The day went on and the showers eased as the day went along to leave a sunny evening. The pair were firmly friends by this time, enjoying each others company more then they would have thought possible and very much in a inquisitive mood, both questioning about their parents, infact the pair even broke the rule of silence in the mess hall with constant talking, though the two Marva's weren't going to be picky, because at least they weren't arguing anymore. The pair spent the rest of their evening in the cabin, making some alterations to the layout, with Annie firstly giving the bed that her sister wanted to her, only for Hallie to come up with an even better idea, to move the beds next to each other so they could talk to each other, whenever the mood took them. The final modification to the room was to pin up the photo of their parents and put tape down the middle to keep it as one image, not two. The pair decided an early night would be cool, face to face in their beds and, just as they had been for the entire day, talking about anything and everything they could think off, topics from their house, their past but by far the most re-occurring one was the family.
Annie: I don't know what our parents fought about but it must've been pretty dreadful for them to bisect us like this.
Hallie: I can't imagine anyone not getting along with Dad. Everyone loves him.
Annie: I know, same with Mom.
Hallie briefly turns over in her bed and Annie does the same, both looking at the wooden ceiling, thinking about the past, and all the time they spent not knowing each other and the parents they hadn't even met, which for now was the main driver of their curiosity.
Hallie: Tell me, what's Mom like?
Annie: She designs wedding gowns.
Hallie: Really?
Annie: She's becoming quite famous, actually. A Princess in Greece just bought one of her gowns.
Hallie: Wow.
The pair turn back around again to face each other, looking into each others eyes, as always questioning each other. The two sat facing side to side in their beds, with both in their pyjama's and Hallie holding Cuppie tightly, answering Annie's questions confidently.
Annie: You know what's interesting - neither of them ever got married again. Has your...my... our Dad ever been close to remarrying?
Hallie: Never. He always says I'm the only girl in his life.
Annie: Mom's never come close either.
The pair once again roll over in their beds, relaxing peacefully next to each other. It was during this peaceful moments that Hallie came up with a plan, after all she thought, if their parents had never attempted to marry again, then could their still be hope. This promoted Hallie suddenly get very excited and bolt up from her resting position. Intrigued Annie lays down a little while longer before she also gets herself up, curious as to what Hallie was thinking.
Hallie: I have a brilliant beyond brilliant idea. I'm serious, I am a total genius.
You want to know what Dad is like?
Annie: Right.
Hallie: And I'm dying to know what Mom is like.
So what I'm thinking is, don't freak out okay, I think we should switch places.
I leave as you and go back to London and you leave as me and go to California.
Annie gives out a gasp at this suggestion, though it would give her the chance to meet her Dad, something which she had been praying to do for some long, now by fate she had a shot at it and Hallie felt the same way about her mom. Still despite this there were some large doubts from Annie, after all, for now they only really twins in terms of physical appearance, they were still very different in terms of everything else.
Annie: What!
Hallie: We can pull it off Annie. We're twins, aren't we?
Annie: Twins from different countries, with different accents, different hair-styles, different vocabularies... different everything. Hallie, we're totally and completely, one hundred percent different.
Hallie: So? What's the problem? I'll teach you to be me and you teach me to be you. I can do you already…
Hallie then pulls her hair back into a similar position that Annie keeps hers, then goes on to talk like Annie in a very put on accent, but then again they hadn't spent that much time together, so that was something they could improve on. Still it got Annie smiling as she could see herself in Hallie and she remembered the insult she threw at Hallie just a little while back. Still it did have Annie very interested, there was still quite a few weeks left at camp, enough to learn everything about each other and hopefully even to fall their parents, the two had both proven they were crafty, so maybe it was a good idea if they could pull it off and the pair of them were desperate to see each others lost parents.
Annie: The truth is, you know, if we switch, sooner or later they'll have to un-switch US.
Hallie: And when they do, they'll have-to meet again, face-to-face
Annie: After all these years.
Hallie: Thank you, I told you I'm brilliant.
The two girls let out a excited laugh as they both lay back down onto their beds, happy and extremely excited about the next few weeks, they had a large task in front of them, but they were determined to make it work.
