Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1242.

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The Daily Dormouse.
(aka Bike)
Part 1242
by Angharad

Copyright © 2011 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
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There was uproar in the house and I put the kettle on and finished cleaning up the kitchen while everyone eventually collected there, the children were sent back to bed after a glass of milk on the understanding they would brush their teeth again.

Finally it was just the adults and Julie who were gathered round the table, I did suggest to Julie she would be tired tomorrow, but she simply ignored me. We drank our tea in silence, the odd word being uttered but no conversation, then it would go quiet again. Finally I broke the silence and asked Diana, “Just what on earth is going on with you, what are these guys after?”

“I don’t know what you mean, poor Goddie is a hostage in India and now you’re turning on me as well.” She began to sniff and put a hankie up to her eyes.

Tom glared at me and said, “Satisfied noo? I brocht her here for safety an’ ye’re mair dangerous than them?”

I wasn’t having any of it, she might fool Tom, who is occasionally an old goat when it comes to women, but I could see straight though her crocodile tears. “I’m sorry Diana, I’m well aware that your husband is a hostage in India–however, I don’t believe a word you’ve said since you told us you slept with Paul McCartney. You have something these guys want and it must be very important to you if it’s worth more than your husband’s life.”

She looked horrified at me and burst into tears, and Tom really erupted. “Wheesht, don’t ye dare upset ma friend like that, ye–ye wee hussy.”

“Can’t you see what’s happening, Daddy. This woman is endangering my family as well as her husband’s life. For what?”

“If ye’re bairns are so at risk, maybe ye’d better tak’ them an’ leave.”

“I don’t believe you just said that.” My stomach flipped when I realised what was happening.

“Weel, I did, sae whit ‘re ye gonna dae aboot it?”

“Si, call the hotel, I’ll start packing. Sorry, Stella, but I suspect you might be included in this madness.” She stared back at me in total disbelief.

“What are you doing?” asked Simon as he followed me back to the bedroom.

“Packing, I suggest you do the same.” I began flinging clothes into cases.

“But this is madness.”

“Yes, but not on my part.”

“You were rather aggressive to that poor woman.”

“That poor woman is going to get us all killed.”

“You can’t be sure of that.”

“I’m as sure as I need to be to take some action. It isn’t just a coincidence that we are attacked the same night as her place is gone over and she comes here. Either what they want wasn’t at her house, or they missed it. But she knows exactly what I’m on about. If one of us is even scratched by whoever is after her, so help me, I tear her arms off and beat her to death with them.”

“You’re beautiful when you’re roused, d’you know that? Let’s make love–now, while your blood is up.”

“Simon, are you completely stupid–we have to pack, now either help me or get oota ma bloody road.”

“I’ll call the hotel.” He picked up the phone and began dialling, I packed a case for everyone.

“We’ll have to borrow the Mondeo, you’ll have to drive it, I’ll get as much as I can in Pepper, but it’ll be full of kids.”

“Will Tom be happy with that?”

“I don’t care if he is or not, it’s what’s happening.”

“I can’t believe you flew off the handle like that.”

“She’s full of shit, Si, can’t you see it?”

“I see an old woman whose hubby is a hostage a long way from home and who’s been violated by some burglar, and now caught up in violence here. How can you be so sure it’s her they’re after?”

“It is, I can feel it in my water, talking of which I need a wee–keep packing.”

I came back from the loo and he was sitting on the bed, “I’ve spoken with Tom, he says if you apologise, he’ll forgive you?”

“You did what? What sort of imbecile are you?”

“Steady on, old girl, there’s no call for that sort of language.”

“I’m going, tell Tom that as long as that old crone is here, I won’t be back.”

“Where d’you think you’re going?”

“I’m taking the children and I won’t be back.”

“Catherine, I forbid this.”

“Simon, go play wi’ yer sporran!” I manhandled three cases down the stairs and a small bag for each of the children. I stacked them outside the back door. I then woke each of the children and got them to pull a coat on over their jammies, and get ready to leave. I packed everything in the Mondeo. Stella packed loads in her Fiesta and Jenny offered to drive my Cayenne. Between us we loaded eight children into three cars, and as much luggage as we could stuff in around them.

“Where’re we going?” asked Stella, “Southsea?”

