The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2254 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

Daddy and I walked the dog back from the cemetery. Had I seen Billie? Daddy seemed to think I had because she was holding his hand, which was what I’d thought I saw. Of course the worry of losing another child could have been playing on my mind, so it would be natural to think of the one I lost especially as her ashes are buried here. Oh how I wished I could turn the clock back and have her home and fit and healthy and with a brother not a sister. I struck me as ironic that I was possibly the person who was most against Danny becoming Danni, yet I’d undergone the process myself because I had to, I’d have died or gone mad if I hadn’t.

I still wasn’t convinced that she was really gender dysphoric–apparently that is the new GID. It’s a term that was eschewed before as being too woolly and replaced with GID, now it’s back. I suppose all these things are cyclic, they come and go and come round again just like fashions. Platform shoes are back in fashion, I don’t particularly like them but it won’t stop Julie and Sammi buying them to strut their stuff.

Thinking of shoes, I thought about how I adapted to the boots Stella gave me that first evening. I still have them, they’ve been resoled and heeled but I won’t give them up, despite their three inch stiletto heels, I find them very comfortable and they have a sentimental value along with the other things she gave me that night, the skirt and top. They were my very first real clothes, until then I’d worn boy things or one or two bits and pieces I’d bought, borrowed or stolen–well I didn’t steal anything, just relocated it from the charity shop bag to the back of my wardrobe. Not that wearing my mother’s clothes was exactly ideal as a teenager. Siá¢n’s were better but obviously she couldn’t lend me those for long and my father used to get so angry when he found out that I had.

When I got my ears pierced, my mother noticed but said nothing to him, she did however tell me to keep the studs hidden by my hair. Given she used to tell him about other things, it always puzzled me that she didn’t tell him about that. After a month or two she told me to only wear the studs when I was away from him because he’d eventually notice them. She even gave me some earrings to wear, gold sleeper rings, which were so fine they hardly showed but they kept the holes open, and I still have them now.

We got back home and Simon asked where I’d been. Then he saw Daddy and Kiki and decided I’d been out for a walk with them, which was correct. I didn’t tell him where we’d been or what we’d seen.

Trish rushed up to me and hugged me so tight I thought she was trying to crush me. “Don’t leave me, Mummy,” she said bursting into tears. If I had a chance to tell that stupid woman the distress she’d caused, I would certainly do so and how.

“I won’t, nor will I let anyone take you from us. Jason is going to speak to a judge to try and get them to return Danni.”

She seemed to accept this and while I had some tea and toast she busied herself on her computer. The others didn’t seem so worried about being taken into care, but then, none of them had experienced it before, just her and Danni, and of course, Billie.

A little later Trish who had disappeared, reappeared holding her mobile phone. “Can the judge man speak to you, Mummy?”

“What, darling?”

“The judge man.”

“Hello?”I said into the phone.

“Ah, Miss Watts, how nice to talk to you again,” said an educated and mellifluous man’s voice.

“I’m sorry, you have the advantage.”

“I see, didn’t Trish say who I was?”

“Not really.”

“It’s Roger Kenyon, Justice Kenyon.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize your voice.”

“It seems you have problems with social services again.”

“Yes, they’ve taken one of my children away.”

“I see, please be at my chambers at ten thirty.”

“Ten thirty this morning, m’lud?”

“Yes, if was another day I’d have said so.”

I looked at the clock, it was nine fifteen. I could just about do it.”

“I’ll be there, m’lud.”

“And bring that delightful little girl with you.”

“Trish?”

“Yes, Trish.” He rang off.

“What have you done now?” I said accusingly to Trish.

“I told the judge man that they’d taken my sister and asked him to help.”

“Bloody hell,” slipped out before I could stop it. I almost added, You’ll get me shot, but decided she had enough stress at the moment.

“What was all that about?” asked Simon.

“Trish just called the judge who awarded her custody to us.”

“Kenyon or whatever his name was.”

“The same, he’s expecting Trish and I at half past ten at his chambers. If you’re coming you’ll need to change.”

He gave a bemused snort and followed me up the stairs. I showered and dried my hair as Trish did the same and then Simon brought up the rear. Tom agreed to supervise the kids as we hurriedly dressed and dashed out to the car–my car. I let Simon drive as I finished my makeup in the car.

He managed to park near the courts and we walked together to meet our destiny. I wasn’t aware what Trish had told the judge and she couldn’t remember enough to tell us. We were admitted by a court security man who was watching for us. Trish held on to both our hands like a vice, only letting go to allow me to knock on the door of the chambers. When I came out of this door the previous time I was very pleased with the outcome, I hoped the same would happen today.

Simon had spoken briefly with Jason, who told him to go for it, and if it went wrong to tell him immediately and he’d continue to press for a recission order from a high court judge in London.

My tummy was tied in knots as we entered the judge’s lodgings. He was seated at his desk upon which was a laptop computer. “I believe I should address you as Lady Cameron, forgive my oversight earlier.”

“M’lud, if you can help me get my child back, you can call me anything you wish.”

“I think we’ll stick with Lady Cameron,” he said and sat back down at his desk inviting us to sit the other side.

At his bidding I explained what had happened to Danny, including the assault in France, his sudden desire to act like a girl and the lead up to his mutilation by Pia and then removal by social services. I explained about the visit regarding my fostering of Lizzie and Neal’s unfortunate breakdown. I also told him that we’d gone to see Neal when they came and took Danielle.

He made copious notes and asked questions for clarification. Then he asked us to leave and return in two hours, so he could think about the case. We left with butterflies the size of king condors circling inside our tummies.

Simon suggested we went for a walk. I was still in a state of numbness and agreed if someone else was happy to make a decision. We ended up in a café where I drank a cup of latte coffee while Trish wolfed down a knickerbocker glory and Simon had an espresso.

An hour and a half later, I repaired my makeup after throwing up the coffee and anything else in my stomach before we headed back to the courts.