“Anyone else coming?” Steff asked over the various conversations taking place in the Sebenschuh's Stube.

I looked around the assembly of Ahrtal teens, apart from the original Angels, well Bridg, Nena, Pia, Steff, Connie and me, Mand is here along with Max, Freddy and Mart. No Ralf of course, he's persona non grata after that stuff with the drugs. What we do have though are three nervous girls that Boxxie has sent along, our 'trainees'.

Yesterday, Monday, it was mad with SMS's, I swear I had about thirty before lunch and then of course I had to ring Frau Boxberg. Why me I don't know, leastways none of my 'friends' were volunteering so muggin's here got the job. That went well.

“Ah, my favourite pupil, Gaby Bond, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Er hi Frau Boxberg, you wanted to know what we, you know, me and the girls, are doing for the Weihnachtsmarkt?”
My former headmistress sighed, “is it that time again already? I swear the year is getting shorter. So Fraulein Bond, lay it on me.”
“Well we're having a meeting tomorrow evening to, you know plan what's happening if you can make that?”
“I've got a PTA meeting but how about if my 'volunteers' come along?”
Phew, thats a close escape, “er yeah, I guess that'd work.”
“So, time? Place?”
“The Sebenschuh's place, twenty one or thereabouts.”
“They'll be there, I'll tell them to ask for you.” Boxxie proposed.
“Er okay, how many will be coming?”
“Just three, that alright?”
“Yeah, thats fine,” I agreed.
“So Gaby Bond, Weltmeisterin, how are you finding college?”

I'm glad Lisbet let me use the college phone in her office, I was on the phone for nearly half an hour!
 
“Don't think so,” Pia opined, “we should get started.”
“Someone should take notes,” Nen suggested.
“Nicely volunteered,” Freddy chuckled.
“So do we know where we are and that?” Mart queried.
“Stall thirty eight,” Steff advised, the Commitee needed a contact and she is it, “i think its the same place as last year.”
“You got a plan amongst that lot?” Bridg asked.
“Hang on, yeah, here we go, I'll pass it around.”
“Thats okay, we can use the same stuff as last year,” Max opined.
“Are we doing the same stuff?” Mand enquired, she might not be a full Angel but she did her share last year.
“The Mittelalter stuff?” Pia supplied.
“Well I'm not being an elf again,” I told those assembled.
“Aw, and you were so cu...”
“Don't you dare Connie Thesing!” I cut in.

Of course that got some giggles and I got a hug from Max so it wasn't all bad.

“We could do something else,” Nen proposed.
“Like what?” Steff requested.
“I dunno, Engel?”
“What about the lads?” I asked.
“There are male Engel,” Nen suggested.
“Well I'm not wafting around in a dress,” Freddy opined.
“Oh I don't know, I think you'd look lovely,” Bridg mentioned with a chuckle.
“Seriously guys,” Steff cut in, “anything else, what about our new recruits, any suggestions girls?”

They were like three rabbits caught in headlights, I'm not sure whether they did actually volunteer or whether Boxxie 'assigned' them but so far all we'd got out of them were names, Paula, Frannie and Marguerite.

“Erm, Kostum?” Frannie offered in not much more than a whisper.
“We don't bite,” Con advised.
“Not until the full moon,” Max chuckled.
“Max, you're not helping,” I noted.
“Sorry Liebchen.”
“Anything else?” Steff hinted, there being no other suggestions she went on, “so its either Kostum or Mittelalter.”
“We'lve already got the Mittelalter clothes,” Bridg offered.
“We'll need more,” I pointed out.
“Who's got Kostum?” Mand enquired.

Surprisingly two of our newbies put their hands up, so by the numbers, there was nothing in it, we'd need three costumes whichever way we decide.

“Hey Mart,” Freddy started, “what about your girlfriend, she joining us?”
“Bern? Dunno, I can ask.”

For some reason that conjured up images of not Bern but Drea dressed in Kostum, now that would be cute!

“We should vote on it,” Pia told us.
 
The vote was split straight down the middle with the girls however the lads unanimously went for Kostum. Well I guess that's that, it is a bit more 'user friendly' than floor length frocks and silly headresses and I guess its no secret that I don't have an aversion to wearing it.

