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(aka Bike) Part 984 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad
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“But I want to go and see her.”
“Julie, I’m going this evening, I might take you then.”
“Huh–you’re jealous, I have the healing gift now, so I might save her instead of you doing it. You’ve got to be centre of attention haven’t you?”
“I am busy trying to get five children ready for school, if you can’t help, then please go to your room and stay there.”
Sometimes she made me so cross, stupid girl. I already had an arrangement where I might be able to help Maureen without drawing attention to myself. Besides, Julie was a total novice–why can’t giving them a zap as teenagers make them reasonable? I also didn’t want her to see Maureen looking like a multicoloured punchbag. Children should be spared such traumas if possible, and that included teenage ones, however mature they think they are.
Breakfast seemed to take forever, the girls were lethargic and the boys were comatose–they went to bed at a reasonable time, so I had no idea why. I managed to get the boys out the door just in time to catch their bus–to have had to run them to school as well would have meant either they or the girls would be late.
Simon ambled down as I went out of the door with the girls, I only had time to wave as we were running very late.
Meems was clingy, she didn’t want to go to school today–I had no idea why, but I struggled with her to the nursery class and spoke briefly with the teacher, who had no idea why she should be so whiney today. The teacher also promised to keep an eye on her and to give her a little cuddle if she needed one.
I drove home stopping en route to pick up one or two things from the corner shop as I went. Back home, I called to Simon, but no answer and then I realised his car was gone. I wondered if he’d gone to get fuel or something else–he is after all almost grown up–or as much as he’s going to be.
I popped the kettle on and rinsed out the teapot–I needed some tea therapy before I started the day’s chores, the first of which was to make some more bread. While the kettle boiled I chucked in the constituents to make a fresh loaf and switched on the machine. I turned back to the kettle and Stella was in the kitchen with Puddin’.
Stella passed the baby to me to have a little cuddle and I hugged her and made silly faces and blew raspberries, the usual stuff that works with Simon, so I knew it would amuse Pud. It did and very soon she was giggling and shrieking.
“If you hang on to her, I’ll make the tea,” offered Stella, so I sat down and balanced my precious cargo on my knee and gently bounced her up and down. After a whopping burp up came the sick, which I just managed to catch in my hand and wash down the sink.
“I don’t know how you can do that?” Stella made faces from the other side of the room.
“It’s easier washing my hands than these trousers–didn’t you burp her?”
“Of course, but she likes to keep life interesting.”
Puddin’ and I giggled at that, especially when I told her she was wicked. She snorted, then sneezed spraying me with baby snot–just what I always wanted. I wiped my face with a tissue and Puddin’ sneezed again, then looked anxious and her bottom lip trembled. I wiped my face and played peekaboo which made Puddin’ forget her fears and chuckle loudly.
“You’re good with babies,” said Stella placing my mug of tea within reach of me but beyond that of her daughter, “Seems ironic you couldn’t have any.”
I made more silly noises to Pudding who was now giggling again, “Oh well; life is one big irony, isn’t it?”
“That makes as much sense as anything else you’ve said.”
“Oh thanks, Stella.” Then to Puddin’ I offered, “Your mummy is not very nice to her younger sister is she?” I made another funny noise and Puddin’ wriggled about with laughter.
“Did you change her?” I asked Stella.
“Yes, just before I brought her down, why?”
“She doesn’t smell entirely wholesome.”
“Oh bugger, that’s your fault making her excited.”
“Oh thanks, Stella, a bad workman always blames his tools.”
“What’s that go to do with babies?” she snapped back.
“Nothing why?”
“Oh,” she said and reached down to take her baby back for changing.
“I suppose I’d better go up and make my peace with our resident teenager.”
“You’ll have a job.”
“Why?”
“She went off with Simon, an hour ago.”
“Where?”
“To see Maureen.”
“She what?”
“She went off to see Maureen, I assumed you knew.”
“I specifically asked her not to go.”
“Oh, sorry, I assumed you were okay with it. Or I’d have mentioned it earlier.”
“Damn and double damn, I’ll murder her when she gets back–she could mess up the tacit agreement I had with the night sister on the ICU.”
“Well phone her and call her back.”
“That would just make her worse, pig headed little...”
“Pig?”
“I was thinking more of swine, but it’ll do.”
“It’s a bit repetitive, you’re usually more inventive in your invective.”
“Am I?”
“Well call Simon, he’s presumably with her.”
“The silly little cow seems to think she can raise the dead seeing as she’s got a little of the blue energy with her.”
