Gaby Book 28  Balancing Trick by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2023 Madeline Bell

 
It wasn’t half three yet as I climbed off of my training steed, clamped firmly to the turbo. Sessions on the static trainer can be mind numbingly boring but sometimes they are useful, a controlled power effort like today for example. Personally I hate such structured training but Dad is quite a fan, says he can see where we all are fitness wise.

At least today was short, thirty five minutes and twenty of that was warming up and down! I draped a towel around my neck and grabbed the bidon with the remains of the electrolyte drink, intending to go upstairs to shower, however my attention was pulled to the odd bike in the rack under the stairs next to Dad and Jules’ little used steeds. I had a pang of guilt seeing it there, I promised Frank I’d give it a go but I’ve not really made a lot of effort.

Maybe I should give it a real go? It can’t hurt to have extra skillz can it? What’s she talking about I hear you ask? Well duh, the artistic cycling of course. No time like the present, I pulled the strange machine out, the tyres need some air but even I can manage that.
 
Fifteen minutes later I was outside on the concrete drive, more suitably attired and shod, well ‘ordinary’ bike gear doesn’t have the stretch and the pad, well too much information, tights and a leotard work much better. It only took three attempts to get up and stay up, I said I was a bit rusty, once there it was relatively easy to go through the basic exercises. It wasn’t elegant but I managed not to fall off, my confidence increasing with each slow circuit.

The experts do all sorts of gymnastic style stuff, handstands and stuff, bit advanced for me, maybe I can stand on the saddle? The first attempt ended in a heap of bike and me leaping clear onto the grass, a second go got me half stood, gripping the bars as if my life depended on it. Maybe a different approach then.

It was a simple solution, after a bit of fiddling I had the artistic bike on the turbo which I’d dragged outside. Cheating I know but it worked, the difficult bit wasn’t getting up onto the saddle but rather the standing up once there. I spent a few minutes perfecting the move, time to try it ‘in the wild’.

I did a few of the simpler exercises to get my confidence up then made the move I practised on the trainer. One, two, three and up! I waved my arms about a bit before committing to standing properly upright, scary or what.

Getting down is much easier, I returned my bum to the saddle and did a couple of circuits before having a second go. I certainly felt more confident this time, maybe a bit too confident, I almost lost my footing, just saving myself by grabbing the bars. Deep breath, concentrate and up, oh yeah, Bond does it again!

"Well done!”

I almost lost it, the voice surprising me but a little wobble and I was back in control, well as much as you ever are stood on the saddle of a bike.
"Er thanks.”
"Didn’t know you did deco.”
"I don’t, well not really.”
"Could’ve fooled me Gaby Bond, I can fall off a kerb.”
"The Federation suggested I do a bit for souplesse so here I am.”

I was still stood on the saddle but the bike was running out of momentum. You’ve seen gymnasts dismounting the bar or that box thing, all controlled and tidy. My dismount from the bike was something much less elegant, more a leap followed by a frantic grab for the bike.

"So, to what do we owe this visit?”
"I’ve got some news,” Misty or was she Nena again now, advised.
"What sort of news?”
"Robert called last night.”
I wracked my brains but came up wanting, "Robert?”
"The tour? BlauHase?”
It finally clicked, "Rob, what did he want?”
"He’s got me some work.”

It then occurred to me that we were still stood in the yard, me in close fitting lycra and it wasn’t that warm.

"Coffee?”
"Thought you’d never ask.”

I led the way through the basement, pausing only to park the bike and set the shutter to close.
 

"So spill,” I encouraged a few minutes later as we settled in the lounge with our coffee and some admittedly shop bought chocolate orange torte.

"You remember the gig in Rüsselheim?”
"With all the hard core Goths?”
"That’s the one,” she allowed before digging into her cake.
"Well?”
“’oment,” I was told, well if you can’t beat them, I forked up some of my own cake.

It was a convoluted tale, almost like Chinese whispers, someone at Das Rind knew someone in a band who knew someone in another band who had a regular gig at a Goth club in Frankfurt. To cut a long story short, their female singer had upped and left and they needed a replacement, Armin at Das Rind had suggested Misty, calls had been made and promises made, well you get the idea. Armin is of course the guy Mist spent the night with after the Rüsselheim gig.

