​ “Tomorrow Gab,” Mum stated when i dripped indoors from college.
​ “Eh?” I queried from the hallway where I was intent on stripping off my wet footwear.
​ “And don't leave that 'brella dripping all over the floor.”
​ “Yes Mum,” I grumped, its been a horrible trip home, I got soaked getting to the Bahnhof, the train was crowded and steamy, the Express was late and I got splashed by a car as I waited to cross the main road, joy indeed. “What about Tomorrow?”
​ “Apollinaris want you for some promo pictures.”
​ “But I'm working.”
​ “Can't you get Connie to cover?”
​ “She's working already,” I pointed out, “Its a bit short notice.”
​ Mum shrugged, “I guess they want to take advantage of your fame.”
​ “I'm hardly famous.”
​ “You've been on Rhein Abend, won two world titles, okay its maybe not in the Mozart league but grab it while you can kiddo.”

​ I guess she's right, she's had her own share of fame, but as her own non selection for Canada highlighted, at the end of the day it doesn't really count for much of its self.

​ “What about your other friends, would one of them cover for you?”
​ “Possibly,” I allowed, looks like I'm doing it whether I like it or not.
​  
​ My handy chirped from my bag as I stripped my soggy leggings off a few minutes later, having escaped up to my eyrie.

​ “'lo, Bond.”
​ “We still on tonight?” Max asked without preamble.
​ “I'm not going anywhere on the Mofa, I got drowned coming home.”
​ “But in theory?” he pressed.
​ “In theory,” I agreed.
​ “Cool, see you at eight.”
​ “Er okay, laters.”
​ “Tchuss!”

​ Why do I feel like i've been railroaded for the second time in like twenty minutes? So now i've got to sort out cover at the kiosk and get dressed up for a date – and i've got like an hour before my lift up to the Tanzklub.
​  
​ So of course, all the girls were already booked up for tomorrow, even Mand had a shift at Der Mühle, at this rate I'll have to dip out of the Apollinaris thing.

​ “You sorted tomorrow out?” Mum asked when I clattered into the kitchen.
​ “Everyone's booked up,” I told her, “Looks like I'll have to miss being famous.”
​ “You tried everyone?”
​ “I just said,” I pointed out.
​ “What about Bernie, you said she could do with a job?”
​ “She's got Drea and how would she get there?”
​ “I'm sure the Preiser's would bring her down,” she paused, “And I think we can take care of Drea too. Give her a call, no point organising if she doesn't want to do it.”
​  
​ “Bit overdressed Gab,” Pia suggested when they collected me to go to Garde, “And the ring, hot date?”
​ “Max is taking me out after,” I admitted, “But its hardly a hot date, probaly dinner at his place.”

​ Well he never actually said other than dress nice. Rather than go full on glitz I decided on a more restrained approach, a red velvet affair with net sleeves, by the time I put my heels and glitz on it'll work for most possibilities. I hope there's food involved, I missed eating before coming out what with one thing and another.
​  
​ I'd just finished doing my slap when I heard a voice outside.

​ “Gab, you there?”

​ Max.

​ “Minute,” I called back.

​ Of course, Friday night its Garde but once we're done the oldies arrive, think its like Rock 'n' Roll, I'm usually on the way home before more than one or two have arrived. Anyhow, that's how Max had found his way into the building. I checked my lippy, red to match my dress, yeah, looking hot!​ I collected my stuff and headed outside.

​ “Whoa!” Max exclaimed.
​ “You like? I wasn't sure what to wear, you've been a bit vague,” I pointed out, “So where're we going, is there food and how are we getting there?”
​ “Car's outside, its a party, you'll see.”

​ Geez, Max von Strechau, man of mystery.
​  
​ The car turned out to be Wilhelm's big Mercedes complete with both parents.

​ “Max?” I queried.
​ He shrugged, “Better than the Mofa.”
​ “We were never going on the bike were we?” I suggested as we hurried across to the car.
​ “We are all going to the same place.”
​ “Which is?”

​ We arrived at the car, any reply sidetracked by getting on board out of the wet.

​ “Hi Gaby, you look nice,” Gloria offered in greeting as I slid in opposite her.
​ “Er evening.”

​ Max got into the front next to his dad, we were moving before i'd pulled the seat belt into place.

​ “So er, where are we going?”
​ “Max?” his mother prompted, “You didn't tell her?”
​ “I thought it'd be a surprise.”
​ “Men! Its the Heinemanns, Analise is expecting so its a pre baby party.”
​ “Analise, as in Bonn wedding?”
​ “She asked for you in particular,” Max told me from the front seat.
​ “Why didn't you say, I should've got her a present!”
​ “It's alright Gaby,” Gloria told me, “It's not that sort of party.”
​ “Well a card at least,” I suggested.
​ “Ding!” Max waved an envelope towards me, “You can write it.”
​ “Gee thanks,” I opined snatching it from his fingers.
​  
​ Of course it wasn't actually at the Heinemanns place, rather it was her parents place, a sizeable pile in the forest southwest of Bonn, some place called Villiprott. In practical terms, picking me up at Altenahr made no difference to the journey, we had simply followed the two five seven up to the motorway, off at the first junction and we were there. Max had actually picked out a fairly nice card, I might have well picked it myself.

