(aka Bike) Part 1809 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad
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“So, Sherlock, who killed that family in France then?” taunted Stella.
“How would I know?”
“Well you solved one which was nearly two hundred years old.”
“That was a bit more obvious; the one in France looks like an execution.”
“How could someone shoot a little kid?” Stella looked angry.
“I don’t know how someone could shoot someone in cold blood, full stop. It’s murder, cold blooded murder. It smacks of an execution and presumably was easier in France because their gun laws are laxer than here. Automatics in this country refer to cars or washing machines.”
“So any theories?” asked Stella.
“None at all beyond there being some sort of pay back suggested by the manner of the hit. I suspect the guy they killed either did something or is thought to have done something, which someone who is very nasty, didn’t like.”
“There you have it folks, Sherlock Watson strikes again.”
“It’s not funny, Stella, three people died and one child is very ill and the other is rather traumatised.”
“Okay, I wasn’t mocking their tragedy, but you seem to have more ideas than the Frog police.”
“We don’t know what they’re thinking or doing–I just hope they pull their fingers out and catch whoever did it.”
“They got that bloke back a bit, the one with the siege, the one who shot those Jewish kids–he was trying to do a runner and a sniper got him.”
“Can we talk about something else?” I’d had enough of killing.
“Like what?”
“The Paralympics perhaps?” I suggested.
“Those disabled people are so brave aren’t they?” suggested Jacquie.
“Don’t let them hear you say that, they’ll lynch you,” I cautioned.
“Why–I think they are brave.”
“They want to be seen as just doing their thing, the same as the rest of us.”
“But it’s hardly the same is it? I mean you go out on your bike, train hard and will probably beat other people in a race.”
“They do the same.”
“But, Mummy, they’re not the same, are they, if they’ve got arms and legs missing?”
“I hate to draw parallels with myself. How do you see me?”
“As a woman I’m happy to call my adopted mother.” Jacquie seemed unable to see the point I was trying to make.
“But I can’t be a mother, I don’t have any ovaries or a uterus nor ever did.”
“So what? I don’t have any either and I’m still a woman.” Jacquie wasn’t perhaps the best person to use this argument with, however, I’ve started so I’ll finish.
“But you did have some, I didn’t.”
“Yeah, but no one knows it to look at you, do they. I mean, no one can see that, can they? They can see if you’ve only got one leg, or your head is missing.”
“I don’t think anyone missing a head is going to take part in the Paralympics, Jac.”
“Why ever no...oh, well you know what I meant,” she added and Stella nearly fell off her chair.
“What about zombies–do they have their own games–like the flesh crawl?” Stella had decided to be really silly, probably to change the subject once again.
“I have work to do,” I stood up and my chest felt a bit sore.
“You were given instructions to rest, so no work!” Stella was laying down the law.
“I can sit down and do some work on my computer just as easily as sitting here and talking.”
“Yes, but that’s not half as amusing for the rest of us.”
“Oh, so now I’m responsible for the entertainment am I?”
“Mummy, I don’t understand what you were on about–you know about the Paralympics.”
“If they didn’t look different, you wouldn’t be half as impressed by them. Yes, it takes a lot of courage to deal with an illness or injury or some sort of congenital or birth disability. But it does to become a top athlete as well. We should just celebrate their achievement without any sense of pity or sympathy–they’re doing their thing as best they can–let’s just be glad for them and accept them as they are.”
“In the place they held me there was a girl who was in a wheel chair.”
“Oh?” Why was I surprised just because someone is in a wheelchair doesn’t mean to say they’re incapable of a criminal act. Perhaps I have some rethinking to do?
“She knifed someone who talked down to her.”
What do I say in response to that? “Oh.”
“She was as tough as an old boot, didn’t stop someone pushing her down a flight of steps though did it?”
“And?”
“She died.”
“Oh.” I’m consistent if nothing else.
“I didn’t know her that well and fortunately I was out that day.”
“Out?” queried Stella.
“Yeah, I hadn’t long had my operation done and they had to send me to a local NHS hospital because I was still bleeding.”
I nodded, not having anything useful to add. “I’m going down to my study.” I said as I slipped out the door.
