(aka Bike) Part 1623 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad
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I was feeling contented with Matt when driving home I suddenly remembered he didn’t do the play in the end, he had some bug or other–um what was it? Oh yeah, glandular fever and he dropped out and Iain McPherson did it instead.
No wonder he was so full of praise for me, but why didn’t anyone challenge him? The headmistress knew he dropped out, she was at the performances, some of the girls must have known too. It’s crazy, he’s a big film star and good looking and they all forget or forgive everything. I’d have something to say to her when I next saw her–then I didn’t say much either did I? As if my head was filled with new memories which never actually happened.
Why didn’t Matt talk about making films or his latest one or anything except his huge flop–the play which he didn’t do? And why didn’t I challenge him, I mean I could hardly forget it all could I? Perhaps they all knew and didn’t like to upset the apple cart, I’ll find out when I next take the girls to school. How did I forget? I shook my head and reengaged my brain to deal with the riot happening on the back seat as Trish and Livvie squabbled over the ownership of some book.
On the return home Stella told me that there had been a phone call for me. “Okay, who was it?” Before she could answer I asked her if we’d had Iain McPherson to dinner during the play.
“I wasn’t here, remember–a little matter of trying to kill you again.”
“Oops–sorry, but I just went to hear Matt Hines talking to the sixth form at the convent and they all acted as if he’d done the play with me when we all knew he dropped out and Iain McPherson took over.”
“Alright, I’ll forgive you.”
“Thank you, who was on the phone?”
“Jenny.”
“Jenny who?”
“Jenny, the wheelchair guy–remember, now?”
“Oh that Jenny–what did she want?”
“To speak to you.”
“What about?”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Did she leave a number?”
“Yes, it’s on the pad.”
I gave the girls a drink and some fruit and went into the study with the number Stella had written down. I wondered where Julie was, then saw her walking in with the push chair–she’d obviously taken Catherine out for a bit of air, so she must be feeling stronger–she could go back to college next week.
I dialled the number on the sheet of paper and waited until it rang and was answered. I recognised the voice immediately and my tummy flipped over. I really didn’t want to make this call. “Hello, Jenny it’s Cathy.”
“Hi, Cathy, thanks for calling me back.”
“What did you want me for?” I asked knowing what the answer might be.
“I’d like to come home, if you’ll take me back.”
Why do these things happen to me? I paused for a moment. “Are you still there, Cathy?”
“Yes, I’m still here.”
“You did say I could,” she was blackmailing me.
“We both said a number of things, some of which were less than pleasant.”
“So you’ve changed your mind have you?”
“I don’t know how I feel about it.”
“But you promised me...”
“I know I did, Jenny, but that was before you destroyed Caroline and was so offensive to me.”
“You were equally nasty to me.”
“If I was I apologise.”
“So do I. You’ve been so good to me, I don’t know why I did what I did with Caroline except I knew she wasn’t really transsexual and called her bluff.”
“I don’t think it was bluff, more a question of confusion.”
“Well I helped sort him out then.”
“I think that might be the exact opposite, I think you helped screw her up.”
“Oh, sorry–messed up again did I?”
“I think we all did. Look I need to talk to the others and see how they feel about having you back. I’ll also need to get the costings redone on the stable for the conversion.”
“You said you were going to have that done.”
“Yeah, well things got in the way including Julie being rather ill for a period.”
“How is she?”
“Much better now, but she was pretty sick.”
“So you saved the day again did you with your little miracles?”
“I helped a bit, so did the clever doctors and their medicines.”
“When will you be able to let me know–about coming back or not?”
“In the next day or so, how soon have you got to have an answer?”
“They want to put me in some disabled bungalow which is a soulless place. I want to be back with my friends, helping where I can–I can still babysit for you.”
“I have an advert in the local paper for a new housekeeper.”
“So that’s it then is it?”
“No–I said I’d speak with the others as soon as I can and I’ll get back to you.”
“Yeah, like you said I could come home.”
“I’ll call you in the next few days.”
“Don’t bother,” she said as I put the phone down.”
At dinner, we had salmon, I told the family about my call with Jenny. “So what d’you want us to do or say?” asked Simon.
“I don’t really know–do we have her back or do I say no and renege on my earlier offer?”
“I like Jenny,” said Julie and the girls all agreed with her.
“Can we cope with her–I mean, she’s going to need help to get to bed and to be got up–do we have the resources we need.”
“Daddy, it’s your house, what d’you think?”
Tom looked most uncomfortable. “Ye made a promise, Cathy, ye shud honour it.”
“I know but we’ve both changed–we could spend all this money and she might not decide to stay.”
“Isnae that her prerogative?” Tom asked.
“Don’t we have some say in it as well?” I asked him.
