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.

I might not be a morning person but after years of getting up at silly o'clock for school and now college, my auto timer has me at least awake at six thirty anyway. Of course, its February, its still dark at eight let alone six thirty, the temptation to just roll over is high, my bladder however had other ideas so I slipped from my nest of duvet. Yep the frigid air of early morning just accelerated the bathrooms requirement!

What is it about toilets that makes you contemplative? Well i've got no idea but it does so I found myself, between yawns, reliving my party, I still can't believe so many people came and not only that, kept it a secret. Okay, it wasn't a birthday heavy on presents but its certainly one to remember.

Seventeen, I'm seventeen. Sixteen is like your first tentative steps into adulthood, the end of normal school, more responsibility, the first baby steps into finding yourself. Thats been a biggy for me, the last year has been full of ups and downs, I can't see me topping it any time soon. And I think i've become more comfortable in my own skin, i've been in denial of my own chromosones for so long but I think i've got over the whole 'but I'm not a girl' thing, haven't I?

Some banging and crashing downstairs broke my reverie, an unfamilar voice alongside that of Dad – Gran! Oh and Mum's here, well at least for this morning. I quickly finished my bathroom visit, grabbed my fluffy dressing gown and padded downstairs.
 

"Morning Gran.”
"You're up early,” Gran suggested.
"Its nearly seven,” I pointed out, "If I was going to college my lift is at half past.”
"That's early.”
"Not really, by the time we get to Koblenz I just get to college for my first class.”
"You don't have college today?” she enquired searching in the cutlery drawer, "Tea spoon?”
"In the caddy on top.”
She found said item and returned to the table, "And you don't have college today?”
"Nope, no classes until after half term so no commute for me.”
"You haven't forgotten your tutorial?” Dad queried joining us after collecting morning Brötchen.
"Er no,” well I had, how does Dad know these things? "But thats not commuting is it?”
"A technicality,” he suggested, "I'm guessing you want a lift?”

Do I? I racked my brains for information, oh thats right, I'm seeing Lisbet at one thirty so I guess I can get the Zug, do some shopping for next week – hey I know.

"Gran, d'you want to come? I need stuff for Tenerife, we could get the train down, make a day of it, we can lunch in the Altstadt, I can show you the college, I won't be with my tutor for long.”
"Well it would be nice to spend time with one of my grandaughters,” she mused.
"You want dropping at Remagen then? I'm taking Amanda down anyway.”
If he's going anyway, "Sure, that Semeln going begging?”

Missing the first train leg of the journey – and the walk to Dernau bahnhof, gave us about an extra thirty minutes to get ready. Gran of course was already dressed but there was now just an hour until departure and I'm only halfway through my Fruhstück! Instead of eating the sandwich I was putting together, I wrapped it in a paper napkin, I can eat that on the train along with my banana, coffee however needs immediate attention!
 

"Ready Spud?” Dad enquired when I returned to the kitchen.
"Don't call her that Dave,” Mum admonished, "She's a young woman, not your lunch, eh Princess?”

Mand did a very bad job of stifling a huge guffaw. Nope, I'm not going to react, Dad can call me Spud if he likes, its better than Princess!

"Just need my coat, where's my sandwich?”
"It was yours?” Mand opined as she spread Marmite™ on her toast.
"You ate it?” I accused.
"No she didn't,” Mum soothed, "Your Gran's got it in her bag.”
"Gotcha!” de Vreen smirked.
"Hmmph.”
 

Mand's train was just pulling in when we got to Remagen so she was off like a shot into the underpass to Gleis zwei, Gran and I took a bit more time extricating ourselves from the warm confines of the Saab's cosy interior.

"If you want picking up, give me a call Josie.”
"Thanks Dave, I'm sure Gaby has everything under control.”

Dad took off, he's doing stuff at the team HQ today, Gran and I headed up onto platform one to get her ticket. To be honest, its not something I do very often, my student pass is a lifesaver – especially as the rents pay for it. The machines though, are pretty easy to use, we fed some notes in and were rewarded with a Regiokarte for Gran, if it came to it that covers me as well but we aren't restricted by train or route and its valid on the buses too.

