All of the original situations in this story are mine, the rest is the intellectual property of Maddy. Cat is a fictional character, any similarities to anyone living or dead is purely my warped mind in action.
What a week! I thought to myself as I walked back from Maddy's place to Gran's for tea.
When we first came up here it was only meant to be a little break, a change of scenery; stay with Gran, meet up with Karla and maybe see some of the sights.
Being cycle mad I'd fought to bring my bike with me, if we'd been driving it wouldn't have been a problem but Dad couldn't get all of the time off so we were coming by train. I had argued I would have been happy riding from Shirebrook while mum and the bags went in the car, it wasn't that far, I mean I go further on my shortest training rides. So imagine my surprise when I see a cycle carrier slung from the back of Gran's Corsa.
Of course as we'd driven from the station we had got the usual story.
“You know you're lucky, for years the nearest stations were Nottingham or over by Alfreton and the only trains in this neck of the woods carried power station coal.”
Good old Gran, lots of things change but she is always Gran.
I'd just come back from locking my bike safely in the shed when Gran remembered the little piece of news she had been saving for me. “I almost forgot, there's a cycle race thing that happens just up the road each Tuesday so I've had a word and they are expecting you tomorrow evening.”
“But Gran, I'm not good enough to race anyone.”
“How are you going to know if you don't try it? And besides it's not a proper race, the clock is the only thing that you'll be racing.”
“Oh a time trial, that's not so bad. I'm still not sure if I want to do it, what if I make a fool of myself?”
“Then you don't go back next week, you probably won't see them ever again.”
Gran always did have this knack of persuading me to do things that she thought would be good for me, so Tuesday evening, feeling as nervous as anything, I made my way up to Cuckney for my first organised time trial. I don't remember what I was told, I don't even remember much of the ride, I just remembered what Gran had said and with nothing to lose I mullered it.
I got my time and from the reaction it wasn't too shabby, I started to ride back and that's where the cramp set in, if it hadn't been for that I would never have met Drew and Maddy that evening and things would be very different.
As I turned the corner into Gran's road I thought back to what had just happened, I'd let the two of them in on my biggest secret. I'd been keeping that little piece of info to myself ever since it turned nasty with a couple of classmates. I suppose it was one of the worst kept secrets in school and it didn't exactly help my popularity any when the headmaster pointed out that anyone who picked on someone who was different had no place in his school. His comment was meant as a general one but it translated into a “keep away” as far as most of the students were concerned. Oh don't get me wrong I had friends, just not good friends.
I was supposed to discuss it with mum before telling anyone, but after I scared the shit out of Drew at Meadowhall by confronting him I felt I owed him something. The strange thing was I didn't owe Maddy anything, I just felt like if I was going to trust Drew then trusting Maddy was part of the package.
Walking down the path to the side gate I decided that I'd tell mum what went on at the first appropriate moment.
“Hello dear, good day out?”
“Yeah, fine. We didn't do much real shopping, but we did catch a movie.”
Ok, I'll tell her during tea.
Or after tea.
Maybe before I go to bed.
Perhaps tomorrow.
Friday turned out to be a quiet ‘stay at home' kind of day but Saturday was not. Mum had borrowed Gran's car as we set off towards Lincoln. We passed Ollerton, crossed the A1 and turned onto the A57. Once we had crossed the funny little toll bridge in the middle of nowhere it was flattsville as Lincolnshire lived up to its reputation of being flatter than a squashed thing. Although being a clear day we could see the Cathedral gradually getting closer and eventually the ridge that the old part of the city is on too.
It had been four months since I had met Karla while on holiday, we had hit it off straight away and afterwards had kept in touch by letter but this was the first time that we had met on ‘home ground'.
I began to wonder if she might have changed in that time. Well I need not have worried, she was the same girl, big smile, big dreams, big wardrobe. We spent a while catching up then got driven into the city centre.
