Full house eleven in all and many different stories but four votes for Sue made that the best story.
John started with a story of Abdul coming to the UK and serving us ready meals as an alien. This was prompted by the recent story of the main Chinese restaurant in Lyndhurst found to be employing five aliens and being fined.
Joan Read related the confusing instruction with computers, My story was about an Eureka moment. Joan, a tale told about the end of war as experienced in the country. Rosemary a sad story of a girl's father committing murder - that wasn't as it seemed. Brian his early adventures as a merchant seaman. Ann a life time story and the retirement present of the reunion of his brother. Sally continued with the childhood sweethearts and their forbidden romance. Pat recounted the story of a girl going missing in a foreign country. Sheila about her early experience of starting work and how older workers ignored her. Sue's story is here:
‘YOU GET THAT …’
“You get that, you loser? I’ll be back for the cash at closing time, so you’d better tell your old man to have it ready.” With these threatening words, he turned and thrust his way out of the shop, kicking over one of the displays of tins as he went, leaving them scattered over the floor.
Gerry stared, mesmerised, at the rolling tins. What was he to do – they didn’t have the money Ginger had demanded for so-called protection? He wasn’t too bothered about Ginger, but he knew he was only collecting for the Big Man – and he was scared to death of him. He’d seen what he’d done to his Dad when he’d tried to stand up to him. Dad now sported a scar down one side of his face, pulling his eye down at the corner, and walked with a permanent limp. He wasn’t much good in the shop since then, either, so here Gerry was, in the front line, so to speak.
The more he thought what he should do, picturing his Mum and Dad in their flat above the shop, trying to make ends meet, the angrier he became. As he served his regular customers, speaking cheerfully to them and wishing them a “Good day”, he seethed inside until, during a lull at dinner time, he let out an explosive breath and used a swear word his mother would have blanched at, then spun about, put the closed sign on the door and lifted the receiver of the phone at the back of the shop. He’d cook their goose, he would!
He dialled the Big Man’s number and when he answered, put on his most intimidating voice and, after saying who he was, continued, “If you want to do a deal, you’d better come down here yourself. I’ll only deal with the organ grinder, not his pet monkey!” It’ll be in your best interests and’ll be the turning point in your life, I can assure you.”
Much to Gerry’s amazement, the Big Man agreed and a time was set, just before Ginger was due to return.
Gerry set about laying the groundwork for this momentous meeting, meticulously rehearsing what he would say and do. He hadn’t much time and the shop remained closed while he made his preparations. Eventually, all was ready to his satisfaction and he reopened the shop, everything returning to its normal routine.
As closing time approached, Gerry saw a large black car draw up and a burly man levered himself out. He had on a long camel coat and a black homburg hat. He sported a black moustache and puffed on a huge cigar as he strolled towards the shop door. One hand was thrust into his coat pocket, which bulged ominously. Fortunately there were no customers, so Gerry rushed to the door, flipped the sign to ‘closed’ once more and ushered the Big Man in, closing the door behind him.
Then Gerry proceeded to bow and scrape his way backwards to the counter and the till, stuttering and stammering as he went. The Big Man just said, “Don’t mess with me or you’ll be sorry. What was your wonderful plan for making me more money, then, punk? Come on, give me the money first, then we’ll see whether you’re just as much a loser as your old man.”
Gerry saw, out of the corner of his eye, that Ginger was now approaching the shop door, so he stuttered and pointed, edging round the counter once more, to open the door. He then closed and locked it, returning again to the back of the shop and opening the till which gave its customary “ping”.
This was the signal everyone had been waiting for. The door into the back room flew open and three men charged out, two of them police officers, truncheons at the ready, and the third in plain clothes. The latter shouted, “Okay boys, grab them,” to his men, then addressed the Big Man.
“We’ve been trying to catch you for the past three years.” He waved a small recording machine at him as he said, “Now we’ve got the proof we need and I think you’ll be behind bars for a pretty long stretch. We can shut your whole operation down now and leave the local shopkeepers to make an honest living without your so-called protection.” The Big Man and his accomplice, looking angry, disbelieving, then crestfallen by turns, were handcuffed and led away by the two policemen, as Gerry held open the door for them, starting to shake as the full implications of what he had done and what might have happened sank in.
Turning to Gerry, Detective Green thrust out his hand. “Well done young man; we’d never have done it without your help. Everyone else was too scared to take any positive steps to end this protection racket. You’ve shown them how it’s done. You were very brave, young man. I’m glad you were helping your Dad out during the holidays. Good luck with your 11+ next term!
