Gaby Book 26 On The Edge by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2021 Madeline Bell Seventeen - it's a birthday overshadowed by its predecessor and successor and Gaby's looks set to follow that pattern. There are however big decisions to be made, should she grab life by the horns and experience everything it has to offer or take the more conservative, safer route through life. This volume, the 26th in the Gaby series has all the elements of classic Gaby, bike riding, teenage angst, developing relationships, grist to the mill for our heroine as life in the Ahrtal ticks on.

 
"Somebody's got a mump on,” Mand suggested.
"Hmmph,” I almost growled back.
"Whoa, down tiger!”
"Soz.”
"Do I want to know?”

I waited until we'd rattled over the level crossing and picked up the lane down to Sinzig before giving a response.

"Do you think seventeen is too old to be doing birthdays, you know like presents and parties and stuff?”
"Depends I guess, it's nice to get a few cards I guess, not so sure about the whole party thing, not that i've had one since Juniors.”
"Really?”
"Well not a party per se, did the cinema and burger thing with a couple of friends a couple of years but I think the last time was when I was fourteen.”

We singled out to pass a dog walkers car, its a landstrasse but do they take any notice?

"So you think birthday parties are for kids?”
"Didn't say that well unless you mean jelly and ice cream followed by pass the parcel.”
"Hardly,” I scoffed, "But like i've always had a birthday party I just thought there'd be one this year but everyone is like 'seventeen, here's a card'.”
"But your Dad's taking us to the Anker for lunch yeah?”
"Whoopy do, I don't mean to sound ungrateful but its not a party is it? it'll be the three of us having the same old food, no singing Happy Birthday or dancing or presents.”
"We could sing Happy Birthday,” Mand offered.
"I bet Dad'll even wear his usual scruffs.”
"This really has wound you up hasn't it?”

We swung right onto the old Rhein road, we're doing a flat mile muncher today, down to the Brohl ferry then back up the other side to cross back on the Bad Honningen ferry then back home. Of course, we'll mix it up with some nameboard sprints and some speed work on the run up through Linz so we'll still have a fair session plus it makes a change from Münstereifel or the Nürburgring.

"Its just, well its the once a year that's yours, you're the centre of attention, nothing to do with something you've done or some spurious holiday season, just you. I look forward to it, that rug of sefishness has been pulled out from under me, I don't even get to dress up a bit.”
"Boy, you've got it bad girl.” Mand stated as we cruised along next to the railway line to start our southbound leg.
"Am I right though?” I pressed.
"I guess but there's nothing says you can't dress up tomorrow is there?”
"Guess not.”
"Tell you what, we go the whole nine yards, hair, makeup, posh frocks the lot.”
"Might be a bit much for the Anker,” I suggested.
"Who cares,” Manda enthused, "Its your birthday, if you want to glam up for the day why shouldn't you?”

Well I'm not going to argue with that sentiment.
 
Just over an hour earlier.

"Manda,” Dave hissed towards his house guest, "A minute.”

The young woman came to a stop before calling after her friend, "Catch you up Gab, left my wallet upstairs.”
“'kay,” Bond junior replied from below.

"So what's up Mr B?”
"Tomorrow, we need to make sure my daughter is dressed appropriately, you know what she's like, it'll be jeans and a jumper because we're 'going' to the Anker. If I say anything she'll smell a rat.”
"We talking going out smart or full on party?”
"I'll settle for the first but the second would be better don't you think?”
"I can't wait to see her face, okay I'll try for party.”
"Thanks Manda, if it goes pear shaped I'll get it in the ear from Jen big time.”
"Leave it with me.”

"Mand, are you coming or what?” Gabs voice enquired from the stairwell.

"Coming! Geez, someones desperate to go training.” Mand chuntered.
 
"I thought Dad'd want us doing some hill work, specially with this Mount Teide thing next week.”
"Makes a change coming this way though,” de Vreen suggested.

Yeah and there's no chance you'll see stuff going on up at Pia's either.

"I guess.”

My non-birthday rant over, my mind was tuned more fully to the ride and to where I can pull one over Mand – something that has become more difficult during her time in Dernau as she knows the roads nearly as well as I do. Oh I can beat her in a straight drag race but if she gets the drop on me, well its closer than it used to be.

"You done one of these training camps before?” Mand queried.
"Ut uh, well unless you count the BC stuff, you?”
"The club used to do a weekend pre season thing, down to Bournemouth Friday night then bang around the New Forest Saturday and Sunday before returning to the Smoke. I only got to go once, don't suppose it'll be anything like that in Tenerife though.”
"Knowing George he'll have us out all the daylight hours,” I suggested.
"Well it is supposed to be a training camp,” Mand pointed out, "Not a holiday.”
"Yeah, I guess. Sign!”

I stamped on the pedals, heaved on the bars and made good my escape, keeping the effort going until I passed the yellow name board. I waited until Mand caught back up to me before executing an overplayed chalk up mime.

