Gaby Book 25 Only Five Minutes by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2019 Madeline Bell After all the excitement of the last few weeks culminating in the trip to Austria, surely Gaby can get back to some sort of 'normal'? Well it wouldn't be Gaby if it was that simple would it?

 
"Gab?”
"Hmm?” I mumbled back through Max's chest.
"You made any resolutions?”
I eased my head away from its comfy chest nest, "What like?”
"I dunno,” he gave a shrug, "Learn Chinese or something?”
"Yeah right,” I snorted as the slightly strained chords of a Hoff ballad faded away.
"You're good with languages,” Max pressed.
"I can get by in a couple,” I admitted, "That doesn't make me a disciple of Babel and why would I want to learn Chinese?”
"It was just an example.”
"The answer's no, so what about you, you made any resolutions you won't keep?”
"Apart from getting jiggy with you more often? Nah.”
"What do you mean, getting jiggy?”
"Er poor choice of words?”
"Hmmph!”

Well of course I know what he means but putting thought into words, with my parents in the same room – well it tends to put a dampener on things.
 

"Thanks for inviting us,” Bern told me when I joined her on the sofa, currently supplying seating in the hallway.
"Why wouldn't I?”
"Well I'm not one of your 'Angels', not really.”
"Bern,” I took her hands in mine, “ Bern, i've known you longer than anyone else here, we've been places, done stuff that none of the others have, we're mates right and mates invite their mates to their parties.”

Okay so it wasn't very eloquent, i've had a couple of drinks afterall but I think it got the message across.

"Even so, you're all students, studying for careers, me, well I'm a mother and de facto farmers wife.”
"Both very important jobs.”
"If you say so, you know what I mean though, I mucked my life up.”
"Doesn't make you a bad person.”
"Hmm, the jury is, as they say, out on that one.”
"Well I know you're not and that's enough in my book and I'm pretty sure the same goes for everyone else here.”
"Well thanks anyway Gabrielle Bond.”

The party though has been, on the Gaby scale, about eight out of ten, the music choice has been a bit lame and low volume but the company has been good and the food.if I say it myself, excellent. But of course, tomorrow people are back to college or work or training or whatever so about ten thirty it was coffee and the belated dessert – rhubarb crumble is great at any time, before bodies started making exit noises.
 

"I'd best be off,” Max mumbled into my hair.
"But its only,” I checked my watch, "Half to twelve, sugar, I need to sort my notes out for tomorrow.”
"Bye then,” he broke his embrace and turned as if to leave.
"Not so damn quick buster,” I shot back, grabbing him and pulling him back, "Just five minutes?”
 

"We've got the permit,” Con beamed, waving something in the air.
"Permit?”
"Duh, for Brain of Deutchland you can be a right ditz,” by BFF opined, "For the concert? At the Kabin?”
"We need a permit for that?”
"Duh, Germany, you need a permit for everything,” she pointed out.
"So we've got the permit, coffee?”

These things seem to creep up on you, was it really only two weeks away? I guess so, which is why i've been summoned, screaming and yelling to the Thesing's apartment tonight. Okay, maybe thats overdramatising things but Con's text this morning was pretty insistent on my attendance and consumption of dinner.

The girl doth protest too much, this time last year i'd be here pretty much anytime I wasn't either on the bike or at school, things have changed and whilst our friendship has never faltered, having BFF time has become a rare commodity. Anyhow, Frau T supplied a wholesome meal, chicken and mushroom tagliatelle in a white sauce and once the table was cleared Mr T retrieved a folder and some stationery and opened our little 'management' meeting.

"Right ladies, so we've got the entertainment permit but there are some conditions.”
"What sort of conditions?”
"We can only have the music for sixty minutes,” Thesing senior advised, between thirteen and fourteen.”
"That shouldn't be a problem, the set's only forty five,” I told the gathering.
"What about encores and stuff,” Con queried.
"The licence is very strict, no run overs permitted.”
"I guess we need to make sure we start on time then,” I allowed, "What else?”
"Well we need to sort out insurance,” he started ticking off on his fingers, "Security, medical cover plus of course fencing, the stage, get fliers and tickets printed.”

The original idea had been simple but I guess as soon as you need a 'permit', that simple idea becomes a monster of organisation and funds.

"That all sounds expensive, can we afford it?” I used 'we' as I'm still nominally a partner in the Kabin alongside the Thesings even if my hands on participation has been reduced since I started college.
"Some of this stuff doesn't come cheap,” Con's dad confirmed.
"Maybe we should cancel,” Con suggested.
"Stop winding the girls up Thomas,” his wife instructed, "Don't listen to him. We get 'mates rates' on the printing and the Lions will do the security and the stage stuff, Roman Meissinger has volunteered to be the MC if you want him too.”
Herr Thesing pretended to pout, "Spoilsport Therese. So are your guys all fixed Gaby, no point sorting everything if they aren't going to turn up.”
"They'll turn up, I think they're looking forward to it.”
"Well I'll leave that side to you then Gaby.”
"What am I doing?” Con enquired.
"You, daughter mine,” her mum started, "Are in charge of the catering.”
"I thought you and daddy would be doing that.”
"Oh no, this is you girls event, we'll help but you pair are in charge.”

