The Grandmother Challenge (M/F)
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2025 3:14 pm
“Allow me to explain the situation,” the young man said as he sat in the armchair and looked across at the two women. “My partner and I regret the fact that you will have to be inconvenienced in this way, but it is a necessary part of what we do and how we work. You have my word, however, that we will take every step to ensure that you are not placed in any danger – in return, we require you to acknowledge that you have to allow us to do this without complaint, and try to relax and accept the situation as much as possible.”
Rose and Ivy turned their heads and looked at each other, before Rose said quietly “well, at least you are polite about it.”
“We find this helps more than hinders us,” the man said with a smile as he looked at the two older women. Rose Thorne was in her early seventies and was wearing an orange down vest over a black dress, a pair of knee length black leather boots zipped up. She also had a red and black woollen headscarf tied loosely round her neck, her grey hair styled.
Her friend Ivy Barclay also had grey hair, a pair of horn-rimmed glasses making her eyes shine. She was wearing a mustard-coloured jumper, and a knee length giraffe print skirt in orange and cream. She also had a pair of fawn shoes on, a bead necklace round her neck.
“Indeed,” she said as she looked at him. “So, what happens now?”
“Well, my partner is making sure that the main telephone and your internet connection is disabled,” he said with a smile as he stood up, “but I require you both now to hand me your mobile phones, and your purses – and then we can begin to ensure your safety.”
“We don’t have a choice, do we?”
“No – please, your phones and purses.”
Rose and ivy handed their handbags over, the man opening them and switching off their phones before he waked to a table and placed them there – then turned and smiled as he opened a bag. He stood about six foot seven tall, and was dressed in black – leather jacket, jumper, pants, shoes, gloves and balaclava mask so that only his eyes and lips were visible.
“Thank you,” he said with a smile. “Now, kindly sit slightly forward, and place your hands behind your backs.”
“Well, I guess he is going to tie us up,” Rose said as the man removed from the bag several lengths of rope and walked behind the chairs the two women were sitting on, doubling one of the two lengths over before he crossed Rose’s wrists and began to bind them together.
“May I compliment you on the music you are listening to,” he said as he pulled the rope tighter with each pass and then secured the ends.
“Well, I have always had a soft spot of Berlioz,” Rose said as he doubled over a longer length of rope and passed it round her body, forcing her arms against her sides as the bands pressed on her chest.
“You know in the movies, it is usual to secure wrists and ankles only,” Ivy said as she watched her friend’s reaction to the ropes.
“Ah, but that is Hollywood,” the man said with a smile as he pulled the ropes tighter, and teen moved behind Ivy, “this is real life, and usually real life is not a glitzy star filled affair.”
He secured Ivy’s arms to her sides in the same way as Rose and then said “there - I trust it is not too uncomfortable?”
“If we are being tied up, at least you are making it comfortable,” Rose said, Ivy nodding as they looked to the door, a second man walking another woman in who had her hands behind her back, bands of rope pinning her arms to the side as they framed her chest. She had dark hair and was wearing a cap sleeved black dress with a diamante pattern on the front, as well as knee length black leather boots.
“Conchita – I see he found you,” Rose said quietly.
“Indeed – the tea is – delayed,” the new arrival said as her captor looked in. He was identical to the first man in every aspect save one – he was a good foot shorter in height.
“I think we can do without,” Rose said as the smaller man walked Conchita over and helped her to sit on end of a long couch.
“Are we secure, Mister Small?”
“We are secure Mister Tall,” the second man said as he took two lengths of rope from the bag and knelt down, crossing and binding Conchita’s ankles together with the first length of rope.
“Romeo and Juliet?”
“Your musical knowledge is admirable,” Rose said as she watched Mister Small take the rope around and between her housekeeper’s ankles, forcing them tightly together as he tied the ends off, and then used a longer length to secure her legs together below her knees.
At the same time, Mister Tall knelt by ivy and bound her ankles and legs tightly together in the same way, the older woman watching as the ropes bit into the flesh of her legs. “Answer me a question, will you,” she said as Mister Tall stood up.
