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(aka Bike) Part 1073 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad
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There was a short lull before a cacophony of voices yelled, “Can I be a bridesmaid?”
“Did I say something wrong?” mouthed Stella to me.
“QUIET,” I shouted and there was a moment of silence followed once more by raucous noise. I shouted again and silence fell once more. “Thank you,” I said quietly. “You can all be bridesmaids, but we don’t have a date until I discuss it with Daddy, and we have to ask Daisy if she’d like to come and be one too.”
“I don’t wanna be a bloody bridesmaid,” said Danny.
“Aww go on, it’ll be fun,” teased Julie. Danny ran off out into the garden.
“Mummy, who is Daisy?” asked Trish.
“Daisy is a little girl I met in hospital who wants to be a bridesmaid and I invited her to be one when I got married.”
“Did you make her better?”
“I might have helped.” I shrugged. I remembered avoiding her and her dad, Paul and the surgeon whatever his name was. I collapsed trying to heal another kid and she died. Stella called the ambulance and I ended up in A&E. I almost ran away because I couldn’t face promising to heal his wife. I was a coward. Part of me seemed suited to the role, because I didn’t want to ask her now, I felt ashamed of my fear of responsibility for something I had little or no control over.
I left them asking Stella questions while I called Sam Rose.
“This is an unexpected pleasure,” said Sam.
“Do you remember a Daisy Drummond?”
“Of course I do, you made her walk again.”
“I didn’t make her do anything–she just got off the bed and walked.”
“You sure it wasn’t, ’picked up her bed and walked,’”
“Sam, unless you were built like Samson, you wouldn’t be able to lift it let alone pick it up. Hospital beds weigh a ton.”
“Why are you asking about Daisy Drummond?”
“I promised to have her as one of my bridesmaids.”
“I thought you were married?”
“I am, but the family expects a big church thing up in Scotland, so we’re doing a blessing with all the trimmings.”
“And you wonder if she wants to be a bridesmaid?”
“If she’ll forgive me.”
“Forgive you?”
“Yes, I ran away if you remember.”
“You weren’t very well if I remember.”
“I was scared shitless.”
“A very precise medical term.”
“What is?”
“Being scared shitless, it happens to doctors all the time, especially paediatricians who are frequently unable to do much for their young charges.”
“Sam, you are a wonderful doctor.”
“Why thank you, Lady Cameron, you’re no bad yersel.” He affected a very poor Scottish accent. “Together, we could be unbeatable.”
“Sam, you’d get yourself struck off for superstition.”
“I don’t know if that is actually a capital offence, but they’d probably lump it under gross misconduct and ask me to fall on my sword.”
“Shouldn’t you fall on your stethoscope, being a doc an’ all?”
“I think it takes a long time to kill you that way, in fact you’d probably get through a few years pension first.”
“Oh, then the government wouldn’t like you.”
“No they wouldn’t. To them, money always comes first.”
“A bit like bankers.” I teased.
“Don’t get me started on them, they’re responsible for all...”
“Sam,” I interrupted, “Simon is a banker, and my outlaws own a rather large edifice which deals with money: in fact; quite a few of them.”
“Oh yes, I forgot.”
“Yes, I’ve married a long line of usurers.”
He laughed, “Not that bad is it?”
“Not at all, I can have all the money I want–except I don’t want it, I want my children to grow up to be happy and contented adults, doing useful jobs and being aware of the needs of others as well as their own–and I hope that of the other denizens of this planet.”
“What a refreshing young woman you are, Cathy. If you ever get fed up with Lord wossisname, come and live with me.”
I actually blushed over the phone, is that possible?
“You still there, Cathy?”
“Yes, I’m still here–one of the kids wanted something,” I lied.
“What do you want to do about Daisy?”
“I’d like to contact her and ask her if she’d still like to be a bridesmaid?”
“Would you like me to ask her parents to call you?”
“That would resolve my dilemma in some ways wouldn’t it?”
“Are you happy that I tell them about your reason for wanting contact?”
“That’s fine, Sam, tell them whatever you like, and if I don’t hear in a day or two, I’ll know she doesn’t want to be involved with me–which is fine.” I felt a tear roll down my face, I felt so ashamed of running away that part of me hoped they wouldn’t call.
I left it with Sam and went back to the kitchen where Stella was still besieged by barbarians. They were using weapons of math disruption, trying to browbeat Stella into giving them which date was most likely.
They were all talking at once so I slammed the kitchen door and they all jumped, including Stella. “You mother’s here, she can deal with it now,” she said and disappeared rapidly.
“Right you lot, first things first: I haven’t decided a date, so no amount of annoying me will produce one faster and could result in me cancelling the whole thing. I haven’t decided on a colour scheme, but I will, and you will wear it. you will also wear whatever style I decide on. This is my wedding blessing. If you want to do all the choosing, you’ll have to wait until you get married yourself. Now go and play while I make the dinner.”