Well thats told us.

"I'll be helping Con.”
"That's what I'm afraid of.”
"Hey!”
"Play nicely girls,” Mr T told us.
 

"Are you going to Garde tomorrow,” Mum asked when I got home.
"Probably, why?”
"Just sorting out tommorow night's dinner.”
"We usually have pizza afterwards,” I pointed out.
"Not this week,” Mum told me.
"Health drive,” Mand suggested from across the lounge, never moving her attention from whatever dross was on the box.
"No pizza?”
"It won't hurt you to eat a bit healthier kiddo,” Dad volunteered.
"But I like pizza,” I groaned.
"I like fresh salmon, doesn't mean I have to eat it three times a week,” Mater pointed out.
"So what're we having instead?”
"A stir fry.”
"Doesn't sound very healthy to me.”
"Fresh vegetables, lean meat, Mand, you can have tofu.”
"Yeuk!” I interrupted.
"Like it or lump it, its only one meal,” Mum pointed out.
"For now,” Dad added soto voce.
 

"Pfennig for 'em?” Max proposed joining me on the wall opposite CundA.
"Hmm?”
"You were miles away, something serious?”
"Not really, well sort of, thinking about what to wear for the Kabin gig.”
"You could wear that outfit you wore in Bonn,” he suggested.
"Ut uh, not happening.”
"Why not, you look well sexy in it.”
"So that's number one, number two, we'll be outside in the middle of January, not warm.”
"If you got cold I could warm you up,” he proposed.
"Much as that sounds quite interesting its not gonna happen.”

His eyes wandered from looking at me to something or someone behind me, you know you don't want to but you can't help yourself, yep I nonchalantly turned my head just enough to see what he was looking at. Hmm, interesting.

"Heya,” Max offered.
"Guys,” Freddy returned, "Roman just messaged me, the Rheintal and everything on this side is suspended at the moment, something about an incident at Brohl.”
"Damn!” Max cursed.

Freddie's arrival wasn't what had caught my attention though but rather a girl, woman, I dunno, wearing an ensemble that might work for the concert, some sort of long knitted coat over a calf length skirt and boots. Well I can play with the elements a bit, dress it up with a scarf, yeah I reckon that'll work.

"Gab, you listening?” Max's voice cut into my musings, "Fred says he's waiting for Olaf, you okay with that?”
"Eh?”
"Getting back to Dernau? We can wait and go with Olaf, he'll be done about five.”

I did the calculations, forty minutes drive, get changed, eat rabbit food, I'll be late for Garde and given its only just turned two that's three hours to kill. I could ring for a parent taxi but best case scenario would be an hours wait plus a loss of Brownie points.

"Fancy hanging at the Spielhaus?” Freddie suggested.
"Sounds like a plan,”Max agreed.
"Really?” I stated.

So I'll admit it, back when the Bond clan lived in Warsop, there was nothing as good as a session on the games console with Rhod while the girls did there thang. But things have changed, I'm a nearly seventeen year old woman for a start, not a thirteen year old who thinks she's a boy. If this pair think I'm wasting two or three hours watching them play Formula One or something equally loud and pointless surrounded by more of Koblenz' nerdy youth – well not happening with this Madchen.

"I er need to buy a new BH,” I suggested, there you go, an alternative if Max wants to do sexy things with me.
Instead of which, "You can meet us later then, get a coffee,” the lummox proposed.
"Whatever,” I sighed.
"Come on man,” Freddie chivvied, "Rome and Marcus are holding a console for us.”
Max slipped off his perch, gave me a quick peck on the cheek and with a 'see ya later Babe', was gone.

Babe? I'll give him Babe! So what to do for three hours? Well I really could do with a new bra or two, that was no lie, and I guess I could look in the model car shop.
 

As I was already outside C&A I headed inside to look at lingerie. I'll admit that I do have some expensive and er, sexy undies but the stuff doesn't 'excite' me, I need to wear knickers and unless I want to be uncomfortable and have saggy boobies, I need to wear a bra of some sort. Yeah, its function over fancy for this girl.

Of course, buying a BH isn't as simple as pants or even shoes, the options are mind boggling, balcony, underwired, padded, demi cup, strapless, uplift, plain, lacy, racy – that's before you even get to sizing. Geez, sizing, another minefield, its not like you get a size and that's it, I swear that i've bought a different size every time i've bought new. Okay, so maybe that's an exaggeration but i've certainly got several sizes in my BH draw depending on brand, type and time of the month.

