Catch Us If You Can - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Scene in the caravan as they are moving again, travelling north. Granda sit in front enjoying the view. There is a sign, “ALTERNATIVE TOURISTS ROUTE”

Rory : Is that because of us?

Tyrone : No, my pa always uses these roads. You find better places to stop. My pa knows all the best 

places.

Rory : It must be exciting, like having a new adventure every day.

Tyrone : It is. I love it.

Rory : Tell me somebody who wouldn’t? It was a boy’s dream life, I thought. No ties, no school, just adventure.

Tyrone : My sister for one. She ran away to go and stay with my auntie. In a house!

Rory : Is she daft (bodoh)?

Tyrone : Got it in one, Rory.

Tyrone laughs.

Rory : Tyrone, how did you get a name like that?

Granda : He was called after a film star!

Rory : He was not (almost shouted)! According to you everybody is called after a film star. I suppose I was 

as well.

Granda : Indeed you were. Rory Calhoun.

Rory : Rory Calhoun! I never heard of him. You make things up as you go along, Granda.

Granda : See you, boy. You take it out of me, so you do. Talking to me like that.

Rory : And what about you? I suppose you were called after some film star as well.

Granda : Aye, I was. I was called after. . (pause) . . What’s my name again?

Rory : You’re really losing it, old man. What’s your name? You don’t even know your name!

Granda : Well, no wonder. All you ever call me is Granda! Granda this, and Granda that. Everybody calls me Granda. It’s no wonder I’ve forgotten my name!

Rory : Daft old bat!

Granda : Wait till you get to my age, boy, if  you ever live that long.

Rory looks at Tyrone.

Rory : Another pointless conversation with my granda, Tyrone.

Tyrone is laughing, and so is Sammy. Suddenly, Granda starts laughing too. Rory flashbacks some memories. Granda is getting warmer with Sammy as he also admires Ruby.

Sammy : Hey, that’s my woman.

Ruby : You leave Granda be. I love getting compliments from good-looking men.

Back to story. Little newagents (penjual surat khabar) had posters outside with newspaper headlines about Granda and me.

Rory : You’ll get into trouble if they find out you helped us. (sound worries)

Sammy : Why should we? We haven’t kidnapped you. And you’re not escaped convicts. It’s a free country. 

You can go where you please.

They stop at a place, that afternoon. Rory hands some money to Ruby.

Ruby : What’s that for?

Rory : You can’t fed us for nothing. (push the money towards her)

Ruby : For all you eat. Mind you, that old man cold eat for Britain!

Ruby looks at Granda, sitting on a tool outside the caravan. Granda  is slurping and sloshing (mengocak) and grinding (menenyeh) and gnashing (mengeritkan gigi). Ruby’s hand closed around Rory.

Ruby : Keep the money, Rory. You’re going to need it. But it’s a sad day when someone can’t lend a helping hand without getting paid for it.

Different scene. Tyrone with Rory now. Rory confesses all that to Tyrone.

Tyrone: See, we’re not all bad. Some of us are really nice. Not all of us, thought. They’re the ones get us all a bad name. But then, there’s plenty of people give you a bad name too and you don’t judge everybody by them, do you?

Rory promises himself not to judge anyone again.

Tyrone : We’re going to have a brilliant night tonight. A party.

Rory : A party?

Tyrone : We’re going to meet up with my pa’s brother and his family. Up in Forfar. We know a good place there.

Rory stiffened. (menjadi kaku, tersentak)

Rory : A whole family, and they know about us?

Tyrone : Of course they do. He’s my uncle. Totally trustworthy. (diam, berfikir sekejap) ven if he has been 

jail for stealing.

Rory almost fall off his seat after hearing that. Tyrone laughs.

Tyrone : Only kidding. Keep your Y-fronts on.

Different scene.The outskirts of Forfar. The other family is there. The two families greeted each 

other warmly. Rory describes the family. Sammy’s brother, Bernie has a wild, black beard like if he had an electric shock. His wife, isn’t as pretty as Ruby. She has fair hair and is wearing willies (but).

Rory : Is that the fashion?

Tyrone : I’ve never seen her without them. I think she was born wearing them.

A skinny stick of girl (Zara) come towards them with a baby (Joshua) on her hip.

Zara : Oh look, Joshua, it’s your cousin Tyrone.

Joshua immediately began to cry.

Zara : Now see what you’ve done!

Tyrone clamps his hands over Rory’s eyes.

Tyrone : Don’t look at her ugly face, Rory. You’ll turn to stone.

Zara : I beg your pardon. I’m considered pretty.

Tyrone : Yeah, pretty ugly.

Rory : Is she your girlfriend, Tyrone?

They pretend to be sick on the ground.

Tyrone : I would have to be mad, blind or desperate!

Zara : Two out of three’s not bad.

Zara looks at Rory.

Zara : My name’s Zara, since it doesn’t look as if I’m going to be introduced. And you must be the famous Rory McIntosh.

Bernie comes over all smiles to introduce himself and his wife.

Bernie : I see you’ve met Zara. And Joshua, say hello to Rory, Joshua.

Rory feel a bit sill talking to Joshua. However, Granda talks to him as if he is his best friend.

Bernie : We know all about you, Granda. They’re widening the net looking for you. You’re going to have to 

think about you’re going to do next.

Granda : Rory and me have plans, isn’t that right, son?

Sammy : Well, time to talk about all that later. (he slips an arm around Granda’s shoulders) For tonight, we’re just going to enjoy ourselves.

~ END OF CHAPTER ~