EPISODE FIFTY-THREE
Dave put two plates of thinly spread cheese on toast on the table, and on
hearing Mary sigh, he said, ‘Sorry it’s nothing more exciting, but times is
hard.’
Mary smiled at him. ‘This is fine. I’m not that hungry.’
Dave bit into the toast without looking at her.
‘That’s all right then.’
‘Is something wrong?’
‘Like I said: times is hard, and now I seem to have three more mouths to feed.’
Mary shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
‘I’m going to start looking for a part time job soon. Then I can help with some of the bills.’
He looked directly at her. ‘It would be
appreciated.’
She hadn’t expected this. Everything had
been rosy in the garden up until now.
Any thoughts of contributing to her children’s upkeep had been pushed to
the back of her mind. Especially as she
thought Dave was earning good money doing his summer season – until it
collapsed. Now she felt herself being
put under pressure again. And, when all
was said and done, Dave’s house was paid for.
He had no mortgage to worry about.
‘The children break up for the holidays in a few weeks’ time. I’ll have to try to find something I can do
working from home.’
Dave pouted. ‘Well, I get on very well with them. I can always be the stay-at-home step-dad.’
Mary thought it was time she changed the subject. ‘There’s something that’s been bothering me,’
she began, frowning deliberately. ‘Well,
not bothering me as such...but...’
‘Go on,’ prompted Dave.
‘I just wondered about the time your father died. You were doing quite well on television back
then. How come I don’t remember reading
about your father in the papers?’
Dave gave her a wry smile. ‘It made the
papers, but not many column inches. Dad had a heart attack on the seventh of December, 1980. By the time the press got on to it, a young
nutter called Mark Chapman stole the headlines.’
‘That name rings a bell.’
‘He shot John Lennon. Yeah, Chapman did
us Whitby’s a favour. It’s an ill wind as they say.’
Mary was silent for a while, and idea forming in her mind. ‘Dave,’ she said, ‘if you want to get back in
the limelight again – and they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity...’
Dave looked wary. ‘I couldn’t do that.’
‘But why not?’
‘I just couldn’t.’
‘Oh well, it was just a thought,’ said Mary, sounding miffed.
*
As Ted made himself a late breakfast, Marjorie sniped at him. She still hadn’t recovered from the shock of
his recent behaviour.
‘It’s me who’s got to clean this house from top to bottom.’
Ted ignored her, and concentrated on the kitchen wall clock as he timed his
boiled egg.
‘So the sooner you get out from under my feet,’ Marjorie went on, ‘the sooner I
can start cleaning the kitchen.’
Ted felt like asking her why she couldn’t start on one of the other rooms
first. Instead, he muttered, ‘I’ll be
out of your way in just a minute.
She tutted noisily. ‘Look at the time.’
Her voice grated on Ted. His jaw
tightened. ‘I can’t help that. I want my breakfast.’
With growing anger he stared at the boiling water and imagined himself hurling it
at her, and her anguished cries as she clawed at her burning face, like a scene
from a horror film.
‘Oh!’ Marjorie exclaimed in a voice dripping with sarcasm. ‘Ted’s on the late shift, so we’ve all got to
suffer and run round after him.’
‘No one’s running round after me. I’m
getting my own breakfast.’
‘Too bloody right, you are!’
Ted sighed heavily. ‘I suppose your in
such a bad mood because of the uniform.
Well, you don’t have to worry, because today I’ve put it in the sports
bag as usual.’
He stared at her defiantly. The reason
for changing at work as he had done in the past was because he intended
visiting Donald before starting the late shift.
His eyes were drawn back to the clock.
Six minutes had gone by. ‘Damn!’ he yelled vehemently. ‘While you were yapping on, I forgot to time
my egg.’
Marjorie was dumbfounded. He had never
spoken to her like this before. Except
for that time when she discovered he’d been seeing that man. He’d sworn blind he hadn’t seen him since,
but you could never tell with Ted. He
was such a dark horse.
‘Have you been seeing that man again?’
‘What man?’
Ted had his back to her. She couldn’t
see the sly smile on his face.
‘Don’t pretend you’ve forgotten. His
friend – that fat queer bloke who came round here.’
‘Oh him!’ Ted said dismissively. He brought his breakfast over to the table
and sat opposite Marjorie. ‘That bloke
was a trouble maker.’
‘But you haven’t answered my question.
Have you been seeing his friend?’
‘Of course not.’ Ted guillotined the top of his egg and stared at the
yoke. ‘I can’t eat this.’
He got up from the table and threw it in the bin.
‘What are you doing?’ Marjorie demanded.
‘What’s it look like?’
‘Waste of good food. I don’t know what’s
come over you. You’re behaving like a
child.’
Ted dropped the plate into the washing-up bowl and headed for the door.
‘Where d’you think you’re off to?’
‘To work.’
‘I thought you were on the late shift.’
‘Staff sickness,’ he lied. ‘Chance of
some overtime.’
He slammed the front door harder than usual, then walked briskly across the
common towards Warwick Park
and Donald.
IN EPISODE FIFTY-FOUR
Vanessa is at loggerheads with her mother and Barry reaches rock bottom.