Gaby Book 18 - Summery

 
“But I've not changed,” I stated.
“Of course you have,” Con replied, “we’ve all changed.”

Logically of course she’s right but I don’t feel any different. I'm still me, I look the same, well if you discount the hair, I do the same stuff, race, cheer, shop, the only different thing has been finishing school.

“I still look the same though,” I pressed.
“Maybe a bit curvier.”
“What are you two so serious about?” Therese asked as she cleared the next table.
“Mum says I've changed.”
“She hasn’t has she,” Con posed.
“I'd say so, oh not in looks particularly but you were like a mouse when you first came, you’re much more confident now.”
“Really?”
“The other girls used to lead, you followed.”
“You did fall for some dodgy outfits,” Con agreed.
“Now,” her mum went on, “you’re the leader.”
“I'd hardly say that.”
“You might not but it’s pretty clear whenever you girls are together, oh you aren’t a dictator or anything like that but it’s your opinion that holds sway, your ideas that get followed, where you lead, others follow.”
“Get on!”
“Mum’s right, Gabs.”
“But I don’t want to be the leader,” I complained.
“Don’t think you’ve got much choice in the matter,” Frau T opined, “people just feel compelled to defer to you, you even convinced Tomas with those pies.”
“It was only a suggestion, I didn’t do anything.”
“You didn’t have to, you just have to be you. So what are you up to today?”
“Going to Nena’s for coffee,” Con told her mum.
“Well enjoy yourselves, what time are you going?”
I looked over to the clock, twenty five to eleven, “Sugar, we’ll miss the Express! Come on, Con.”

It was close but we caught the train thanks to it being a couple of minutes late. It’ll be good seeing the others, it’s been a bit weird since school finished, we’ve hardly seen each other. Well okay I've been with Con most days and P a few times for stuff but the others, well we just don’t seem to cross, so when Nen rang suggesting coffee this morning I was right on it.

“Seems weird.”
“Hmm?”
“Meeting up with the others,” Con mentioned.
“We used to do it every day,” I pointed out.
“Yeah but we’ve only met up once since, when we went to the pool.”
“We’ve been busy,” I pointed out, “when the kiosks open we can hang there.”
“I guess, oh I forgot to say, Dad was on about staff last night, we need to get recruiting otherwise it’ll just be us.”
“Bum, I forgot about that.”
“Me too.”

The journey up to Mayschoß is timetabled at five minutes so we were on the platform at quarter to eleven even with the express running late. It’s been a while since I've been to the Fischer’s, our social life has always tended to be centred around the homes with better catering facilities – the bakery and Stube. We crossed the river and headed up into Mayschoß, the ‘new’ housing area where our destination lies.

“What you thinking, Gabs?”
“Last time I came to Nen’s, it was after Claudia died.”
“We’ve been since.”
“I haven’t.”
Con thought a moment, “I think you’re right, you’ve either been away or in hospital.”
“Don’t remind me,” flippin’ plumbing.

It’s not a long way, maybe half a kilometre so we arrived barely ten minutes after getting off the Express.

“Moritz!”

The hairy bundle happily bounded up to us, in recognition of us, his name or purely curiosity I'm not sure but he was happy enough to receive a fuss, once he was shooed from investigating our bags.

“Hey guys, Mor, leave Gabs alone.”
“It’s alright, Nen, we’re friends aren’t we, boy?”
“Ruff!”
“He can get a bit over enthusiastic,” Nena advised, “come through, the others are on the back.”

Looks like we’re last to arrive. With the mutt in close attendance we closed the distance to Nen and exchanged greetings before moving around the back of the house.

“Told you,” Steff offered.
“What?” I asked as we started a round of hugs and air kisses.
“Steff said Con would bring cake,” Brid advised.
“Was a bit of a no brainer, Brid,” Pia suggested.
“The coffee should be ready,” Nena noted.
“I'll give you a hand,” Con volunteered, waving her bag meaningfully.

“So when do you open?” Nen asked.

There was a surprising amount of catching up to do and somehow it was already heading towards one.