“And the question is?”
“What would have happened if our grandchildren were here?”
“Honestly – we would have ensured they could not raise the alarm either. But I trust you would accept we would have taken all due care as we have with you?”
Ivy nodded as she looked at Mister Small helping Conchita to lie along the couch, and then taking a roll of grey tape from the bag, the ropes were sitting in. Tearing a strip off, he pressed it firmly down over the dark-haired woman’s mouth, silencing her as Mister Tall helped Rose to stand up.
“I would like you to accompany me on a tour of your home,” he said as he looked at his partner. “Mister Small, will you ensure that Ivy here is kept quiet?”
“Of course,” Mister Small said as Ivy twisted round, the taller man walking Rose out and then taking her up the staircase.
“Well now,” Mister Small said as he came over, the roll of tape in his hand, “I believe I need to – ah.”
“Ah?”
“Ah,” Mister Small said as they heard the knock on the front door. He put a finger to his lips and left the room, Conchita twisting on the couch as both women listened/
“Hey Rose, I hope I’m – who are you?”
“Please, come quietly in while I close the door, and then come into the front room.”
Ivy let out a low groan as she recognized the voice, Conchita raising her head and looking over as Mister Small returned with a fourth older woman. Her grey hair was cut in a bob, a red bandana tied in her hair to hold it back, and was wearing a red sleeveless tunic, white leggings and red sandals. The new arrival looked at the two women, and then said “Ivy, where is Rose?”
“Upstairs with the other – well, Gentleman,” Ivy said as she looked over. “I’m sorry Heather, you’ve walked into a robbery.”
“So I see,” the new arrival said as she heard Conchita say “phlhshshdhnthrhggwehfhm.”
“Of course she is not going to argue with me,” Mister Small said. “For one thing, I am sure she has an understanding and appreciation of the situation. For another, you will be in the same position as them in a short while…”
“Well, not exactly,” Heather said quietly, “I cannot put my hands behind my back – an operation scar. If you are going to tie me up – and I believe you are – it has to be in another way.”
“Of course – your comfort is the important thing,” Mister Small said with a smile. “Kindly sit next to Ivy and put your hands out in prayer in front of yourself. I will ensure you our discomfort is – minimal.”
“Can I trust you?”
“You can trust him,” Ivy said, Conchita nodding in agreement as Heather sat and watched Moster Small use a fresh length of rope to secure her wrists together in front of herself. He then took more ropes and knelt down, binding her ankles and legs as she turned to the side and said “so, a robbery?”
“A robbery. How is Casey?”
“Getting bigger every day – I’m just glad I did not bring her and her sister here this afternoon,” Heather said as Mister Small doubled over a longer rope and walked behind her, Ivy watching as the rope went over Heather’s head and was pulled tight so that her thin arms were forced against her sides, framing her chest as the rope went round and round.
She looked down through her glasses as her top was stretched over her chest, before Mister Small took one last length of rope and secured her wrists to the band of rope holding her legs together below her knees. She twisted round, and said “well, I guess I may as well get comfortable in this seat.”
“We both will – and I suspect we will both be quiet as well,” Ivy said as Mister Small picked up the roll of tape, tearing a strip off and pressing it firmly down over her mouth before he repeated the process over Heather’s mouth. The two of them looked at each other as the music continued to play, Heather feeling the rope rubbing on her bare wrists and ankles as she tried not to move too much.
Both women watched the masked man as he started to search the display cases in the room, as Conchita said “hmshrhrhlhtthtmhn.”
“Nttuhdfhltchsshhtha,” Ivy mumbled, “hmmshrrthwhrhrhvhrrhrhfhrm.”
“Swwhrtdhwhdhnh,” Heather said quietly.
“Wht….”
As Rose came back into the room, she said “Heather – I hope they treated you the same way they have treated us.
“Hmmnhtththbhd,” Heather said as Mister Small came over.
