The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2207 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

“What would you like to do today?” Simon smiled at me as I sipped my tea. What was going on? My birthday isn’t for two weeks, well maybe ten days. I looked at the kitchen clock, it gives the date and day as well as the time. Today was Saturday the twenty third, seven more days of the month then three to my birthday–yep, ten days.

“Why all the fuss? You only have to wait ten more days until my birthday, so someone please explain what is going on?”

“Yes, you’ve been voted mum of the year.”

“By whom?”

“Everyone in the house.”

“What about Stella?”

“She was runner up.”

“There’s only one mummy. You’re the best.” Livvie wrapped her arms round my waist and hugged me.

“Simon, what the hell is going on?”

“It’s be kind to Cathy day.”

“Why?”

“We all decided you needed being loved.”

“I know I’m loved.”

“Yes we know that too, but showing it–well we don’t do it often enough.”

“You do, you are all very generous and I’m very grateful, but today is Saturday, that’s all. So can we stop all this messing about and get on with normal life please. Now I’d like you all to go and write a list of the presents you’d like, small things as well as bigger ones and keep them real. No particle accelerator, please, Trish.”

“Oh poo, what about a Tardis?”

“The Doctor is still using his.”

“It’s all fake anyway.”

“It’s a tv show, Trish.”

“I know, it’s on tonight and your favourite is in it.”

“What are you on about?”

“David Tennant is in it.”

“Is he?” I hadn’t noticed. The last thing I’d watched was a documentary about Tutankhamun, so I was hardly up on these things.

“Yes, this one has three doctors in it?”

“You don’t mean Casualty, do you?”

“No, silly Mummy, we mean Dr Who.”

“How can there be three doctors?”

“I don’t know, do I? We’ll have to watch and find out.”

“I suppose we will, won’t we?”

“Here,” Trish flashed her iPad at me, “there’s stuff about it on the BBC website.”

“Why don’t you read it and tell me later. I have shopping to do.”

“Can I come?” came as a crescendo of voices from several sources.

“Children,” said Simon firmly. “I have a car waiting to collect those who’d like to go to the hotel for a swim or use of the gym.”

“Me please,” once again assailed us.

“Right, so who wants to go shopping?”

“Me,” I said but there were no other takers.

“And who wants to go to the hotel?”

It was a no brainer. He clicked on his phone, “Come and get them when you’re ready.” Then to the children, “Get your costumes ready.”

The ran off before he’d finished speaking, except Danni who was suddenly aware of her shortcomings. I’d got her a swimming costume, which I thought she’d worn, perhaps not. I went upstairs with her and after a couple of minutes of thinking I’d put it safe and would never find it again, I found it in her chest of drawers.

“Tuck yourself back and the panty bit should hold you secure enough not for anyone to notice. It’s got preformed cups so, it will give you some shape, as will the skirt around the hips. Use this towel–if you change now like the others, you won’t have to worry about the changing room for a bit. It’s all cubicles anyway, so it should be okay. Don’t forget to take your bra and panties for coming home, and take a brush or a comb too.”

“Thanks, Mummy.”

“Keep an eye on the younger ones, won’t you?”

“Yes, Mummy. Pity Cindy couldn’t come.”

“Not this time, maybe another.”

“Okay, I’ll change.” I left her to it.

Downstairs I asked who was looking after Cate and Lizzie–I know it should be Cate and Sidney–and Simon said he’d asked Jacquie. He then told me to wear what I would for shopping and to get myself ready.

“Who’s looking after the girls at the hotel?”

“Dad and Monica, so go and get ready–now.”

“Alright, I’m going.” Upstairs I made sure they’d all packed a towel and their underwear. Kids tend to forget especially in the heat of the moment. It was cold but fine, so I changed into a thick skirt and boots with a camisole over my bra and long sleeved polo-neck jumper. It was just a question of a quick bit of makeup and my watch and I was ready.

The car arrived, Henry in his Mercedes and the children rushed out to see him. He waved to us and a moment later he was off with three of our girls. I got my jacket on while Cate was busy playing dolls with Jacquie and we slipped away in my car with Simon driving to go to Winchester.

“Why are we going there?”

“Because it’s somewhere different, that’s why, now shut up and enjoy.”

“I wish you’d told me about this.”

“It wouldn’t have been a surprise then would it?”

“I don’t always like surprises.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“I don’t wish to seem ungrateful but...”

“So shut up then. In answer to the question you want to ask but haven’t so far. Dad said he might be available on Saturday but wasn’t sure until this morning. He rang just after you went downstairs.”

“You were awake?”

“Not until you shut the door so noisily.”

I glared at him, I’d shut the door quietly.

“I was just about to get up when he called so I had to speak to Jacquie before the rest was possible.”

“What would you have done if they hadn’t wanted to go to the hotel?”

“I knew they would.”

“How did you know?”

“I asked them, alright, but told them to act as if they wanted to go shopping with you first. I told them we were playing a game.”

I wasn’t sure if I admired his forward planning or resented being on the outside of his surprise. It’s true, I don’t like surprises, they’re usually only half thought through, so this was a double surprise.

“So why the flowers?”

“I need a reason to buy my wife flowers?”

“No, but you haven’t bought me any recently.”

“I just did.”

I decided not to pursue the conversation. “I need to start some Christmas shopping for the children. Though I don’t know what they want as yet, but some ideas of what is about will be useful.”

“I have a list,” Simon fished a piece of paper from his pocket.

“Oh well she hasn’t actually asked for a radio telescope or scanning electron microscope,” I said after casting my eye over the list.

“No that’s on her birthday list, apparently.”

“Perhaps Manchester will sell her Jodrell Bank.”

“Where will Brian Cox be able to flap his arms about if they do?”

“Okay, perhaps she’ll settle for one on Hawaii or Chile.”

“She’s eight years old, Cathy.”

“She has got an astronomical telescope on the list.”

“Yeah, a toy one will do.”

“With Go-to technology?”

“She didn’t ask for that, did she?”

“She did.”

“This could get expensive then?”

“Just a bit–I think we need to get an astronomy magazine and see what’s available, or speak to someone about the best sort of telescope we can get for a child.”

“Why couldn’t we have ordinary children?”

“Where’s the challenge in that?” I asked.

“Ha bloody ha.”