Gaby Book 8 Chapter *26* Who's That Girl?

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Chapter *8.26*

Who's That Girl?

Ever tried running in a short skirt? What about in vertiginous heels? We barely made our train, Frau Dá¼rst shaking her head as we slipped on board.

“You guys seen this?” Anna didn't waste time asking the others.

“Another convention thing?” Steff enquired.

“Yeah, up in Ká¶ln, Gabs is going.”

“I need to check Anna.” I noted.

“Well what do you think?”

“Count me in.” Con enthused.

“Dad?”

“What squib?”

“Well you know next month, am I racing like every week?”

“Pretty much, let me get the diary.”

Dave put down his paper and went through to the office, Drew in tow.

“Right, the first you've got the Mittelrhein, the week after it's the three countries on Saturday and you're penciled in for an RTF in Bonn, that's all that's confirmed, there's no premier series in July what with the TdF being on, your next big race will be in Hamburg the first weekend in August before you join the GB team.”

“You reckon I might get the 15 th and 16 th off?”

“Don't see why not, I was thinking of popping over to see the tour for a couple of days but we could do that some other time.”

The Tour. Bum what a conundrum.

“Drew?”

“Wassup?” I enquired looking up from the book I got Dad in Bonn, Wurzeln der Menscheit, a weighty tome about Neanderthals.

“Any idea where this came from?” Mum held up the Maxi from last week.

“Sugar! I borrowed it from Sophia last week, they must have just packed everything in my room.”

“You'd best contact her and let her know you have it.”

“I suppose Max will know how to get hold of her,” I allowed, “I'll ask tomorrow.”

“I don't suppose I want to know why you are wearing a suit and rather high heels?”

“It's a long story.”

“They usually are with you.” Mum noted with a sigh.

The idiot box was humming away to itself but I like to catch the weather after the news.

‘The hunt is on to identify one of the guests at last week's big society wedding in Munich. Celeb and society watchers have so far failed to identify the young blonde seen arriving at the Dom with close family members. At least two modeling agencies and the celeb magazines are all trying to find the beauty last seen dancing with Prince William at the evening reception.'

“Poor girl.” I noted.

“Looks a lot like you.” Mum observed, which caused me to look at the screen.

“Shitza! It is me! I hope no one else saw.” I fretted.

My handy started vibrating.

“Bond, of hi Con…uh huh…you know it was…I could dye my hair or something…don't be daft…of course not…well it was only a dance, he danced with loads of people…I'll tell you tomorrow…tschuss!”

“So much for keeping it quiet.” Mum grinned.

“It's not funny.”

“What's up Gab?” Max asked after I cornered him on the way to homeroom.

“Erm, do you like have an email or something for Sophia?”

“Sophia? What for?”

“I um borrowed something from her last week that I need to get back to her.”

“Think I've got one somewhere, I'll look tonight, so no sexy skirt today?”

“That was strictly a one off.” I stated firmly.

“Pity.” He lamented.

“Get used to it.”

“No need to be like that.”

“Stop saying such daft things, we're gonna be late.”

Dear Drew,

Got your first two letters today, you don't half get into some pickles!

This place isn't too bad, I'm sharing a room with a girl called Judy from Lincoln, she's pregnant too, hers is due in September. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, we have to help with the chores, I'm on cleaning this week.

Its weird not going to school with you guys, never thought I'd be saying I missed school but Warder Stephenson is arranging for me to get some tuition so I can go back for year twelve, don't want junior thinking his mum is a klutz do I?

I'll write you longer soon

Hugs

Bernie

I read Bernie's letter through again, a tear breaking free and dripping onto the page. I really do feel somehow responsible — yeah I know, but it doesn't stop me feeling bad.

“So are we going to this con then?” I enquired as we pedalled towards the Ahr Gymnasium.

“Keep me away!” Anna enthused.

“Oh yeah.” Connie agreed.

“So are we teaming or going solo?”

“I've got some ideas I want to try.” Anna told the flock of cyclists.

“'Kay, suits me, I can do some recycling.”

“You'd look good in a bin bag.” Nena noted.

“We aren't gonna travel up each day are we?” Pia queried.

“We should book a couple of rooms and stay up there.” Steff suggested.

“We'd only have to carry our stuff on the train once each way.” Brid agreed.

“Hey maybe we could organise a lift, what about your Dad Pia, he has the minibus.” Con suggested.

“I can ask.”

“We could go up on Friday afternoon as schools out from Mittwoch that week.”

“So, you ready for the weekend?” Mum asked as we set off for my Wednesday ‘hard' ride.

“I guess.”

“There shouldn't be any guessing about it.” She pointed out.

“Yeah well.”

“Look Drew, your Dad has responsibilities too, not just to you but to the girls and the team too. You've been team captain for what, a year? That doesn't mean the others are your race skivvies.”

“I know.”

“I think it will do you good with someone else calling the shots, it's the leaders job to get the results for the team, if that means protecting the sprinter for a big finish or organising an attack, that's their job, yours is to try to do what they ask.”

“But what if they're wrong?”

“Look Drew, sometimes being a team player comes first, we talked about this on Sunday.”

I nodded.

“Think of it like you and your school friends, who's in charge?”

“No one.”

“Ah but someone is and they are quite skilful at it too.”

“Eh?”