“I see, well maybe she’ll learn a bit of lesson today then.”
“As long as she doesn’t queer my pitch for later.”
“Phone Simon.”
“He’s probably in there with her, so he’ll have turned off his mobile won’t he?”
“You don’t know that for certain do you?”
“Okay,” I picked up my bag and within a second or two had dialled Simon’s mobile.
“Hello, Babes, howya doin’?”
“Where are you?”
“Wandering around Southampton General’s grounds, why?”
“Where’s Julie?”
“In with Maureen, why?”
“I told her explicitly to wait until I went tonight. She has deliberately disobeyed my instructions.”
“Oh, that’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Did she ask you to take her to the hospital?”
“Yes, why?”
“Tell her to arrange another ICU bed for herself, she’s going to need it when I’ve finished with her.”
“Cathy, that isn’t very nurturing of you.”
“Nurturing, be buggered–I’m heading off a mutiny.”
“Look, I’ll have a word with her, I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“If you come back without her head on a pole, then I’ll know you weren’t strict enough.”
“Cathy, calm down.”
“She has deliberately ignored my instructions.”
“She’s a teenager, for goodness sake.”
“Only until I get my hands on her.”
“But they do things like this.”
“Only if you let them. Give her a bollocking by all means, advise her she has a very limited life span, but don’t get between us when you bring her home, or yours will be even shorter.”
“Cathy, stop being ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous? What if that little tart messes up and they stop Maureen’s visitors? I had an arrangement with the night sister if you recall. If Julie has messed that up, she’s grounded until she gets her pension assuming I don’t actually kill her as soon she walks in.”
“You don’t seem to understand adolescents, do you?”
I married one, “Don’t patronise me, Simon.”
“Go and have some tea and calm down.”
“I will after I’ve passed sentence and delivered the punishment.”
“Don’t be so silly, how can you save life when you threaten to take it?”
“I’ll resuscitate her so I can kill her again.”
“Very spiritual.”
“Oh, I’ll do it with love, my father showed me how.” I rang off and seethed in silence.
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Comments
Hey Cathy, 'been there, done
Hey Cathy, 'been there, done that' and have the T-shirt. A teen-age child, boy or girl, can literally screw your mind up when you least expect it. I believe anyone who raised children can sympathize with you regarding Julie and her actions. Jan
Oh dear!
More trouble at mill!
Just how are Cathy and Julie going to resolve this?
It's interesting that Julie has used a typical teenage tactic: playing one parent off against the other. It looks like Simon and Cathy are going to have to communicate better in matters pertaining to the kids.
A good episode Angharad and Bonzi: I particularly liked the bit about being inventive with the invective (which you always are when you write this).
Parenting Separation
Bike Archive
Bike Resources
>> Simon and Cathy are going to have to communicate better
Indeed. Cathy depends entirely too much upon mind-reading.
1. She made a ruling about an important matter with serious consequences and didn't tell any of the other responsible adults in the home what was going on.
2. She came home, didn't know where her all children were, and didn't ask after the invisible children.
Lesson Three of the Remedial Parenting Course for Adult Survivors of Abusive Homes:
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
Regarding Point One
We (my brothers and I) knew better than to try to play our father against our mother. The inevitable punishment was much more severe. And Julie has severely abused Cathy's trust. No matter the outcome of this little jaunt, Cathy now knows that she cannot trust Julie to do as she is told. If you cannot trust somebody to do as they are told, you cannot continue a relationship with them. The old joke about the employee reference: "Does well when supervised", is just as applicable to parent/child relationships.
Karen J.
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
I won't argue
that Cathy and Simon could communicate better, as it's a theme that's run through the whole story.
I would disagree that she didn't know where her kids were supposed to be. She'd just taken three to school and sent the other two to catch the school bus. The remaining one she'd sent to her room, and perhaps naively thought she was still there.
Angharad
Angharad
Well, of course...
Simon's a bit thick, poor dear, and the pair of them a lesson to us all. I was a right hellion growing up, and being sent to my room was *never* the end of the story. My punishment, of course, was a daughter just like me, but doing what one is told is hardly the best augury for an independent mind. All in all, I'm quite pleased with her.
Cheers,
Puddin'
I say to the Gods,
and the Sons of the Gods,
there is none with the strength
to bend me to his will.
--- Loki, the Lokasenna
-
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
Not necessarily
that you have to be an hellion to have an independent mind. One just have to be more devious, and bides one time. I was raised to be patient and I did what I wanted to do as soon as I achieved adulthood. So yes, I was obedient as a child but my mind was not and I kept that private.
