26.5.2009

POTS, PANS AND BROWN ROTTEN VEG.

 

 

    POTS, PANS AND BROWN ROTTEN VEG.

http://www.netsaga.is/media/files/Heimilislausir%20%C3%A1lfar.mp3
 

 

    Here Shaz and her husband stood at the entrance to her aunties.

    "Does she have to do this every time?" Ben grumbled as he kicked the door with frustration.

    Sharon in turn pressed the door com and spoke into the electronic box, "Auntie, you?ve left the door chain on again."

    "Who is it?"

    "It?s Sharon!"

    "Okay dear." Buzz went the door release mechanism for the third time.

    "Auntie we can?t get in, the door chain is on."

    Ben looked heavenward before he took things into his own hands. "Let me try my dear. Pressing the buzzer and waiting for her to say the usual he cut in with, "Auntie get your backside down the hallway and open this door right now!"

    It went a deathly silent. Shaz looked at him, "I think you?ve upset her." Then to her surprise the door opened up.

         "Sharon dear, why didn?t you tell me that the chain was on, you know how forgetful I can be." Auntie rebuked her niece as she opened up the way for them to walk in.

    Sharon had to admit her husband sure did have a way with women.

    "Come on in and sit yourselves down. Sorry the meal isn?t ready, I?m running a little late. I had to take my poor doggie down to the vets, he?s been very poorly."

    "Oh, in that case is there anything I can do to help?" Ben piped up with as he noted Sharon?s uncle was fast asleep in his favourite chair.

    Auntie looked over and smiled, "I could use a little help. Could you wash a few vegetables for me if you like?"

    "Of course, no problem." Launching himself from the chair he had just fell into he followed auntie out to the kitchen.

    "The vegetables are on the side ready to go."

    "Great!" Ben exclaimed as he faced a sink with one bowl and a load of murkey looking water in it. He spied the peeler and the two large potatoes already in there. Picking one up he was miffed that it had a soft texture to it, a kind of sheen. Raising his voice above Sharon?s as she was recounting yesterday?s events he shouted, "Auntie, are these organic potatoes in the bowl as they sure are soft and hard to peel?"

    Auntie waddled in, "Potatoes dear? We are not having any potatoes tonight."

    Ben looked into the bowl and noted the potatoes were disintegrating in his hands. "So what?s in the bowl?"

    "Oh that?s uncle?s chamber pot. You know how he is, sometimes he get caught short in his wine cellar and has to go. He probably left it in the sink when he came in for his snooze."

    Realization of what had just been said crept over poor Ben as he looked down at the brown mess which he thought to be veg in his hands. From the opposite side of the window which he was facing you could see one man?s face filled with horror at what he had done. It is a good thing we are on this side of the Paine of double glazed glass. Out here you couldn?t hear him scream.

    Clive was into another piece of music, his hands were drifting over the keys, it was hard to believe just how quickly one could get over the shakes if one put ones mind to it. He looked up letting his eyes drift into the audience and over by the door, one slender looking, very graceful lady stood. Even in this light along with the sheer distance he was from her, he knew the figure, he knew the walk, he knew her like the back of his hand. Suddenly playing the piano seemed ever so hard as he missed a few keys and half caught another. This was the hold Gloria had on him, still he managed to finish in style and the few missed notes faded in the memory of the audience as they roared their approval. Their clapping was silenced by new comical music announcing the local comedian.

    "Hello Clive," came a voice so close. It was her! standing by his piano as it stood just below the front of the stage.

    "Hello Gloria." Clive felt this to be the right thing to say as he fumbled with the piano lid. Then looking up he found the eyes he loved staring back at him. Both suddenly wanted to say things at the same time, both smiled and he let her speak.

    "No please, say what you wanted to say."

    This was not the hostile lady he had grown used to over the years. "Just that I am sorry for upsetting you earlier, I should have never gone there."

    "If you hadn?t done so, I would have never seen or believed the changes in you. You?ve really cleaned yourself up! I can hardly believe that it is you standing here." Gloria grinned as she corrected herself, "sitting here."

    "I did it all for you and I think you know why."

    "Because you love me."

    "I have always loved you, I just couldn?t find my way out of the darkness of the bottom of the bottle. With people who believed in me, I?ve made it."

    "I can see that. I want you to know that I have always loved you Clive, I just didn?t like what I saw in you at the end."

