Wurlitzer Donkies (aka Bike) Part 596 by Angharad

“What do you mean?” I asked feeling a horrible empty sensation in my tummy.

“They’re not here.”

“Why? Where are they? Who gave you permission to move them? This is my project, why wasn’t I informed?” I fired questions at him like a machine gun. “Where is my Spike? She’d better be alright or heads will roll.”

“Calm down, Cathy. As far as I know they’re all fine, and Spike has had another litter. Who’s this young lady?”

“I’m sorry, Neal, this is Trish–my foster daughter; Trish, this is Neal, one of the best technicians on the planet.” They shook hands and Trish blushed. “Now, where are my dormice?”

“The dormice are over with Ratman, we’re keeping an eye on them. We had a problem with a wall subsiding and have had builders in for the last month. They skimmed the plaster yesterday, it’s behind schedule, but it’s nearly finished. We should have them back in a week or two.”

“I think I ought to go and see them, just to check?”

“They’re okay, it’s just a bit cramped over there and no place to take little Trish.”

My anxiety just doubled. “Okay, you stay here with Trish while I pop over and check on them.”

“No, Cathy, really they are perfectly safe.”

“So why can’t I go and see them?”

“It’s just dirty and cramped, we only just managed to get the tanks in there, there’s barely room to pass between the tanks. I’m not lying to you, honestly.”

“I find this astonishing, I’m the permit holder and yet I can’t check on my animals.”

“Um actually, they transferred your permit to Brad.”

“What!” By now I was practically walking on the ceiling.

“Well, we didn’t know when your secondment was going to end. We needed someone in-house. Cathy–oh don’t be like that…”

I’d already grasped Trish’s hand and we were storming out of the building. Tom had some explaining to do, and I was in no mood to take prisoners, no matter how much I loved him–these animals were like my babies.

“You look very cross, Mummy.”

“I am, sweetheart, but not with you. Looks like someone has pulled off a coup in my absence.”

“What’s a queue, Mummy?”

“No, a coup; it’s a word used to describe someone overthrowing the boss and becoming the boss yourself. It usually applies to politics and governments.”

“Is that bad, Mummy?”

“It sure ain’t good, sweetypie.”

We turned into the drive and I parked noisily slamming the doors as we vacated the car. I strode into the house, where Tom had Mima sat on his lap singing her a song.

“I need a word, Tom.”

“In a minute,” he continued singing.

“This is important,” I said trying to maintain my already frayed temper.

“So is this.” He carried on singing and bouncing the child on his lap, she was giggling and laughing. I stormed out to the kitchen and banged pots and pans around.

He eventually strolled into the kitchen just as I was feeling like either breaking down and screaming and crying, or going in and demanding he put down the child and talk with me. “Right, what is so urgent that it takes me away from my granddaughter?”

I nearly swallowed my back teeth. His granddaughter, they are only temporary residents with us, it could be rescinded at any moment. I felt so hurt that I could easily have thrown this in his face to hurt him too, but thankfully, some self-control remained and I explained what had happened at the university.

“Oh is that all?”

“You knew about this?”

“Yes, of course, I’m still the professor of that department.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why should I?”

“I’m responsible for those animals.”

“Not at the moment, Brad is.”

“You got my licence rescinded without as much as a by your leave?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe this. I can’t believe what you did, and you call yourself my father. How could you?”

“Cathy,” he said quietly but I didn’t hear him, I was crying and shouting at him. He tried again, but I was almost hysterical, I was so hurt and angry. One of the few people I trusted implicitly had betrayed me. I wanted out of there and now. I continued shouting at him when–he slapped my face. I was astonished and shocked. “Cathy, please listen to me.”

I felt my glowing cheek, where he’d dared to hit me! I was now even more angry. “Why should I, you betrayed me. Stick your university as far as you can shove it, I’m outta here and I’m taking the girls with me.”

“What about Trish’s school?”

“You’re so good at explaining things, you tell ‘em why she isn’t there.” I went to walk out of the kitchen when he grabbed me and pulled me back. I ripped my arm from his grip and felt like hitting him, instead I let my caustic tongue blast him instead. “I don’t ever want to see you again.” I shrugged my arm free and ran upstairs.

I was torn between the urge to throw myself on the bed and cry and to pack all of my stuff. I started packing. I felt like I was in a frenzy, and tore my clothes from the wardrobe and threw them in the cases.

Simon walked in. “I hope you’re happy now, you’ve upset everyone.”

“Happy, here–ha. I’m leaving.”

“If you do, you go alone.”

“Okay, just me and the kids.”

“No, just you.”

“Those are my kids.”

“They are our kids, and they are staying.”

“On whose authority?”

“Mine.”

“Well that counts for nothing, the court entrusted them to me.”

“You are not taking them in a car in this mood. You’ll have an accident.”

“I am quite capable of driving.”

“Yeah, that’s what drunks say.”

“I’m not drunk.”

“Only in temper.”

“Get out of my way, I want to collect the girls’ clothes.”

“No, you’re not taking them.”

“We’ll see about that,” I pushed him and he resisted. I pushed him harder and he pushed me back. With that, I leapt in the air and kicked him in the chest, he flew backwards through the doorway like a sack of potatoes.

He lay quite still, groaning. “Oh my God, Simon–what have I done?” I gasped and rushed to help him.

“Geez, Cathy, where the hell did you learn that one?” he groaned and passed out. I worried myself to death, he looked okay but he wasn’t conscious. I felt for a pulse and breathing, he was still doing both. I slipped a pillow under his head, there seemed to be no blood or injury. What had I done?

Over the next ten minutes he recovered and I got him up off the floor. He was shaken by the experience, but so was I. I began to see that I might have a bit of an anger management problem, as they say in the States.