“So what’s with the hair and stuff?” I asked as we followed everyone through the airport terminal.
“You like? New start, new me.”
“You look er great, I think someone was quite happy with the old you,” I mentioned with a nod towards Mart.
"Its not for him, its for me Gabs.”
“Fine, just saying, hey you’re speaking German.”
“i’ve been practicing.”
“Well you are better than my English is.”
“Give over!”
“Straight up, when the cousins and Nanna were here they had trouble understanding me.”
“You do have an accent, Mum mentioned that last year.”
“Great,” I sighed.
“So you coming up to the farm?”
“For a bit,” I told her chuckling Drea under the chin, “Max is taking me to some party thing tonight.”
“Party?”
“Apparently we’re supposed to wear beach stuff, I am so not going in a bikini. Hey, you and Mart should come.”
Bern gave me a wistful look, “i wish, I can’t expect Erika to babysit on our first night here.”
“I guess, well maybe next time.”
“Yeah,” she agreed with a sigh.
 

Living on a farm the Preisers have a range of motorised transport at their disposal, tractors, one of those quad bikes, Stefan’s pick up, Erika’s Mercedes and a slightly battered Volkswagen Sharan. It was the latter that we stopped at in the car park.

“So i’ll pick you up at four,” Dad told me as Mart and his Dad stowed the girl’s luggage in the VW.
“’kay.”
“i’ll see you in the week Bernie,” Mum mentioned.
“Sure Mrs B, thanks for, you know.”
“My pleasure, you eating before you go out Gab?”
“Best have something I guess,”
“Okay, tschuss.”
“Tschuss!”
 

“Nearly forgot, Mad got this for the little un.”
“Er thanks,” Bern allowed taking it from me, “Helen mentioned she’d ended up here.”
“Long story,” I told her, “tell you later.”
“Whatever.”

I switched to my ‘accented’ English, “so how’re your mum and dad taking this?”
“Mum’s not happy but I think she gets why, you know what dad’s like, doesn’t say much but I think he’s okay with it, they’ve talked with Stefan and Erika a few times.”
“Must be hard for them, losing you all over.”
“I’ve hardly been a model daughter have I, druggie, arsonist, jailbird, teen mum.”
“But you’re still their daughter and Drea’s their grandchild,” I pointed out.
“Its not like we’ve disappeared off the face of the earth,” I was told a bit defensively, “they can come visit any time.”
 

Well that sort of killed the conversation most of the way out to Staffel and the Preiser’s farm cum riding school. We jounced down the lane and into the yard where we found Erika doing something horsey to a saddle.

I hung back as Bern and Erika got re-aquainted.

“Pity you can’t go to the party, everyone’ll be there, last fling before college starts.”
“Who says?”
“Er girlfriend, baby?” I suggested.
“Grandparents,” he countered.
“You’ve already sorted it,” I accused.
“What do you take me for Gaby Bond?”
I gave him a quick one armed hug, “you’re a good man Marty Preiser.”
“Just don’t tell everyone eh?”
“Try not to.”
“Come on, lets get this lot inside.”
 

“Here,” Bern unceremoniously plonked her daughter into my currently empty arms, “dribble on Auntie Gabs for a bit.”
“Erm.”

The not quite so little toddler squirmed in my arms, straining to see what mum was up to.

“So what exactly are you gonna do now you’re here?”
“As in now?”
“I was thinking more like college or whatever?”
“Well until Drea’s old enough for nursery I’ll help out here on the farm.”
“Never took you for a farm girl,” I offered as I did my best to entertain the younger Rose girl.
“Woman if you please.”

I did an eye roll, there’s Mad thinks she’s Lara Croft and this one is clearly aiming at becoming some upper class totty.

“Whatever, so has the ‘woman’ got a party frock?”
“Not really, I hardly get the chance to go partying do I?”
“You must have something,” I pressed, “I dunno, even like some sports gear?”
“Thats hardly party stuff is it?”
“Could be,” I suggested.
“What are you up to Bond?”
“Nothing, just interested.”

Drea added a bit of a chuckle.

