(aka Bike) Part 632 by Angharad |
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We sat in the cafeteria, Henry sipping his coffee while I fretted over my tea. We each had a slice of carrot cake, mine was a bit dry, so I left most of it. How was I going to help Simon? I didn’t know if I could other than when he came home–I’d look after him like he was my baby. I envisioned myself looking after him at home.
“What are you smiling at?” asked Henry.
“I was just thinking about getting Simon home and looking after him.”
“What about your films and the university?”
“They come second to my family, as you well know.”
“They could also make you a very wealthy young lady.”
“I’m not into money, Henry, you know that.”
“If everyone took that attitude, young lady, there’d be no need for banks.”
“Would that be a bad thing?”
“From my perspective, of course it would, and I think Simon would agree with me.”
“Material wealth doesn’t make people happy.”
“Says who?”
“Oliver James for one. His book Affluenza shows his study of the of the subject for some time. He believes that the more we have the more unhappy we become.”
“What’s he, a part-time lunatic?”
“No a clinical psychologist.”
“Much the same.”
“He says that we are so busy chasing wealth that we have forgotten how to enjoy the best things in life.”
“Like what?”
“Our families and our friends. Giving children your time is the most valuable thing you can do.”
“They used to say that about education. So I sent mine off to public school at great expense.”
“Did you really believe that’s why you were sending them? Or was it because you’d been sent to one and it was the family custom?”
“Have you been talking to Stella?”
“Why? Do I detect some dissension from the party line?”
“She hated it.”
“Ah, do a I get a moral bonus point?”
“Certainly not, I’m a banker, remember? No soul, no conscience and no compassion.”
“So, I can go home now and leave your son to his fate, can I?”
“I said that related to me, not you. You’re female, you’re supposed to care.”
“That’s a bit stereotypical isn’t it? You Tarzan, me Jane?”
“Whatever, come on let’s go and find out what’s happening.” I rose from the table and we left
The nurse approached us as we went back towards Simon’s room. “Mr Armstrong said to tell you that Simon’s results look better than he thought, he’s running some more tests to confirm them.”
The first good news we’d heard, we both smiled and thanked her, she bustled off with a beaming smile that threatened to crack her face right the way across.
Simon was awake but very weary. “So what did the doctor have to say?” I asked
“He apologised but said there was a good chance I might live, sorry to disappoint you.” Simon smiled weakly.
“I expect we’ll manage to cope with it.”
“There is one thing.”
“What’s that?” I asked and he beckoned me towards him. I leant over him, and he grabbed my hand. “Will you marry me, Cathy?”
“If you promise to get better as soon as you can, and help me look after my two unruly foster children.”
“Can I think about it?” he said which wasn’t what I was expecting.
“That’s not fair,” I protested, “how long will you need?”
“About as long as it takes you to kiss me.”
“As long as that?” I snapped back at him. Then I kissed him, it hurt my shoulder, but what the hell?
“I feel like a puppet with all these wires and things on my arms.”
“That might be better than a glove puppet,” said Henry.
“Why?” I asked not getting with the joke at all.
“Think Sooty and Sweep,” said Simon. I still felt puzzled, so he pretended to ram his hand up something. It took me a moment, then I saw the funny side of it and chuckled.
Henry was watching us and laughed at my reactions, “Goodness you’re slow today, girl.”
“Sorry I wasn’t thinking along the same lines at all.”
“That I think was plain to see. Right are you going to zap him?”
“What?” said Simon looking worried.
“Why do you think you’re still here?”
“They gave me the antidote for the paracetamol, that’s why.”
“No, it’s because Cathy here zapped some of her magical power into you. That’s why.”
I blushed and shrugged my shoulders, I tended to side with Simon rather than his dad, but I wasn’t going to say anything.
“Let her take your hand,” said Henry.
“Will she bring it back?” asked Simon facetiously.
“Don’t mock those things you can’t explain.”
“What? D’you mean women?”
“Simon, shut up,” I said and took his hand and held it between mine.
“Oh, I can feel the magic already,” squeaked Simon.
“Shut up you buffoon,” barked Henry, sounding like a sergeant major.
“Yes, sir,” Simon went deep scarlet and shut up.
Comments
More ups and downs than..
Least they got it sorted(ish). Remember, energy follows thought....
I wait for 'Bike' every night, love it - J
Unless there is truth in my heart, my every effort is doomed to failure....
That which does not kill me only serves to delay the inevitable. My blog => http://jaynemorose.wordpress.com/ <= note new address
Wombat Drawers?
