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.

"And Jennifer...”

I sniggered at Gran using Mums full name.

“..drive carefully.”
"I always do,” Mater replied.
"Hmm,” her mother allowed, its not just me that thinks her driving is a bit er, erratic at times.
"And I'll see you at the weekend kiddo, make sure you bring your swimming cossie.”
"You already said,” I pointed out.

After a round of farewell hugs, Gran and I finally watched Mum hurry off to continue her journey to Frankfurt airport – if she gets there on time it'll be a miracle.

"So young lady, where to now?” Gran enquired.

I quickly ran my shopping and sustenance needs through my head before replying.

"We can go up through the Altstadt, there's some nice shops through there, I probably should look for another cossie too, there's an Intersport™ on Munzplatz, anywhere you want to go?”
"Nothing in particular, your Dad was talking about stopping off in Frankfurt on the way to the Airport on Wednesday.”
'Frankfurt,' I mused, hmm wonder if I can finangle going along.
“'kay, Altstadt then, we can get coffee on the way back to the Zug,” I suggested.
"Lead on,” Gran suggested looping my arm through her own.
 

Its strange, you think you know somewhere then you discover that you don't know it as well as you thought. Now i've been to Koblenz loads of times with my friends, i've wandered around after college but today, with Gran, we found some little streets i've missed, shops that I didn't know existed. I made a mental note to come for a better look in one or two, the music store in particular looked pretty interesting, but it didn't look like a place you'd take your Oma!

Of course, Gran had to have a look in the underwear shop, no, not Victoria's Secret™ but the one with a display of 'foundation' wear in the window. I long ago got over the embarrassment of shopping for BH and stuff but even so I find this sort of place a bit intimidating.

"Abend!” a voice called out from beyond a display of girdle things.
"Er Abend,” I called back.
"Gibt es etwas, das Sie suchen?”

By now we were far enough inside to see the counter and speaker.

"Nein danke,” I replied, "Nur suchen.”
"Okay, fragen, ob Sie Hilfe benötigen.”
"Danke.”

I think Gran got the gist of the conversation as she added her own 'danke' to my reply.

"You just don't see this stuff in the shops these days,” Gran observed.
"I guess not many people wear this sort of stuff nowadays,” I pointed out.
"You'd be surprised young lady,” Gran started, "There comes a time in every woman's life when gravity takes a hold and the flimsy undies you wore as a teen just don't cut the mustard.”
I gave a shrug, "I guess, so where do these saggy women get their corsets then?”
"There are mail order companies, so I'm told.”
"Gran!””
"I'm admitting nothing.”

I guess its not something you usually discuss with your teenage grandaughters but i've seen her washing, there might not have been any of these corsolet thingies but her knickers are certainly more substantial than anything in the Bond household!

I followed Gran around the shelves and was distractedly looking at a very lacy but clearly solid all in one thingy displayed on one of those perspex body things.

"Gaby, give me a hand here luv.”
"What's up?”
"Can you help me with these sizes, I can't make head nor tail of them.”
I took the packet she was holding and turned it over, to see the size chart, "So um what size are you after?”

Of course, the, er, garment was sized in the usual way – for Germany that is. I've got a fair idea of my sizing of course but its not exactly straightforward converting to and from UK sizes.

"Medium?”

It took a bit of working out, vague sizing like small, medium and so on might be simple but the garment we were looking at went up in two centimetre jumps from thirty six, I'm only thirty two and I'm sure gran is nowhere near fifty four so that was getting us nowhere. It took a few minutes of converting inches to centimetres, then remembering to halve the answer, well we settled on forty six which seemed about right.

"Alle ist gut?” the sales woman enquired when we reached the till.
"Ja, mein Oma ist von Großbritannia, die Größe ist unterschiedlich.“
"Ach so,“ she allowed taking the package, "das wäre Englisch sechzehn?“
"Ja,“ i agreed.

Shoulda thought of asking, dur.

"I remember now, you ordered the Unterbrusthalter last year, how are you finding it?“
"It, um, does the job,“ i admitted.
"So, fifty five euro for your Oma,“ she told me with a wink.
"Danke.“
 
"So what was all that about in there,“ Gran asked as we made our way towards the sports store, "i'm sure it said sixty euros on the box.“
"Discount?“
"Hmm, i didn't come down with the last shower Gabrielle.“
"It was discount, i erm, bought something there before,“ i admitted.
"Now this sounds like a story i must hear.“

I sighed, might as well own up.

