“Please don’t.” they’d plead, but their sisters didn’t care.
It was one humiliating task after another. “Now hold hands boys … smile … show Paul what’s in your handbag … oh, some lipstick! … what a lovely colour! … let Paul try it … no Peter, you apply it for him … are you going to snuggle up together tonight?”
“No.” they hope. It’s a rare yet all too familiar routine.
Melanie, who’s the most cutting and calculating of the two would say things like, “You’ll both have your nappies on so you won’t be able to touch each other.” and “You do still wear nappies don’t you Paul?” whilst knowing full well that he does. She’s made sure of that by suggesting that Audrey does the occasional wee into a jar to pour onto her brother’s mattress, thus making their mother believe that he’s still an occasional bed wetter and ensuring the boys always have a nappy to wear. Even as a young teenager, Paul always has a pack of DriNites tucked discreetly beneath his bed.