"I wasn't ready.”
"Not my fault,” I observed, taking the opportunity to take a swig from my bidon.
"Next time Bond.”
"In your dreams.”

And so the tone was set for the rest of the ride, a friendly rivalry interspersed with a diverse narrative of fashion, education, bikes and whats on telly tonight (well thats pretty much the same every Saturday just with a change of seasonal clothing!). Once over the river we started on a few kilometres of concerted bit and bit nearly all the way to the Linz ferry.

We weren't crossing there today so instead of shivering on the jetty waiting for Stadt Linz to do a round trip, we pushed on around the bend to Onkel and in short order reached our crossing point. As luck would have it our arrival and that of the ferry coincided so we were quickly on board and in the shelter to keep the stiff and cold breeze from freezing our extremeties – I needed a wee really but the chances of stripping off doing the deed and redressing before landing were remote.

"We gonna stop?” I hinted as we rolled onto the western shore.
"Guess we can.” Manda agreed.
"Bahnhof okay?”
"Sure.”

We rode up to the main road and the few hundred metres along to the station by which time I was nearly wetting myself. Once there I did a very unladylike dismount and sprinted for the facilities – not easy in road shoes! As I sat, with some relief, on the pot I cursed whoever designed female anatomy for the umpteenth time, why would you make it so awkward and messy to use – it was probably a man.
 

"Geez Gab, you looked like The Roadrunner when you took off, you even did a cartoon turn!” Mand smirked.
"I was desperate,”i allowed.
"I'll let you get the drinks while I go.”

Hmmph, getting her own back for my tricksy sprinting today, five one to Bond.

"And those vanilla puddings look okay,” she hinted as she skipped away.

Its only a small bakery cum coffee shop which fortunately was pretty quiet, I claimed a table with my helmet and gloves before placing our order. Vanilla pudding, think that yellow gloop from a vanilla slice in a sort of flaky pastry Brezel topped with a cherry – sure to be messy but it hits all the pleasure buttons when you're cold and tired at the thick end of a hundred kilo ride. I was just arranging my jacket and gloves to make use of the radiator next to our table when de Vreen clacked in.

"Cheers Gab.”
"You should be buying for me, it is my birthday tomorrow.”
"I'll get them next time,” I was informed as she slipped her own jacket off.
"So what're we going to wear tomorrow,” I started, keen to resurect the birthday theme.
"You could wear that designer thing, you know the white sequins.”
"Bit much don't you think,” I opined.

So okay its a nice frock but February, really? Its not exactly warm.

"Maybe that red velvet one then, you could bling it up with a belt and stuff.”

I had to think for a minute to identify said dress, hmm, a definate contender, some thicker hose, my best stilts, put my hair up, yeah, might work.

"What about you, if I'm going bling you've got to.”
"Of course, I was thinking the green slip and borrow that short black cardi you've got?”
"Sure,” I agreed, I mean its what sisters do, I know we aren't technically sisters but she's like a sister and lives in the same house, well you know what I mean.
 
We didn't drag the stop out too long, only the one coffee, we still have best bit of an hours ride to get home. Outside, the weak winter sun had been chased off by some thicker, more threatening looking cloud, according to the sign by the bahnhof entrance it was all of 1°c but felt colder. I was tempted to put my race cape on but decided to brave out the first few minutes ride and save it for if it really does need it.

Once clear of the town we jumped onto the cycle path, a nice wide and recently resurfaced ribbon of tarmac all the way down to Remagen. In the summer it can be quite congested with walkers and tourist bikes but on a cold late February Saturday afternoon we had it almost to ourselves. Our tyres hummed, the transmissions almost silent, the stiff breeze behind us, it was a joy to be awheel.

Past Remagen Bahnhof then out by the Schauff factory to pick up the lane into the Ahrtal. Instead of looping left to Sinzig and retracing our outward route we joined the old Ahrweiler road that would take us past the Apollinaris factories, well its easier than threading through Saturday shoppers in Bad Neunahr! The bypass isn't brilliant on a bike, especially when the skies start dripping as they had now, a fine drizzle, not enough to bother caping up for at this point and anyhow we were soon through Silverberg and on the last leg home through the gorge.

"You miss it?”
"Eh?”
"Your old school,” Mand expanded.
"The Gymnasium? A bit I guess, why?”
"Just curious, you always look down that way when we come through.”
"I do? Never thought about it, we had some good times there I guess, some epic trips and parties. What about you, your school in England that is.”
"I don't miss the school, to be honest it's a bit of a dump but there were some good teachers and I had a couple of good friends.”
"You still in contact?”
"Nah, not really, I saw Jas at Christmas, I don't think she even recognised me.”
"Bummer.”
"I've got new friends now. up in Bonn and here in the valley so its no biggy.”
"Last sign?” I suggested, we don't always go for the Dernau sign but it just felt right today.
In reply she shouted "Go” and got the jump on me!

And so I lost my last sprint as a sixteen year old, I still won for the day five to two so the Sprintmeisterin does it again. Yup, I'm sixteen for just another ten hours or so, if my seventeenth year is only half as exciting I'll be happy. We trundled through the village and were soon back at Schloss Bond.
 

