(aka Bike) Part 1314 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad
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“I’m going to confiscate her bike,” I said and Simon nodded.
“Didn’t you ever ride off on your own?”
“Of course, but I don’t remember doing it at age seven.”
“I’ll bet you did–you’re every bit as wilful as your daughter–and she did prove her point, that she could get away if she needed to.”
“The whole point was she should have asked before she went off on her own.”
“So make it a condition of her riding her bike.”
“What about punishment?”
“What about it? I thought the aim of punishment was to change behaviour?”
“That’s deep for you, Si.”
“Just because I’m not actually counting money every minute of the day doesn’t mean I’m in hibernation mode like one your dormice. Believe it or not, we bankers are sentient beings–it’s only consciences we lack. I can be philosophical, what I can’t be is guilty.”
“So Catholic bankers must have a real problem then?”
“Why?”
“Never mind, Si, you’re obviously not as philosophical as you thought.”
“Oh the guilt stuff–Cathy, you accuse me of being stereotypical, take the mote out of your own eye.”
“Oh my goodness, biblical quotations too, you have hidden depths, Lord Cameron.”
“Probably, but I’d rather explore yours, so how about taking all your clothes off...”
“Just when I thought–you prove to be as shallow as ever.”
“What d’you mean?”
“I thought you had some depth–but it appears it’s only in shallowness.”
“Cathy, you take everything too seriously.”
“Or could it be that you take everything too flippantly?”
“Yeah it could be, but at least I’m prepared to admit it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh forget it, I’m going downstairs.” He stalked out of the bedroom and leaving the door open I heard him continue down the stairs.
From the distance I could hear a funny mewing sound and when I approached it realised it came from the girl’s bedroom. I stood outside and listened–yes, it was definitely from inside. I turned the handle of the door and went inside.
Lying on the bed, still in her jeans and top and her trainers lay Trish, face in the pillow making various snivelling, sobbing and crying noises. She was unaware I was there. I watched her for a moment, she was still unaware of my presence.
“What are we going to do with you, Patricia Watts?”
She started, then turning round sobbed, “I’m sorry, Mummy.”
“I should think so. You were very silly and apart from worrying me to death, you caused me to fall off my bike in trying to follow you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So how should I punish you?” I threw the ball into her court just to see how she’d deal with it.
“I don’t know, Mummy.”
“Okay, we’ll discuss that in a minute; first, I want to set some rules–you don’t ride the bike outside the drive without asking Daddy, Gramps, Jenny or myself.”
“What about Auntie Stella?”
“Her as well when she’s home again. If we say you can’t–you have to accept that and not sneak off by yourself. Because if you do–I shall confiscate the bike for a long time, or may even sell it.”
“You can’t, Mummy, that’s my bike.”
“I can and will if the mood takes me, so don’t push your luck, missy. If you want to go for a ride, I’d prefer there were two or three of you together and better still, an adult. If I don’t have anything stopping me, I may well come with you–but not if you pull another stunt like this morning–that was so silly, that path could have led anywhere.”
“I knew where it went, Gramps an’ me have walked Kiki there loads of times.”
“Did you get caught in the thunderstorm?”
“No, Mummy, I was home by then.”
“Right for punishment, I’m going to take your bike and your computer off you for the rest of the weekend.”
“But, Mummy...”
“No buts, if you like I could take them for longer?”
“No, Mummy–I’m sorry.”
“Good because if I catch you breaking your curfew–you will really be in trouble and I’ll withhold your bike and computer indefinitely. D’you understand?”
“Yes, Mummy.”
“D’you have any homework to do?”
“Yes, Mummy.”
“Does it need the computer?”
“Yes, Mummy.”
“What is it?”
“History, Mummy.”
“Right, go and do that right away. As soon as you’ve finished, unplug your computer and put it in my bedroom, and it’s to stay there until you come home from school on Monday. Got it?”
“Yes, Mummy.”
“Trish?”
“Yes, Mummy?”
“Have you had any breakfast?”
“No, Mummy.”
“Go and make yourself some cereal and eat it, then do your homework.”
“Thank you, Mummy.”
“Go and do it.” She jumped off the bed and ran downstairs.