I went and found Danny who was polishing Stella’s bike. “Don’t let them get to you because you’re the only boy. You’ll look dashing in a kilt.”
“I’m not wearing a bloody skirt.”
“Danny, I thought we’d agreed that all the men would wear dress tartan kilts with sporrans and all the trimmings.”
“I’m no bloody fairy despite living here.”
“Is that what you think the rest of them are?”
“I dunno–I’m sorry, Mum, I jus’ don’ wanna be laughed at?”
I hugged him as he cried on my shoulder, he was nearly as tall as I was. “Danny, the event is taking place in Scotland, all the men will be wearing kilts, showing off their hairy legs and knobbly knees, with various knives and daggers stuffed in their socks.”
“In their socks?”
“Yes, ask Daddy or Gramps to show you their ceremonial knives.”
“Would I have one of those too?”
“I don’t know what the age limit is on allowing boys to wear one, but providing you promise to take care of it and not do anything silly with it, I’m sure Daddy would get you one as well. But ye cannae wear ain wi trewsers, only wi a kilt, dae ye ken?” My Lallans is pure rubbish, despite being born in Dumfries waur Rabbie Burns died.
“Okay, if I can have one of the knives, I’ll wear a skir–I mean kilt.”
“You’ll need to talk with Daddy, but I’m sure he’ll sort it out to both your satisfactions.”
He hugged me, not realising he’d lapsed into a more juvenile form of address despite being the great age of ten going on eleven.
I left him polishing the bike and a promise to clean mine too–can’t be bad. I’d just arrived back at the kitchen when Stella called me. “Cathy, it’s Maria Drummond.”
“Who?” then the penny dropped, my tummy convulsed and I took the receiver. “Hello?”
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Comments
Skean dhu
I'm sure Gabi will correct me if I'm wrong ( or wrang, if you like) but IIRC the knife tucked into the the sock when wearing a kilt is called a skean dhu. I'm sure Danny will be easily persuaded to wear a 'skirt' if it comes complete with a dagger to stick down his sock.
I was once in digs with a Scot whose family lived almost literally a stones throw from Burn's cottage in Alloway. Not only did Alec play the bagpipes but his dad would recite 'Tam o' Shanter' if you weren't very careful not to provoke him :) Hence my having a vague recollection of Highland dress.
Well done to Cathy (and I suspect Angharad) for remembering her promise to young Daisy all those episodes ago.
Robi
Och weel, ma’ frien’…
…it should really be spelled Sgian Dubh which is the Gaelic for "black knife" (or literally knife black). In the long-past distant day of the Highland Clans, when one went to visit a neighbouring clan, Highland gentlemen—all Highlanders were related to their chieftain, who was a gentleman, ergo all Highlanders regarded themselves as gentlemen—one would divest oneself of the armoury one habitually carried around with one, and take from a hiding place somewhere about the person one of these small "Black knives" and insert in the right sock, to show your host that you were prepared to help him defend the homestead should it be attacked. Well, that's the tale told me by a very old highland gentleman who habitually wore the kilt and was an expert on Highland dress.
Mebbe ye should ca’ yersel’ Rabby fur a wee change.
Hugs,
Gabi.
PS. Sorry if it all seems a wee bit complicated.
Gabi.
>> all Highlanders were related to their chieftain
Loosely speaking. Some were retainers or allied families -- Septs -- sometimes distinguished by their own tartan, or variation of the "clan" tartan.
And of course one can, if sufficiently supplied with coin, design and register one's own tartan.
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
-
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 was only trying…
…to simplify matters as much as possible, Puddin’ (and split an infinitive). Sadly, I am exiled in England nowadays, and rarely manage to get "Up hame", being somewhat of a cripple. I often think it is a sad fact that more Scots live outside Scotland than live in her these days, and have done so, ever since the Highland Clearances, thanks to the Bl***y Sasannach.
Gabi.
PS. I love your wee quote from the Chicago Manual of Style; as an editor I think it fits our breed rather well. G.
Gabi.
>> I often think it is a sad fact that more Scots live outside
To the contrary, it's the outward sign of genetic fitness. Scots heritage and culture is almost ubiquitous around the world, highly concentrated in some areas, and one can purchase made to measure kilts at any one of several local tailoring establishments locally in California, including a branch (or so they say, although I've never gone to check) an Edinburgh shop. We have well-attended Highland Games locally, indeed the largest in California, although there are beaucoup to be found.
The sad thing is that it tends to be the also-rans amongst human cultures which tend to never stray from home. Adventurers find their way around the world, so when Krakatoa blew up, a few Dutchmen were killed, but many native tribes were either completely or very nearly wiped off the face of the Earth.