Where's the wombat? And why does it need drawers? Simon might be a lunkhead, but he's Cathy's lunkhead. And Henry knows it too. I wonder if Cathy's blue light only works on her loved ones?
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Wombats...
...are Australian dormouse wannabes. And they need drawers because the Australians are a very moral people, and disapprove of public nudity, in wombats at least.
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
That's wrong.
Wombats have drawers to keep their stuff in. They have them in their chests.
I don't think Cathy's blue light is an optical illusion at all ... it just looks like one.
Geoff
intense concern for the person
seems important. Wonder if Cathy can make it happen with him laying there watching her? Wonder if he'll feel it? Wow, this is sounding like a scientific experiment on supernatural capabilities.
I think Bonzi meant the
I think Bonzi meant the place you keep Wombats.
As to the BLS, it's a love thing, and if she doesn't have a love connection with the patient I don't think it will work.
But I've been wrong about the way this has been going before.
- - - - -
Bear
Bear
let the doctors convince
themselves that the antidote and their care actually pulled Simon through. We know different. Still looking for that bedside wedding (followed later by a big formal event). Cathy may not be so concerned with becoming wealthy but she should at least acknowledge that wealth does allow her to send her kids to the right schools, care for them as they deserve, and live a comfortable lifestyle. (and hire the expensive lawyer who will help her adopt)
Can't resist adding to the last line of the chapter
“Simon, shut up,†I said and took his hand and held it between mine.
“Oh, I can feel the magic already,†squeaked Simon.
“Shut up you buffoon,†barked Henry, sounding like a sergeant major.
“Yes, sir,†Simon went deep scarlet and shut up just before he disappeared in a puff of greasy black smoke.
(and NO Angharad - that was not a plot suggestion. Just me sitting here a little bored)
Non TG story
It seems to me that it's been a long time since there been any TG element in this story. I think it would be reasonable to add Non-Transgender to the list of this stories attributes.
I beg your pardon???
We have the daily lives of an out transgendered woman, her lover, two transgendered children, and a cast of thousands. It's a bloody transgendered circus, three rings, one continuous show, and a thrill a minute.
What do you want, liontamer with head in the lion's mouth? Fireworks? Skydivers? (Oh! Wait a bit! Done those last two already...) We *are* waiting on the liontamer, though...
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
I think it's one
transgendered child but beyond that completely agree with you.
Remember Stevie?
It's been ages, but there he was.
Puddin'
P.S. 200 and preceding...
-
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
Err...how about three and a half?
Was Stevie the potential transgendered child who'd done very little research, or the student with advanced HIV/AIDS (who later died)?
Number 3: the nine year old Sam Rose knows, and whom he'd like Cathy to meet (but thankfully not foster!)
And a half: Catherine Agnew.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
The Story Still Has The TG Element
The story continues to have the TG element as a part of the storyline, because Cathy continues to deal with how she fits in with what society thinks a woman should be and she has a daughter dealing with the same things at a much younger age. She fights for Trish to be treated the way she should have been growing up. She still feels inadequate because she cannot bear children and she is marrying into nobility. That would make a GG feel inadequate let alone a post-op MTF. It is great that she is finally recognized by the government for who she is, but she still struggles with the same self doubts many of us deal with.
Yes
Exactly. The car chases and shoot ups might hide it at times but the basis is still Cathy dealing with her fears and doubts and others views of her. Plus the Trish situation, which will no doubt have it's own if similar dramas.
Kristina
So why is it
... that Cathy can't heal herself ?
Also, to make it a real metaphysical climax at the end of this series ( no, no, no - at least offer us specials once in a while, please ? ) Cathy discovers how to channel the power to change herself (!) WOW ....
Kim
Haven't you ever heard..
Doctors make the WORST patient....
Though, since Cathy doesn't believe in her own ability, she's unlikely to, subconsciously even, try to help herself... She's been shown to be VERY "outward" looking, as far as helping... Rarely doing things for herself. I suspect, if she were consciously using this ability, she'd still not help herself, as she'd feel she needed to "reserve" it for those that "really needed it"...
Annette
Cathy
Well well well
Belief in God.
Belief in healing.
Belief in spirits.
Still, Simon still has some explaining to do, now that he is going to live. Her and Simon now have something in common I believe. A sensitivity to paracetamol.
Simon IS a buffoon !
Simon shut your wise cracking, stupid mouth that got you in trouble and listen to the BOSS !
Cathy is the only reason you aren't DEAD. Jesus, as thick as a slab of concrete.
Nice job Ang.
Cefin