(aka Bike) Part 950 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad
All Rights Reserved. |
 |
“Right, people, gather round,” I spoke as the family came to the table. “I’ve offered a job to someone who is transitioning from male to female, and who has fallen on hard times.”
I saw Stella raise her eyebrows and mime, “Another one?” The girls giggled and Julie looked intrigued.
“The person’s name is, Maureen. Unfortunately she doesn’t look very feminine, but we might be able to help there over time. What I’d like is your support for someone who’s going through a very tough time.”
The children all said they would help, Stella looked fed up and Julie looked concerned. As we cleared up I asked Julie what her problem was.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Do what?”
“Help this unfortunate person, Maureen.”
“Why?”
“I dunno–I like, feel it’s embarrassing.”
“Just imagine that multiplied by a factor of ten, and apply it to virtually every encounter you have with anyone. That’s what she’s going through.”
“I know I should be more kind, Mummy, like you are, but I just can’t. I’m sorry.” She burst into tears and rushed off to her bedroom.
Oh boy. I went back into the dining room and Stella was seated at the table waiting to have a pop at me. “So who is this latest lame duck?”
“I told you, someone who’s having some bad luck with work, so I’ve offered them a job, temporarily.”
“How temporarily?”
“I haven’t decided. Why?”
“I’m not sure I want to live in a fairground sideshow. This isn’t a charity, Cathy, it’s a family home with children, who need to be protected from such people.”
I was gobsmacked. I was so taken aback that I couldn’t speak.
“I didn’t say anything while you were adopting every homeless kid in Portsmouth, especially transgender ones, and so far we’ve been lucky–they haven’t stolen anything or murdered us in our beds.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this–from the one person I thought I could count on to help someone in distress. Someone who encouraged a total stranger to change gender, and have supported them ever since. Yet, now you tell me you don’t like my children?” I felt my pitch and volume rising.
“No–I’m not saying that at all, I’m delighted that you’ve got kids to love–you’re very good at it–pretty good with adults too, I simply wish you’d consult before you go off on your Mother Theresa act–it’s getting a bit old, if you know what I mean.”
“I’ll ask the kids not to murder you in your bed, and I’ll call this Maureen and say that some selfish,uncharitable members of my family don’t want her here on Friday.”
“That isn’t what I said.”
“Sorry, that’s what I heard.”
“I don’t want to squabble with you over this, Cathy.”
“Well you’re giving a pretty good impression of it.”
“Can’t we talk quietly about this?”
“I’m not going to change my mind,” I asserted.
“Fine, but at least hear my concerns, okay?”
I sat down at the table, “Shoot,” I said irritably.
“I accept the children were different and they’ve all been very successful–in fact, I’ve grown fond of all of them, even the boys. Trish is an absolute treasure and a worthy daughter to you. Julie, is maturing nicely–so I was wrong there and I admit it.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of any qualms you had about taking in Julie.”
“You’ve never asked how I felt about it, before.”
“I’ve always assumed you were okay with it.”
“Assumptions can be presumptive my dear sister in law.”
“So I see, I’m sorry–I just thought you were behind me.”
“Well yes, but only because I’m using you as a body shield against whatever you’re bringing into the house next.”
“So what am I to do?”
“Perhaps consider that we don’t all have your charitable threshold nor your need to save the world and all its occupants. If you want to save souls why don’t you become a social worker or a vicar?”
“I’m a biologist, Stella.”
“I know what you were–that was before you decided to save the world.”
“No, I always wanted to save the world.”
“Look why not just concentrate on your family until they grow up, and perhaps the odd dormouse, and leave the rest to the experts or the Almighty.”
“We’ve done that already, Stella, and it isn’t working. I saw a swallow fighting with the icy winds–is your God going to save it?”
“How do I know? But I’ll bet you can’t save it either.”
“That’s why I’m frustrated, I see these poor creatures and know they’re likely to perish.”
“Isn’t that survival of the fittest?”
“Maybe, sometimes extinctions occur simply because the earth changed. It happened with the dinosaurs, but some of this is preventable.”
“Why don’t you make a film about it, then?”
“Maybe I will one day.”
“Why not now, instead of saving weirdos?”
“I’m a weirdo, remember?”
“Only in sleeping with dormice–oh and finding Simon attractive.”
“Very funny, you know damned well what I meant.”
“Ah, but you’re not a weirdo any longer are you, you’re a cute little housewife with so many children, she didn’t know what to do.”
“I’m who I am, Stella.”
“Yes, I know that, Catherine. You’re a female, who’s married to my big brother and who looks after the world while God’s asleep.”
“There is no God, Stella, it’s up to us to save the world and its inhabitants. No one else is going to do it–not intergalactic beings, or Superman, or even bloody Father Christmas. We have to do it ourselves.”
“There is no God? No Father Christmas? Oh Cathy–you’re so horrible.”
“Yes I am, but will you help me with my latest lame-duck?”
“Only if you promise not to adopt any more lost causes for some time.”
“Guides honour,” I said putting three fingers to my head.
“You never were a girl guide, were you?”
“Me? No I failed the medical.”
“You fool,” she slapped me on the arm.
“So are we still friends?” I asked her.
“We are, I’m not promising anything with your latest project until I’ve met them.”
“The little I saw of her, she seemed very nice.”
“Well you were giving her money–of course she was nice.”
“Julie looks as if she might have a problem.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Not sure.”
“She hasn’t been a girl for very long has she?”
“Only since she came to us.”
“She could be insecure in her own identity, so anyone who draws attention to gender questions possibly undermines her confidence.”