"You know the Kostum?”
"Your fancy German outfit?”
One of mine is Swiss but I'm not gonna start splitting hairs, "Er yeah, well you know that the Bluse is um, a bit exposing?”
"Your chest is on display,” Gran translated.
"Well you can get this thing, an Unterbrusthalter, which er, lifts things a bit, 'specially if you haven't got, you know, a lot on top.”
"Like an uplift bra?” Gran offered.
"Sort of, except this doesn't have cups, you wear it with a bra to er, boost things?”
"Busty Lil without the bust,” Gran grinned, "We used to use tissues, trust the Germans to up the ante, and you bought one of these I take it?”
"Er yeah, I only use it with the Dirndl,” I stated in my defence.
Gran just chuckled, "Come on, lets get this swim suit, I think I could do with that coffee then.”
 

You'd think no one went swimming in winter by the paltry selection of swimwear in the Intersport™, a motley collection of clearly end of line stuff, the only one in my size was an awful thing with frills across the bust in lime green – no way José. Maybe I can get something in Frankfurt or I'm sure they sell swim wear on Tenerife. We set off back along Lohrstraße to my usual choice of coffee shop, the Kamps Bäckerei a bit before the Galleria.

Of course it was easiest for me to do the ordering, Milch Kaffee and Pflaumküchen – well its a while until dinner, have to keep our strength up!
I was no sooner at the table with our comestibles than Gran was shoving a folded note into my hand.

"What's this?“
"You paid this morning.“
"I can afford it.“
"I wasn't suggesting you couldn't but fair's fair Gaby.”
"I've already paid,” I pointed out trying to give the note back.
"Well put it towards your new costume or something, I didn't get you much for your birthday.”
"You came all the way here Gran, I don't need big presents.”

Well they're nice, but not essential!

"Keep it Gaby, I don't see enough of my girls so humour me eh?”
"What about Jules?”
"Never you mind about your sister, she doesn't miss out.”
I had to admit defeat, "Okay, thanks Gran.”
"Gab's, Frau Peters!” a familiar voice called out as we were finishing our coffee.
"Max? What are you doing here?”
"I come most days before the train back.”
"Since when?” I queried as he arrived at the table.
"Since you've been abschöpfen up in Dernau.
"I have so not been skiving!”
"If you say so meine liebe, you ladies want another coffee?”
"Gran?”
"Not for me, I'll float if I drink any more, you go ahead.”
"Another Milchkaffee then,” I beamed up at von Strechau.
"Yes milady,” he replied before heading over to the counter.

"He's a nice lad,” Gran suggested.
"Gra-an.”
"Well he is, well mannered and he's got it hard for you.”
"Does not!”
"I'm only saying what I see Grandaughter, he's well smitten.”
"We're just friends really.”
"With benefits?” Gran probed.
"What do you mean?” I asked even as I started to flush.
"Gabrielle Bond, you know very well what I mean.”
"I, erm, we haven't, you know, erm, thingy.” I muttered.
"Well make sure whatever you do is right for you.”
"Er yeah,” I agreed.

Max returned with a laden tray.
"One Milchkaffee and a Puddingbrezel for Modom.”
"I've just had Pflaumküchen,“ i protested.
"And your point is?“
"I was just saying.”
"Never known you to turn down cake, you sure you don't want anything Frau Peters?”
"I'm fine Max,” Gran replied, "Is there a toilet?”
"Door just past the counter,” I told her.

"So, been shopping?” my BF queried once Gran had departed.
"A bit, I had a tutorial earlier and Mum met us for lunch,” I supplied.
"She not here now?”
"Has to fly to Portugal, if she got to the airport in one piece, thanks for yesterday.”
"It wasn't my idea.”
"But I bet you had a big hand in organising it, like getting Sophia and her parents up.”
"They really did come for a family 'conference'.”

I gave him the 'pull the other one look'.

"Okay, they brought the meeting forward a week so they could be there,” he admitted.
"So what was the meeting about?” well enquiring minds and all that.
"This and that, they usually have a couple of Familienkonferenz each year, wouldn't do to have weddings clash and stuff like that.”
"I guess not,” I allowed.

I can just see that happening in my family, most of my cousins are still in kindergarten which pretty much leaves me and Jules, the 'meeting' would last like two minutes, 'Gab, you getting married? Nope, Jules? Nope. Okay, see you next time.' okay thirty seconds.

"So are there any?” I went on.
"Any what?”
"Clashing weddings dumkopf.”
"I think the calender is pretty clear this year, pick your date.”
"If thats a proposal, the answer is no.”
"Phew, I thought I was gonna have to wear one of those tight suit things in front of everyone at the Dom.”
"We are not getting married in the Dom.”
"So we are getting married?”
"Now you're twisting my words,” I told him with a glare.
"Okay you two?” Gran enquired returning from her mission.
"Apparently we aren't getting married in the Dom,” Max told my Gran.
"Somewhere else in mind Gaby?” Gran enquired with a twinkle in her eye.
"Urgh! There is no wedding.”
"Phew, I don't need to shop for a hat then.”
"Gra-an!”
 

