"You must be Maddy and Drew, I'm Maggie Turner, Anie-frid's Mother"

"Anie-frid! Your friends are here; come in, come in."

"Hi Maddy Hi Drew." Freddie swung into the living room on crutches.

Well that answered one question. The surprise was seeing her in a skirt, blue denim and a dark blue sweatshirt.

Fred chuckled at my expression.

I only wear skirts at home Drew, it saves wear and tear on my jeans or trousers."

"I'm not with you."

"My leg braces wear them out from the inside. I don't like people staring at them all the time."

Shit, the last thing I wanted was to upset her but I had to know more.

"Er. What exactly do they do?" jumping in with both feet.

"They stop my knees from twisting, you see there are tendons that run behind the knee that cross over. Mine are damaged and too slack, if I don't wear them my lower leg drops and can twist. That would tear the cartilage normally. But there's not much cartilage left in mine." She added.

I could feel my toes curling hard in my shoes, that was definitely too much information, and I was desperately trying not to show it on my face.

"But you can, I mean you are, standing..."

"Well Duh, that's what they're for, the braces take my weight not my knees."

I didn't want to ask the important question after that, I felt I was pushing my luck. Mad came to the rescue.

"Cool. So they unlock or something when you want to sit?"

"Yea that's it." Fred powered up the 'Xbox' and she proceeded to wipe Mad and me of the Toca circuit, even when I selected my favourite 'Impreza', I couldn't get near her.

Still I had what I needed after seeing her sitting on the low stool. Ok, she struggled to get down and spent most of the time with her legs stretched, but she could bend her knees over quite a range.

"So what plans have you got for Sunday?" I asked.

"Well I won't be at the tourney, so I'll probably just finish up a couple of projects, come see."

Fred led the way to her room; wow it was spotless, bare walls tidy bed, except for a table in the corner.

"That's my mucky table." Explained Fred, I can leave things out on that as long as I keep the rest of the room tidy.

"Dad redecorated for me last month, I had sports posters everywhere, Dad threw them out while I was at school.

I threw a right wobbly, he, he, I made him go through the rubbish to try and save them, but there was only one not torn, it's too wrinkled to put up but I kept it anyway."

"I'm making arrows to hang on the wall" Fred held up one of them.

"This is a 'Bodkin' it would go through 'Chain-mail'." I looked closer, the head was an evil looking needlepoint.

"This ones a 'Blunt'."

"Is that so it doesn't hurt anyone?" Asked Mad.

"Huh... Oh I see what you mean. No this will stop a horse."

"What?" I gasped.

"Getting hit by one of these would be like getting hit by a sledgehammer, it won't go through armour but it's enough to unseat a horseman or kill his horse, it would shatter any bone it hit."

"Poor horse," said Maddy.

"Poor anything it hits really, but then I'm not that fond of horses these days; bloody stupid animals..."

"Er, So what was the poster you saved?" Mad, like me wanted to change the subject.

"Oh it's under that pile of books, I was trying to flatten it out; it's not really a poster its just a picture out of a cycling magazine." She pulled a folder from beneath the books and gave it to Maddy.

"I'd only just put it up when Dad decided to redecorate."

There was a whoop from Maddy as she dissolved into laughter, rolling on the bed.

I picked up the folder and started to chuckle myself when I saw the picture.

"What... Well I think she's cool." Huffed Freddie.

"I'm sorry we're not laughing at you, it's just that that's my Mum."

"Now you're taking the piss."

"ANIE-FRID! You're spending far too much time at that Barracks with your Father."

"Sorry Mum, look." Fred handed the picture to Mrs T.

"Yes, well I've tried ironing it, there's not much I can do I'm afraid."

"No Mum, it's Drew's Mum, don't you see?"

"Oh, I see you're Drew Bond, do you ride as well?" That set Maddy off again.

"That's like asking if a fish swim's." she chuckled.

"I just came to see if you wanted any snacks Anie?"

"That would be great, thanks Mum."

"I'll give you a hand Mrs Turner."

"Thank you Drew."

"Actually Mrs turner, I wanted to ask you something," I said once we were in the kitchen.

"Oh and what is that Drew?"

"Um, I'd like to take Anie-frid for a ride tomorrow."