The next few weeks were going to be extreme fun for the two girls as they learnt more and more about each other. It started early next morning in the mess hall at breakfast on their isolation table, sitting on opposite sides with their photos out, learning about the family and once again all smiles, it had been just 24hrs since they found out the truth, they both decided to start trying on each others clothes, starting by swapping each others camp Walden gear, with Annie taking Hallie's sunglasses and Hallie taking Annie's hair band
Annie: This is Grandfather.
Hallie: He's so cute. What do we call him?
Annie: Grandfather.
Hallie: That makes sense.
Annie: (showing next photo) This is Martin. He's our Butler.-
Hallie: We have a Butler?
The day was spent by the two walking about the camp, talking for hours on end about each others past, before asking Marva JR if they could do fencing, which was met with a slightly surprised and worried look, but the girls really wanted to see how similar they were and put on a begging face, both looking pretty much the same, so much so that she can't deny them and as with last time Annie is the victor with Hallie parrying so much that she accidentally loses her footing and falls over a wooden log which was a little seating area, though this time when the masks come off, its not angry faces from either of them but laughs and with a relieved smile from Marva. During the evening the mess hall is transformed into an almost cinema like area, with a big screen with a movie being played, Father Of The Bride, Part II. The two girls, despite being in isolation were allowed to see movies like this and by the late evening the whole camp had gathered to watch the movie, with Annie and Hallie sitting close to the middle, half watching the movie and half talking in a whisper.
Annie: But I never bite my nails!
Hallie: But I always do. Daddy'll know.
Annie: (sits on her hands) I can't.
Hallie crosses her arms and looks at the movies in a small strop, while Annie takes her hands from under her, looking at her nails happily before putting her arm over Hallie into a friendly hug. The next day and any small dispute about nails was already forgotten and just like yesterday they sat in the mess hall talking, though this time not just wearing each others clothes but also sitting in each others seats. Annie had some of Hallie's favourite sweet, fruit loops chewing on them, while Hallie had Annie's cup of tea and was acting as lady like as she could be, both trying to impersonate the other as part of their grand scheme and they had both been practicing each others accents all of the morning so far, not to a massive success though it was getting better and it was still rather strange for each other to see the other doing impressions of them , simply because that's exactly how each other looked and spoke, with Annie trying to get to grips with the game boy, something she hadn't used at all back home.
Hallie: I dare say this is frightfully good tea, wouldn't you agree?
Annie: What-ever.
The girls spent much of the rest of their time lurking about in their cabin, pretending to be one another, then once done with that Annie pulls out her set of poker cards, which the girls grandfather had brought and played each other several times, nothing was up for offer other then fun this time, with Hallie using some of the moves that Chessy had taught her and Annie some that their grandfather had told her. During the evening hours the pair of them went outside on a fairly sunny day under the cover of a wooden building with all manner of equipments on the table which they are standing by, with a wooden stand and a pencil Hallie draws up her house layout then shows it to Annie, pointing with the pencil to show where everything is and explaining to the listening Annie, with Annie later doing exactly the same before learning Annie's secret handshake that she always done with Martin.
Hallie: Okay, dining room's on the right, but we never eat in there except on Thanksgiving and Christmas and of course, October 11th. Living room's here... Dad's office is the first door down the hall. You never have to knock, if you do, he'll think it's weird... Down here is...
The weeks slowly ebb away as the knowledge of each other grows day by day, and so do their similarities, more so then either of them had first thought when they decided to do this scheme. It was almost a case of whatever happened in the camp now didn't matter to much, though they still mixed with their other mates, much of their time was with one another, relaxing and doing sports together, reading, eating, everything they done was as a pair, at the start of the camp you'd have trouble getting to stay with each other, now you couldn't separate them, not that it mattered because by the last week the pair had become so efficient at being one another no-one could tell them apart, not even their closest pals, had it not been for the hair giving it away, that needed to be changed as well and with just one week to go till the start of operation switch, there was no better time.
Hallie though would be the lucky one, she couldn't exactly grow her hair as long as Annie's in just one week, so it was time for Annie to take the chop, so she gets a stall and sits there, with Hallie taking out of the drawer a pair of scissors, giving them a quick test to make sure they work then heading over to the worried Annie who takes a quick deep breath and sighing slightly.
