The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1461 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

Simon came back with the girls as Trish and I finished the vacuuming. The girls all went to play and I made the adults a cuppa. Jenny and Stella took theirs into the dining room, leaving Simon and I alone in the kitchen.

“You never did say why you were sleeping in the chair.”

“I got tired.”

He growled and continued, “Why were you down here in the first place?”

“I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d disturb you, so I came down and made myself some tea.”

“So why couldn’t you sleep?”

“I was seething at the police threatening to do me for driving without due care–it was a bloody deer, shot out of the hedgerow and I swerved to avoid it.”

“Shoulda hit it.”

“I know that now–stupid creatures, they make dormice seem bright by comparison.”

“I once swerved to avoid a hedgehog and ended up in a ditch.”

“Were you hurt?” I enquired.

“No, but it buckled the front wheel of my bike.”

“So many of those poor little things are killed by people who are driving too fast in towns–it’s perfectly easy to see them and to either avoid them or stop and get out and push them across the road. I did that once on the M4 when I borrowed my dad’s car to help a friend collect some stuff from Swansea University.”

“What did your friend say?”

“Oh she wasn’t with me, she was in Swansea–fabulous campus, overlooks the sea.”

“So you can remember the accident?”

“The first bit–I was so cross that that old crone had caused it.”

“What old crone–I thought you said it was a deer?”

I blushed, not the cleverest thing to say, especially as he’d think I was nuts because he couldn’t see her himself. If I told him only women could see the Shekinah, he’d really go off on one.

“Did I say crone? I must still be tired–I meant to say doe–I think it was a doe that jumped out in front of me.”

He gave me an old fashioned look which suggested he didn’t believe me, but in the cause of maintaining world peace he wouldn’t challenge me.

“Maybe you should see a doctor?”

“I’ve just been surrounded by them–nothing wrong with me that a good night’s sleep wouldn’t sort out.”

“Well if it doesn’t, I think you should see Stephanie or Anne Thomas.”

“What for? I’m not mentally ill–I haven’t needed a shrink since I had my surgery. Besides, Stephanie seems crazier than I am at the moment.”

“All pregnant women are crazy,” he said dismissively.

“I’m surprised you included the word pregnant,” I said sarcastically annoyed at his sexism.

“You what?”

“You implied or inferred all women are crazy.”

“If the cap fits ...”

“That’s like me saying all men are bastards.”

“That’s what women like to believe isn’t it?”

“This one doesn’t.”

“Because you’re crazy–QED.”

Before I could say something in response, he put down his mug and ambled out to the garden. I retaliated by banging pots about in the kitchen while I prepared the lunch–fresh bread with salad and smoked salmon and or hard boiled eggs.

The girls were fractious, possibly they picked it up from Simon while they were out, or he bought them drinks or sweets with colouring agents that make them uncontrollable. Twice I had to reprimand Livvie and Billie, who were arguing about nothing, which sucked in Trish–who can never resist an argument. She in turn said something which got Mima going, and before they were finished even Danny was at it. Simon and Tom looked on in amusement which made me even more angry, while Jenny and Stella stayed aloof.

After I’d quietened down the children, I glanced at Jenny and Stella–there was something going on between them–but what? They were avoiding eye contact but it felt deliberate. Oh no–they’re not going lesbian on me are they? Not that it worried me as such, I was just worried it would have a disruptive effect on the household. Jenny had become such a part of the team I couldn’t really cope without her, so I couldn’t afford to have her mooning over Stella.

Yep, there they go again, little sideways glances at each other like they would with a man. Oh well–who am I to cast the first stone–good luck to them.

I was distracted for the rest of the meal watching them and their body language. I wondered how long it had been going on–had I missed it before? My observation of the two women hadn’t gone unnoticed. I was clearing up when Trish spoke to me.

“Mummy?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Why were you watching Auntie Stella and Jenny?”

“Was I, darling, I didn’t notice–I was miles away.” I was lying but I hoped she wouldn’t spot it–fat chance.

“Is it because they’re doing things together?”

“Are they?” I pretended I wasn’t interested.

“Yes they are, in Auntie Stella’s bedroom.”

“How do you know?”

“I watched them.”

“You’re becoming quite the peeping Tom aren’t you?”

“No, I’m a girl, remember?”

“Okay, a peeping Thomasina.”

“No, the door wasn’t closed and I heard a funny noise and went to look and Jenny was...”

“I don’t think I need to know, Trish–please don’t look again.”

“But Jenny had her hand up...”

“I don’t care what they were doing, I don’t want to know.”

“But it was so big.”

“What was?” I asked.

“The thing, Jenny had in her hand–I think it must have had batteries because I couldn’t see any wires.”

“Trish, that is too much information–I don’t want you to look again or to speak to others about this–understood?”

“Yes, Mummy.”

“What goes on in the bedroom is sacrosanct. Do you understand?”

“No, Mummy–what does that mean?”

Oh bugger–me and my big words. “It means it doesn’t concern anyone else.”

“Does it?”

“Yes it does, so keep it to yourself.”

“Oh okay.” She trotted off to find the others and prove her cleverness to them.

“What was all that about?” Simon casually walked into the kitchen.

“All what?”

“You having a go at Trish?”

“About ten minutes why?”

“What’s that about the sanctity of the bedroom?”

“I was trying to get her to tidy her part of their bedroom.”

“You’re a bloody awful liar, Cathy.”

“Of course being a banker you’d know, wouldn’t you?”

“Charming.” He sloped off to his office and once again I felt I could have handled that better.