Scrap CH THREE part 49

Scrap CH THREE part 49
Orla is still finding pieces of shattered glass baubles and pine needles which fell from the tree when her son-in-law crashed against it. He had been drinking; well they all had been drinking, all day since arriving home from Mass on Christmas day. The morning had started off so well; Jason had come home for a few days, albeit with Bettina in tow but give her fair due she had come along to Mass with them even though she is not a Catholic. They had all eaten breakfast together and opened their presents, baby Jason had amused everyone with his latest antics and Rosa had helped prepare the dinner, which had been served at 2pm.
Crackers had been pulled and paper hats placed on heads, toasts had been made to all and sundry and the food had gone down a treat. The men had retired to the living room with their Havana cigars, baby Jason had been tucked up in his cot and the women were in convivial mood as they cleared the table and washed the dishes.
Then the shouting had started. Sounds of bone smacking against bone could be heard even through the wall, then a crash and silence.
Now with the Boxing Day sun shining low through the kitchen window the adults are mooching about with sore heads hoping that the quarrels are forgotten. Bettina is eager to get back to her man’s smart new bungalow for some peace and quiet but Jason insists they stay for the rest of the day. She cheers herself up by keep looking at the solitaire diamond ring he placed on her finger yesterday. She knows it’s a bit big but she can always have it altered by that nice man, Samuel, on the High Street who Jay knows so well. She also is unaware that her beloved found the ring amongst a box of junk in one of the house clearance skips.
‘So it’s to be a spring wedding,’ says Rosa as she helps her mother with another round of washing up, ‘and a summer pudding if I’m not much mistaken.’ Orla grins at the quip, being well aware of the circumstances, ‘well she’s going to take instruction before the big day so we ought to be grateful for that. Father O’Donnell seems quite taken with the young lass and she’s promised to bring the child up in the Catholic Church. At least Jason is giving me another grandchild, not like that Patrick Chapman. He’s never going to bring a nice girl home for his mother, is he?’ They change the subject as Bettina shuffles in, carrying two empty coffee mugs. ‘Where does it all come from?’ They finish the chore, Orla refills the kettle and they start all over again.
The Tobin family have celebrated their break from normality by heading off to a holiday camp. They have never been at Christmas time before and it has been quite a revelation: even worse than going in the summer. The chalet is cold and damp even with the electric heater on constantly courtesy of being able to bypass the meter. The babies both have coughs and colds and Carol is going down with the flu. Julie is looking after things back home, much to Harry’s relief as he couldn’t stand her complaining as well as Carol about the food, the entertainment, the accommodation and everything else which has cost him a fortune to experience. They will not be doing this again and after three days of forced jollity the family have had enough and packed their bags. They make sure to have breakfast before leaving for the long trek from South Wales and the journey is endured mostly in silence punctuated with coughing and nose-blowing.
Julie is surprised to see them back a day early and Harry is even more surprised to find his mother-in-law has been entertaining one Ken Chapman in their absence. The man hastily packs his overnight bag, bids them a merry Christmas and makes a swift exit.
Captain, the African grey parrot is screeching wildly, excited to have his servants back on board. To shut him up Harry tips half a packet of shelled nuts into his tray, which the bird proceeds to scatter in all directions before selecting one to eat. It doesn’t look as if Carol’s mother has done anything but eat, drink and make merry since they left and to cap it all the overflow in the upstairs bathroom has been running for two days. Water has cascaded down the outside wall and frozen on the path like a glacier. Merry Christmas my arse, thinks Harry: he will be glad when it’s all over.
More gloom and doom on the television news greets them at dinner time. Ted Heath has announced that if the miners don’t return to work the Government will have to take drastic action, which could involve the enforcement of a 3 day week to conserve power supplies. ‘That’s all we need,’ grumbles Carol, ‘freezing cold weather and power cuts.’
The long holiday comes to an end and as usual work is slack with so much overspending for the festive season. Most households have stocked up on fruit which nobody has eaten so orders from the wholesale markets are thin on the ground and only the quickest of hauliers are finding enough work to keep them going. With the shortage of diesel some have had to park up completely, leaving the likes of CRS in a perfect position to make themselves known.
The Hayes takeover has been completed and Rosa seems to be spending a lot of time up at the old house. Her brother has been bringing items of furniture along and helping with redecoration in his spare time. Bettina has been nagging him to spend more time with her but he sees quite enough of her as it is and nicks off at the slightest excuse. Frank is intrigued to know what is going on and engineers to be at Jason’s yard just as he is returning from another delivery. ‘Hello Frank,’ Jason greets him cordially, ‘have you got time for a brew?’ Frank says that’s a very good offer and follows the younger man into the workshop where Neil Parsons is supposed to be cataloguing a newly prepared batch of second hand car spares. He jumps to his feet, tucks the magazine he has been perusing under the counter and picks up a pen. ‘Don’t mind us,’ scowls Jason, ‘we’re going to the back room for a brew. If anyone asks, we are busy.’
He shuts the door behind them and they make themselves comfortable on an old sofa while the kettle heats up. ‘What’s happening over at the Hayes site?’ Asks Frank, who prefers to come straight out with it if there is something on his mind. ‘Rosa wants to move in,’ explains Jay, ‘the sham of a marriage to Danny is over, not that he’s noticed because he’s hardly ever about, but Rosa wants to get the place done up for her and young Jason. Ma is not best pleased and says she is staying put no matter what but Rosa’s had enough. I’m surprised she hasn’t told you, what with you two being so close these days.’
Frank seems puzzled by this statement, especially as he has seen little of her over the past few weeks and he says so. ‘Well I’m sure she will tell you when the time is right,’ adds Jay, ‘anyhow I wanted to put an idea to you myself. Me and Rosa were thinking we may be able to start up an antiques shop over at the Hayes site. There’s plenty of space in the main house and the outbuildings will make ideal storage and workshops. There’s all sorts of stuff coming in with these house clearances and with haulage being a bit dodgy at the moment it will give us a bit more income; for the company, of course.’ Frank is pondering this idea over his mug of tea when raised voices can be heard from the parts department outside. Bettina barges in, hands on hips and demands to know what the two men are talking about; Jason has been avoiding her all day and she is not happy.
Frank mumbles something and takes his leave. As he drives out the gates he decides to pay the fair Rosa a visit. She is pleased to see him and eager to show him round the house, which has been brightened up considerable since old Hayes vacated some weeks ago. ‘Jason said he was going to talk to you about the antiques shop,’ she enthuses, ‘I hope you agree it’s a good idea.’ Frank says they should talk to Scotty as well before making any decision and Rosa says of course they must but he feels this is really a done deal and he doesn’t know quite how to take that.
‘Where’s the lad?’ Asks Frank as he follows Rosa upstairs. ‘Ma’s looking after him,’ she says in a quiet voice, ‘I want to show you my bedroom.’