Easy As Calling Me A Tyke.
by: >^^< & 8)
part:341

"Nice bike," said the young man who stood by the entrance to the department.

"Yeah, it goes well," I said and went to wheel the bike inside.

"Are you Dr Watts?"

"I'm Cathy Watts, can I help?"

"I got word that you were asking about the cycling club, is that right?"

"Yes, I was asking about it. You must be Geoff?"

"Yeah, sorry. Geoff Bannister, president of the cycling club," he held out his hand which was much larger than my own and I shook it. "So, do you fancy riding with us?"

"I might do, look I have a lesson in a few minutes and I have to change, can we talk about it later?" I was running late.

"Yeah, course we can," he handed me a piece of paper with his email and mobile number. "Give me a shout, next ride is Saturday morning."

"Thanks, I'll be in touch. This is road stuff?"

"Oh yeah, the off-roaders meet on a Friday evening. Nice bike," he said again and left.

I scurried through to my room and grabbed the bag from the cupboard, breaking a nail as I did so. The blessed things had been rather more brittle since I'd started taking the oestrogen, and I was always breaking them. This one hurt a bit and I sucked my finger as I walked to the toilets.

I changed, trying not to catch my nail again. I cursed my sports bra, which had rolled and I had difficulty grabbing hold of it with my sore finger. It meant I was late for my first class, arriving hot and bothered and completely flustered.

"You're late," called a voice from the back.

"She was wrestling a dormouse - and lost by the look of it!" answered another voice. The whole place erupted with laughter and it took me a few minutes to take control back.

"Thank you ladies and gentlemen, my apologies for keeping you waiting. Could I please ask the comedians not to practice their stand up routines here, nor their sit down ones either. The Student's Union has a comedy club on a Saturday night, perhaps they should try their luck there. Now, I'd like to run through the citric acid cycle..."

"Does it have Mavic wheels?" called the first comedian.

"Can we please concentrate on the matter in hand..." as soon as I said it, I knew I'd given them a chance to cause more disruption. "Although I suppose that's as close as you get to a meaningful relationship!" The class roared again, especially the girls, one or two of who shrieked with laughter.

"At least I've got something to grab hold of," came the reply.

"just as well you have small hands then, now about the citric acid cycle..."

"I hear you had some rowdies in your class this morning?" Tom was standing behind me as I gulped down a cup of tea.

"It was okay, I gave as good as I got."

"Don't let them get too irritating, if you need help, let me know. One mention of your situation and we remind them of the diversity and equality legislation, with rubber truncheons."

"Like I said, I gave as good as I got. Those who want to play rough will find that I'm a lot tougher than they think."

"I know that, Cathy, but I don't want bodies all over the place."

"We could sell them to the anatomy school, live specimens would have to be a novelty."

"What a lovely idea, vivsection," he went off sniggering to himself, obviously thinking of one or two students he'd recommend for such a programme.

After lunch I had an hour's hiatus and emailed Geoff Bannister.
'Hi Geoff,
Can you send me details of your rides and subscription charges etc.
Cathy Watts,
Dept Zoological Science.'

Before I left for my tutorials, he'd replied.
'Hi Cathy,
Saturday, Petersfield. 9.30am start from the University Sports club.
Geoff.'

I suppose the return ride would be getting on for thirty five or forty miles, so within my range. What I wasn't sure about was the fitness of my fellow riders and their likely performance times. If Simon came home we could go together. Hmm, it felt like a nice idea and the forecast was of a fine weekend. I'd text Simon and see if he was interested.

He sent me back a text, 'Comin home fri nite, U'll B 2 saw 2 ride! Si.'

Sometimes he made me smile, sometimes he made me laugh. This caused the latter to happen. He really does fancy himself. Oh well just one more comedian to deal with, I was sure I'd cope.