Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 1138.

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The Daily Dormouse.
(aka Bike)
Part 1138
by Angharad

Copyright © 2010 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
-Dormouse-001.jpg

“You’re late,” observed Stella.

“I am well aware of that, some bastard slashed my tyres in the hospital car park.”

“Oh, what for?”

“If I knew that, I could send them the bill for the new ones.”

“You do seem to have an ability to make enemies, Cathy.”

“What? I spend all my time being nice to everyone, trying to keep the peace between the kids and this happens.”

“I don’t think the kids had anything to do with it, did they?”

“Of course not, but I try to help people, stand up for what I believe in and some arsehole with a penknife cost me two hundred and fifty flipping quid.”

“They did all four?”

“Yes, I had to call out a garage to replace them, luckily they had four suitable tyres available.”

“Did you call the police?”

“Yes, I thought it needed to be logged, but they sent someone out to see it anyway. He took some photos of it.”

“So who d’ya think did it?”

“Well, that Martina woman, Toby’s ex, has a screw loose and threatened my kids.”

“Not the cleverest thing to do to you; but would a woman be able to slash tyres?”

“I don’t see why not, don’t you think so?”

“I don’t think I could, could you?”

“I’ve no idea, why d’ya wanna go out and see if we can on your car?”

“Really, Cathy, that isn’t funny.”

“I was joking?” I teased.

“God, I hope so–but then, you are a registered psycho.”

“No, I’m a licensed one.”

“I thought that was the same.”

“Yeah whatever.”

“Mummy, when we ‘avin’ tea?” asked Mima.

“I’ll get it underway.” I retreated to the kitchen and started banging pots and pans about, and half an hour later, I was nearly ready to serve a chicken risotto. Tom of course grumbled that chicken and rice should be served only as curry, which prompted some discussion, but as the kids seemed to enjoy both, they managed to dissipate any strong feelings.

Sometimes I feel taken for granted and after the attack upon my car my skin felt rather thin and I was quite close to leaving the table and stamping up to my room. Trish seemed to recognise things weren’t entirely happy and started talking about how nice both were and that we hadn’t had risotto for ages.

I think I was very sensitive, but also surprised that I didn’t feel Tom was joking like he usually does, so maybe he’s had a hard time too. I didn’t enquire and he didn’t tell, but I noticed him staggering up to his bed after a couple of hours swigging a single malt in his study. I haven’t seen him like that for ages so something must be getting to him, I hope it’s not me.

By the time the kids were all in bed and I’d done the tucking in and story telling bit, I was ready for my own bed, and I was asleep within ten minutes of crawling into it. Of course, Simon had to phone about ten minutes after that and was a little put out that I didn’t want to talk. I had sent him a photo of the tyres, so he wanted to discuss it. I promised to call him tomorrow and rang off–then spent an hour watching the clock. It wasn’t his fault, he didn’t know I’d gone to bed–he’d been in a meeting most of the evening, trying to predict what this loony government is going to do next and whether the pound was going to take a bashing against other currencies. If the exchange rate goes down against the pound the bank loses money, unlike manufacturers who export things more cheaply–however, no one seems to take on board that exports might be cheaper and thus more competitive but imported raw materials are dearer. Still what do I know, I’m only a stupid housewife whose food bills are increasing weekly.

I woke early, obviously worrying about who had attacked my car and worrying if they might do so again or possibly the children next time. That frightened me more than anything else. I called Simon, who always seems to be up early unless he’s been drinking.

“I’m sorry I was short with you last night, but you had woken me up.”

“Sorry, Babes, that was the first time I could get back to you. You got the tyres sorted?”

“Yeah, cost me two hundred and fifty though.”

“Yeah, but as long as you’re okay, what’s it matter?”

“It matters because it was an unprovoked attack upon my property, and I’m not sure why.”

“I thought you said it was this madwoman, Martini or whatever.”

“I still think she could be responsible, but I’m not as convinced as before.”

“Why not?”

“Because it takes quite a lot of strength to slash a tyre.”

“Does it? I wouldn’t have thought so with a carpet knife, it’s not like you’re cutting through the tread where most of the steel is.”

“They were quite heavily slashed.”

“She could have got her boyfriend to do it for her.”

“Simon, you aren’t helping me to feel any better.”

“Sorry, Babes.”

“Tom was a bit funny last night, he got stewed before he went to bed.”

“They’re probably cutting his budgets.”

“Oh hell, I hadn’t even thought of that.”

“It’s all you hear on the news, so I wouldn’t have expected you to think of it, Babes.”

“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,” I snapped, quoting my mother.

“Yeah, but wit is the highest form of humour,” he threw straight back at me. Why hadn’t I thought of that when my mother scorned me.

I ended the call and went and showered, then got the girls up–their hair wasn’t too bad so I just combed it rather than washed it. Then after waking Danny and Julie, we went downstairs for breakfast. Tom was just finishing as we arrived in the kitchen.

“Is everything alright, Daddy?” I asked of him.

