The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1555 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

I heard the van drive away and decided to see for myself, what sort of job had been done on the table. I went through to the drive and then to the garage to find the table. There just inside the open doorway stood the table and when I walked round it, it looked fine to me.

I was just about to run my finger round it to see if I could find the spot when Simon shouted, “Don’t touch it,” and I practically jumped out of my skin. He followed me into the garage. “It has to stand for an hour or two to dry off completely.”

“You frightened the wits out of me then,” I complained, I had physically jumped when he’d shouted.

“Sorry, but you were about to touch it.”

“Yes I was, it’s natural...”

“To try and see the repair, I know–it’s there,” he pointed to a place directly in the middle of the edge nearest the open door.

“I can’t see it.”

“You’re not supposed to be able to, not for what he charged.”

“How much was it?”

“I think that had best remain a secret, but he charges fifty quid for the call out.”

“Oh well, if ever you get fed up with banking, you know what to do instead.”

“Nah, don’t have the patience–you’d be better at it than I would–I’ve seen you tinker with bikes.”

“Talking of which, I haven’t got that wheel straight yet.”

“Can’t you get another one?”
“D’you know how much Zipp wheels cost?”

“C’mon, Cathy, it’s a bike wheel, fifty quid a pair down the bike shop.”

“This single wheel is worth about eight hundred and fifty pounds.”

“You’re joking?” he said and my face stayed absolutely still. “You’re not joking, are you?”

“No, remember I bought this bike to race.”

“But when I got it repaired before...”

“That was the rear wheel, why d’you think he loaned me a bike, didn’t you check the price he charged you?”

“I can’t remember, I doubt it was anything like that. Do they come as standard then?”

“No, I had this bike built, even Dave Millar would have been happy to ride it apart from the fact he’s nearly a foot taller than I am.”

“How tall is he?”

“Six foot four or five.”

“He is big, I thought bike riders were all small guys–you know light as a feather, zip up mountains because there’s no resistance.”

“Not time triallists, Wiggo is about six two or three.”

“Is he?”

“Yeah, if you saw him standing next to Cav, they’re like the long and short of it.”

“He’s not a climber is he?”

“Who?”

“Cavendish.”

“No, it’s something we have in common.”

“He’s only five six too, is he?”

“No he’s five eight or nine but he’s rubbish on mountains too.”

“I thought you climbed quite well.”

“Compared to you I do, but you’re rubbish on a bike full stop.”

“Gee thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“The sledgehammer Sagittarian strikes again.”

“That’s me, and Julie–so you’d better watch yourself.”

“I am–bloody hedonists.”

“I beg your pardon, it wasn’t me who got plastered and tried to saw the table in half.”

“Okay, I paid for that already.”

“So, you gonna buy me a new wheel?”

“Not at eight fifty.”

“I think Wiggle do ‘em for about six hundred.”

“I could get a whole bike for that. Why not take it into the bike shop and see if he can do it–it’s got to be cheaper than that?”

I led him to the bike shed and opened it. “I didn’t know you had a spare key,” he said looking surprised.

“Only because you lot lose them–I had my own one cut which I keep on my key ring.” I pushed open the door and took the wheel off the jig. “There ya go,” see if he can do it while I get lunch. Hurry, or you’ll be late.” I shooed him out of the bike shed and locked the door again.

“And if he can’t?”

“I’ll give you the address of Wiggle and you can pop round and get me a new one–bring the old one back though.”

“Why?”

“If I have nothing better to do, I’ll give it another go.”

He walked off muttering and Mima saw him getting in the car and ran after him. She got in the car with him. The sky was becoming over cast, so I closed the garage door to keep the table dry. It didn’t rain just clouded over for a while.

I had enough eggs to scrambled eggs on toast, which meant waiting until Simon and Mima came back because it doesn’t keep very well–at least I wouldn’t want to eat it after it had been made for ages. Then I checked the bread–we needed more. So Livvie and Trish came with me to the supermarket and we got a couple of thick sliced loaves and one or two other bits and pieces. When we returned Simon was there.

“I thought you were getting lunch?”

“I was–we’ve been to the supermarket.”

“What are we having?”

“Scrambled eggs, why?”

“That all?”

“With toast–we needed more bread.”

“C’mon, I’ll treat you.”

“To what?”

“A pub lunch?”

“What happened with the wheel?”

“He said it would take a week. I asked him what a new one would cost and he said he could do one for about seven fifty.”

“You didn’t order one?"

"No, if I had I couldn’t treat you lot to lunch could I?”

“Why not get fish and chips?” I suggested, “But we’ll need to wait until Danny gets back.”

“He’s up in the shower now.”

“Oh, when did he get home?”

“About ten minutes ago. Right who’s for fish and chips?”

The girls opted for jumbo sausage and chips and Tom a curry sauce with his. Danny wanted a pie and mushy peas with his chips. I declined. “What are you eating then?”

“Scrambled egg.”

“With chips?”

“No, on toast.”

“And you suggested getting chips?”

“Not for me I didn’t.”

“If I live to be a hundred, I’ll never understand bloody women.”

“Creatures of mystery–that’s us, isn’t it girls?”

“What is?” asked Trish as Simon and Mima got back in his car.

“Nothing, sweetheart–I was just winding up your dad.”

“That’s cruel, Mummy, he’s not as clever as us.”

I looked at her in astonishment–she was probably right about herself, but not me. “What d’you mean?”

“Well he’s a boy isn’t he and they’re thick.”

“Some are but not all, and Daddy’s quite clever you know?”

“If he was that clever, he’d want to be a girl, wouldn’t he?”

“I don’t think so, sweetheart, most ordinary boys are happy to be boys–it’s only those who are really girls like you, who wish to change things. And we do need boys and men.”

“To send for fish and chips?” she beamed.

“Amongst other things.”

“Other things?”

“Oh yes, they have their uses, but we’ll talk about that when you’re a bit older. You won’t understand now.”

“Oh you mean sex, do you, Mummy?”

I felt my whole body go cold and then start a blush from somewhere down by my toes up to the top of my head.