Drew Goes South Chapter 5 by Angharad Copyright© 2022 Angharad

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(title picture Andrea Piacquadio)

The door bell rang and Gaby's tummy convulsed. “I really don't want to be here, doing this,” she thought to herself.

“Promise me you won't deck anybody this time,” said Maddy as she heard Carol going to answer the door.

“If he tries to kiss me or anything else, I will probably hit him. Remember, despite all this,” and he gestured to the clothing and the false breasts,” I'm still a boy, and a straight one.”

“Tell him we don't allow kissing on the lips on first dates,” said Maddy trying to head off a potential problem.

“Is this a date? Jeez, I hadn't thought of it like that. My first date with a boy, what a mess.”

“What about James?” asked Maddy, now doing a wind up job.

“Carry on, and I shan't come.”

“Okay, Gabs, keep your tits on.”

“Very funny, not.”

“Come on, girls, your escorts await,” called Carol.

“Wow!” exclaimed both boys as the terrible twins made their entrance. The boys were suitably impressed, it seemed.

“What time is this thing supposed to end?” asked Carol of the boys.

“About 11.00pm, Mrs Peters.”

“I want them safe home here by 11.30 at the latest. No excuses accepted. 11.30 here, got it?”

“Yes, Mrs Peters.”

“Have a good time,” she said to each of the girls, and gave each a little kiss as they left.

William's father was waiting in the car, “Hello ladies,” he said, “If I was twenty years younger, I'd be asking you out myself. You both look stunning.”

Gaby just blushed and tried to make herself small, but Maddy smiled, and acknowledged the compliment. “Thank you, Mr Bugler,” she said quietly back.

“Was that you in the paper?” Harry asked Gaby. Then before any answer was possible, “Is your mum, really Jenny Bond the world champion, and ….”

“Fraid so,” sighed Gaby.

“Wicked!” said Harry, calculating how many points this would score over the local opposition. He had probably the prettiest girl he'd ever seen sitting next to him, and she was daughter of a world champion. How much better could it get?

“No wonder you left us for dead the other day. You race as well don't you? And I bet you're a champion too.”

“She's been asked to race down here on Sunday.” Interrupted Maddy trying to change the subject with subtlety.

“Where, who's asked you? Can we come and watch. I've never seen a bike race. You coming Wills?”

“You bet, you racing too, Maddy?”

“No, too long for me.”

“Dad can we go see Gaby race on Sunday?” asked William of his dad.

“If it means I don't have to take your mother shopping, of course. But don't tell her.” He laughed back to his son.

“This may be a bit early, I haven't agreed to race yet,” said Gaby, blushing furiously. If it was Drew, there'd be little question about it at all; but Drew would have to stay in the background for this one. “I have to speak to my parents first, and then see what the bike is like.”

“Who's asked you?” asked William.

“Weymouth Bikes, I think it was.”

“I think I know which shop you mean,” said Geoff Bugler, “I bought William his first bike there. But that was years ago, I think it's changed hands since then. I believe the chap who has it now used to race himself, pretty good by all accounts.”

“What sort of bikes does he do?” asked Maddy.

“I couldn't tell you,” replied Bugler senior. “I'm not into them at all, as long as they've got two wheels and handlebars, I can't tell one from another.”

“What sort of bike have you got at home?” Harry asked Gaby.

Maddy interrupted again, “Which one, she's got about five.”

“Oh,” said Harry suddenly feeling inadequate. He was counting on just one and he could then ask sensible questions, without showing his ignorance.

“What sort are they?”

“A Klein, an Orange, a Trek frame, and my usual race bike is a Tifosi frame but we changed the wheel set, my mum sent me over a set of Campags with 24 speed. They are brill.”

Geoff Bugler looked back in his mirror, the girl who'd hardly said anything since getting in the car, was now vibrant and her whole person lit up as she talked about bikes. A girl who was into bikes. Her mum is a world champion but even so it was unusual. He then recalled Rose, what was her surname? That's it Rosie Thorner, she was into motorbikes in a big way. But Rosie was built like the back of a bus, plain as a mirror tile. This one was a cracker, an absolute cracker. Then he thought, ”I hope William isn't going to ask me for a new bike that costs an arm and a leg, ‘cos of his infatuation with these two beauties. ‘Cos he can think again if he does.”

“I can't believe this is happening to me,” thought Harry, “I shall wake up in a moment, and find it's all been a dream. She's a cracker and her mum's a world champion. It does not get any better. Eat your heart out Ronnie Cheeseman.”