Kim
I have to wonder...
...why Simon is moping around the grounds. Julie's only just discovered healing, so is probably unaware of how tiring it can be. But knowing that family, Maureen will probably show significant signs of improvement. Then, just to complicate matters, a certain six year old will probably demand to visit Maureen as well and have a go herself :)
Just thought: when Cathy heals, it's often because the energy has impulsively guided her to the situation - and on one occasion even fabricating car engine trouble. There's always the possibility the energy has manipulated Julie and Simon to ensure Maureen gets an extra dose...
When Cathy calms down, maybe she could try having a go at remote healing again. She's done it before, and knows what Maureen currently looks like and where she is...
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
I bet right
at this moment Simon is very glad that he is a good few miles away from Cathy....Talk about erupting volcano's in Iceland....Well that's got nothing on Cathy when she gets a monk on....And if Simon is worried.... Then Julie should be wondering if they still offer sanctuary in church's, Such is her mothers wrath....
On a lighter note having read about Cathys home-made bread i decided to dig out my machine and make some myself...Can't imagine why i stopped... i had forgotten just how good it tasted....And the smell of baking bread...Is there anything better?
Kirri
But what if Julie HEALS
But what if Julie HEALS Maureen? Cathy NEVER thought of that.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
But what if Julie . . .
Burns out trying to use her fledgling powers? Ever plugged a direct short (by accident of course) into a wall outlet? Sometimes it's a race as to which occurs first - does the breaker or fuse pop or does the outlet and wiring go up in flames? I believe the number of fires triggered by electrical shorts each year is fairly high, what if the "fire" is in Julie's brain? I think in the interest of being careful, Cathy has the right idea - GO SLOW!
Karen J.
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Julie's gotta learn
No means no, and if there is a boss (adult) in charge it sure isn't her!
She very stupidly (thinking herself smarter) proved she can't be trusted!
Doe's she WANT to be sent elsewhere?
What doe's she THINK will happen if it's shown that Cathy can't control her?
Is it OK to lie to get what she wants?
Brats.
And it doesn't get any easier.
The burping and changing bits are by far the easiest. After that it's all uphill for care and downhill for relationships.
Kids stay disobedient for the rest of the parent's lives and it's worse when they are 32 and still living at home as 'Yo-yo, kids. (And still feeding off them despite having jobs.)
Just hang in there Cathy. The biggest con of all is that 'it'll turn out right one day'.
Still loving it but you'll guess I've just had a huge row with my adult daughter.
(I wish she'd leave but her mum loves her.)
Dying to see what Julie does with Maureen. (Maybe a bit of plastic while the girl is asleep.)
Roll on next eph'
Love and hugs,
Bev.
The disgusting things that become normal
when you have a baby. Been there, done that.
Feel sorry for Julie and Cathy today. Julie is likely to mess something up, if nothing else, herself and Cathy will have even more to deal with.
Simon has a problem
in that I don't think he deals as much on a day-to-day with the girls, or really the boys for that matter. Cathy has fallen into that traditional role of being the prime nurturer and she and Simon are not on the same page with regard to discipline and such yet. Simon has always struck me as a bit immature so he is soooo far behind on the daddy curve. Just hope Julie does not put her foot in it.
Kim
let's not be hasty in castrating others here.
Hate to say it, But Cathy has to take complete blame in NOT notifying others. She was in a rush getting the other kids to school and assumed the teen would heed her warning. None of the other adults knew of the warning Cathy had told the teen, only knowing the teen was close to Maurice. maybe 3 adults will talk sense into julie & calm Cathy down B4 WWW III starts.
Cathy and Julie
I don't necessarily disagree with all that has been said above, but Julie does have a close relationship with Maureen, and that relationship may be worth more in the long run, that what Cathy is currently believing. Sometimes our Children do the right thing at the right time, without an parental influence. Cathy has been drawn to the scene of someone in need several times. Couldn't Julie be also, with Maureen?
Don't let someone else talk you out of your dreams. How can we have dreams come true, if we have no dreams?
Katrina Gayle "Stormy" Storm
Maureen may need all the help she can get.
Isn't it interesting how we use the word "Queer" as in queer the deal. Dress it up in lipstick and heels?
Foul up the deal , ruin the deal. Thought provoking, isn't it ? Oh, well .
Teenagers, can't live with them, can't shoot them. I know, take away her make-up for a week. That should work !
In the mean time, I hope Cathy's fears don't come true.
Cefin