The Rheintal Express purred into the station and we joined the busy train along with a few others almost certainly with similar purpose to ourselves. Busy yes but not so crowded that we didn't easily find table seats, facing the right way too, in the first carriage. Of course we were already on the move, sliding past the Schauff factory as we started the journey south.

"You want this now?” Gran proffered the small sandwich box with my breakfast inside.
"Erm, yeah, keep me going until lunch, I'm a growing girl.”
"Not from what i've seen,” she retorted passing food, a knife and a couple of fresh napkins to me.
"Its not fair, i've tried sheep poo and everything.”
"Sheep poo? Oh right, fertilizer, your mother was just the same, eat for England and thin as a rake.”
"But taller, and no so thin these days,” I added.
"Thats what being a mother does for you.”

I was of course busy preparing to eat, I neatly cut the Brötchen in two, rearranging the displaced filling, Bierwürst, cheese and tomato.

"You want?” I offered Gran half.
"Not for me, i've grown enough for one day.”

I shrugged, the offer was made, I can eat the whole thing with a clear conscience.

The Rheintal of course, doesn't stop everywhere, in fact after Remagen its just Brohl and Andernach, the only drawback being it doesn't stop at the Löhr centre either.

"So you're going to be a pop star then?”
"Sort of,” I allowed, "But its not exactly pop and star is pushing things a bit.”
"Not what i've heard,” Gran mentioned.
"We're not exactly famous and anyway, I just do a bit of singing, its the guys do all the hard work.”
"If you say so,” Gran replied with a note of disbelief in her voice.
"They were a band before I joined them,”i pointed out.
"Don't put your input down Gaby, from what I saw yesterday they follow your lead, they need you probably more than you them.”
"I wouldn't be doing it at all without them.”
"Maybe not the same but you enjoy singing, you do it well so if it wasn't Blau...wahatever.”
"Hase,” I completed for her.
"It would be some other outlet for your lungs, a choir or something.”
"Not sure any choir's would want me, its not like I'm religious is it?”
"There are plenty of choristers who aren't, I wasn't neccesarily thinking of a church choir although I know one vicar who'd recruit you at the drop of a hat.”
"Hat, damn, I knew i'd forgotten something.”
 

Once in Koblenz we headed over to the ZOB, most of the city buses go via the Löhr so within a few minutes we were on the main pedestrianised zone. Being Monday it was less busy than it will be later in the week, fewer Oma's and Hausfrau's as its still tradition to do washing on Monday hereabouts. We had a look in a couple of shops, not for anything in particular but Gran enjoys looking at, the to her, foreign fashions and designs.

Well I think its also a reminder that back in England, many towns have become homogenised, losing many of the independent stores so that on a visit to Crewe or Worksop you will find the same names, the same products inside. Don't get me wrong, there are big chains in Germany, but some are in just one state, and even say the Kaufhaus will stock different goods in different stores. Whatever it is, shopping is a sure fire hit when we have visitors from England, much less so going the other direction.

"Coffee?” I suggested outside of the Galeria.
"Toilet?” Gran countered.
"Next to the restaurant,” I supplied, I checked my watch, "They'll just be putting out the torte.”
She sighed, "Go on then, do they do tea?”
"Uh huh,” I confirmed, "Not that you'd really want it.”
"You have your coffee, let me decide on the tea, it can't be worse than on that plane yesterday.”
 

Of course,I hadn't wanted a wee, but I was nearly wetting myself by the 3em OG and who was the daft bint wearing skinny jeans and a body? Looks good but finding and undoing the poppers – well it nearly got messy! It could've been worse I guess, at least i'd decided against the hose. Anyhow, we reconvened at the restaurant entrance from where I sent Gran to find a table and I, dutiful grand daughter that I am, went to fetch the refreshments.

