James’ office quite excited. We’d not had anything this big to organise since the Charity Ball months ago.
“Shame we can’t use the fact that we’ve actually met the PM on quite a few occasions - wasn’t us, it was Katya and Kyra,” grinned Saskia.
“We might get chance to meet him as ourselves, you never know.”
“And nor will he, be a laugh, for us anyway.”
Jeff had more details once we’d told him James had told us.
“We use the big boardroom. Arrange the staging at one end. The PM’s people will install a lectern with autocue and stuff, and a rack full of sound equipment.”
Saskia looked blank but I nodded. “It’s to make sure everybody gets to hear what the twit - sorry, the PM - says, Twin. Each cameraman can have a feed of the lectern microphones so they each get the same sound. Rats nest of wires, but that’s not our problem.”
Jeff had taken a turn at nodding. “They’ll bring their own PR people to organise the media. I think you’ll find that our local people will look to you first so make sure you’re present when it happens.”
“If they have their own people, what’s for us to organise?” asked Saskia.
“You’ll be our point of contact. Company directors, equivalents of Sir James, will be invited. That’ll be arranged by our Mayor’s office. Their people will contact us for arrangements, even down to car parking and cups of tea for their chauffeurs. That’s your job, as is to field questions from the PMs people and show them round when they want a recce. You won’t need to do much, just react to queries.”
“I can think of a thousand and one things already,” I said.
“Go and organise it. Need any help, just ask. Stuff so far is in a file marked ‘PM’ on the server public drive.”
Saskia and I went into a two-girl huddle at our desk. “Doesn’t look like we’ll have to organise much to do with the actual visit,” I said. But there’s lots of other stuff.”
“The nature of this other stuff?”
“Need to make a list. I’ll open a note file on the computer. For instance, on that day we need all the employees to park their chariots elsewhere so the car park is clear for all the limo’s the people will arrive in. Flunkies not actually involved in the actual meeting, like drivers, can use the cafeteria, need to organise that.”
“We can probably use the flour mill car park. That’s still closed, shouldn’t be a problem.”
We spent the rest of the morning trying to think of problems that might need to be headed off at the pass. At lunchtime, we came up for air.
As we walked to the cafeteria, I thought of something. “Interesting point occurs to me. Who pays for the extra stuff involved in the visit? Oh, not cups of tea and such, but extra security, say.”
“Should ask Jeff, or perhaps James,” said Saskia. “I imagine there’ll be some arrangement. Good point though. Extra security I mean.”
“It’s not an open meeting so it won’t be our local Old Bill. They’ll want to be around just in case, but I suppose extra security will be down to us.”
“Hey, I know a couple of girls who’d be glad to help.”
“Who are they then, Twin? Oh - you mean us don’t you, well, the other two anyway.”
That made us grin as we entered the cafeteria.
We were just nicely back at our desks after lunch when the telephone rang, Petra.
“Amanda says you’re dealing with all the PM visit stuff? Yes? I’ve got somebody on the line from somewhere she calls number ten?”
“Petra, she means Number Ten Downing Street,” laughed Saskia. “Put her through.”
Using super hearing, I heard the faint ‘click’ as Petra did as asked. Saskia said,” Hello. This is Saskia Hunt. How may I help you? I’m sorry you’ve been on hold.”
A girl’s voice. “No problem. Are you dealing with the visit next week?
“It would seem so, yes. What can I do for you?”
“Ah, good. The team would like to come and see you tomorrow to discuss how it’ll all go.”
“That’s brilliant. We’ve been working in the dark a bit so far. What time do they want to turn up?”
“It’ll be mid to late afternoon. There’ll be four of them. They’ve asked if you can arrange for them to stay over somewhere.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem, we have an excellent relationship with a local hotel. What payment arrangements will they make?
“They’ll pay for themselves then use expenses, saves messing about with confirmations and invoices.”
“I assume they’ll have all the details we might need to organise our end?”
“Oh yes. Any questions, just ask them.”
“Last thing then, just their names and the actual department they work for so I can tell the hotel.”
