The lift from the Royal Hotel to the Beach
Whats that ya say? Nena and Gaby? By 'eck nah there's a tale to tell! Sharp does his best with this brand new fanfic which includes characters from both Gaby and Nena!
Part 25
Monday 22nd July 2008 A trip to Meadow Hall and South Yorkshire.
By now the population of Scarborough had got used to the sound of the helicopters taking off and landing on the two aircraft carriers that were moored up in the harbour. Today was no different. Gaby had decided she was going with her friends to visit Meadow Hall shopping Centre. Nena & Julia also needed to go to Sheffield Cathedral of St Peter and Paul for a wedding rehearsal. As Gaby and companions were bridesmaids they also needed to be present for the rehearsal. Unlike the actual wedding there was no need for them to be dressed for the actual rehearsal. With this in mind Gaby had decided to combine the Cathedral visit with a shopping excursion to Meadow Hall Shopping Centre. Gaby knew that most of her companions would not say no to the idea of shopping. Kiko and sisters also had got excited at the thought of a shopping trip and were making lists of items that they wanted.
Den, John & Arthur had already driven the coaches across to Meadow Hall from their base in Scarborough along with a security team. There they would meet up with the group going to Sheffield's Anglican cathedral and drive them the short distance from Meadow Hall. Gaby smiled when she saw how Maddy Bell was dressed. Maddy could have easily been taken for a professional business woman. Stella from America that had recently joined the ranks of the authors was also on the trip. All this was a new experience for her. She still found it hard to believe that one minute she was in her cabin blocked in with the snow in America. The next second she has been digitalised and was travelling down the telephone cable that lies on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
Angharad came to the side of her. “Stella I presume you are still a little nervous being around us. Yesterday you did not get introduced to my Brothers. Lords Brightflame and Draconaris. They will be accompanying us on the excursion. Poor Maria when she suggested this as a bonding trip for the team did not envisage what would happen. However her initial idea was brilliant. It has brought most of the different factions of the family together. You had no idea what was going to happen when you submitted the first draught of your writing to our team.”
One by one the giant helicopters took off from the two aircraft carriers. Stella had her digital camera and was busy taking pictures from the helicopter. Like the others she took lots of pictures of York as they flew over it. She noticed the workmen dismantling the York Wheel and placing it on to wagons. They flew close to the giant power stations at Ferry Bridge. Before they knew it the helicopters had landed in the car park at Meadow Hall.
Some of the group immediately boarded the three coaches while the remainder made their way to the shopping centre. Outside the Cathedral parking spaces had been reserved for the coaches. There was also a military presence as units of the Bavaria Mountain were guarding the cathedral. A short walk from the coaches and the girls were at the front entrance. There Gaby spotted Siegfried & Günter Starky. They both bowed to Gabriel. “You Majesty we decided to come across with a few of the boys to ensure your safety.”
Two priests wearing cloaks greeted the group at the entrance to the Cathedral. One was the Anglican Bishop of Sheffield. The other was his counterpart the Roman Catholic Bishop of Sheffield. “Your Majesty I hope you do not mind that I invited my colleague across to help with the wedding.”
Nena. “While the two of us are Anglicans some of our cousins are Catholics. So neither of us minded at all. We also have Cardinal Waibel with us who represents both faiths.”
Well the actual practise took about an hour. Both Nena & Julia were by now counting the days to the actual event. Gaby noticed the cloaks both bishops were wearing and smiled. After the practise she spoke to the two of them. “ Both Nena and Julia are very close to me. Their wedding was arranged before Nena started changing. I notice you both are part of the brotherhood of Venutias. I recently had the company of the Arch Bishop and the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds who also are part of the same brotherhood as you two.”
“Yes your majesty we got informed rather too late and could not get to Ripon in time to meet up with the other brethren. That is why we both decided to perform the service for your cousins.”
Gaby was shown round the ancient parish church that around a hundred years ago had been upgraded to a cathedral. She was shown the chapel that until recent times had been a Roman Catholic family chapel within an Anglican Cathedral. Gaby took Brightflame to one side. “I presume you already have arranged the Honeymoon for Nena & Julia.”
“Yes Gaby they will be spending it visiting the Great Wall and watching some of the Olympics. They will also attend the closing ceremony as your representatives.”
With that the Girls left the cathedral and made their way to a cycle shop. Gaby giggled as she looked and noticed a picture of Maddy Bell painted in red with horns growing out of her head. Maddy joined the group at the store. She noticed Gaby had seen her logo. ( The demon bike lady .) A very young but in experienced young man approached Gaby.