Why we chose to do this on a Saturday when we didn't have to was beyond me, it was absolute carnage. In the end we bailed out in the station car park and left the olds to battle for a parking space on the understanding that we would meet them in a couple of hours by the indoor market.
Karla lead me up an alley onto what I thought was the main shopping street, but apparently not, I followed her across the level crossing just as the sirens started. We were safely across when the gates dropped behind us, then it was up through the old city wall into what really was the main shopping area, you could hardly move for people.
“Lets go do Steep Hill while we still have the energy.” She said.
I knew the hill by reputation but the gradient we were on didn't seem too fierce, it got a little steeper but still not too bad, then we turned the corner.
“Now I get it.” I said as I looked up.
“Toldya.” Karla replied.
Now apart from being pretty steep there are some cool little shops here, boutiques, kitsch shops, even a nice place where we got an ice cream each (mint choc chip for me and vanilla for Karla). We struggled to the top and checked out some shops there, I bought a few bits for my bedroom, took a quick look at the outside of the castle and then we headed back down to the main drag and towards the market.
We stopped every now and then to check out some of the clothes shops, of course Karla found the cute stuff and it all fitted. I hate it when she does that. I did find a nice skirt with a gathered hem and for once it fitted me.
At the appointed time we made contact with the parents, as much as we liked shopping it was just too busy today so once we had checked the market to make sure we weren't missing any bargains we all battled our way through the masses, found the car and got the hell out of there.
I've got no idea how long we talked when we got back but it must've been late, so late that we decided to turn it into a sleepover, with pizza, mmmmmm.
Late to bed meant late to rise, it was almost lunchtime when we woke and mid-afternoon when we got back to Gran's. Just enough time for a little training ride before tea.
I'd tried to leave Monday open, hoping that I might hear from Drew or Maddy, no such luck. I guess that their American friends have taken over. It was Tuesday evening before we met up again, I phoned to check it was still a go, then rode over to Drew's place so the three of us could ride together up to Cuckney.
They apologised that things hadn't worked out since Thursday, it was as I suspected, they had their exchange partners to entertain. They were glad to hear that I hadn't been totally on my own as I filled them in on my weekend, the trip with Karla to the city, Steep Hill, shopping and the castle.
"You went grocking then!" Drew said.
"Huh?"
"It's what we call doing the tourist thing." Mad added.
"Then why didn't you just say that?"
"Because you would have understood it."
I hope that statement made sense to Drew because it didn't make any to me. "Riiight. There must be something in the water round here."
"Are you saying everybody around here is mad?" Drew asked.
"No....... Just you, your parents, your friends and their parents." I replied.
"Hey, I resemble that remark." Drew responded.
"Me too." said Mad.
"Who wants to be completely sane anyway, sane is boring." I said.
"I can't argue with that."
While we were on the subject of sanity or lack of it, Mad and I spent I don't know how long discussing Lincoln's merits for shopping. I also told her about the way Karla goes into a shop sees something that she likes and the right size just seems to jump into her hands. It was even making Maddy envious.
We pretty much froze Drew out of the conversation, despite everything else he is a boy and I don't think he understands the thing with girls and shopping.
We were almost at race central when Drew took me to one side and told me to watch out for a cheer squad. Cheer squad! Whatever next? I guess it was a good idea, the last thing Drew wanted was for them to take me by surprise, I don't think I'd be able to miss something like that. He had another suggestion too, "They will be cheering for me and Mad, but if they are still around when you get to the turn try imagining that they are cheering for you. Who knows, maybe by the next one you'll have met the rest of the gang and they really will be cheering for you."
I need all the help I can get. "Thanks Drew, I'll give that a try."
We were joined by John from the club who congratulated Drew on his weekend ride before he gave out our start positions. As they walked away he came over and started talking to me.
"Evening Cat, how's your gran?”
Now I recognised him, Gran said there was someone who helped her with stuff from time to time. “She's doing great.”
“She is? That's good." He replied.
