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“…And next tonight ‘Der 90.Geburtstag’.”

Drew grabbed the TV remote and randomly hit a button.

“Hey I was watching that!” Jules complained.

“It’s on every year.”

“So?”

“Let your sister watch it kiddo.” Mum instructed the younger sibling.

With ill grace the idiot box was returned to WDR3.

“Dunno what’s so great about it, it’s not even about New Year.” Drew grumped.

“Well I like it.” Jules mentioned curling up in her chair.

“It’s not even in German for heavens sake!”

“Your point?”

Sometimes……

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready anyway?” Dad enquired deftly diffusing the situation.

“I suppose so.” Drew agreed.

Two weeks earlier

“What’re you wearing Gabs?” Steffi asked around a mouthful of Stollen.

“No idea.”

“Well like this do, is it like fancy or just casual?”

“Mum was on about wearing a long frock.” Drew allowed.

“Fancy then.”

“What’s fancy?” Connie enquired as she dropped into the booth.”

“The Apollinaris do at New Years.”

“Poo! That means I can’t wear my new shorts.”

Drew and Steff gave their friend a stare, the ‘new’ shorts look wasn’t exactly flattering but Connie had been suckered into it.

“Just kidding.” Connie hastily filled.

“Looks like we’ll have to get changed between parties then, I’m not going to Pia’s done up like the dogs dinner.” Steffi moaned.

New Year’s eve was turning into a nightmare. It had started out simple enough; they were all invited to the party at Pia’s place. As soon as Drew had mentioned the plan at home it started to get complicated. Firstly there was Gran who was coming for the holidays again and then there was the Apollinaris bash.

The Apollinaris do really was turning into a nightmare, as one of the areas biggest employers a ticket to the do was much in demand and everyone on the bike teams was gifted with tickets. Mum was insisting that he went and when he complained about missing his friend’s party she swung it for them to attend too.

“I reckon my purple dress can do both.” Connie mused.

“Hmm, I suppose I could wear that black one I got in Orsay the other week.” Steffi proposed.

And that was another thing, what the heck was he supposed to wear? He’d planned on jeans and a jumper for Pia’s do, Mum’d blow a gasket if he turned up at the Kursaal like that!

New Years Eve

The Sebenschuh do was pretty informal, that’s not to say people hadn’t made an effort, they had. Its just that they weren’t done up to the nines in ball gown’s and tuxedo’s. Since the end of his term as Weinká¶nigin Drew had slipped into relative anonymity, enough that his arrival in jeans hadn’t caused an incident, the new Queen, Maria Hochdorf, was the one under scrutiny.

“You made it then.” Pia gave him a hug.

“Like I was gonna miss this.”

“So you decided to try the boy look huh?”

“Do I pass?”

“I hate to tell you this but no, you’re a bit too um, shapely to pull it off.”

“That’s what Gran said,” he sighed, “I had to try though, I guess I’d best go paint my face and change my shoes, can I put my dress in your room?”

“Sure, you know the way, see you in a few.”

It didn’t seem to matter how he dressed these days, everyone took him to be female. That wasn’t the worst of it, with a bit of slap he actually looked cute — this was according to just about everyone, boys should not be cute! The problem was that he’d been filling out just like his girlfriends. Using Pia’s vanity he quickly applied some war paint before digging in his purse for some jewellery. Although having only changed his trainers for some glittery ballet pumps the figure that rejoined the party was definitely Gaby.

The rest of the gang, Nena, Anna, Steffi, Connie and Brid were all there now along with Nena’s sister Claudia and Pia’s older sibling, Ingrid.

“Saving the best for later eh Gabs?” Brid challenged.

“This is the boy look.” Pia put in.

“I brought a frock to change into later.” Drew told his friends.

“Lets put some life into this Oma party.” Claudia suggested. Although she still looked more like 12 than her actual 18 she was looking much better these days.

With a lack of male partners the girls made do with each other, well as dancing partners anyhow. Herr Sebenschuh had taken some convincing to play some more modern, up-tempo music; there was after all plenty of time for Landesmusik later.

“What’s going on over there?” Anna queried using her head to point towards the lounge area where a group of oldies were chortling at something.

“Dunno, I need a wee so I’ll find out on the way back.” Drew suggested.

Of course, no one took a blind bit of notice of him using the ladies, after all this time it would seem strange to use the gents anyway. Business done and a quick repair job on the makeup he headed back to the party. Oh yeah what was all the laughing in the lounge about?
‘By the way, the same procedure as last year Miss Sophie?’

‘The same procedure as every year James!’

‘Well, I’ll do my very best!’

The audience in the lounge burst into laughter, Drew recognised the dialogue, surely it hasn’t been on all this time?

“So? What’s all the noise about?” Nena quizzed as he rejoined the others.

“Der 90.Geburtstag.”

“That old chestnut.” Connie nodded.

