Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 928.

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Wuthering Dormice
(aka Bike)
Part 928
by Angharad

Copyright © 2010 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
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I rose early on Sunday and spent an hour yawning, working on the bank project and more yawning. Leon’s mother phoned about half past eight, to say his back was still sore and he wouldn’t be in today. Oh well, one less mouth to feed.

I’d bought a large chicken for dinner and decided as I was up, I’d pop it in the oven and we could have a traditional roast lunch, instead. I was doing the potatoes for roasting when Trish and Livvie came down for their breakfast.

“Where’s Meems?” I asked passing them the cereal.

“Cuddling with Daddy.”

“Didn’t you want to do that?”

“I’d rather cuddle with you, Mummy, you’ve got more soft bits.”

How I didn’t cut my finger off when she said this, I’ll never know, but i dropped the potato on the floor and had to scrabble under the table to find it again, whilst attempting to repress the laugh that was building up inside me.

“She wasn’t cuddling him, she was sat on his tummy,” corrected Livvie.

“I’m surprised she doesn’t sink up to her neck in it.” I added, highlighting Simon’s recent weight gain.

“She was sitting across him like on a horse.”

“Straddling him?” I offered.

“Is that the word?”

“Goodness her legs must be longer than I thought,” I said before realising I wasn’t setting much of an example of loyalty–so made light of it. “Still, he’s a nice cuddly daddy, isn’t he?”

“He’s okay,” allowed Trish, before adding, “Have you done the carrots yet?”

“No–are you going to do them?”

“May I?”

“Yes, but eat your breakfast first.”

“Can I do the cabbage, Mummy?” Livvie decided she wanted to be domesticated.

“Where’s Julie?” Trish noticed her missing ‘sibling’.

“She’s a teenager, Trish–they like their beds.”

“Oh–I’m happy to be up, can I make a loaf today, Mummy?”

“After you eat your cornflakes.”

“Okay, Mummy–may I have some toast, as well?”

I stared at Trish–had I brought the wrong kid home from school? No it was her. Hmm? She can be polite but rarely decides to be so–what has changed?”

“What did you do in school, this week?” I asked innocently.

“Usual stuff–reading and writing and ‘rithmetic. “

“Is that all?”

“Nah, we did some history and geography, too.”

“We did some politeness lessons too, Mummy. We learned the proper way to ask for something is, ‘May I?’ isn’t it?”

“Most of the time, yes it is.” That explained a few things.

“Is there any more jam, Mummy?”

“Did we buy any at the supermarket?” I never eat the stuff–so I don’t always remember how much we have.

“I dunno,” Trish shrugged.

“Well go and look in the pantry.”

“Why can’t you, you’re closer?” came back her retort.

Livvie put her hands over her mouth and gasped.

I turned to face her and with my hands on my hips demanded, “What did you just say?”

“Well you are closer,” she blushed and I could see the arrogance of cleverness being replaced by a realisation she’d overstepped the mark. “I’m sorry, Mummy.”

“You will be if you cheek me like that again, now you’ll eat your toast without jam or marmalade.”

She looked as if she was about to protest but thought better of it, possibly because Livvie kicked her under the table.

“Don’t push your luck, young lady, or I’ll make you eat it without any butter on it as well.”

She apologised again and ate her toast without any further comment. I let her do the carrots when they’d finished but Livvie got to make the bread, which annoyed Trish no end.

It’s crazy, at this age they can’t do enough to help me–in five or ten year’s time, they’ll be trying to avoid it like the plague.

The boys came down and I had to remonstrate with them as they were slapping each other at the table. All in all, it was not proving to be the best of mornings.

Tom emerged from his study and looked at the kids and asked, “I need a volunteer or two to help me plant some more seeds.”

“I’ll do it,” shouted the boys raising their hands in the air.

“May I help, too?” asked Trish and this was echoed by Livvie. I was tempted to say no, they could help me with housework, but I let them go once they’d changed into suitable clothing. I didn’t think they’d be out too long–it was fine but a cold wind was whistling through the garden.

Stella was next to appear, with Puddin’. I took Puddin’ and gave her her breakfast, some rusks in warm milk, then a bit of pureed fruit. It was all wholesome stuff–at least the fruit was–I’d made it a couple of days before.

Stella was drinking a coffee and still looked washed out. “How did the date go?”

“It was alright until he gave me a dodgy drink.”

“A copper, did that?”

“Yeah, I threw it over him–after that, I wasn’t short of wannabe partners. They all knew him and what a dick-head he was, so they all bought me drinks.”

“You didn’t have to swallow them, Stella.”

“Politeness forced me to.”

“Cobblers–you were totally pissed when you got home, Simon had to pay the taxi off and you up-chucked all over him.”

“I don’t remember that–in fact, I don’t remember much at all after Rufus left.”

“Rufus?”