"So you’re going to move to Rüsselheim?”
"Well Katzenwiege are actually from some place called Heddernheim which is somewhere north of Frankfurt, i’m going down on Saturday, Arm is gonna take me to meet the band on Sunday.“
"You’re staying with Armin?“
"Don’t sound so shocked Gab, i’m a big girl now.“
"I’m not,” I blustered, "What do your parents think?”
"Two words, the second is happy, I’ve already had one row with mum over it.”
"Don’t think my olds would be too happy.”
"Not you too Bond?”
"Hey, its your life and I’m at least partly responsible for getting you involved with the whole music scene. What if it doesn’t work out?”
"You sound like mum.”
"Its a reasonable question Nen.”
"I know but I have to give it a go, I’m not like you with lots of options, I’m thick as zwei kurze Bretter, i don’t want to spend the rest of my life waitressing and cleaning toilets or ending up a hausfrau like my mum. If it doesn’t work out this time, well i’m sure there will be other eggs in the basket.“
"You get paid if you join this band? What are you gonna live on?“
"I’ll get some part time work, maybe at das Rind.“

What could i say? The rest of my friends have careers planned, or at least some idea of what they will be doing in five, ten years time. I certainly wouldn’t say Nen is, in her words, thick as, she’s just differently able, we can’t all be rocket scientists.
 

"So you gonna dye your hair again?“
"Not sure,“ my friend allowed pulling a lock of faded orange hair around to look at, "This is a bit extreme.“

No argument there.

"Maybe something more subtle especially if this band is hard core Goth,“ i suggested.
"Might leave it until we’ve met at the weekend.“
"I thought you might've taken the piercings out.“
"Why would i do that?“
"I dunno, tired of them?“
"I’ll admit that they were a bit annoying at first but i’ve got used to them now and anyhow, i can’t take them out remember, the tops are superglued.“
"Was it actually superglue?“
"That’s what he said, a dab of Loctite® to stop the balls coming off, think it was special stuff for piercings coz it was blue.“

I’m sure the stuff Dad uses on bolts and stuff is blue.

"He definitely said superglue?“
"Well i think he actually said threadlock.“
"And you’ve not tried undoing them?“
"What’s the point?“

There was the distinct sound of the kitchen door opening followed by Manda’s voice.

"Gab?“
"In the lounge,“ i called back.
"How’re we getting to the Stube tonight? Oh hi Nen.“

Stube? Oh bugger, i forgot about that.

"Walk?“
"Best get a move on then, i need to iron my apron too, later Nen.“

And she was off.

"I should get going, let you get ready,“ Nen opined.
"Aren’t you working?“
"B team for dire emergencies, don’t think i quite fit into the Sebenschuh’s idea of German womanhood, might frighten the guests.“
"That’s a bit unfair,“ i told her, on the other hand maybe the hair and facial piercings don’t really fit with the bon hommie of a country restaurant catering to older tourists.
"I’ll live and anyway i’ll probably be moving to Frankfurt soon.“
"I guess. Let us know how it goes with the pussycats.“
"Katzenwiege,“ she corrected, "Don’t worry, i will, good luck tonight.“
"Tonight? Oh at the stube, yeah, we’ll need it, especially if its a full bus.“

"Glück!“ Nena called with a cheery wave as she set her old school bike moving in the general direction of her home.
"And you!“
 

Manda caught me as i made my way towards my eyrie.

"What’s with the leotard?“
"I was having a go with the bike gymnastics.“
"On that bike with the weird handlebars?“
"Yeah,“ i confirmed.
"Sooner you than me, what was Nena after?“
"She might be joining a band down in Frankfurt.“
"Good on her.“
"Its a big step, she’s only seventeen.“
"And? I moved out here and i was only sixteen and what about Bernie?“
"I guess,“ i concurred, "If you don’t want to walk we could take the mofas?“
"What about Con?“
"Oh right, guess we’ll walk then.“
"You want your apron doing?“
Gift horses and all that, "If you don’t mind."
"Well i’ve got to do mine so its not exactly a lot of effort.“
"I’ll go get it.“
 

Since my first introduction to wearing Kostum when i was voted Weinprinzessin back when we were newly moved to Dernau, i’ve actually got quite used to it, it can be smart enough for special occasions and practical enough for working without having an arms race to get the latest style from the boutiques. Of course we wear it for the Stube dinners because the guests like it, that’s not misogyny, Max has to wear his Kostum if he works with us.

Of course the dirndls that Helmut got us to work in are quite plain compared to my own, they are after all work wear and there’s no need, beyond a push up bra, to bother with all the traditional underpinnings. However, after a short internal debate i decided to go the whole hog, at least for tonight, first job though, shower and hair.
 

