Scrap 92

SCRAP 92
Frank has been sleeping in the cab at the head of the queue for loading since 4.30am and is enjoying a pleasant dream when the door is opened and a cold draught whips him awake. Ken’s brother-in-law is standing there with a grave look on his pale face. Frank sits up and rubs his eyes, focusing on the unexpected visitor. ‘There’s been a horrible accident,’ says Buddy Flowers, ‘Kenneth smashed his bike into the back of a car last night. He’s in a really bad way. Ken and Pat are with him at the hospital and they’ve asked me to help out.’
They wake Scotty, who is a few places behind Frank and seek refuge from the freezing cold in the café, where Ivy provides them with mugs of tea. ‘Any news on your Kenneth?’ Asks Ivy, in a quiet voice. Buddy says there is no further news yet but thanks her for asking. The men take a seat at the back of the room and Buddy explains that Kenneth was travelling to collect Sally, his girlfriend, when he lost control of the bike and hit a stationary car. He was on the back road which leads up to the service area and the police think he could have been there for hours before he was found. Pat is beside herself with grief and Ken has not said a word, I guess because he went against her wishes to buy him that damned bike in the first place.’
Frank and Scotty are very hungry but reluctant to order breakfast in case it seems disrespectful. ‘Sally was at the services when I stopped by early this morning,’ he says, ‘I gave her a lift home. Has anybody told her yet?’ Buddy shakes his head, ‘I think we have enough to do between us to keep this business running.’ Scotty says they will help in any way they can but adds: ‘We know Gerry quite well, me and Frank. We’ll keep a look out for him and tell him what we know.’ Buddy thanks them and says they should keep on as normal but report back to him instead of Ken. He gives them each a card with his contact details and takes his leave.
‘What a shocker,’ says Scotty, as the men wait for their delayed breakfast order, ‘I hope he’s going to be alright. So near to Christmas as well and Pat was dead against Kenneth having a motorbike.’ Frank was never particularly fond of the bolshie 16 year old but he wouldn’t have wished him any harm. ‘One thing’s for sure,’ he observes, ‘Ken will never live this one down whatever happens. Pat will never forgive him.’
Everyone at the docks seems in subdued mood after hearing of Kenneth’s accident. Most of the men have children of their own and it chills them to imagine themselves in Ken and Pat’s place. John doesn’t even bother to try catching Frank out so he and Scotty each score an extra pallet load of oranges to sell in Borough Market. Okay, it’s tragic, but life goes on.
After a good long sleep and a quick wash the men head off on their deliveries, stopping at the services for a meal on the way. They are just settling down to eat when Frank spots a man heading in their direction. ‘Uh oh,’ he says, gesturing for Scotty to look round, ‘look who it is.’ Scotty is trapped; ‘oh no,’ he groans, ‘that’s all I need.’
The man strides past them and up to the counter where he chats with the assistant whilst waiting for his order of burger and chips, then he takes a seat uncomfortably near the pals. He is bound to notice them, thinks Scotty, and sure enough he does. ‘Hello there,’ he says, cheerfully, ‘how’s your little girl?’ Scotty has to think quickly before remembering the lie. ‘She’s much better thanks,’ he replies, waiting for the sarcastic follow-up. ‘She misses the little dog though,’ adds Frank, mischievously. The man smiles broadly as he stuffs a forkful of chips into his mouth and speaks through the food. ‘My missus is besotted with him, says it’s the best present I ever bought her. She even lets it sleep on the bed, would you believe?’ The pals are mystified but say they are pleased the dog has found a loving home.
As they head back to their lorries the pals can’t help bursting into laughter. ‘We must have struck lucky there,’ says Scotty: ‘two people with no sense of smell!’