Chapter *8.10*

Tres Bonn

“Gabeee!”

Talk about over dramatic! The girls almost smothered me as I got out of the car.

“See you later Dad.”

“Not too late.” He reminded me.

“Yes Dad.”

“Have a nice time girls.”

“Thanks Mr B.”

“Bye Herr Bond.”

“Bye Dad.”

He slipped out into the traffic and we headed for the crossing.

“So spill Bond.” Steff prodded.

“Why was your handy off?” Pia added.

“There's nothing to tell, honest.”

“So what were you up to?” Con asked.

“Nothing,” I'm not gonna tell you guys, ”I had to do some stuff in Ahrweiler for Mum.”

“It couldn't have waited till Monday?” Anna enquired.

“Had to be this morning.”

“So where first?” Nena requested of us.

“Coffee?” I suggested.

“Good plan.” Brid agreed.

“Galleria then.” Steff stated.

Coffee and cake later we were soon browsing the racks of the lingerie department.

“Gabs, you never buy frilly stuff.” Con noted as I perused the lacy offerings.

To be honest I thought I'd make a bit of an effort for next week seeing as Mom was stumping up heaven knows what for my dress and stuff.

“Just fancy a change.”

“Hmm.”

The other thing was that although I've been wearing bras and stuff for a while I don't really have much of a clue as I favour plain sports bras and matching underpants.

“I do, just no thongs!”

“Spoilsport.” Steff mentioned dangling a minute piece of lace in front of me.

“Seriously guys, practical but a bit more girly.”

Give them a quest and they were nothing but thorough. Over the next hour I had my chest measured (a full B cup now) and I think I tried on every possible style in the shop. Padded, under wired, demi, uplift, you name it I had it on! In the end I bought three new bras and a weeks worth of knickers in a variety of colours and degrees of laciness. Somehow a garter belt and two pairs of silk stockings found their way into my bag too — well if I'm being girly?

The thing with these expeditions is that they can easily take on a life of their own. When I spotted where Pia was leading us next I had to call a halt.

“Whoa!”

“But they have some lovely stuff Gab.”

“They might but I've already spent over a hundred euros, another day eh?”

“Spoilsport!”

“Tell you what, you guys go look at underwear, I'll look in the toy shop.”

“You and those models.” Anna grinned.

“It's a hobby.” I replied by way of defence.

“Whatever.” Steff added.

“Meet at Orsay?” Brid suggested.

“'Kay,” I agreed, “thirty minutes?”

“Sounds enough.” Con allowed.

Orsay is only just up the street from the Spielwaren so I might manage a little longer. We went our separate directions and I was soon perusing the cabinets of model cars and railwayana on the third floor. If we ever move back to the UK this is something I shall really miss, real model and toyshops, not those awful sheds that are all that's left at home.

I haven't added to my collection lately so I'd allowed myself a generous budget — its not like I can't afford it, my allowance, wages from Thesing's and Dad lets me spend fifty percent of any cash prizes I win too. I get quite a glow when I check my bank balance, my savings are over €5000 and my working account generally has over five hundred so today's little spending spree is no hardship.

I took my time selecting various models, five cars, a bus, two trucks and an ambulance if you must know as well as a few scenics that caught my eye — I have another modelling project I'm planning for Dad for Christmas. I'd only just paid for everything when my handy started making noises.

“Hello?”

“Gabs its me.” Don't you hate that? “Max.”

“Oh hi Max, what's up?”

“Can you come up tomorrow?”

“No chance, I've got a race, what for?”

“Gran wants to see you, ‘bout sparklies I expect.”

“No Gran, she's got a race…I'll ask her …what about dinner on Monday?”

“I've got training but I guess I could do dinner.” I offered, not that I was that enthused at the idea.

“Kewl, hang on… yes Gran, no after Radfahren training…seven? Okay I'll ask , you get that Gabs?”

“Seven o'clock, okay I guess.”

“Great… no Gran, I'm not asking her that!… look Gab's I'll see you at school right.”

“'Kay.”

“Bye.”

“Tschuss.”

I wonder what else his Gran wanted to know?

My handy went again before I could move or give that question further thought.

“Gabs, where are you girl?” Steff asked.

“Two minutes.”

I hurried down the stairs and out into the street, I could actually see the girls outside Orsay from here.

“Geez Gab, how much did you spend?” Pia enquired after peeking into my bag.

“Erm, enough.”

She rolled her eyes.”

“Come on you lot, I want to try that silver dress in the window.” Nena cajoled.

Having already had my fill of clothes changing today I managed to avoid the aggressive pack changing room assaults instead spending the time trying to merge with the walls! Of course I was there to offer my opinion on all the try-ons without getting directly involved. This went on for some time until I spotted the shop clock.

“Hey guys, its nearly five.”

“Already?” Anna sighed.

“Well we didn't get up here till late.” Steff allowed.

“If we get a move on we can grab some Maccy d's on the way to the station.” Bridget suggested.

“Tell you what, me an' Con can go get food while the rest of you get sorted, meet you on the platform yeah?” I suggested.

“She's not just pretty, brains too!” Pia put in.

I'd suggested Con, as she wasn't gripping an armful of hangers so I guessed she wouldn't be buying anything.

“Come on then Gabs.” I'm sure Con winked at the others before pulling me out into the street.

We made the five thirty south bound Rhein Express which was, as is usual on a Saturday afternoon, pretty busy which meant we ended up sat all over the place. To be honest that suited me fine as it gave me a chance to relax, at least for a few minutes.

“Come on Gab, the Express is already in.” Anna called to me as the train pulled into Remagen.

No time for the lav then! A lot of people use the connection and if we wanted seats together at least some of us needed to get to gleis 3 quickly. Being small does sometimes have its advantages, I managed to slip through the crowds and rather than go down the crowded steps I took the longer detour via the slope and found myself one of the first to reach the two car Ahrtal Express where I spotted the friendly personage of Myleen.

“Hi Gaby, the others coming?”

“On their way Myleen.”

“Buy anything nice?”

“Just some knickers.”

“Ooooh.”

I'd lain claim to a double set of facing seats, with practised ease Pia and Anna took those on the other side much to Myleen's amusement. The rest of our group followed along at a more leisurely pace, we were hardly comfortable before our conductress was blowing the whistle to set us off on the final leg home.

“Whew, that was close.” Brid suggested.

“We were a bit late leaving Bonn.” I noted.

“Fahrkarte.” Myleen called out.

We might know her but she always checked our tickets.

“You need to renew soon Gaby.”

“Already?” I checked my student pass; yup it runs out next month.

“No Bernie?”

“She had to go home to England Myleen.” Steff supplied.

“That's a pity, well I hope she's well.”

“I'll let her know you asked after her.” I mentioned.

“I'd better check the rest of the car, see you girls later.”

The railcar chugged into the Ahr valley turning away from the Rhein.

“You do it.” Nena hissed at Anna.

“Why me?”

“It was your idea.” Pia put in.

“Alright then, Gabs?”

“Wassup?”

“Erm, we er got you something.”

“What for?”

“Do we need a reason?” Con asked.

I shrugged, “guess not.”

“Get on with it Anna.” Brid cajoled.

“I am, look here you go, I, we thought that as you were being a bit more girly you'd like this.”

She thrust a La Senza bag into my hands. I looked inside; well you have to don't you.

“Guys!”

to be continued....

Maddy Bell 29.04.11  © 2011