Gaby Book 17 - Seasons

 
 
Of course today, that’s Tuesday if you haven’t been keeping up, is when everyone comes to Schloss Bond for the meeting about the Weihnachtsmarkt in like nine months time. But that’s after a geography paper and bike training, such an exciting life I lead.

“Urgh, that was horrible,” Bridg exclaimed as we gathered outside of the sports hall.
“You sure it’s not Teutonic plates?” Nena proposed.
“I told you before, it’s tectonic,” I managed not to sigh.
“It’s only one letter,” she mentioned.
“And with your writing,” Con snuck in, that got a pout in reply.
“We set for later?” Steff asked.
“All interested parties informed,” I declared.
“She meant the catering,” Con suggested.
“Might find some paprika chips.”
“Not Paprika!” Nena declared.

To be honest it was Mand last night that reminded me that catering would be required for this evening. Drinks are no problem – Dad went to the Trinkt Markt last week but food, that’s another matter. It’ll have to be a trip to the Edeka this afternoon.

“Er don’t have dinner, I’ll do something hot.”
That’ll kill two birds, Dad and Jules can have the same.

“The girls will be here about six,” I told Dad as I delivered his tea.
“Girls?”
“Con, Steff and that oh and Max and his mates too.”
“Should I ask?”
“She’s being perverse again,” my sister put in.
“Am not, I’m sure I said last week.”
“Remind me,” Dad suggested.
“The Weihnachtsmarkt?”
“Ah, right.”
Clearly he’s forgotten – or maybe I didn’t tell him?
“So this, er gathering, how long and where?”
“I’m doing food so I thought we’d use the dining room?”
“Hmm, I’ll pull the shutters out.”

Oh right, he’ll be wanting to watch his cop show; I forgot that’s on tonight.

“I’ll give you a hand,” Mand offered back in the kitchen.
“It’s nearly all done, you could dig out plates and cutlery,” I suggested.
“Good job there’s no veggies.”
“Hmm?” I allowed as I strained the peas, I know they’re not mushy but this is Dernau not Barnsley.
“Veggies, you know, don’t eat meat.”
“There’s peas and gravy.”
“Yeah, nice thick beefy Bisto!”
“So who’s a veggie?” I queried tipping the drained peas into a serving bowl, “There a big spoon in there?”
Mand rummaged in the drawer a moment before passing me a serving spoon, “No one’s a veggie, I was just saying, you know, with the meat pie.”
“Meat and potato,” I corrected.
Mand sighed, “You want that taking through?”
“I’ll keep them in the oven until everyone’s here.”

My statement was prophetic as the doorbell announced the first arrivals.

“You eat that all the time in England?” Mart queried as the post food clean up began.
“It’s a bit of a regional delicacy.”
“Yeah, I’d never had it until Gab dished it up once,” Mand put in.
“Not sure about the Munz on the Erbsen,” Nena offered.
“Dad had it on his English menu,” Max mentioned, “not as good as Gab’s of course,” he added.
“Good job Jules can’t hear you,” I suggested.
“Yes she can,” a voice from the ether stated, “but Gabs is the pie queen.”

I turned crimson, everyone else burst into laughter.

“Can we get on?” I humphed.

“So,” Steff started once everyone had settled down with drinks, “why are we here?”
“To check out Gab’s trophy collection?” Ralf suggested.
“Ralf!” Bridg censured.
“Just saying.”
“As I was saying,” Steff pressed on, “Frau Boxberg made a proposal to us about the Weihnachtsmarkt stall.”
“That’s months away,” Freddy opined.
“We do know,” Con told him.
“So anyway, she’d like the school to be more involved, sort of sponsor the stall,” Steff stated for the benefits of those not fully in the loop.
“But we won’t even be at Silverberg by then,” Marty noted.
“That’s where the catch is,” Pia stated.
Steff took over again, “The catch as P calls it is that in return for support from the school we mentor a couple of kids who’ll help on the stall.”
“Doesn’t sound too bad,” Anna allowed, “how will these apprentices be picked?”
“Not sure,” I put in, “Boxxie was a bit vague about that.”
“So what do you all think?” Steff asked.