So that answered that question. I'd wondered how Gran had found out about the Ten in the first place. I saw Drew watching as well. So I guess I wasn't the only one wondering how I'd got here.
We both watched Maddy's start then Drew started his exercises. I think I had better watch his pre-race routine and take some notes. Not that I understand why he's doing half of that stuff, some of the exercises make sense though.
Before I knew it my turn came.
"Five, four, three, two, one, go!"
And I was off on my second time trial.
If you're expecting me to give you details of tonight's run then I'm sorry but I don't remember all that much. I know I avoided a few potholes and spotted the cheer squad just before concentrating for the turn. I'm not sure how they knew me but I would have sworn that they were cheering my name as I powered away. I kept pushing, I must have been concentrating hard because the next thing I knew I could see the finish. I found a point beyond the line and focussed on it, then put everything I had left into one final burst.
I blurted out my number as I finished but the sound didn't come out right. I guess the timekeeper worked it out though, as it was shouted to me as I dropped into a lower gear to warm down. 28.28 an improvement on last week – cool.
I cycled over to where Drew and Maddy were talking to John. Bad timing I overheard them talking about next week's ten in Tuxford, I think we passed that on the way to Lincoln, problem is they are only riding it because they have been invited. Oh bummocks.
I pretended not to have heard and asked Drew how things had gone for them. He said that he had passed Mad with just over a mile to go and registered 24.51, but Mad had hung in behind for an outstanding 28.03. I told him I had got 28.28. Drew said that was pretty good considering what I was riding.
"Wow, if you guys keep improving like that I'll have to start worrying." He continued.
Mad and I laughed. Then I remembered something and said, "I tried the trick with your cheer squad, it worked too! I don't get how it worked but it did. I would have sworn that I heard them cheering my name."
Drew had a mischievous grin. "Don't question it, just use it. Anyway how's the cramp tonight?" he asked.
"Not as bad, I warmed down better. I could still do with a leg rub though."
"Sorry but the card is full tonight." I said
That must be because of the exchange partners." It's ok, I'll ride home and if it hasn't loosened up I'll get mum to help me."
"Not joining us at the chippy this time?"
I was disappointed enough that I wouldn't be able to ride next week I didn't really want to run the gauntlet of the gang and the Americans. "Not tonight. Seeya Drew, seeya Mad."
I gave them a wave and got a quick wave back as I pedalled away. I remembered seeing their camper around, I really didn't want to be passed by a vanload of happy campers so I went into race mode. I must have left with enough of a headstart because I didn't see them, in the same way as I didn't see the seam in the road that flipped me off the bike and onto the verge.
I lay there for a second making sure that everything was connected to the things it was supposed to be then got up slowly. As far as I could tell my ego was the only thing that was bruised and even my bike looked undamaged.
I did ride the last 200 yards home but at a far more sedate pace.
As I got indoors I noted one advantage, my hated Tufftop cycle helmet had a dirt mark on the top and everything I'd read said "use it then lose it" so I would finally be able to justify a replacement.
Meanwhile in another part of town Drew was on the phone to his Mum, the call was almost over but there was one more thing on his mind.
"Mum, now that I've got the Campags you sent we've got more spare wheels than I can ever use, would you mind if I gave an old set away?"
"I'm not sure you can have too many spares. Hang on, don't tell me, you've got someone in mind." She said.
"Yep, Cat."
"I think that Maria can handle her needs."
"No mum, not Kat Pinger, Cat with a C. Remember the girl I told you about last week. Tonight she clocked a mid 28 this week on a regular bike with regular road tyres too. Once she starts putting decent stuff on the bike who knows what she could do."
"What did I do to deserve such an unselfish son."
That made me blush. Even though I knew she was playing with me a little bit.
"Just lucky I guess."
We both laughed.
"Thanks mum, g'night."
"Goodnight Drew."
Thursday morning I was in the middle of breakfast when I got a call.
"Hi Cat, it's Mad. We're heading for Mansfield baths today, want to join us?"
