Scrap 34

SCRAP 34
Scotty has been left in charge of his six children, who are running riot whilst he watches television. He barely notices that Frank has let himself in, bringing with him a tray of cream cakes.
Suddenly the room is full of excited children, all eager to get their hands on the luxuries. ‘Blimey,’ says Frank, ‘you’d think you lot had never seen a cream cake in your life. There’s plenty to go round. Who’s going to make us a nice cup of tea?’ Janet, the eldest girl, grabs a chocolate-covered doughnut and disappears to the kitchen. Scotty looks away from the screen for a moment to acknowledge his friend, then turns his attention back to the snooker game. He calls over his shoulder: ‘Hi there Frank, have you been here long?’ Frank takes a seat at the dining table. ‘Just got back from the bakery run,’ he says, ‘do you fancy one of these cakes before your kids scoff the lot?’
Scotty does not have a sweet tooth like Frank and declines. He is happy to accept the tea which Janet brings, and lights up a cigarette to go with it. The snooker game finishes and he turns the television off and joins Frank at the table. Frank has grabbed the last cake and is teasing one of the boys with it before letting the young rascal win the prize. The children then lose interest and return to their various mischief.
‘Ken was round earlier with my wages,’ says Scotty, ‘I’m sure he’s been short changing me but you know what he’s like.’ Frank agrees that Ken is a tight-wad, ‘you want to do what I do,’ he advises, ‘he won’t think any more of you for toeing the line.’ Scotty knows this is true but he has been in prison twice and does not want to risk the wrath of Khan by getting into any further trouble. She has warned him if he gets caught again it will be the finish of them, and this time she means it.
‘Anyway, did you know that Ray Cohen has bought Ace Taxis? He’s looking for drivers and my missus suggested I offer to take a few part time shifts on Saturdays. What do you reckon?’ Frank reckons that his missus is doing her best to keep Scotty away from his mates and as Saturday is the only night they can all get together he reckons the idea stinks. Scotty says he is going to give it a try anyway. Another one bites the dust then, thinks Frank.
Frank is on his way back to the caravan when he notices in his mirrors a car behind him flashing its headlamps furiously. He pulls over and stops the car. Ken stops behind him and runs up to Frank’s door. ‘Have you just come from the docks?’ he asks, red in the face for some reason. Frank puts on a look of innocence, ‘Yes, I just got back from that bakery run. Why? What’s the problem?’
Ken is obviously unhappy about something, ‘I’ve had the bakery on the blower saying there are 3 trays of cakes missing from your load.’ Frank shrugs his shoulders. ‘Nothing to do with me,’ he protests, ‘the door was sealed at the bakery and opened by the bloke at the supermarket depot. Ask them if you don’t believe me. Anyway, what would I do with 3 trays of cakes?’
To add insult to injury, Frank insists that Ken take a look in the boot of his car, knowing full well there is nothing in there. ‘Well I’ll have the keys to the truck off you anyway,’ grumbles Ken, ‘I want you on the artic tomorrow.’ Frank is happy to comply as he can make a nice profit from 40 cases of oranges and nothing at all from cakes.
They exchange keys and Ken goes on his way, muttering to himself.