“Hello I am called Thomas Smith. Can I interest you in any of our bikes? This is my first day so I do not have the experience of some of the older staff. I will do my very best to help you.”
Maddy remembered all those years ago when she first started and realised the young lad must be very nervous about approaching the girls. Jenny looked at him. “You will do fine. We do need a few bits and pieces. I have a shopping list here.”
The salesman looked at the list. “I will have to go and ask where all this is.” The young man disappeared. He returned a short while later with a young woman. “Wendy from the office has just reminded me that we ask all our customers to the lounge where you will be plied with coffee and biscuits until I have got your order prepared.”
Wendy smiled when she saw Maddy Bell was with the group. The young man went off to collect the required bits and pieces. Wendy. “Hi Maddy Thomas has replaced you. He is very eager to help. He was telling me he loves nothing better than watching cycle racing. He is saving to go to the Olympics to watch the British team. He has no idea though he is serving one of the directors of the cycle store.”
Mr James another director had been busy with another customer and noticed the young man was collecting all sorts of things. He looked at the list. “We are out off those or at least we can get them from our Rotherham depot. There will be a slight delay before they arrive. Now while I do not want to take over your customer. Perhaps I should go across and explain we have to transport some items in from Rotherham.”
Mr James went across and gave Maddy a hug. “So our Thomas is serving you. How is he doing?”
Gaby. “Thomas is doing fine. Wendy has explained it is his first day. He even suggested some bikes he thought might be suitable for us. That gave us quite a laugh.”
Thomas returned. “Madam there are several items on your list we are out of stock of. However I am having them sent over from our Rotherham store and they should be with us shortly. One of the older salesmen has reminded me to ask if you have one of our company cards as you would then be entitled to a discount.”
Maddy. “Actually I do have a card. Wendy here is just going to issue the others with one each. Now young man how are you enjoying your first day at work?”
“Everyone has been kind to me. This is Mr James one of the directors of the store. Wendy is the daughter of a staff member who recently left. It was Wendy that suggested I apply for the job. Well I got the job and I am serving you.”
Gaby. “Wendy was informing us you are saving up to go to the Olympics in China.”
“Well yes that was true. However all my wages will now have to go on other things? My fiancé last night decided as it was a leap year she would propose to me. So we will now be saving for a home. I also have to meet my fiancé's family. She has been rather quiet about them.”
Mr James. “Thomas I think I might be able to help you. Our firm has a flat that until recently was being used by one of our directors. Currently we have not found anybody to use it. So if you and your fiancé like it then we can come to some sort of arrangement over the rent.”
Wendy's eyes lit up like search lights at this news. “Mr James thank you for the kind offer. As you may have guessed by now I am the other party and I accept on behalf of us both.”
Gaby. “Thomas, Wendy informed us about your desire to visit the Olympics in China. We just happen to have a couple of spare tickets for both the Olympics and the Paralympics.”
Wendy. “Thomas this group of people you have been serving are part of the Appolonaris team. Their main reason for coming here today was to see me and take me to get my wedding dress for some of them are to be my bridesmaids. That is if it is ok with Mr James.”
“Wendy I think you should also take Thomas.”
“But I have only just started work today.”
Gaby took hold of an arm belonging to Thomas. “Thomas your job will still be here for you when you return. If you have not worked it out already I am Gaby Bond and this is my mother Jenny.”
“Gaby Bond the Junior Champion that beat Lance Armstrong in Scarborough earlier in the month. I saw you do that as we came across for the day. Wendy did not tell me she knew you though. I have not yet met Wendy's' parents. Every time I ask she changes the subject.”
Maddy, “Well Thomas I am one of Wendy's parents the other I am sorry to say is no longer with us.”
“Well in that case Mrs Bell although Wendy has proposed to me I still believe I should ask for your formal permission to marry your daughter.”
Some of the other salesmen came across to shake the hand of Thomas. “Congratulations young Thomas. Wendy is a great catch. I suppose we will have to be calling you boss after your wedding.”
“No I am still the junior and learning off all of you. Why should I be called the boss?”
“Come outside and look at our logo.”
Thomas looked at the logo and then at Maddy Bell. “Wendy it looks like your mother with a couple of horns sticking out of her head. Oh I get it now Mr James must be your Uncle Wendy & this is a family firm. So we will one day produce the next generation of shopkeepers. Mrs Bell am I correct that you are a director here? Will Mr James give Wendy away as she has no living father?”
