The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2291 by Angharad Copyright© 2014 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

I saw Simon look behind me and he frowned, “The young lady from the football games if I’m not mistaken.” It was the football talent scout. He touched me on the shoulder and I turned to see him standing very close.

“Hello, Mr Sinclair,” I said trying to stay polite.

“Goodness are all these young ladies with you?”

“Yes.”

“Do they play football?”

Julie made a face as if she’d just stepped in something unpleasant.

“Mainly Danielle and Trish who you’ve seen, plus Livvie plays a bit as well.”

He fixed his gaze on Danielle. “You look quite glamorous now, I wouldn’t have recognised you but for your parents. I’d dearly like you to try out for our ladies team.”

“Yeah okay,” said Danni shrugging.

“What, you will?”

“Yeah.”

“You lovely girl,” he beamed at her, we’re holding some trial tomorrow morning at the Rec, could you make it?”

Danni looked at me. I sighed and then nodded.

“Brilliant, we need to sign this talented miss before someone else gets her. See you at half ten, then. I think you’ll find it will be worth her while, Mum. Bye.”

He left and as he did Simon said quietly, “Oh well the excrement and the atmospheric oscillator are getting closer together.”

“What’s that mean?” whispered Danni.

“The poo hits the fan,” answered Julie less quietly.

The rest of the meal was undisturbed and the food was delicious as always. I had a medium rare sirloin steak as my main course with new potatoes and vegetables and a dish of fresh cream trifle. I really needed to think about cycling again—but tomorrow was out by the look of it.

The conversation had recovered from things football and I chatted with Julie about the salon. Her new door was much better and warmer too. Phoebe joined in the conversation about the salon and soon I’d forgotten about the football altogether.

Simon said the bank had planned on investing millions in the hotel it had bought on Hayling Island and when it was finished it would be better than this one. I listened as he elaborated on the plans they had for leisure and tourism. I decided I needed a wee and Danni and Julie decided to come with me which Simon said was a strange phenomena.

“What is?” asked Sammi.

“That you aren’t all going to the loo together.”

I didn’t hear her reply but he laughed loudly which implied she’d said something funny back to him. On the return journey as we came out of the ladies the referee chap emerged from the Gents loo. “Oh hello,” he said. “You don’t happen to have a brother, do you?” he asked Danielle.

I was about to intervene when she answered him herself, “No that was me, I used to pretend to be a boy to get a game—but when you get a bit older, your body changes and you can’t hide them, can you?” She thrust out her chest and he nodded.

“Blimey, I’d never have guessed you were a girl, even today you played better than the others, the boys included. Get yourself into a pro team, you’ve got a genuine talent, girl, don’t waste it.”

He nodded to the rest of us and walked on. “Good thinking, Batgirl,” said Julie to her sister.

The rest of the evening was less eventful and we got home at half past ten the two little ones fast asleep in Julie’s and my arms. I was quite surprised when she offered to carry Lizzie, but then Cate is quite a bit bigger and heavier. I had hoped Simon would carry her but he and Sammi were deep in discussion as we’d boarded the bus.

While I sent the younger ones up to bed and Jacquie put the two little ones to bed, I shoved Danni’s kit in the tumble drier to make sure it was okay for the morning and I got Si to clean her boots. He grumbled but did it.

He’d had a few drinks and that meant he fell asleep as soon as we got to bed which was a partial relief. I was too tense for sex, although he always reckons it relaxes him—I think that’s his excuse for falling asleep as soon as he’s climaxed—however, it might have been nice to talk about the morning with him.

I tossed and turned for quite a while seeing different scenarios, all of them negative, some more traumatic than others. In one I saw some outraged girl call Danni a boy and pull her shorts down only to discover her mistake. There was lots of embarrassment and apologies but I felt really angry and wanted to hit her. It was possibly my anger which woke me up and after I’d been for a wee, I checked on the girls, they were all fast asleep, including our own version of Stanley Matthews. I slipped back into bed, Simon hadn’t moved and for a moment he didn’t seem to be breathing. I put my cool hand on his throat to feel for a pulse and he sat up with a start pushing me out of bed where I landed heavily on the floor.

“Woss goin’ on?” he demanded. “Babes, where are you?”

“I’m down here you big galoot.”

“What’re you doing down there?” he peered over the edge of the bed.

“You just knocked me out of bed.”

“I didn’t did I?”

“Yes you jolly well did, I’ve hurt my arm.”

“Hang on, I’ll get you up.” He jumped out of bed and apologised as he helped me back into bed. My shoulder hurt like mad and he went off to find me some painkillers, apologising again. “Sorry about that, Babes, I must have dreamt it, but it felt like someone grabbed my throat.”

“If my shoulder wasn’t so sore, I might well have done,” I replied frostily. I took the pills he offered and he put his arm round me. “You might have to take Danni tomorrow if I can’t drive.”

“Oh shit,” he said under his breath, “Perhaps Trish’ll be able to do some magic on it first thing.”

I wanted to say not to bet on it, but I held my breath and wriggled to try and get comfortable, I did eventually sleep but it wasn’t for very long. At breakfast, Trish did her best and did make it easier but it still hurt too much to drive. In the end Julie took Danni to her football trial but in my car. Simon had omitted to tell me he had a meeting that morning with his dad. It was a covert one and to cover his tracks he took Trish and Livvie with him to make it look like it was a social visit. There were rumours abounding that the Chinese were looking for European banks to purchase and High St was one such enterprise, despite Henry saying publicly he wasn’t interested. Sometimes people assume you’re just holding out for more money. He wasn’t he was telling the truth.

Sammi was busy on her computer. “Don’t you spend enough time playing with those at work?”I remarked after passing her the coffee she’d requested.

“Not now, Mummy, we’re under cyber attack—big time.”