The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2929 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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Life continued to remain hectic throughout the week with exams and marking causing most of us to work long hours. I even had to ask David to take and collect the girls to school because I was going in early and coming home late. Just when it seemed to be heading for a crescendo, it went quiet. Debbie arrived first thing on Friday—I’d already been in for an hour and was drinking strong coffee—never a good sign—when she strolled in.

“Cathy, sorry it’s short notice but I’ve been invited out, so could we postpone our sewing night?”

Despite the coffee I yawned, “That’s fine, I think I’ll have an early night. Going anywhere nice?” I asked not really caring where she was going as long as it wasn’t my house.

“John has asked me out.”

“He’s a nice chap, so don’t wear him out over the weekend, I’ll need him on Monday because I’m teaching.”

“Oh, if I’m not busy, mind if I come and watch? You never know, I might pick up some pointers watching the best perform.” I was so tired I didn’t care if she planned to take all her clothes off and stand on top of the table.

“If you have nothing on,” I blushed as I said it especially recalling what had just gone through my knackered little brain.

“Oh, I’ll be sure to wear something tidy, don’t worry—a bit cold for going sky clad, don’cha think?”

Sky clad? Isn’t that a wiccan term? Don’t tell me she’s a bloody witch or sorceress? Somehow it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t believe in most of that stuff anyway and I think I’ll keep it that way, I have enough trouble with Old Testament goddesses.

“Probably,” I said yawning, so the coffee wasn’t helping that much except to stimulate my bladder into extra evacuations.

“So you know the term, do you?”

“Which one?” I had already forgotten what we were talking about.

“Sky clad.”

“Wasn’t that the most recent Bond film?”

She roared, “Sky Fall was the Bond movie, sky clad means naked.”

“Yes, I read it somewhere.”

“Cathy, you look all in, why don’t you go and have a little snooze?”

I wasn’t sure I actually had the energy to close my eyes, let alone walk to my office and do it. Sensing this she led me back into office, sat me on the sofa and lifted my legs up, “There, have forty winks, I’ll tell Diane to keep everyone away.”

The last thing I remembered was hearing the door close then Diane was waking me with a cuppa. I’d zonked for two hours.

“Why don’t you go home, Prof? You’ve caught up with most of it and you still look all in. Anything else can wait until Monday.”

“I’m teaching on Monday.”

“So you are. I might come and watch if it’s quiet.”

“Not you too?” I groaned.

“What?” she had no idea what I was on about.

“Debbie is coming to watch the maestro.”

“Oh who’s that?” she teased. I yawned in response.

“Go home and get some rest or you’ll be ill.”

I took her advice and wandered out to my car and drove home while I was still awake catching David and Amanda up to something as they both came dashing from his caravan looking slightly bedraggled and extremely flustered. I left them to continue their chores and just lay on top of my bed, in ten minutes I was gone.

“You’re not a wiccan, are you Cathy?” asked Debbie who was wrapped in exotic looking robes and wearing a strange hat with a goat’s head embroidered on it.

“No,” I said feeling uneasy.

“Perhaps you should join, I could instruct you in the ways of the witch. The essence in you is very strong.”

“I don’t think so, Debbie, but thanks for the offer—it’s not my scene.”

“Think it’s all superstition, do you? Well it isn’t—I’m invading your dream and you can’t stop me.”

“Debbie, please just go away and let me rest.”

“Too frightening, is it—you’re not in control now are you Lady Catherine?” She laughed and it seemed to echo all around me.

“Please, I don’t wish to get angry,” I said trying to keep things calm.

“Ooh, she doesn’t want to get angry—why what you going to do? Oh shit...”

I felt myself being overshadowed by the energy and I felt myself growing slightly and the wings were attached to my back. I hadn’t asked this to happen, it did so spontaneously—well it’s a dream, so anything can happen.

“Does that answer your question?” I asked aware that she was now very scared.

“Ho—how d’ya do that?” she stammered at me.

“Do not mock the servants of the goddess,” said a powerful female voice which seemed to be in the very air.

“Uh, no your ladyship, we—um weren’t mocking her, we—um...”

“Silence. You are never to mock or threaten my servant again or you will live a very long time to regret it, do I make myself clear. My angels are not defenceless though we prefer to work with love—sometimes that entails what you humans call tough love. Do you understand? Or shall I call upon the essence of Gevurah to deal with you?”

“No your ladyship, we understand perfectly and apologise for any offence we might have caused.”

I woke up feeling less tired but confused. Was that just a bad dream or what? Gevurah or was it Geburah? Isn’t that something to do with the Tree of Life, in the Kabbalah? Judgement or something if I recall my days of playing with tarot cards.

The phone rang just after I got back from doing what we all do after waking up. “Cathy, I’ve just had the strangest conversation with Debbie,” said Diane.

“In what way?”

“She asked if you were into magic or occultism. I of course pooh-poohed it, saying as far as I knew you didn’t believe in anything like that, that science was your religion.”

“What made her ask in the first place?”

“She said she was sitting in her office—the one you used to have apparently—and you appeared before her like an angel, gleaming white with large feathered wings.”

“Was she doing marking?”

“I think she was.”

“I expect she fell asleep and dreamt it all. I was fast asleep in bed until about ten minutes ago, so I wasn’t there and I’m no angel, I can assure you of that.”

“Oh I don’t know, sometimes the things you do to help others—reminds me of...”

“I was running her down before I left if you recall, hardly the action of an angel.”

“No, but I happen to know you own the house she’s renting and I also know the rent is well below the average for Portsmouth.”

“She must never know that, Diane.”

“Relax, boss, go polish your halo or tighten your harp strings.”

“What’s the number of your agency...?”

“You going to type all these reports?”

“Have a nice weekend, Diane.”

“Which one are you, Gabrielle or Raphaela?”

“Very funny.”

“Bye boss, oh feel free to drop in if you’re flying past.” She laughed as she put the phone down.

I just sat there thinking what the hell had just happened?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gevurah