I surveyed the wall of support with resignation, I'm sure if men had to wear them it would be much simpler. Of course, the plain moulded cup t-shirt bra's that I was after weren't on the wall, they were on a seperate stand, but eventually I found what I was looking for, plain, practical and, in the world of support lingerie, fairly cheap.

"Can I help at all?”

Damn, every shoppers nightmare, a 'helpful' sales assistant.

"Er, have you got these in a ninety B cup?” I asked pointing at the rack.
"We should have, have you been measured recently?”
"Erm...”
"I'll take that as a no then, its very important, especially for young women, to have properly fitting Bustenhalters.”
"Um, yeah,” I sort of agreed.
"Do you always wear this style?”

Damn, she's put me in a corner, there'll be no escape!

"Usually or sports bras,” I admitted.
"I thought as much,” my assailant beamed.
"You can tell?”

Well I couldn't help myself.

"Its my job, your posture is not so good, we should get you sized up, you don't want to be all saggy eh?”
"Er no, I guess.”

The nett result was that I found myself stripped to the waist in a cubicle with Anne Marie, my fitter, who took far more measurements than you'd believe possible just to get my 'correct' bra size. If I had thought that I was getting away that easily, I was mistaken, once my correct band and cup size were determined she then had me trying different styles and even sizes so I could see the fit. What had started out as a quick grab and run ended three quarters of an hour later with me leaving the store in a daze and very conscious of my girls looking decidedly perky on my chest.
 

Having spent my 'allowance' in support of my breasts, I decided to give the model shop a miss but I still headed that general direction, just to kill some time. Okay, so the draw was Maccy D's at the bahnhof, if Mum's serving rabbit food tonight, I'm having a burger now or I'll fade away! Besides, it'll kill a bit of time.

Of course, with the Rheintal Express suspended the station was quite busy, the Deutsche Bahn staff doing their best to help stranded travellers. I got my Bacon Cheeseburger Menu and headed towards the platforms to eat it as the construction work outside didn't appeal as a burger eating view. I trotted up onto Gleis Ein which apart from a handwritten notice on one of those A frame thingies, was pretty much desserted.

Well curiosity got the better of me so I had to take a look. I read the notice, I checked my watch, I did the sums then legged it along the platform towards Gleis 104. Apparently, as the line through Brohl would be closed for the rest of the day they were suggesting passengers travel up on the east bank of the river and cross by ferry to their respective destinations.
 

The 14.40 RE8 was of course pretty much packed but I found a little corner on the between floors landing, big enough for me to perch at least. Having only just reached the train before it was due out it then sat for another five minutes before the view beyond the windows started to change and we departed south from the station.

I had a brief moment of panic before remembering that the Rhein bridge is below Koblenz, seems a bit strange to go south for north but after a slow trundle out of the station yards we picked up some speed and were soon crossing Old Father Rhein before beginning our journey north. When I started eating my burger meal I got some looks from other travellers, envy and disdain chief amongst them – strictly speaking you aren't supposed to eat hot food on the Zug but in my defence, the food smelt hotter than its luke warm condition. Being on the wrong side of the carriage meant my view was not very inspiring, a series of walls and cuttings so I concentrated on the job in hand.

It was only when we were pulling out of Neuwied station that my rendezvous with Max and Freddy was now moot. I located my Handy and started tabbing out a message;

'on wy hm, spk ltr, G'

There, that should do it, I hit send then retrieved my Sprite®.
 

Forty minutes after leaving Koblenz I was climbing down from the train at Linz, fortunately the ferry across to my side of the river is only a short walk away, with any luck I can get the four o'clock Ahrtal Express. Usually of course I'm on the bike when I do this crossing, it never seems far along the riverside from Kripp to the Bridge but walking seemed to take an age – well it is a couple of kilometres. Eventually, a little foot sore, I reached Remagen Bf, the Express was still there but it was going to be tight.

After a run through the tunnel, a cartoon turn at the bottom of the platform steps and a sprint across to the train, I squeezed through the doors just as they were closing. I spotted a vacant seat by the toilet compartment and gratefully slumped into it.

"You look tired,” Myleen observed when she appeared checking tickets.
I let out a deep breath, "Its further from the ferry to Remagen than you'd think.”
"You've come up on the other bank?”
"Well it was either that or not get home until well late.”
"You should have caught the bus.”
"Buses are for wimps,” I blustered – why didn't I think of that? "So what's up at Brohl? They were just saying an incident at Koblenz.”
"You know the new road bridge they are building down there?”
"Instead of the crossing near the Dampfbahn?”
"Thats it, well there was some sort of collapse, the line is damaged so once its cleared they have to lay new rails.”
"At least it wasn't another jumper,” I allowed.

It was nearly quarter to five when I let myself into Bond Chateaux, okay its not a lot earlier than waiting for Olaf but I have at least got time to shower and grab a coffee before dinner and setting off for Garde.

 
© Maddy Bell 18.07.2019