Gaby Book 26 On The Edge by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2021 Madeline Bell Seventeen - it's a birthday overshadowed by its predecessor and successor and Gaby's looks set to follow that pattern. There are however big decisions to be made, should she grab life by the horns and experience everything it has to offer or take the more conservative, safer route through life. This volume, the 26th in the Gaby series has all the elements of classic Gaby, bike riding, teenage angst, developing relationships, grist to the mill for our heroine as life in the Ahrtal ticks on.

 
"Gaby!”
"What?” I queried as I finished readjusting by BH.
"I give up, "Mand sighed with a shake of her head, "There's no hope.”
"What did I do?” damn this bra's uncomfortable today.
"Josh? Darren?” she hinted with a nod to her side.
"Eh?” I looked over to see the lads who quickly diverted their gaze, sugar.

I know, i've had the lecture from Mum and Dad, I have got better with this stuff, honest.

"They must've got a right eyeful, doesn't it bother you?”

Does it? Well on one level it does, I mean what are they even looking at me for? On the other hand, hmm, maybe there isn't another hand.

"They shouldn't be looking.”
"A very philosophical point of view, Gab, they're boys, of course they're gonna look.”

She had me there.

"People!” Dad yelled from where he'd been talking with George at the other end of the pull in.
Looks like we gotta ride again, oh the high cost of a week in Tenerife!
 

It was only just turned two when we got back to the Hotel, we didn't ride very far, or very long to be truthful, it was all technique stuff. You can end up doing lots of speed and endurance work but if you don't work on the basics, well everyone in the race can go the distance, most will have the speed covered, success then is down to being better at the other stuff – oh and a good helping of luck.

"So where are you lot off to?” Mum enquired, we'd changed and then cleared Kat's 'healthy' lunch in minutes flat, most of the 'adults' were still picking at their food.
"Cinema is the plan.”
"Down in the old town?”
"Ut uh, at the shopping mall.”
"That place over the other side of the motorway?”
"Yeah, Centro Villa or something, we got a taxibus last time.”
"Sounds like you've got it all organised, Dave?” she called to my father, "You fancy the cinema?”
"Mu-um.”
"Could do,” Dad allowed, "Whats on?”
"All sorts,” I allowed with a sigh, "Its a multiplex. Seriously, you want to go to the cinema with a bunch of teenagers?”
"Not particularly, don't worry I wasn't looking to cramp your style daughter.”
"Phew.”
"How about your Dad runs you lot down?”
"That'd work I guess.”
"Then we may or may not see you down there later,” Mum concluded.
"Done!”

And so it came to pass that fifteen minutes later Dad dropped the eight of us off at the entrance to the Centro Comercial La Villa.
 

"Bum!” Mand announced, "We missed the English showings Tuesday.”
"Pity,” Daz stated, "I quite fancied seeing Bond.”
"You've seen me all week,” I pointed out.
"Not you hen, he means the film, starts in twenty minutes,” Josh advised.
"With that dishy new actor?” Mand queried.
"Didn't think you were interested?”
"I can look at Bond Bond,” I was informed.
"We could still watch it,” Gret siggested, "Its all chases and fights anyway.”
"Aye,” Josh agreed, "Bond is hardly Shakespeare.”
"To be or not to be, that is the question,” I quoted.
"Bond!” they all chorused.
"Thatch me, Bond, Gabrielle Bond, licensed to win!” I hammed.
"That,” Daz stated, ”has to be the worst Bond impression ever.”
"So we going to see this movie then?” Roni asked, "Coz if we are we need tickets.”
"Its either that or that Hannibal thing unless you want to wait,” Kat told us.
"Bond!” everyone agreed.
 

It didn't take long to get tickets, getting the requisite supplies took much longer, Kat gave me a dirty look when we reconvened to go in holding a 'Genuine Westlers' hotdog with all the trimmings. Look, I ate her salad thing for lunch, you have to have a balanced diet right? I suppose the afternoon showing was a bit early for the locals, most of the other patrons looked like island visitors – not that it was exactly packed, we found a block of seats up towards the rear and settled down.

Who doesn't like a Bond film, even if they are formulaic and sometimes a bit sexist, but like Mum says, they were of their time. Casino Royale's Bond, Daniel Craig is more stripped back than the playboy image Moore and Brosnan versions and from the start I was hooked. Okay, the plot does have a lot of poker being played, not really my suit, but the new M and the chase scenes balanced that out. Even better, we actually got the English version but with Spanish subtitles, German woulda been better but at least everyone in our posse could follow things.
 

The time flew by, oh it got a bit slow in places but it certainly didn't feel like the thick end of two hours had passed when the titles started to roll.