“Ye’ve gave yer word, Cathy, I expect ye tae honour it.”
“Anyone else have anything to say?” I asked but they all shook their heads. “So I should call her tomorrow and say yes, as soon as we get the stable reorganised for a wheelchair?”
Tom nodded in agreement and the others sort of agreed.
I felt like running up the stairs screaming–we could now be saddled with another liability. I felt sorry for Jenny, she had damaged herself badly when she jumped of the bridge and could we who are already stretched for care for the children cope with looking after another waif and stray. I guess some of me is going to find out quite soon.
I went back to my study and sent Maureen an email about the stables–they were down to look at in the summer. Now we’d have to do so earlier. I sent a text to Jenny asking her to call me again tomorrow morning or whenever it was convenient to her. I was anxious about the outcome of this latest venture and I had no idea if it would work or end in disaster.
Comments
Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1623
I've the feeling that Jenny will cause more trouble.
May Your Light Forever Shine
I'm seeing
Tragedy on the horizon.
The future.
None of us can see into the future. The blue light may heal but does it illuminate as well. Does it light the road ahead. Jenny's being given a disabled bungalow and all she can say is that it is a souless place. Well plenty of us have had to live in souless places.
Methinks she wants the penny and the bun or am I just being a cynic again? (Probably, yes.)
Shoal waters ahead for Cathy I suspect. She had better lay down some pretty strict and enforcible ground rules before she even contemplates Jenny moving in. Let's hope she's not suckered into another trap.
Interesting road ahead I think. As ever, we'll just have to wait and see.
Still lovin' it Ange or I wouldn't be here at some god-forsaken hour of the morning reading it.
OXOXOX.
Bev.
It's gone 1:30am here
and I'm still reading 'Bike'; I must be an addict.
Susie
Strange...
Jenny's nature seems to have changed entirely. What's with the different memories? Some kind of parallel world?
Jenny
I know she has to feel guilty about what she did and what she did to herself. I suspect she is deep in a pity party and laying off guilt on many people she comes in contact with to try to get them to feel as sorry for her as she does. That may be her way of coping for right now, and she may feel a bit desperate. The changes in her life have to be enormous, and she may be desperate for any getting along help she can get, especially if she is afraid to try living on her own. Getting in and out of bed, bathing, cooking for herself, etc But, she may be grasping at the hand of a friend trying to keep herself from trying to end it in depression again. she has to be overwhelmed right now, as they seem bent on tossing her out into a basically uncaring world, and she may be scared to try it on her own. Having her there may be right, or it could turn out to be a huge mistake. Of course, once the stables are converted, if they go vacant, one of the kids may lobby for her own apartment again.
Her behavior is unacceptable...
However...she's had a couple deep losses; being snookered by her BF and then losing her mobility. The loss of physical capability can cause some significant instability, plus one never knows what sort of drugs she's been on for pain and depression. In my opinion, psych meds are dangerous beyond belief. So, I wonder if her cheek was simply due to her sense of loss.
Of course, it seems prudent to set limits and not encourage her continuing pity party. It really does seem like Cathy needs able bodied help on deck, but then perhaps the children are getting old enough to begin to be of some help?
I dunno, I am not an angel am I.
Gwendolyn
Sounds to me...
Sounds to me like Jenny has some issues of her own. She sounds like she BLAMES Cathy for how things have turned out... She sounds like she didn't want to ask for anything. Like, perhaps she doesn't believe she's worthy of it, but having made the call, she is trying to "brash" it out.
Then, there's the question of the offer to house her... And Jenny's actions after that point. Is Jenny the same person that Cathy offered the space to? We change... Events can change us. As is, Jenny's TWICE now, severely hurt the household. First when she ran off (& stole things)... Then, when she and Caroline ran off.
It appears that most of the residents are in favor of giving Jenny another chance. If you listen to that guy (Joshua Ben Joseph) who Cathy doesn't put much stock into but knows a lot about - she should forgive (How many times 70 time 7 times...) By that reckoning, Jenny's got a lot more rope...
Flipping things around again... One of the reasons Cathy offered Jenny the space was to help Jenny. Those reasons are still valid. In fact, from what it sounds like, it appears that Jenny needs it more NOW than when it was first offered. Perhaps she can return to being the helpful person she was... Trish could use the healing practice... And, perhaps being around the kids can help Jenny heal inside.
Thanks,
Anne
Have to agree
with Cathy, This latest venture could go wrong very quickly, The Jenny we see now is so different from the one we knew before her head was turned by what she thought was true love, Thats not to say the old Jenny could not make a reappearance, But you would have to say the signs do not look good.....
Kirri
I'm wondering what happened
to Jenny? People don't usually change personalities this drastically.