(aka Bike) Part 1515 by Angharad Copyright © 2011 Angharad
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The children were very pleased to see me and made the usual fuss. I tried to put the experience in the car park behind me, but I felt very unsettled. I went to sit with the children in the sitting room while James chatted with Stella and Jenny in the kitchen.
Much to my embarrassment, Puddin’ came to sit on my lap which made Mima jealous and the others laugh. Stella came in with a cup of tea for me and nearly dropped it when she saw Puddin’ sitting there.
“And just what d’you think you’re doing young lady?”
She giggled and hugged me. Stella shook her head and said, “I don’t know, missy, you’re a terror,” which of course only made her giggle some more. Finally, she lifted her off and handed me my tea. I thanked her. “James just told us about the car park incident.”
I tried to be nonchalant but it had upset me. I shrugged but inside I felt anything but casual about it.
“Why don’t you give Anne Thomas a call?”
“I might.”
“Do it–go on–do it now.”
“Alright, alright I will. Excuse me kids.” I took my tea with me and went to my study and shut the door. A couple of years ago I knew her number by heart, now I had to look it up.
Much to astonishment, her secretary told me she was free and put me through.
“Hello, Dr Thomas, this is Cathy Cameron.”
“Do I know you?”
“You saw me last as Cathy Watts, I’ve got married since then.”
“Of course–sorry–it’s been a while. So, how are you?”
“I’ve lots going on.”
“I see, so why are you ringing me after all this time?”
“Yesterday some man tried to kill me...” I started to cry, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer and I sort of told her on the phone what happened.
“Dear, God, what an awful experience–look, I have a space about three o’clock this afternoon, perhaps you’d better come and see me.”
“Thank you, Dr Thomas–I’ll be there.”
I put the phone down and returned to the family. “You’ve been crying, Mummy,” observed Trish. She rushed over to give me a hug, followed by a general stampede of the others.
“Why you cwyin’?” asked Mima.
“Yes, Mummy, why have you been crying?” added Livvie.
“A nasty man, wanted to force me to lead him to Daddy.”
“Why’d he want to see Daddy?”
“A few days ago, someone in America played an awfully nasty trick on Daddy which got him into a lot of trouble. I can’t go into the detail because I don’t know it and even if I did, I don’t think any of us would understand it. Daddy has been in America investigating the matter with some help from some good people over there. Unfortunately, the good people were attacked by a bomb and a number of them were killed–the bad people were trying to stop them giving the evidence Daddy needed to help sort the matter.”
“Did the man have another bomb, Mummy?” asked Danny.
“No, he had a gun and I presume he was going to shoot Daddy.”
“And you stopped him?” deduced Trish.
“Partly, I injured him and the police shot him because he was running round with a gun shooting at people.”
“Did they kill him?” asked Danny.
“I’m afraid so, darling.”
“I’m glad they shot him,” declared Billie, “he might have shot you.”
“That’s probably true, sweetheart, but I find it sad that anyone has to die violently and unnecessarily.”
“But he was a bad guy,” accused Danny, “he was threatening you, wasn’t he?”
“Yeah, he was.”
“Were you scared?” asked Livvie her eyes as big as saucers.
“Mummy’s not scared of nuffin’,” Mima said loudly and hugged me.
“Don’t be stupid, if the man had a gun Mummy would be right to be scared–he coulda shot her.”
“But he didn’t, she’s supa-mummy.” Mima decided that was an end to the argument and shouted down anyone who wanted to pursue it. In the end I had to shout to quieten everyone down.
“I’m still upset about all this, so I’d like it very much if we didn’t talk about it again. I’m going to see a doctor this afternoon to talk it through with her, because it was very unpleasant.”
Danny and Billie were shooting each other and I had to ask them to stop because I thought it was in very poor taste. There was no way I was going to disclose the actual details to any of them–they were too wretched and gruesome.
Stella showed me the Guardian which reported that an armed mugger was shot dead by police at Heathrow.
‘It was thought the man, who appeared to be American had taken a Scottish woman hostage, although she managed to escape him, injuring him in her escape. He then began firing at random at other members of the public when armed police arrived. He ignored their warnings, fired upon them and he was shot dead by the police at approximately seven fifty last night. An inquiry will be launched to determine the full facts of the case.’
“Sae, ye’re a Scot efter a’,” Stella said in very bad Lallans.
“I thocht ye ken tha’ already, y’ muckle pudden heid.” I replied in like manner which had the children stopped in their tracks and looking puzzled.
“Why you talkin’ wike Gwamps?” asked a bemused Mima.
