(aka Bike) Part 1922 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad
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I intended to rise early with Simon and either speak with Sammi or just hug her, but I took forever going to sleep and thus slept until the radio woke me at seven. I suddenly realised that the bed was empty beside me and a quick trip to Sammi’s room meant she’d also left for work with Si. Their conversation on the train would be quite interesting to say the least.
I busied myself with rousing the rest of the troops and getting them to where they were supposed to be. By the time I’d got back from the school run and made myself a cuppa, I felt exhausted. Stella wanted to talk, but about nothing in particular. She does this every now and again, just waste time by chattering about gossip or nothing. I get bored stiff, but even yawning doesn’t shut her up once she’s in gossip mode.
She went on about several people I’d never heard of, who it transpired were either celebrity cooks or equally vacuous individuals who’d appeared on Big Brother or some other reality show. I find the use of the term reality has to be ironic because most of them are about as real as the shroud of Turin. Either that, or my sense of reality must be different to theirs.
I know the school of thought which says each of us has a different form of reality, which seems to make comprehensible how humans can do all sorts of spiteful deeds while pronouncing their god said they could do it or even instructed them to do it. Whereas, I accept responsibility for all the nasty things I say or do, I don’t need to blame sky pixies.
“Sammi is probably going to try modelling,” I said interrupting Stella’s flow.
“That seemed obvious from dinner last night.”
“Oh, did it?”
“She’d make a good model, she’s pretty, she’s skinny, and quite tall.”
“And has big feet.”
“Has she, I hadn’t noticed.” My goodness, Stella was slipping.
“I still don’t approve.”
“So I see, you’re positively bristling.”
“Can one bristle positively?” I asked.
She shook her head, “Cathy, c’mon, get it all out–let’s sort it.”
I shrugged, “I don’t think there’s much to sort. She wants to do it, I don’t, because I can see the consequences.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes of course. I don’t want her to become so famous she can’t go to the local shops, and I certainly don’t want her becoming disillusioned with the so called ‘beautiful people’ and end up doing drink or drugs.”
“She won’t if you support her.”
“How can I support her–I’m here she could be anywhere in the world. How will she cope with them finding out she’s transgender?”
“Well those who are seem to cope, don’t they, and the androgynous ones as well–who’s that beautiful boy who did the bra advert?”
“Andrej Pejic.”
“Well he’s more girl than boy, if you ask me.”
“He might well be, Stella, but he isn’t a member of my family.”
“Are you jealous of Sammi?”
“Jealous? Of what?”
“Well she’s like a model.”
“Stel, I don’t want to be a model, I’m content with my lot in life, except when one of the kids does stupid things.”
“Is it stupid.”
“It’s a very predatory world–the fashion industry–where young people are sucked in by the surface glitz, sucked dry of their virginity and youth, and cast out onto the streets with drink or drug problems.”
“Are they? Wouldn’t the authorities be taking an interest if that were the case?”
“How do I know–all I know is that for every one who makes it–hundreds don’t.”
“In which case won’t she back with her tail between her legs pretty sharpish?”
“Possibly, but will the bank still want to use her? Simon went out on a limb to employ her, she’s earning a huge salary for a kid. Isn’t this betrayal of his kindness?”
“Has he said so?”
“No.”
“Perhaps it’s only you who thinks of it that way, Cathy.”
I stopped for a moment, maybe she was right and I was overreacting.
“Your impulse to protect is very laudable, but in order to become a princess you have to kiss a few frogs.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah, experience is what we call our mistakes.”
“Thank you, Oscar Wilde.”
I blushed, “I didn’t claim it was original.”
“Good job, it would be difficult to defend a law suit for plagiarism against a man who’s been dead for the best part of a hundred years–I mean imagine the smell if they brought him in to testify?”
“Stella, have you taken your tablets this morning?”
“Of course, why?”
“Just asking.”
“So, should I buy the blue shoes or the red ones?” She adeptly switched the conversation.
“I thought you had red and blue shoes.”
“Cathy, I knew you weren’t listening...”
“Yes I was.”
“Well how come you don’t know what I’m talking about?”
“I–er–don’t know.” I blushed again.
“The topic was Puddin’ and should I buy her red or blue shoes?”
“Why don’t you buy both–it’s not as if you can’t afford it?”
“I could do–well done, girl–youse solved me problems.”
“Fine–so perhaps you could solve mine.”
“Which one is it this time?”