“Yeah–he did have reddish hair and freckles.”

“I suppose that’s no worse than calling a boy Felix because he can lick his own bum.”

She spat coffee everywhere and choked, which temporarily frightened Puddin’ although I managed to calm her down and Stella, red eyed from coughing, looked worse than before she started her breakfast.

“Want something to eat?”

“Not really.”

“Have some toast?”

“I’m not hungry–so stop mothering me.”

“It’s a habit I have.”

“Yeah, well I’m a big girl now–so I don’t need looking after.”

“Ha, you probably need it more now than when you were a kid,” Simon arrived carrying Meems on his shoulders. He had to bend his knees and she had to duck to avoid hitting the transom on the door frame.

“Worrayouknow?” she snapped back.

“I know you were so pissed the other night you couldn’t stand up.”

“So what’s it to you?”

“What sort of example are you setting the children, including this lovely one,” he tickled Puddin’ under her chin and she laughed.

“Oh get stuffed,” she rose from the table and went back to her room.

“That did a lot of good,” I sighed.

“Well, someone needed to tell her. She’s acting like someone of Julie’s age.”

“Simon–just think a little here; the man she loved and was going to marry died tragically. She’s a single mother and fast approaching thirty, she’s had very little fun for ages.”

“I’d hardly call what she did fun, would you?”

“Before your liver became damaged, you used to think it was funny to get legless. You’ve matured more than she has. If she had a partner, I suspect she’d get far more out of life but looking after this little baggage,” I cuddled the baby, “means she doesn’t have the freedom she used to have.”

“What? You’ve got six kids to look after and I don’t hear you complaining.”

“I’ve also got you–and even if I didn’t. I wouldn’t feel the same need she does to find someone–I’m more self-contained.”

“You mean, lower sexed?”

“Maybe–it wasn’t important to me until I met you and wanted to show you I loved you.”

“I do have that effect on women–don’t I, Meems?” she leant over and planted a big wet kiss on his cheek. “Thanks, darling, it’s more than your mother gives me.”

“I wuv you, Daddy.” She said before he lifted her down and she had some breakfast.

“So, we need to get Stella married off do we?”

“No–for goodness sake don’t let her hear you talking like that.”

“But it’s true–isn’t it?” he lowered his voice.

“I don’t know, why don’t you let her solve her own problems?”

“She never has before.”

“She helped me with mine.”

“Of course she did–she’s a nurse–it’s what she does, or did. It’s her own she never could solve–let’s face it, she only got Des because you weren’t interested.”

“Simon–please–little piggies have big ears.” I indicated Mima sitting at the table and listening while she ate her rice crispies.

“Well it’s true–isn’t it?”

“Of course not–I was with you–there was never anyone else.”

“Apart from your nature conservancy bloke.”

“Don’t be silly–he’s a professional colleague, nothing else, besides, Stella liked him, too–he’s just a lovely bloke.”

“Invite him for dinner then, maybe we can pair him up with her majesty.”

“I’m not sure I want to be a party to matchmaking–it’s not my scene.”

“Why, in case he falls for you instead of my idiot sister?”

“He knows I’m happily married.”

“Since when did that stop ‘em?”

“It stops me–and as it takes two to tango–quod erat demonstrandum.

“Geez, woman, you are so perfect–aren’t you?”

“Far from it as you know better than anyone–but I’m happy with my lot in life and I don’t want to do anything to spoil it.”

He cupped my cheek in his hand–“Sometimes I don’t think I deserve you.”

My tummy flipped over–“What d’you mean, don’t deserve me?”

“Oh it’s nothing–you’re just so good compared to the rest of us.” He stroked my cheek and Puddin’ started to wriggle and smell somewhat unsavoury.

“Pud’s pooed in her pants,” giggled Mima.

So instead of pursuing Simon and asking exactly what he meant, I had to change Puddin’s nappy and by that time he’d gone out into the garden.

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Comments

Classic Humour---

Slip on a banana-skin--not funny; carefully step across said skin and fall down manhole--classic humour!

Great episode, thank you.

Chris.

Ahhh, the life of domestic

Ahhh, the life of domestic bliss, that is being a mother, wife and all around caretaker; plus 'nanny' to Puddin. Hummm, wonder why they can't teach Julie to be a nanny, let her be with the baby all the time and she just might get over her desire to 'get it on' with some guy, like Leon. I am also wondering, is Julie beyond the age regarding compulsary schooling or is there such a thing in England/Great Britian? Jan

Compulsory Education/Training

Angharad's picture

Education continues up to age 18, however that can be occupational training or apprenticeships as well as more formal academic education. This is why Cathy is trying to get her to choose something either to go back to education or take up a training course such as hairdressing or beauty therapy.

Angharad

Angharad

Does it really?

Just shows how much I know. I left school at 16 and that was a year more than required by law. 'Course, that was in the Victorian age ;) I did a fair bit of night school after that though.