    Was he dreaming? Was he going to wake up in that shed again feeling the chill of winter over him and find out this to be only a cruel dream?

    Gloria continued, "But times have moved on and I want you to be happy for me. You see that night when you told me about your change in life down at the pub." She paused hoping to find a way out of this, no she was committed to telling him everything. "That very evening a change happened to me. Before you reappeared I got engaged to another man, a very special man."

    Then all of a sudden a cruel nightmare cut into his life. It was no dream at all, just a bloomin terrifying nightmare! He swallowed hard before having to ask, like having to be sick even though one doesn?t want to.

    "Who is the lucky fellow then?"

    "Clive, this is Wesley Simpson, he?s a doctor."

    He hadn?t even noticed the big man step up to the piano. Now how could he fail but to observe this well dressed man. He understood why Gloria liked the guy, he was all Clive figured he wasn?t. This man had money, prestige and the ego to go with it.

    "Nice to meet you Clive."

    "Oh, pleased to meet you to."

    "We are here tonight to check out the new talking point in the city. Had to pay a lot of money to get a seat. Good playing by the way."

    "Thanks," he stood up and decided to get out of here. "Excuse me, I have to get ready for the next session."

    "Of course, sorry to keep you from your job." The doc guy replied before Gloria asked, "Wish us well Clive, please."

    He wanted to say no and roar with anger but no, this wishing well was her request and he did just so. Leaving as fast as he could he rushed in a daze and bumped into Raymond one of the last people he wanted to see right now.

    "Hey man, who was that Gloria with?"

    Feeling like a man who had just eaten the bottom of a budgies cage he spat out those revolting words like the guy would the scum from the cage. "It?s her husband to be, Gloria is engaged."

    Raymond placed his hands upon his hips and shouted out, "And you still love her, even though she has done this?"

    "Of course I do!" Clive snapped back just trying to get past the guy.

    "Well, I have a goooood scripture about that bro. It?s about courting another man?s wife."

    "Just shut the hell up will you!" shouted Clive as he saw a gap and made his bid for freedom and to the sanctuary of his room. He was stopped short by a posse of men, very large men all wearing suits pushing past him and knocking Raymond to the floor. They were clearing the way for the guest of honour.

    Clive rushed over managed to pick Raymond up and out of the way for...

    "Chino is here."

    Raymond was very upset, "Just look at that size eleven foot print on my bible!" He stopped short when that name was dropped for a second time. He stared wide eyed at Clive as he asked, "What does he want with a small place like this?"

    "Can?t imagine, he was here last night. Looking at the sheer amount of heavies I reckon this ain?t no social call."

    Bernard saw the big group make their dramatic entrance and at once knew this wasn?t good news. Tiffany fell to his side and grabbing his hand said, "Oh no, this is trouble, what can I do?"

    "Nothing. As of now I?m in charge. I?m going to see what he wants." He saw Tiffany going to oppose this course of action as she was technically in charge. Placing a finger to her lips he cut in with, "I don?t want you to get hurt."

    Tiffany felt his warm index finger leave her lips before changing her words, "Are you sure that?s wise? They might interrogate you or something?"

    "What would he want to do that for?"

    "For fun."

    The big man had not thought of this. Now he felt nervous and sweaty as he made his way over. Still someone had to make a sacrifice, better him than anyone else. "Still I?m in charge. Best go and speak to the God Father," he said to himself before cursing Sharon and Ben for not being here when required.

    Walking up to Chino who had just decided to sit down pushing a family out of the way Bernard motioned for the family to be re-housed before steadying his nerves to address the man. "Hello sir, what can I get for you?"

    Chino casually looked up and made his request, "A bottle of your finest wine and the owners."

    "I can get you the wine, as for Ben and Sharon I cannot."

    "Oh, and why not?"

    "They are out visiting relatives."

    "When will they be back?"

    "Can't really say, could be late."

    "That's fine, I shall wait for them. I?d hate them to miss a good party."

    "Bernard couldn't help himself in inquiring, "What party?"

    Chino could have had him removed for asking too many questions. Then again answering them now saved time later when others wanted to know. "It?s more of a celebration actually. It?s a party to celebrate my acquisition of this club and all in it."

    "You are what?" Bernard almost shouted as he took a step forward only to have a few guys not as big as he is, though more of the muscular nature, step in his way.

    "I?m taking over. Now fetch me my wine and get it to me in time for the announcement."

