Gaby Book 28 ~ Balancing Trick ~ Chapter *18*

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

 
I was right about the food, the distinctive aroma of homemade bolognese sauce pervaded the air within Schloss Bond, when, still a bit breathless, we rattled up into the house.

"That was cheating Bond,” Mand called after me.
"Was not,” I replied as I dropped my shoes into the cloak room.
"Just putting the pasta on, dinner in twenty,” Mum called from the kitchen.
“’kay!”
"I still think its cheating,” Mand rumbled on as we headed upstairs.

Okay, maybe jumping the curb to get past that car was a bit edgy but it was that or slow to a stop. Yeah I know we were supposed to be taking it steady down from Insul but she shouldn’t’ve called me slow! Instead of an easy ride home it turned into a regular high speed chase, especially once we were through Altenahr.

And as for the supposedly loose handlebars, I’ll eat my bra before I believe that.
 
Mum had done a ‘rustic’ bolognese, identifiable lumps of tomato, onion, mushrooms and pepper in a meat sauce that’d stick to your ribs. It doesn’t suit everyone, if we have company we usually do a more genteel variation but I certainly prefer the chunkier version I ladled over my spaghetti this evening.

"So come on, what’s the big secret?” I asked, ladling more Parmesan over my food.
"After we’ve eaten,” Dad told us – again.
"Spoilsport,” I mumped.
"So how was the ride?” Mum enquired.

Well obviously we had to go over Mand’s motorbike incident, which turned into a discussion about the mental capabilities of Motorradfahrer, particularly around the Eifel. Lets just say that they did not come out well, we’ve all had incidents, sometimes shared, and whilst i’m sure there are some well behaved riders out there, most seem quite willing to put their own and others lives at risk for no discernable reason. Okay, i, we might take a risk or two on our bikes but the consequences are usually much less – for starters we are going slower and we always come off second best in any accident.

We finished eating and Mand started the clear up.

"Leave that, it’ll wait,“ Dad instructed, "Lets go sit down.“

Hmm, looks like the big reveal. Everyone adjourned to the living room and took our usual seats, well apart from Dad who pulled a dining chair through so he could face us rather than the telly.

"Right,“ he started, "The reason we’ve been putting this discussion off is that we wanted to talk to other people and get some things sort of in place before going public so to speak.“
"None of this is to be spread about girls,“ Mum instructed, "Not until the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed.“
"Sure,“ i agreed.
"Uh huh,“ Mand added.
"You’re obviously aware that George has been ill, still is in fact,“ Dad sent on. "Without going into details, the doctors have pretty much insisted that he pass on the reigns of Team Apollinaris’s running with pretty much immediate effect.“
"So you’ll be doing that? What about the juniors?“ i interrupted.
"Dave?“ Mum gave Pater a look before continuing, "Nothing is finalised but the current position is that Maria will come back as DS on a temporary basis, your father will be sharing those duties, taking over for the multiday events and campaigns. Its only a stop gap solution, there are already feelers out for a full time DS but it could be a while before its settled.“
"As regards the junior team,“ Dad followed seamlessly on, "I’m staying as DS for now, we’ll be sorting out a substitute as needed. We know its not ideal but we want to get this right, we can’t rely on Dieter or anyone else's good will, that’s not fair to anyone. There are no plans at the moment to close either team, our sponsors are aware of the situation and are fully behind us, you all, both squads, are successful and they are keen to build on that.“

We sat in silence for a moment or two.

"So who’s in the frame?” I asked.
"Like I said,” Mum replied, "Names have been mentioned but it would be unfair to name names at this point, when we know more, you will.”
"Can we tell the others?” Mand queried.
"Already done,” Dad told us.
"So we’re the last to know?”
"Only because you were out riding, I spoke to the others whilst you were battling the Eifel’s roads,” Dad advised.
"This weekend?”
"Business as usual, washing up?”
 

Of course, whilst the news, at least in part, wasn’t entirely unexpected, the Rents explanation threw up more questions than it answered. Obviously the continued existence of Team Apollinaris is a good thing for everyone but who will fill George’s boots in the long run? Dad? Maria? Or someone else and if it is someone else, who? I couldn’t think of anyone obvious, I don’t think Maria will want it, last I heard she was keen on starting an artisan vineyard but I guess the two aren’t mutually exclusive.

And then there’s George himself without whom my life, indeed the whole of my families lives wouldn’t be the same. We wouldn’t have moved to Germany, Jules wouldn’t have met Boris – well the list is endless. I’m sure my medical issues would’ve been sorted out but would I still have become Weltmeisterin?