"Urgh!” I allowed, stretching my arms to release the tension from being sat so long.
"I'm hungry,” Mand complained.
"That car was pretty boss,” Darren suggested.
"Gott, men and cars,” Roni complained as we started to shuffle towards the exit.
"Why does he always have that weird make,” Gret asked, "He could have a nice Porsche.”
"Guess its a British thing, British spy, British car,” I proposed.
"He is a bit of a hunk eh?” Kat suggested.
"I hadn't noticed.”
"Oh come on Gab, all those muscles, that face, he could almost be German!” Tal teased.
"Ah am here,” Josh mentioned.
"And you are very handsome too,” she purred.
"Get a room you two,” Gret complained as our team mates started on some tonsil hockey.

"So what now?” Ron enquired as we reconvened after the obligatory toilet stop.
"Food?” Mand hinted.
"We've got dinner when we get back,” Kat pointed out.
I checked my wrist watch, "Thats like hours away.”
"Burgers?” Josh suggested.

I think its fair to say that the look our dietician gave us was one of unqualified horror.

"Maybe something less, um, processed?” I offered.
"There was a Churro stand outside,” Gret mentioned.
"Whats that?” Daz asked.
"You know, those long doughnutty things,” Mand espoused.
"Someone mention doughnuts?” our tame Toon enquired.
"Guess it'll have to do,” de Vreen sighed.
"We can look in the other shops before we head back,” Ron proposed, somewhat out of character.

Well it sounded like a sort of plan.
 

We found out why shopaphobe Roni had suddenly gained an interest in retail therapy opportunities when we reached the Levi® store – she wanted a new pair of jeans.

"I'll meet you outside,” she offered.
"By the Churros, its only over the roadway,” Gret pronounced.
“'kay,” Ron agreed.
"I'll stay with Ron.”
"Don't be too long,” Mand grinned, "Or they'll all be gone.”

Like thats gonna happen.

"You didn't have to stay Gab.”
"What, and let you get some horrible straight legs or something? you aren't exactly a style guru Ron.”
"And you are?”
"Well I do know whats in fashion.”
"If you say so, come on.”
 

You know what its like, you go looking for one thing and you end up with something completely different, well I hadn't actually gone in with any intentions of buying anything but Ron wasn't the only one with a Levi® carrier bag when we left.

"So where's this Churro stand?” my companion asked as we stood blinking in the bright sunshine after leaving the mall.
"Gret said its just over the road.”
"All I can see is some sort of Kirmes.”

Which was pretty much all I could see, oh not big rides or anything, a carousel and a couple of other kiddy 'rides', they sometimes have something similar during school vacations in Koblenz and Bonn. However, whilst I couldn't see it I could smell food, not just Churros but something else altogether more interesting.

"Come on, they must be over there somewhere,” I instructed.
"Gaby!” Ron complained as I strode out onto the crossing to a chorus of car horns.
 

Two minutes later and there it was, the source of the interesting smells.

"A würst stall?” Ron observed.
"Looks like it to me,” I agreed.

Well, if your idea of such an outlet is a timber framed cabin that would be quite at home at a Weihnachtsmarkt in Bavaria complete with twee pretzels and cut outs of lederhosen and dirndl wearing blondes either side of the servery this was it. Why foreigners think we are all blonde and dress like Heidi I don't know, well I suppose I am blonde but I'm not exactly German either and I suppose I do wear Kostum sometimes. Oh well, I guess in this case they can be forgiven though, the smells were delish, and even if the staff didn't fit the picture, the würst and indeed frikadel and pommes certainly did.

"I thought we were getting Churros?”
"If you want Churros be my guest, me, I'm having Bratwürst and pommes.”
"Damn you Bond, here hold this, want anything to drink?”
 

"Told you,” Tali crowed.
"Told them what?” I enquired before getting outside of another bite of my sausage.
"That you'd spot the Deutsche Kiosk,” Kat sighed, "Pommes?”

I swung the arm dangling my Levi® carrier toward her, replete with a cone of fried potato, mayo and paprika sauce.

"Want one?”

Josh nearly choked on his Churro.

"Gaby,” Pinger admonished, "Your'e supposed to be eating healthily.”
I swallowed my meat, "Ron's got Frikadel.”
"I couldn't let her eat alone,” Ron smirked.
"I give up!” Kat stated with an even deeper sigh, here let me at those frites.”
I think there would've been a full on mutiny if the others hadn't already got a supply of Spanish doughnuts in.

