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(aka Bike) Part 666 by Angharad |
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Sunday was mainly dry and the girls spent much of the time riding up and down the drive–requests to go out on the road, having been turned down, didn’t arise again. Mima played with her dolls and helped Stella. Since Livvie had arrived, Trish didn’t seem interested in much besides playing with her. Given her history of being bullied at the children’s home, I suppose she was relieved to be able to play safely with someone of her own age, and was making the most of it while she could.
The planetoid was heading straight towards the earth and nobody seemed able to do anything about it so this time around, a Bruce Willis figure–in real life–couldn’t be found. The Americans had fired several nuclear devices at it, but none of them worked. We had about three days to live.
I was panicking, what if Livvie’s mum couldn’t get back? What were we going to do? Simon was suggesting we went up to Scotland and into the cellars of the family castle. They could be blocked up and he was sure some sort of air purifier could be rigged up to keep out the radiation from the explosion.
It was suggested that the site of impact was likely to be Russo-Chinese border. The Northern hemisphere would take the brunt of it. Pandas would probably become extinct in the wild and humans would be thinned out too. I was wanting to take some dormice with us, because with a cooling caused by a nuclear winter, they’d likely be as viable as dodos.
Simon had chartered a helicopter to take us up to Scotland, I cycled into the university and emerged with a rucksack full of dormice, a bar bag full of nuts and acorns and panniers full of other food items for them. I was going to do my best to help them survive, assuming we did of course.
The helicopter was just about cleared for take off and we’d just left the ground when I spotted Livvie’s mum running towards us, she was screaming at us to take her with us but we didn’t she just got smaller and smaller as we soared into the sky. I noticed Livvie waving to her and she was crying silently. My phone rang inside my handbag and I reached to answer it.
“What are you doing?” asked Simon, I heard a phone ring and put my hand down to what I thought was my hand bag only to make contact with a hairy part of his anatomy, which apparently woke him up.
“Uh what?” I answered waking up. I reached over to the phone, it was nearly seven in the morning. “Hello?”
“Is that Cathy?” asked an educated voice.
“Who wants her?”
“This is Tony Richards, Peaches’ father.”
“Oh hello, sorry about that, just woke up.”
“Yeah, that’s okay, look could you keep Peaches with you for a bit longer?”
“I don’t know, I…”
“There’s been an accident…” his voice broke down, “the police are on their way here now, so I don’t have much time.”
“No of course, is Laura alright?”
“No. That’s why I’m asking you to keep Peaches.”
“Of course I will, until you can make other arrangements.”
“Can I speak with her?”
“Yes, I’ll go and get her.” I jumped out of the bed, and gave her the phone, she was still quite sleepy. “It’s your daddy.”
She looked confused but took the cordless phone and said, “Hello, Daddy, I’m having a super time with Auntie Cathy and Trish and Mima, and Uncle Simon and Auntie Stella and Grampa Tom…” She paused for a moment and said, “Oh, oh okay,” and nodded. She handed me back the phone and said, “Mummy is injured in an accident, Daddy said I have to stay with you until he can come and get me. Is that alright?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” I hugged her with one arm while I held the receiver to my ear.
“Look, I’m organising my solicitor to make payments for her school fees and some sort of contribution towards her keep. Please, you'll take care of her, won’t you? She’s a nice kid.”
“Of course I will, what happened to Laura?”
“Damn, there’s the police, look I have to go. I’ll call when I can.”
“Tony?” I called but he rang off. What on earth was going on? Police? If she was injured why isn’t he waiting for the ambulance? It all sounded rather bizarre and guess who got lumbered again? When he phones again, I’ll demand to know exactly what is happening.
“Is Mummy gonna be alright, Auntie Cathy?” asked Livvie, tears running down her face.
“I don’t know, sweetheart, I sincerely hope so.”
“Can I stay with you and Trish and Mima?”
“Of course you can,” I hugged her to me and she sobbed into my chest.
“Is everything alright?” asked Simon poking his head around the door.
I shook my head, “Get the girls up and showered will you?”
“Yeah okay, is Livvie okay?” I waved him away and he gently closed the door. I sat and hugged her for five or ten minutes. Maybe it was longer. At about half past seven, I showered her and after wrapping her in a big soft towel, I showered myself and then combed and dried our hair. I thought it best if she went to school and she agreed that I would come and get her if I needed to.
Simon took the two girls to school, and I cleaned up the breakfast dishes. I was still puzzling over the strange phone call. I’d tried to call it back but the number was withheld, so until they contacted me, there was little I could do.
I started the washing machine, having marked Livvie’s school uniforms with a safety pin. Her underwear was quite different to Trish’s and Mima’s, so that was easy enough to identify. I was about to make myself a cuppa and ask Stella if she wanted one, when the doorbell rang.