“But no one is going to know that are they, unless they have some clue about her. She’s extremely passable.”
“In looks, she’s as pretty as half the girls around here, but like so many young women, she has very little self confidence. That’s one of the reasons they flirt so much, the attention makes them feel good.”
“Until they get raped because someone misunderstood the signals or wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“It happens, I’m afraid.”
“Stella, sometimes I do worry about the human race.”
“Stick to dormice, Cathy, you know a little bit about them.”
Comments
I guess
the conversation with Stella came out ok. Maybe Julie needs to be shocked awake and Maureen will help. Maybe it will bring out a compassionate spirit in Julie. Maybe it will bring out an axe murderer. We'll just have to trust Angharad and her accomplice to let us know.
I'm a Wee Bit Inclined to Agree with Stella Over This!
“Stella, sometimes I do worry about the human race.â€
“Stick to dormice, Cathy, you know a little bit about them.â€
I have pretty well given up on the human race, Woody. They dont seem to want to be saved!
There is a kind of Natural Law that says "Everybody gets what they deserve". The UK, like many other countries right now, is in a terrible mess, the world climate is going to pot, and those that claim to run our country are just arseing about, scoring party polly tickle points off each other, because they are going to have an erection. They have been banging away at it for months already and still there is at least another one to go. And I am bored with them.
Briar
Briar
Self-confidence
“She could be insecure in her own identity, so anyone who draws attention to gender questions possibly undermines her confidence.â€
“But no one is going to know that are they?—unless they have some clue about her, she’s extremely passable.â€
“In looks, she’s as pretty as half the girls around here, but like so many young women, she has very little self-confidence.â€
The looking-glass self has a lot to answer for in one’s development of identity and self-confidence. While Cathy and company will no doubt have their work cut out helping Maureen, it will be interesting to see how she progresses in this unique environment, particularly with acceptance from others.
This is a nice plot line Angharad, even though you'll probably protest that Bike has no plot! Oh, and congratulations at reaching another minor milestone.
Portraying Self
Bike Archive
Bike Resources
Can't save 'em all
Both Cathy and Stella have a point here.
On the one hand, Cathy's already busy enough without saving every TG in trouble in Portsmouth. And although Cathy's children are understanding of TGs, the three they already know were very passable to begin with. Their reaction to someone who appears to be a heavy set man in female clothing may not be too kind.
On the other hand, Cathy can tell that Maureen needs help - and fast. She has the money and the contacts. Plus, Maureen is an independent adult who already has accommodation, so she's not going to be a 24/7 project.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Just what I was gonna say
... here's hoping Maureen finds her feet and moves on as soon as she is ready. Cathy has taken in enough strays.
I for one am still hoping she can be shown to be working more on her career. Dormice, what are dormice? I haven't heard nothing about Spike in ages.
Kim
Bike pt 950
Maureen could cause a lot of turmoil by making the family face up to a few ugly ruths that they are unaware of. But once revealed, hopefully the family will bond together and help Mother Cathy in her latest scheme to right a wrong.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
faith, hope charity.
And the greatest of these is charity.
Come on Stella.
Chwarae Teg.
I'm going to bed now. I'm knackered. It's gone midnight and I'm up at five for the six o'clock shift.
When I wake up I want to see Maureen and Julie reconciled.
Goodnight!
Bev.
P.S. Still loving it!
If Stella is
finding the thought of Maureen working at the cottage difficult to come to terms with, It does make you wonder what attitude Simon and Tom will have towards the unfortunate Maureen....Will the milk of human kindness be flowing, Or will they adopt Stella's views and leave Cathy annoyed and Maureen still looking for work.....So lets just hope that whatever is decided, Somebody, Somewhere,Takes pity on a person who clearly needs help
Kirri
>> “No, I always wanted to save the world.â€
What an excellent précis of her life story.
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
I'm with Stella
Mixing an intact Transitioning MtF and children is dangerous. 6 years ago, I would not be safe in the same situation. Last night, I slept in the same room with two other young women and did not feel a thing, though I did lay and gaze at the face of the young woman who says she is my daughter after I woke up. She is so peaceful and innocent looking. :)
Perhaps Cathy's next big step in personal growth is to begin thinking of how her impulses affect the rest of the family. And, we have no idea how Tom and Si will react.
It is harsh and unfair sounding but it is real.
Gwen
Isn't that an indictment?
I like to think that at any stage in my life, other people were/are safe from me, especially children. Having taken oestrogen on and off since I was twenty five - nothing much worked down there anyway.
Angharad
Angharad
Anyone is safe with me
If they are not a danger to me or mine. Much the same way Cathy is I suspect.
I have had 14 years martial arts training, and am armed to the teeth, but violence is not in my nature.
Most people are that way I suspect. It is called being civilized. There are exceptions, but if they were as numerous as some people think we could never had a civilization, let alone the large collections of what is out there.
Huh?
Is it the "intact" or "transistiong" that makes Maureen dangerous to children? Should we not trust any male around children, or only those who are TG? Either way, this buys into and supports some of the worst stereotypes out there: that men are all wannabe rapists just waiting for the chance, or that the transgendered are some kind of perverts that will molest a child if given a chance.
Speaking only for myself, children have always been safe around me, save for my general grouchy attitude. I would not have been a very good parent, preferring my peace and quiet.
I went outside once. The graphics weren' that great.
One more soul to worry about
That argument with Stella ended well. But, like Cathy, I worry what Angharad is going to do to Julie.
Will Julie look at Maureen, and think "that's how people see me ", we'll see.
Cefin