The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1614 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

The next day, after taking the girls, I spoke with Sister Maria. “Does the name Pennecuik mean anything to you?”

“Not immediately, why should it?”

“Julie is in hospital at the moment and an old lady on her ward claims to have been a teacher here, she was science teacher I believe, she’d met Erwin Schrodinger when he was teaching in Ireland.”

“Come with me,” she said and I followed her into the office, she spoke with the secretary who shrugged then began to look in some old books which she got from a metal cupboard. “Do we know what period?” asked the headmistress.

“I have no idea, but Schrodinger died in the early sixties so it has to be that sort of time, I suspect. She was one of your lay teachers, I suspect because she said she was Mrs Pennecuik.”

“No, can’t find anything.”

“She was obviously a physicist.”

“Obviously?” queried the secretary.

“Yes, if she was pleased to meet Schrodinger, she was into quantum physics.”

“Oh, was she?” It had evidently gone over her head.

“Looks like I’d better go and see her, just in case she was an old teacher here.” Sister Maria sighed as she said this and I felt guilty. I began to wish I’d kept my mouth shut.

I did some food shopping and got some more pads for my bra. I wasn’t feeding Catherine quite as often, so my milk was less. I did, however, feed her at least a couple of times most days, just to keep our bond–besides I actually liked it.

I pondered over the appearances of the Shekhinah I’d experienced. The first one was soon after I got the baby and a day or two later I began to lactate. I felt fairly comfortable with her although something had been stalking me which I didn’t like. I suspect that was the Lililith, who then appeared herself claiming to be the Shekhinah.

Finally, the one who appeared when Billie came to say goodbye, was much more like the first one and her energy felt genuine. I still didn’t believe in gods or goddesses other than as archetypes a la Jung, but it was quite interesting how my unconscious mind seemed to work with these elements.

I remembered after the Drummond’s funeral that tall woman speaking to me about the goddess and giving me her card. I wondered if I still had it? Then I pooh-poohed it, load of tosh, just vivid dreams and wild imagination.

I got the shopping and as I went to pay for it, who should walk up to me but the woman from the funeral. “Lady Cameron, how nice to see you again.”

“Um–I’m sorry you have the advantage.”

“Of course, you meet so many people. Ariadne Dougal, we met at poor Maria and Paul’s funeral.”

“And Daisy,” I said tersely.

“But of course, might we stop our consumerism long enough to consume a quick coffee?”

I didn’t really want to talk to her, yet I had all sorts of questions, although I wasn’t at all sure that our realities or worlds had much overlap bar the need to shop for food.

I got us two latte coffees and we sat and sipped them. “How is the baby?” she asked, “You did take her on with you, didn’t you?”

“Yes, she’s fine.”

“Oh good, how awful for her family to die so tragically, but then, an angel stepped into the breach to save the day.”

“Angel?” I blushed.

“Yes, those whom the goddess favours are her angels. Her presence is strong in you.”

“Just who is this goddess you keep talking about?” I asked, throwing the ball back to her.

“Oh she has many names, but she will have given one to you to recognise her by–she has, hasn’t she?”

“Um–I don’t know, but the word Shekhinah has come up a few times but also Lilith.”

“Goodness, what a contrast–have nothing to do with the latter–she’s bad news. No, stick to the lady Shekhinah, a very powerful goddess, arguably the origins of the great God himself.”

“I was told it was a female aspect of the Hebrew god.”

“No, the goddess predates the god in nearly every culture, which is appropriate as we come before our children.”

“So are you trying to tell me she’s the mother of God?”

“Mother, sister, consort, wife–she is the essence of the female deity, and hence the essence of we females.”

“So would this goddess be present say in someone who was transgendered?”

“Hmm, a good question–I would think it’s entirely possible–yes, a two spirit person, yes, I think so, why?”

“I know someone who is transgendered who seems to have a very strong female feel to them.”

“Ah, she, I take it’s a she we’re talking of?”

“Yes, most definitely.”

“She could well be blessed by the goddess, some might think she is transgendered as a consequence of her blessing.”

“Run that past me again, if you would?”

“One of the suggestions for things like homosexuality and transsexuality is that the goddess has blessed those individuals, and her essence is strong in them.”

“I think quite a few of them would suggest it was hardly a blessing.”

“I don’t know, those she favours grow in ways we normal souls can only wonder at.”

“So why do think the essence is strong in me?”

“I can see and feel her presence in you–you have great power, or will have once you realise how to use it–you can mend people’s very souls. Oh, who is this delightful little child?” She looked down by the side of me. “Oh, dear me, she says she’s one of your children.”

I felt myself going cold.

“Um–Billie? Am I getting that right? Yes, she says her name is Billie, a pretty child who worries about you all, she passed not very long ago–is that right?”

I nodded and picked up my bag to grab a tissue, my eyes were growing moist. I pulled out my purse as well and opened it at the photo of the children. “That’s her,” Ariadne pointed straight at Billie in the photo, “isn’t it?” I nodded and the tears began to form.

“Oh you poor dear, don’t get upset, she’s fine but she does worry about you and her siblings.”

I dabbed my eyes hoping not to mess my makeup, then remembered I wasn’t wearing any. I blew my nose and felt a little better.

“She’s gone now, but she asked me to tell you to take Tish...”

“Trish, my daughter.”

“Quite so, to take Trish with you when you went to see Juliette?”

“Julie, my eldest daughter, she’s in hospital at the moment with a gynae problem.”

“Oh, poor child.”

“Did she say why I should take Trish?”

“Um–no, she didn’t.”

“How come I can’t see her?”

“I don’t know–you probably will when it’s appropriate.” She stared at me, “My goodness, the power is with you, indeed.”

“What d’you mean?”

“There are blue flames coming out of you and going into that old chap across the way–this is fascinating.”

“Which old chap?” I glanced round and saw an elderly man who was sitting almost in trance.

“Oh it’s stopped now.”

I looked again and he seemed to go back to eating his meal and looked a little better colour than he had a moment ago.

Ariadne grabbed my hand and gasped, “My goodness, the power is strong in you, my dear, let the goddess guide you and you will reap her rewards.”

“Eh?” my conversational skills were legend.

“Let her guide you and you will see and do things you wouldn’t believe possible.”

“Um–I’ve done that, I’d quite like to stick to my day jobs as teacher and mother.”

“I’m sorry, my dear, those whom the goddess chooses must do as she wills or pay a heavy price.”

“Oh,” I began to wonder if I already had.

“So nice to see you again, Lady Cameron, angel of the Shekhinah.”

Luvverly, just what I always wanted, not.