I suddenly realised that I had to take her to see Sam on Monday, and I had still to call Stephanie about Billie–I’d forgotten during the party and then the aftermath of this morning’s trauma.
I picked up my Blackberry in the bedroom and rang Stephanie, shutting the bedroom door. To my astonishment she picked it up. I told her of this morning’s shenanigans and she laughed.
“You knew she was wilful, Cathy, you shouldn’t have provoked her.”
“I didn’t, I was just trying to point out the risks she was running.”
“She saw it as a challenge and demonstrated what she might do if danger was to occur.”
“Yes, but someone on a mountain bike might ride her down, and in the woodland, especially when it’s in full leaf, no one would see anything.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I think you need to work with her, not challenge her on these issues–it just seems to fire her up.”
I told her what I’d decided on as ground rules, which she okayed, just as well because I wasn’t going to change them.
Then the question I was dreading asking.
“One last thing, Steph–um–could Trish have Asperger’s?”
“Why d’you ask?”
“I just wondered because she sometimes seems on a different planet and doesn’t always interact emotionally with everyone else.”
“Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Interact emotionally with everyone else?”
“I don’t know, some of the time and with some of the people.”
“Do you have Asperger’s syndrome?”
“Not as far as I know.”
“Neither does Trish, as far as I know, but I’ll keep it in mind the next time I see her, which is next week–least according to my diary it is–next Saturday.”
“When are you due to see Billie?”
“Same time–why? She hasn’t got Asperger’s too?”
“No,” I winced at her rebuff, “I’m a little worried about her because I think she’s thinking she’s less of a girl than Trish and Julie, and of course, Livvie and Meems and the two babies.”
“Technically, I suppose she is, but you’re worried are you?”
“Yes, she doesn’t have the strength of ego of Trish or even Julie.”
“And you think she’s depressed?”
“Yes.”
“What’s for dinner tomorrow?”
“I have a whole salmon to cook.”
“With watercress sauce?”
“That could be arranged–why, do you fancy your share?”
“Well, if I’ve got to do weekend domiciliary visits, it had better be worth my while, hadn’t it?”
“Yes, I can see that–so do I lay an extra place?”
“Okay you’ve convinced me. What time?”
“Eat at one, d’you want to see Billie before or after?”
“Before, see you about noon tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Steph.”
“That salmon had better be worth it.”
“Oh it will, Dr Cauldwell, it will.”
Comments
Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1314
Hopefully, Cathy won't have to worry about Billie doing something.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Synergies?
Thanks A+B+I (Salmon sounds delish): From time to time, Simon shows that he does have depths. I just wish he and Cathy were more together on the parenting side of things. Often the whole is more than the sum of the parts.
So Trish is now seven years of age. As someone else commented, she has knowledge, but not wisdom. Hopefully the latter will come, and at some point, Cathy is going to have to begin loosening the apron strings, but presently she's too young to go rushing off on her own. Cathy is right in that there is safety in numbers.
Partnership Strategies
Bike Resources
Bike Resources
Think about it.
There's nothing spooky about woods Cathy.
Short of something escaping from a zoo, there's not much that can harm you in a british woods, except maybe a wild boar or a rutting stag ... or a rabid dog or horse but none of these are spooky or creepy.
The only thing that is 'creepy' in a woods is probably human.
Kids do need to learn though and confiscation of a treasured artifact is one of the best punishments.
Me thinks the punishment fits the crime.
Still lovin' it Angie.
XXX
Bev.
Growing old disgracefully.
All woods are spooky at nigtht
Let's say you decide to take a drive in the woods at night - without your headlights on - would it spook you even a little bit? Maybe there is a mugger waiting on the trail if you opt to take a walk? Then what? Point is, it did not occur during the day but at night where visibility sucks? It is spooky dangerous and I think that is what has been implied here.
Kim
Woods at night
Some of the times that I have felt the most at peace were in the woods at night.
I have always considered the woods of Michigan to be safe. With the return of the cougars, things have changed slightly. Still, pragmatically, nobody has been even slightly injured or threatened by a cougar in Michigan in ages. Bears exist, too, but I have never worried about them.