I assumed it was probably the postman or some other sort of delivery. Tom was waiting for a book or something similar, he had said but I wasn’t listening. I opened the door and before me stood two police officers.
“Oh God, Simon? Is he alright?”
“Hello, Cathy,” said a familiar voice. It belonged to PC Bond. “Can we come in?”
“Of course,” I opened the door, and led them through to the lounge. “I was just going to make a cup of tea, would you like one?” They both nodded. “Simon is okay?”
“As far as we know,” replied Andy Bond.
I made a large pot of tea and took it through with mugs and milk and sugar and a tin of biscuits. I stirred the pot and poured us each a cup. “How can I help you, Andy?” I asked.
“Did Tony Richards call here this morning?”
“Yes, why?”
“What time was it?”
“About seven, he said his wife had had some sort of accident and could I keep Livvie, or Peaches, as they call her.”
“I see, he didn’t tell you anything about the nature of the accident?”
“No, he said he was waiting for the police to arrive and they did as he was talking to Livvie.”
“Livvie? We have the daughter down as Peaches.”
“She asked us to call her Livvie, she doesn’t like Peaches and her second name is Olivia, hence Livvie.”
“Ah, I gotcha. He didn’t tell her anything either?”
“As far as I’m aware he just told her to stay with me until he could arrange to collect her. He said he’d arranged for his solicitor to pay her school fees and something towards her keep. I thought it was odd at the time, but I was half asleep and he was obviously under pressure and Livvie was getting upset, so it was all a bit of a blur.”
“I understand, Cathy.”
“What exactly has happened?”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you the details; they are the subject of a police investigation.”
“Is Laura, alright?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Is she dead?”
“Yes.”
“Oh geez, that poor little kid, what am I supposed to tell her? Is her father coming to see her?”
“I’m afraid not. He’s in custody and likely to remain there.”
“Oh geez, is he responsible for her accident?”
“Officially, Cathy, I can’t tell you anything, you understand?”
I nodded, “Yes, of course.”
“Unofficially, yes he’s being held on suspicion of causing her death.”
“Bloody hell,” I blushed, “ ’scuse my French, he killed her?”
Andy Bond shrugged but would say no more. He sipped his tea.
“Who’s going to tell Livvie?”
“We will if you want, but you know her better than I do.”
“You want me to do it? You want me to tell the poor kid that her father killed her mother?”
Andy Bond sipped his tea impassively. “Somebody has to.”
“And I’m it?”
“It might come easier from you.”
“Gee whiz, what am I supposed to tell her?”
“That her mother has had an accident and her father is busy helping the authorities to sort it out.”
“I still have to tell her that her mother is dead.”
“Sorry, Cathy.”
“And I know that her father killed her mother,” I felt tears run down my face, “Geez, how do I cope with that?”
Andy Bond shrugged, “I don’t know, Cathy. I wish I did.”
I nodded, “Okay, I’ll tell her.” I wiped my eyes and blew my nose. “Are there any grandparents?”
“I don’t know, Cathy, we haven’t been told of any, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.”
“I’ll have to ask her–Livvie, I mean.” PC Bond nodded. “Why did, Tony Richards ask me to look after her?”
“I have no idea, maybe they’re abroad or very old,” he suggested.
“I wonder if they’re going to come looking to take custody of her?”
“They could, but in the interim, her dad’s asked you specifically to look after her. Isn’t that how you got the first of your kids?” he asked me.
“Something like that, Meems’ parents are on the run abroad somewhere, unless some irate African megalomaniac has got to them first.”
“Oh dear, you haven’t heard from them, then?”
“No, and the courts awarded me custody until they come to claim her in person.”
“Right, she’ll be a pensioner by then, won’t she?”
“She won’t, but I might be.”
Just then Simon arrived back and the police decided to leave, asking me to report anything I remembered that Tony Richards had said, which I hadn’t told them. I then had to tell Simon what was happening and he hugged me and said, “Well, unless some grandparents turn up to take her, it looks like we’ve gained another lodger.”
“Yeah, I suppose we’ll have to explain about Trish, sometime.”
“Let’s deal with this traumatic news first. When do you want to go and tell her?”
“I’ll speak with the head mistress and ask her advice.”
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Comments
Oh, Lord!
What a dream! And is she really awake now, or is this a dream within a dream? Angharad, I think you are more blood-thirsty than Bonzi.
