The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2892 by Angharad Copyright© 2016 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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After dinner, Stephanie asked if anyone felt scared or anxious. I very nearly put my hand up, instead I left her to talk to the girls while I made some tea and went off to my study. I’d done no work today, I’d been shocked but not so much that I couldn’t have gone to the office. The fact was, that I was worried about the girls and taking them home seemed the most logical thing to do. I spoke to Diane and asked her to tell Tom. He of course called immediately he heard and wanted to come home to protect us. It was kind of him but I did remind him I’d shut the gates—he still drove into them coming home—this time he managed to stop before either his car or the gates were too badly damaged.

Julie came to see me bringing another cuppa. “What’s going on? I mean Ingrid was no Einstein but she seemed okay with us and you did a lot for her and Han, why’s she doing this?”

“She thinks my intention was to steal her daughter, instead I acted because she was otherwise being neglected and anxious about the johns that Ingrid was entertaining. A ten year old girl shouldn’t know all about prostitution from living with it.”

“She was neglecting her kid, Han said as much and she’s come on in leaps and bounds since she joined the family, can’t she see that?”

“There’s none so blind as those who will not see—she goes to the top of the class after religious bigots and climate change deniers.”

“She should be pleased that her kid is happy and doing well in school—if she loved her she would.”

“I think she might have been raised with strange ideas of what love is all about and her models of parenting are unconventional to put it mildly.”

“What d’you mean?”

“She makes the same mistake many people make, you can’t be a parent and a friend of your children when they’re young. They need guidance and occasionally firm boundaries—you can’t do that if you’re their best friend. If you have no boundaries to start with, how can you keep them safe? How will they learn the difference between right and wrong and when they do wrong, how will you punish them; if only to show actions have consequences.”

“I consider you a friend as well as my mother.”

“You’re an adult, Julie. Relationships become different then especially as we’re so close in age.”

“You taught me a lot, mainly about myself and you showed me love in an unconditional form—that was magic. No matter what I did you still loved me. I don’t know if I could with a teenager as bad as I was.”

“You weren’t bad, just unused to having the freedom to be you—the real you. I and the others just gave you that freedom and you went off the rails a few times. Thankfully, you survived it all.”

“Yeah, thinking back I owe you my life several times.”

“Who’s counting—you’ve repaid my investment in you by turning into a lovely young woman with a head for business and you’ve included Phoebe in that, which gives you both a chance to experiment with your business.”

“She’s pretty bright though, isn’t she? I dunno if she’ll be happy to stay as a hairdresser beautician forever.”

“If she wants to go, let her. If she needs you to buy her out—we’ll help you.”

“Thanks, Mum, that’s quite a relief to know that.”

The phone rang—Andy Bond was at the gate, he wanted to see me. I let him in and put the kettle on again, he can usually drink a cuppa. He did and so did I.

“Look I appreciate how this must have shocked you, but try and ride it out, Cathy. We’ll do what we can to protect you.”

“I’ve got James Beck coming to act as bodyguard, he’s done some of those anti-car jack/abduction training.”

“Just make sure he stays within the law, Cathy, and we’ll do all we can to help.”

“I intend to stay alive, so if that requires doing something unconventional, I might well do it.”

“Be careful, once you step outside the law you become as bad as the perps.”

“Andy, have you ever been stuck in a car with a pile of your children while three thugs smash all the windows. They might even have got one of the kids if Danielle hadn’t managed to kick one in the face.”

“I can’t get over how that kid has changed—you’ve certainly been a good influence on her.”

“Stop changing the subject, Andy. Have you undergone an assault like we had this morning?”

“Not exactly the same, but yes, I’ve been frightened for my life.”

“It wasn’t so much my life, Andy, but those for whom I’m responsible. I failed them today. They think I’m Wonder Woman but I’m not, and I can’t always protect them.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Cathy, you did your best against overwhelming odds.”

“If ever I get a chance to kick arse, I am going to and hard.”

“Just stay within the law—oh, we’ll have a car waiting near the school to deter another attack.”

“If they do attack and James is there, they’ll have a surprise won’t they?” I knew they wouldn’t attack two days running because the police were likely to be about. They’ll wait until the police have gone and then strike—or I would in their position.

Andy went off and a short time later so did Stephanie plus baby Emily, who’s no longer a baby but a toddler with her own agenda—little monster. I took the girls up to bed and read them a story.

After that I spoke with Danni to say how much I appreciated her efforts to protect her younger sisters. “Nah, I was just making sure he didn’t take my new soccer boots.” I told her off for failing to accept a compliment—yeah, I know pot calling kettle, but I made sure she knew I was impressed by her courage—it was greater than mine, but I was determined not to let them down again. When Danni went up to bed, I went and changed and then did an hour kicking Stella’s punch bag, practicing moves I haven’t done for a long time.

Perhaps we should all ride those Lipizzaner horses, they do a trick which was developed during days of cavalry charges where the horse jumps in the air and delivers a kick with all four feet. That would have stopped those bastards this morning.

We had a few whimpers that night, not surprisingly but it all settled down and I got a few hours sleep. When we left for school the girls were all armed with baseball or cricket bats. I couldn’t say anything, I had a torque wrench in my bag.