‘CATCH US IF YOU CAN’
By
Catherine MacPhail
Chapter 19
Scene at one of the room in the van. Rory just awake and as he smells of bacon frying and the sound of pop music on the radio. He tries to memories what had happened last night. He looks at Granda who is still asleep beside him. He draw aside the curtain and watch the scenery of the road. Suddenly, Ruby pops in her head round the door and smile.
Ruby : Let your grandfather sleep. You come and have some breakfast.
Rory moves out slowly not to wake Granda. There is Tyrone’s dad (Sammy) in the kitchen-cum-living room sitting drinking tea.
Sammy: Morning.
Rory: Morning.
Ruby put a roll filled with crusty bacon in front of Rory. Rory eats hungrily.
Rory : This is awful good of you. (He splutters crumbs (tersedak serpih) all over the place.
Sammy shrugged (jungkit bahu) and nodded to Ruby.
Sammy : Thank her. She is the softie in the family.
Ruby turns back and laughs loudly.
Ruby : Don’t you believe a word of that, Rory. This man of mine, Sammy, he cries at soppy films. He can’t resist kittens. That advert with the tiny pun and the toilet paper? He sobs at that one. He’s the one that says. “Oh, we can’t leave them here. We’ve got to help.” As if we don’t have enough trouble with the police.
Rory : Oh, I don’t want us to cause you any trouble with the police.
Sammy glares at Ruby.
Sammy : Ach, don’t listen to that woman. She’s a trouble maker, like most women.
Ruby laughs even more.
Ruby : I’d like to see you do without a woman. You big useless lump of lard.
Sammy tries to smack (tampar) Ruby’s bottom but she dodges (mengelak) it and wallops (membantai) him with her tea towel instead. They are both laughing.
Sammy : What a way to talk to the head of the family. Eh, Rory? What’s the world coming to?
Ruby : The head of the family! You know who the boss is in the family. So eat up and then get on with your work.
Sammy : Yes, boss. (He pretends to be afraid as he winks to Rory)
Rory : I’m sorry my granda wasn’t very nice to you the other day.
Sammy : Ach, he’s an old man. My pa was the same. He was an old ba _ . .
Ruby waves a warning finger at Sammy.
Ruby : Language, Sammy!
Sammy : An old bandit (penjahat). I was going to say he was an old bandit.
At the same time, Granda appeared at the door.
Granda : Do I smell bacon? Where am I? How did I get here?
Rory pulls a chair to Granda has a seat.
Rory : What question do you want answered first?
Granda eyes Sammy suspiciously. Sammy held his stare.
Sammy ; Aye, it’s me, old man. The tinker.
He sputs with indignation (kemarahan).
Granda : I didn’t say that. Tell them, Rory. I didn’t call him a tinker, did I?
Sammy lifts a newspaper and pretends to study it.
Sammy : My name’s Sammy if you’re interested.
Granda hadn’t come round to Sammy. Ruby suddenly put a hand on his shoulder.
Ruby : Do you fancy a bacon roll, handsome?
Granda’s eyes light up.
Granda : That would be lovely, sweetheart?
Sammy glance up at Granda.
Sammy : Sweetheart, is it? That’s my wife, you know.
Granda : Aye, and you’re lucky to have her.
Ruby only laugh.
Ruby : You tell him, Granda.
Granda wants to eat his bacon without his teeth.
Rory : Granda! Where’s your teeth?
Granda : There're in my pocket.
Rory takes Granda’s teeth and washes them. Tyrone suddenly appeared, carrying eggs and potatoes.
Tyrone : Mr. Harrison says we can stay here for a couple of days if we want. We’ve been here before. My dad does odd jobs for him. He’s really handy, my dad.
Sammy put his paper down.
Sammy : That’s good of him, but we’re moving off tomorrow. Up north. We’ve got family up there. It’s your cousin’s birthday.
Sammy turns to Rory.
Sammy : It would be safer for you as well. As far away from here as possible.
Ruby : The other caravan went another way. They’ve gone south just in case we’d been followed.
Tyrone switch on the television.
Tyrone : Have you seen yourselves? You’re famous.
Val Jessup appears on the screen, pleads to them if they are watching to get in touch. Darren’s mum suddenly appears to the screen.
Granda : How did that baggage get on there? Look at her! Loves being on television. Thinks she’s a film star.
Darren’s mum : It was my son, Darren, who gave the keys of my caravan to Rory, his best friend. He didn’t mean any harm. Thought he was doing the right thing. Of course, as soon as I realized the spare key was missing, I knew what had happened. (Pause, glance to the side and nodded as if she was receiving directions) I deduced that Darren had given Rory the key so they could hide out there.
Granda : She deduced! Who does she think she is? Sherlock blinkin’ Holmes!
Darren’s mum moves closer to the camera.
Darren’s mum: Come back, son. Bring your granda. He can’t take this. He’s not well. You know that.
You’ve got to come back.
Rory sat back in his seat. On the screen came the photograph of Rory and granda.
Granda : I’m never going back. I’d rather die of cold and hunger, and be free!
~ END OF CHAPTER 19 ~
No comments:
Post a Comment