“Mummy, can we go out and play in the garden?” asked Trish who was still quite tidily dressed.
“If you change into your playing clothes and the others the same.”
“Thank you, Mummy, I’ll go and tell them.”
She doesn’t usually ask–what’s going on?
“Trish,” I called after her but my lack of breath stopped me calling loud enough. I sat at the foot of the stairs and a few moments later the herd of effalumps appeared clomping down the stairs.
“Hello, Mummy?” said Livvie.
“You’re not taking Bramble out–she has to have some inoculations, and besides, kittens have to get to know their new home before you let them out in case they get lost.”
“We won’t let her get lost, Mummy.”
“No–she stays indoors until I say she can go out.”
“S’not fair,” grumbled Trish. “She wants to go out in the garden and play.”
“I don’t care what you think she wants or doesn’t want–she stays in doors until I say otherwise. That’s an end to the matter.” I started to cough and my chest hurt quite a lot.
“Now look what you’ve done,” accused Livvie of her sister.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You’ve made her cough and she’s got a bad chest.”
“No I never.”
“You did so.”
“I never.”
I couldn’t get enough breath to shout at them, so I clapped as loudly as I could. They both stopped and looked at me.
“Both of you, stop arguing. I’m all right, just go and play and leave the kitten with me.”
Trish handed over the kitten and Livvie helped me up. Bramble and I went down to my study and instead of working, we sat reading on my sofa–well until I fell asleep, or should that be, we fell asleep.
David came to ask what time I wanted him to serve dinner. It was some sort of braised steak concoction which I was sure would be delicious. I asked him to feed the children first and then I’d eat when Simon and Sammi came in. To be honest, I wasn’t that hungry.
“Would you like a cup of tea, oh and I did some almond slices–Stella told me you like them.”
“I do, thank you, that would be lovely,” I’ll deal with blabbermouth when I feel stronger.
Comments
A long recovery.
It is taking poor Cathy a long time to get over this malady. I am surprised that the blue light has not been about. I'll bet she would rather deal with the Russians to be so ill.
G
I think she will get over her malady when she finally
... accepts her job with an open heart and an open mind and not one moment sooner. She is meant to have this malady as a reminder of her hard ass attitude towards anything that does not fit with her world view about religion or spirit. Cathy has a lot of admirable qualities but 'You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.' One of the better expressions that came out of that apocryphal history.
Kim
Additionally...
...it may be Shekinah's way of helping out with Cathy's unasked request: that the rest of the family pull their weight with the household chores. Obviously they did so while she was in hospital, but now she's back home, a long recovery will ensure the prior status quo of Cathy doing the bulk of the work while the others do very little doesn't return.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
As ever...
As ever, Stella seems to be fighting shy of doing her duties and controlling the children to allow Cathy some rest. Cathy should not have to be shouting or even clapping hands to keep order. The kids are too young to understand how difficult and painful convalescence can bee sometimes. Stella should be stepping up to the plate.
Good chapter Ang.
OXOXOX
Bev.
Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1809
Love Jacquie's attitude about her Mummy Cathy and no doubt herself. But what are frog police? And why have Cathy's girls who have the Blue Light connection not Blue Lighted her?
May Your Light Forever Shine
Cathy's malady
I really don't think this malady has had time to allow Cathy to recover, especially with the setbacks she has had. She did confirm, via research that what she told the plods about the skeleton was true, but she is still ill.
I tend to agree that the malady is going to be there until Cathy gives herself to the Shekinah Glory. As for the kids with the blue light capability...I suspect they are prohibited from using it to heal Cathy. Cathy is going to be ill for some time.
Good episode again!
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
Must be lovely
for Cathy to have such a talented chef on call... A cup of tea and an almond slice certainly sets the taste buds leaking... Not that an almond slice is my absolute favourite teatime treat, Yes its up near the top of my list but if pushed i would have to say its beaten by my favourite which we call an Elephants foot but is in reality like a giant profiterole filled with whipped cream and topped with chocolate... Not something you would eat on a diet but if you are going to break your abstinence you might as well go for it big time and enjoy yourself...
Kirri
Elephants Foot