"You mean to watch you race or something?"

"No Mrs Turner, I think she'll enjoy an outing on the tandem. But I need you to say yes before I tell Anie-frid

I outlined my plan describing the mods to the tandem to Mrs T, hoping I sounded quietly confident.

"And you think you can do this?"

"I know Freddie was keen on riding, so this would sort of take her mind off the tournament."

"I'll need to see this before I can say yes Drew. If you can show me you can handle it well enough on the estate then I'll think about it tonight, alright." I nodded, grinning to myself.

"It'll be dark in an hour, I'd better get the bike now."

"Alright Drew, I'll be about ten minutes with the food, is that enough time to get back?"

"Plenty." I was already moving through the door.

All I could think about as I jogged back home was making this work. I still wasn't certain Fred could even get on the tandem. The possibility that she might not want to ride never crossed my mind.

In my rush to get back to Fred's place, I clipped the kerb as I turned into the drive. Shit, I hope Mrs T didn't see that. I parked up at the back door and went in.

"Just in time Drew." Mrs T was spooning poached eggs onto plates already laden with beans on toast. I wasn't going to need much dinner tonight.

"Ready Girls." Mrs T called "Wait till after tea before you tell her, Ok."

"Yes Mrs Turner."

There was a bang as Fred pushed open the door with her crutch

"Mum we were expecting snacks not a mini meal"

"Well its not far off teatime, and we didn't have much lunch." Mrs T chuckled.

Ten minutes later, the dishes in the sink and happy smiles all round. I said.

"Fred I've got something to show you but you might want to change into jeans first."

"Why, What is it?"

"Its outside and you're not going out without something warmer than that skirt Anie."

"Drew, Maddy? What's going on."

"Go and change and you'll see Anie-frid."

Fred gave us a 'fishy' look but got up and went to change.

"I'll have to help her get her jeans on, or it'll be dark before she manages it."

I gave a shudder as she left, that last comment; it really shook me. I was more determined than ever to make this work.

"I take it you went to get the bike." I nodded; Maddy chuckled.

"And there was me thinking your cooking skills had improved."

"I can poach eggs." I huffed.

"At the same time as warming beans Drew?"

"Hey that's not fair, I only burnt the toast once. You've never done that of course."

We were both laughing when Freddie returned.

"Well at least some people are happy." She whinged. "I hope this was worth the struggle I've just had to get into these things."

"Well that will be up to you, but I think you'll think it's worth a bit of effort. It might not work, but I'm willing to try if you are."

"Try what Drew?"

It's outside come on.

I wheeled the tandem out.

"Do you think you can get on this?"

"Piece of cake." She handed the crutches to her Mum, then thought better of it and kept one. Without using it Freddie clumped her way to the bike by rolling her hips and swinging her legs out. Twisting back toward us she batted her eyelashes and in a passable Sean Connery voice said.

"Shexy walk eh. Just call me Shnake hips."

"More like John Wayne." Said Maddy.

"Yeah, with a carrot up his.... Nose."

"Anie-frid!!"

"What?"

"You know perfectly well "What", Behave or I might change my mind about this."

Her face was a picture of innocence as she carefully positioned herself next to the saddle; she tilted the bike towards herself.

I still can't believe what happened next, she seemed to bend forward and rotate her hips at the same time she swung her leg over the saddle, Freddie paused then pulled the bike sideways until the saddle was at her crotch.

Balanced on one leg, the other dangling on the other side of the bike, she held the crutch near her foot and yelled.

"Don't just stand there, get on girl."

"Not yet I want to see you get off as well. And I told you I'm not..."

"Yeah and I'm a Dutchman. " Fred grumped but managed the dismount using the crutch to steady herself while I moved the tandem forward.

I took the Pilot seat, looking far more awkward than Freddie had, and Freddie remounted.

Fred used the crutch to help push the bike upright, then Maddy helped guide Fred's feet to the footrests, and took the crutch.

"Well "Fred-Van-Dam" If your ready?"

Fred's eyebrows went up and for the first time she looked a bit nervous. Maybe Dad was right.

"Try and lock your elbows until we get going I don't want you wobbling about.