“I'll ask Papa where he got our uniforms,” P told us.
“Maybe we can get a discount,” Bridg suggested.
“Well it is for charity,” Steff mentioned.
“What about other stuff? Can we borrow the coffee machine from your Dad again Pia?”
“He's already offered Gab, we gonna do the same stuff, cake and coffee?”
“Dad said we can use the bakery again.”
“It would be easiest, it worked well last year,” Nen said with a nod.
“We still doing the gift collection thing?” Freddy asked.
“Unless anyone's got a better idea?” Steff queried.

Just in case you forgot, the whole Weihnachtsmarkt stall thing started off to raise funds and collect gifts for the local Kinder Haus, well to make Weihnachts a bit better for the kids staying there.

“What about a Tombola,” Mand suggested.
“A what?” Max enquired.
“You know,” I put in, “we get some prizes then people buy tickets to try to win a prize.”
“Sounds complicated,” Con mentioned.
“It was just an idea, its quite popular in England.”
“Maybe the Ahrtal isn't ready for such glorious ideas,” Mart snickered.
“Perhaps we should keep things simple,” Steff agreed.
 
Its quite a big project but our previous experience meant that jobs were quickly allocated – the lads will sort out the décor (no doubt dragging parents and other rels in to help, the fairer sex are less hands on until we open. That doesn't mean we don't have stuff to do, the costumes, organising the menu, sorting out the rota – important jobs but more fitting for our delicate hands than wielding a paint brush.

“You guys okay with that?” I asked our recruits as we tidied up the light supper the Sebenschuh's had supplied.
“I guess,” Frannie replied, “you guys are really organised.”
“We've had practice,” I noted.
“Even so,” Marguerite added, “we wouldn't know where to start.”
“I hope you don't mind me asking Gaby, but is Max really your boyfriend?” Paula queried.
“Yup, paid up number one fan,” Max supplied joining us and planting a kiss on the top of my head, “i'll take that through.”
“Guess thats a yes then,” Frannie giggled.
“Is Marty free?” Paula went on.
“Weren't you listening,” Marguerite put in, “he's got a girlfriend already.”
“And a daughter,” I added to quell any further pursuit, geez thats all we need, man hungry fifteen year olds!
Pia interrupted us, “girls, your lift's here.”
“So I'll see you at the kiosk on Saturday then.”
“We'll be there,” Frannie, the more mature of the three advised.
“Okay, tschuss.”

The kiosk? Well being responsible 'employers' our new recruits need some training before the market. Its not like we'll be actually cooking at the market but it won't hurt to go through some general hygiene and serving stuff and better at the kiosk than waiting until the market kicks off.
 
“Well?” Steff asked once they'd gone.
“They seem to be up for it,” I allowed.
“I sense a but,” Steff suggested.
“I think Paula has raging hormones, she's already made a play for Max and Mart.”
“Maybe we should warn Freddy?”
“Might be fun not to?”
“You are wicked sometimes Bond.”
“All the time,” Mand noted, “you ready Gab?”
“You walking back Steff?”
“I came on my Mofa, I can give someone a lift?”
“Ooh, me, me!” my housemate requested.
 
“You don't have to walk us,” I told Max as we set off.
“What sort of man would let two lovely ladies walk home alone?”
“Blehhhhh!” Con supplied, “you mean you fancy a snog.”
“If the opportunity comes up eh Gab?”
“In your dreams.”

I'm not entirely against the idea but a girl has to play hard to get right?

“Argh, I'm wounded,” he joked.
“So why'd you vote for Kostum Max?” Con asked.
“Yeah, you looked good in those tights last year,” I added.
“Not exactly warm in December though and those short things...”
“Wimp!” Con stated with glee.
“I'll remember that when you complain I'm not in a dress.”
“You guys are used to it,” he offered.
“Ha! Maybe we'll have to get you in a Dirndl, to 'get used to it',” Con chuckled.
“Don't think he's got the chest for it Con,” I giggled.
“I am still here.”

We collapsed into a gigglefest, well we thought it was funny.
 
“So what are you wearing on Saturday night?” Max asked when he came up for air.
“Saturday?”
“Hallowe'en at Mart's?”
“Oh sugar, but that's not until next week.”
“True but the party is Saturday, no college next day!”
“Damn!”
 
“Why didn't you say anything?” I asked Mand when I got indoors.
“About what?” she asked innocently.
“Party? Saturday?” I suggested grabbing my cup of cocoa.
“It is on the calendar,” she told me.
“I've been a bit preoccupied,” I offered in my defence.
 
© Maddy Bell 18.1.2018