“Sammi–duh–I told you, the modelling.”
“Oh that? Let her do it, pick up the pieces afterwards, kiss her better and send her back to work with Si.”
“You don’t think she has what it takes, then?”
“No–she has what it takes, except in poise and gesture.”
“So she doesn’t then?” My heart felt lighter.
“They can teach them that–do you honestly think those floosies that strut their stuff do it naturally–they’re taught.” My heart dropped like a stone.
“I don’t want Sammi to become a floosie,” I said, feeling tears running down my face.
“Oh, Cathy–she won’t–you wait and see, she won’t. These modelling courses cost a fortune, so you know she won’t be able to afford it. See, when you look at these things with several pairs of eyes, they are never as insoluble as you think at first.”
I took heart from that and managed to keep going through the day collecting the girls and even doing a bit of lesson planning.
Tom was first home of the adults and he pecked me on the cheek. Next was Julie who’d had her hair cut very short–it suited her but I didn’t like it. Sadly my expression couldn’t hide my feelings and she went off in tears. Finally, Si came home.
“Where’s Sammi?” I enquired of him.
“Gone to modelling classes.”
“What?” I gasped.
“You heard, woman.”
“How can she afford that–they cost an arm and a leg?”
“Um,” he blushed.
“You paid for them, didn’t you?”
“She was due a bonus.”
I nearly fell over backwards. “Si, how could you?”
“How else is she supposed to have a chance of succeeding in something she wants to do?”
I felt sick–did no one see the dangers? Was I the proverbial voice in the wilderness? I went down to my study and shut the door–I needed to think. Was it just me or was the rest of the planet blind as well as stupid?
Comments
Interesting last paragraph
"I needed to think. Was it just me or was the rest of the planet blind as well as stupid?"
In the last episode, I thought Sammi was making a mistake, but now I am not so sure. Cathy may be the one who is blind and not the rest of the world. After all, she seems to be blind to the fact there is a supernatural part of life, and she is or is going to be, a part of it. Cathy is being protective of Sammi, and perhaps a bit overly protective.
Go to your study, close the door, and THINK. CAREFULLY. ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS.
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
A learning experience
Both Cathy and Sammi are about to have a learning experience.
Sammi will discover that Cathy is right ... sort of.
Cathy will discover that Sammi is right ... sort of.
Simon and Stella will wonder what the fuss was all about.
Tom will take his dog for a walk.
Puddin will like both her red and her blue shoes, sometimes wearing one of each!
Red MacDonald
AMEN!
I can't imagine anything more to comment.
Well the part about drugs is correct though
The fashion world is notorious for that.
The other biggie is whether Sammi can handle the inevitable lost of privacy. I myself value my privacy and will never want to be a public tranny, pushing the tranny cause. Other activists have try recruiting me be I have refused.
Kim
It's tough...
I studied something at University (Astrophysics)... It was the WRONG major for me (for many reasons), but my parents supported my decision... I've managed a good paying career since then... (Having nothing to do with Astrophysics, mind you... And also no relationship to the job I had for the first 6 1/2 years after I graduated.)
It's hard for parents to watch their kids (specially as they near or reach being officially grown up) make - what they are convinced are - bad decisions. But, as is stated, unless the decision is directly harmful there's a good chance that they will make a decision we don't like. Then, be happy for them if they succeed and are happy - or help them get back up, if things go wrong. So easy to project ourselves onto our kids. But, if we do that - or fight too hard a decision they make (once old enough to make said decision) the most likely event is this will confirm them in their decision to do it and will tarnish (or even ruin) the relationship we had with our children.
Yes, we may see many potential problems. And, it's worth while making sure they're at least aware of them. But, it's not our lives it's theirs. If we help them (despite misgivings) perhaps we can be there to help them avoid the worst of those pitfalls.
Cathy had best watch out. And, it's nice to see others talking sense.
Thank you for this.
Annette
What will happen to Sammi
during her modeling gig? Will she succeed, or fail? Will Cathy and Simon need to help her get sorted after the fall? Will she get hurt physically? Only Bonzi and Izzy knows. :)
May Your Light Forever Shine
If Simon achieves
nothing else by funding Sammi he is at least is ensuring that one way or the other Sammi should know where she stands a little clearer after the course, Maybe she will decide it is not for her maybe she will be a natural but unless she tries she will never know .... And like i said a few chapters back if she is worried Cathy could always do a little background checking on the agency..
Kirri