“No, follow me, it’s going to be a tad intimate but I want them all to stew until they see sense.” At five o’clock that morning we set sail for my bolt hole, Bristol.

Fortunately, we missed the rush hour traffic and the children slept most of the time, waking when we pulled up at my parent’s house–I should say, my house, but it’ll always be my parent’s house to me. I got them all unpacking the cars having let them in, while I went off to buy milk, bread, bacon and eggs–we were not going to starve and an hour later, with everything stacked in the middle of the lounge, I served bacon and eggs for everyone with mugs of hot tea to wash it down.

“What’ll I do about school?” asked Danny.

I looked at my watch–“Even if you ran all the way, you’d be late, so relax, you’ve got an extra day’s holiday.”

“Oh goodie,” he smirked.

I left Jenny and two of the girls to clean up after our breakfast while I organised the sleeping arrangements. There were two beds in the guest room, one in my old room, a double in my parent’s room and none in the room Dad used as an office. In the shed were some bed mats from our camping days, so if the four younger girls slept in the beds in the guest room, they were small enough to go two to a bed. Jenny could have my old room, Danny could use the old office with a sleeping bag and a bed mat, and Stella and I with babies could share my parent’s room. It was a squeeze but it could work; I explained it to Stella.

“Fine with me, I‘ve got a bed, but what about Julie?”

“Oh poo.”

We went down and I tried to explain the sleeping arrangements, including a rota for sleeping on the lounge sofa. “Julie can share with me if she doesn’t mind sleeping on a camping mat,” offered Danny.

“I don’t know,” I wasn’t at all sure it was a good idea although they were both technically boys in the trouser department.

“We’ll share,” said Jenny, “Though I get the bed, you can use the bed roll.”

Julie nodded a little too quickly for my liking. I set them making beds and taking bags to designated rooms.

“I hate to sound mercenary, but am I being paid for this?” asked Jenny.

“Oh yes, don’t worry–I’ll pay you if Simon doesn’t and then claim it back from the divorce settlement”

“Divorce? Goodness, Cathy, it won’t come to that will it?”

“If it does, I shall shaft him royally. His first loyalty should rest with his wife and children, not with some old slag who happens to know my professor.”

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Comments

My oh, my. You certainly do

My oh, my. You certainly do not want to get Cathy riled up against you do you? She pretty much told off Simon, Tom and this Lady Di and left nothing out of the equation. Altho I don't actually see a divorce coming, I can see from Cathy's point of view how she believes that Simon is not protecting his real interests and that being her and their children.

Wicked!

More action. I can't wait to see how Cathy solves this mystery.

JessicaLK

JessicaLK

Simon...

had a choice and he made it. When it comes down to the crunch, he won't stand behind Cathy. Even if he thought she was stark raving mad, he should have been helping pack and gone with her. No consideration at all for the other times Cathy had been right. No consideration for her hunches that might have been helped by the blue light.

He chose a stranger over his WIFE, his love, his lifetime partner.

Seriously, how do you repair that kind of damage to a marriage? I'm sure I don't know.

Hopefully Cathy's right and she'll be a widow soon.

Tom, well, there's some pretty serious harm there, too. The offer of a safe home withdrawn on a whim. Tossing his "daughter" out on the street. Seems that's happened before, hasn't it?

Cathy's hunches

It seems as though the two boys can only take things at face value. Cathy has not only had more life experience than them, thus raising her awareness more, but pretty much every time she's had a significant hunch before, it's been proved correct (maybe something to do with a certain female deity?).

Meanwhile Simon looks as though he's displaying his considerable talent for unintentionally getting himself into serious, life-threatening trouble and Tom's being his usual distant self. While Cathy loves him dearly, and he's generously allowed the ever-expanding clan to live in his house, he does often seem physically and emotionally distant from the family - preferring to absorb himself in his work. Yes, it is a challenge dealing with four twenty-somethings (I'm including Jenny in this), a teenager, a couple of tweens, three six year olds and two babies, but even so you'd think he'd understand that eleven thirteenths of the household upping sticks on a whim would be significant...

Meanwhile, in the morning, perhaps Cathy could ask Henry to do some digging - as he's probably more familiar with the aristocracy than anyone else, he may have heard rumours on the grapevine about Diana...

