The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1050 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

“And since when have I been answerable to you, madam?” I demanded of Trish. My tone and demeanour meant that I was looking for trouble, and she flinched before trying some bravado.

“You’re my mummy, so of course you need to let me know where you are.”

“Oh do I? That’s funny, because I thought it was the other way round, you let me know where you are because I’m responsible for you, not you for me.” Again I kept the tone very assertive and she was beginning to back down.

“Um, I was joking, Mummy–really.”

“Well I didn’t find it very funny–I think you need a lesson in humility.”

She looked very uncertain and her bottom lip twitched, she is only six going twenty six, but thankfully I can still pull rank. “What d’you mean, Mummy.”

“You’ve annoyed me in front of Leon and Billie, both your elders and betters. I want you to apologise to both of them for being silly while I was talking with them, and then you can apologise to me.”

She said she was sorry to both of them, and by the time she got to me, she was in tears and hugging me around the waist. I took her inside, and pulled her away from me, and said, “Have you learned your lesson?”

“Yes, Mummy,” she sobbed and I hugged her and told her she was forgiven, provided she didn’t do it again. She could now go and lay the table and she could help me in the kitchen while I made lunch. She went off with slightly more spring in her step. I love her to bits, but she has to be kept on a tight leash or she begins to run riot. I’m dreading what she’ll be like as a teen–at least she can’t get pregnant.

I went and changed and came back to the kitchen. She was busy making me a cuppa and I gave her another hug, “I much prefer you when you’re being helpful, rather than giving me grief–you’re a good girl most of the time, but now and again you do upset me.”

“I’m sorry, Mummy, I don’t like to upset you.”

“I hope not, sweetheart, or you will be in trouble. Now, enough of this; let’s do a bread mix.” She chuckled and went to the pantry and got out the ingredients for making a loaf. I sipped my tea as I watched her measure them out and add the water. Then she secured the lid and switched it on. “Good girl, you remembered.”

“Yes, Mummy, you’re a good teacher.” Flattery will get you anywhere, except with your mother, however, I didn’t react.

As we prepared the meal together I asked her where Livvie, Danny and Meems were?

“They’ve gone out with Daddy.”

“Oh, where?”

“I dunno.”

“So how come you didn’t go as well?”

“Wasn’t enough room for me in his silly car.”

“I’m sure he could have taken one of the others–my car is there, he could have used that.”

“I think he prefers real girls.” She looked away.

“What are you then–Scotch mist?”

“No, silly, but I’m not a proper girl either, am I?”

“Of course you are, my darling,” I hugged her and she sobbed.

“I think he’s fed up with us pretend girls.”

“If that was true, he’d have left me yonks ago.”

“But you’re a proper girl now, Mummy.”

“As proper as they can make me–but being a woman is about what you feel inside you, not just your hormones and periods. While that would be nice, it isn’t going to happen for any of us–so we have to cope with it, and so do those who love us. Daddy loves us all in spite of our shortcomings, which he understands.”

“I wish he did, but I don’t think he does.”

“He seems to be okay with Julie and Billie.”

“Billie is your favourite.”

“What? She isn’t, I’m just trying to help her through to a stage where she can be a bit more confident as a girl, if that’s what she feels she is. You of all people should understand that.”

“I do, but I want you too.”

“You’ve got me, so what’s the problem?”

“You don’t take me out on your bike.”

“You’re a bit small, darling, when I do take you out you’re tired after about two miles. Billie’s a bit stronger, because she’s older.”

“Will you take me out on a bike when I’m older?”

“If you’d like to, of course I will. In fact, it would give me enormous pleasure.”

“Would it, Mummy?”

“Of course it would. I love cycling and having one or more of you really interested would be wonderful for me.”

“I’m going to be a cyclist just like you, Mummy.”

“We’ll see, kiddo, a lot of water will flow under the bridge before then.”

“I will, Mummy, I promise.”

“We’ll see.”

“Can I help, Mummy?” Billie walked into the kitchen.

“Haven’t you changed back into ordinary clothes yet?”

“You told me to change into these, you didn’t say to change out of them.”

“Where have you been?”

“I washed the bikes with a cloth I found in your workshop, then Gramps asked me to help him put in some bean sticks with Leon. He says I looked really pretty in my cycling kit.”

“Oh, did he now?”

“Anyway, can I–oh, you’ve been cryin’, Trish.”

“I’m okay,” she shrugged off her sister’s approaches.

“Suit yourself.”

“Billie, go and tell the others to start washing themselves up for lunch–then run up and wash and change yourself.”

She disappeared, “Right, young lady, are you okay now?”

“Yes, Mummy. Oh, Mummy?”

“Yes, darling?”

“I love you, lots.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.” I put my arm around her and gave her a quick squeeze.

Simon returned with the other kids as I was dishing up lunch–a quick risotto and ciabatta bread with sliced tomato and lettuce. I didn’t make the bread, but it needed to be eaten–I know I could have made minestrone soup, but it was a bit warm for that.

After we’d eaten and the girls were playing together and Danny was out with Tom and Leon in the garden, I had a few words with Simon. “Why didn’t you take Trish with you?”

“I said, first three can come with me to the office. She was fourth and I didn’t have room.”

“You could have used my car or the Mondeo.”

“I could have, but I didn’t want to.”

“She told me she thought you only liked real girls.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“To an adult, who doesn’t have insecurity problems.”

“What?”

“Trish thought you’d left her behind because you preferred to have real girls with you.”

“But she is a real girl as far as I’m concerned.”

“Tell that to her–I tried, but she was quite upset about it.”

“Oh bugger, I didn’t mean it like that at all. There just wasn’t room.”

“It wasn’t the brightest thing you’ve done.”

“I can see that now. I suppose I’d better go and tell her.”

“Why don’t you take her with you and collect Julie from the salon.”

“I suppose I could–what about the other one?”

“Other one?”

“Yes, Billie.”

“You could take her as well, which I suppose would prove your point of seeing them as ordinary girls–but to be honest, I think you need to spoil Trish a little bit. After all, Billie had my entire attention for an hour or so this morning. So, just take Trish.”

“Okay, I just want to do this paperwork and get it in the post, so she can come with me to the post office first and then we’ll collect Julie.”

“The post office is closed on a Saturday afternoon,” I challenged.

“The collection there is later, and besides, the shop next door does delicious ice cream.”

“I see, you’re going to bribe your way back into her affections.”

“Well, it usually works with her mother and her auntie.”

“It might not next time, sunshine–go and do your paperwork.”