"So?” Dave queried catching Amanda on her way upstairs.
"Beat me five two.”
"Not that, dress?”
"Oh that, all sorted, you might want to not wear jeans though,” Manda suggested.
"All in hand, ot oh, here she comes.”

"What are you two whispering about?” I queried as I climbed the last steps from the cellar.
"I was just telling your dad that you got me on sprints again.”
"Five two,” I gloated.
"So what're we having for dinner tonight?” Dad asked.
"Its only two o'clock,” I pointed out.
"I like to have something to look forward to.”

Yeah right.

"I think theres stuff for a stew, you could do some taters,” I hinted.
"You want to invite Max down? He likes a good stew and dumplings,” Dad proposed.
"I guess I could, seeing as he hasn't got anything else planned,” but no nose ring.
 

"So erm, Dad was asking if you fancied coming down for dinner?”
"That should be okay, whats on the menu?”

Maximillian von Strechau, poster child for 'the way to a mans heart is through his stomach'.

"Whateverthereis stew.”
"That Polish or something?”
I rolled my eyes, "Definately something.”
"So what time do you want me?”

Well unless you pick up the game boyo, never.

"It'll be on the table about six.”
"I'll bring your card down, see you later.”

Gee thanks caring boyfriend I look forward to it.

"Later.”
 

Of course there is stew and stew, British stew usually has a more soupy gravy and of course suet dumplings, the Germans favour a heavier sauce and potato dumplings as well as a spicier flavour. I surveyed the contents of the larder and vegetable rack, then checked the freezer down in the bike store, scoring a bag of frozen leeks and another of stewed rhubarb – well you want pudding right? Back upstairs I collected the rest of the components together and started on making an epic Gaby stew.
 

"Half an hour!” I yelled to no one in particular before clumping upstair to my nest, the eyrie under the eaves.

Thats one good thing with stew and crumble for that matter, you can stick them on a low heat and they won't come to any harm. Indeed, the meat, scrag of lamb today, will be better the longer its simmering away. I'll drop the dumplings in for ten minutes when I go back down.

I slipped my jeans and sweatshirt off as I contemplated what to wear for dinner – I know it sounds a bit Mrs Bucket, I wouldn't've changed if Max wasn't coming but even if he's in the doghouse I felt I should make a bit of effort. But how much? Denim skirt and top – maybe too casual, certainly not a posh frock, no somewher in between, I started going through my wardrobe with no more idea than when I came upstairs.
 

Eventually I compromised on a knitted jumper dress, dark blue with a cowl neck and applique flowers on the top with red tights and my old Mary Janes that I used to use for school. As I descended to the ground floor I could hear that Max had arrived and apparently not alone.

"There you are kiddo,” Dad stated the obvious when I reached the living room, look who's here.”
"Gabee!”

I was suddenly engulfed by Soph or to give her her full name, Sophia Thun und Taxis, Max's cousin.

"Er Soph, what are you doing here?”
"We're staying at Max's, you know what daddy is like with paying for hotels, when Maxxie said he was coming to see you I just had to come too, I hope you don't mind.”

I've been friends with Soph for a couple of years despite her being a Dukes daughter and me not, she can be a bit of a ditz sometimes but she's okay and we've had an adventure or two. So why would I mind?

"No problem, its only stew but there's plenty of it.”
"I um, got you this,” Max interjected when his cousin released me.
"Er thanks,” I took what looked very much like a box of Ferrero Rocher hurriedly wrapped and an envelope.

The following kiss was a bit embarrasing, think junior school disco, in, slobber, out.

"I er just need to finish the food, Mand, gis a hand eh.”

"She's a bit full on eh,” Mand chuckled.
"Yeah,” I agreed, "Wonder what they're up here for?”
"Think she said it was some family thing, probably deciding who's gonna be the next King of Bavaria.”
"Don't even joke about it, they are close relatives to the Kronprinz.”
"I was only joking Gab, you don't need to get so serious.”
"You're right,” I agreed dropping the dumplings into the stew pot, "You want to take the soup bowls out.”

Normally i'd just take the stew pot through but there is no way I'm doing that with Soph here, i'd look like a right pleb, Mum'd go ballistic if she found out. I'm not a snob, I'm not, but you have to have standards, thats something Lisbet is keen on, standards. A quick rummage through the crockery cupboard located the big tureen which of course needed washing then I ended up using a mug to ladle the stew from pot to tureen as I couldn't lift the pot, urgh!

"You okay kiddo?” Dad's voice enquired from the kitchen door.
"I am now, could you take this through, I don't want to drop it.”
"Sure,” he agreed coming in to collect it.
"Its hot,” I warned, "Use this.” I passed him a tea towel, "Did you know the Taxis were here?”
"Not until Max arrived,” Dad admitted.
"I'll bring the potatoes, don't want it getting cold.”
"Yes milady.” Dad hammed.
 
Maddy Bell © 13.02.2021