We arrived before the morning session started so we watched the ice
hockey practice before getting on the ice ourselves. None of us are great
skaters and Clive and Juliette are appalling! But we all had a great time
and too soon it was over. It was only lunchtime so we did the Burger King
thing before joining the throngs of shoppers in the shopping area. We
found some really cool shops selling Goth stuff and Maddy just had to look
in the dancewear shop, so we all did.
That was the scene of another Drew the girl episode. I ended up on my
own for some reason and I was stood absentmindedly looking at the
displays.
"Can I help you miss?"
Not again! I mean I was wearing baggy jeans and a hoody, how un girl
like is that!
"Er no thanks, I'm just waiting for my friends, I think they went
upstairs" I used my deepest voice in an attempt to ignore the miss bit.
"Ok if you're sure. I'm just over here if you want me, you might want
to look at the new leotards on the rail over there, there's some really
pretty ones in your size"
Drat didn't work!
"Thanks"
The assistant smiled back and returned to her station, for want of
anything better to do I made my way to the rail of leotards which is where Maddy found me.
![Drew10.jpg](/topshelf/system/files/u1973/Drew10.jpg) | |
"Gaby there you are"
"I was just..."
She cut me off, "Are you going to get one" Maddy was smirking at me
"No, come on and less of the Gaby!"
I started towards the exit but had to pass the salesgirl.
"Nothing you liked?"
"Er no"
"She's just looking today, her mums getting her some stuff in a couple of
weeks. That pink one with the flowers is really nice."
"I like that one too, well we might see you in a couple of weeks then"
"Er yes"
"Well have a nice day girls, bye"
"Bye" we both echoed.
"What was with the Gaby stuff in there Mad?" I fumed
"Well I heard her calling you miss when I came looking for you so I thought
I'd go along with it, more to the point why was she calling you miss?"
"I wish I knew, when I was out with mum yesterday the guy at the café did
too."
"We have just so got to tell the others"
"Not with Clive and Paul around we don't! it's embarrassing enough as it is
and they might make the connection. Anyway where are the rest of them?"
"Waiting in the square, we're going for the bus now"
I was sure things were starting to get even more weird but I didn't dwell on
it.
Mum's last weekend at home was going to be busy. I was due to be riding with
mum on the tandem this afternoon, a twenty five mile time trial, then tomorrow
was mums last proper race before going to Germany, seventy five miles near
Market Harborough.
We all piled into the camper with the tandem and drove the twenty miles up
to Blyth. News of mum's contract got there before us, everyone wanted to
congratulate her and we nearly missed our start because mum was talking so much!
We were soon into a rhythm and unlike Christmas this time it was a straight out
and back course. I was pedalling for all my worth and we made good time to the
turn, just under thirty minutes.
We actually passed a couple of other tandems on the way back but the scratch
team caught and passed us for four minutes with just two miles to go. If mum did
the same calculation I did it would account for her sudden spurt and my attempt
to help out as best I could. After all the scratch pair had a slowest time this
year of fifty-one minutes so we were doing pretty well!
We made the last turn still within a couple of hundred metres of the scratch
team and seeing this the small gallery became as vocal as I've ever heard at a
time trial, I pushed my last and we sailed over the line. We turned in the
village and we were both still panting away like mad.
"Brilliant ride ladies, thought we'd never catch you"
"Thanks" mum gasped "what have you done?"
"49.50, our best this year, see you at the tea tent" and with that the two
burly tandemists left us to almost crawl up the hill back to the HQ.
"If they've done a 49 mum we must get a 54 at the worst!" I was exhausted
but jumping with adrenaline at the same time.
As we pulled to a halt at the tea tent we were greeted by a mixture of "well
done"'s, "great ride"'s and clapping. Dad and Jules found us, dad taking charge
of the tandem after we dismounted.
"53.59 mum!"
Jules was almost doing a jig in excitement
"You're second so far but there's no one left to finish who's that quick"
By this time I was collapsed on the grass sipping the tea dad had
appropriated for me. Mum sat next to me and gave me a hug.
"Still life in your old mum yet eh?"
"That was fantastic, I'm really gonna miss doing this"
"Me too Drew, me too. But I promise that if I get a chance I'll ride the
memorial weekend with you in September."
"That'd be great!"
Maddy Bell 08.03.03 © 2003
To Be Continued...
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