Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1307.

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The Daily Dormouse.
(aka Bike)
Part 1307
by Angharad

Copyright © 2011 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
-Dormouse-001.jpg

We were just finishing clearing up after dinner, and Maureen wandered out to the kitchen and said, “Ma’am, could I have a word?”

“Yes of course.”

She looked round and about and said, “In private?”

“Hold on one second,” I went over and closed the kitchen door and dropped the catch. “That’s about as private as we can get.”

“Thank you.”

“Please, do sit down,” I invited Maureen pulling out a chair from the table and sitting on the one next to it. Since her surgery, she’d blossomed tremendously and although she’d never be a beautiful woman because of her size, she was getting by much better than before. I felt anxious for her, what was she going to tell me or ask me?

Maureen sat and began fidgeting, I assumed trying to pick the way she wanted me to tell me whatever was troubling her.

It was so tempting to interfere or interrupt her process because it was uncomfortable to me, however, the small amount of training I had in dealing with student’s personal issues meant that I knew to sit and wait patiently for her to start. If it was very painful then, she might not be able to verbalise it at all.

I was tempted to offer some tea, but that would have provided a distraction and enabled her to avoid the issue which was troubling her.

She looked at me, “It’s difficult, dunno where to begin.”

“Wherever you find it easiest.” I smiled at her and touched her hand.

She smiled back at me, “About fifteen year ago, I was just finishin’ with the navy as a matelot–we had a bit of a get together, like, and I ’ad too much of the oh-be-joyful and woke up in bed with this woman. Apparently, we done it like, an’ she fell for a baby.”

“Lots of babies happen that way, are you sure it was yours?”

“Oh yeah, we ’ad tests done, and he’s mine okay, an’ I paid maintenance and all that for ’im, still am as a matter o’fact.”

“I see, what’s his name?”

“Andrew.”

“Nice name,” I was trying to show I was still with her without leading her.

“Aye, Ma’am, but I ’ad little to do wi’it, other than pay.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“He wants to meet me.”

I had a feeling this was coming. “Do they know about your situation?”

“I dunno, I don’t think so.”

“Ah, I see your problem. Do they live locally?”

“Nah, she moved to Eastbourne.”

“I see, so how can I help?”

“Well you got more experience with kids than me, could you speak to him for me?”

“To explain what you’ve done, you mean?”

“Yeah, and see if’n he still wanna see me.”

“D’you know why he suddenly wants to see you?”

“Not really, though he did say somethin’ about ’is mother moving up north, some bloke she’s with ’as a new job up there.”

“So d’you think he’s looking to live with you?”

“I dunno–I dreads to think why it’s all ’appened.”

“Let’s put the kettle on–I find a cuppa helps me think things through.” I rose from the table and switched on the kettle–it never rains here, we just have the odd tsunami come past and shit all over us. I made the tea and placed a mug of it in front of Maureen and one for myself.

“When is all this going to happen?”

“In a month or there’bouts.”

“Doesn’t give us a lot of time. Have you spoken to his mother?”

“Not recent, like.”

“Might that be the first thing we need to do.”

“I dunno, ’ow she’ll take it?”

“Does she work?”

“I think so–in the local Asda.”

“So what exactly would you like me to do?”

“Speak to ’em for me.”

Nothing too difficult then. “Do you have a phone number?”

She passed me the letter from the boy’s mother. I can’t say even her ex because it was a one night stand. I read it. “I’ll just make a note of the number.” I went to get up for a pen and paper and Maureen told me to keep the original.

I got up and collected the cordless phone. “D’you mind me referring to you by your old name?”

“No, course not.”

I dialled the number given on the letter. The paper was ruled and had been taken from an A4 pad such as those used by students. The writing was legible but immature like I’d expect from a thirteen year old girl, the spelling wasn’t very good either.

A male voice answered, “Hello, could I speak to Cilla Bromley?”

“Who is it?” asked the voice.

“Cathy Cameron, I’m Maurice Ferguson’s employer.”

“Yeah, ’ang on,” I heard the voice calling, “Mum–some woman on the phone for you, she’s Dad’s boss.”

I heard a woman’s voice ask, “What does she want?” and the boy replied, “’Ow the ’ell do I know?”

Finally after some noises presumably caused by the phone being passed over and she spoke to me.

“Mrs Bromley, ’ere, who are you?”

“Hello, Mrs Bromley, I’m Cathy Cameron, Maurice’s employer.”

“I s’pose it’s about my letter, innit?”

“Yes it is.”

“Why can’t he talk to me hisself?”

“Look it’s a bit delicate to deal with over the phone, could I come and see you and we could discuss this in person.”

“Don’t he wanna see ’is kid?”

“That isn’t the issue.”

“Oh alright, when d’you wanna come? I don’t ’ave a lotta time.”

“Would you be available tomorrow?”

“Yeah, could be, what time?”

“I have to take my girls to school, how about eleven?”

“Yeah, that’d be okay, I ’as to go t’work in the evenin’ tomorrow.”

“Right, so I’ll come and see you about eleven tomorrow morning.” I clarified and she agreed.

I looked at Maureen and she looked very worried. “What’ll I do if he thinks I’m a freak?”

“Carry on with your life, if he thinks such things, then it’s his problem not yours.”

