Scrap 60

SCRAP 60
As soon as they are through the gateway at the holiday camp the children spring from the cars and rush off in search of adventure, ignoring the shouts from their parents and grandmother. ‘Let them be,’ says Frank, ‘they’ll come back soon enough and it will take an hour or more to book us in. Look at the queue.’ Dawn groans as she sees the line of tetchy holidaymakers stretching from the book-in desk, across the hall and out the door. She leads the way to the tail end and they prepare for a long wait.
Scotty’s suggestion that he and Frank go in search of the children while Dawn and Mavis check everyone in is met with a better suggestion from Dawn. Scotty and Frank are left standing as the women make a hasty exit in the direction of the Hawaiian Ballroom. ‘That got rid of them,’ grins Scotty, ‘they can’t complain later when it’s our turn to slope off.’
Eventually the men reach the front of the line and complete the book-in details. Armed with maps and keys to their chalets they drive to the nearest parking area and start unloading the luggage. The catch on the dodgy suitcase gives way just as they reach Scotty’s chalet and they scoop up the contents and chuck them onto the first bed they come to.
Frank’s single room is at the end of the row, some distance from his pal’s. It smells rather damp and with its thin bed covers and worn-out furniture does not feel particularly inviting. Good thing he only has to sleep in it; he’s slept in worse places. He unpacks his bags and carefully puts his clothes in the cupboards. He is glad he thought to bring his own pillow and thick blanket; he’ll certainly need them.
Scotty taps on the door and ducks his head in. ‘Ready for a pint?’ Frank is very much ready for a pint and the two of them walk briskly in the direction of the Hawaiian Ballroom, looking around them as they go to get their bearings. The rows of wooden chalets have long seen better days and are probably being held together by the yearly lick of brightly coloured paint they are smeared with every spring. The grey skies promise an imminent downpour; typical English summer weather, which is why Dawn wanted to come to a place where there is always something to do out of the rain.
They reach their destination just as the heavens open and within minutes the vast space is filled with campers, eager to get indoors. The men buy four pints of bitter and two whisky chasers, several packets of crisps and salted nuts and look around for the women. Dawn has been standing up on her chair waving and shouting out ever since they arrived but they haven’t seen her so she gives up and comes over. ‘Thanks a lot,’ she moans, ‘you could have bought me and mum a drink. Now I’ll have to queue up again.’ Scotty gives a half-hearted apology and reluctantly they join Mavis at the table she has been saving for them. ‘Didn’t you hear our Dawn calling to you?’ she asks. ‘Look at that queue; I see you got yourselves a few drinks.’ Scotty gives Frank a sly wink and they raise their glasses in salute. ‘Happy hols pal.’
The children finally track them down and stand, shivering in their thin clothes, soaked to the skin. The adults finish their drinks and lead the way to the chalets where everyone can get changed and drape their sodden clothes wherever they can. The loudspeaker crackles into life outside Frank’s chalet and a Scottish woman’s voice announces that lunch is now being served. The stampede begins and within a short space of time hundreds of ravenous holidaymakers are sitting steaming in their damp macs waiting to be served.
The Stewarts have a table all to themselves but make room for Frank, who for some reason has been allocated a seat several rows away. The waitress is not happy about the move but Frank is a big man and she can’t be bothered to make a fuss.
The camp entertainers drift in, stopping here and there to greet the campers, making a huge fuss over their regular visitors and generally ingratiating themselves with the latest intake. This first meeting is crucial in their plans to gather as much in the way of presents at the end of the holidays as they can. Pete is the designated entertainer for Scotty’s row and smiles as broadly as he can as he introduces himself. It is his turn to have a birthday this week and he is determined to get a bigger haul of presents than he got last time. Some campers can be downright mean. As he moves on to the next table Dawn, whose face has slightly flushed, comments on what a nice man he is. She notices also that 14 year old Janet seems a little flustered. Heather, who has just turned 13, digs her in the ribs and giggles over some private joke and Janet gives her a shove in return. ‘That’s enough you two,’ warns Dawn, ‘we are on holiday and we are here to have a good time.’