Elected Hurricane Stage 4. ETA 4 hours.
Mother 'bumped' into Mr Principal who, upon seeing her, paled as if he'd seen a class six Oddy. Kate understood, next to him, arm in arm was his wife. A pale pinkish white lady with puffy brown hair bunched in rolls and curls wide enough to remind her of a wave Griff could surf.
What followed was an amazingly awkward handshake, well, not for Mother. An outsider would have thought they were the best of friends. Mother locked him in place with the classic handshake and shoulder squeeze. A move Kate knew. The masculine shake was all about the pressure. Sharp fingertips digging deep into the shoulder, strong and firm support, reassuring. The feminine was different but needed just as much energy because of all the movement, pressure enough cut through fabric but never touch bone. And then came the soft rub that made one tingle from nostril to pinkie toe.
But that was just the shoulder, the one hand. There was still the second. Its job was to focus on the elbow while it was still close to the receiver's side. Those pressure points being sensitive to the extreme while withdrawn, a good touch cut through the defences and maintained the tingle without creating a fight or flight reaction.
The sensation was so weird that, with the right words from the right person and the right perfume, it would feel like love at first sight.
And Mother was dolling out the fullest elbow treatment.
The Principal Lady's handshake had been limp, borderline liquid. Well Mother slurped it up with such gusto that they were knee to knee, pelvis to pelvis.
"I'm ashamed." Mother breathed, eyes down and away.
Madam Principal's face widened.
"What?"
"I literally met your husband just today. And he did not do you justice." Mother said. "And the style! Those are the most unique combination of earpieces I've seen in a while. No way you let this combination be a gift. You collect this solo or do the classic husband nudging to get the perfect gift?"
Mother went as far as to name the jewel and pull up a screen to show the gems along with some celebrities who'd historically rocked the red carpet in the same. The absolute lack of personal space was forgotten as hip to hip, they watched the footage. They were lost in their own huddle. Mother had made a lady she'd just met participate in a game the target could not understand. Suddenly Kate saw herself on their screen as they watched the family at some random event.
Mother wore a dress with an alarming neckline that plunged to the surface of the earth. But zoomed in was Kate in an impossibly puffy dress. They focused on the combination of silver necklace and earrings that consisted of glittery silver streaks that sparkled.
"Oh my goodness." The Ms Principal Lady said, admiring the screen.
"This was just its first appearance."
Her mother suddenly stood, abandoning the huddle to face Mr. Husband.
"Let's find a place more comfortable. Top booths on the upper floors. My treat."
Their faces dropped.
"We couldn't."
"Kid's too."
That did something. Lady principal created a whole new panic, pulling at her sundress.
"I'm not sure I can go like this."
"You are absolutely gorgeous. Look at this hair! But if you don't feel right then that's just how it is. Come with me to put my bags down. And we'll have a go at it. See if I can't put a little magic on you." Her mother purred.
Those words being said with Mother staring directly at Mr Principal.
A lot happened at the same time, Kate wasn't entirely sure what, who, when and how.
Only that Mother had put an arm around Ms Principal and walked her, leading her as she examined the path to their rooms, which consisted entirely of giant ceiling free steel cubicles with walls that, with effort, could be climbed.
It happened so fast! In a blink, they were gone, leaving Griff and Kate holding the bags. They hadn't even found their rooms.
Griff just stared and, out of nowhere, like a little shit, knuckle tapped her in the groin. Kate squeezed and gargled a scream and dropped to her knees. She rammed her skull into his stomach and pinned him to the wall while nursing herself. He punched her spine, she doubled the pressure, strengthening with her butt in the air like a bucking buffalo.
The door opened and Mother poked her head out. She was a new woman.
She wore a simple white sundress, the fabric hitting a dramatic end long before her knees to reveal oddly dense legs, tanned bronze, as if her butt received more UV rays than her face. The dress had a bright sunniness that gleamed, soap commercials could only dream to be so bright. The dress matched Ms principal's whose own was short but lacked Mother's bravery by a couple inches. There was a glorious glow around her while Mr principal had simple ruffled hair and a shirt that was more open than before. In the gap was a pair of sunglasses, it looked like he'd only just stepped into the shade. Mother hugged Griff and pulled him away, smothering his cheeks in kisses. The simple changes had sexed up and warmed up the two oldies.
Suddenly two girls turned a corner nearly bumping them, they were older teens who looked like they'd given up everything because they'd been called in to jury duty. At least until they made eye contact with Mr & Ms Principal. The way they gaped told Kate that they must have been the principal's daughters.
They were very similar. Not twins by age but by height and face, both had black hair and just the most unique sharp eyes and small button noses with big cheeks creating an infinite amount of… well… face. A tattooists dream canvas. What stood out was one's round button shaped lip piercing and the other's head bangs, which had been twisted round and high into a Pompadour.
"Mom?" said Ms Pompadour.