The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1586 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

Simon took me home and I slunk up to bed and back to sleep, I was so tired I think I just undressed and slipped between the covers wearing a bra and panties. I didn’t hear Simon come up, but he was there when I awoke in the morning.

It was half past seven and I crawled out of bed and woke the girls, then went up the stairs and called Danny, who grumbled, but rolled out of his bed. “Don’t forget you have football practice tonight.”

“Uhh,” was his response, I think, I didn’t wait for further noises as I was on my way downstairs and into the shower. I didn’t wash my hair to save time and checked on the girls while draped in a towel. Livvie appeared to be acting as bathroom monitor and the other two were getting themselves dried. I left them to dress and dashed down to start the breakfast. A few minutes later Simon appeared, grabbed the piece of toast I’d just buttered and went off to work. I started again with the toaster.

I did eat some toast eventually, and washed it down with the lukewarm tea I’d been too busy to drink while it was hot. I grabbed my laptop and notes, left Stella sorting out Catherine, and escorted the three girls to the car. Then it was drop them off and get to the university.

Tom was already there and I went to see him. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this.”

“Dae whit?”

“Run these classes, let alone extra ones.”

“Ye’ve already deferred them frae last term–ye hae tae dae them, hen.”

I shook my head and went to my office and ran through my notes again. I found the mistake that had jumped out at me yesterday and corrected it. Then it was more of yesterday’s stuff to a relatively small class–about forty who’d missed out on yesterday. I was now going to be teaching two classes of seventy or eighty students.

I went to the lecture room and set up with the help of Tim, the new technician. A few of the students were waiting for me and asked me to sign their dormouse books. In return I asked them why my class was so popular.

“Cause like, they say you’re a fun lecturer,” said one young woman who looked about fourteen except for the heels she was wearing. They made my three inch boots seem very low.

I ran through more or less the same format as yesterday and decided I didn’t much care for doing repetitions, so half way through I threw my notes up in the air and instead of teaching them, I made them teach me. There were one or two had an idea of ecology because they’d done biology at A level. There were several who were there because they genuinely wanted to know what it was all about, and one young man said he came because his father fell in love with me when he saw the dormouse film and he was disappointed that I wasn’t wearing shorts today. Oh well, ask a silly question.

At lunch time, I dashed into the hospital to see Caroline–she was well out of it, but I sat there for half an hour and gave her a boost. They’d sutured her leg and were very hopeful of it healing well. By the time I’d finished, I was certain it would heal well.

I was allowed up to the ward where Julie was to deliver her iPad. She looked tired but elated. “I can’t believe I’m really a woman, now?” she effused all over me.

“Darling, the operation doesn’t make you a woman, it merely confirms your status as one,” I explained to her.

“You know what I meant, I’m so happy, Mummy. I really am.”

“Good, you can tell Daddy when he pops in to see you later.”

“I dreamt I saw you last night.”

“It wasn’t a dream.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No, they called me in to help with Caroline. She was hit by a car last night.”

“Our Caroline?” she looked aghast.

“’Fraid so.”

“Is she alright?”

“Don’t know yet. She’ll live, the energy has seen to that, but what sort of damage has been done is hard to say.”

“Can I go and see her?”

“Certainly not, you can’t leave your bed for a week, so be patient–no pun intended–and when it’s time I’ll make sure we go and see her. I need to go and get the girls from school.” I kissed her and apologised to the ward sister for being there longer than I’d intended.

I went back to the university and did some more work on the programme of lectures, and it was only when Pippa bleeped me, I saw the time and rushed off to collect the girls.

As I was waiting for them to erupt from the doorway like lava from Vesuvius a very handsome man arrived. He must have been late thirties about six foot tall, dark curly hair and piercing blue eyes. I was standing a little apart from a group of three mums who obviously knew each other.

“Nice day,” he remarked to me.

“Hmm,” I agreed nodding.

“Excuse me, but you look familiar.”

If this was a chat up, he needed some new lines. “I’m sure I don’t.”

I felt his eyes boring into me again and wished the girls were here so I could go. “I know I’ve seen you somewhere.”

“Probably here.”

“Could be.” He shook his head and just then the door opened and dozens of cloned girls escaped through the portal and to the arms of doting and wealthy parents. Trish and Livvie were talking with another girl as they strolled out, other girls rushing round them to escape.

The three of them casually walked up to us. “Hello, Mummy, this is Jo, she sits next to us in scripture–she doesn’t believe either.”

I felt myself blushing, and the little girl grabbed hold of the man’s hand. “That’s my fault, I’m afraid.”

“I’m sorry?”

“It’s my fault that Jo tends to question the nuns about religious matters–I’m a scientist.”

“My mummy is a scientist too, aren’t you, Mummy.” Trish was in her element.

“Allegedly,” I muttered.

“She’s knows all about dormice,” beamed Trish and I blushed even more.

“That’s it,” said the man.

“What is?” I almost stepped back in surprise at his declaration.

“Where I’ve seen you.”

I looked blankly at him hoping he wouldn’t mention the Youtube clip.

“In my bank, they have a poster of you holding a dormouse.”

“High Street?” I asked and he nodded so I nodded back.

“An’ she’s made a film and writted books about dormice.”

“Of course, last year, that was you on the BBC–lovely documentary–watch out David Attenborough. So any more in the pipeline?”

“No too busy teaching.”

“Oh, where?”

“The university.”

“What, here?”

“Yes.”

“My wife teaches there, in the marine biology unit.”

“What about you, where do you do your science?”

“I work for QinetiQ–so it’s all a bit hush-hush.”

“Porton Down,” I muttered.

“Mostly. Oh I’m John Downes, my wife is Kate, I’d love to talk about environmental stuff–why don’t you come over one afternoon with your girls and they could play with Jo while we chill out with a spritsa and some Mozart and a chat about the environment. Bring hubby of course.”

“I’d have to speak with Simon, but it sounds nice–oh I’m Cathy, Cathy Watts.”

“No you’re not Mummy, you’re Lady Catherine Cameron.”

“Oh my goodness–you did the Scottish play–here, didn’t you?”

“Um–yes.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, look you must come over, here’s my number, I know Kate would be delighted to meet you, even though you both work at the same uni. Well, well, we both loved your performance.” He offered his card, then his hand, which I shook gently.

We got into the car and I watched him drive away with his daughter in a large four wheel drive thing.

“Mummy fancies him, don’t you, Mummy.” Said Trish giggling and I found myself getting hot and bothered.