Trickett's demonstration

"As you see," said Miss Trickett, "hypnotism can make people do all kinds of things." She'd had the girls touch their toes, turn around, sing the National Anthem, lie on the floor and kick their legs in the air. She'd even made them briefly believe they were pirates, and have an imaginary swordfight. "It can control actions, thoughts, beliefs, even the deepest of inmost feelings. All you have to do is instruct the subject." She beamed at her audience, who were slouching in their chairs, halfway to falling asleep. "That concludes the introductory segment of my three-hour demonstration of... hold on."

Her phone was ringing. She ducked backstage to fish it out of the depths of her handbag. Bonnie and Susie stood in position, hands back on heads, listening to her talk. Bonnie, Susie could tell, was feeling relieved. It honestly hadn't been that bad so far. She'd been quietly terrified that Miss Trickett was going to make them do something embarrassing.

"Hold on," said Trickett, and quickly popped her head back on stage. "Hypnosis emergency," she said, and smiled glassily. "Have to take this. Shouldn't be too long."

And she walked away.

Heads turned to watch her go. The audience waited, a long beat of stunned silence. Then, slowly, heads turned back to Bonnie and Susie, stranded on stage.

Anne-Marie got up.

She climbed up on stage, a gorgeous athletic honey-blonde in a cheerleader outfit, smoothing down her skirt to make sure it didn't kick up and show her panties. She parted the curtains to peer after Trickett, then went backstage to search the small space behind the tent for her. Soon enough, she returned.

"Gone," she reported. "Probably not coming back for a while."

"Well," said Bonnie, and laughed, a trifle nervously, "that's too bad. I guess we'll all have to leave."

"Jump up and down," Anne ordered. And Bonnie and Susie, obediently, jumped up and down.

A huge white predatory smile spread across Anne's face.

"Gosh," she said. "It seems like you two are still hypnotised. Sure would be a shame if somebody made you do something embarrassing."