A big thank you to Gypsy Abby for her wonderful ideas:
Half term came around and everybody who went to Blackpool had a great time. The two flats were huge, clean and had everything, including a DVD player and a big garden to play in between both flats. Once again Zax were disappointed about not being able to share a bedroom but everybody else liked the sleeping arrangements, especially Miss Freeman and Mrs Beauchamp. Ms Dixon came along on this trip, which is why she wasn't able to look after Dervla, and she and Mr Keogh were in charge of the girls. Miss Freeman and Mrs Beauchamp were in the flat where the boys were resident. It was one of those great places to stay where guests could have the central heating just as warm or cool as they liked it. Mrs Beauchamp, in a bid to get the kids interested in cooking, threw out a 'Best Meal Challenge' for the two flats. Robyn's excellent knowledge of 'tasty but New Tricious' food made sure the girls just snagged the prize.
The whole Holby mob started taking bets on how many times a day Mr Keogh called Doggy Day care to check on Dervla.
"Don't you like cats, Mr Keogh?" Lofty asked him as he sat stroking Eric Chiltern.
"Not a lot. But Eric's okay so I shan't take him on to the beach and drown him this time" Mr Keogh teased.
Lofty laughed, but hoped Eric Chiltern hadn't heard and was terrorised. You could never tell with cats. Eric Chiltern was technically now a 'teenager' and not a kitten any more but Lofty adored him as much as ever.
Mrs Beauchamp smiled to see Lofty enjoying himself, knowing nobody was going to call him 'clingy' if he needed to hold on to somebody's hand. Zax had decreed that Lofty was to be protected at all times.
They visited the Blackpool Tower on the first evening, and while Mrs Beauchamp and Miss Freeman went into the lift to the top of the tower and then seemed to be ages coming back, the others explored the aquarium, had a bit of fun in Jungle Jim's playground, and finally went into the Ballroom with its beautiful background picture. Zoe pretended she was a big star in Strictly Come Dancing, and did a little series of dance movements that made Max's heart go flipperty flop wallop, and Jacob decide he just had to get next to her on the ghost train. He imagined a marvellous little scenario:
"Oh help! Max has fainted in terror and the ghosts are all around me! Oh who will save me?" cried Zoe.
"I am Jacob Masters and I fear nobody!" said Our Hero, bounding over three carriages to her rescue.
"What are you goggling at Zoe for? It's rude to goggle at girls", growled Max.
Jacob came back to earth and Mrs Bateman said "Now then, Othello!" to Max with a little laugh.
Later on when Mrs Beauchamp and Miss Freeman came back, looking so red in the face that the kids were convinced they had climbed back down all the stairs, and they'd gone back to the flat for supper, Mrs Bateman explained who Othello was. The kids thought it was a very sad story.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't stab myself, it must hurt rotten", Max reassured them.
Zoe gave him a very dirty look.
"You're supposed to say you'd never smothercate me with a pillow, Max Walker! I'm going to sit next to Ben and stroke Eric Chiltern while you're being stupid!"
"I'll come too!" Robyn gasped hastily, and plonked herself between Lofty and Zoe.
"Ah, young lurve!" mocked Mr Keogh.
Everybody nearly passed out in shock as Mrs Bateman said in a Mr Keogh like voice:
"Hello, doggy day care? DERVLA has to have her blue cushion, the one with the stripe down it, and she only eats Doggie Chunks. If anybody feeds her Pedigree Chump by mistake, will somebody operate IMMEDIATELY to avoid illness?"
Mr Keogh threw a cushion at Mrs Bateman, who threw one back. Soon there was a cushion fight tournament until Mrs Beauchamp said warily:
"Er… guys, those aren't our cushions to throw about…" and the whole mob collapsed laughing.
Would the second day be even better, thought Ethan as he went to sleep that night.