book 5 Gaby Title.jpg

Special *1*

Shop Alone

It wasn't often that he went anywhere alone - well training of course but that's hardly the same, no going shopping on his own was rare. As far back as he could remember he'd done stuff with his mates, back in Warsop and when they'd moved to Dernau he'd slipped easily into the same mindset. It wasn't really planned for him to be on his own today, rather it was the culmination of several separate events.

Pia had to cancel as one of the waitress's at the restaurant was off sick. Then Connie joined the no shows because her Gran was taken ill so Frau Thesing had to go to Adenau to look after her, Connie got lumbered working in the bakery. Nena wasn't coming anyway as her family were spending the weekend with her sister in Baden which left Steffi and Anna.

Anna managed to get herself grounded. You remember that she's a bit Goth like Jules? Well on Thursday she got a lip ring and her parents went ballistic! So she's been grounded for a month! And Steff, the traitor - she's gone to Bonn with Markus!

The Express hove into view and he joined a couple of other locals no doubt heading into Ahrweiler for the shops.

After all the cancellations, even Jules didn't fancy going, he'd decided to stick with the original plan and go to Koblenz. Only difference really was that he'd make it a Drew day!

The train rumbled towards the Rhein, a few people swapped places at each stop but it was fairly quiet really. The southbound train was waiting in Remagen; he had actually found a seat before it pulled out for the forty-minute ride to his destination.

It was threatening to rain when he emerged from the Bahnhof but like boy scouts a good cyclist is always prepared so he soon had his lightweight Gore-Tex® jacket out of his backpack. Crossing the road he started the walk he'd so often done with the girls, up Löhrstrasse towards the town centre and the shops. The biggest difference today was that he could spend some time in the big model shop and he could go round to MRS as well!

It didn't take long to get to the Spielwaren on Löhrstrasse; with the girls he usually got dragged straight past but today a long visit was on the cards. The rain chose his approach to absolutely hammer down so Drew dived in the first doorway. Dolls and bears! Geez, cabinet after cabinet of the flipping things.

The bigger part of the store was devoted to models of one sort or another and he was soon mooching the shelves of model kits - cars, motorbikes, planes, buildings, ships - you name it and there's a good chance it would be on these shelves! With Christmas coming up he was already on the lookout for prezzie ideas and the kit of ' Schloss Ravensburg' looked like something his Dad would appreciate. Mind you at €75 it was a bit pricey but it wasn't like he was skint.

He moved onto the other railway stuff - you could even get a model of the Ahrtal Express all lettered up like the real thing, well cool. Then it was the turn of his real objects of desire, the 1/87-scale cars! And there were just so many different ones, just looking made his head ache and picking out what to buy - this could take some time, he found an old bus ticket and started making a list.

Drew handed the chap his list, yeah the guy thought he was a girl but like its just plain embarrassing for everyone trying to explain otherwise.

"Okay so what do we have here, Wiking Veedub Eos, you want the open or closed version?"

Twenty minutes later he emerged onto the wet street having spent nearly €100 on model cars! He'd taken a rain check on the castle - after all you hardly want to cart that around all day do you? It was still raining but not as heavy so he crossed to the cinema to see what was playing this week. The gang often came here as they usually had something interesting to see, not just new releases but older stuff too. This week it looked like either Run Lola, Run or Disney's High School Musical - The Movie , not exactly a great choice for when they come on Tuesday.

Next stop MRS then. He crossed the Ring and headed up the back street where his target is situated. So okay they do sell a lot of the same but they also do a lot of specials and stuff that's not in the 'normal' shops. He took his time exploring the shops other contents before homing in on the 1/87 scale stuff.

Having already spent a bunch he restrained himself and only pulled out a further €30 worth of models. It was nearly 11.30 when he headed into the main shopping street, well chuffed with his purchases.

This was new territory! Now if he was with the gang they'd spend the next couple of hours around the various clothes and shoe shops, check out the Karstadt and the Löhr Centre, grab some lunch along the way then head home. But for the first time in like forever he was in total control.

It wasn't that he minded the gangs itinerary but it was almost entirely focused on stuff for them. Well there was no reason he couldn't do a similar thing but looking at what he wanted to.

Well he was outside Deichmann's so he headed inside. They've usually got some good bargains, and he could do with some shoes for work. Still that wouldn't stop him checking out the more garish and extreme offerings. Just who buys zebra striped boots? And more to the point wears them? Work shoes though, what should he get?

Well you know what it's like shopping for shoes - there's usually one pair you take a shine to and they never have them in your size. Well for a change Drew hit the jackpot and was soon custodian of a new pair of black pumps.

Where next? Well usually they'd go Adolf's for some lunch or maybe the Galeria. As he was spoiling himself he decided on the latter, he could check out the department store on the way up. The girls sort of did the place in a set order and he sort of went round in autopilot picking up a few bits and pieces on the way. He paid on the 3rd floor before going up to the restaurant on the top floor.

It was quite busy but he picked up some röstii, Frikadellen and veg with a slice of torte for after, paid and got a table in the no smoking zone all within ten minutes! The hot food was quickly disposed of and he sat back and decided to check out his purchases before tackling the marzipan cake.

The new models were pretty ace, Volkswagen Eos, latest Golf, a Volvo P1800 to name a few. With today's purchases his collection reached nearly 50!

He opened his shoe bag and pulled out the new footwear. 'Sugar, sugar, sugar! Why the hell did I buy these - just when did I start wearing girl's shoes? It wasn't as if they were like unisex trainers or something - nope these were definitely girls, lets face it boys just don't wear black and pink ballet pumps do they?