And no, Cathy, you aren't supposed to stick that in your ear. ;-)
They know they can survive
And then there were....
three. I understand they're "Cheeper by the Dozen" but, I dunno the way Cathy picks up extra kids - it's a GOOD THING that Tom has all that spare space. They don't watch out, an Addition will be needed - to house the next half dozen kids. How Cathy'll find time to finish her research, much less make a movie or... I dunno.
And, what happened to Laura - not surprising really, considering the number of BAD thoughts against her. Wow. Wonder where Tony Richards found Cathy's phone number? His ex-wife's handbag? Looking forward to what happens next there...
Thanks for posting early enough for me. :-)
Annette
Visiting Mrs Murphy
When I was about 9 or 10 I remember staying with an auntie and uncle who collected old films (movies) which they showed at regular intervals to friends and visiting relations. They had equipped a large room as a mini cinema; Uncle George was the projectionist and Auntie Gwen was the usherette, complete with torch (flashlight) to show us to our places. The film they showed me was the original Cheaper By The Dozen made around 1950, I believe, (long before I was born). I can't remember much about the plot, except that they had an ancient car (something like a Model T) and the whole family, Dad, Mom and the 12 kids would go off in it. Every so often, one of the kids would demand to go and see Mrs Murphy, which was their way of saying they wanted to go to the loo. For weeks afterwards I insisted on going to see Mrs Murphy, much to the irritation of my mum.
She was very glad when I stopped saying it, particularly when visiting elderly grandparents.
An excellent chapter, Ang, if not a little sad, but Cathy and Simon are sure to provide a loving home for Livvie. I wouldn't advise Cathy to explain about Trish immediately though, because it might just freak out Livvie. I speak from experience.
Hilary
Dull, unimaginative and disappointing ...NOT! --snicker--
But Bruce Willis?
Yuck,
now Don Knotts, there's a man to *nip it in the bud. Barney Fiffe would cut that asteriod to pieces once he got his bullet out of his pocket.
Um, Tony Richards, wasn't that a prominent Liberal MP of a few decades back distroyed by a scandal? Or was he an entertainer?
Neet dream. I agree, lots of kids is more than three, at least six. I also got the impresson, way back when, that her mom's ghost implied some of the kids are biologcally hers. Hey she has the healing blue light touch.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
additions...
Nah! we don't need no stinkin additions... we may have to transplant the whole crew into the fortress up in scotland though, giggle! PLENTY of rooms are empty there!
Re: space-based disasters... You have shown yourself to have the RIGHT STUFF that's for sure Cathy!
Space cowgirl Cathy could even land a shuttle without a blipping puter turned on!
Keep trucking through space girl, your a star!
The plot thickens...
Well, it looks like Cathy and Simon now have a family of three, as they go from crisis to crisis.
Angharad, I thought this episode was certainly in keeping with its number as all sorts of hell started breaking loose.
Positively Satisfied (with my daily fix of EAFOAB)
Bike Resources
Wow
I Was right on the money with my comment on Falling 666 about Cathy's Giggle of girls.
Angharad I was only kidding Laura didn't really have to have an accident so Cathy could add to her giggle of girls.
(Grins)
Megumi :)
Bailey's Angel
The Godmother :p
In a strange and convoluted way
this made me think of the comic Asterix ( and Obelix ) in Britain. Picture the cliffs of Dover, adorned with a huge stretch of neatly trimmed lawn. On it are pictured two Brits, leisurely enjoying a cup of tea(!), observing a massive fleet of Roman triremes intend on invasion.
There is one text balloon: 'Quite!'
It seems strangely appropriate here.
Jo-Anne
Not unexpected...
Yep, I could see Livvie joining Cathy and the gang sooner than later, though I wish it was under better circumstances. Ah well, this *was* episode 666, after all.
A well written first part of the chapter also, though it lacked in believability. I guess you had to do *something* under "the end is nigh" heading, given the chapter.
Looking forward to more of the adventures.
Cathy's Mum Was Right All Along
She will become the mum of many children, funny that they are all girls, though.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
It's really not that funny...
...that they should all be girls. After all, it was Cathy's having acquired Mima which led to Trish being placed with her; and it was Trish's friendship at school with Livvie which has now led to this latest addition to the clan! And, as I recall, Cathy's mother's spirit DID tell her she would be mother to MANY children!
Jenny
If Livvie becomes a permanant addition
Cathy might as well give up on doing much else (unless she can get the kids to help in nature films). A three year old and two 5 year olds are a lot to handle, and as was said above, Cathy will be mother to "many children." I don't think only three qualifies as "many" of course you may add Simon, Stella and baby to the count at times.
Well, you certainly didn't disappoint!
I think we all expected something suitably apocalyptic, given the silly superstitions around the number of the episode. I thought for just a minute there you were going to actually have an asteroid crashing into the earth, but you came up with something even better!