"Hiya Mad, that works for me. I needed to go to Mansfield today anyway so I'll meet you there."
We finished conspiring and I went to railroad.. I mean persuade Mum to take me into town. She needed to do some grocery shopping amongst other things. So I helped her with Gran's weekly shop like a good girl then pleaded with her for a loan to buy my new lid.
With that sorted all I had to do was walk to the baths and wait. I found some railings to lean against, I must have been there ten minutes at least before I saw some faces I recognised in a group heading my way.
"What kept you?" I said smiling.
"Just because you got a lift in." Mad said.
We queued up to go in, as the line slowly shuffled towards the entrance Drew tapped me on the shoulder.
"Oh Cat, I've got something at home for you."
"What is it? I hope it's something nice?" I inquired.
"You'll just have to wait and see." Drew teased.
I hope it's not a new cycle helmet, that would be just my luck.
We went in, sorted our stuff out and split up to change. I slipped into my swimsuit, tied my hair back and stepped out. The three of them were waiting for me, they took one look and started giggling.
"What?"
"Nice skirt." Ally said.
"I wore something like that for my first year of swimming lessons." added Mad.
"Anyone else?" I said staring at Bernie expecting her to chip in. When she didn't I gave Maddy my best icy stare, she knew enough about me. I saw the realisation in her eyes but before she could say anything Ally stepped in.
"So it's a skirted swimsuit, big deal. Let's just back off and go out there and have some fun."
"Right on." said Bernie.
Mad nodded. As we went out she hung back and whispered "sorry" to me, I gestured it was OK and tried to forget it. That was until Drew opened his.
"Nice swimsuit Cat." he said. I prepared for round two.
Ally leaped to my defence. "Drew, leave it. We've already been there in the changing room. If she doesn't have a problem with it there's no reason for anyone else to, especially you."
I guessed that he was just a little surprised to see me wear such a thing.
"Turn round Drew" Mad requested.
Drew wasn't sure what she was getting at to begin with. As soon as he had I could see what the problem was.
"You're in no position to make comments about swimsuits based on your tan lines."
Maddy said something about a trip to Ladybower the other week.
"It looks like a vest at the front," Bernie added, "but there's no doubt what it represents on your back!"
I had no idea what Ladybower was but from the looks I would guess he'd had to borrow someone else's swimsuit. I stifled a giggle, now it was Drew's turn to want to forget the swim and change back.
The entire gang including me told him it was nothing to worry about but it took more than our reassurance, it took Mad dragging him along before I would relax a bit.
So we messed about on the flume and in the pool for a couple of hours. When I say messing about obviously we didn't do anything that might have got us kicked out, we waited until the lifeguard was chatting to his mate before
doing the flume two at a time. Of course Maddy and Drew rode together, as he held on to her he turned to us and said, "It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it." We chuckled so loud we were almost rumbled.
I dared Rhod to go on his stomach and he was all set to do it when the lifeguard remembered that he was here to do a job so that put an end to that.
We had some silly races too, a boys vs girls relay with Drew and Rhod against us in pairs. Apparently Rhod handed over to Drew a couple of metres up but he couldn't protect the lead that well so Ally got to the wall at the same time as he did, we weren't too bothered so we called it a dead heat.
Then later on it was girl/boy, girl/boy, girl/girl relay and neither me and Bernie nor Drew & Maddy could compete with Rhod and Ally. One by one we got bored and sat on the side until we all agreed we had enough.
While we ate in the cafeteria Bernie borrowed Drew's phone to book her mum's taxi service. We weren't getting picked up until 2.30 so that gave us almost two and a half hours to kill.
So like any group of girls outnumbering the boys two to one we did our duty and dragged them round the shops. They did put up a weak protest but I think they knew better than to make too much fuss. Drew and Rhod hung back a little in the street, that's fine by me, don't want them to cramp our style. Although with Mad and Ally in the thick of it you would have thought they would have wanted to pick up ideas for potential presents.