Still, lately, being out in the dark at night, even on our own property, has felt spooky. I don't know why. I should be able to wander out little ten acre parcel at night without the slightest bit of uneasiness.
Maybe it's the Michigan Dogman. LOL
Creepy woods
Considering Cathy's talent for using her intuition, I have to wonder if there is, in fact, something there. It would be interesting if they found out that there was a stalker in the area.
I like the choices in
I like the choices in resolving this issue with Trish. Interesting comment on Trish taking Cathy's concerns as a challenge. Glad there is a framework in place for using her Bike now. Typical Kid when they get something new. They get way ahead of us. Trish did not give Cathy a chance to set any rules before taking off. She got the bike Friday night and was off on it 6:30 am Saturday morning.
Where is the story going with Billie? She has not had much "Bike" time". Should be some more interesting episodes coming.
Hugs,
Trish Ann
~There is no reality, only perception~
Hugs,
Trish Ann
~There is no reality, only perception~
Bannockburn?
That's a winery in Victoria. What you on about Ang?
Woods creepy? Nah, you do have to be careful of tripping over things if it's dark though. I'm assuming though the sun was up a bit at least. Storms can be a worry too. Nicely temporarily resolved anywhoo. Till next time..now what's the deal with Billie, still wondering there?
Kris
ps quiet Gabi thoughts later today my time.
People are by far the most dangerous beast
in the woods and Cathy has more than good reason to fear them. Especially where her children might be at risk.
not to mention
didn't Cathy encounter some sort of unfriendly forrest creatures before?
No that was Snafu
where Jamie had a set to with some elementals.
Angharad
Angharad
Woods
It is a good thing this narative is set in the UK. If it was here in Massachusetts dashing off into the woods can be hazardous. And not just because of wildlife and human predators (Black Bears have been seen in the small city I live in.) Depending on where in the PDRM you are, you could easily get lost in a swamp or fall into a ravine. During the early 1900's, 98% of Massachusetts was deforested. Now, even large cities have extensive tracts of woods and forests.
We are always getting stories in the news of people, not just children getting lost in the woods even inside the 495 beltway (similar to your M25.) Boston has 2 beltways, the inner (128/95) and the outer (495.)
well it's obvious i'm not nor have been a parent by now.
1st ... cathy needs to go apoligise to Simon ...seriously and both need to knock off the gibberish...all it ever accomplishes is one or both upset at each other. I believe cathy is also needs to have one long sit-down with her shrink...and get some issues off her mind and out of her head...Simon maybe submissive to her, but he's no damm idiot either. and in this case He is one that should have laid down the punishment...It might have sunk in more if daddy laid down the law...
cathy also needs to learn about give & take...she can give, but she sure cant take...'we've been given to many examples of her BEING RIGHT, but being fully in the wrong by her deeds and actions. and she punishes anyone whom challanges her by demeaning them...yet when the shoe is on other foot...she gets mad and takes it out in forms of like withholding sex and other obvious ploys and tantrums till she gets her way....She' damm lucky she's got someone like Simon...cause if she'd pull even 1/10 of that on me...she'd been curbside so fast she'd not know that hit her
Massachusetts is not the Alaskan woods
I think Brianna is exaggerating the danger in Mass woods. Black bears don't go out of their way to attack people in Mass. The most dangerous predator in the woods for a young girl is still Man, I'm sure it's the same in GB. Most of the people getting lost have a memory or other problem.
Karen
Blatent Bribery
Having said that, Stephanie is a gem and a true friend. House calls? Now I know this is fiction, but I love it.
Trish is a calculating little minx.
Unfortunately, suicide among young transgendered people is a fact of life. It's too bad these kids don't have the understanding support to aid their transition.
Trish got off lightly.
Karen
Trish is a calculating little minx.
Unfortunately, suicide among young transgendered people is a fact of life. Here's a troubling statistic, In the US, 41% of TGs attempt suicide,19% refuse medical treatment, and 2% have been violently assaulted in the doctor's office. Only 7000 TG 's were surveyed. Between the ages 18 and 45 the suicide rate was 45% !
It's too bad these kids don't have the understanding support to aid their transition.
Trish got off lightly.
Karen