Yep, as a family we owe George a lot, I guess now its pay back time.
 

"You’re looking a bit distracted today Gabrielle,” Lisbet opined at the end of the tutorial.
"Sorry, lots of stuff going on.”
"Coffee and an ear?”
I didn’t hesitate, "Sure.”

Ten minutes later I was gratefully sipping a cup of my lecturers finest Arabico.

"So, what has you so serious this morning? The band? Surely not your coursework?”
I let out a sigh, "Neither, I told you about George, the boss of the cycling team being ill?”
"Your father was filling in yes?”
"Uh huh, well it turns out its more serious than they thought, the doctors have told him to retire basically.”
"That doesn’t sound good, your father is stepping up permanently?”
"Kinda, sort of sharing the job with Maria, she was a rider but retired before this season.”
"How does that affect your riding?”
I took another sip of my coffee, "It doesn’t directly, Dad’s still in charge of the juniors, at least until they sort out a new DS on a permanent basis.”
"DS?”
"Sorry, like a manager and coach all rolled into one.”
"And you are worried for the future?”
"A little, who wouldn’t be.”
"There’s more?”
"Well yeah. Without George Mum’d still be teaching geography, Dad would be selling timber and me, who knows, we certainly wouldn’t have ended up living in the Eifel so I guess we all kind of owe George big style.”
"That’s the way of life, one decision can change so much for so many.”
"I just feel that we should do something for him.”
"You have something in mind?”
"That’s just it, I’ve no idea what. I guess it should be something with a legacy, I mean, a meal or concert or something like that, well its over and forgotten right?”
"He doesn’t sound like someone who is in it for personal glory, maybe he’d like a meal? Have you asked your parents what they think?”
"Not yet, thought I’d get some ideas first.”
"Some sort of charity event? You seem quite good at that,” she suggested.
"Maybe,” I allowed, "Whatever it is, it should give a nod to his input to cycling.”
"Some sort of ride?”
"They take a lot of organising, marshals and safety and everything.”

Which is when I had a lightbulb moment.

"I think I’ve got it, thanks for the coffee, see you tomorrow.”
"Glad to be of help, tschuss.”
 

"That looks very involved,” Max opined after a peck on the cheek in greeting.
"Er yeah,” I agreed as he sat on the bench beside me to wait for the Rheintal to travel back home. I’ve been scribbling ideas down all afternoon instead of writing the essay I was supposed to be concentrating on.
"Question, do you think people would support a charity bike ride and two, would you be up for helping?”
"That’s two questions.”
"Stop nitpicking, just answer.”
"Okay, okay, I guess it depends on the specifics but probably, what have you got in mind?”
"Some health charity probably and something lots of people can be involved with and you didn’t answer the second question.”
"Can’t see why not on both counts, what’s brought this on?”
"Well you remember George, the boss of the bike teams?”
"About so high and balding? Nope.”
"I’m serious Max.”
"Okay, George.”
"Well he’s having to retire? And well, I thought it would be nice to do something for him, my family owe him a lot, we certainly wouldn’t have moved to Germany without him.”
"Whoa, I don’t need more convincing, so this is like a memorial event?”
"Without him dying first.”
"Obviously.”
"So when is this grand event gonna take place?”
"Not sure yet, I need to speak to some people and the Rents of course.”
"Now that’s settled, gis a kiss.”
 

"Its a nice sentiment,” Dad told me when I explained my idea, "Before you get too carried away though, we should run it past George, he might not want to have his name bandied about.”

Trust Dad to think of stuff like that.

"Tell you what, I’ll run it past him when I see him tomorrow, If he’s up for it we’ll look into things a bit more, I’m sure we can call in a few favours and expertise.”

Dad was working on my race bike, in the workstand devoid of wheels, getting it ready for the weekend, it’s been sat in the case since Sunday, complete with flat tyre.

"Da-ad?”
"Gab-ee.”
"What’re the chances of handlebars coming loose?”
"Almost nil if they’ve been tightened properly, what’s brought this on?
"You know yesterday?”
"I was briefly acquainted.”
"Well when we sprinted for the Insul sign, Mand sat up and said her bars had moved. I know they got knocked when she landed in the ditch bit its unlikely right?”
"Unlikely but not impossible, I take it this sprint was soon after the tumble?”
"That’s just it, it was like fifty kilometres after.”
"Did you see them twisted?”
"No, by the time I got back to her she’d already got it sorted.”
"Hmm, I think you were had there kiddo.”
"I’ll get my revenge, so how’s the bike?”