    Bernard rushed over, clicked his fingers at Frank who in turn produced the finest they had. He in turn gave it to Bernard who had it back on the table just in time to observe a man walk up and onto the platform.

    Chino raised a glass to good old Bob one of his favourite men at doing this. He watched as he calmed a restless audience.

    "Ladies and the other arf!" He heard a few laugh before getting on with it. "No need to panic or ask for your bill early. In a minute we shall have the main attraction a great carberet. Before that I?d like you all to raise a glass and welcome the new owner of the Coffee Club, a great rock to our society and pillar to the insurance community. Raise you hands and give a cheer to mister Chino!"

    Very few clapped and even fewer cheered. This upset Chino who was even graceful enough to show his support for a fellow God Father once, he clapped and cheered him on. Oh, no, hold on, that was at the enthusiastic way he was covered in concrete for his new executive office block. Yeah the chump had failed to avoid Chino the man of action.

    "Come on you lot, you can do better than that." Bob found the audience still not willing to participate. Drawing out his machine gun from under his long jacket, this proved a stimulus for a big roar of support. "Now don?t forget, when you leave don?t hesitate to leave any loose change and jewellery behind for the Chino orphan fund."

    Bob grinned as he saw the saps clutching hard on their jewellery while others handed over a few valuables to passing waiting staff. "Now to hand you over to the dude who is going to introduce the next act."

    Chino liked Bob, a man so proud of ripping people off. He?d done a sterling job and Chino could relax and enjoy the show.

 

    As soon as Sharon and Ben stepped through the door they knew something was very wrong. It could be down to the fact that four large well built men at the entrance saw them and radioed ahead as they stepped aside to allow the couple access.

    "I?ve got a bad feeling about this," Shaz whispered while heading for the main dining room.

    Ben while trying to be optimistic came out with, "It could be Chang deciding we need more security." Though this proved not to be the case as they walked into a nearly empty room with Clive looking most unhappy as he played the piano for the hostage staff.

    "Greetings Ben and Sharon! I thought you weren?t coming back tonight, sorry, this morning," came the low gravely voice of a man all knew well.

    "Hello Chino!" Ben turned to face the man who was sitting in the corner.

    "Have you come to join our little celebration?" He replied sweeping his left hand outwards inviting his new guests to take a look at the vista.

    "What celebration?" Shaz asked as she took to her husband?s side giving his hand a little squeeze feeling the same back.

    "A celebration to welcome me as your new owner."

    Ben broke wind while Sharon shouted, "You cannot do that! Just waltz in here and take my property away from me."

    Chino grinned at the little stupid girl as he allowed his muscle men to bare their teeth, oh and guns. "But I just have my dear girl."

    "My solicitor will hear about this!"

    Chino laughed even more before straightening his face, "What an excellent idea. Bring him in and we will make sure he leaves in a coffin," before turning his head and allowing his lads to join in, "What do you think?"

    "Nice rosewood coffin, only the best for lawyer types." Said one.

    "How about a concrete coffin boss?" Another said as he did an imitation of how a body would sound getting sucked down into concrete.

    All were laughing as Ben decided what the hell and went for the guy. This caught everyone off guard even his wife, all except one.

    Chino with lightening reactions raised his gun and stopped the fool in his tracks. With gun raised he held it firm as he felt the need to explain something here.

    "Chang told me this place was of little threat to me. That you had no intentions of setting up shop in my territory. Sad to say it, I failed to believe him." Looking directly into this man?s eyes he added, "especially after your demonstration of how to woo people with your words."

    "They say crime bosses get paranoid," Ben came out with still angry, "Looks as if you are going the same way."

    "Look mister Chino sir. My husband and I came here to open up a coffee shop, before I had the idea of turning this wonderful place into a restaurant. All we want to do is live out our lives in peace by giving a good service to the public."

    Chino raised his eyebrows, "And that is all you want?"

    "Yes it is."

    He lowered his weapon. "Even if this is true this place is still mine and good for business, my business. I will take my cut of the profits and leave you to take care of making sure I get my cut. My own staff will work alongside yours guarantying everything is legit. If I sense anything wrong I will come down on you like a ton of bricks. Do I make myself clear?"

    "Yes," Was all they could say.

    In an instant Chino had summoned his men and was out the door. Sharon had one word for the man and voiced it, "Git!"