Annie: Okay…I'm ready.
Annie winces a little more before Hallie starts to get to work, taking a strand of her hair, then running her hand down to its end then feeling whereabouts on her face it is before taking Annie's hair, ready to cut it and closes her eyes worried that she might get it all wrong, though Annie certainly don't want Hallie to close her eyes, after all this was her hair on the line, not Hallie's.
Annie: Don't shut your eyes!
Hallie: Oh, right. Sorry. I'm just a little nervous.
Annie: You're nervous? An eleven year-old is cutting my hair.
Hallie: Hey, you sound just like me!
Annie: Well I'm supposed to, aren't I.
Go on, just do it.
Hallie re-takes the front part of Annie's hair, winces then finally cuts it off with the first lump of the red hair falling slowly to the floor
Hallie: Don't panic. You look great.
Looking good.
There was much more to come and Hallie spent the next 10 minutes juggling her own hair about and then comparing it to Annie's and cutting it. Annie couldn't help but wonder what sort of a job Hallie would do and whether it'd look a total mess of it or not, though she had faith in her sister. Once it was done the pair of them headed towards the mirror that was in the cabin to take a look and they were now virtually identical, as was to be expected, at least Hallie hadn't made a mess up of it like Annie had feared.
Annie: This is so scary
Hallie: Honey, you never looked better.
The pair looked at each other in the mirror with Annie clearly quite surprised about her new hair style, though also quite refreshed by it. Hallie was fine until another thing caught her eye when she looked at her own hair, causing her to put her head closer to the mirror, leaving Annie slightly curious as to the worried expression on Hallie's face.
Oh my God!
Annie: oh my god what?
Hallie: I have pierced ears.
Annie's mouth opens knowing exactly what Hallie was going to ask, after all the plan required the two to be identical, though Annie preferred her ears to not have earrings, turning around and walking away from the mirror, though not taking long before realising that the plan would stumble if she didn't do it.
Annie Oh, no. Forget it! Uh-uh, not happening. Sorry. Wrong number. I refuse.
Hallie Then cutting your hair was a total waste. There's no way I could go to camp with pierced ears and come home without 'em. I mean, come on. Get real.
Hallie heads towards the stall and sits on it while Annie looks into the mirror, looking at her ears closely and fiddling with them and letting out a small groan of worry and annoyance, knowing that she has to get her ears pierced also by her sister. Still she wasn't happy about it and heads towards her bed to lay down, fully knowing that it had to be done but a little upset and in a small strop but she knew it had to be done.
Annie: This isn't fair. I've had to cut off my precious hair and now you want to punch holes in my ears! You didn't have to do onedamn thing to become me!
Hallie: Hey, can I help it if I'm a complicated woman with a look entirely my own?
As the day carries on Hallie acquires a needle from Marva SR and comes back to a anxious Annie, dreading this moment. By this time it was dark but still fairly warm and in a very professional way Hallie takes of her camp Walden Jacket, laying it on the stall. Annie lays on the bed, ready with a ice cube to her ear, butterflies in her stomach reflecting her nerves. Hallie takes the needle lighting a match with her other hand.
Hallie: Needle sterilized.
Hallie blows out the match then carefully carries the needle over to the petrified Annie, trying hard not to cry of nerves, though Hallie does her best to re-assure her sister, acting as cool as she could be, with Annie responding to Hallie by holding up her earring.
Annie: Y-Y-You sure you know what you're doing?
Hallie: I've gone with all my friends to have their ears pierced. Just close your eyes, it'll all be over before you know it. Earring ready?
Annie: Yes.
Hallie: Apple?
Thank you.
Okay, just relax, it is not a big deal. On the count of three, remove the ice. One, two, three!
