The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1566 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

“Mummy?”

I glanced through weary eyes at the voice from the other side of the table. “Yes, poppet.”

“You know we’re not having anyone else to dinner on Christmas.”

Where was Julie leading with this one? “Not at the moment, why?”

“I wondered if I could invite a friend?”

“You could I suppose, who is it?”

“Um–a girl I know.” The body language and blushes meant this was more than just a friend.

“Who–what’s her name?”

“Tash–um–Natasha, she works at the salon and doesn’t have any family.”

“How old is she?”

“Twenty, I think, why?”

“She’s a special friend is she?”

“How did you guess?” she looked very coy and embarrassed.

“You told me, or your body did.”

“My body?”

“Yes, you blushed and acted very differently to how you would were you talking about anyone else at the salon. How come she’s got no family at only twenty?”

“Okay, she’s gay–okay–they don’t like it so she left them.”

“Julie, I don’t have a problem with it and I doubt anyone else will either providing you’re discreet.”

“Discreet, what’s that supposed to mean? It means you don’t like her ’cos she’s gay.”

“Please sit down and let me finish before you jump to conclusions which are erroneous in the extreme. I told you I have no objections to anyone on the grounds of their sex, gender or orientation providing it’s between consenting adults. So by all means invite your friend, but if you’re going to have a face sucking contest, please go somewhere private to do it. I’d say exactly the same to you if you brought a boy here.”

She sat down again, “So, by private, you mean if we went up to my room?”

Now it was my turn to blush. She’s eighteen, so legally an adult but it’s in my household–oh boy, the problems don’t get any smaller as the kids get bigger.

“I think I’d be happier to think that you wouldn’t go the whole way until after your surgery and you knew her a bit better. I’m sure she’ll understand.”

“What d’you mean, all the way?”

I was aware she wasn’t taking her hormones at the moment so something could start working again and if it did and this Tash girl got pregnant? No, think of something positive.

“I mean, no penetrative sex, a kiss a cuddle and a fondle. That should be enough, surely.”

“Penetrative? She’s lesbian, Mum–doh.”

“I’m just concerned that in the heat of the moment she could allow you to use something before you lose it in a couple of week’s time.”

“She’s gay, she doesn’t do boys.”

“You’re not a boy, except in one small place–but one small place could cause lot of trouble, and people do strange things in the throes of passion.”

“Is this a confessional?” she beamed at me.

I blushed a bright pillar box red, “No it isn’t–but you’re still under my rules here.”

“Relax, Mum, she wouldn’t be interested in doing that, and neither am I–okay? Girl guide’s honour, dib dib dib and all that.” She did a Guide’s salute with three fingers raised.

“Okay, she can come but you behave and not frighten your grandfather.”

“Fricht? Wha’s gonna fricht me?” Tom drifted into the room.

“Morning, Daddy, oh I was just telling Julie she could have her friend here for Christmas dinner but they weren’t to wear anything too outrageous.”

“Yeah, my friend Tash.”

“Tash? Daes she hae hair on her lip?”

Julie laughed, “No, Gramps, her name is Natasha, but everyone calls her Tash.”

“Och, noo I ken.”

“She’s gay,” added Julie and Tom nearly choked on his coffee.

“She’s whit?”

“She’s a lesbian–like me.”

He recovered very quickly. “I see, sae whit d’ye want me tae dae?”

“Nothing, Gramps, but I didn’t want any misunderstandings.”

“Misunderstandings? Whit d’ye think I’d make a pass at her?”

“No, I–um...” Julie blushed scarlet.

“I think Julie just wanted to tell you that this is her girlfriend.” I interrupted and hoped that would close the matter. “Toast?”

“Aye, jest thae one.” He looked at Julie, “I’ve been dealin’ wi’ gay boys an’ girls for forty year an’ nivver had a problem yet; sae I think ye’ll both be safe wi’ me.”

“Of course, sorry, Gramps, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“That’s okay, hen, no offence tak’n.” She walked over and pecked him on the cheek and he put his arm round her. I gave them some privacy making the toast until I heard her say she was off to work. She pecked me on the cheek and collecting her coat and bag left.

I offered Daddy the plate of toast and he took a slice. “It’s her first crush–so it’s deadly serious, and she’s very sensitive about it.”

He simply shrugged. “I’ll love her whit ever she is or wants tae be?”

“I think that probably goes for the rest of us too, Daddy, but at the moment it’s important that we tell her that. She’s growing up fast and in a couple of weeks she has a very important moment to deal with.”

He paused eating his toast, thought for a moment then remembered what was happening to Julie in a couple of weeks. “Och, her operation.”

“Yes, I have no doubt she wants it and that she’ll be pleased when it’s over, but I think she might be a little scared of it, she is only eighteen and it’s quite young to make such a permanent decision.”

“Why, d’ye think she’s tae young?”

“I hope not–but I made a promise to her if she waited until she was eighteen, I’d help her get the surgery. I think she’s ready for it, but I can’t say I’m certain because it is a very big step to take for her.”

“Surely, she couldnae go back tae bein’ a boy again?”

“I doubt it, she has rather rounded out a bit and I don’t think she’d pass as a boy even if she wanted to.” I’d never seen her as a boy nor much of anything boyish in her.

“Whit’s Caroline goin’ tae say?” He was more perceptive than I gave him credit for at times.

“That I cannot say.” I think any romantic feelings there were purely Caroline’s who I think lusted after Julie but did control it, so it wasn’t a problem–thank goodness. I did think she was too old for Julie so someone nearer her own age sounded better. I couldn’t place this Tash girl at the salon, so she could be new or possibly a customer.

“Ye’re happy wi’ her daein’ this?”

“Which the surgery or having her friend here?”

“Her friend.”

“As happy as I can be. Julie has had a troubled life so I’d be happy to see her happy. If this girl makes her happy, I’ll be pleased for her. But teen romances often don’t last, so we have to wait and see and help her as we can. It’s all very new for her and with this operation hanging over her like the sword of Damocles, she’s got lots to think about. As to her orientation–that’s her affair, I’ll do whatever I can to support her, as you just said–we’re her family and we’ll always be there for her as long as she’s honest with us.”

“Aye, we will.”