“What happened on Monday?”

“We went to Bonn for humanities.”

“And how were you dressed?”

“Sort of posh with heels and stuff.”

“And who suggested that?”

“Anna I think.”

“Did everyone want to do it?”

“Well I didn't.”

“But you still went along with it.”

“Yeah, cos like the others were.”

“In other words you wanted to be part of the ‘team', you didn't want to dress up and wear high heels but you did because of ‘team' orders.”

“I guess?”

“And I'm betting Anna was the one who kept encouraging you all to do it?”

“How'd you know?”

“She's your little group's leader, oh I know none of you think like that, I don't even suppose she does but you all respect her opinion on stuff and like Monday she has a good deal of influence over your choices.”

Mum had certainly hit a few chords with her observations; put into those terms she certainly is our unofficial leader.

This was extra ride time for Mum, keeping me company, but she still made sure I had a good workout instigating signpost sprints and other training devices that my solo training often lacks.

“It's a pity there's not a club you could train with.” Mum mentioned after another sign sprint.

“Yeah.”

“I'll talk to your Dad.”

“When do you leave for Switzerland?”

“The start is Saturday, we travel down tomorrow.”

The last ten days have been a sort of rest break for the ladies team, a few days back at base without the continuous travelling. But this weekend the first of the big tours, well five days around Switzerland, starts.

“So you fancy your chances this year?”

“Well I'm feeling pretty strong, have to see how it goes, there's strong squads from Italy and the GB — Sky girls are riding.”

Mum is always maybe a bit too deprecating of her own chances, she's been top five in the world rankings for like three years but you'd think she was a lowly domestique to hear her talk sometimes.

“Come on, race you home!”

“Hey cheat!”

She'd already got ten metres on me before I could react, see what I mean.

With Mum off in the morning Dad had booked a table at the Italian in Ahrweiler so it was straight in the shower and dress. The fact that I'd put on a sundress and a quick slap of essential makeup didn't register until Mum complimented my choice. I guess it's become second nature after a year of pretty much full time girldom but my sentence is nearly up, it's nearly time to pick the new Weinká¶nigin!

to be continued....

Maddy Bell 29.05.11  © 2011

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Comments

Good Chapter

Elsbeth's picture

Of course wondering when the phones are going to start ringing from England. Someone is bound to notice her, or maybe a reporter at one of the races :-D

-Elsbeth

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Gaby Book 8 Chapter *26* Who's That Girl?

frankly, I seriously doubt that Drew will be dressing as Drew since his friends all see him as Gaby. maybe it's time for his 'rents to talk to everybody and tell them that Drew is a boy who can pass as a girl

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Many of...

Many of the elements we expect from a Gabisode. She gets roped into dressing up. She forgets something, and there's complications.

But, there's also signs of growth - recognizing (with help) where some influences in her life come and the like. Interesting that Gabs will be sharing a room with many of the "other" girls for the con. :-) Wonder if that's sunk in...

Also interesting that dressing is becoming second nature... Hope that gets the kid thinking, too... It's worth thinking about.

Thank you,
Annette

Getting to be a habit!!

Pamreed's picture

Well, interesting Gaby is going to spend the weeknd at the Con with girls!!
Also it is now second nature to dress pretty!! Hmmm!! When that happened to me
I had transitioned!! Drew is fast becoming the past!!

Hugs,
Pamela

Gaby Book 8 Chapter *26* Who's That Girl?

interesting...guess I need to read chapters 1-7...kinda lost :)

++++++++++++
Cartman: A fine day of plundering we had boys. What about yourselves? Here you are lads, plenty of booty to go around. A round of grog for me boys. A round of grog for everyone!

Gabby a Team player with Anna in charge

Is Anna the new Maddy who puts Gabby in her place? Mom is encouraging Drew to let go of the reins and go with the flow... It will be nice to see where this gets Drew/Gabby.

JessieC

Jessica E. Connors

Jessica Connors

This episode jumped around alot.

It would be nice if there was an extra space or something to note a new conversation. My gob was well smacked when the news report said they were searching to identify the mystery girl. This could turn into another interesting situation. Who in the royals is going to tell? Are modeling agencies really interested? This could get interesting.

That's Drew other problem

Jamie Lee's picture

Being team leader might be okay when it comes to sports, but not when it comes to someone living their own life. And that's been a problem for Drew since his stories began.

As a bike racer, he's used to being the leader or being a team member and following the current team leader. But he hasn't yet learned to leave being a follower with his racing and live the life he wants without people like Anna and Maddy holding undo influence over him.

Being part of a group doesn't mean a person's individuality has to be surrendered, that a person has to do what others in the group want to do; that's part of the reason Bernie got in trouble.

Drew has a NEED to belong, a NEED that's had him dressing in ways he didn't want to do. A NEED that's going to cause him further problems when he reaches adulthood. A NEED that will cause him to always surrender decision making of his life to others. And others may not have his best interests in mind.

What did Drew think pictures of the wedding were for, just a wedding album? He didn't know how the upper crust likes to crow about such important events, sort of like rubbing it in the noses of other upper crust.

It won't be long before someone spots Drew's picture in a racing magazine, and the jig will be up. They'll know who he is and where he can be found, and every modeling agency will be pounding on the Bond door. And Drew will fall to pieces over the discovery.

Others have feelings too.