“Two weeks?” Con suggested looking to me for confirmation.
“Yep, two weeks today,” I agreed.
“There’s still loads to do, painting and putting all the new gear in,” Con told our friends.
“And it’s just you two running it?” Brid asked.
“Yup.”
“So you’ll be there all the time?” Steff suggested.
“Well hopefully we’ll have some staff,” I told them.
“Hopefully?” Nen queried.
“Well we haven’t actually got anyone yet,” Con allowed.
“We haven’t exactly been looking,” I admitted.
“You girls want a sandwich?” Rosina, Nen’s mum offered from the kitchen door.

Well it’s not like I've got lunch organised is it?

“If it’s no trouble Mrs F,” Steff replied for us.

It’s strange isn’t it, different peoples’ interpretation of a sandwich. Of course back in Blighty, home of the sandwich you’d expect a couple of slices of bread typically with one or two fillings. Here in Germany, a few people might make that at home but go to Thesing’s or a cafe and a sandwich will be quite different.

Think a crusty baton filled with green salad before the actual filling is added – the usual options will be mozzarella, tomato, frikadel, sliced ham and maybe a gherkin. So that's what most Germans expect however when supplied as lunch the gloves come off. Rosi emerged from the kitchen a few minutes later bearing a tray of stuff, the least of which was a basket of fresh batons, looks like it’s DIY time!

“Gab,” Steff complained.
“What?” I poked a slice of frikadel back into my sandwich.
“Couldn’t you get any more in that?”

I examined my construction, nothing too exciting, the aforesaid German burger, tomato, a bit of green salad and some Gorgonzola.

“What would you suggest?”

Pia nearly sprayed her own creation across the table.

“I wasn’t thinking more,” Steff noted.
“German sandwiches are so boring,” I stated, “now a decent chip butty or bacon and tomato or cheese and Marmite®, hmm.” My mouth started to water at the mere thought of stopping at the trailer near the A1 for a proper, hot, bacon and tomato sarnie and a mug of tea.
“Gab?”
“Eh?”
“You spaced out, girlfriend,” Con mentioned.
“Just thinking about a proper, English hot sandwich.”
“What’s a ‘chip butty’?” Bridg asked.

Now there’s an idea for the kiosk.

“I'll make you one next time you guys come to Schloss Bond,” I suggested.

“Thanks for lunch Frau Fischer,” I offered as we prepared to go our separate ways
“You’re welcome, girls.”
“We’ll have to sort out going to the pool later in the week,” Brid suggested.
“Yeah,” I agreed, not sure when though.

We started to make our farewells which attracted Moritz who of course demanded a fuss from each of us. If I could have a dog I'd want one like Moritz, just enough bounce, not too barky and always ready for a fuss. However the nearest the Bond household has come was when Jools had a hamster when I was about six, pets have never really been an option with our ‘lifestyle’.

With Brid living up the valley and Pia meeting the other cheerleaders up in Altenahr it was just me, Con and Steff waiting for the down Express.

“So what are you up to now?” Steff asked, “You never seem to be at home.”
“Training when Mand gets home,”
“She’s still at school?”
“Yeah, the English school doesn’t finish till after their exams next month.”
“Bummer,” Steff allowed.
“You got any work lined up for the summer,” Con asked, “Mum’s looking for someone at the bakery.”

We did a lot of catching up but not everything got covered.

“Mum’s got me some hours at the market, you know shelf filling and stuff.”
“Sooner you than me,” I offered.
“It’s only a couple of hours in the evenings so I've got the days free.”
“Not so bad I guess,” Con opined.

The Express whooshed into the platform and we climbed aboard to return to Dernau.

“Good time?” Mum enquired as I made a pot of tea for us.
“Yeah, it’s not like before though,” I lamented.
“Part of growing up I'm afraid,” Mum advised.
“I guess.”
“You eaten?”
“We had a sandwich earlier.”
Mum raised a brow, “You want a baked tater before we go, I'm sure Amanda will be hungry.”
“Well if everyone else is eating,” I stated with a shrug, “so where’s this ride going?”
“George was on about some restaurant in Daun.”
“Daun? That's miles away!”
“You don’t have to come.”
“I was just saying,” I backtracked.”
“Well find some spuds then, if we get them in now they should be ready when Amanda gets home.”

Geez, Daun that’s like half way to Trier!

Maddy Bell © 27.01.17