If you remember, my race bike is something a bit special, Pinarello Dogma with a fancy paint job, a sort of white pearl that looks sort of gold from some angles, Campag Super Record groupset, a proper bling machine as befits my status. She says.

"Looks like you picked up a few scratches at the weekend.”
"I was really careful, honest.”
"It’s meant to be ridden kiddo, they’ll probably polish out. Your back wheel however, that bit of flat tyre riding didn’t do it a lot of good.”
"Sorry,” I sighed.
"You took a couple of chunks out of the edge, it’s fixable but I’ll see if I can get you a new rim, just in case.”
"Thanks Daddy.”
"So what’s for dinner?”

Yeah, my turn to cook, again.

"Not sure, have to see what Mum got at the butchers.”
 

We were in luck, Mum had secured a couple of dozen links of ‘English’ sausages, one of the butchers in Ahrweiler produces a batch maybe once a week, there’s just enough demand to make it viable even if they are like five euros a kilo! Anyhow, the good news was we had some and Toad in the Hole is simple enough to make once you have the key ingredients. Of course you can make it with bratwürst or any sausage really but its not the same, not by a mile.

I know I sometimes complain but I don’t get called on for many chores so cooking dinner is fair exchange. I actually quite enjoy it, I might have said before, there’s something quite satisfying seeing others enjoying what you’ve prepared. The one thing I do hate is peeling potatoes, and as we’re having mash tonight, they have to be de-skinned.

"Sausage and mash?” Mum guessed when she got in.
"Toad.”
"Even better, you want anything doing?”
"Taters?”
"Go on, one day someone will invent skinless potatoes.”
"In our dreams,” I agreed.

There are some things that just seem to work better than others, for example, white cabbage with sausage and mash but its peas and carrots with Toad.

"What’re we having with it?” Mum enquired from the sink, "I got a cauliflower the other day.”
"I was thinking peas and carrots?”
"Okay.”
"Suppose some cauliflower cheese might be easy enough, nearly get our five a day in,” I joked.
"There might be some cheese sauce in the fridge.”

There wasn’t but a white sauce is easy and a goodly handful of grated cheddar style cheese, et voila. The dish was already warming in the oven, as soon as the veg was in the steamer, batter and sausages were added and dinner was on its way. Okay, I cheated on the gravy, Lidl do a quite passable instant sauce, add a chopped onion and Bob’s yer uncle.
 

"So what do we owe this feast to?” Dad enquired.
"Nothing in particular.”
"I’m supposed to believe that?”
"Its the truth.”

Okay so the addition of some roast taters, well the oven was already on, was perhaps a bit overboard for midweek and somehow some green beans got in the pot too.

"Leave the girl alone Dave, you haven’t had to cook it,” Mum told him.
"I’ll be washing up though,” he mumbled, "Don’t suppose there’s dessert?”
"Really, Dave.”
"Er rice pudding?”

Look, like I said before, the oven was on and we needed to use up some milk. Mand nearly sprayed the table before starting a coughing fit. I had thought about jam roly poly but I couldn’t find any suet, its just not the same with ordinary pastry.

"You’ll cook us out of house and home at this rate kiddo.”
"Sorry Mum.”
"Don’t be sorry, just maybe a bit less grandiose?”
"Yes Mum.”
 

"Have you said anything to your mum?” Dad asked in the interval between courses – well you have to let one lot go down before the next.
"Said anything about what?” Mum prompted.
"Your daughter has come up with an idea, to, well I’m not sure exactly, thank George for, well what he’s done with the team I guess.”
"So what is this idea oh daughter of mine?”
"Well, I was thinking earlier that we, i, could put on some sort of charity ride in his honour as a sort of thank you to him and raise some money for charity at the same time.”
"A very laudable idea, bit ambitious don’t you think? Dave?”
"I think its a great idea but like I told Gabs earlier we should get George’s agreement before we go any further.”
"I’m sure lots of people will help,” I suggested, "As its for charity.”
"Possibly, I’m with your father, we should talk to George.”
"I said I’d broach the subject when I see him tomorrow,” Dad mentioned.
"Good idea, I’ll sound out the girls on tomorrows ride,” Mum told us.
"Changing the subject,” Dad addressed me, ”so this rice pud ready then?”
"Da-ad!”
"I’ll make some tea shall I?” Mand suggested, "We’ll need something to wash this lot down.”

Maybe they’re right, the way to a man’s heart truly is via his stomach!
 
Maddy Bell © 15.06.2023