“Hmm, I’ve got like a tube dress, just in case.”
“Just in case?”
“You know, in case Mart takes me out or something.”
“Well lets see then,” I demanded.
 

“Thanks for coming up Gab,” Mart told me.
“Its what friends do.”
“Well I appreciate it and I’m sure Bern does.”
“If you say so, look that’s my transport, see you two at Mayschoß later?”
“All organised, Mum’s having Drea and Dad’ll bring us down, don’t think we’ll stay too long.”
“As long as you come.”
“We’ll be there.”
 

“Everything okay?” Dad asked as we jounced back out to the road.
“Think so.”
“The Preiser’s are good people.”
“I know, Mart’s an absolute brick, I’m just not sure Bern’s ready to do the farming thing like twenty four seven.”
“Give her a chance kiddo.”
“I know.”
“Your mother said she can stay with us if she needs a break, I’m sure she’ll be okay.”
“You’re probably right,” I admitted.  

Mum gave a hmph of not quite disapproval at my party outfit, or lack of. Not the white bikini, no way, but I’ve got others and this cerise number with its frills is quite modest – for a bikini and I have got a sort of sarong affair adding a bit more erm, modesty. Its not like I’m alone, Manda has a similar ensemble although she’s got a one piece cossy on.

“You meeting Max up there?” Mum enquired.
“Yeah, Mr T’s taking us and Steff up, you think maybe?”
“I’ll ask him.”
“Thanks Mummy!”
“Save you’re buttering up for your father, you taking coats, it could be cold later.”
“Ta da!” Mand brandished a fleece.
“Gab?”
I sighed, parents! “I’ll go get one.”
 

Ever been to a beach party – without a beach? I mean, the sea is like three hundred K away, oh there are some sort of beaches along the river but they don’t really count do they. Unless they’re on holiday in Spain or something the nearest most people round here get to a beach are the artificial things at the outdoor Schwimbad. Which made the sight of a couple of hundred teenagers bopping to the Beach Boys outside the Weinkellar all the more incongruous.

“There you are,” Max stated.
“Someone wasn’t ready,” I scowled towards Steff.
“I couldn’t find my flip flops.”
“Whatever.”
“Come on, you can dump your coats, then we can get some drinks.”
“Now you’re talking Maxxie boy,” Con stated grabbing my boyfriends arm.
“Hey, hands off Thesing!”
 

Everyone is here, people I’ve not seen since the end of school, a few from the previous years leavers and everyone intent on having a good time. Of course I don’t know everyone, I’m pretty sure some are from like Adenau and stuff, you don’t have to be a Silverburg alumni to come.

We’d been bopping away for best part of an hour before a poke in the ribs got my attention.

“Hey!”
“Is this a private party or can anyone join?”
“Bern!”
“In the flesh so to speak,” she agreed as I gave her a hug.
“Thought you didn’t party?”
“My Mann thinks otherwise so here I am, Erika has pulled Drea duty.”
“So where is this paragon of the dance floor?”
“Something about drinks? Max?”
“The same, nice frock by the way.”
“You knew didn’t you Bond, earlier when I was unpacking.”
“Er might of,” I allowed.
 

So okay, the beverages were entirely non alcoholic, a variety of brightly coloured cocktails with a tendency towards coconut and exotic fruit. The buffet on the other hand was more traditional finger food although some seafood had managed to elbow its way onto the tables. And the music, well we were ‘treated’ to sets by three local bands, each doing covers of what you might loosely term ‘beach pop’, not really my thing but in this context, spot on.

Max silently pointed off to one side as we slow danced at an advanced stage of the evening. I steered us around so I could see what he was indicating. There they were, the Preisers, well if I get lumped as von Strechau Bern can be a Preiser, anyhow, there they were in a tight mooch, Bern with a dreamy look on her chops.Mart noticed me watching and gave me a cheesy grin, I guess my over protective concern may be ill founded, for now at least it looks like all is well up at Staffel.

“Someone looks happy,” Max noted.
“Hope it stays that way,” I opined.
“It’ll be alright.”
“I hope so, come on you, there’s a spot down by the river,” I suggested to my Mann.

He didn’t need asking twice.
 

Maddy Bell © 24.09.2018