If we hadn't been joined by Max I was gonna have a look in the model car shop but it was getting late and i've got cheer tonight, so rather than head for the Hauptbahnhof we cut through the Löhr Center to the City stop to catch the stopping train. I rang Dad with an ETA in Remagen but he was still waiting on a call from some race organiser so we'd get the Ahrtal Express back up to Dernau. The canny traveller doesn't head for the nearest carriage, especially at busy times, we got a facing double in the last carriage, Gran almost insisting that I sit with Max.
 

Click. It wasn't a loud noise but in the relative quiet of the half empty carriage it was enough to disturb my slumber. I cracked an eye before flinging my arms out to stretch, my pillow squirmed under me. Hang on, pillow?

"You're awake,” Gran's voice suggested.

Gran? My mind struggled to engage, if Gran's here then – I sprang up.

"Whoa!” Max exclaimed as I inadvertently punched him in the middle.
"We thought we were going to have to wake you,” Gran told me, "We're just coming into Remagen.”

Its not that I didn't believe her but of course I had to look, not that you could see much beyond your own reflection through the window, it being almost dark outside.

"Remagen,” I muttered to myself as almost on cue the announcement came over the train tannoy.
"Good sleep?” Gran enquired.
"I guess,” I allowed as I pulled my boots back on, when did I take them off?

There was quite a lot of movement along the carriage, a surprising number of people commute from the Ahrtal to Koblenz and points in between, by the time I was re-dressed we were slowing into Remagen, the dim platform lights rolling slowly past the tinted carriage windows as we queued ready to disembark. With a judder and a hiss we rolled to a halt and the sombre collective filed off the train, mostly heading to the car park or into the town but we were far from the only ones who were headed for Gleis funf and the bright lights of the Ahrtal Express.

We got seats, Gran and I on one side of the aisle, Max across from us next to a chap in the full fluo overalls favoured by rail workers. By the time we were seated the train was moving, the bright lights of Remagen soon behind us as we headed into the Ahr valley. How many times have I done this journey, a hundred, a thousand, well maybe not that many but a lot anyway, it always takes longer than you expect.

"So when do you go back to England Frau Peters?” Max enquired.
"Wednesday, just a flying visit,” Gran told him.
"Literally,” I put in, chuckling at my own joke.
"One day I will have to come to England.”
"I'm sure you will.”
"Maybe for university,” Max suggested.
"To England?” I spluttered.
"Don't see why not, my professor studied at Sheffield for his Masters,” Max advised as Myleen, the train conductor reached us.

"Fährkarte?” Myleen requested on auto pilot, "Oh hi Gaby, Max, not seen you for a while Gaby.”
"Job placement, I'll be back after half term.” I told her.
"Its not the same without you girls up and down the valley,” she mused.

I passed my, er pass and Gran's day ticket over for inspection.

"A visitor?”
"My Oma, from England,” I supplied.
She turned her attention to Max, "What about you young man?”
"I'm not from England.”
"Max von Strechau, ever the comedian.”
"But you love me anyway,” he hammed.
"Try to keep him on a leash Gaby, have a good visit Oma.”

And off she trundled to terrorize more passengers.

"Later!” I called back to Max as the zug doors opened at the Dernau halt, to call it a station is over egging things, its not much more than an open platform at the end of the day.
 

"Dad, wasn't expecting you to be back,” I suggested when he greeted us a few minutes later.
"I've only just got back,” he told us, "Good day Josie?”
"Not bad Dave, could do with a cuppa though.”
"Hint taken, Gaby.”
"I need to get ready for cheer,” I announced before making my escape up to my eyrie.
 
A good day? Well any time with Gran is good so yeah, it was a good day. When I retrieved the crumpled note Gran forced on me it got even better, fifty euros, very handy indeed. Getting ready for cheer is of course quite simple, change into a sports bra, add a top and exercise tights, find my trainers, et voila – I'll put my hair up when I get there.

The tea was in the pot when I returned to the kitchen, Gran was busy making sandwiches for tea.

"Ham and tomato okay Gaby?”
"Er sure, you want this pouring?”
"Give it a stir first,” she directed.
"Where's Dad?”
"In his office I think, he was muttering something about flights.”
 

"Brought you a sandwich and tea,” I offered poking my head into the office.
"Cheers kiddo, guess you want running up?”
"It is our turn for taxi.”
"I get the message, ten minutes eh?”
"Sure, everything okay, Gran said something about flights.”
"Just a minor hiccup, soon have it sorted.”

 
Maddy Bell © 23.02.2021