(aka Bike) Part 1218 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad
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Although we went to bed, neither of us slept. I kept worrying in which hospital or mortuary Julie would end up. I fidgeted and tossed and turned. I fed wee yin–my tossing and turning woke her up, she was starting to go about six hours at night–but not tonight.
Simon did actually fall asleep while I was feeding the baby, so I went downstairs and made myself some tea. Tom came to see what was going on, when I explained he sat with me for an hour.
At four o’clock, the phone rang. I picked it up with hesitant hand, “Hello?”
“Is that, Lady Cameron?”
“Yes, who’s that.”
“Sergeant Milsom at Portsmouth main police station.”
My stomach flipped and I felt quite sick.
“What’s happened?”
“No need to worry, we have your step-daughter, is it?”
“My foster daughter,” I corrected him.
“A Julie Kemp?”
“That’s right.”
“She was found as a passenger in a Mercedes A class, which she says is hers, but it’s registered to you.”
“Yes, it’s her birthday today–or yesterday, it was my car and I gave it to her.”
“Very nice, I wish I’d had a mother like you.”
“Sorry, Sergeant, I can’t cope with any more adopted children.”
He laughed and I chuckled out of relief. “How many have you got then?”
“Six.”
“Right, well I can see how keeping tabs on them all could be a problem.”
“All the others are where they should be, except the one you have with you and she was expected home about midnight.”
“So she didn’t take the car without permission?”
“She only has a provisional licence, so I didn’t expect her to drive the car unless it was part of an organised lesson. So she used it without our agreement but I can’t say she took it without permission. What happened?”
“One of our patrols pulled them over for driving erratically. A Cindy Perkins was actually driving–she was breathalysed and will be required to give a blood sample. She’s likely to be charged with drink driving. Julie was drunk, and threw up over one of the arresting officers.”
Oh shit–“Could I offer to pay for cleaning his uniform?” Damn was that bribery?
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Lady Cameron.”
“What happens now?”
“I suggest we let them sleep it off in the cells and deal with the embarrassment of being locked up and the hangover, they’ll probably have.”
“She’s supposed to be working tomorrow.”
“That is not my problem. It’s our policy to let parents know when we have their children in custody. I would suggest you collect her after ten tomorrow.”
“Will she be charged with anything?”
“Probably given a caution–but if it happens again...”
“I shall do what I can to try and ensure it doesn’t.”
“I know foster kids can be difficult–my sister used to do it for the money, the council used to pay quite well.”
“I can assure you we don’t do it for the money.”
“No, ’course not.”
“Goodnight, Sergeant, and thank you for letting me know where she is–I have been worried all night.”
“You’re welcome.” He rang off and I rinsed out my mug and went back to bed. It took me ages to get off to sleep I was so angry at Julie’s stupid behaviour. I know she didn’t have a lot when she was younger and her parents were unsympathetic to her gender difficulty, but we give her practically everything she wants, including the space to be herself. We’ve got her therapy and hormones and she’s well on the way to surgery in a year’s time–and she does this. Simon will be furious–he might even take the car off her altogether.
I must have gone off because I awoke and found myself alone in bed and it was nine o’clock. Once I’d actually taken on board what time it was, I jumped out of bed and saw the girl’s bedroom was empty and when I rushed downstairs Stella told me that Simon had gone to work, and Jenny had taken the girls to school. The baby had only just woken and she, Stella, was feeding her from the bottle. I thanked her and ran back upstairs, showered and dressed soberly, then when Jenny came back, got her to drop me at the police HQ with the spare keys for the Mercedes. I would drive it back and it would go in a locked garage.
I’d spoken with the salon, and of course they were in uproar as two of their girls were out with Julie, and presumably were also still locked up. I told the owner, I would get her home, showered and dressed and in to work as quickly as I could, but it was likely to be lunch time.
She was cautioned and let out with a stern warning about underage drinking and who she let drive her car. She wanted to hug me, but I avoided it. “Thanks for coming to get me, Mummy. I’m going home and sleep until Monday.”
“You’re not, you’re going home, showering, dressing for work and after some brunch, you’re going to work.”
“I’m not.”
“You are, or this car goes off to be sold and you can wait until next birthday for another one.”