“I’ve never been much of a dad to ’im.”

“When did you last see him?”

“About fourteen year ago.”

“So he has little concept of you then?”

“Only what ’is mother’s told ’im.”

That did little to allay my concerns. She didn’t seem one of the sharpest knives in the drawer, but she had managed to get Maureen to support her child, so she wasn’t stupid either.

“Are you going to come with me?”

“Is that a good idea?”

“I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go–look come with me and stay in the car, if I think she’s going to freak out, I won’t say you’re with me. If she looks as if she might cope, we could try it.”

“I dunno, I don’t wanna spoil things.”

“How would you do that? You’re a lovely woman with a heart of gold, who could fail to like you?”

“Cilla or Andy?”

“That would be ironic wouldn’t it?”

“Nah, more bloody typical.”

“So, I’ll collect you after I’ve taken the girls to school and then we’ll see if we can sort this out–I’d bring your knitting if I were you–it might take a little while.”

“I’ll bring me laptop and do some costin’s on your kitchen if that’s alright?”

“Fine, I’ll see you about quarter to nine.”

“Thanks, Ma’am.” She left and I sat back down at the table. Simon came in.

“The door was locked, problems?”

“I’ve got to take Maureen to Eastbourne tomorrow.”

“Oh, why’s that?”

“It’s confidential for the moment, hopefully I’ll know more tomorrow.”

“Oh, like that is it?”

“Yep, ’fraid so.” I felt like Sidney Carton as I walked up the stairs that evening, walking up to meet Madam Guillotine to save his friend’s life. “It’s a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done...”

“And a far better rest I go to than I have ever known,” Simon completed the quotation. “Sale of two titties, wrong play innit?”

“You idiot, Simon,” I said laughing and I put my arms around his neck and kissed him.

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Comments

If Only

If only all story universes collided merely because we read them, but... they don't, and I'd have to say that I think that on balance I'm glad about that.

But, if you really want to see such a story, perhaps you can push your next fan-fiction effort in that direction. I'm sure like-minded fans of your fan-fiction wouldn't mind it a bit. Don't forget the obligatory flashback Maurice-Skipper fight scene from that bar in Shanghai in 1937.

___________________
If a picture is worth 1000 words, this is at least part of my story.

Interesting...

It's been a while since we heard about what's been going on in Maureen's life - so since a few months ago when she last featured, she's had the 'op and received a letter from Maureen's fling fifteen years ago.

If all goes well, Danny might have a new friend. And the clan might have a new part-time member.

(And I must devote some time tomorrow to getting the episode summaries up to date. If anyone's brave enough to lend a hand, PM me with an email address and I'll give you editorial access to the spreadsheet. If you have any questions about the layout / what goes where, stick it in your PM and I'll answer as soon as I pick it up.)

 

Bike Resources

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

The op?

Angharad's picture

She had plastic surgery a while back after being assaulted, if you remember (or not).

She could also have had the op as well since then, as that wouldn't necessarily concern Cathy, other than as a friend and sometime employer.

Angharad

Angharad

Oops!

I'd temporarily forgotten that storyline (since I'm reading over a dozen different stories on this site simultaneously, it's easy to lose sight of plot elements from several months back!), so naturally assumed by surgery you'd meant 'down below' as opposed to elsewhere.

But as you say, whether she's had THE op or not doesn't really matter, as it's irrelevant to the story, and wouldn't be something she'd share with Cathy unless there was a compelling reason to do so.

 

Bike Resources

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

Never know what to expect

when a new character comes into the saga. Guess we just have to be patient.

Well, she's gettin smoother bout takin th piss.

I remember when the hen would cause a huge uproar over a remark like that. She can deliver it with a bit of sugar and spice now. Jolly good then, carry on full stop.

Khadijah

Another interesting cameo.

Let's see how Cathy deals with this one, more importantly, let's see how maureen's ex wife Cilla and Maureen's son Andy deal with it.

Still lovin' it and looking forward to the next chapter.

Beverly.

Growing old disgracefully.

bev_1.jpg

Interesting twist..

Interesting twist you make to the story...

Loved the quote at the end...

Thanks,
Anne

Sensible move

on Cathys part to take Maureen along with her, In cases like this there is no telling what might happen, Of course it could go nice and peacefully, Equally it could go the other way, In fact the only thing that is certain is we have to wait for tonight too find out....

Kirri

It seems that Cathy...

...has unwittingly become involved in another family situation, and I'll be interested to see how this one plays out.

Thanks A+B: I really did enjoy the Dickensian reference at the end of this Bikesode.

Personnel Strife


Bike Resources

well in this case ...

being Lady Cameron might come in handy to give even more creditability to Maurice
... and since in UK they often will give their aristrocrats more leeway than us in usa would/might give a simular pesron of power
.. It;s likely to lessen the chances things getting too far out of hand than say in our country.
am curious to see what occurs... and see HOw some of the new charactors now interact with the familular .......
just like real live ...EH ...when meeting new for the 1st time

So now they have some empty space

in Tom's house you have to wonder how it is going to get filled. Kathy's long term plans don't always go according to plan.

Maureen is really a great

Maureen is really a great character in the outer ring orbiting around Cathy.
Maureen and her partner would make a nice addition.

Karen