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
-
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
Scared shitless?
Very funny A+B: I always enjoy it when Cathy and Sam get together, even if it's only over the phone.
Paediatric Synonyms
Bike Resources
Cathy's will have to be careful
with young Danny, who's already feeling outnumbered. Danny is all boy and needs support, especially in a household mainly of women. Trish needs a sharp talking to as well; teasing, even when it's a sister half your age, could undermine his confidence. He doesn't need to be a walking wall of testosterone, but he does need to be secure and comfortable in his own identity. If he isn't, it could backfire on the girls.
Great chapter, A & B.
Susie
It was Julie
who teased him, not Trish. She has done so before, which is a bit big sisterly and perhaps enables her to forget that he's the normal kid, not her. Julie has lots of issues, so I suspect this could go on a little longer yet.
I thought, however, that we needed to remember Danny does very well in a household of females, to maintain his own identity. I know several boys/men who seem fixated by knives or cutty-things as one calls them. Personally, I find sharpened bits of metal rather frightening even though I use scalpels on a daily basis.
Angharad
Angharad
Oops!
Pay attention there, Heywood; there'll be a test later.
S.
Guess I need to go back and review
why Cathy would be frightened of talking to Daisy. I remember the promise but not really the circumstances. Poor Danny, I can see why the lone boy in that crazy and very assertive bunch of women and girls might feel a little worried. Maybe someone needs to show him some pictures and video to let him know that manly men DO wear kilts. So typical that he fixates on the knife.
question to the EAFOAB archivist
Chapter range for info on Daisy Drummond?
698 plus.
it's all in the archive, goes on for a few episodes.
Angharad
Angharad
698-704
Daisy's introduced in 698, the healing takes place in 701, and she's discharged in 704. We don't hear from her or her family after that, but Cathy has remembered her on a few occasions since.
The archive has a search facility which will show the relevant 50 chapter blocks, then use your browser's search facility (Ctrl + F) to find the specific occurences.
Of visit a certain spreadsheet to find out who any character is, when they first appeared, and (in the summaries themselves) the main episodes in which they featured.
EAFOAB Episode Summaries
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Typical Cathy
Putting herself down and ignoring the good she's done. Maybe someday she'll stop doing that...though I doubt it!
Another great chapter Angharad! And Bonzi, of course! ;)
Saless
"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America
Thanks Angharad,
ALISON
'for another great chapter.My rather rich younger brother and
his wife are off to Scotland at the end of August for the
umteenth time and I have threatened him with serious injury if
he doesn't buy himself a kilt this trip and his wife agrees with
me,so here's hoping.
Also,your reference to that good old Anglo Saxon expression,
'Scared Shitless'.One of the most descriptive expressions in
the English language and a feeling that I have had on more than
occasion,unfortunately.And long may the memory of Robbie Burns
live!
ALISON
Bike pt 1073
Danny is rightly worried about wearing a kilt now that he's the only boy in the group. But if he sees it as Macho, he won't worry about it.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
I actually blushed over the phone, is that possible?
now that would be interesting. Julie needs to be advised to not be teasing Danny as she did there are other things a big sister can do to tease, especially with Trish on her side do to speak.
What I learn here is character development. mostly it is just so fun to read.
1 out of 5 boxes of tissue and 5 gold stars
Goddess Bless you
Love Desiree
Goddess Bless you
Love Desiree
Didn't take too much
in the end for Danny to agree to wearing a kilt, Just the mention of ceremonial knives and he was putty in Cathy's hands....Young Danny is most definitely a boy!!!
Kirri
Weddings
I know weddings are right up there on the stress count directly after deaths and moving house and divorce but usually ahead of births.
Whooo-boy, Cathy's got it aaa-all to come!
Good luck Cathy and might I respectfully disillusion you of one important fact! Even though you are sadly an orphan, you are NOT and never will be in charge of your own wedding arrangements or even a formal blessing. Relatives pop up out of the bloody woodwork not to mention the walls and floors!
Good luck kid!
Still lovin' it.
OXOXOX
Bev
A boy's 1st knife
Is a rite of passage. My father gave me my 1st pocket knife at the age of 10 after he determined that I fully understood that it was not a toy and that it could cause serious injury if misused. That knife went were ever I went including to school. Of course, back then they did not have stupid rules about knives in school. Knives don't hurt people only the idiots who have no respect for other people.
Speaking of relatives...
I have to wonder if a certain obnoxious aunt and uncle will try to crash the party.
I totally agree about the knife thing, it is a sign how low civilization has come in my mind, to live in such terror of what is fundamentally a basic tool. My knife has small pliers and screwdrivers, and is a true Swiss army knife.