He stopped looked at me and said, “Aye, it’s chust fine.”

“I thought I might have upset you yesterday.”

“Och weel, if ye're gang tae serve foreign food, I prefer curry, ye ken.”

“Yes, I ken very well.”

“Och, weel that’s a’richt then.” He pecked me on the cheek and picking up his brief case and jacket, left by the back door to go to the university. I continued pouring cereals and making toast. About ten minutes later, he came back in.

“Have you forgotten something, Daddy?”

“Nay, I havnae, ye’ll need tae use the Mondeo the morn, they’ve done yer tyres again.”

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Comments

A most determined vandal!

Wow, all four tires twice?! If it is Martina, she's got a few screws loose. Well, whoever is doing it has a few screws loose, for that matter. ;)

Saless 


Kittyhawk"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America


"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America

Tyres

Looks like the local tyre dealer has a new employee who was told to find a way to increase sales ;-)

M

Martina

Raises the threat level

Slashing the tyres while the car is in Cathy's own driveway certainly raises the threat level.

Kris

Kris

{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}

Let's Hang Together

littlerocksilver's picture

... or surely we shall all hang separately. I don't want to scrape the scabs off of old wounds, but Cathy and the rest need to back off the sarcasm and support each other a bit more. The tyre slashing is more vandalism than anything else. It's an inconvenience. If someone really wanted to hurt Cathy, tampering with the tyres in a less obvious way might be more effective. The act seems more childish than anything else. Obviously, it's a malevolent act, but it might be due to some other associate of the family. Maybe a boyfriend. We haven't heard much about him lately. There could be some overripe Stilton being dragged across the path.

Portia

Portia

Bike pt 1138.

Are Tom's mystery and Cathy's related?

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

Tyme for stronga measures.

It seems they want to frighten Cathy a bit. I'd be looking to see if the Mondeo is safe to drive. It doesn't take much to disable brakes or plant an explosive device. Someone perhaps wants their diamonds back, although with the plod in posession of them...

Gwendolyn

Nasty, Nasty,Nasty!

Hi Angie.

Somebody's very angry with Cathy. I would have thought by now they would have had spy camera's scattered about all over the farmhouse. Whilst nobody likes them when thery're installed by nosey 'jobs-worths' they are very useful for 'ordinary' citizens.
Still lovin' it. Still doing the 'cliff-hangers' bit.

Love and hugs.

Beverly Taff.

OXOXOX

bev_1.jpg

Security

Hmmm, this sort of insidious violence is obviously aimed at frightening Cathy and her family. Here we go again...

I live in a city with a population of about 50,000. However, there's also a fairly large rural area in the district. There's a bloke from a security company who does ads on the radio from time to time. One of his products seems to be these remote video cameras which he recommends for farmers. The cameras have no moving parts and don't need a power supply, and can be left outside on a permanent basis. He suggests mounting the cameras to watch rural driveways, farm fuel tanks, houses and the like.

I think Cathy, Simon and Tom should investigate beefing up the security around their place. At least if they can discover who the perps are, they can do something about it. It's fairly hopeless trying to fight an unknown enemy.

Thanks A+B+I (Chicken Risotto): I have to admire the way that you've managed to ratchet up the tension.

Personal Safety


Bike Resources

Remote cameras

They've had remote cameras installed before - the Russians installed one pointing at the driveway in 786, and MI5 installed three in 787 - one pointing at the original camera and two pointing in opposite directions down the road.

 

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!

Funnily enough...

...since writing the previous comment, the bloke's been back on the radio again.

The camera system is called MI5. I found more info on this website.

Methinks they need year-round security, not just when there's an overt threat—though arguably this is covert.

Photographic Systems


Bike Resources

Cathy The Avenger

I think her night vision goggles, compound bow and Kiki will be ready the next evening.

Great chapter

Hello
I have just caught up with the past weeks worth of thrilling episodes. The story line keeps getting better. I love the new character Toby Old; please keep him popping up in the future. I get a strange feeling when reading about him, about his ‘back-story’ was his father an undertaker for example, does he have a dog? Please do not kill him off yet Angharad.
The departed gardener is as yet unnamed, how about Will Barrow for example.
Thank you so much for keeping the story going, I love it.
Love to all
Anne G.

Will Barrow?

Now he could have been a bit of a rake! Or how about Lorne Mower? or even that well known Australian, Digger Border?

Gabi.


“It is hard for a woman to define her feelings in language which is chiefly made by men to express theirs.” Thomas Hardy—Far from the Madding Crowd.

Gabi.


“It is hard for a woman to define her feelings in language which is chiefly made by men to express theirs.” Thomas Hardy—Far from the Madding Crowd.

Kiki? Guard dog?

What's she gonna do? Lick 'em to death?

S.

Not again !

Wow ! All four again ! That's a serious attack, It also means Martina and company know where Cathy lives.
NOT good at all. How to protect against this ?

Cefin

It's that time

time to get out some cameras!