“She’s Scottish, an’ we all talk like that, dinna ye ken?” teased Stella.
“Who’s Ken?” asked Danny.
“It’s the Scottish for know,” Trish said with authority.
“So what’s the Scottish for yes then, clever dick?” Danny fired at our resident genius.
“Aye, but it isn’t that sort of no, it means to know something, not no meaning, not yes.”
“So you’re just a Ken-all, are you?” Danny wasn’t going to let her win the argument without a fight.
“No, she’s a Trish-all,” said Billie.
“I am not, I was only trying to explain, if you’re too stupid to understand, that’s your problem,” she stamped off in a huff.
“Aren’t you glad you came home?” smirked Stella.
“If I go and do lunch, perhaps they’ll find something else to fight about.”
“Jenny’s got that on the go, she’s doing scrambled eggs.”
“Yummee,” shouted Livvie, “Can I have tomato sauce on mine?”
“Me too,” added another voice, which I think might have been Billie’s. I left them arguing about that and went up to my bedroom, Trish was lying on my bed crying.
“Don’t get upset over that, it isn’t worth it.” I said rubbing her back.
“He called me a know-all, Mummy.”
“Well you can sound as if you think you know everything.”
“But I was tryin’ to help–they’re all so stupid.”
“They’re not stupid, at the same time, they’re not as clever as you–but then, very few children are.”
“I’ll bet you were, Mummy.”
“I was fairly smart, but you’re cleverer than I am.”
“No I’m not, you know much more than me.”
“Only because I’ve been about a bit longer. I use experience to cope with you sometimes, just as you will one day with your children.”
“I can’t have any, can I?”
“Neither could I, but it hasn’t stopped me being a mother to you and all the others.”
“Doesn’t mean I’ll be able to.”
“No it doesn’t, but there are children out there who need mummies and daddies to care for them. I hope the universe is able to find them all one of each, and that you’ll be one of the mummies.”
“I hope so too, Mummy,” she said giving me a massive hug.
Comments
Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1515
Nice to see Trish chatting with her Mummy.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Thank you Angha,
ALISON
Warmth and humanity are your forte,another great episode!
ALISON
Thank you Angha,
ALISON
Warmth and humanity are your forte,another great episode!
ALISON
I was begining to think you had forgotten
us, but then realised that your clocks went back last night and ours dont do that for another week, so I have to wait an extra hour for my Cathy fix, in the meantime.
keep up the good work
Poppykin
With these life threatening experiences
... that drop into her lap I am amazed she still feels joining the Cameron clan is worthwhile.
I am glad she is getting help as one never know when a single experience will break the camel's back.
Kim
Trish
Trish is is a bit of a know it all, but in her book it is just being helpfull.
in fact she is a very caring child and a delightful component in the Bike story.
ROO
ROO
*sighs*
Glad Cathy's going to have a chat with Dr. Thomas. Sounds like it's something long past due!
That last sentence by Cathy kinda hit me, though... Here I am taking away what my kids THOUGHT was their daddy and letting them know they had another mommy instead. Goes to show you that Cathy - despite her past and generally open thoughts is still a creature of her upbringing. (It's a relief, to be honest!) And, to be honest, I probably HAVE said something like what you had Cathy say, more than once.
Knowing so many single-parent families (for whatever reason, death, divorce, choice - yes choice) and same-sex couples who are wonderful parents to their children, I know that it CAN be done. Also - having seen how little SOME parents are involved with their children (more often the "fathers", but I've seen it on the other side too) having "one of each" is no guarantee that they'll be great.
Sorry. You hit one of my current "buttons"...
Telling kids about difficult things is NOT easy - no matter what the age. Seems to me, Cathy did a danged good job up there. This is doubly important given where she likely is, too. I recall what it was like telling my kids about my issues... And, mine are older than most of Cathy's (but then, I'm older than she is as well).
Seems to me that Stella must be back on her meds... The way she's acting... Wonder if Garth will return to the picture - or try to... To be quite honest, I'm disappointed in the man. I'm not saying that Stella NEEDS a man, but it certainly seemed there was a relationship there, and he seemed hurt when she pushed him away. Wonder if it's masculine pride that keeps him away now...
Thanks for your story.
Anne
After the action a couple
of episodes back, This nice relaxing episode was a welcome change of pace, Nice also to see that Cathy realised she needed help to get her body back and mind in harmony.... I just hope however, She is not too premature and there are not any baddies waiting for her around the corner...
Kirri
I Trish wants children
she will have them. She may invent the technology herself, but she will have them.