Scrap 94

SCRAP 94
By the end of the week Frank and Scotty have accrued a nice ‘Christmas bonus’ thanks to the thieving lot at the brewery. It seems they are all at it in one way or another, sharing the added income if not any of the risks.
The pals roll up at the depot on Monday morning ready for more of the same when Derek takes them to one side and tells them they are on a different job. ‘Now they know they can trust you,’ he grins, glancing towards the offices upstairs, ‘you’re being put on the bonded warehouse run.’ Scotty says he hasn’t a clue what that means and Derek explains. ‘You have to collect a load of spirits from the bonded warehouse in London and deliver to specialist depots. They only allow trusted employees on this work because of the value of the merchandise. And you won’t be stopping off anywhere en route.’ The pals express their disappointment at this news, having already mentally spent their windfalls. ‘There’s more money in the daily rate though,’ says Derek, by way of consolation.’
As they have no choice in the matter the men take instructions and get on with the work. Frank would dearly love to have some cases of brandy, whisky or rum but there will be no chance as they are made to keep away from the vehicles during loading and unloading and security is very strict.
They sit in the canteen while their lorries are being loaded, moaning about the loss of their little extras. ‘What we never have we never miss,’ Scotty tries to philosophise, ‘only we did have it for a while. I had plans for all that extra dosh. ‘ Frank stirs a fourth spoonful of sugar into his tea, dunks a chocolate biscuit into the steaming liquid and curses as it breaks off, leaving him to scoop out the mess with the spoon. ‘This could get a bit boring,’ he muses, ‘with no way to cadge anything and the men watching us like hawks.’
After three days working out of the bonded warehouse, Buddy Flowers is waiting at the yard when they arrive to park up for the night. He is looking very shaken and the men guess that he has some bad news to impart. He motions for them to follow him into the office and sit. He pours three glasses of whisky and they each take one. ‘Kenneth passed away in the early hours of the morning,’ says Buddy, ‘They phoned through at nine o’clock. Pat is beside herself and Ken can’t do anything to comfort her. She won’t let him near; keeps saying it’s all his fault for buying the motorcycle but he can’t turn the clock back and bring the boy back to life. She won’t talk to anyone, not even me. I’m trying to keep things going here as well as my own business and I’m grieving too. He was my Godson as well as my nephew.’
The pals don’t know what to say so they sit quietly drinking their whisky, letting Buddy pour out his heart.
Later back at Scotty’s house the news has already reached Dawn, whose mother is quick to point out that she predicted something like this. ‘There’ll be a third before the month is out, you mark my words,’ says the voice of doom.
The men decide to cheer up the gathering by offering to buy fish and chips all round. This at least gives everyone something else to think about and they send the boys out with a list and enough money to cover the order. Scotty takes some tins of beer from the fridge and hands them to the adults, who gratefully accept having something to occupy them. ‘This will be the end of Ken and Pat,’ says Dawn, ‘I never knew a time that woman wasn’t nagging or throwing things. She only stayed with Ken for the boy’s sake.’ Scotty reminds them that there is another son, Patrick, and he must be feeling terrible knowing that his parents’ favourite has died. He never felt he was good enough living in Kenneth’s shadow but I liked him better than the older one. Kenneth was spoiled rotten but Pat never seemed to have time for Patrick, I don’t know why.’
‘Will they keep the business going?’ asks Mavis. Frank says that Pat’s brother has taken over for now and they talk about the work they are involved with at the moment. ‘Put a few bottles of gin aside for me if you get the chance,’ says Mavis, but they tell her they don’t even get to see the goods let alone spirit any away. They will be glad to get back to delivering fruit and vegetables.