“Well, I have found some further items, but…”
Both men fell silent as they heard the knock on the door, Mister Small taking Rose by the arm as Mister Tall walked to the front door. He returned a few minutes later with another older woman, wearing a white lace dress with short sleeves and a short skirt, and matching white heels. She looked round the room and said, “Well now – are you being robbed Rose?”
“I’m afraid so Pearl – and I am afraid to say you are going to be tied up and gagged a swell.”
“I see – and may I know the names of our captors?”
“Mister Tall, Mister Small – this is Pearl Bailey.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Pearl,” Mister Tall said as he took the new arrival’s handbag, “please, put your hands behind your back – we’ll make you both comfortable and secure.”
“Nott the first time it’s happened, but it’s been a while,” Pearl said as Mister Small walked behind her and took her hands behind her back. As she felt the soft rope, she smiled and said “Well, this brings back some memories.”
“Do you still play those games with Chrystine and the others?”
“From time to time, but it has been a while,” Pearl said as her wrists were bound tightly together, and then the rope was taken round her arms and body, framing her chest as she bit her lower lip.
“Ntththehtmhrphlhsphrl.”
“Oh lighten up Ivy,” Pearl said as the rope forced her arms against her sides the white body stocking she was wearing under the dress more visible, “if we don’t have a choice in the matter, then we make the most of it right?”
The three women looked silently at each other as Mister Small tied the ropes off, and then both Pearl and Rose were helped to sit on the floor in front of Conchita, stretching their legs out as the two masked Gentlemen began to secure their ankles and legs as well.
“So, got any coping strategies?”
“Relax, accept what is happening, and it can be surprisingly – exciting,” Pearl said as both women felt their legs being secured together below their knees. They both twisted their legs from side to side, and then said, “so we stay calm, and accept we are not going to be able to move or speak easily for a while.”
“Essentially, yes,” Pearl said as Mister Small peeled a length of tape free from the roll. “We can talk later.”
Rose nodded as the tape was pressed down over her friend’s mouth, her eyes shining behind her glasses, as the music stopped.
“Do you have any requests for the next music you listen to?”
Rose looked at Mister Tall, and then said, “there’s a Bernstein CD you can put on.”
The masked man nodded and went to the player as Mister Small pressed the grey tape down over her mouth. She watched as he removed the silver disc and put a new one in, the strains of the theme of To Kill A Mockingbird coming out as the five women looked round the room.
“Again, our thanks for the cooperation of all of you today,” the taller of the two men said as they looked round the room. “The Gentlemen Robbers bid you adieu – may we never meet again.”
Both men made a low bow and then left the room, Rose hearing the door closing as the music continued. She then looked round the room, before she said “swhhtdhwhdhnh?”
“Whtthlhttlhwhl,” Pearl said as she looked round the room. “Hfhfhrhchnuhbhnduhrlhgs?”
“Nthshhrrwh?”
“Mhbbhuhchnngghtththphff. Ashffhrhs – jhstwht.”
Rose glanced to the side as Pearl started to move her shoulders, Heather sitting next to Ivy before she bent her legs and planted her feet on the seat, the rope from her wrists to her knees slackening as she did so. She then bent her head forward and tried to pick on the edge of the tape over her mouth, as Ivy sad “hffuhghtththhfwhthtn?”
“Theenwhchnthlkhtlhst – hnaddhmhtbhhbelthlphuh,” Heather mumbled as she rubbed the tap eon her hands, while Rose watched Pearl wriggling round and then letting out a grunt.
“Whtthphhhndhd.”
“Thshssm,” Pearl said as she slowly worked her hands round and then tried to push the bands of rope up over her head, while Heather managed to get a grip on the edge of the tape gag and then started to turn her head as the tape came away.
Eventually, she said “Hhnnss better,” as the tape came away, while Pearl managed to get the ropes off and peeked the tape away from her own mouth.
“Right,” she eventually said, “see if you can get that gag off Ivy’s mouth, I’m going to find ym phone and call for help.” They all watched as she managed to push herself up into a standing position and jump to where their handbags were as the theme to the Great Escape played…
“So how long?”
