“And remember your Braun essays are due on Thursday,” Lisbet mentioned over the scraping of chairs and murmured conversation.

Just what I need – not. I let out a sigh, i'd been putting off doing the essay for nearly a week, well I've been busy, but I guess it's got to crunch time.

“How's it going Gaby?”
“Eh?” I hadn't noticed Frau Olafsdottir coming over, “Oh sorry, yeah okay I think.”
“How are you finding the course? I know some of this stuff can be a bit dry.”
I shrugged, “It's what it is I guess, I never expected it to be exciting.”
“That's very pragmatic.”
“To be truthful there's more than enough excitement in my life at the moment, its sort of nice to do something a bit more mundane.”
“Yes, I saw you with Gertie last night.”
“That was so, so, embarrasing,” I allowed.
“Embarrasing? I thought you looked very professional.”
“Ha!”
“You in a hurry, coffee?”
“Not really, Max doesn't finish until five today, coffee would be good.”
“Come on then.”
 
Lisbet led the way to her office, I used to dread getting called to Frau Boxberg's office but it feels almost 'normal' to have coffee with my course tutor. Coffee was organised and we settled into the semi formal seating more usually used for the 'seminars' we have every couple of weeks. I took the opportunity to slip my shoes off and rub my poor tootsies.

“You know you don't have to dress all office,” Lisbet mentioned spotting what I was doing.
“Doesn't feel right wearing ordinary stuff,” I opined, “Gets me in a sort of work mood.”
“Well if it works for you, here, one sugar right?” she handed me a beaker of dark liquid.
I sniffed at the vapors, “Different beans?”
“No flies on you Bond, thought i'd try that blend you suggested last week.”
“Thought so,” I took a sip of my beverage, “Much smoother than the other.”
“Have to say I agree, how did you get to be so knowledgable?”
“Time served Barista at the bakery, oh and I drink a lot of coffee!”
“I think i've been using the other since I was at university, bit boring I'm afraid.”
“If its not broke,” I suggested.
“Doesn't mean it can't be improved, I'm a bit set in my ways with some stuff,” she admitted.
“I suppose we all are to some extent, I always use the same shampoo.”
“Guilty also. So what's it feel like to be a media star?”
“I'm hardly that Lisbet,” I scoffed.
“Oh I don't know, Gertie this week, that sports quiz thing before that.”
“You saw that? Now I really am embarrassed, I didn't think anyone watched that.”
“Proscribed viewing in my house I'm afraid.”
“I was awful, I didn't even get the cycling questions right.”
“Oh it wasn't so bad, you got the football question.”
“Well you'd have to be on planet Zog to not know Bayern won the title.”
“Maybe, you certainly looked in control with our Gertie though.”
“We sort of have some history,” I told her.
“Oh?”
“It wasn't exactly the first interview i've done with her.”
“Do tell,” she prompted.
“Its nothing really.”
“Well I don't know anyone else who's even been on TV.”
“Really, it wasn't anything much.”
“So you can tell me about it then,” she pushed.

Whatever.

“Well, there was the opening of the fitness track,” I started counting off on my fingers, “When I got the medal last year, then there was the Weihnachtsmarkt and when we opened the Kiosk.”
“Weihnachtsmarkt?”
“Up in Ahrweiler, we do a charity stall for the Kinderhaus, you know, take donations, sell coffee and cake, that sort of thing.”
“So how come Gertie interviewed you and not someone else?”
“Well I was up for this award on English TV, they had Gertie as sort of local liason.”
“Ah, I see, did you win?”
“Uh huh,” I agreed around my coffee mug, “Talk about mortifying.”
“Why so?”
“How would you feel about being on national television wearing Mittelalter costume?”
“Go on, why were you in fancy dress?”
“It wasn't just me, all the Angels were dressed, for the stall.”
Lisbet shook her head, “You continue to surprise me Gaby Bond, you have fingers in so many pies, so you will be doing this stall again this year?”
“I think so, well if I can fit it in with college of course.”
“Its no wonder your old headmistress spoke so well of you, I just wonder what else there is I don't know about you?”
I turned what felt like fire engine red, “Not much?”
“That I severely doubt, so you are finished racing for the year?”
“Well I might do some 'cross but yeah, the road's finished.” well unless we get invited to Japan again.
“Cross?”
“Er yeah, cyclocross, off tarmac racing.”
“The mountain bikes?”
“No, none of those fat tyres and stuff, we use drop bar bikes, skinny tyres and all that, much faster and more skilful.”
“And are you a champion at this also?”
“Nah, well not now, when I was younger, now its just a bit of fun in the off season.”
“Somehow I get the feeling that your bit of fun would be most peoples very serious.”
“Possibly.”
 