He decided to check everything else out; he could always change the shoes. That's when it started getting like really weird, there were new trainer socks but somehow he'd picked out some with pink trim grrr! So okay there were some tights too, those black ones with the cherries are really cute! The knickers were essential wardrobe maintenance as was the pair of bras; essential that is if you're a girl, even if it is only part time, although it was getting to the point where no chest support would be uncomfortable.

They'd decided not to put him on hormones for the time being, his cycling career would've been destroyed overnight. Instead they would review things after his next birthday, the bitch of it was that in the meantime his chest was continuing to grow. So okay he wasn't huge, but there again neither were his sister or Mum so for once small breasts were a blessing – at least for Drew! Small however doesn't necessarily equate to unobtrusive, he was currently filling 34A (86A) cup bra's quite handsomely!

A quick bag consolidation later and he headed out to continue his expedition. He wandered into H&M to look for some jeans; his best pair had started showing distinct signs of fatigue. He spotted the denim and was soon looking for his size, 26 waist with 28 leg (66cm/72cm) however the smallest he could find were 30 (76cm) waist. Surely they did smaller sizes? Disappointed he decided to have a mooch round the rest of the shop anyway. They had some nice stuff but it was more Gaby than Drew! Then he hit pay dirt – more jeans! He started rummaging on the rails, 64cm, 62cm, 68cm – oh come on they must have 66, ah yes and they're 72 leg. Past experience told him to try them on before buying at least they have individual changing rooms here, he took the 68's in as well – just in case.

“I'll take these please.” He handed the cashier the jeans, the 66's fit great still which depressingly meant he hadn't grown anywhere except on top.

The girl on the till looked bemused by his antics, “you should get a Handtasche .”

Flippin' loony, why would I want a handbag? Can't she see I'm a boy? Hmm that girl looks cute, bit like Mad. Then it dawned on him; the girl he was looking at in the mirrors above the escalator was him! Shit, shit, shit! No wonder everyone took him for a girl, even he had. Disturbed by this revelation he walked aimlessly until he found himself in the Rathaus square where he sat down on a bench, pulled his knees up and started to release the tears that had been threatening since the escalator.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been there, but the sobs had reduced to an occasional sniffle and he started to notice some discomfort from his perch. He couldn't remember much of what went through his mind except he wanted this whole nightmare to end. He wanted to be a Tour de France hero; he wanted to be like Josh, like his Dad. Instead he looked like a smaller version of his Mum – complete with breasts – not that there was anything wrong with looking like Mum – if you were a girl! Why did this have to happen to him?

She didn't look convinced, “well if you need us we're just over there ok?” she pointed across to where her colleague was stood by their car.

She left him and he checked out his surroundings, he couldn't even remember coming here. The clock on the Rathaus was showing close to two, maybe it was time to head for home. Gathering his stuff together he pulled himself into a more presentable state, found a paper hanky – eventually, and blew his nose. His eyes were a bit red and puffy but there wasn't anything to do about that really. He waved to the Polizei and headed back towards the shops – he'd have to walk through them all to get back to the Bahnhof.

There were a few spots of rain so at the crossing he dived into Bücher! At least he'd be dry and they might even have some Manga. He shuffled round the shop, without the girls he didn't have to look at cheesy calendars and diaries - or those interminable chick mags - not that they were all that bad. No without the gang he could look at the travel books and graphic novels to his hearts content.

After a while his urgency to go straight home had evaporated and he was feeling much more relaxed. By the time he got back to the checkout he'd accumulated a goodly pile of titles - one of those picture guides of something called the Romantische Straße , a new German dictionary, a copy of The Rough Guide Groß Britannien , that'll be a good joke present for Mad, and his find of the day - half a dozen Manga comics in English! Good job his bank account was pretty flush!

Back outside and with a lighter heart he headed back towards the Löhr Centre, he could check out the Saturn in there. He hadn't gone more than 50m before the skies opened up and opened up good! Shoppers were darting every which way as the wet came in not just a torrent but an absolute waterfall. By the time he'd found a temporary shelter he was soaked to the skin! It's no good having a jacket if it's under all your shopping!

The rain ceased almost as quick as it started but that wasn't his concern right now, the fact that he was wet to his knickers was however very much on his mind! Catching a chill was not high on the list of ‘to do's' for the day which right now meant getting some dry clothes. Well underwear wasn't a problem; he'd got a bag of new already after all. It was only then that he noticed which shop he was sheltering in, Pimkie . ‘Maybe I can get a plain t shirt or something in here.'

He sogged around the shop then spotted a nice looking top, blue and white stripes in a sort of pseudo sailor style. There was a whole range of stuff on the same theme; skirts, shorts, dresses and it took a bit of a search to find the right size. Fifteen euros later he headed to the public toilets in the Löhr Centre to change, they were privately run in the sort of unisex style currently in vogue.

Once in a cubicle he stripped out of the sodden stuff, ringing it out into the toilet pan and using toilet paper to dry himself off. It didn't take long to get fresh underwear on at which point it was clear that his new, dry socks would be that way for mere seconds in his sopping wet trainers. Bum! Hmm well the new pumps wouldn't be too obvious under his new jeans, yeah that'll do. First tho' t-shirt. Except it wasn't a t-shirt, oh sugar! Now what, he could put his wet stuff on and get the dress changed for the t-shirt or brass it out. A shiver decided him, the dress was pretty much the same design as the t-shirts except it was a bit more figure hugging and came to mid thigh. One thing though was that it'd look stupid with his jeans, too long to let hang and too much material to tuck in, bum, bum, bum!

By the time he emerged into the open again the sun was out and the pavements showed little evidence of the earlier downpour except a few odd puddles in the gutters. It felt odd but not in a totally weird way to be walking through Koblenz in a dress, despite the earlier angst. Back at the toy store he decided to get the castle for his Dad, after all he was heading home now. He still had to come up with a story for the rents as to why he was dressed as Gaby when he left the house as Drew.