Whilst Drew under Gaby's exterior, was thinking some not dissimilar thoughts, at least for the first bit. 'This isn't happening. I'm stuck here with these two clowns, neither of whom know a front wheel from a seat post, with them thinking I am a neat bit of stuff. Now they want to come and watch me race. What has my mother got to do with anything? If they want to date her they need to speak to my dad. This is like a bad dream.'

The car pulled up a few minutes later outside the village hall. The place was lit up like a Christmas tree and the noise associated with a disco dance was emanating from within.

“I shall be back at quarter past eleven. Be ready.”

“Yes, dad.”

“Have a good time,” with that he drove off, leaving Maddy, Gaby and the two boys outside the hall.

“Gabs, can I ask you a big favour?” asked Harry.

“What?” came out of Drew's mouth while he readied himself to knock the boy senseless, if that was possible, if he misbehaved himself.

“There's a boy inside who is always putting me down. It would mean a great deal to me, if he was to think you were my girlfriend.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well if you could just pretend for this evening, that you were my girlfriend. You know, pretend we were an item.”

“But I hardly know you.”

“I know that, Gabs, but he doesn't. So, if you were to walk in with me holding my arm around you, like this.” Drew felt himself stiffen, he wanted to know more before he committed himself to any more hare-brained schemes.

“Why does he put you down?”

“He's a bully, and he throws his weight around. He's bigger than me, he's stronger than me and he does what he likes regardless of other people's feelings. He's made Will's and my lives miserable for as long as I can remember.”

“You see, Maddy and you coming here with us is just ace. Two real hot chicks, with a couple of losers like us. That'll piss him off to start with.”

Drew hated bullies, having been bullied himself on occasion. He was almost ready to help, but the price felt too high.

“If I do help, then one thing. I don't do kissing on the mouth.”

“Sure, anything you say, Gabs, no kissing on the lips. Can I kiss you on the cheek?”

“If you must, I suppose so.” Inside was screaming, 'NO.' “Just don't push your luck.”

“Okay, Gabs, and thanks,” he kissed her on the cheek. Maddy saw this and waited for the sound of a slap. It didn't happen, it puzzled her.

Further puzzled, she watched as Harry slipped his arm around Gaby's waist and they went inside, William did the same with her. She followed on to see what happened next.

Several kids came up to greet them, and were introduced. The boys were wide eyed, the girls defensive. The foursome, moved to some vacant seats, the boys putting their jackets on them to mark their ownership. The girls sat down.

“Would you like a drink, Gabs?”

“Yeah, I'll have a glass of juice of some sort.”

William had done the same with Maddy. Being alone together, she leant over to Gaby and said, “You're being very tolerant, he's had his arm around you and kissed you on the cheek. I'm impressed.”

“He wants to get his own back on some bully who will be here.”

“That requires him kissing you?”

“It might, he wants me to pretend I'm his girlfriend.”

“Okay, do what you have to, but remember it's only pretend, so don't get carried away.”

“I don't think there's much chance of that.”

“The famous last words of many a teenage mum.”

“Very funny. Look out, here come Pinky and Perky.”

“Here you are, Gabs. Say, do you want to dance?” asked the love struck boy.

“Yes, I think I would.” Inside the message was, “I was expecting this sooner or later, let's show him I can't dance.”

The four of them bounced around to the music, like many of the other teenagers. The louder and faster the beat, the more many seemed to enjoy it. In some ways, Gaby was one of these. As long as it was fast and noisy, she was safe. Then a slow one was played and Harry pulled her towards him, “Please,” he said quietly. She played along and he put his hand around her holding her head on his shoulder. Gaby was still shorter than him, even with heels on.

She pretended she was dancing with Maddy, holding on to Harry and resting her head on his shoulder. Maddy was doing the same with William. She threw Gaby a wink, and they smiled at each other.

After half an hour, they were hot and tired, they returned to their seats. The drinks were very welcome. “Well hello, who have we got here?”

“Hi Cheeseman, this is my girlfriend Gaby and this is Will's girlfriend Maddy.”

“What are angels like you doing with these pipsqueaks? Why don't you come over with me and my mates, we know how to show two babes like you, a real good time.”

“Push off Cheeseman, these ladies are spoken for,” said William, standing to his full height, but Cheeseman was still a couple of inches taller.

“Oh, big tough guy, please don't hurt me,” he mocked. “I don't believe in violence in front of the girls, but if you want to try me, just step outside, anytime.” He poked William in the chest to emphasise his point. then did the same to Harry. He made a mock bow to the girls, “Ladies, when you want a real man, do come and visit.” Then he swaggered off, to join a group of boys and one or two girls who had been watching the proceedings, and who laughed with him when he joined them.

