The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2671 by Angharad Copyright© 2015 Angharad

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This is a work of fiction any mention of real people, places or institutions is purely coincidental and does not imply that they are as suggested in the story.
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“Auntie Cathy, who was Maria Drummond?” asked Hannah as we drove home.

“She was a very lovely young woman who died about three or four years ago.”

“I thought you fixed her, the nurse seemed to think so.”

“I did, she died from something else.”

“How d’you know? You told the nurse you hadn’t seen her.”

“I didn’t like to say she’d died.”

“Why?”

“To start with, it was none of her business.”

She went very red in the face, “I suppose it’s none of mine neither.”

“No it isn’t.”

“I’m sorry, Auntie Cathy, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Look she was a friend of mine and I missed her when she died.”

“I’m sorry, d’you want me to go?”

“Go? Go where?”

“I’m just a nuisance, always poking my nose in other people’s business. Nobody wants me, really.” She began to cry.

We were just approaching the motorway services at Eastleigh, so I pulled in and parked a little away from the other cars. “Right, what’s this about nobody wants you?”

“I’m just a nuisance.”

“Says who?”

“Everybody.”

“Who is everybody?”

“Just everybody.”

“David didn’t say it, did he—when you were living in the cottage?”

“No, David is nice.”

“No one has said it at my house have they?”

“No, everyone has been very nice.”

“You okay with the other girls?”

“Yeah Trish an’ Livvie let me use their computers.”

“Where’s yours?”

“It got busted.”

“So you haven’t got one anymore?”

“No.”

“Right, dry your eyes. We need to get you some new clothes—so let’s go shopping.”

Over the next hour I got her some underwear, socks, a pair of jeans, some trousers, shorts, two skirts, a summer dress, various tops and tee shirts, a new raincoat and two pairs of shoes, plus a pair of sandals. We had a snack lunch of egg and chips in a café and while we were eating I sent Sammi a text. She replied and I smiled.

“What ya laughin’ at, Auntie Cathy?”

“I asked Sammi to bring me something from my office and she said she would.”

“I thought she worked in London?”

“She does.”

“But your office is at the university in Portsmouth.”

“I have one in London as well.”

“Oh, for the university?”

“No, for the bank.”

“I thought you worked at the university.”

“I do, but I also work as a consultant for the bank.”

“You need two jobs? Mummy sometimes had to do two jobs to get enough money for us. We never had no holidays nor nothin’. I s’pose with all your kids you need to do two jobs as well.”

“Something like that,” I smiled back at her and she chuckled.

“I’da liked a brother or sister. How come all yours are girls?”

“Just the way things worked out.”

“I like pretendin’ Trish an’ Livvie an’ Mima are my sisters.”

“I’m sure they won’t mind having another sister while you’re staying with us.”

“I hope that’s a long time.”

I wasn’t sure I did at the same time neither I nor any of the others would dream of saying anything but positives to Hannah, we were all aware she’d had a rough time. It’s funny, Trish can be a total loose cannon but she seems to realize not to upset those who are more vulnerable than she is. The others are the same, though at times our house must feel like a children’s home for gender and otherwise confused youngsters. Still it’s good to know we’ve all done some good if only for each other.

We arrived home mid-afternoon and I sent Hannah up to hang up her new clothes and we disposed of the bags. After a cuppa, I left her with Stella and dashed off to collect the mouseketeers. They were surprised to see me and we stopped for an ice cream on the way home, I asked them not to say anything to Hannah and they all understood.

“Is she goin’ to school?”

“I’ve spoken to Sister Maria, and she’s happy to take her for a short period until we know how Ingrid is.”

“How is she? Did you manage to save her?”

“What d’you mean?” I asked feeling myself get hot.

“Danni an’ me sent you extra energy all mornin’, we kinda figured you rushed off to help Ingrid, so she musta been in trouble. You seem in a good mood, so it musta gone okay.”

“I think so, but we can never be certain about such things.”

“I ’spect she’ll be all right, they usually are when I help you.” Nothing seems to impinge on Trish’s modesty.

“She said you were helping her by loaning her your laptops, you and Livvie?”

“Yeah, if we can do the stuff on our iPads we let her use our lappies, why, is that wrong?”

“No that was fine.”

“She said Ingrid broke hers, threw it against the wall or somethin’.”

“Did she?” I wonder what happened there.

“Yeah, she was doin’ somethin’ on it when Ingrid was tryin’ to watch the telly. Ingrid got cross and smashed it.”

“Is that so?”

We got home and the girls went up to change. While they were doing so, I phoned Sister Maria and asked if Hannah could start school the following Monday. She told me to send her in tomorrow. I explained we didn’t have the right uniform and she said that was okay for a week or two and to see how she settled in.

I called Hannah into my study and told her that she would be going to school with Trish and Livvie tomorrow. She didn’t look too pleased and I asked why.

“They’re all cleverer than me.”

“They’re all cleverer than me, too,” I admitted.

“An’ you’re a professor.”

“Yeah but don’t tell the university I’m not very clever, will you?”

“Your secret is safe with me, cross my heart, Auntie Cathy.”

“So you’re going to school tomorrow. Let’s see, Trish is a bit bigger than you so her last year’s uniform might just fit you.” We went up to her bedroom and I checked in the cupboard upstairs and found a few things. They fitted like they were bought for her.

While she was wearing the uniform I told the rest of the girls what was happening and they seemed as if they were expecting it. Sometimes I wonder who is parenting who in our house.

“Don’t worry, Han, we’ll look after you,” said Livvie and Trish nodded. Meems also nodded but continued paying with her dollies.

“No homework tonight?” I asked.

“No, we got exams next week so we’re supposed to be revising.”

“I can’t do exams,” Hannah looked in a blind panic.

“I doubt they’ll expect you to and if they do, it will only be to see where you are in comparison to the others.”

“Don’t worry, Hannah, Mummy’s a professor, she knows all about education, don’t you, Mummy?”

“I expect things will be all right, I’ll speak with the headmistress tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Auntie Cathy.”

Dinner was next on the agenda and just as we were about to start Si and Sammi walked in. Sammi handed me a laptop case and said, “I’ve sorted out all the bugs, should just plug into our system including the net.”

“Thank you, darling.”

“’S okay, it was just occupying cupboard space. It’s Windows 7, is that okay?”

“That is perfect, perhaps you’d like to give it to Hannah, yourself?”

“Yeah okay,” she took it back from me, “Here ya go, Hannah, a lap top to use.”

“Wow, thanks, Sammi, Auntie Cathy.” She got up and hugged us both and kissed us, “You’re all so kind to me.”

“Huh, what about me then?” grumbled Si.

“Sorry, Uncle Simon, I don’t understand.”

“Well you thanked Cathy and Sammi, but it was my bloody bank they stole it from.”

“They stole it?” she looked horrified.

“Don’t listen to him, sweetheart, he’s only jealous because he didn’t get a hug and a kiss.”

“Shush, don’t spoil it,” he complained.

“Thank you, Uncle Simon,” she hugged and gave him a smacker.

“Can we workers eat something now?” grumbled Trish and I nearly fell off my chair laughing.