"Gabee!” Gran admonished.
"Thats me,” I agreed, sliding the tray onto the table, I got you tea.”
"And I suppose the two slices of gateaux are both for you?”
"They were just putting them out when I got there.”
"No wonder your Dad's going grey.”
"He's not, is he?”
"Its either that or dry rot setting in.”
"I hadn't noticed,” I offered slightly guiltily.
"Well don't make a thing of it, you notice these things when you don't see people so often.”
"But you haven't got any grey.”
"Who says?”

Of course, now I found myself looking. Thing is, whilst Dad has dark hair, the women of the household are all blondes, well at the roots at least, mine is nearly white, Mum and Jules are more sort of gold, Gran is between the two so a few lighter strands won't show.

"Stop wool gathering or we'll be going straight from here to meet your Mum.”
"Mum? But she's flying to Portugal”
"After we've had lunch, weren't you listening earlier?”
"I guess I missed that bit.”
"Some place called Ostria or some such?”
"Think I know the place.”
"Well she wrote it down for me, twelve thirty.”
"That only gives us an hour!”
"Calm down, a bit more than that but we've got the afternoon after your meeting.”

Of course, even if we weren't meeting Mum for lunch we wouldn't have much more time, after all i've still got to get to the college, even if its not that far. We finished up in the restaurant then worked our way back down to the ground floor. Its not somewhere i'd usually do clothes shopping – well maybe for hose but for the stylish older woman, its right up there with CundA and the like.
 

Back out onto Löhr Straße and it was a gentle stroll up towards Münzplatz, L'Osteria as it turned out to be called is actually on Am Plan, we spotted Mum before the restaurant.

"What are we eating tonight Gaby?” Gran enquired as we perused the menus.
"We usually get pizza after i've been to cheer.”
"That cuts the choice quite a bit.”

Yup, L'Osteria is of the Italian persuasion.

"Well I won't be having it later so I'm gonna have the pizza Pollo al Forno,” Mum told us.

I guess pizza twice in a day is a bit much, I scanned the remaining options for inspiration.

"Think I'll have the Minestrone,” Gran volunteered.
There it was, just the ticket, "Can I have the Gnochi Carbonara please.”

Of course, because we were in a fairly tight window ahead of my meeting, the food took an age to arrive.

"Damn,” I cursed, checking the time, "I need to be at college in ffteen minutes.”

With all the talking, whilst I was pretty much through my pasta, Mum and Gran were only about halfway through their meals.

"You go on kiddo,” Mum instructed, "I'll walk your Gran down when we're done, the car's in the parking by the college anyway.”
“'kay, sorry to cut and run Gran.”
"Its okay Gaby, go do what you need to do, we'll see you in about an hour.”
"Okay,” I agreed as I tugged my coat on.”
"Oh, and you might want this,” Mum suggested, digging into her bag.
"Hmm?”
"You left it on the kitchen table,” she mentioned presenting me with the folders containing the stuff for Lisbet.
"Sugar, I thought they were in my bag, thanks Mum”
"Well thank me by getting good marks eh, now shoo or you will be late.”

I took the folders, stowed them in my own bag and set off to see Fr. Olafsdottir.
 

It was a bit weird, being back in the college building, I know its only been a few weeks but it seems like an eternity. Of course, there are other courses and many more students than those on my management course, accounting to surveying, political and computer studies, white collar subjects if you like.

There's another campus for 'the arts', languages, history and all that sort of stuff then there's the more hands on stuff, engineering, mechanics and so on where Max and Freddy attend. Things like childcare have their own 'colleges' usually as part of a relevant hospital or whatever – where Con does her childcare is part of the regional Paediatrics campus out in Mayen.

Anyhow, I clattered up the stairs and along to Lisbet's office, pausing to get my breath before rapping on the door.

"Come in.”
I eased the door open, "Tutorial?”
"Gaby,” my tutor enthused, "Come on in, I shan't be a moment, be a love and make some coffee, I just need to finish these notes and I'll be with you.”
"Er sure.”

I dumped, no, placed my bag on the sofa, removed my coat and made a start on the caffeine rich beverage. I bet Mum and Gran are having coffee at L'Osteria right about now but Lisbet keeps good beans now and even though I say so myself, I make a fair cup of coffee.