Er, did I happen to mention that I'm severely addicted to your story?
Gee, Ang I Didn't Wish Her Dead
Gee, Ang I didn't wish her dead. I just wanted you to scare the hell out of her. That being said, it doesn't surprise me that she met her demise at the hands of Tony. He probably got tired of being bled for money constantly. We all know she wasn't a nice woman. At least, Cathy and Simon will provide Livvie a loving and stable home. She will need love and reassurance after all of this.
If Laura tried blackmailing Cathy I wonder
what she was trying on Tony. Not a reason for muder but perhaps a reason for a physical fight that resulted in a "tragic accident."
I thought Cathy's dream was pretty prophetic. Leaving Laura behind while taking Livvie to safety. Spooky!
If Tony was responsible for Laura's death, will the social services people respect his wish to leave his daughter with Cathy? I wonder what the custody arrangement was. Did he really get his lawyer involved? (or will he?) Maybe when the SS folk find out that they're dealing with Cathy again they'll just give up.
Quite a chapter Ahgharad, you must have had a stressful weekend.
custody..
Since her mom saw fit to leave her with Cathy for extended times, dad's concurance should seal the deal on the transfer of custody. Adoption people process the paper and may gnash their teeth over it but have NO SAY at ALL! about it and THAT may increase the PO'ed factor they seem to now harbor regarding our favorite Mamma Hubbard in training. Hehehe!
Blackmail
Well, that's one way to get a blackmailer out of the storyline.
She seemed quite good at it. Perhaps her ex-husband was a tired victim of it.
Or, perhaps she was the accidental victim of er.... kinky sex and "breath control" gone awry.
Either way, she was a bit of a distraction to the main storyline, and I won't miss her.
Interesting you should mention...
...the kinky sex and "breath control" gone awry! I suppose it would be one possible answer which would come to mind in light of the recent death of David Carradine under similar circumstances! Carradine's family are seeking an independent autopsy from famed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, hoping to find out if there was another person involved in the actor's death.
Of course, Cathy will give Livvie all the love and affection she's given Trish and Mima once the child has been officially placed under her legal guardianship!
Jenny
Jenny
Dan Brown's next work in progress...
At last it can be revealed that the end of the world will be signified by the appearance of the three Wise British Dormice, previous revelations by various prophets having been understandably confused by the superficial similarity of the three sleeping travelers to the number 666, their spectral forms having been observed only in a dreamlike state of fugue.
Note: If you gaze for a time at the three images, letting your "Third Eye" go slightly out of focus, you'll notice that the three separate images merge into one four-dimensional avatar, the contemplation of which will lead inevitably to sartorial bliss, provided your tailors are worth their salt.
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
those three dormice do
kind of look like 666 don't they. I wonder how they manage to look so much alike? Almost like they are clones isn't it. ;-) Wow, this story is gaining mythical/mystical along with its epic status.
I did say...
...that there was a superficial similarity.
To see their differences, you have to open your Ajna Chakra.
There. Isn't that better?
In perfect bliss, after having achieved nirvana, the Three Sages are transported:
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Someone has been smokin' something
a little strange. LOL
No.
I don't smoke anything, never have, and never will.
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Woah!
I just knew Cathy was going to get saddled with Livvie, but I didn't expect her father to kill her mother! You said you'd do something for #666, and you sure did, and I'm not just talking about that dream!
Good one, Angahard!
Saless
"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America
"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America
Its almost as if the gods
Its almost as if the gods are trying to make up for the fact that cathy was'nt born female by giving her a large family.... Welcome livvie i wonder who will join you next?... Kirri
There's an old gimmick in books and films.
Where someone wakes from a bad dream, realises that the bad things weren't real. Something strange happens and they then wake up for real. The trouble with making comments, that have plot ideas in them, is that we might scupper future plans for this wonderful story.
WOW! Has the BBC or another
WOW! Has the BBC or another TV channel there grabbed onto this super interesting story drama? If not, they certainly should. J-Lynn
Another
perfectly devilish chapter. Keep em coming.
Somehow we knew another kid was coming on board.
Now three, and counting
Shave their heads, that's where the tattoo is hidden . Spawn of Lucifer, oh if there's no God, I guess there's no Devil. Never Mind!! ( to quote Roseanna Danna)
Cathy just keeps accumulating kids don't she ? (wonder if Simon paid for this)
Cefin
The Beast's number is up
Laura somehow seemed more beastly than even the Russian mafia so it is fitting that her number is up is episode 666. I guess whoever called the police dialed the upsidedown 666 which is 999. Coincidence? (In the UK 999 is the emergency number like 911 in the USA).
Rhona McCloud
Yup Yup Yup
called it!