The Weekly Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 3310 by Angharad Copyright© 2021 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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From nowhere, the word suberin came into my mind - well, obviously it came from somewhere, but I was unable to identify it. I nearly succumbed to looking it up, then had a flash of memory. It was a waxy fatty acid found in the walls of the endodermis of the roots of plants along with the Casparin strips, helps to filter and control water and solute flows by waterproofing the cell walls so the flow of water and solutes has to go through the cells, or something like that. My botany wasn't that great seeing as I did do two years of it along with A-level zoology and geology plus chemistry. That was an extra subject and I was one of only half a dozen kids in the sixth form doing four subjects but they all dovetailed so well together. Most of the others doing four subjects were doing maths, yeah right.

So my mind had buzzed from bees to botany and I did succumb and look up suberin on the net and saw that I was pretty close in my recollection. I must admit my main preference for botany was when slicing up plants you knew they didn't feel pain like most bugs and higher animals did - okay, only until we killed them, but I had no qualms about microtoming large numbers of specimens, usually in wax, for microscope preparation. It was probably that which enabled me to get good at making slides and earning few pounds at university. A microtome is a device for slicing up very thin sections to put under a microscope, most of which work by shining light through the subject, so the slides are very thin. The more expensive ones have a cutter on them like a small guillotine cheaper ones require that you cut the specimen with a razor or scalpel. Having been scared to death by a slasher film when I was a teen, I had an abhorrence of cut throat razors, so always did mine with a scalpel. The microtome enables you to move the specimen up by about a thousandth of an inch and you just cut across the top, and drop the specimen in water, then you treat it to remove the wax, which is only there to hold everything together, with solvents and place the specimen on the slide and apply stains.

Sometimes it's a bit more complicated than that but this isn't a first year biology class so that's all you're going to get and I don't want the responsibility of you sniffing some of the solvents.

I was musing on botanical biochemistry when Diana dumped a cup of tea on my desk, "Your visitor is here, good looking too."

"In which case I may see him then," I poked out my tongue at her. Well, I am a real sophisticate, albeit a screwed up one. "Better ask which he'd prefer to drink and make him one, any idea what he's here for?" She smirked and shook her head, she was really enjoying my confusion, but it looked a bit like my scrawl, the sort I do when very hurried and usually only have one hand free so can't stop the diary sliding around the desk and moving under the writing hand.

She showed him in, and I still hadn't put on any makeup, too bad. In came this man probably about my age, he was about six feet tall and quite broad, dark haired and brown eyed. He was wearing a pin stripe suit in navy and a bright blue tie.

"Professor," he said and offered his hand which I did remember not to shake and he understood the reason. The chair in front of my desk was also about a metre from the front of my desk.

"Mr Dominic, I presume," my opening lines are so original.

"Uh yes, thanks for seeing me."

"Would you care to remind me why I'm seeing you? I've had so many meetings this last couple of weeks I can't remember who was who." It was true but also a bit of subterfuge to avoid looking more stupid than I usually do.

"Of course. I'm here from Hampshire LabKit, we supply lab equipment to universities, hospitals, industry and so on, everything from coverslips to cyclotrons."

"Can't see you selling too many of the latter." I said smiling at him, he was good looking and he also looked a bit familiar.

"Actually, that last bit was bit of a fib, but it sounds good, you have to admit."

"So what's your background, " I asked, "I like to think anyone selling me anything has some idea of their products."

"That would depend upon the product, surely; not sure I'd expect too much from someone selling cruise missiles."

"We don't actually buy those, Mr Dominic, universities are peace loving places, we only invent the technology for psychopaths to turn into weapons of mass murder."

He smiled and blushed, he had very white teeth, obviously a very good dentist. "Touché," he said blushing. "My background is simple, I left Bristol Grammar School, which is where we met before, did a degree at Bristol University in biology, went on to become a lab technician at UWE, we met there too, and I was bored and found this job which is a bit more challenging than setting up experiments for rich kid students, who tend to treat you like dirt, and staff who can also be patronising. It also pays better."

"We met before? I'm sorry I don't remember."

"The first time, you were in the upper sixth and producing the most amazing microscope slides. They all thought you were an effeminate boy but it was quite obvious you were a girl, your part as Lady Macbeth should have told them that much."

I blushed but said nothing, I wasn't sure how comfortable I felt about all this.

"As a lab technician at UWE I set up some projectors for you to do talks for your mammal survey thing and before that you did some summer school thing with a group of old biddies. They loved you."

I blushed even redder, or it felt like most of the blood in my body was rushing round the skin in my face and neck. "I hope I wasn't one of those patronising lecturers?"