I adjusted the Unterbrusthalter to give the girls a bit more lift, i’m adequate in that department but a bit of help has been known to bring a tip or two! I already had my holdups, bloomers and underskirt on, next up the cropped blouse and finally the dirndl itself. It always seems a bit of a tangle but i eventually got arms and head through the right holes, a bit of tugging and the zip was closed, hmm, maybe i’ve put on a bit of weight.

"Here.“ Mand handed me the freshly ironed apron, "I don’t know how you do it but you always look better than the rest of us in the same frock.“
"Must be in the genes.“
"I suppose you want your hair doing?“
"Pretty please?“
"Sit down then,“ she sighed, "Then we’d best get off, it’s nearly six already.“
"Sugar!“ Where did the afternoon go?
 

Mand was just finishing off my pretzels when my Rents came in.

"I told you they were at the Stube tonight Dave,“ Mum stated.
"I was sure you said it was next week,“ Dad moaned.
"It was when i told you last week,“ i pointed out.
"Looks like you’re cooking then luv.“
"You could do it for a change,“ Mum snapped back.
"Or we could get something in,“ Dad hurriedly suggested.
Mum just sighed, "I’ll do it, i swear you’d live on takeaways if you could.“
"And your point?“
"Well we’re off,“ i interjected.
"What time are you back?“ Dad enquired.
"We should be done about ten, maybe half to?“
"Let us know if you are going to be later,“ Mum instructed.
"We will,“ Mand told her, "Come on Gabs, we’re gonna be late.“
 

"You’re late.“ Con mentioned when we reached the end of the drive where she had been waiting.
"Not much.“
"The parental units got in just as we were about to come out,“ Mand noted.
"Yeah i saw them turn in.“
"So you were late too then,“ i accused.
"Never claimed not to be.“
"Thesing!“ i groaned.
 
It’s not far to the Stube, ten minutes if you are in a rush, twenty if you aren’t, this evening we’re between the two, the quick end of hurry.

"Nen came down earlier,“ i told my BFF.
"Oh?“
"Looks like she’ll be leaving the Ahrtal.“
"Leaving? Why?“
"There’s a chance for her to join a band down in Frankfurt, she’s going for an audition this weekend.“
"Good on her,“ Con replied, "I don’t think she’s ever been herself since Claudia passed.“
"That was her sister?“ Mand queried.
"Yeah, they were pretty close,“ Con told her, "I suppose it was inevitable the Angels would eventually split up, just never figured it would be Nen to go first.“
"Think the BlauHase tour turned her head,“ i agreed.
"And her hair,“ Mand sniggered.
"Claud was a bit wild,“ Con allowed, "Remember when she dyed your hair blue Gab?“
"How could i forget, i got some right grief over that.“
"But you looked so cu…“
"Don’t you dare Constance Thesing.“
"But you did, like a little Smurf,“ she told the neighbourhood.

Of course, that had de Vreen in raptures.

"We’ll have to have a leaving party,"Con enthused.
"Maybe wait until we know she’s going?“ i counter suggested.
"You’re probably right.“
 

"Good, you’re here,“ Helmut offered by way of greeting five minutes later.
"Present and correct,“ Pia told her father.
"Its the same set up as last year, welcome drink when they get here, quick tour of the cellars then back for the meal,“ Helmut told us, "Gaby, if you can do the welcome drinks, Ingrid’s pouring them now, the rest of you do the coats please.“

That’s good, when you are my size a pile of coats quickly gets a bit heavy, i think my talents lie at the sharper end of customer service, trust me, i’m a management trainee.

"Do we know how many?“ i asked.
"Forty seven, nearly a full bus so it’ll be busy.“
"Could we try doing the serving a bit different,“ i asked.
"What have you in mind Gaby?“
"Well instead of all of us going at it table by table, we could each have say a dozen covers that we are responsible for, everyone should get their food a bit quicker and it’ll be easier if there are any specials.“
"What about drinks?“
"We can go round before the soup and give the orders to you and Ingrid, if we time it right we can get them delivered before we start the food.“
"This from your college work?“
"A bit, i’ve been watching how other places do stuff for a project. Try it tonight, if it doesn’t work we can go back to usual next week.“
"Worth a try i guess, everyone okay with that?“ silence was the loud reply, "Okay, i’ll leave that with Gaby to sort out as she’s the expert. That sounds like the bus now, places please.“
 
Maddy Bell © 15.06.2023