“But I’m not well.”
“Whose fault is that?”
“I think they doctored my drinks.”
I stopped the car. “Julie you are quite capable of getting pissed all by yourself. That you took the car out without telling us also shows us that you show very poor judgement.”
“I was tiddly,” she protested.
“I don’t care–you knew enough to find your keys before you went out–so I’m almost inclined to believe you fully intended to do this.”
“I didn’t, Mummy, I took the keys just to prove you’d given me the car.”
“Well as Daddy bought it, he can decide if and when you get it–but I can tell you for nothing, he went to work after not very much sleep–so you can do the bloody same.”
“But, Mummy...”
“No buts, my girl–you’ll do as you’re told.”
“What if I don’t?” there was a trace of defiance in her voice.
“Then I shall recommend the car is sold off and we shall have to discuss any further consequences which might occur from your defiance.”
“I feel like leaving home after all this,” she said as if she was threatening me.
“That might be one of the options we discuss,” I said dispassionately. It wasn’t what I wanted and it felt like I was going back on my promise to her–but she was moving beyond my control and if she couldn’t stick the rules...
What’s so sad is that we all love her. When she’s nice–she is really lovely and I’ll never forget her sacrifice to protect Billie–that was real courage, but I can’t cope with her disrupting everything effectively throwing our love back at us.
I got her to work about two hours later, she sulked and sniffed all the way there–the owner gave her another bollocking and it was only because I was standing between her and the door, that she stayed and took it.
Back home I called Stephanie and explained what had happened. “Is that all?”
“Is that all? Isn’t that enough? I lost a night’s sleep and all my trust in her.”
“Was your trust so poor?”
“No, I know she’s essentially a decent girl but she has this capacity for slapping us in the face.”
“Yeah, she’s a teenager–they do such things–she’s testing her boundaries, seeing if you do really love her.”
“We give her everything she needs and more and she seems a bit ungrateful if you ask me.”
“Giving her material things isn’t love, especially when you have plenty of money, Cathy. Yes, she’s young and likes the material things, but that isn’t showing her love–you showed her more love when you made her go to work and stood with her while she was carpeted. That’s being a mother–tough love. Confiscating the car altogether is probably a bit OTT but for a month or two–that might teach her a lesson.”
“She talked about leaving home.”
“Teenagers do that all the time, when I was her age I left home twice a week–one night they locked the front door, I had to sleep in the summer house in the garden. I didn’t do it again.”
“So do I let her go–call her bluff?”
“No, but don’t give any concessions to keep her, she has to stay under agreed house rules.”
“What if she does decide to leave?”
“Ask her not to.”
“And if she does?”
“I don’t think she will, but get her to call me first.”
“I’ll try.”
“I think she will.”
“Thanks Steph–I’ve got to dash, gotta collect the girls.”
Comments
Julie was a typical teen and
Cathy showed wonderful restraint and wisdom in this episode, especially when she called Stephanie for advice. I must say though, it hasn't been that long since Cathy pulled a drugged Julie from a bonfire then saved her again in the hospital. I'd think that Julie would be a little more cautious. Even teens have memories and get frightened.
Looking after a teenager
can be a lot like herding cats. It sometimes doesn't get much better when they're older.
Well observed as usual.
S.
Some Where In Between
Cathy has to have the ultimate say. I think the proper solution is somewhere in between what was offered. Whatever route Cathy chooses, she can't back down. Thank you A & B for not allowing the situation to be any worse than it was. I was very worried. I so want Julie to succeed.
Portia
Portia
Brick walls
I think I had to build a few of those over the years what with the dents in them.
Leaving.
A teen-ager who has somwhere to leave is a lucky kid.
They are the ones who can test , even break the boundaries and yet grow up normal; - or at least normally.
Still lovin' it, just makes me think that's all.
Beverly.
Growing old disgracefully.
Still aint buying it
... as the latitude shown for Western teenagers seem much more so than those raised in immigrant asian households where I lived in NYC.
Well if this is the level of discipline then I can see countries like China finally overtaking the rest of the world as they will impart more discipline to their kids. Now, that said, western folks in western schools are able to look beyond boundaries and do things more creative thinking in a lot of ways. As a consequence, Chinese schools seem to recognize it and are importing western teachers to balance out the over strictness of their own traditional system to try to get the best of both.