Names were exchanged, together with the fact that they worked for the Prime Minister’s Of
fice. This done, Saskia said goodbye and replaced the phone. It rang again almost immediately.
“Saskia? It’s Petra. I’m sorry about before. I feel a bit of an idiot - you know - the Number Ten bit?”
“Don’t worry about it Petra. The other end didn’t know and we won’t tell, your secret is safe. Besides, you’ll know next time. By the way, if anybody rings saying it’s the White House, it might not be the pub at the end of the bypass, ok?”
I could hear Petra laughing almost without super hearing. Poor Petra.
“Right, ring the hotel. Make sure they know who these four are. Not quite red carpet but red lino definitely,” I said.
Saskia grinned as she rang the hotel. Anna was on Reception as usual and accepted a booking from Saskia without question also as usual. Sometimes it’s nice to be well known.
Later that evening, as we ate tea with Rob, we told him about our latest project.
“I know. I’ll be there.”
“Be there, Dad?”
“Got my invitation this morning from the Mayor’s people. Be nice to see you two at work again.”
“What d’you mean, Dad?”
“I like to know about what you do, what you organise and make happen. I don’t usually see it firsthand. That birthday of mine a few years ago and the Charity Ball earlier this year are the only things I’ve actually been at. I’m looking forward to next Thursday.”
“Dad, you say the nicest things. You’re due a hug and a kiss after tea, Saskia will help.” She looked at me, “Won’t you?”
“Try and stop me,” I said.
We’d just nicely cleared away the tea things and were preparing to administer the promised hug when the phone rang. Saskia got there first.
“The Hunt residence, one of the ladies of the house speaking. Oh, hello, Jeff. Got a problem?”
I fired up my super hearing. “No problem, Saskia. Sorry to ring you at home but I’ve just thought of something and I need to tell you while I remember. There’s a lot going round in my head at the moment, things keep falling out, probably through my ears.”
“Don’t worry, Jeff. What is it you want to tell us, or have you forgotten already?”
“Er, no. We need our own record of the PMs visit. We need our official photographer present. Can you wangle Rio to be there? It’s a school day so you’ll need to organise it - and she’ll need security clearance so she can be with the PMs party as it tours the plant. You two don’t need that of course.”
“It shall be done. There’s a posse of suits from the PM’s office coming tomorrow to cross i’s and dot t’s. We’ll check that sort of stuff then. Want to be there?”
“No, no. Just don’t give them too hard a time. I’ll be around if there’s anything you can’t answer. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“You too. Bye, Jeff.”
Saskia did remember that I wasn’t supposed to have heard the far end of the conversation, so she related it again, for her dad’s benefit as well.
“Need to speak to Rio - and Rio’s head teacher. Hm. Rio now, Mrs. Rogers tomorrow,” I said. “You’re holding the phone, d’you want ... oh, you are doing.”
Saskia was grinning as Rio answered her phone. I listened as usual.
“Hi Saskia, where’s the fire?”
“You’ve been around that other Saskia far too long. No fire, just a question. What are you doing next Thursday?”
“School of course. Bit of a silly question really.”
“Perhaps not. Fancy meeting the Prime Minister?”
“Are you serious - you are aren’t you. What’s going on?”
Saskia explained about the PMs visit. “ ... so we need to photograph the whole thing for our records and you are our official photographer.”
“Blimey. I’d never thought of it like that. But what about school?”
“Leave that with us, we’ll fix that tomorrow. By the way, you’ll need to be security cleared. No skeletons in your closet are there? You’re not a terrorist or anything?”
“Not as far as I know. Oh wow. Don’t think I’ll sleep tonight.”
“One last thing. Don’t tell anybody at school until you hear from either us or your Mrs. Rogers. It’s not exactly secret but it isn’t a public meeting. Ok?”
“Ok, Saskia.”
“Right. That’s Rio sorted.” said Saskia. “Now it’s your turn, Dad. Come on, Saskia.”
“I’m right behind you.”
“Well get on the other side of him. You can’t hug through me.”
“Maybe not - quite. But that’d mean I could hug you at the same time.” I whispered.