“I reckon they may be getting free about now,” Mister Tall said as the transit van made its way onto the motorway, “but we still have time to get far enough away…”
Rose and Ivy turned their heads and looked at each other, before Rose said quietly “well, at least you are polite about it.”
“We find this helps more than hinders us,” the man said with a smile as he looked at the two older women. Rose Thorne was in her early seventies and was wearing an orange down vest over a black dress, a pair of knee length black leather boots zipped up. She also had a red and black woollen headscarf tied loosely round her neck, her grey hair styled.
Her friend Ivy Barclay also had grey hair, a pair of horn-rimmed glasses making her eyes shine. She was wearing a mustard-coloured jumper, and a knee length giraffe print skirt in orange and cream. She also had a pair of fawn shoes on, a bead necklace round her neck.
“Indeed,” she said as she looked at him. “So, what happens now?”
“Well, my partner is making sure that the main telephone and your internet connection is disabled,” he said with a smile as he stood up, “but I require you both now to hand me your mobile phones, and your purses – and then we can begin to ensure your safety.”
“We don’t have a choice, do we?”
“No – please, your phones and purses.”
Rose and ivy handed their handbags over, the man opening them and switching off their phones before he waked to a table and placed them there – then turned and smiled as he opened a bag. He stood about six foot seven tall, and was dressed in black – leather jacket, jumper, pants, shoes, gloves and balaclava mask so that only his eyes and lips were visible.
“Thank you,” he said with a smile. “Now, kindly sit slightly forward, and place your hands behind your backs.”
“Well, I guess he is going to tie us up,” Rose said as the man removed from the bag several lengths of rope and walked behind the chairs the two women were sitting on, doubling one of the two lengths over before he crossed Rose’s wrists and began to bind them together.
“May I compliment you on the music you are listening to,” he said as he pulled the rope tighter with each pass and then secured the ends.
“Well, I have always had a soft spot of Berlioz,” Rose said as he doubled over a longer length of rope and passed it round her body, forcing her arms against her sides as the bands pressed on her chest.
“You know in the movies, it is usual to secure wrists and ankles only,” Ivy said as she watched her friend’s reaction to the ropes.
“Ah, but that is Hollywood,” the man said with a smile as he pulled the ropes tighter, and teen moved behind Ivy, “this is real life, and usually real life is not a glitzy star filled affair.”
He secured Ivy’s arms to her sides in the same way as Rose and then said “there - I trust it is not too uncomfortable?”
“If we are being tied up, at least you are making it comfortable,” Rose said, Ivy nodding as they looked to the door, a second man walking another woman in who had her hands behind her back, bands of rope pinning her arms to the side as they framed her chest. She had dark hair and was wearing a cap sleeved black dress with a diamante pattern on the front, as well as knee length black leather boots.
“Conchita – I see he found you,” Rose said quietly.
“Indeed – the tea is – delayed,” the new arrival said as her captor looked in. He was identical to the first man in every aspect save one – he was a good foot shorter in height.
“I think we can do without,” Rose said as the smaller man walked Conchita over and helped her to sit on end of a long couch.
“Are we secure, Mister Small?”
“We are secure Mister Tall,” the second man said as he took two lengths of rope from the bag and knelt down, crossing and binding Conchita’s ankles together with the first length of rope.
“Romeo and Juliet?”
“Your musical knowledge is admirable,” Rose said as she watched Mister Small take the rope around and between her housekeeper’s ankles, forcing them tightly together as he tied the ends off, and then used a longer length to secure her legs together below her knees.
At the same time, Mister Tall knelt by ivy and bound her ankles and legs tightly together in the same way, the older woman watching as the ropes bit into the flesh of her legs. “Answer me a question, will you,” she said as Mister Tall stood up.
“And the question is?”
“What would have happened if our grandchildren were here?”
“Honestly – we would have ensured they could not raise the alarm either. But I trust you would accept we would have taken all due care as we have with you?”
