The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1166 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

Having got Boris Spasky off to bed along with the others, I finally had a few moments to text Julie and tell her not to be late unless she wanted to sleep in the garden shed.

I glanced out the window and it was throwing it down, she was going to get wet–well that’s her hard luck, it wasn’t raining when she finished college. I checked on the little ones, they were both fast asleep.

“I cannot believe that you got a five year old to sort out the baby for you.” I complained at Simon.

“You know me, Babes, I don’t do babies.”

“That’s not true, because I’ve seen you feed and change them.”

“Nah, that was my good twin brother, I’m the wicked one.”

“So I notice. Well you won’t be wicked with me tonight, I’m too bloody tired.”

“Where’s Julie? I thought she was supposed to be helping you.”

“She’s gone to a friend’s, I’ve just texted her to come home soon.”

“Has she replied?”

As he spoke my phone peeped to say someone had sent me a text.

‘Its rainin–will cum wen it stops. Lol J x.’ I read it out loud to Simon.

“What time is it supposed to stop?”

“According to the Met Office, some time tomorrow.”
“Want me to go and get her?”

“What about her scooter thing?”

“She can catch the bus tomorrow and collect it. It’ll serve her right for messing us about.”

“Here,” I handed him my phone, “You can tell her then.” I left him to it and judging by the loud voices I heard a few moments later, she didn’t much go on the idea of him collecting her.

He came out to the kitchen where I was expressing some more milk, I had two cups of tea and I was dripping in my bra, so it seemed like a good idea. “Oh,” he said and his eyes lit up. “I could help if there’s a surplus.”

“No thank you, actually yes, you could help.”

Once more his eyes lit up and I thought he actually licked his lips.

“Make us a cuppa will you.” Well, I had to replace the fluid I was losing, didn’t I?

He did so, but rather reluctantly. “She’s coming home now.”

“She’ll get soaked,” I protested.

“That’s her lookout–she refused a lift home or to tell me where she actually was.”

“I’m not surprised, especially if she’s with a boy.”

“She didn’t say with whom she was,” he said irritatedly, “You wait till she comes home, I’ll give her what for.”

“Isn’t that rather counter-productive, a bit like calling a dog then hitting it when it comes back to you.”

“She’ll understand better than a dog.”

“Simon, she’s a teenager–I wouldn’t bet on it.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right–okay, I’ll push off to bed and you can sort her out.” Before I could say anything he was gone–typical. He’s thought something through so problem solved. The fact that nothing has been done hasn’t occurred to him, it has in his mind, so it’s done. Thank goodness he isn’t a chef, most of his diners would starve to death.

I’d just finished expressing when Julie’s scooter thing came popping into the drive. It had actually stopped raining so she wasn’t as wet as I thought she’d be. Her mood wasn’t very good though.

“Where is he?” she asked peeping round the kitchen door.

“Gone to bed, why?”

“Oh–that’s all right then.”

“Is it? What did you have for dinner?”

“Some chips, why?”

“I’m responsible for you, remember.”

“Mummy, I’m sixteen, for God’s sakes.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of that, but you were fifteen when I found you on a pile of rubbish if you recall.”

“Oh trust you bring that up...”

“I was going to say, you thought you knew best then.”

“That was year ago–I’ve learned loads since then.”

“Julie, you’ve been living as a girl for less than a year–I worry about you.”

“Yeah, so you stop me having any fun.”

We were going into a circular argument and I didn’t need to be going to bed full of adrenalin.

“I’m not going to argue, I’ll just take the keys of your scooter–you can go back to catching buses.”

“Oh no you fucking don’t,” she snapped back at me.

“We’ll discuss this in the morning–go to your room.” I said firmly but calmly, although inside I felt like slapping her.

“You’re not taking my scooter,” she yelled at me, tears running down her face.

“Throwing a tantrum like a six year old will solve nothing–now go to your room, goodnight.”

I stood up and she stood in front of me. It looked as if she was going to say something but she seemed to think better of it. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d hit me, but she didn’t do that either, she just burst into tears and ran up the stairs.

Stella came home as I was getting ready to lock up and go to bed. She was a little tipsy and wanted to talk about her wonderful Gareth. I yawned and said, “Tomorrow,” before heading to the stairs.

“The problem ish shome people are sho shelfish,” she slurred at my back.

“Is she home?” asked Simon lying in bed reading.”

“Which one?”

“The teenager.”

“Yeah, which one, Julie or Stella?”

“Oh, she’s just come in has she?”

“Oh yeah, she’s full of Gareth...”

“You had your chance, you could have been full of me,” he said drolly.

For a moment I had to work out what he’d said and how it related to what I’d said. I sighed and went to the bathroom, weed, cleaned my teeth and had a little wash. Maybe I’d like to be full of Simon after all–except when I came back to bed he was asleep–absolutely bloody typical.

I tossed and turned for quite a while before I managed to sleep. I wasn’t looking forward to telling Julie a few facts of life, nor was I anticipating Stella telling me about Mr Bloody Wonderful–I knew him first, maybe I’ll just remind her–nah, she deserves a bit of luck in the fun department.

If it was the summer, I’d be thinking about getting up early and going for a ride for an hour to blow the cobwebs away–sadly it’s not, and a handful of baby blubber will be yelling for a refill in a couple of hours, so I tried to think relaxing thoughts to go to sleep. Unfortunately, my mind knew I was trying to fool it so it went on the offensive and played me videos of Julie’s tantrum and Stella glowing or was that gloating?