“I just don’t get it.” Gab moaned.

“You have seen it Gabs?” Bridg enquired.

“Last year.”

Before the conversation could continue the speakers started to pour out one of my favourite Shania Twain tracks and our attention was diverted back to gyrating to music. Soon everyone was singing along and we started camping it up a bit.

“Man, I feel like a woman!” I exclaimed except no one else had sung the line, bum!

There was a moment’s silence before everyone around me burst into laughter. It was a bit of a comic moment and I found myself joining in with my own giggles.

“The bus will be here in thirty minutes Gab, you’d best go and change.” Pia mentioned a little after nine.

Shitza!

“You need a hand?” Connie offered.

“Please.”

The pair of us headed out to Pia’s bedroom where my dress was waiting.

“I thought you were going to wear that pink confection you bought in Dá¼sseldorf?”
“Why I bought that I’ll never know!”

“Its sweet, all those ruffles.” She mocked as I slipped out of my jeans and jumper.

If I thought about it I’d be weirded out but it seems normal to be stood in front of a girl in my undies — so okay it is a bra and knickers. What’s worse from my angle is that she’s not fazed by it either; I don’t look like a boy even semi naked.

It was damned cold waiting for the chartered coach to arrive, I was just glad that Mum had vetoed the new yellow minidress. There were only a couple of other passengers when we boarded so the seven of us headed for the back seats — it’s a teen thing okay? We were so busy sorting out hair and makeup that we didn’t even realise that the next pickup had been made.

“You girls okay?” Mum enquired.

“Oh hi Frau Bond.” Steffi mentioned.

“Great!”

“Gabs?”

“I feel like I’m gonna spill out of this dress.”

For her part Mom looked terrific, a veritable goddess in her white Grecian style frock, her deep tan setting it off to perfection.

“See me at the Kursaal, I’ve got some tape in my bag.”

Oh goody, boob tape.

The rest of the journey didn’t take long and soon we were climbing off the bus at the Kursaal. I mentioned that it was a big affair right? We joined a football crowd of partygoers waiting to gain entry, the only difference being the attire. At least it was a bit warmer as we shuffled inside to eventually meet up with the rest of the Bond clan, Dad, Gran, Jules and Mum. Jules was looking hot, I still can’t believe she got such a haircut but it really looks good on her. As usual Dad was looking a bit uncomfortable in the tux and Gran was looking quite glam too in that sort of old lady way.

“Lets sort out your dress, Gabs.” Mum instructed.

“We’ll go find our tables.” Dad suggested.

“Okay, we’ll find you.”
We’ve been here enough times to know where the palatial ladies lav’s are situated, there was a short queue but soon I was having the ignominy of having double sided tape attached to my chest.

“You sure this stuff works?”

“How do you think I’m keeping this on?” she asked.

I hadn’t noticed before but her dress had no obvious means of staying in place. By comparison my own frock, a lavender ankle length sheath was positively bolted in place, the built in corset would keep it in place but there had been the danger of boob spillage. We returned to the main hall and went in search of the others.

“Gabeee!” I heard rather than saw Roni.

“I didn’t think you were coming?”

“I got a lift down, I’m staying with Pinger’s tonight.”

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Tina and the other girls in the pro squad.

“Between you and your sister no one else stands a chance!” Erika Boonen mentioned.

“Great on a bike and a megastar off it!” Anja giggled as I turned a colour to match Tina’s dress.

“Give over, how many times do I have to tell you, I’m not interested in men. Or women.” I hastily added.

“Pah!” she doth protest too much!” Tina giggled.

You’ve been to these affairs right? A buffet with not quite enough of the popular stuff, buy your own drinks and otherwise it’s mingle or get down and boogie.

“So who did you get a lift with?” I asked nearly an hour later.

“A lad from school, he’s here somewhere, he’s got an uncle who works at the plant so when I said he could use Mums ticket he jumped at the chance.”

“Kewl.”

“Come on you two, stop slacking.” Anna chivvied.

Ten to Midnight

Trays of cheap champers were doing the rounds in preparation for the midnight toast.

“There you are Ron, sorry I couldn’t get away from the relatives.”

“No sweat, Gab’s’ll be back in a mo.”

“Gott Roni you work fast, I’ve only been gone two minutes!”

“Hi Gaby.”

It can’t be, why didn’t she say anything.

“Markus?” the wunderkind blushed prettily.

“In the flesh, you fancy a dance?”

A klaxon sounded to get everyone’s attention before the MC started the countdown to midnight.

‘Five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year!’

Markus took his chance and pulled the hapless blonde into a hug before landing a smacker on her lips. At first shocked, Gabs started to pull away before deciding that it was really quite nice and returning the effort.

Roni giggled and pecked her friend on the cheek, “Happy New Year Gaby Bond.”

 © Maddy Bell 01.01.10