“That's him?” asked Gaby.

“That's him,” agreed Harry.

“Well I think you did really well, both of you,” said Gaby, and pecked him on the cheek. Harry, blushed and blustered, unable to find the right words with his mouth.

“Will you dance some more?”

“ ‘kay.” They spent another half an hour dancing. This time Gaby quite enjoyed it, she felt safe with this boy. He had a sort of courage which had been tested against a bigger opponent, yet he hadn't been seduced into some suicidal fight to impress her. It was a bit like her alter ego, Drew would probably have acted similarly, wherever he was, it seemed a long way away,

The evening continued with dancing and sitting to drink and recuperate. It was quite warm, and the steady supply of drinks were essential. Harry and William kept them both supplied adequately.

“That boy over there is drinking rather a lot of water.” Gaby pointed to a young man whom she had watched drink over two litres of water in a relatively short time. He had been dancing like something possessed, then more water, then more dancing, then more water, lots of it.”

“There's no one pushing pills around here is there?”

“Dunno, they don't appeal to me,” said Harry, “Why? You surely don't use ‘em?”

“No way, but that boy over there in the black shirt, he seems to be drinking rather a lot. I've been watching him. If I didn't know better I say he'd taken something.”

“What like ‘E', you mean.”

“Yeah, something like that.”

As they watched, a drama unfolded before them. The boy in question went to dance and in mid gyration, he fell, but he didn't get up again. The girls around him began to scream.

A crowd began to gather around the prostrate boy. “Come on, Danny, get up, stop messing mate.”

Gaby and Harry pushed their way to the front. “Anybody checked his pulse?” asked Harry. So he did, feeling for the beat of his artery in his neck. He bent down, trying to see the boy's chest rise and fall. It wasn't. “Get an ambulance he's not breathing.”

Gaby bent over him too. “Can you do CPR?” asked Harry.

“I've done it on dummies.”

“You blow, I'll pump; thirty to two, ready?”

Gaby nodded, lifted the boys head to make sure his tongue wouldn't get in the way and putting her mouth over the fallen boy's breathed twice into his. His chest rose and fell a little each time.

Harry, began the pumping. He felt for the end of the sternum or breast bone and three fingers up from it, he pressed his hand, then interlocked the fingers of his second hand and began fifteen compressions. He stopped, they checked, no breathing so they did it again and again and again.

The boy's colour had gone blue grey, especially around his mouth, but now it was pinker, if not exactly a healthy pink. It was also covered in Gaby's lipstick.

Maddy and William, plus a whole host of others stood around in astonishment as they watched the pair try to keep the boy alive.

The sweat was running down Harry's face with the effort, and Gaby was feeling tired with the tension and trying to make sure she made a good seal around the boys nose and mouth.

The sound of sirens filled the air, and moments later two paramedics carrying their emergency bags rushed in. “Keep going, kids, it will take us a moment to set up,” they shouted, so they did, and again. The paramedics took over. They made it look so easy. They cut the boys shirt off him, no messing around. The put a monitor thing on him and called for everybody to stand clear, then they defibrillated him. It took three goes, but they got a signal at last, he was breathing by himself and his heart was beating.

“I think he might have taken something, he was drinking such a lot of water and dancing like something possessed.” Gaby told this to the paramedic, who had arrived in a car. He thanked her.

“Was it you two who did the CPR?”

“Yes," said Harry, "I'm knackered.”

“It's hard work , but at least you kept him from dying. He still could, but at least you gave him a fighting chance. Where did you learn it?”

“Me? In the scouts.”

“What about you, Miss?”

“We learned it in school after someone collapsed and died a couple of years ago.”

“Well done the pair of you.”

The boy had been rushed off to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, while the extra paramedic was talking to Harry and Gaby. The dance broke up after this drama, most of the kids feeling unable to continue the festivities. It was only half ten.

As the crowd dispersed, several of the revellers came up and congratulated the pair for their prompt action. One of them, perhaps more alert than the rest said, “Hey, you're that girl cyclist that was in the Echo.”

“Yeah, that's her, her mum's the world champion,” beamed Harry.

“What she doing with a dickhead like you then, Palmer? Ride bikes do you darlin', well so do I. You can come and watch me on Sunday if you like, I'll show you how to do it properly.”