"Phwoo!” she allowed closing the folder on her desk even as I finished my Barista duties. "So Fraulein Bond, how has your furlough been? I hope you've made good use of the time?”

She came from behind her desk, snagged her coffee mug and sat herself in one of the 'comfy' chairs.

"I've not missed the commuting,” I told her, "I've done the report and all the stuff on the reading list.”
"But did you learn anything, apart from a disdain of commuting?” she sipped at her coffee, "Oo, i've missed this.”

Have I? How do you measure learning? Exams, papers, essays and can the learnee really comment on their personal learning?

"I've read a lot, I'm sure some of it soaked in.”
"An interesting viewpoint. I think most of my students would have just replied 'yes' but you offer a more cautios opinion, any reason?”
I shrugged, "How do I know if i've learnt anything unless I'm tested somehow?”
"Bravo, an honest reply. Oh congratulations on your birthday, it was this weekend yes?”
"Yesterday, thanks.”
"So my wise young friend, tell me about the last few weeks.”
 

You, of course, already know what's been going on in the life of Gabrielle Bond, spinster of this parish so I won't bore you with repeating everything. Well I left out some of the more personal stuff, concentrating instead on the work side of things, how the Kabin was doing, what was going on with my cycling career and yes, my music career too.

"You aren't tempted to change your career path?”
"As if!” I scoffed.
"Remember i've seen you perform Gaby, I know, you know, that this course isn't a vocation for you, your first love, and preferred career is racing pedal bikes.”

I couldn't argue with that assessment.

She went on, "But if that was no longer possible for any reason, could you 'settle' for a job in hospitality when you have this other talent?”

She had a point, this qualification and any that follow at University are, for me, an insurance policy for the future, when I get to where Maria Pinger is, when racing bikes for a living ends. Could a singing career be an alternative, a new plan B?

"I guess its just been a bit of a lark up to now.”
"So why are you going on this tour?”

The sixty four million euro question.

"To see what its like I guess.”
"Don't guess Gaby, know. You have a sharp mind, sporting and artistic talent, your parents are helping you hone your radrennen skills, this college is doing its bit on the serious academic side, think of this trip with the band as a chance to fine tune or at least start to tune, your musical potential. If it doesn't work out, well you've lost nothing but learnt, I hope at least, why, but if it is a success, you have more than one bow string to take on through life, okay?”

I allowed a sigh, she'd pretty much said the same as Dad did last week, but being from beyond my family and friends, her opinion has more gravitas.

"Maybe I should take up an instrument.”
"Whilst i've no doubt that you could do that, I think your current workload is more than enough. Questions?”
Tons but not really pertinent to this conversation, "Er no, don't think so.”
"Thats us done then, enjoy, where was it, Madeira?”
"Tenerife.”
"Well enjoy it and come back refeshed for the new term.”
"I'll try, oh, nearly forgot,” I dug in my bag and retrieved the folders Mum couriered down to me, "I've already forgotten them once today, Mum brought them down for me.”
"Your mother is here?”
"Keeping Gran company downstairs I think.”
"Your Oma too, I'll walk you down, I don't get much opportunity to meet my students families and I need to stretch my legs anyway.”

At secondary school, that would've struck dread in my heart but here and with it being Lisbet, well our relationship is more like friends than teacher / pupil and having friends meet your family is a good thing yeah?
 

"I thought we'd missed you,” Mum opined when we reached the atrium and the seats Mum and Gran were keeping warm.
"Sorry, my fault,” Lisbet told them, "We over ran a bit, Lisbet Olafsdottir, Gabys course tutor.”
"That seems to happen a lot where my daughter is concerned, Jenny Bond and this is my mother, Josie Peters.”
"I see where Gaby gets her looks,” Lisbet grinned, "Nice to meet you Frau Peters.”

Warning, never allow your mother to get started on her favourite subject aka me, with another interested party, in this case Lisbet, the result is likely to be a long intermission!

 
Maddy Bell © 21.02.2021