Annie quickly removes the ice as Hallie and places the apple piece under Annie's ear and with the other hand slowly descends the needle into Annie's ear, with Annie watching the needle the whole way down. She lines up the needle then finally pushes it into Annie's ear with one quick thrust with a large scream coming from Annie and also from Hallie, clearly horrified by the sensation of the needle cutting through a lobe. Annie closes her eyes and wait's a few seconds, motionless before placing the earring in the gap that was left by the needle, before hearing a large thud on the floor, causing Annie to waken her eyes to see Hallie on the floor, having passed out from the whole experience, leaving Annie to get of the bed and go down to Hallie, and try to awake her, giving her a few gentle slaps which works quite nicely getting a quick scream out of the awoken Hallie.
Annie: Hal, are you okay? Wake up! Hallie!
Hallie: Are you bleeding to death?
Annie: I'm fine. It didn't hurt at all. But I refuse to go through life with only one pierced ear. Back to work, darling.
Annie holds up the needle that she removed from her own ear and implies that Hallie should continue the work she had started. Hallie takes a brief look at it before the sensation of last time comes back to her, and like last time she feels light headed and falls onto the fall, though Annie catches her this time and prevents her fro banging her head on the floor and knocking herself out, looks like Annie was going to have to do it own her own.
Annie: Hal!
The job was done and they were now identical in just about every way. The last week was spent mastering the accents, or at least to the point that the two was close enough so the parents would not know the difference. They constantly flipped places during the last week perfecting everything about each other and then asking questions about each other, expecting the other to get the right answer every time, though while still having as much fun as they could, which included tricking the two Marva's into constantly getting mixed up with exactly who was who. The two felt perfectly comfortable with being each other.
Then the day arrived. Today was going to be the day they done the big swap and the start of the girls most ambitious scheme to date. The two helped each other to pack during the early hours of the morning even before sunrise, then sat chatting the hours away, expressing their hopes and their fears. Sometime mid-morning, a call came from the bullhorn of Marva SR to come down and stand close to the road waiting for the buses to arrive. The two girls gave each other a quick hug before running out of the cabin, both taking one quick look at the place where they found each other, before running down the stairs to follow Marva SR. The pair head to the mess hall area behind Marva, seeing the buses roll in and all the girls hugging each other good bye as the buses start to load up the duffels. The two girls took each others bags, and were wearing each other clothes and they made their way over to the other girls from their old cabins, saying a quick goodbye before heading onto the bus. The whole camp seemed to drain away so fast as the two girls stood next to each other waiting very anxiously knowing exactly what was to come in the next 24hrs, giving each other a deep embrace
Annie: Okay, so remember, you're going to find out how Mom and Dad met...
Hallie: and you're gonna find out why they broke up...
Up the road came a familiar sight to Annie, the limousine that she was dropped off with was coming to pick her up, instead it wasn't going to her that was picked up but Annie, with Annie still holding her passport and plane tickets back to England. The limousine parked just a little walk down the road as the two girls turned to face each other, knowing that this was the big event they had been planning for seven weeks, with Marva JR realising after a few seconds that Annie's lift was here.
Marva JR.: (through her bull-horn) Annie James! Your car's here! Annie James, front and center!
Annie: That's you. Here's your ticket and passport. Martin will pick you up from the airport tomorrow morning
Hallie: What time do you leave?
Annie: Oh not for a couple of hours.
Also, remember, you've got to figure out a way to bring Mom out to California.
Marva: JR Last call, Annie James!
Hallie: Give Dad a kiss for me.
Annie: And give Mom one for me.
The two girls once again hug again briefly as the butterflies grew in Hallie's stomach as she picks up her small case and bag, while fiddling with her locket. Quickly Annie realises there was one thing they hadn't done after all, shouting to the running Hallie to get her attention as fast as possible, doing so very well.
Annie: Oh my God! Hallie! I mean, Annie! Hallie!
The lockets!
Hallie turns around again and quickly runs back, in order not to cause any more delay to the limousine and to try and keep Marva from getting to annoyed by the delay in their strict timescale. The girls quickly swap there lockets and put them on, quickly giving a peck on the cheeks as a goodbye kiss then Hallie once again runs towards the waiting driver, hugging Marva JR who was standing by the door then getting in the back as Marva shuts the door and walking off. The Limousine starts to drive away with Annie watching, doing a little stance the two girls had formed for good luck , involving crossing their arms and fingers, and into the distance the Limousine went as Annie's bus pulls. So it began….The parent trap had been set-off.