(aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2105 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad
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Simon returned a few minutes later, he still looked red eyed. “Hi,” he said.
“What?” I responded still not sure what I felt about his attitude, and I was trying to deal with some emails, including one to Alan about the film.
“I’ve spoken to Danielle,” he said emphasising the name.
“What about?” What’s the idiot done now, honestly, I’ll have murdered him before we get anywhere near Scotland.
“I told hi–er, it was okay as far as I was concerned.”
“Told her what was okay?”
“For her to wear whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.”
Why did he have to say anything? “Okay, though she’ll look a bit out of place in school wearing that denim skirt.”
“She’s not going to school as a girl–is she?”
“You just told her she could.”
“I did, didn’t I? Shit, should I go and qualify it–you know–anywhere but school?”
“No, just leave her and it alone. I’m sure she was pleased at your comment but just leave her in peace, today has been traumatic enough as it is.” And leave me in peace too, I’ve got work to do.
“You’re busy, I’ll go and make some tea–I presume you’d like one?”
For me that’s a rhetorical question, like is the Pope a Catholic? “Please, where is Danni?”
“Danielle you mean,” he sniped at me.
“I meant Danni with an ‘l’.”
“Oh, is that the girl’s way?”
I rolled my eyes. I wondered at times how this man was head of the retail bank. “Yes.”
“In the dining room with Cindy and the elder girls.”
“Doing what?”
“I have no idea, that number of women together is a bit unnerving at times.”
“Simon, you’re supposed to be their male parent.”
“Yes but they’re all nearly grown up and don’t need much parenting.”
I rose from behind the desk. “I need to stretch my legs.” I walked past him and into the dining room where the girls were all chattering and laughing, even Danni was doing it. “Everything okay, girls?” I called.
“Yes thanks, Mummy,” said Julie and they all agreed.
“You two, okay?” I asked Danni and Cindy.
“Yes thank you, Auntie Cathy.” Danni just nodded.
I looked at me watch it was nine o’clock. “Bed in an hour, okay?”
“What together?” snorted Julie.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I riposted and went out to the kitchen. Simon followed me.
“Problems?” he asked having observed what had happened.
“Not really, I’m just tired. I’m going to bed, tell Danni not to forget to clean off her makeup and moisturise, thanks, darling.” I pecked him on the cheek and went upstairs.
The younger girls were still jabbering and I asked them to go to sleep. “Is Danni going to become a girl?” asked Trish.
“Not as far as I know, why?”
“So why is she, I mean, he dressed up like one?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow, go to sleep now.”
“I fink Daniewwe is vewy pwetty.”
“So do I Meems, now off to sleep with you all.” I kissed them all goodnight and went into the bedroom only to discover Simon sitting on the bed pulling his socks off.
“Where’ve you been?”
“Tucking the girls in, why?”
“Just wondered.”
I nodded and went to clean my teeth and have a wee. When I returned in my pyjamas he sighed.
“What’s the matter now?” I asked.
“You in a suit of armour.”
“What?”
“Those PJs, they’re as impenetrable as a suit of armour.”
“Good,” I sat on the bed and slipped off my slippers before getting under the sheet.
“Have you gone off me?”
“No, Simon, I still love you very much but I am very tired and would like to go to sleep.”
“Did you put out a nightdress for our newest daughter?”
“No, look I’m going to sleep, I don’t want to talk about boys girls or anything in between, I just want to go to bloody sleep–alright?”
“Yes, dear. Oh I told him about cleaning off his makeup and moisturising.”
“Thank you, goodnight.”
“I’ve done something wrong haven’t I?”
“No, goodnight.”
“I must have done.”
I’m going to break one of the ten commandments in a moment, the one about killing people, or one people in particular. “I want to sleep.”
“Sorry, babes–but I must have done.”
Count to ten, no not commandments, just to stop me killing him. “Please, I am very tired and have a headache coming on, I just want to sleep.”
“Of course.” I was just dropping off when he added, “Sleep well, won’t you?”
I decided that trying to ignore him was easier than a night in police custody even if I could claim provocation.
“The meeting went well, didn’t it? Oh you’re asleep are you?” I imagined myself in a blue bubble and minutes later I went off to sleep I guess because I woke up an hour or so later needing a wee. Simon wasn’t in bed, so where on earth was he? It was eleven o’clock and I traipsed down stairs to see if he was there. He was, chatting with Julie and Jacquie, I turned and went back to bed and was asleep before he came up.
At breakfast, Si and Sammi had already gone to work, Danny came down to breakfast wearing a nightdress. “Where did you get that from?”
“I bought it for her,” offered Cindy.
I nodded and sipped my tea.
“D’you like it, Mummy?”
“More importantly, d’you like it?”
“Oh yes, Mummy, I think it’s gorgeous.” I began to wonder if we had a changeling. The nightdress was a tee shirt variety with a picture of a kitten with a nightcap and candle on it.
“I didn’t think we were going to see Danielle today,” I said telling him that I thought he was over egging the pudding.
“Oh, that’s my fault, Auntie Cathy, I asked her to stay a bit longer.”
“Why?” I was genuinely interested.
“I feel safer when Danielle is with me.”
“Does Danny as a boy threaten you, then?”
“Oh no, Auntie Cathy, but it’s nice to have a sister near my own age. Danielle is my spiritual sister.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, perhaps I was dreaming. I opened them and my son was still wearing a nightdress. Julie came down and smirked at the two in their nighties at the table. She grabbed a couple of biscuits and left for her salon. Then Phoebe came down, “Go have a shower and I’ll do your makeup for you,” she said to my son. He went off like a lamb to the slaughter.
I poured myself another cup of tea and went to my study to deal with my emails but it was no use. I wanted my son back not this manipulated puppet the girls were having so much fun with. He isn’t transgendered–I’m sure of it–he’s a boy dammit. Letting Cindy into our home might have been a big mistake and as for Peter...
I felt my screen go all blurry as a tear dripped down my face. How do I stop this? Has it gone too far already?