- That was really (really) horrible
- Freshly rubbed down trap for hire
- Joe’s birthday will be a riot
- “I know a joke about Pythagoras”
- They only noticed when their tummies felt empty
That was really (really) horrible
Just an average day in the village shop.
Clarrie’s in buying scourers. Susan is wittering on about something or other (though her mum does have a best chest).
Never a word of warning about the horror we were about to witness.
Clarrie has been asking Susan about whether there had been any interested in the card she put up.
I thought it was brave of Clarrie in the first place – advertising that you are available for work could be seen as desperate, and I’d imagine could be a bit embarrassing. But, Clarrie is as Clarrie does – she soldiers on.
Susan told Clarrie that lots of people have “commented” on the card … “like they were interested”.
Though she did sound a bit shifty.
Clarrie then goes to the back of the shop to find a scourer – Vicky comes out from the store room (or something) and blurts out:
[Vicky] “Susan, I didn’t tell you, did I, about what the awful man Derek Fletcher said about Clarrie’s advert …’Who'd want that dirty woman doing your cleaning or looking after your kids’ …”
Susan did try to tell Vicky to shut, and Vicky didn’t realise Clarrie was in.
But damage done.
Clarrie leaves the shop, understandably devastated.
[Vicky] “I only mentioned it, because he made me so angry about what he’d said Vicky … I need to tell her I’m on her side really!”
Good lord.
Bad enough that Clarrie brought E coli into Bridge Farm. Bad enough that folks got ill. Bad enough that Clarrie had to leave her job, and Pat/Tony are in dire straits. Bad enough that Clarrie knew there’d be rumours.
But.
For a woman like Clarrie, to be so unreservedly called “dirty” is beyond the pale. She’ll now think that’s what everyone is has been saying behind her back.
My poor Clarrie. What have they done to you?
Freshly rubbed down trap for hire
I'd get in there quick, if I were you.
Joe’s also putting a sign up to say Bartleby’s trap is available for weddings AND funerals.
Wonder if that includes Bartleby’s services?
Joe’s birthday will be a riot
Well, not at all, actually.
Between Jim and Bert, it’s going to be a tad tame, if they get their way.
[Jim] “It’s never a good idea to spend the entire day drinking and eating”
[Bert] “I’m not sure Joe would agree with you there”
[Jim] “In my experience theses sort of landmark events are always more satisfying when there’s an element of intellectual stimulation … it’s Joe’s 90th which means he was born in 1921, how about a move, a period classic … The Battleship Potemkin, good action stuff
[Bert] “Is that one of Spielberg’s?”
[Jim] “Eisenstein …”
(course we, erm, all knew that …. Just in case, here’s where I looked it up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battleship_Potemkin)
Bert reckons that sort of film is not what Joe would want with his cider, and he also try to steer Jim away from another quiz (it’d hurt their heads, he reckons) – not a quiz as hurt heads.
Eddie comes in as they’re chatting, and tells them that they just need to have cider. The rest will take care of itself.
“I know a joke about Pythagoras”
Steady on there Jim!
Still on about Joe’s 90th, Bert has suggested a comedy hour. Then suggested a cribbage tournament. Eddie’s not amused by that one.
[Eddie] “about as exciting as watching a fly walk up the wall …might as well do a poker school”
[Bert] “My Freda don’t hold with poker”
[Eddie] “Women never do, that’s why blokes play it”
Jim came up with an interesting fact (that was genuinely interesting … or at least it was to me).
Seems Cribbage is the only pub game you can legally play for money.
(I did say it was interesting … not ground-breaking!).
The cribbage chat sets Bert and Jim off on thoughts of dominoes, shove ha’penny, table skittles …
… so, Joe’s birthday is now a day of “traditional pub games”
Which sounds fine.
Expect I agree with Eddie.
Just get the cider in.
They only noticed when their tummies felt empty
Eddie and Joe take a while to realise that something is amiss.
It’s only tea time that Eddie notices Clarrie isn’t around.
[Eddie] “Hasn’t she put any supper in?”
So – Eddie decides to check The Bull to see if Clarrie got a last minute shift.
Course, he doesn’t phone. He needs to go there in person.
But he makes sure that Joe knows to tell Clarrie that he fancies toad in the hole tonight.
After spending a fair while at the pub (talking to Jim and Bert about Joe’s 90th), Eddie returns home.
[Joe] “Oh there you are, have you brought anything in for supper?”
No. Eddie hasn’t, as he expected Clarrie back.
But she isn’t there.
She’s not at Will and Nic’s, he can’t get through to Ed and Emma, so Eddie calls Susan.
[Susan] “Are you saying he hasn’t been back since then … so where is she then … just a minute, there’s something I ought to tell you Eddie … very upset … I think she took it the wrong way …”
Eddie finally twigs that something is indeed amiss. Clarrie hasn’t been seen for hours on hours.
I am genuinely worried for Clarrie.
She feels so guilty, has no job, Eddie is having to work for make up for her loss of earnings AND now she knows for sure that folks are talking behind her back.
Goodness knows where she’s gone to.
No comments:
Post a Comment