“Still not sure about these ‘apprentices’,” Bridg mentioned, “there’s enough of us here to do it.”
“At the moment,” Anna noted, “what happens if say Manda isn’t here, or Max or even you? We might need some extra hands, especially if things are as busy as last time.”

Valid points indeed, it’s amazing where maturity will get you.

“Vote then,” Steff proposed, “for.”

In the final count it was ten to one, Anna abstained and Bridg, well anything to be different.

Decision made, meeting ended it was time to break things up. Phone calls were made; mofa’s kicked into life, fahrrad creaking away. Soon it was just Anna left waiting for Gloria to pick her up.

“So how’s it going?”
“Exams,” I stated.
“They’re not so bad.”
“Easy for you to say, you’re not sitting them.”
“I did them last year remember,” she pointed out.
“Oh yeah, I forgot.”
“What’s happening with you and Max?”
“Happening?”
“Oh come on, Gab, you’d have to be blind to miss you two making eyes.”
“We weren’t, were we?”
“Uh huh. So?”
“We’re just friends,” I promoted.
“With benefits?”
“Eh?”
“More than just hanging out?” she suggested.
“He is a good kisser.”
“Ha, you hussy, Gaby Bond!”
“That’s all it is, just the occasional snog.”
“So he’s not taking you to Köln next week?”
“Er, it’s a birthday present.” I defended.

Beep beep!

“That’ll be Mum, look thanks for the food, it was er, interesting, see you soon.”
“Er yeah, er bye.”
“Tschuss!”

Sleep was a long time coming, tired I might be but could I descend into the land of nod? I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts drifting repeatedly to my conversation with Anna, friends with benefits, what does that really mean?

Brrrrrrrrnnnnnnggggggg! Brrrrrrrrnnnnnnggggggg!
My eyes snapped open, alarm clock, I never sleep to the alarm. My arm slapped out and caught the button just as it started to repeat. I sagged back into my pillows – hang on, alarm clock? Shitza! I nearly took a prat fall as my feet tangled in the duvet in my rush to get up and to it – less haste, more speed, girl.

“Late this morning,” Dad suggested when I reached the kitchen.
“Couldn’t sleep.” I allowed pouring myself a cup of lukewarm tea.
He cocked an eyebrow, “Any symptoms?”
“Neh, it was probably something I ate.”
“You cooked it.”
“Er yeah,” I agreed.
“Hmm,” Dave decided not to pursue it, if it was anything more serious than insomnia she’d say soon enough.
“Oh bum!”
“What now?”
“English Oral, I’m supposed to be at school early!”
‘Kids!’ Dave mused, “Get your stuff, I’ll take you, I’m in the office today anyway.”
“Thank you, Daddy!” the little blonde gave him a quick hug before going on the treasure hunt that always signifies imminent departure for school.

“Where were you?” Con enquired as they waited outside the language lab.
“Overslept, couldn’t sleep last night, bum, did anyone get my lunch?”
“Tomato, mozzarella on brown – in my bag.”
“Cheers, Con,” I gave her a hug.
“Fraulein Bond, put Fraulein Thesing down,” Herr Viessner instructed, “You’re next up.”

Of course I am, it’s strictly alphabetical.

“Glück,” Con offered.
“And you,” I told her as I collected my stuff.

“Urgh, that was terrible,” Pia announced joining the rest of us in our form room – well nearly all of us.
“Con?” I enquired.
“Just gone in.”
“You’re good at English,” Nena told Miss Sebenschuh.
“I was so nervous.”

Hmm, maybe that’s why I couldn’t sleep?

“What about, you Gab, you shoulda walked it,” Nena suggested.

In theory.

Maddy Bell 18.08.16