Scrap 14

SCRAP 14
‘The trouble with yer Da,’ says Danny, ‘He didn’t keep up with the times.’
‘Really,’ says Rosa as she eases through the gathering towards the kitchen. Danny follows her, a glass in one hand a plate of food in the other. ‘What we need here is one of them new crusher machines,’ he continues.
‘Oh that’s what WE need is it?’ bristles Rosa as she noisily busies herself at the sink. Danny leans against the table and finishes eating a sandwich. He drains his whiskey glass and drops the plate and glass into the sink. ‘Will I dry for you?’ Rosa nods in the direction of the towel rail. ‘Thanks.’
Danny picks up the wet glasses, dries them meticulously and places them on a tray. ‘Yes that’s what we need in this day and age: a nice crushing machine.’
Rosa angrily rubs away at the lipstick on a glass. She knows better than to start an argument. ‘So that’s what you would get then?’ Danny is happy that she seems interested in his plans for the business. ‘Yes,’ he continues, ‘That would be a wonderful investment.’
Orla enters the room. ‘We need more glasses.’ She signals to Jason to pick up the freshly loaded tray. He has been following her around like a lost sheep. ‘Will you be staying with us awhile Danny?’ she asks. ‘I will so, if you’ll have me,’ he smiles charmingly.
Rosa shoots her mother a sideways glare, which Orla ignores. Danny may be a bit rough but he has a good head for business and they need a man about the place. ‘It would be a comfort to us,’ she says. Jason casts his eyes down and follows her out with the tray.
Danny puts down his cloth and places a hand on Rosa’s shoulder. He notices that she flinches and quickly removes it. ‘Would you like me to stay?’
‘If that’s what you want.’
‘Well I won’t just be staying for me.’
Rosa sees a line of black cars moving slowly down the lane towards the house. She solemnly dries her hands and straightens her dress. ‘They’re here,’ she says.