Page 102 of The Good Neighbour

We may be small, we may be weak

But Little Fanny is never meek.

Stay strong, my friends, we will not fail

Little Fanny must prevail

The fight is ours to win

My fellow fannies, you are my kin.

The audience gave her a rousing round of applause.

Henrietta turned to Professor Huffam, who was also clapping.

“You are the perfect guardian of our Little Fanny, Henrietta. What will you do while I’m rallying the troops?”

Henrietta held her hand. “I am going out there. If I don’t make it back alive, you know what to do.”

Professor Huffam grabbed her again. “What are you going to do?”

Henrietta took a deep breath and stared out at the audience. “I’m going aboard that spacecraft to give them a piece of my mind. No one tries to invade my Little Fanny and gets away with it.”

The curtain went down on the interval to rapturous applause. No one was cheering louder than Josh. He’d seen the show countless times and still got carried away by it all.

Mrs Wimpole and the Professor were still giggling.

“Oh this is wonderful,” Mrs Wimpole declared.

“What a talent,” the Professor added.

Josh beamed. He couldn’t wait to tell Hugh what his muses thought.

The show got another standing ovation, this time led by Mrs Wimpole who’d jumped to her feet before the final number had finished.

Josh knocked on the dressing room door. Hugh answered it. He was already out of drag.

“Wow, you move quickly.”

“I want to get to Mrs Wimpole’s,” Hugh said.

The happy couple had insisted on throwing a little midnight soiree to celebrate Hugh and Michael. Knowing Mrs Wimpole, it would be lavish.

“Michael’s in the shower,” Hugh explained. “Come here.”

He pulled Josh close and kissed him. The feel of Hugh’s lips on his still sent shockwaves through Josh. Long may it continue.

The moment was disturbed by a knocking on the door.

Hugh moved away, frowning. “I told them I didn’t want to see anyone tonight. We’ve got places to be.”

He opened the door and let out a little yelp. A short woman with a blonde bob and nervous expression stood there.

“Mum.”

Josh would have known who she was if he’d spotted her in the street. She and Hugh were so alike.

“Can I come in?”