Mr James. “Well as Wendy is my only niece I would be willing to do that providing her mother agrees.”
Wendy looked across at Maddy. “Mum I had intended to ask you to give me away. However Uncle could give me away if you agree.”
“I think Wendy that your Uncle should have the chance to walk you down the aisle. I will be too busy ensuring you are ready for your big day.”
Wendy, “Thomas & Uncle I would very much like you both to go to Mac Greenwoods and get fit up for full Highland Dress.”
Gaby. “We have asked your best man and groomsmen to meet us at the Meadow Hall Shop. Wendy is going to Wedding Dayz to get her gown along with the bridesmaids.
Thomas looked at Mr James for some support. “It looks like the ladies have it all planned out and we will just have to go with it.”
Gaby noticed a poster advertising a cyclocross event at Peel Park in Bradford early in the New Year. Gaby grabbed a handful of the entry forms and stiffed them into the handbag she had to carry.
Nena, “Gaby that is one of the disadvantages of being a girl. There are no pockets to put all your bits and bats in. I presume you intend some of us to enter that race with you?”
“Well it is in Yorkshire at Peel Park near Bradford. So it is a local race for us.”
Maddy Bell looked at one of the entry forms. “Gaby I think on this occasion all our teams can enter. I for one would like to do it. Jenny as senior Captain what do you think?”
Jenny looked at the forms. “I suppose once we move into the castle we could go down and have a look at this park as it is not that far away. Also by then we could all come under the local group as it says anybody is classed as local if they live within 25 miles of the course. It also appears to be a two day event.”
Wendy read the form. “Thomas we will have to enter team Smith. Now off you go with uncle to get those Kilts sorted out.”
In Mac Greenwoods they found the Best man and ushers were waiting for them. It did not take the boys long to be fitted out. Thomas telephoned Wendy. “We have already done what we needed to do and are going to the Carver for some lunch.”
“Oh in that case you had better say you are part of the Bond Party.”
When they got to the carver they saw a sign closed for private party. They entered and were greeted by bouncers. “Sorry sir we are closed today.”
Thomas. “Oh I was told to come here and say we are part of the Bond Party.”
“In that case gentlemen would you like to join the other men at the bar. We are waiting for the ladies to arrive.”
A rather jovial chap with a long white beard held his hand out. “I presume you are Thomas, Wendy's future husband. My granddaughters call me the Old Man. Here I am known as Mr Vater.”
Thomas proceeded to introduce the remainder of his group. The bar staff handed each man a pint of Old Peculiar Ale.
Neptune. “I hope you all do not mind this is mine and my brothers' favourite drink. So I instructed the staff all the men had to be given OP.”
By the time the ladies had turned up Thomas was on his second pint. Thomas gave Wendy a hug. “Thomas just how much of that have you drunk?”
Neptune, “It's Ok it is only his second pint. He has been sipping it slowly so I took it either he does not normally drink or he is not keen on OP. Unlike my brothers who down the stuff like water.”
Thomas, “Well I did not want to offend your relations Wendy by refusing a drink.”
“Yes well they are used to it and you are not. It is plenty of black coffee for you.”
The meal came and it was mainly fish dishes. Thomas soon realised that most of the others were watching him or appeared to be. Thomas ate the fish but left the shellfish dishes. “Wendy I got told off earlier for not saying I do not normally drink beer. So this time I will say I like fish but shellfish cause me problems so I avoid them. So if you like them you can have mine.”
Neptune burst out laughing. “Thomas some of the others here cannot do with Shellfish. We were unsure what were your likes and dislikes and so you got everything. Now we know in future you will get fish dishes when you dine with us.”
“Wendy has informed me that a couple called Chris & Julia are having a double wedding with us. She further informs me we will be going to China to see the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics for our Honeymoon.”
“I know Wendy is an only daughter and as you are not from my family I presume you all present are related to Wendy in some way. My boss Mr James has agreed to walk Wendy down the aisle. He also has let us have a flat that was recently vacated by another staff member. Thank you again for your kindness and for some of the little ones agreeing to be bridesmaids for Wendy.”
“Now while I can still stand I am going to take Wendy on to the dance floor.” The dancing and merrymaking went on quite late.
To be continued.
Sharp 18.01.09 © 2009
Pictures by Sharp © 2008
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