If you were pedalling you'd be following me, out of the saddle for the start, but as you can't, well I'll just take it steady and we'll see what happens.

"Have you ridden pillion on a motorcycle?"

"Yes"

"Ok. Once we get going it'll be a bit like that and you can relax, but while we're going slow stay vertical and it'll be fine, right?"

All I got in reply was a visible gulp as Freddie nodded. Yeah Dad was right, there was no way Fred was going to back down now.

I glanced at her Mum, she gave a cautious smile, Maddy gave a thumb's up as I pushed off and coasted down the drive.

Two minutes later the first problem showed up when Fred's foot slipped off the footrest.

I wobbled a bit as I felt her struggle to find the rest again, so I coasted to a stop at her drive.

"It's alright Drew, I've got it."

I pushed off again, but the same thing happened twice more before I decided it was getting too dark to continue.

I just decided that this was going to be the last run when Freddie let out a squeal. Thinking that her foot had slipped again I stopped and looked back.

"Look Drew, it's my Dad!" I couldn't decide if that was good or bad as I saw a car pull onto her drive. Fred didn't seem concerned as she said.

"Let's show him."

I pushed off again and did a last circuit of the cul-de-sac. Fred whooping all the way, pulling onto her drive just as Fred's foot slipped again; perfect timing, I thought.

"Whatcha think Dad? Isn't it great?"

Oh great, the one manoeuvre I hadn't given any thought to, Dismounting, and now we had a bigger audience than ever.

"Left side Drew!" Maddy called, as she came to us with the crutch. It must have been Fred's left foot that had slipped this time.

I'd just got my foot planted when I felt the air move against the back of my neck.

"Careful! You nearly took Drew's head off then." Mad said.

"Sorry, lean a bit more drew."

I obliged and heard the scrape as Fred's foot planted as well. This was awkward I couldn't see what was happening; Fred was in charge for this part.

I heard the crutch rattle and a second later Fred said.

"Ok Drew, Wheel the bike forward."

When I could look back I wished I'd had a camera, Fred was balanced on one foot and the crutch, her left leg straight out looking as though she was auditioning for a part in 'Matrix 3', look out Keanu Reeves.

"Watcha think Dad wasn't that cool?

As Freddie mugged her Dad I parked the bike, Maddy came over and gave me a squeeze then pointed at the footrest.

Shit!!! I could see now why Fred kept slipping. It just wasn't up to the job and had bent down, I realised it was only supposed to take the weight of a small child.

Fred clomped over while her Dad and Mum talked at the kitchen door.

"Wow Drew that was just awesome, can we do it again? Please please? Like maybe tomorrow? Can we?"

"I'm sorry Fred." As I pointed to the rest.

"Argh No!" Fred wailed

"What's up Freddie?" Her Dad asked as he came over.

"We can't ride again Dad the bikes broke."

"Not really surprised are you, it's a bit of a bodge isn't it." Mr T snorted

"That's not fair dad. Drew did a lot of work so's I could ride today. Any way, not everything has to be built like those 'Tanks' you keep denting."

"I knock the dents out of them Freddie and you know it. Still I think I can sort this, if I take it back to the workshops, can you leave it overnight Drew?"

"I can't Mr Turner, Dad will kill me, he told me not to let it out of my sight."

"What if I speak to him?"

"He's still at work, I could ring him though."

"Come on then, we'll have to be quick I'm due back soon I'm 'duty dog' tonight.

As I followed him into the house, I asked him,

"Erm don't take this wrong, but I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic about this."

"I must confess it was a bit of a shock, I never expected to see Anie-frid on a bike again. Thankyou Drew."

I just stood with my mouth open, I was expecting him to be worried but here he was thanking me.

"So what's the number Drew?"

I called Dad and caught him as he was leaving the yard.

"What's up Drew? Did the ride go Ok?"

"Not really Dad, the footrest collapsed. Mr Turner say's he can fix it but he needs to take the bike to the barracks. Hang on he's right here."

I could hear the usual sparring after the introductions, then:

"Sure... I'm REME and the Mech's are in for the Tankies this weekend...

No I was thinking of aluminium machined to contour with a steel platform... Yes no problem..."

Fred and Maddy had followed us in, I must have looked lost because:

"Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Drew, and the Tankies are the Household Cavalry they drive light tanks, like Scorpions and Scimitars."

