Snippets

'You Can Make Somebody Buy Your Book!'

  ‘Did he say how these books are packed?’

  ‘No. He never said.  What are you up to Phyll? I know that look.’

  Phyllis giggled. ‘Did you mean it when you said I could have my book printed for my birthday, if I finished it in time?’

  Ralph shuffled uncomfortably in his chair.’ ‘Umm Ye..ee..s. If you finish it in time, but you’ve not finished it yet. Have you?’

  ‘Not yet, but I’ve only a few pages to go and I could finish it tonight, but for a bit of editing. Did you really mean it?  Can we really afford it?’

  Ralph saw his wife’s excitement blazing in her eyes and the flushing of her cheeks. He was caught and he knew it.

  ‘Business isn’t good right now and what with the kids and their needs…’ He saw disappointment flood into his wife’s face to replace her elation and relented, ‘.. of course we can.’

  Phyllis hugged and kissed him then jumped to her feet and began bobbing up and down like young girl that’s been promised a new party dress.

  ‘Oh can I? And if I finish it earlier can I have my present earlier?’

  ‘What’s all this about, Phyll?’ Ralph saw clearly that something was fomenting inside her brain.  She sat down and outlined her latest brain wave. His jaw sagged in surprise as he listened.

  ‘What do you think’?  She asked. ‘Do you think your brother would do that for me?’

  Ralph emitted a long, demonstrative whistle prior to replying. ‘I don’t know Phyll. It’s a big ask you know. He could get into all sorts of trouble. I really couldn’t say. You’d have to ask him.’

  She glanced at the kitchen clock ‘He should still be at home? Lets do it before he goes back to work’

  They hurried into the hall and put through a call to Ralph’s brother.

  ‘Hi Ron, it’s Ralph again, Phyll wants a word. It’ll only take a minute. We know you have to get back to the works.’ He passed the receiver to Phyllis.

   ‘ Hello Ron, we’re all set to come over at the weekend and finish that utility room Madge needs so badly.  Good news about the Vern Hopkins contract.  Bit of setback about the first batch though.’  Her tone became confidential and inquisitive.  ‘Ron. Can you tell me how those books are packed and where they are right now?’

  ‘They’re under lock and key in the works, I’ve got the only key. They’re in cardboard boxes of twelve. What do you want to know for?’

  Briefly she explained her scheme to him.

  ‘I can’t do that,’ Ron gasped before she had properly finished telling him her plan, ‘It’s more’n my jobs worth.’

  ‘But if you’ve lost your job anyway...’ Phyllis regretted saying that the moment she had uttered it.   However, she kept quiet and could sense the perturbation at the other end of the line as Ron worked through his options and fears. ‘Would they still come and finish the utility room if I say no? I need Ralph to do it and can’t afford contractors prices.’ Phyllis waited for Ron to speak. He sounded chastened, defeated, when he came back on the line.

  ‘If anything was to get out before the 24th April, well I could even go to prison; maybe.’

  ‘I’ll see nothing gets out before the 24th. I promise you Ron.’ Phyllis was most persuasive Ron’s resolve crumpled.

  ‘All right then, but how do you want me to do it.’

  ‘Listen Ron, if you can get a box of a dozen and take it home.  Then take out the books, buy a dozen old books from the charity shop, about the same size.  They sell them for pennies as I remember, seal them up in the box and put it back with the others to go to the incinerator on Tuesday.  I’ll pick up the others from you this weekend.  They’re going over to France so don’t worry. I’ll talk everything through with you over the weekend. I only want a dozen. Will you do that for me?’