Well, at this point Julie has to be kept on a short leash and until she recognizes that getting shit faced is not a right but a privilege of being any kind of human being for that matter than she should really stay grounded.
Kim
Bike pt 1218
Both Cathy and Julie have a bit to learn.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
typical teen, my itching spanking hand !
Thank goodness that my parenting days ended 10 years ago.
Much peace
Khadijah
Cathy Should Take Away The Car
Cathy should take away the car for two months and ground her for at least one. Those girls all need a very serious lesson in the consequences of Drunk driving. My grandmother gave my youngest aunt the shock treatment as a teenager by taking her on a tour of the City morgue. They had people in there that had died in drunk driving accidents and drug overdose. Needless to say, it had the desired effect. Most communities here in the U.S, have what is known as a Graduated licensing program. Teens under 18 are forbidden to drive without a licensed driver at least 21 years old in the passenger seat, they are not allowed to be out past midnight and they have to maintain at least a C average in school. If they are caught breaking these rules, they won't be allowed to drive until they are 18. Cathy has to be tough on this, because next time, it might have a different ending that even the bluelight can't take care of.
Parenting Teenagers
Well, Julie appears to have escaped unscathed from her latest misadventure.
The only hope I have is that she begins to learn that along with rights come responsibilities, and that actions have consequences. It was good to see Cathy making her go to work, and forcing her to face that consequence.
Thanks A+B: it's going to be interesting to see where this situation develops from here. I'll be back tomorrow, following with interest.
Personal Stability
Bike Resources
Bike Resources
Teen years.
I think teenage had only just been invented when I left home to work away in 1957 at 17. As a result I never had the opportunity to go through all this teen angst. I was living in digs, sharing a room, going to college one day and a couple of nights a week and working. Perhaps childhood is too extended these days but what do I know I've never had any kids?
However Ang certainly describes the problems, fights and anxieties of parenthood very well - at least as far as this deliberately non-parent can see.
Robi
I never...
I never got the teen angst, either (what angst I had was reserved to hiding my wierdness, to be honest. Pretending to be Mr. Spock really helped keep the emotions under control). My younger brother had his share, mine, and dozens of other kids too. His son had HIS share (and a daughter) out of his teen angst.
So, I dunno.
Anne
Teens...
If Stephanie's correct, about teens over there, perhaps I'm lucky my teens are here... The first one pulled one or two stunts, but nothing even remotely like that. The second? She's only 14, so hasn't had time, but she seems to be following her sister's steps. I dunno. IMO Julie's been FAR outside the boundaries. And, restricting her from the car is NOT OOT. Guess I'm just a mean bitch. *sighs*
Perhaps Julie got away with some of that in her old house, as long as she pretended to be a guy. She's gotten away with FAR MORE from Cathy. She gets and gets and gets... Love comes from Cathy ALL the time, from her siblings... Okay, not so often from Simon, but he's not there so much. And, STUFF... WOW. Talk about STUFF. Paris Hilton comes to mind. Perhaps this kind of behavior is expected among the kids of the rich. *sighs* Makes me glad I'm not rich.
Thanks for the story,
Anne
Rebel without a cause ...
... was set in the USA a few years ago, as was 'Blackboard Jungle' so I guess there's not much difference (assuming you're writing from the USA). I suspect a lot of it is trying to become an individual and independent of parents. I missed it because I actually was more or less independent at 17 and my wife (long before I knew her) was similar at only 16.
Robi
Back after
a week away, Good to see most things are okay in Cathy's world .....Except for the errant daughter!!!... I guess sooner or later she might get some commonsense, But i would not hold my breath waiting, Stephanie's advice was very sound, Calling Julie's bluff seems to me to be a good idea, Although if i was Cathy i would hold on tight as the ride might just get a little bumpy...
Hope you had a lovely Christmas Angharad, And once again thanks for all the hard work you do for us all.
Kirri
Here we go again,
every time the subject of Julie leaving comes up something bad happens. Why do I think this is not going to be an exception?
Pretty understanding police.
I guess I was an atypical teen then, certainly no angel, but not a Julie.
And I had no worry about unexpected Tackle being found.
Cefin