Another good episode, Angharad, but I find Cathy incredibly touchy. If there's a wrong way to take a remark she takes it that way. Not a bad thing from a story-line aspect but it'd be wearing to live with someone like that in RL.

Robi

In Theory and in Practice

Angharad's reply states the Theoretical state of affairs in the UK. However, it is a sad fact that, in Practice, we have a large number of under 19s not in school and not in any learning situation and not in any kind of job or apprenticeship. They call them NEETS - "Not in Employment Education or Training" and currently 10,3% of children between 16 and 18 are in this sad state, in the UK. That is about 1 500 000 children and young persons.

There are many reasons for this - underspending, families breaking apart, housing and job shortages, poor schools that fail to stimulate or educate children, stupid parents, lunatic politicians spending money fighting foreign, unwinable wars instead of spending on education, greedy businessmen more keen on quick profits than sustainable businesses, bad planners, too much red tape, high taxes, low taxes, greedy bankers, even immigration - take your pick.

However, it is a national disgrace and something had better be done about it or we will find ourselves in serious trouble in a few years time. Old saying about "the devil finds work for idle hands to do" ring any bells, anybody?

The longer Angharad lets the lull go on the bigger the surprise will be. Nice episode, Angharad.

Briar

Briar

Talking of Julie...

Note that she's still fast asleep and has missed all the action in tonight's episode!

The wonders of youth... it's strange how throughout childhood, getting up at 8am or earlier is normal. Then as soon as schooling finishes, 9am suddenly seems very early. Then as soon as you get a job, 9am seems a 'normal' work start time again.

Heck, I openly admit to missing several 9am lectures when I was at uni (1995-1998) because I was still sleeping - considering them too early! And my pre-driving test lesson was about 1/4hr shorter than it should have been - yup, the driving instructor ringing the doorbell woke me up. Somehow I passed the subsequent test. Thankfully, I wasn't asked to do many manoeuvres - which was just as well because the instructor's favourite location for reverse parks / reversing around a corner was an estate built on a 1:6 hill (forget the handbrake or lose the biting point at your peril!)

 


There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

Wuthering Dormice-928

Can't help but see trouble if Mima blabs.

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Can't help but feel

sorry for Stella. Sure she's a spoiled princess but she has had a run of pretty bad luck. I'm so glad to see that she's taking care of Puddin. Was convinced that the baby would get dropped on Cathy as a primary care-giver. I kind of miss the tender times Cathy had with Stella. I know it was mostly for Stella's benefit but even though she complained, Cathy must have felt good about the close relationsip to her "sister".

The rest of the chapter was mostly fun. Interesting to see 5 year olds pushing their limits. Cathy will have her hands full in a few years. (at least more full than now)

Someday Sunday!

Anopther day in the life of.
He's a scheming sod that Simon Cameron. Poor Stella doesn't stand a chance.
The last thing any girl wants is a matchmaking brother. It could end up being one of his boozing buddies.
Leave it to Cathy.
Still enjoying it Angharad.
XOXO.
Beverly.

Beverly Taff.
This is wierd. I haven't changed my password but the site wont dispayl all my thingies at the side like 'Submit Story'!

Why couldn't...

she have handed Puddin off to Simon. She was working on food, wasn't she? Oh, wait, Simon's a bloke, isn't he? He might get the nappy on backwards.

Interesting how long "politeness" lasts... (I wonder what it'll get me.) Wonder if the young lady will learn to think before she comes out with those smart*** remarks. Some kinds do, you know.

Thanks,
Annette

I don't know

NoraAdrienne's picture

I think by this time (if I was actually interested in men), I would have packed my bags, and told Simon the kids were his to do with as he pleased..

I'd have headed back to my own house and just gone back to my job running the doormouse counting.

But that's just me. I have a low threshold where kids are involved, what with being well over Cathy's age.

Poor Stella

not only is she still suffering from the excess's of last night, But she also has had to contend with Simon's barbs.... No wonder she ran off upstairs....Hope she's planning some suitable riposte.... It's about time brother dearest was brought down a peg or two.

Kirri

Yes, time to get Stel married off

The poor girl has had a helluva time of it, she has. She's gonna need a man who is kind and strong. Yes, dinner does sound like a jolly good idea.

Gwen

Stella

I know I wrote couple page comment about Stella & Cathy's self esteem round the time Stella tried offing herself. I'm pretty dang sure ''something'' occurred to her as child/teen because her attitude just seems I cant find words for it..

I do see Stella & Cathy as polar oppisites as how raised, but I see too much hurt in both to think somthing didnt occur.

AND YES I agree Mr. Hunky from the ecology thing might be just her ticket. Least what we know of him so far.

Agreed

Wendy Jean's picture

Stella need a companion, someone to let herself out to.