Harry was about to fly at him, which Cheeseman would have enjoyed, but Gaby restrained him. “Oh I'll be there, you can count on it. I wouldn't miss it for the world,” she said to the objectionable youth.

“Get rid of Rin Tin Tin here, and I'll show you how to treat a lady, properly.”

“I shall see you on Sunday, Mr Cheesecake,” said Gaby.

Maddy was so nervous, she was ready to wet herself, Gaby was so angry she was ready to hit him, but decided on a better way. Harry was in love, and William didn't know what to do with himself, but if Harry had pitched into Cheeseman, he'd have been obliged to support his friend, assuming Gaby didn't do it for him. She was quite a girl, was Gaby. Just as well she was with Harry, he didn't think he could cope with her, so he was glad that Maddy had been with him.

“I'm going to the ladies, you coming, Gab?”

“Yeah, okay.”

They got through the door, and Maddy looked Gaby in the eye and said, ”You're going to race aren't you?”

“ Even if I have to ride the Giant, yes. I'm going to beat that big heap of cheesecake, and I want to see his face when he realises he's been beaten by a girl.”

“But not just any girl?”

“No, Jenny Bond's daughter, I hope they've got a decent bike for me to borrow.”

“What if your dad says, no?”

“He won't, he was bullied in school, he can't stand them. He'll be cool. I hope it will be okay with Aunt Carol and her friend who owns the cottage.”

“Yeah it will, we could have had it for a fortnight, but we didn't think you could cope being away from your bike for that long.”

“Quite right too.”

“Gabs, your lipstick is all over that poor lad's face. I thought you said you weren't going to kiss anyone on the mouth.”

“I changed my mind, he was unconscious so he didn't actually kiss me.”

“You got some more in your bag, better freshen up or mum will think you've been up to no good.”

Reluctantly, Gaby refreshed her lipstick, by which time they were able to use the loo and then join the two boys.

“What's the problem?” asked Maddy, sensing something wasn't right.

“Cheeseman is out there, lurking, like a big fat shark,” said William.

“You're frightened of him, aren't you?” said Gaby rhetorically.

“If you'd been beaten up by him, so would you.”

“He won't hit you while we're here, so come on, let's go find the car.”

She linked her arm through Harry's and they wandered out into the night. Maddy sighed and did the same with William.

They were aware that Cheeseman was lurking about the place, his silhouette was not difficult to spot. Harry tightened his grip around Gaby's shoulder. “It's okay, he's not going to mess with you while I'm here."

“Are you going to race on Sunday?” asked Harry.

“It looks like it.”

“Do you think you can beat him?” he squeezed her again. “I couldn't bear it if he won, he would be insufferable.”

“On the other hand, if I win, he will look pretty stupid. Which should make life a little easier.”

“I'd like to think so.” By the time he had said this, they could see Mr Bugler's car.
“There's Will's dad, thank you for being my girlfriend tonight. Can we do it again sometime soon? Please.”

Inside Drew was screaming, “No. No way. Not Ever,” but somehow Gaby was deaf to the noise. “We'll see.”

“I'll bet you have a dozen boyfriends at home,” continued the self effacing Harry.

“No, it's only eleven,” smiled Gaby, back at his nonsensical statement, with one of her own.

“Oh well, that's all right then.”

They got back to the cottage just before eleven thirty. Harry insisted on seeing Gaby up to the door. “Can we do this again?” he pleaded.

“We'll see. Right now I have to get my beauty sleep, and save my energy for Sunday and that big ape Cheeseman. It would be nice to see a cheesecake with egg all over it.”

“Yes it would. I'll call you tomorrow,” said Harry.

“Remember I have to organise a bike sponsor.”

“I could come with you.”

“I don't know, I usually consider that sort of thing better on my own.”

“Oh.” He looked crestfallen. He had it bad.

Gaby felt a mixture of emotions. The reality was, she was a boy who loved and was loved by Maddy, so encouraging this other boy was futile. Yet, so absorbed in the role play, the girl in her felt very confused and very touched and sympathetic to this very gentle boy, who had tried to stand his ground against overwhelming odds.

Before realising what she had done, she pecked him on the cheek, said goodnight and went inside. Maddy who was gob-smacked for a moment, did the same with William. A few minutes later and they heard the car drive away.

“What was all that about, Gaby Bond?” demanded Maddy.

“What do you mean?” said Gaby shrugging a shoulder.

“You encouraging a boy. He looks like a lovesick puppy. Blow in his ear, and he'd follow you anywhere.”

“What is that supposed to mean? I haven't encouraged him.”