“You can have your own hug later. Dad now, you later.”
“Ok. I can relate to that.”
I did get my very own hug, as we went to bed that night. Saskia surprised me by grabbing me and squeezing me tight.
“One hug, as promised.”
Our faces were close together already so I moved the extra bit and kissed her. Aside from the hugs and kissing, that was it really. We loved each other but not in that way.
“I love you, dear Saskia,” I said, just to make sure.
“You need reassurance, Twin? You know I love you too.”
“Not really. I know it already. Just like to say it and hear it back. Makes me feel worthwhile somehow.”
“I know what you mean. I think about this sometimes as well you know. Before you appeared in my life I have the memory of needing something. I didn’t know what it was. Now I know it was you.”
“Somebody said recently that we’re like two halves of the same girl. I think there’s more to us than meets the eye, even an eye that could see us as we are, rather than as we appear to be.”
“Woo. Too heavy for tonight. Sleep now, busy day tomorrow.”
“I like busy.”
“Mm. Me too. ‘Night, Saskia.”
“‘Night”
Eight
Friday. More or less the first job at work was to make sure Mrs. Rogers would release Rio for the day on Thursday. I rang the school, getting Samantha, the school secretary. Samantha put me through to Mrs. Rogers.
“I’m afraid we need Rio Ashworth to work for us on Thursday next. Just the one day but it’s a bit important, we want her to document the visit of the Prime Minister to the Robinson plant.”
“I heard about that, the visit, not you needing Rio. Somebody Ralph - that’s my husband - knows is invited. I don’t see a problem with Rio. I assume you can bully her into catching up the day’s work?”
“If you can make sure she has the work ready to do, Saskia and I will probably sit with her over the weekend and see she does it.”
“In that case I have no objection. Would you like me to tell her?”
“If that will increase her status with her friends, then by all means.”
Mrs. Rogers laughed. “How like you Saskias to think of things like that. I’ll tell her at first break. You’d better prepare yourself for the excited phone call.”
I laughed in return and ended the call with the usual pleasantries.
“That should be Rio organised,” I said. “I’ve promised we’ll see she catches up the day’s work.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem. Hey, I hope it’s triangles. I can do them.”
We had several phone calls during the morning, mostly from TV and radio who wanted details of what and where. It appeared there’d been a Press Release from the PMs office. We told them what we knew - which was not a lot - and asked them to call back on Monday after our meeting with the people from the PMs office this afternoon.
There was also the expected call from Rio. Not so much excited, more businesslike and anticipatory. We had to tell her the same thing, no details until later. In her case that would probably be tomorrow at
the garage.
“Wonder if Archie knows about all this. Not like him not to call if he’s got the release,” said Saskia.
“I’ll give him a call and see.”
It turned out that the naughty PMs office hadn’t included the local paper in it’s mailshot. We couldn’t have that. I told Archie to be prepared to turn up and that I’d be a bit irate with the suits this afternoon. He was suitably pleased with that and said thank you very much.
“Now, about this parking thing,” I said. “The car park is on the north side of the plant. Not much good if the telly want to send satellite links trucks, they need to see an arc about twenty five degrees either side of due south. Need to do our own recce. Coming?”
“Yeah. Didn’t understand that gobbledegook but I’m with you.”
“Saskia Hunt! You did so understand. Who was it confounded the PMs scientific advisers when she knew all about satellite orbits when we move that old satellite a few years ago?”
“Ok, ok. So I did understand. Geosynchronous orbits over the equator and all that stuff. Sometimes it’s nice to pretend you don’t know things. Gives the person telling you a feeling of being appreciated.”
“Ah. Probably a girl-thing, yes?”
“More than likely. I have noticed you doing it as well.”
“Hm. See what you mean. No good if somebody tells you something they think is important and you just say ‘oh, I knew that’. Deflates them a bit.”
“You got it. See - you can think like a girl. All about ego, which for a girl usually means the male version.”
“Blimey, it’s complicated being a girl. I’ll sort it all out one day. Work to do today, however.”