"I thought it was Ron who wanted jeans,” Mand mentioned as we sat with our food around the base of a palm tree.
"She got some,” I pointed out.
"And whats in this then?” Mand nudged the carrier sat between us.
"They were on sale.”
"Whatever.”
"They were.”
"I thought you had enough denim?”
"Erm.”
"Show her Gab,” Ron interjected from beyond de Vreen, "They are pretty cute, if you can carry that look off, me i'd look like a hippo.”

Well I wouldn't have said a hippo but she is a lot bigger built than me.

"Lets see then,” Tal demanded.
"Okay already,” I passed the remains of my sausage to Kat, wiped my hands and dove into the carrier.

 
"Sexy!” Gret suggested as I held up my new hose.
"And the jacket Gab,” Ron prompted.

Thank you Fraulein Grönberg. Look I got them both at half price and they match. Double denim, well not in the Status Quo rocker sense as such, they are denim but its white and printed with a pink and red flower motif. And they aren't exactly jeans, more capri's and the jacket is cropped too so not double denim at all. Really.

"Damn,” Mand allowed.
"Damn indeed,” Tal agreed.
"Can I finish my würst now?”
"Würst? You have würst?” Kat sheepishly mentioned.
"Kat, where is it?”

To be fair, she did look slightly guilty, maybe it was the hint of mustard at the corner of her mouth.

"I thought you'd finished with it so I, er finished the job.”
"I suppose i've still got some pommes left.”
"Sorry Gab,” Daz told me, "They were going cold.”
"Look on the brightside Gab,” Ron started, "You'll have more space for Kat's rabbit food when we get back.”
"And that is good because?”

So much for my anti health food foray.

 
There were more stores around the plaza that the mini Kirmes was on, a mix of everything from furniture to budget clothing, toys to food, not really of much interest to us. There was a small tent market, no not a market selling camping equipment, maybe a dozen stalls selling slightly more interesting stuff, jewellery, 'alternative' footwear – well you know the sort of stuff, you don't need any of it but some of it is nice to have.

"Scusie, tienes estos en tamaño treinta y cuatro por favor?”

Okay I'll admit my Spanish is a bit mangled but the stall holder seemed to understand.

"Sí, i 'll traerlos de la tienda para usted .”

Which I think means yes, why do the Spanish have to talk so damned fast all the time? Anyhow, she scurried off and into what I'm guessing is some sort of storage.

"What are you after now?” Ron asked over my shoulder.
I held up the footwear I had my eye on, "She's just gone to get my size for me to try.”
"They're a bit, er pointy.”

Which indeed they are, ankle boots, very pointy, very black, lots of buckles, ten centimetre stiletto heel and perfect for Erdbeere on stage.

"Think rock chick.”
"Oh these are for your tour thingy.”
"Well its okay borrowing Jules clompers but they're a couple of sizes too big and not really my style.”
"And these are?”

I didn't get to answer as the vendor returned and started opening a box, "Tamaño treinta y cuatro, el talón es un poco más alto creo.”
"Er si.”
"Sentarse, probarlos por favor,” she motioned to a bench affair at the end of her stall, guess its time to try them on.

Well its not like i've never worn heels before is it? Once i'd worked out that there was actually a zip to get in and out with, and borrowed some footies, I stood up. They felt way higher than ten centimetre, not uncomfortable just different, I mean, i've been wearing trainers, cycling shoes and flats most of the last few weeks, anything with a heel will feel odd.

"Estan bien intenta caminar por la alfombra, mira cómo se sienten,” she instructed with a bit of hand waving.

I tottered along the short strip of carpet, not bad, its not like I move much on stage is it?

"They don't really go with your shorts Gab,” Gret observed.
"I wasn't planning on wearing them together.”
"I think you need a licence,” Kat grinned.
"For what?”
"For those boots, they are sex-ee Bond.”
"That is sort of the idea, take the audiences mind off my terrible singing.”
"Bueno?”
"Er si. hay algun descuento?” I think I got that right.
She looked at me, shook her head a bit, "Cuarenta euros?”
"Hecho!”

Well ten euros off is quite good, you don't get if you don't ask.
 
I hadn't intended spending much more than the cinema ticket price when Dad dropped us off but I'm skint now, well i've used most of the euros I had left, I got the denim on my card, thankfully they took EC. At least I can claim for the boots as Tour expenses.

"We should get back,” Kat suggested, "Or George will have a hairy.”
"Aye, wouldna want ta upset the Boss like,” Josh stated.
"Lets go find a taxibus then,” I suggested hefting my bags.
"So what culinary delight have we got tonight?” Mand quested as we headed towards the taxi rank.
"Tapas with a twist.”
"Really?”Tal groaned, "Weird stuff and not enough of any of it.”
"You'll see,” Pinger smirked, "You'll see.”

 
Maddy Bell © 28.03.2021