Scrap 75

SCRAP 75
‘What are we going to do all day if we can’t have the bikes?’ John, the eldest at 11 years, is most put out that Uncle Frank has not kept the bikes for them, but his father points out that they have had the use of them for almost two weeks so they should show some appreciation instead of moaning. Anyway, this is the final day of the holiday and Dawn has decided they are going to spend it all together as a family. She has mapped out what they will be doing and woe betide anyone who doesn’t go along with her arrangements.
After breakfast the family troop down to the boating lake and join the queue for rowing boats. Dawn says they must get in some practice for the races which take place in the afternoon. The girls will go with her and Mavis and the boys will share a boat with their father. They will each take turns at rowing and pick the best one to row in the mother and daughter and father and son tournaments.
They don’t have to wait long for their boats, the first one for the girls, and Scotty suppresses his mirth as Mavis and Dawn struggle to get seated with the boat rocking about in the brown/green water. The young lad assisting them smiles as he helps the girls step down into the boat, giving a cheeky wink to Janet, who blushes bright red and turns away. With Dawn taking first go at the oars, the lad pushes the boat out from the bank and it moves slowly away. ‘This is harder than it looks,’ says Dawn, her co-ordination failing her as she attempts to pull the blades through the sludgy murk at the edge of the ‘moat’. ‘Here, let me show you how,’ offers Mavis, standing up as if to change places and almost capsizing the flimsy craft. She promptly sits back down and Dawn plugs on, quickly learning not to drop the blades too far into the water. After a bit of zigzagging she starts to enjoy the exercise and declares it’s easy once you get the hang of it.
Scotty and the boys have already caught up and with Scotty at the oars they pass the girls with ease, the crew shouting encouragement of sorts as they go by, making the slower boat rock in their wake. ‘Don’t show off,’ cries Mavis, ‘we can row as well as you, just you wait.’ But the boys have no intention of waiting. They are eager to take their turn at the controls and though John is the eldest, it is Jamie, two years his junior, who is the star performer. He is delighted when Scotty tells him he has won the place in this afternoon’s father and son competition and wastes no time bragging to the others.
‘You can all take part in the individual races,’ Dawn assures them. ‘Oh what joy,’ says John, who is not keen on boats anyway and would still prefer to be wheeling around on the bike. Janet will partner her mother, even though she suggested that Mavis should take the place. ‘You are mother and daughter,’ she reasons, trying to get out of the dreaded task. Dawn has made her decision and Janet is stuck with it.
‘We should be sunbathing by the pool,’ Heather moans, as she and Janet follow the others to the next planned activity. ‘I know,’ agrees her sister, ‘but you know what mum is like when she takes charge: what she says goes. We haven’t actually tried crazy golf yet, we might even enjoy it.’ Heather mirrors Janet’s doubtful look as Dawn turns and tells them to keep up.
Another queue awaits them at the equipment shed and they mooch about miserably while Dawn and Mavis prattle on about what a great time they are having. The children brighten up as Uncle Frank hoves into view and shout enthusiastically to get his attention. ‘Hello you lot,’ he greets them, ‘who’s going to beat me at crazy golf then?’ They all answer at once, insisting they will do better than he. ‘Shall we have an ice cream while we wait?’ Asks Frank, fetching a five pound note from his wallet and waving it above his head. He allows Robbie to grab it and he runs off with the rest of the gang in tow, laughing in delight. ‘Thanks a lot,’ grumbles Dawn, ‘you’ll spoil their dinner filling them up with ice cream.’ Scotty tells her not to be an old sourpuss and they shuffle forward as a few more clubs are handed out in front. ‘We’ll be here for ages at this rate,’ says Mavis.
The children return with ices for everyone and they eventually get their clubs and balls and start their round. Mavis and Dawn tee off together and once they move on to the next obstacle the others start to enjoy the game, mucking about and misbehaving, laughing at each other’s mistakes and cheating dreadfully. Nobody bothers to keep score and as soon as the women have finished, the others follow them out, happy to hand back the equipment in exchange for their chalet keys.
‘Where to next then, o great Leader?’ Mocks Scotty. Dawn scowls and checks the time on her watch. ‘If we’re quick we can have a few rides on the fairground before dinner,’ she replies, leading the way. The tired old rides creak and squeak away, the noise masked by the loud music bellowing from speakers dotted round the park. They haven’t been there long before the closing announcement is made and the assistants start packing up for the morning.
They all head back to their chalets to freshen up before lunch. Scotty and Frank manage to slope off on the way for a quick pint at the Pig and Whistle and Dawn is furious when she realises they have escaped.
Giggling like a couple of schoolboys, the pals down their first pint of bitter and take their second at a more leisurely pace, sitting back in their chairs to admire the view overlooking the Olympic size swimming pool. ‘We’ll miss this when we’re back at work next week,’ muses Scotty, then catches the mocking look on Frank’s face and they both laugh loudly at the unspoken joke.