“Hey Gab.”
“Don't tell me, you're gonna be late.”
“How'd you know that?” my boyfriend asked.
“Well why else would you be ringing me at this time?”
“Look sorry but stuff is running over, I'll make it up to you.”

No kidding von Strechau.

“How long?”
“About an hour? I'll spring for food before we go back.”

Hmm, free food for hanging about. On the other hand i've already been killing time since Lisbet's lecture ended at two plus i've got stuff to do at home like that flippin' Braun essay.

“Have to take a raincheck, I need to get home.”
“Okay, see you in the morning?”
“Yeah, okay, laters.”
“Tschuss.”

I closed my Handy and stowed it in my bag, cheeky sod could have sounded like he meant it. A quick check of the time revealled I had five minutes to get to the platform, not usually an issue but these shoes are killing. In the end I got there just as the Zug arrived and I even managed to grab a seat, albeit halfway up the stairs but a seat's a seat.
 
“That you Gab?”
“No its Steffi Graf,” I shot back toward the lounge.
“Well if you see her, tell her that dinner's in the oven,” Mum called back.

Great, more done in pasta or dried up chicken. One advantage to going to college in Koblenz is that I get out of cooking dinner, on the other hand one disadvantage is that I get to reheat my portion some time after everyone else has eaten. Maybe I should've waited for Max and have him buy me dinner.

“Thanks Mum.”
 
My first guess was right, well the second too, I retrieved the oven dish to find a rather unappealling Macoroni Carbonnara a Pollo gently congealling. Mum can cook but she's got out of the habit so I was looking at the result, pasta with a shop bought sauce and frozen chicken. Okay its better than beans on toast but honestly, it sucks big time – and to make things worse I'll have to nuke it too.

“Everything okay?” said parent enquired joining me in the kitchen, “You want a cuppa?”
“Please. How long to put this out of its misery?”
“Aren't you putting it on a plate?”
“What for, extra washing up? Its not like there's company.”
“Its not very ladylike,” she pointed out, “Give it a minute, put something over it so it doesn't dry out.”

Any more than it already is. Hmm, might have a sort of remedy for that. I grabbed the kettle and splashed a bit of the contents into the dish.

“What're you doing?”
“Rescuing my dinner I hope,” i informed Mater as I shut the microwave's door.
Mum shrugged, “Good day at college?”
“Alright I guess.”
“Don't sound too enthusiastic,” she chided.
“Well its not like we're doing much more than listening to Lisbet or whoever, making notes and writing essays.”
“Welcome to further education, its the same for everyone.”
“Maybe I should've done child care with Con, they're already doing placements and stuff,” I sighed.

Ding!

“Well I'm sure she has plenty of classroom stuff too.”
I pulled my dinner out of the micro and removed the cover, “Yes!”
“Of course yes,” Mum continued.
“Not that, this,” I advised transferring the tray to the table. I think it was Gran showed me the rehydration trick, doesn't always work but its worth a go if the pasta isn't too dead.
“Looks a bit dry, you want the Parmesan?”

I surveyed the food, I don't know about cheese, maybe some Paprika, a few Chillies, maybe some peppers and stuff or even a good splash of Hendo's, not that we've got any left worst luck.

“Er please,” I replied poking the food with a fork.
 
“So where is everyone?” I enquired between mouthfuls of pasta.
“Your Dad's taking Manda to the track league remember?”
“Oh right,” I vaguely remember him saying something before I left this morning.
“You could've gone,” Mum mentioned.
I shrugged, “Not really my thing.”
“Thought you enjoyed it when you were at Manchester?”
“It was alright I suppose.”
“So what is Gaby Bond doing this evening, no Max?”
“Mu-um!” I groaned, “I've got an essay to write.”
“Anything exciting?”
“Two thousand words on Braun's management theory.”
“Bit outside of my remit,” she admitted.
“Its hardly rivetting stuff, there any of that cheesecake left?”
“You should be the size of a horse, should be enough for two slices,” she hinted.

And so another exciting evening of the not rich or famous kicked into second gear.

 
Maddy Bell © 27.11.2018