(aka Bike) Part 556 by Angharad |
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I joined Simon and Erin in the green room, where they were being plied with drinks. I felt like a large something or other to get me over the shock of that news programme. At the same time, I hadn’t eaten for several hours, and a sniff of a barmaid’s apron would have had me legless–no tolerance of alcohol. Come to think of it, barmaids don’t wear aprons, and I certainly wouldn’t want to sniff one–even if they did.
Simon approached and hugged me, “So you’re going to be an award winner.”
“You knew this before, didn’t you?”
“Um,” he blushed, “Sort of…”
“Pig, you could have warned me.”
“Um, I was sworn to secrecy.”
“If I’d known about it, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Come on, Babes, you deserve some recognition for saving that woman.”
“No I don’t, anybody could have done what I did.”
“But they didn’t.”
“No, because there was no one else there.”
“See, it was fate.”
“Rubbish. Hello, Erin, thanks for coming.”
“I’m glad I did, congratulations on the award.”
“I haven’t got it yet, and I might write to the Humane Society and tell them to withdraw my nomination.”
“Whatever for?” she looked aghast.
“Why should I get one?”
“For saving a life.”
“Paramedics and firemen do it every day.”
“So, it’s their job, they are trained to do it. You improvise because it isn’t your job.”
“Everyone should try to help someone in distress.”
“I quite agree, but many of us don’t because we don’t have your presence of mind and fortitude.”
“Eh?”
“Fortitude, it means…”
“I know what it means, I think you’re mistaken, that’s all.”
“Your heart is twenty four carat, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s the same as everyone else’s. I am not special.” I was in the middle of my protest when several people from the news programme came into the room. They all exaggeratedly air kissed each other, and then came over to congratulate me. I stayed polite but felt increasingly out of place. Seemingly, Simon and Erin were having a good time.
I glanced around the room, finally my eyes alighted on Julie Stevens. I went over to her, “I hope you have a ride home arranged for me.”
“Yeah, same chap. He’ll be here at nine.”
“Nine? It’s only half seven now.”
“Yeah, so help yourself to hospitality.”
“I’d like to go home and see to my kids. Do you have his phone number?”
“This gathering is to honour you.”
“I want to go home.”
“Can’t you stay just a little longer, they want to make a couple of speeches and so on. Sir Malcolm has paid for it.”
“No, I’m going now, even if I have to walk home.”
“In those boots?”
“Watch me.” I brushed her aside and stormed through to reception. I handed in my badge, “Can you call me a cab?”
“Miss Watts, there is a car organised for you, why don’t you go back to your party?”
“Ask him to come now, please.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Do you have his number?”
“Um, yes, but…”
“Then either call him, or get me a cab–now.”
The skinny blonde shook in her hot-pants once she understood I was serious and angry. She called the driver who replied he’d be there in twenty minutes.
I asked her if there was somewhere I could buy a sandwich and a cuppa, she gave me back my visitor’s badge and pointed the way to the staff canteen.
I sat there anonymously, having instructed her not to tell anyone where I was. I didn’t want any of this fuss, so maybe marrying Simon wasn’t such a good idea, he seemed to thrive on it.
I ate a tuna salad sandwich made with wholemeal bread, and drank some BBC tea. It tasted better than all the jokes had led me to believe. Fifteen minutes later, I was waiting outside for my car. It was on time and I got in.
“You’re quite a gal, aren’t ya?” commented my driver as he sped away.
“What d’you mean?” I asked, playing dumb.
“I watched the programme while I ate me tea.”
“Which one is that then?”
“Oh come off it, you’re the future Lady Cameron, wonder-woman and general nice guy.”
“I hope the last bit is correct, if the rest isn’t.”
“I thought you were ‘avin’ a party.”
“No, I have two children under five, I want to be back with them.”
“Baby-sitter let you down?”
“No, I’d just rather be at home with my kids than getting paralytic with a bunch of complete strangers.”
“Yeah, right.” He was silent for a while and we entered the motorway. “You’re embarrassed, ain’tcha?”
“About what?”
“The award business.”
“Why should I be?”
“I dunno, but you are, admit it.”
“What if I am?”
“Nuthin’.”
I sat and fretted. I was essentially shy and preferred to be with small numbers of people I knew rather than anonymous masses. The exception was when I was teaching, then I’d happily lecture a couple of hundred. I suppose the latter is role play, whilst the other is being me–and that makes me vulnerable. No wonder Superman, sleeps up in space, I wonder if I can fly, it might be nice.
As the car sped along in the dark, I felt myself yawning and closing my eyes. Next thing, someone was touching my shoulder and calling, “Cathy, you’re home.”
I woke up enough to recognise Tom’s house, and I sleepily thanked my driver and let myself in. The corps de presse had gone, I hoped on a permanent basis.
The house was in darkness save for the hall and stair lights. I went to check on the dog; she lay in her basket and wagged her tail. I let her out in the garden and gave her a dog chew when she came back in. Then I switched the kettle on and slipped quietly upstairs to check the girls.
I stood in the doorway of their bedroom and gazed at my two little angels as they slept. How could anyone want to be anywhere but here? I hoped my unintentional celebrity didn’t cause them troubles. I tried to avoid it, but in jumping from the pan, seemed to always end up in the fire. I kissed them both and tucked them in.
