Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 997.

The Daily Dormouse.
(aka Bike)
Part 997
by Angharad

Copyright © 2010 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
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Downstairs the others were in a feeding frenzy while I sat on my bed listening to Simon’s phone ring. Tomorrow was Livvie’s party at the hotel, God I needed him home. In all fairness he had told me he wouldn’t be home before the party, but he would get to the party. With all the intrigue, it had almost slipped my mind.

Why wasn’t he answering? “Come on, Simon, answer your bloody phone,” I urged him. I had no idea where he was or what he was doing. Damn, I have to vote next week too. I felt completely overwhelmed by life–I only had one pair of hands and contrary to popular understanding, transsexuals only have one head, so getting it round all the dilemmas I was facing was a real problem.

Tom wanted me to take the UN job, I suspected Simon would as well, but he’d pass it back to me, so I couldn’t blame him later. What’s the point of having men if you can’t blame them for everything? What’s the point of being married when you have no idea where your husband is or what he’s doing? What’s the point of having children–they break your bank account and your heart? What’s the point of living? Not much–we’re born, grow, consume, pollute, destroy and die.

A tear ran down my cheek, the phone rang and I scooped it up, “Si?” I gasped but it wasn’t, it was some little Indian bloke asking if I was having a good day and could he talk to me about broadband. I told him, I was having a bloody awful day and if he didn’t piss off, I’d shoot him. Funnily enough he didn’t stop to ask what was wrong with my day.

I dialled Simon’s mobile, his office, and his flat. In the end I sought counsel from Henry.

“Hi, Henry, it’s Cathy.”

“This is an unexpected pleasure from my favourite daughter in law, to what might I owe it?”

“Have you got a few minutes?” I asked.

“For you, Cathy, I have the rest of my life–what’s the problem, there is one, isn’t there?”

I of course being a true scientist, faced with the opportunity to put pro and contra reasons for an argument, burst into tears.

“Goodness, girl, what is so important that you’re upset about it–the children are all okay?”

I nodded before remembering he couldn’t see me. “No everyone is fine. It’s about a job offer.”

“Oh, before you tell me anymore, do you want to do it?”

“I don’t know, Henry, that’s why I’m phoning you.”

“If you don’t know, don’t do it.”

“You don’t know what it is yet?”

“I don’t care, if it upsets you that much, I’d say it wasn’t right for you.”

“You won’t when you hear what it is.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“Leading the European team of the UN environmental investigation.”

“The UN?”

“Yes.”

“Shouldn’t you be a crusty old professor with a beard and bad breath?”

“It might help.”

“How much are they paying?”

“Not as much as the aggro seems to be.”

“The UN, eh? Crikey girl, no wonder you’re crying. It doesn’t get any bigger does it?”

“Not from an ecological point of view, no.”

“So what’s stopping you?”

“I love my children,” I mumbled and burst into tears again.

“Spoken like a true mother, now c’mon, pull yourself together and tell me which is more important to you–your children or your career?”

“My children,” I sobbed and collapsed into tears again.

“What happened to Cathy Watts, ninja warrior?”

“She married your son, remember?” I sniffed at him.

“Oh yeah, you realise we only kept him was so he might marry an intelligent and beautiful woman, whom I could lust over till the end of my life.”

“Don’t be silly, you daft bugger.”

“Honestly, he was five minutes away from being donated to Barnardo’s.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I’m not.”

“You are, you love children.”

“I didn’t my own. Okay it was easier with Stella, she was cute–Simon looked like a cross between a pig and an ape.”

“You’re talking about the man I love,” I gently scolded him.

“Good job someone does.”

“You do too, I remember how concerned you were when he was shot.”

“Yes, I was going to have to pay for his funeral.”

“Henry, you are a real case.”

“For you, my darling, I’d be anything, just dump Simon and run away with me.”

“Don’t be silly, now what should I do?”

“All you do is insult me, so why should I tell you?”

“Because you fancy me rotten and know you can never have me.”

“I’ll hire a hit squad to kidnap you and take to my secret lair, my seraglio.”

“Oh very Mozart.”

“You’re the first person I’ve ever met who knew that. See we’re soul mates–dump the dummy and elope with me.”

“No certainly not, he’s my husband.”

“Damn, well I tried.”

“Are you coming to Livvie’s party tomorrow?”

“Try stopping me, especially if her sexy mother’s there.”

“One of these days your son is going to thump you.”

“For a taste of your forbidden fruits, it would be worth it.”

“Henry, you are full of more shit than Simon.”

“Dammit, you noticed–normally people mistake it for charisma.”

“I’m a scientist, remember.”

“I keep forgetting, all I see is you–unadulterated by clothing, except maybe a small corset and stockings and...”

“Henry, grow up. Now what should I do?”

“I keep telling you, run away with me.”

“About my job, stupid?”

“Oh that? Tell them maybe next year–then run away with me.”

“Thank you, Henry, love you lots for an old man.”

“Hang on, I may be experienced but everything is working under my kilt, ye ken, hen.”

“Go and talk to Monica.”

“I can’t she’s shagging the footmen.”

“Don’t be so crude.”

“I’m not if I was, I’d have said–”

“I don’t wish to know that, goodnight, Henry.” I clicked off the handset. I loved him to bits but he was hard work.

I went into the bathroom and washed my eyes, when I came out, Trish was sitting on the bed. “We was missing you, Mummy.”

“Okay, sweetheart, let’s go down and get it over with.”

I held her hand as we descended the stairs, what had felt so right while talking to Henry now felt riddled with doubts. If I felt like this now, what happens when I face Tom and Gareth, or the children with the opposite argument? I squeezed Trish’s hand and she squeezed me back and a sense of calmness flowed from her hand.

“Oh there you are, have you decided.”

“O’ course she has, I telt ye earlier.”

“I have decided and this isn’t for discussion, I’m saying no, Gareth, my children are more important than a job. There are a number of people who would do it very well and I’ll certainly help with presenting its findings because that’s all you wanted me to do. I’m conceited enough to think that not many could bring up my kids as I want them to be, so I’m putting them before my career. I’m sorry if that embarrasses you, but you did try to deceive me, so it’s hard cheese.”

“I think you’ll regret this, Cathy.”

“No I won’t, because I’m not going to even think about it unless you need help with talking to the media.”

Tom looked devastated, but that was his own fault, he should have talked to me. I smiled at him.

“Ye get mair an’ mair like ma Catherine, she wis wilful, too.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy, but you should have asked me.”

“Och weel, mebbe it’s time I retired, efter a’.”

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