"Actually, you were always very polite and courteous, but then you were as a kid in school. Murray made your life hell, didn't he?"

"Um, I think stuff from that period of my life is irrelevant now, if you don't mind."

He blushed, but not as much as I was, "Of course, sorry but I wanted to say that I had some respect for you, even back then. Seeing you as Lady M and then when you arrived at UWE in GB racing skins, no one could doubt your femaleness."

"Thank you for the endorsement, but can we get back to laboratory equipment?" He produced a catalogue and it seemed both comprehensive and competitive and after another ten minutes or so, I asked Diane to send for James, our senior lab tech.

"I've sent for James, our senior technician, he probably has a shopping list, though we can't buy without getting at least two or three quotes."

"I understand, that's fairly normal practice and I'm confident we can match if not beat any quote you get, especially for glassware and electronics, we do spectrometers, autoclaves, centrifuges and balances."

"Yes, I can see that." I was saved from further sales pressure by James arriving. "Ah, James, this is Mr Dominic from Labkit, could you have a look and see what equipment we need and we'll give Mr Dominic a chance to tender for it."

They went off together and Diane came in, "You look a bit flushed, boss."

"It turned out he was only at school with me."

"Oh, didn't you recognise him?"

"No, he was also at UWE for a while as a lab tech."

"Yes, I know."

"You knew? You could have warned me."

"I uh only recognised him when he came in, he didn't remember me but then no one does with the secretaries do they?"

"I try to, if you want something done keep in with the ones who control diaries and access to their bosses."

"Hypocrite," she muttered.

"Of course it only applies to other people's secretaries." I said it to wind her up and the look she gave me had me nearly wetting myself. As she went to bustle out of the door, "What are you doing on Saturday evening?"

"Why?"

"Could you get a sitter, or would it be easier to come to lunch, you could bring your daughter then?"

"I er don't know, can I get back to you?"

"Of course, but I'll get David to do one of his specials."

"This Saturday?"

"Yes."

"Well, I suppose if I move our invitation to Windsor Castle, and the evening at Number Ten, I might just be able to fit something in."

"I can't believe how honoured we'll be then."

"Unless I stay 'ome and wash me 'air."

"Suit yersel', hen," I said in my best Lallans, "jest dinna tak tae lang."

"I din't know you were Chinese," she said just before my shoe hit the closing door. It would have hit her too, except the door was in the way. You know what I mean.

At twelve noon, Daddy arrived and escorted me to lunch at his usual venue. He had his chicken curry and I had a tuna salad with jacket potato.

"Ye culd always try a Scottish salad fa a change," he said as we ate.

"What you mean with chips?"

"Ach ye ken fine well whit I meant."

"Aye, I did. Don't they also call them Glasgow salads?"

"Aye, but only if the lettuce is deep fried tae."

The thought of that was almost enough to put me off my meal. He asked me how my morning had gone and I mentioned my visitor. He looked concerned for a moment. "Wull they nivver let ye forget yer past?"

"Doesn't look like it, I'm not quite sure why he raised it. Was he showing his support for me, was he hoping for business if he did or blackmail if he didn't? I just don't know."

"Weel, if he tries anythin' at a' let me know immediately an' I'll stamp a' o'er him."

"It's all right, Daddy, but if any stamping needs to be done, leave it to Simon, he has bigger feet than you."

His eyes sparkled at that and we both chuckled. Instead of staying at the restaurant for a cuppa we went back to my office where I have facilities to make teas and coffees. That I also have a coffee maker that Simon gave me when he bought a new one for his flat, was the main attraction.

On entering my office I was astonished to see a large bouquet of flowers on my desk. "Where did those come from?" I asked Diane.

"Oh, Peter brought them for you after he finished with James."

"Well it won't help him get an order, only his prices and supply times will do that," Tom nodded.

"Coffee, Professor?" Diane asked Tom and he smiled and nodded. "Tea for you, boss?"

"Please," I replied, "now do I accept them or is it bribery of a public servant."

"Ha," came the reply from the kitchen at the word servant and Tom snorted. He walked over to the flowers and after looking at them handed me a note tucked into them. I opened it.

'Professor Watts, please accept these as a token of my respect for what you've achieved in your life despite the difficult start. You always were polite and courteous to everyone and I really admire you. Best wishes, Peter Dominic.
PS. This isn't a bribe just a personal statement.

I showed it to Tom, "He may be sincere, better no let Simon see it."

"No, I'll leave them here, brightens the place up a bit if nothing else."

"Aye, jest tak them oot o' thon bucket."