 

Bike Resources

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

My way, or the highway!

It looks as if the A36 won!

Goodness, A+B: This unforeseen twist really has put the cat(s) among the pigeons. Just when I think the tension's high with shooting and wounded police dogs, you go and ratchet it up a few more notches.

Interesting that Stella went with Cathy, while Simon stayed at Tom Agnew's place. I guess this will be a sort of litmus test as to how serious the Gareth thing is, assuming they stay in Bristol for more than a few days.

It's difficult to see any sort of amicable resolution to this present state of affairs. I hope you know where you're taking us, because I don't have any idea, and it's tough enough just hanging on for the ride.

Precipitate Solutions


Bike Resources

We've all seen Cathy's temper

in action before. The mother instinct in her is very strong and anything that threatens her family is dealt with strongly. I have to wonder though, what has made Cathy turn so quickly on Diana when she usually goes out of her way to protect people. I guess I hope she's right. It will be very difficult to go back and apologise but I suspect Cathy will if that's what needs to be done for her family.

Summat's up!

What's the sweet ol' lady up to?
Something's up and something's going down.
We'll just have to wait and see, as if we've never done that before!

I'm curious to see where Angie's taking us this time.

Still lovin' it.

OXOXOX.

Bev.

Growing old disgracefully.

bev_1.jpg

Bike pt 1242

Could Cathy be wrong? We will see. Perhaps Simon is calling his dad and finding oot aboot things a few things

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Can't judge a book by it's cover

That crafty old crone knows something and she does not care who might hurt around her as long as she stays safe. She can't fool another woman though, especially one who literally has the ear of the Goddess aspect of the deity. I agree with the other commentaters in that Simon and Tom deserve what they get. It will probably prove to be a good move that they did not go to a hotel also as the opposition may very well anticipate such a move.

Kim

So who is Diana really?

I noticed she knew an awful lot about Cathy in the last chapter where she mentioned that Cathy looks 'more natural'. So why should such a subject come up that Cathy would need to be on Diana's radar?

I am more and more suspecting that Diana is one of those agent types or is some kind of nefarious wrongdoers whose personal activities have wrong others.

Kim

I dunno aboot any o' yawl..

But I'm right there with Cathy. I hope she packed her bow, simply decamping with the younguns might not be enough to get out of danger, and what if(Gods forfend!) they should manage to realistically threaten Simon or Tom. I can see Cathy's body count rising quite easily....

Just sayin... Shrug...

Abigail 10-10

Abby

Battery.jpg

I have to support Cathy

I was afraid of this, though. When you live in a house belonging to someone else, you have to play by their rules. Tom has decided to make threats, and Cathy cannot live like that. Threats to her family are one way to definitejy get her attention.
I hope Simon can see how this affects her. More than anything, he needs to be supportive of his wife and family. He may be fairly clueless, but I lnow he will come through in the end.
I really worry about the Prof, though. I believe that he will come to see the error of his ways, but will Cathy be able to trust him again?

Wren

The Prof likes to keep himself scarce

except at meal times. I've come to see him, over the last 400 chapters at least, as little more than a single malt drunkard and curry hound who gets home cook meals all the time. I also see him now who is a socially naive over the hill old coot who won't even admit to himself that he is deeply infatuated with his 'charge' and would like nothing better than have a roll in the hay with her. And he would throw his 'daughter' out with relatively minor provocation just to get that opportunity. He deserves to lose his relationship with Cathy. But if things keep going as it is, more likely he will lose his life.

Kim

was thinking about that too

but what would it do to Cathy if he died when she wasn't there to save him?

Cathy is totally in the right here

If it had been me in the position of Cathy's husband I would have started packing as soon as Cathy told me to. Cathy's track record in predicting and forcasting events to me would have been enough for me.

Hmmmm....

With Cathy's extra senses, it is hard to pull something over her eyes. She is not blinded by beauty like Tom is. Now if it had been James...

If the phone doesn't ring, it's me!

Tom, the next sound you hear is silence. You old drunken coot. getting snatched up by an old snatch !
Paul Mc Cartney indeed !
Nice posting Bonzi, a little nastiness is fine once in a while.

Karen