​ Schloss Rech its not, but its clear that the family are 'old money', they might not have a high faluting title, I guess you'd call them landed gentry. Of course I met them at the wedding, the one with the ridiculous Mittelalter costumes at Bonn Dom, they're nice enough even to a teenaged pleb like me. We pulled up amongst the usual collection of Porsche, Mercedes and Audi, a few more run of the mill motors interspersed suggested a wider range of social status in attendance.

​ At least the wet had stopped, just as well given the unpaved nature of the forecourt, heels and gravel are not a great combination. Once inside it was clear that it was a gathering of two groups, the parents and the er, kids. I don't literally mean small children but rather the happy couples friends which apparently, I've been seconded into thanks to my connection with Max.

​ I felt a bit awkward as I followed the great lunk into a high ceilinged room at the front of the house.

​ “Gaby! You made it.” Analise cheerfully greeted.
​ “Er hi Analise, um congratulations.”
​ I was pulled into an enthusiastic hug, “Thanks Gab and what about you, Weltmeisterin, Jo, look who's here.”

​ Her husband came over to join us, maybe the red dress wasn't such a great idea, my blushing was, I'm sure making me look like a tomato.

​ “Gaby, nice to see you again, we saw you on Gertie the other day.”
​ “Um hi Johannes, how's the bakery going?”

​ Anything to divert attention from me.

​ “Not bad, its hard work but its coming along.”
​ “Come on, everyones here,” Analise told me, guiding me towards the other young women chatting across the room.

​ And so the scene was set. It wasn't a teen loud music and sausages on sticks affair, think more classical music and at about eight thirty, a sit down meal. Good job, i'd been fighting a rumbling tun for a bit by then.

​ Afterwards it got a bit livelier, the music more contemporary and a few bodies started gyrating. Max and me were definitely the youngest at the gathering but by the time I was in Max's arms moving to the soft rock, I felt quite at home. It helped that the Heinemanns friends were plebs like me for the most part and i'd met most of them on the Hen do and subsequent matrimonal gathering.

​ Yeah, it was nice to not be talking about bikes, college or the valley boys, is this what 'ordinary' people do? Well okay maybe not in big country houses, but just eat, drink, talk with friends? After the initial mention of my fame it was all about babies, even I had something to contribute to the conversation.
​  
​ It was gone twelve when I was dropped back at Chez Bond, tired but happy – i'd even forgiven Max for his subterfuge. The Rent's were still up, waiting for me to get home it turns out.

​ “Good time kiddo?” Dad enquired when I poked my head around the lounge door.
​ “Yeah, I guess.”
​ “Where did he take you then?” Mum asked.
​ I flopped onto the sofa before kicking my shoes off, “It was his cousin's sort of baby shower.”
​ “Sort of?”
​ “Well more like a family dinner party really, I'm glad I didn't go grunge.”
​ “So how did you get there to...?” Dad quired.
​ “Analise' parents up near Meckenheim, Wilhelm drove us in the Merc. Well I'm bushed, time for bed said Zebedee.”
​ “Don't forget we've got to leave early in the morning,” Mum mentioned.

​ Bum, this Apollinaris thing.

​ “Urgh, what time?”
​ “We need to be up at the Preiser's half seven, that'll give us time to get to this studio place.”
​ “What do I need to take.”
​ “Your Dad's already put the bikes and stuff in the car, guess you'll need your cycling shoes, they're supposed to be sorting out everything else.”
​ I shrugged, even I can manage shoes, “'kay, see you in the morning.”

​ I gave each of them a goodnight peck then headed upstairs.
​  
​ How is it that when you're dead beat you can never get to sleep? It wasn't that I was tossing and turning so much as I couldn't get the grey matter to shut down. Not only that but the clock barely seemed to be changing time, I swear I saw every minute tick by until almost two, eventually though my eyes did close and slumber took me.
​  
​ “Are you going to lose that ring?” Mum suggested as I inhaled my coffee.
​ “Eh?”
​ “In your nose?”
​ “Why? Its who I am.”
​ She sighed, “Well at least change it for the stone.”
​ “'kay,” I agreed with a shrug, to be honest i'd forgotten it was even still in my schnozz.

​ Outside, the day didn't look very promising, not yesterdays heavy rain but the threat of wet was there in the cloudy grey heavens, I hope they don't want me riding outside.

​ “Come on kiddo, shake those pretty legs, we've got places to be,” Mater chivvied.
​ “Er yeah, I'll just get some shoes on.”
​ “And change that thing in your nose.”
​ “Yes Mum.”

 
Maddy Bell © 07.01.2019