The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1724 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

“Don’t tell me, it’s about Stella’s wedding?”

“Yes, was it that obvious?”

“Pretty much–okay, I’m all ears.”

“I don’t know what to do, Mummy.”

“I thought you’d said no?”

“Not quite, Jacquie did, and I think she meant it.”

“To say no and not mean it could land you in all sorts of bother with boys later, so I’d take a leaf out of her book if I were you.”

“I didn’t say no, I said, I didn’t know.”

“Okay, what is it you don’t know?”

“Whether I should be a bridesmaid or not.”

“I’ll refrain from saying all young women want to be bridesmaids, I did, but never got the chance–now what is it that you’re unsure of?”

“The whole thing.”

“In which case, no sounds like the right answer.”

“Except there’s part of me that wants to do it–it’s just so girly, isn’t it?”

“It’s a chance to be completely over the top in girlydom and no one so much as bats an eyelid.”

“They might if they knew I was a boy.”

“Was being the operative word–I don’t know many boys called Samantha, do you?”

She sat and blushed.

“Why don’t you sleep on it? If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine. If you do, then we’ll have to organise an outfit for you, but I’ll need to know tomorrow, because I’m going to be organising the dresses very soon. Why don’t you have a chat with Julie?”

“Julie’s a proper girl now, I’m not–I’ve only been a girl for a couple of days, Mummy–I don’t know if I could cope.”

“Yes but by then you’ll have been living in role for a month, and probably working as well.”

“That’s another thing, getting time off, if I get the job.”

“As Simon is Chief Executive of the retail bank, I can’t really see that being a problem, can you?”

“Is he? Crikey–you lot are important, aren’t you?”

“Probably.”

“But none of you act as if you own the place.”

“It’s called discretion and reserve–only in our case, reserve could also mean large amounts of bullion.”

Sammi looked at me for a second before she smirked.

“Go on, think it over and tell me tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Mummy–good night.”

I did a preliminary search for dressmakers and came up with half a dozen names. I sent them all emails asking if they could make up to half a dozen dresses by the end of the month. I didn’t expect much help.

One responded almost immediately asking if I was crazy, I wrote back saying I was perfectly sane and could give my psychiatrist’s number if she wanted proof. I knew I wouldn’t get anything else from her.

I went to bed and read some of my book and was asleep before Simon came up–I think he was watching a James Bond film. I didn’t hear him and was surprised to find that he had gone by the time I woke up. He left me a note reminding me to get Sammi to the interview on time and to make sure she looked tidy.

I rose at seven and went downstairs to make myself some tea. Daddy was seated at the kitchen table reading my Guardian and eating toast. He grunted something which I assumed meant good morning and I grunted something equally noncommittal to him. I made my tea and thought the toast smelt good, so I did myself a couple of pieces, buttered them–well actually it’s not butter it’s a low fat spread, but flora-ed them doesn’t sound right, does it?

“I’m awa’ tae thae university thae noo, tell Gareth tae come an’ find me later.”

“Okay, Daddy. I’m not teaching this week, am I?”

“Ye’ve a time table in yer bag, consult it.” With that snotty remark he was gone.

Gareth and Stella came down together, “Where are all the others?” asked Stella.

“I’m just going to rouse Julie, she’s working I think.”

“Think? Don’t you know?”

“No, she’s an autonomous adult now, she looks after her own affairs.”

“Since when?”

“About the same time you started.” I said and withdrew from the field of battle before she loaded her gun. I woke Julie who groaned and said she had the week off.

Sammi must have heard me because she staggered out of her room asking what time it was. I told her eight o’clock and she gasped and disappeared into the shower. She reappeared half an hour later and I persuaded Stella to do her hair for her while I went to dress.

I dug Jacquie out of her slumbers and told her to get the girls up and breakfasted while I showered. She was apologetic and rushed off to dress and do as I asked her. When I got downstairs, Stella had done Sammi’s makeup as well, she looked really nice in her suit and I told her if she got the job, I’d buy her some new blouses to go with her suit.

Then after saying goodbye to all the kids–Danny wandered down looking like a zombie with a hangover–they all wished Sammi good luck–we left for her date with destiny. It wasn’t certain she’d get the job, at the same time if she didn’t, I’d give Simon hell when he got home.

I dropped Sam at the bank and she went in looking very apprehensive. “What do I tell him about my gender thing?”

“The truth if he looks like he’s going to offer you the job.”

“Won’t that spoil it?”

“Not as much as not telling him.”

“How do I tell him?”

“Um–you could try something like–I believe you have a policy on transgender employees, or just on difference and diversity. Good luck,” I said as I hugged her and she went inside the building.

I managed to park nearby and went off to get her some more blouses. I got her three in different colours, plus a couple of floral print ones–she had enough for a week now, and even if she didn’t get the job, it would give her a resource for another job.

I’d just got back to the car when she emerged. “How’d it go?” I asked her desperate to find out.

“Alright I suppose, he gave me the job, I start tomorrow.”

“Oh? That quickly?”

“That’s what he said, he was desperate. I had to do a typing test and when he looked through my CV he asked me some quite technical questions, one was about security online. I said I couldn’t answer that without more information, but that most banks were light years behind the hackers.”

“He said he doubted that, and I told him if I had a spare hour, I’d prove him wrong. I might face a challenge tomorrow.”

“What about the gender thing?”

“He told me I looked presentable but he was so desperate, he’d have employed me if I looked like a gorilla.”

“I’ve a good mind to send you in a gorilla suit tomorrow.”

“No, Mummy, please don’t do such a thing.”

“I’m only joking, ya daft galoot.”

“Phew, you had me worried.”

“Did he mention Simon at all?”

“No, but he knew you.”

“How so?”

“He pointed to the poster of you with the dormouse and asked if I lived with you?”

“Oh, how undignified.” I started up the car and we headed for home, “Decided about the wedding?”

“Yeah, I’ll do it, but only because Julie is.”