“Your words might not have, but your body language is something else.”

“I didn't do anything, did I?” Gaby began to frown, and looked seriously worried. “I can't help it if he's stupid enough to think I'm a girl.”

“From where I'm standing, I can't see anything else.”

“So you keep saying. I'm tired, I need to go to bed and I need to get a good bike from those people tomorrow. I'll need to practice on it for a bit before using it in a race. You know yourself how different bikes feel from each other.”

They went to bed, but Drew didn't find sleep easy to come by. He was worried by the conversation he'd had with Maddy. Surely he wasn't leading the boy on, was he? If he was then it was only because he didn't know any better. He wasn't that good at flirting as a boy, let alone as a girl, he had little need to. He'd known Maddy forever, and they had felt an affinity for each other for a long time. Long before they started to develop adolescent crushes on each other, oh yes, and the girl with the big euphemisms who played that stupid silver coloured, brass thing.

“Gabs, wake up.” It was Maddy. “You need to call your dad about this race, remember?”

“What, where am I? Argh, I‘ve got tits.”

“Gabs, of course you've got boobs,” said Maddy refusing to join in his vulgarity; “You're a girl this week remember?” She poked him again as he lay there trying to open his eyes. “Come on, Gabs, I've got your phone here.” She shoved something cold against his face and he jumped. She pressed the speed dial, “It's ringing.”

“Hello, Dave Bond,” said a voice he knew so well.

“Hi Dad, it's me Gab - I mean Drew.”

“I don't want to know what you are son, as long as you're okay and having a good time.”

“I am, it's a long story, but I seem stuck as Gaby for the week.”

“Well that's between you and your Aunt Carol,” he said, while thinking, this seems to happen with such regularity. Drew is not stupid, if he didn't enjoy it he wouldn't do it. It seems the only time he's a boy is on a bicycle. It's strange, but if that's how he is, we still love him or her or whatever.

“I've been asked to ride in a race on Sunday, for charity.”

“On what, you didn't take a bike with you, did you.”

“A local shop has offered to loan me one.”

“What sort?”

“I don't know yet, I'm going to see them today.”

“I hope Carol is going too.”

“Yes we're all going. But there's this bully at the local school who intimidates everybody. He's riding on Sunday, and I want to beat him dad, to teach him a lesson.”

“Won't the fact that you are the Junior British Champion, give him a bit of warning?”

“No Dad, he thinks I'm a girl. Maddy and me went to a disco with these two boys ‘cos they asked us to pretend to be their girlfriends...” at this point Dave Bond's imagination went into freefall. Boyfriends, girlfriends? What the hell is going on there? He wanted to say quite firmly down the phone, “Make your mind up, are you a girl or a boy, and don't tease the local boys, because you can't deliver." Then the caring and tolerant parent kicked in, and he knew he couldn't say any such thing. If it meant he was soon going to have two daughters, he'd cope somehow. He loved them both, so what the hell?

“If you are playing at being a girl, then I hope you appear suitably dressed and conduct yourself with some decorum when in public.”

“Yes, Dad. Can I do the race?”

“Of course you can as far as I'm concerned, besides Aunty Carol is in charge, so it's her decision, she's in loco parentis. Just make sure you give it your best shot, even if that is as a girl. Let me know how you get on with the bike sponsor.”

“I will, Dad. Thanks Dad. I've got lots of photos for you to see.”

“I'll look forward to that. I hope you've seen Maiden Castle.”

“Got the photos to prove it.”

“Good girl, take care on a strange bike,” he said while thinking, Christ, he's dangerous enough on his own, what's he going to do on some boneshaker he's only just seen.

“I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, Dre….Gaby.”

“ He said, yes then?” asked Maddy.

“Of course he did. I told you he can't stand bullies. I hope this bloke's got some good bikes.”

“I looked in Yellow Pages, and it said Saracen and Specialized. Does that means he specialises in Saracen?”

“No Specialized is as American make, I've never tried one but they're supposed to be pretty good, in the mid range. Popular with tri-athletes I hear, but they're even nuttier than me.”

“They go round kissing strange boys then?”

“Dunno.” Drew looked rather sheepish as he recalled the previous night. “I only pecked his cheek.”

“Like this,” said Maddy, doing something similar. “Or like this, or like this? Or li….” She kissed him on the mouth and once again he soared into outer space and back again.

“No. I think if he'd kissed me like that I would have remembered it. No I wouldn't, I've forgotten already. Better do it again, you know what my memory is like.”

Maddy giggled and kissed him again.