Scrap 91

SCRAP 91
Scotty is pleased that the hard-luck story was successful in finding a new home for the dog. Strange how so much foul stink can emanate from such a tiny creature. He does feel guilty about accepting the £20 the other driver gave him for it but it is a pedigree after all and he won’t be letting on to Dawn about the extra bunce.
Frank is waiting for him at the dockyard café and they order their usual huge breakfast. ‘I love this time of year,’ says Frank, ‘with all the Christmas goodies coming in.’ Scotty agrees and says he has a list of produce to put by for various members of the family. ‘We’re loading satsumas this morning so Dawn will be expecting a tray or two to come home with me.’ Frank laughs, ‘no trouble providing a few trays the way we load the lorries. We can be sure of at least 60 extras and I can swap what we don’t want for nuts and dates up at Borough.’
The breakfast is served and the pals tuck in. A group of drivers arrive and gather at the counter, joking with Ivy about the mistletoe she has pinned to the beam above her head. Some of them lean over the counter and give her a kiss, which she enjoys immensely. Bettina is almost cowering in the back kitchen trying to keep out of sight but one of the men spots her and asks if she wants a kiss under the mistletoe. She makes no reply, instead making a point of clattering some pans in the sink.
Gasper Gerry strolls in, a cigarette hanging from his mouth and his arms loaded with cardboard boxes. ‘Anyone want some Christmas chocs?’ The men look round, interested in purchasing a bargain. ‘What you got then?’ asks one of them. ‘Best licqueur chocolates,’ says Gerry, ‘only a pound a go.’ He hands a few boxes round for inspection. They are printed in Polish or some such script but they look alright. The men put their hands in their pockets and all but one box is soon sold. ‘What about you, Scotty? Don’t you want a lovely box of chocolates for that wife of yours? Get on her good side for once.’ Scotty shakes his head, ‘sorry mate, I had some of those last year and they were ghastly.’ Gerry sits next to him and puts a finger to his lips. ‘Shh, don’t let on to that lot or I’ll never shift them.’ Scotty winks and says in a louder tone: ‘I had some of those last year, they were delicious. I don’t have any money on me at the moment but I’ll have a box off you later.’ Gerry winks and thanks him before going to the counter to order his breakfast. Ivy doesn’t seem keen on his offer of a kiss. Between the two of them it would be like two old camels embracing and they are both relieved to be distracted by another group of hungry drivers arriving.
No sooner have the pals finished eating than their numbers are called over the public address and they drive down to the loading bay to begin work. The sun is shining and they are in high spirits. John, the chief stevedore, is making a particular note of the amount coming from the sheds but as usual he is called away for some reason and the two men make the most of his absence to hide a pallet load of fruit. He will never work out how the trick is pulled and he has a grudging admiration for Frank that he manages to fool him every time. He still hopes that one day he will catch him out but it seems unlikely he ever will.
Surprisingly, the pals will both be making deliveries to London markets so decide to drive up together and stop for a cup of tea on the M2 services on the way. The place is decked out with dusty old decorations and strings of lights with half the bulbs blown out. An ancient artificial tree stands lop-sidedly inside the door and a thin young lady is huddled by it with a collection box trying to raise funds for the local hospital. Frank digs in his pocket and finds a few coins to drop in the collecting box and the girl gives him a shy smile and thanks him. ‘You look frozen,’ says Scotty, ‘why don’t you come inside?’ The girl says the manager won’t let her as it could be seen as begging off the customers so she is stuck in the unheated lobby. ‘I’ll fetch you a cup of hot chocolate,’ says Scotty.
‘I’m sure I know that girl from somewhere,’ says Frank as they wait their turn at the counter. ‘I have an idea she’s one of Gasper Gerry’s brood.’ Scotty takes the hot drink to the girl, who accepts it gratefully. She confirms that she is indeed one of Gerry’s daughters and is hoping to get a job at the hospital when she leaves school in the summer. She says her boyfriend gave her a lift on his motorbike even though he shouldn’t have because he hasn’t passed his test yet. ‘I won’t tell if you don’t,’ says Scotty.
‘I remember where I’ve seen her now,’ says Frank, as they sit as close to the only radiator as they can. ‘She’s sweet on Ken and Pat’s boy, Kenneth.’ Scotty grins, ‘Pat won’t like that,’ he says, ‘she reckons Kenneth is going places and doesn’t want anyone distracting him. She’s had his life mapped out for him since the day he was born, according to Ken.’ Frank says she didn’t get her way over the motorcycle though. He has seen Kenneth zipping about on it like he is on a racetrack. ‘Oh well,’ says Scotty, ‘we were all young once.’
The night’s deliveries go very well and Frank heads home with plenty of loot hidden in the rope box underneath the trailer. He decides to pull in at the services for a bite to eat and is surprised to see Gerry’s daughter is still there, looking absolutely desolate. ‘Kenneth promised to pick me up at 10pm,’ she says, through shivering jaws, ‘I’ve been stuck here all night freezing to death.’ Frank takes pity on her, takes her indoors for some hot food and mug of tea then gives her a lift home in the lorry. ‘Don’t worry,’ he assures her, ‘he probably ran out of petrol or something. I bet he’s feeling a right idiot.’ The girl huddles in the cab beneath a dirty old blanket, not sure what to think. She will have plenty to say to Kenneth when she does catch up with him.