Ivy nodded as she looked at Mister Small helping Conchita to lie along the couch, and then taking a roll of grey tape from the bag, the ropes were sitting in. Tearing a strip off, he pressed it firmly down over the dark-haired woman’s mouth, silencing her as Mister Tall helped Rose to stand up.
“I would like you to accompany me on a tour of your home,” he said as he looked at his partner. “Mister Small, will you ensure that Ivy here is kept quiet?”
“Of course,” Mister Small said as Ivy twisted round, the taller man walking Rose out and then taking her up the staircase.
“Well now,” Mister Small said as he came over, the roll of tape in his hand, “I believe I need to – ah.”
“Ah?”
“Ah,” Mister Small said as they heard the knock on the front door. He put a finger to his lips and left the room, Conchita twisting on the couch as both women listened/
“Hey Rose, I hope I’m – who are you?”
“Please, come quietly in while I close the door, and then come into the front room.”
Ivy let out a low groan as she recognized the voice, Conchita raising her head and looking over as Mister Small returned with a fourth older woman. Her grey hair was cut in a bob, a red bandana tied in her hair to hold it back, and was wearing a red sleeveless tunic, white leggings and red sandals. The new arrival looked at the two women, and then said “Ivy, where is Rose?”
“Upstairs with the other – well, Gentleman,” Ivy said as she looked over. “I’m sorry Heather, you’ve walked into a robbery.”
“So I see,” the new arrival said as she heard Conchita say “phlhshshdhnthrhggwehfhm.”
“Of course she is not going to argue with me,” Mister Small said. “For one thing, I am sure she has an understanding and appreciation of the situation. For another, you will be in the same position as them in a short while…”
“Well, not exactly,” Heather said quietly, “I cannot put my hands behind my back – an operation scar. If you are going to tie me up – and I believe you are – it has to be in another way.”
“Of course – your comfort is the important thing,” Mister Small said with a smile. “Kindly sit next to Ivy and put your hands out in prayer in front of yourself. I will ensure you our discomfort is – minimal.”
“Can I trust you?”
“You can trust him,” Ivy said, Conchita nodding in agreement as Heather sat and watched Moster Small use a fresh length of rope to secure her wrists together in front of herself. He then took more ropes and knelt down, binding her ankles and legs as she turned to the side and said “so, a robbery?”
“A robbery. How is Casey?”
“Getting bigger every day – I’m just glad I did not bring her and her sister here this afternoon,” Heather said as Mister Small doubled over a longer rope and walked behind her, Ivy watching as the rope went over Heather’s head and was pulled tight so that her thin arms were forced against her sides, framing her chest as the rope went round and round.
She looked down through her glasses as her top was stretched over her chest, before Mister Small took one last length of rope and secured her wrists to the band of rope holding her legs together below her knees. She twisted round, and said “well, I guess I may as well get comfortable in this seat.”
“We both will – and I suspect we will both be quiet as well,” Ivy said as Mister Small picked up the roll of tape, tearing a strip off and pressing it firmly down over her mouth before he repeated the process over Heather’s mouth. The two of them looked at each other as the music continued to play, Heather feeling the rope rubbing on her bare wrists and ankles as she tried not to move too much.
Both women watched the masked man as he started to search the display cases in the room, as Conchita said “hmshrhrhlhtthtmhn.”
“Nttuhdfhltchsshhtha,” Ivy mumbled, “hmmshrrthwhrhrhvhrrhrhfhrm.”
“Swwhrtdhwhdhnh,” Heather said quietly.
“Wht….”
As Rose came back into the room, she said “Heather – I hope they treated you the same way they have treated us.
“Hmmnhtththbhd,” Heather said as Mister Small came over.
“Well, I have found some further items, but…”
Both men fell silent as they heard the knock on the door, Mister Small taking Rose by the arm as Mister Tall walked to the front door. He returned a few minutes later with another older woman, wearing a white lace dress with short sleeves and a short skirt, and matching white heels. She looked round the room and said, “Well now – are you being robbed Rose?”