"Oh." I was still not much wiser.

"...Its no problem I'll run it by the Rupert in the morning. Cheers Dave." As Mr T ended the call.

"Rupert?" I mouthed at Fred.

Freddie started giggling Mad was just as blank as I was.

"Rupert's are officers Drew, any officer is a Rupert to an O.R.

"O.R?"

"Other Ranks. They don't say that to their faces though... I'm an Army brat so I keep forgetting I speak a different language sometimes."

Mr T got on the phone again and arranged transport.

"Sorted, I'll bring it back in the morning, about 10 I expect, Ok Drew?"

"Does that mean we can ride again Drew? Please?"

"Looks like it, what do you think Maddy?"

"Ooh, I don't know, I'll have to check my diary."

"Mad you haven't got a diary."

"Yes I have, I got it for Christmas.... I've never used it though."

"Ooh you two..." Fred huffed.

I looked at her parents who both nodded so I told Fred the plan for tomorrow.

"That's over a six mile trip, are you sure Drew?"

I explained that most of my training rides were over twenty miles, even Mr. T's mouth opened at that.

"Strewth, How often do you do that?"

"As often as I can, I like to get in about 150 miles a, week especially if I'm not racing."

"These dark nights are playing havoc with my schedule" I added.

"You race?"

"Drew's 'National Champion' Mr Turner."

"I'm Impressed..." That's as far as he got as a horn tooted outside.

"That's the transport I expect, lets load the bike Drew."

We loaded the tandem between the seats of a minibus that had arrived complete with green driver.

I must have looked a bit reluctant as I handed the key to the wheel lock over.

"It's alright Drew, it wont leave the workshop without me, Don't forget I'm trusting you with a much more precious cargo tomorrow."

I nodded and relaxed, after all he'd convinced Dad on the phone, and here I was face to face with him.

He still hadn't answered my question, why did he trust me?

Waving at Mrs T and Freddie, he grinned as he got in the bus.

"10:00 Drew" He called as the bus moved off.

Mad bounced down the drive to join me for the walk home.

"Remember Fred wrap up warm tomorrow, see you around 9:30 Ok?"

Sunday the dawn chorus woke me, not really it was dad in the shower again, but I heard the crows calling to each other when I opened the window to check on the weather.

Apart from the sharp hint of a frost that blanketed the decaying leaves, there were no other clues in the pre dawn gloom.

I pulled a sweatshirt over my pyjamas and went down to put the kettle on and load the toaster.

The tea was mashing nicely as I buttered the first slice of toast, which Dad promptly nicked.

"Nice one Drew, just what I needed." I managed to keep the next slice as Dad poured the tea.

"All set for your chauffeuring job Drew?"

"I think so Dad, well, if Mr T comes up with the goods that is."

"Oh, I think that's a fairly safe bet, don't you? I mean, he's an experienced engineer, used to making quick repairs without bodging."

"I suppose so... I really screwed that up didn't I?"

"What? ... No Drew, You made all the right moves, adapted an existing piece, modified the bike, then tested it. ... Twice."

"It still broke though..."

"It failed under test Drew, that's what yesterday was, a test. In industry it's called a proving trial.

The concept was proved in the first trial with Maddy, it failed on the second with Freddie who probably put more of a load on it, but that doesn't mean you screwed up Drew. You did the best you could, given the tools and materials available. Hell if I'd designed it, I'd probably have used wood." Dad laughed.

I chuckled along with Dad, but he must have sensed something.

"Or is it something else Drew, not having second thoughts are you? This was your idea."

"It's not that Dad, I just can't get over how positive everyone is about this. I was expecting to have to work much harder on the Turners, but they seem all for it."

"I really don't know Drew. ... Perhaps a sceptic might say they'd do anything to get a day off, I don't think so though, they sound like ok people to me, so it's probably your dazzling personality Drew." which started the chuckles again

"I'd better move, I'll see you latter; don't forget to put some clothes on, it's a bit cold for pyjamas Drew."

"Very funny, you could be on the telly Dad." He gave me a hug that was more like a headlock as he ruffled my hair.

Angela Peters 29.06.04 © 2004

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