As I turned from the girls’ bedroom I jumped out of my skin–Stella was watching me. “Have a good time?”
“No, it was positively awful.”
She smiled at me, “I did, they behaved impeccably and went to sleep after I read them a story.”
“Oh good, thanks for doing that. I’m making some tea, want some?”
“No thanks, I’ll be running back and forth to the loo if I do.”
“Well you can come and talk to me if you want, the tea isn’t obligatory.”
“I’m off to bed, if you don’t mind–looking after two kids is hard work, you know.” She winked at me and went back into her room and I went down to make my tea.
My phone rang and a slurring Simon asked where I was. I replied, “Home in bed,” and switched off my phone. Ten minutes later, I was there wearing out my remaining brain cell as I tried to finish the Guardian crossword before I fell asleep.
Comments
Clueless
Simon just doesn't get it. I wonder if he ever will. If he doesn't figure it out soon, there will either be no wedding, or it will be a very short marriage.
Damage Control
I think Simon has some major damage control to do and I'm not certain that he is bright enough to even realize it.
Michelle B
Rule #1, On Caring For Cathy
NEVER surprise her! When you do, she goes into her shell.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
I have to admit
I felt like Cathy was a little over the top on prickly about the award and party. But ... the posters who did a little analysis on her state of mind and reaction to surprise made me think a little differently.
Character
Remember, Woody, the kind of people who crave that sort of attention do not generally have the necessary character to earn it; and those that have the necessary strength of character don't need or want the attention. Honestly, I'm surprised she didn't stand up and walk off the set when they dropped that little bombshell on her. She'd pretty much warned them what she would and would not tolerate before they got started.
Interesting that Stella had a good evening with the munchkins. Perhaps she does possess a bit of maternal feeling after all.
Yuri!
Yuri!
Cathy is so upset because
Cathy is so upset because she does not see herself as anyone out of the ordinary. I believe part of her problem is she is still trying to fit into her female role and simply wants to establish herself as an every day female. Maybe, once all her documents and such have been sorted out, and she is officially considered by law a woman, she will be able to loosen up and take life as it comes to her. Simon better wake up or it is good bye Cathy for him.
Well, the cabbie had her pegged..
Shy she is... Unless she's threatened, or those around her are. But, give her a minute to think about it, and she "shy's" right up. :-)
Ummm. I know her feeling... About awards and such. They seem to give them for reasons that don't always make sense. I've seen cases where... No let's not go there, this is a fun story.
Sorry that Stella didn't have it in her to keep Cathy company. She sounded like she needed some, and Simon certainly wasn't going to be good company. It's obvious that Simon's just FINE in a crowd... Well, sorta. He's sloshed again it seems. Doesn't have a head for when he's had enough to drink *sighs*. maybe he'll grow up. He shows signs sometimes.
Thanks,
Annette
let's examine this a bit
I know i'm behind most of the people commenting a bit.
Simon & Stella have been in media spotlight their entire lives and in hi-society circles all of it also. cathy comes from an abusive childhood & in school, her(his @ time) best option was to go thru life UNNOTICED and far too many of us came from a simular background, especially those of us that didnt want our crossdressing/girl life exposed anymore than absolutely necessarily.
That was life & we dealt with it as we knew how. we were good people and I can see any of us getting into a situation, no matter how bad in trying to help if we could of. I did a couple of times.
Cathy also has this esteem issue which has been imbreded into her since childhood of not taking credit or worse being told by fathers,others she/he didnt deserve praise for an action. NOT a single person in my family gave praise when i did something good. Just like Cathy.
I think by now in in storyline time, she beginning to see the light & fight back when she can ... YES right now it shows up in ANGER, maybe over the top, but as time goes on, it' possible she'll come to see the enevatable, if she doesnt totally blow her stack & loose more... ((this is shown several chapts back @ meeting when she thought her dormice were endangered) she was justified, but in hindsight was a very bad move.
Simon & Stella prob. dont realize just how embedded this is into Cathy & therefore dont understand how much Cathy really doesnt want the spotlight. She just wants to do what she believes is right, perform her job & leave all the other what she truely believes in heart as BS to others,
I still think she'll continue to grow & see she can have her ideals & still accept some praise along the way & that praise gets her FAV little projects recognition along the way.
If I was her, every time they stuck a microphone in m face, I'd start talking about my FAV subj... dormice.. and ignore any questions about whatever till they took the microphone away from me... def makes idiots go away or least it did in my 5 min. of fame rofL
Agreed
I also think Simon is not in too much trouble. Cathy basically knows him well enough. He is not abusive in the slightest (and I suspect that is rarer than people realize), loves the kids (Trish strikes me as someone who sill not be afraid of the limelight), and loves Cathy completely, warts and all. He has things to learn, but if he changes too much he wouldn't be the man she loved. Cathy owes Stella, the kind of debt that can never be repaid, and I'm not talking about saving her life. Cathy was buried under Charlie until Stella let her out, in style.
Siimon can't help himself, he's a man, and men are always wrong
Now who will present ! where is Lord Malcolm ? You know he's coming. Makes the Viscount look like a piker, Billions !
Cefun
!