“I’m afraid so Pearl – and I am afraid to say you are going to be tied up and gagged a swell.”
“I see – and may I know the names of our captors?”
“Mister Tall, Mister Small – this is Pearl Bailey.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Pearl,” Mister Tall said as he took the new arrival’s handbag, “please, put your hands behind your back – we’ll make you both comfortable and secure.”
“Nott the first time it’s happened, but it’s been a while,” Pearl said as Mister Small walked behind her and took her hands behind her back. As she felt the soft rope, she smiled and said “Well, this brings back some memories.”
“Do you still play those games with Chrystine and the others?”
“From time to time, but it has been a while,” Pearl said as her wrists were bound tightly together, and then the rope was taken round her arms and body, framing her chest as she bit her lower lip.
“Ntththehtmhrphlhsphrl.”
“Oh lighten up Ivy,” Pearl said as the rope forced her arms against her sides the white body stocking she was wearing under the dress more visible, “if we don’t have a choice in the matter, then we make the most of it right?”
The three women looked silently at each other as Mister Small tied the ropes off, and then both Pearl and Rose were helped to sit on the floor in front of Conchita, stretching their legs out as the two masked Gentlemen began to secure their ankles and legs as well.
“So, got any coping strategies?”
“Relax, accept what is happening, and it can be surprisingly – exciting,” Pearl said as both women felt their legs being secured together below their knees. They both twisted their legs from side to side, and then said, “so we stay calm, and accept we are not going to be able to move or speak easily for a while.”
“Essentially, yes,” Pearl said as Mister Small peeled a length of tape free from the roll. “We can talk later.”
Rose nodded as the tape was pressed down over her friend’s mouth, her eyes shining behind her glasses, as the music stopped.
“Do you have any requests for the next music you listen to?”
Rose looked at Mister Tall, and then said, “there’s a Bernstein CD you can put on.”
The masked man nodded and went to the player as Mister Small pressed the grey tape down over her mouth. She watched as he removed the silver disc and put a new one in, the strains of the theme of To Kill A Mockingbird coming out as the five women looked round the room.
“Again, our thanks for the cooperation of all of you today,” the taller of the two men said as they looked round the room. “The Gentlemen Robbers bid you adieu – may we never meet again.”
Both men made a low bow and then left the room, Rose hearing the door closing as the music continued. She then looked round the room, before she said “swhhtdhwhdhnh?”
“Whtthlhttlhwhl,” Pearl said as she looked round the room. “Hfhfhrhchnuhbhnduhrlhgs?”
“Nthshhrrwh?”
“Mhbbhuhchnngghtththphff. Ashffhrhs – jhstwht.”
Rose glanced to the side as Pearl started to move her shoulders, Heather sitting next to Ivy before she bent her legs and planted her feet on the seat, the rope from her wrists to her knees slackening as she did so. She then bent her head forward and tried to pick on the edge of the tape over her mouth, as Ivy sad “hffuhghtththhfwhthtn?”
“Theenwhchnthlkhtlhst – hnaddhmhtbhhbelthlphuh,” Heather mumbled as she rubbed the tap eon her hands, while Rose watched Pearl wriggling round and then letting out a grunt.
“Whtthphhhndhd.”
“Thshssm,” Pearl said as she slowly worked her hands round and then tried to push the bands of rope up over her head, while Heather managed to get a grip on the edge of the tape gag and then started to turn her head as the tape came away.
Eventually, she said “Hhnnss better,” as the tape came away, while Pearl managed to get the ropes off and peeked the tape away from her own mouth.
“Right,” she eventually said, “see if you can get that gag off Ivy’s mouth, I’m going to find ym phone and call for help.” They all watched as she managed to push herself up into a standing position and jump to where their handbags were as the theme to the Great Escape played…
“So how long?”
“I reckon they may be getting free about now,” Mister Tall said as the transit van made its way onto the motorway, “but we still have time to get far enough away…”