I think Rhod decided he was neglecting his girlfriend a little when she appointed herself as my personal shopper. I guess she thought that I needed a bit of a restyle, I like her taste in the clothes she's picked which is just as well as I'm the one that's trying them on. Drew seemed to have wised up too and was paying more attention to the stuff that Maddy was looking at, either that or he fancied another outing as Gaby and didn't want to say anything yet.
We noticed the time and headed back to the bus station to find our ride was waiting. There was still plenty of time when we got back to Bernie's so they let me hang around for a while.
Rhod mentioned something that happened while he and Drew were hanging back, looks like Drew had wanted to forget it. No such luck, he had to suffer it all over again and I got to find out about Sarah from the shoe shop who thinks that he's a girl.
"Drew I don't know how you do it. I'd just die if anyone thought I was a boy." I said and tried to disguise my smile.
"Like that would happen." said Bernie.
Mad and Drew started giggling, it was infectious, I started too.
"What's up with you two, no three. What did I say?"
That just made us laugh harder, that contagious kind which infected Ally next and even Bernie couldn't resist. By the time we'd all recovered the others had forgotten what had started it off. The three of us hadn't though.
I did feel a little guilty having a secret that I couldn't share with Rhod, Ally and Bernie and making Drew and Maddy keep it to themselves but they had no need to know right now.
Wow, that hour went quickly, it was already time for the gang to meet the Americans off their bus. That meant no time for Drew to sort out the stuff he had mentioned when we went swimming. Maybe later.
I didn't think I would see anything of Drew or Maddy today so I'd made my own plans. I was in ‘my' room when I heard the doorbell ringing but it wasn't like I was expecting anyone so I carried on sorting things out. I could hear most of what was being said though.
Mum said "Hello?"
"Hi I'm Drew, I was looking for Cat, I have got the right house?" The visitor replied.
Drew aaagh! This stuff can wait.
"Ohh so you're the mysterious Drew. Pleased to meet you." I heard mum say then she leaned inside and shouted "Catrinaaa, visitor for you. It's a nice booyy."
I said, "Oh muuum, give me a break pleeese. I'll be straight down." Then thundered down the stairs to try and oust my mum before she said anything else that I might regret.
"Oh Drew, it's you, hi."
"Hi Cat, were you expecting someone else."
"Lets see, I'm over 100 miles from home and I can count my friends here on one hand."
"Ok I get the picture." he said.
I noticed someone behind him. "Is that your exchange partner by the wall?" I said.
"Yep that's Brit."
"Hiya Brit!" I waved and Brit waved back.
"You know I said I had something for you?" Drew asked
"Yes, and that you wouldn't tell me what it was."
"Well there's a set of race wheels in our garage with your name on it. They're nothing special, but I know you'll put them to better use than just sitting there waiting for the right time."
Bike bits for me? He must have been joking, he looked serious though. “For me? Really?”
Once I had been persuaded that he wasn't kidding I did my best to show my gratitude, I hope he got that idea from the way I was the squealing and hugging him.
"Careful Cat, we're just off to Mad's, you want her to find out about us?" He joked.
I played along. "Sorry Drew, I'll try to be more discreet in future." I did my best to keep a straight face but I failed dismally and ended up using the door post to keep upright.
"Oh come on, it wasn't that funny."
"You didn't see Brit's face." I said and watched the look of panic set in. He turned round slowly.
"Cute Drew, very cute." she said.
I thanked him for the two hundredth time and finally let them leave to cycle the rest of the way to Mad's. I was still thinking of that as me, mum and Gran headed to Matlock that morning. Mum on the other hand was worried about the Heights of Abraham – cable cars just aren't her thing. She was very brave though.
This morning it's my turn to be nervous, I know I'm being silly but after everything that Drew has told me I just don't know what to expect. What am I doing? Well at Ally's recommendation I'm putting myself into the hands of Rhod's mum – Sylv.
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