A Good Find by Gary L Beer (chrysanthemum read aloud .TXT) 📕

Puzzled he continues watching and pulls the net curtain back to get a better view. A few minutes later the well dressed lady emerges carrying a small black and brown Yorkshire terrier. Carefully she lays the little dog into the pram, Barry cannot hear the words but he can see her lips moving as she talks to the dog. Tucking it in with a bright yellow patterned blanket she goes back inside her house.
Barry watches fascinated by the lady's strange behaviour he does not see Simon's curtains open a fraction as Simon gets a better view himself of this new watcher who he had only glimpsed earlier.
Another Yorkshire terrier is brought out and put into the pram as gently as the first, Steve, Barney and Dippa seem to loiter uncomfortably waiting for the strange woman to go before they do anything. The well dressed woman comes out carrying a third Yorkshire terrier and Barry hears her slam the front door. Putting the final little dog into the pram she talks and fusses over them before finally releasing the brake. Pushing the pram proudly in front of her she steps out into the street and across to the other side, all the time staring at Steve and especially Dippa as they stand in a silent group, staring back at her!
Barry curses in annoyance as Phil joins him at the window; “Look at them idiots all we want is some paranoid neighbour to phone the Old Bill and it will all be over.”
“What they doing?” asks Phil.
“Standing there staring at that weird women, she's already worried coz they were standing outside her house; she probably thinks they are going to burgle her or something.”
“Yeah she don't look too happy.” agrees Phil.
Once she is across the street she walks in the opposite direction to the town and Barry gets the feeling that she will be coming back, soon.
As the lady takes her eyes off them and continues along the street Steve turns his attention back to Barney and Dippa; “You go back to the flat, I'll be along in a minute.” he tells them as he starts to cross the street.
Arriving at Simon's door he pushes his shoulder against it as hard as he can to test its strength, the door is still locked solid, but does not appear as secure as yesterday when he gave it a flying kick. Knocking firmly on the door he takes two steps back and looks up at Simon's window. The twitch of the curtain shows him that he has been seen. Looking up at the window he shouts in a loud friendly voice; “Open the door will ya fella – at least talk to me.”
The curtains remain closed and Steve knocks firmly on the door again, this time the curtains are drawn back a little and Steve can see Simon's bruised face peering down at him.
“You can't stay in there forever mate, as you have seen there are a few of us, why don't we come to some agreement? Will save a lot of time and you avoiding a visit to the hospital, we're gonna get in and you won't be able to stop us.” shouts Steve confidently.
Simon looks down at him blank faced, brushing back a bit of hair from his eyes with his hand he carries on the movement and closes the curtain.
“You got half an hour mate then we're coming in.” shouts Steve as he turns and walks along the street to Stella's flat.

Simon steps back from the window and walks into the lounge, picking up his mobile phone he calls Stef. Stef answers immediately; “You all right Dude?” he asks with real concern.
“Yeah am still good, they've been patrolling the street and just tried hammering on the door. I wouldn't answer it but the geezer, one of them from yesterday, asked me to be reasonable and when I wouldn't answer him he got a bit excited and shouted he was coming in anyway and has given me a half hour.”
“Is there anyone on the street now?”
“Hang on,” replies Simon as he walks across to the window and easing the curtain back he looks up and down the street; “No, no one I can see of that gang, just a few shoppers on there way to town.”
“Well, you saved me a phone call as I'm about five minutes away just coming up to the roundabout now, are there any parking spaces?”
“No, the street looks full though it could all change by the time you get here.”
“I gotta hang up traffics getting bit busy, call ya in 'bout two minutes when I'm round the corner and be ready!”
Simon does not get the opportunity to reply as Stef disconnects the call. Looking around the room Simon picks up Dippa's phone and throws it into a small rucksack with his passport and important paperwork. Putting the rucksack in the centre of the coffee table he goes around the flat and switches everything off at the plugs. Emptying the refrigerator contents into the bin and pouring the milk down the sink he smiles with satisfaction as he bends down and opens the cupboard under the sink. Leaning in he finds the stopcock and turns the water off, quickly he runs into the hall and after tripping over the carpet he opens the little cupboard and turns off the gas at the meter.
Going into his bedroom he walks across the room to the window and eases the curtain back and looks along the street. All is quiet with no sign of any of the gang and he wonders if it is really the geezer’s intent to leave him alone for half an hour to think about it?
Simon laughs at the thought of slipping out without them even seeing him. Anxiously he looks at his phone in his hand willing it to ring; he has to wait for only a few moments before the screen lights up with Stef's name and Simon pushes a button before the sound of the ring; “Where are you?” Simon shouts into the phone in his excitement.
“Everything all right?” asks Stef, misreading Simon's excited voice as fear or worry.
“Yeah it's great Dude, I honestly think they are going to leave me alone for about half an hour, as there is no one on the street.” he says excitedly looking at the time displayed on his mobile phone.
“That's cool coz I'm just round the corner just pulling off the High Street, about ninety seconds away I reckon, is the street clear now?”
Simon looks out of the window and laughs when he sees the well dressed lady with the three Yorkshire terriers in her pram across the street beneath him heading for her home; “The mad lady who lives opposite has just come back, now is the time if ever, I'll get the door unscrewed and phone you.”
“No you won't,” shouts Stef; “stay on the line, I wanna know your every move from now on.”
“Good thinking Dude.” says Simon as he goes into the lounge and picks up the little rucksack. Throwing it over his shoulder Simon hurries out of the flat, tripping on the folded carpet he shuts the door with a slam and runs down the stairs. Picking up the electric screwdriver he hurriedly unscrews the single large screw; “I done it.” he shouts excitedly; “ready when you are.”
“Go back upstairs and check the street just in case. We don't want to run right into them, watch out for me as I’m pulling up at the junction now. Soon as you see me tell me and check the street further up for any traffic. If it's still clear by the time you get to your front door I'll be there, just come out and jump in.” says Stef in a rush making it sound too easy.
Simon goes back up the stairs and looks out of the bedroom window, the lady opposite fusses over her dogs outside her gate and Simon looks towards the gangs flat. All is quiet, in fact it's perfect with the neighbour outside as a witness; “All clear, go for it.” Simon shouts into his phone as he sees a very muddy silver car at the junction; “I see you on me way.” he says as he runs out the door, without tripping on the carpet, slamming the door shut he runs down the stairs and unbolts the door.
Staring hard through the frosted glass he sees the silver car pull up out front, yanking the door open Simon shuts it quietly behind him and runs along the path. Opening the passengers' door he jumps in: “Go, go, go.” he shouts as he slams the door and Stef puts his foot down and speeds away up the street with the neighbour opposite looking on in horror; well Stef is wearing a Rastafarian wig and bright yellow and red stripy woollen hat. Huge mirrored sunglasses cover his eyes and half his face and the bright yellow T-shirt with the large marijuana leaf stamped on it makes Simon go into hysterics.
Stef smiles beneath the mirrored glasses; “Hi man you wanna score some weed?”
Simon's hysterical laughter goes into overdrive at the sight of Stef and the relief in getting out of the flat safely. Turning around he looks back along the street and seeing no one other than his opposite neighbour, who stills stands shocked and dazed and stares in their direction.
Simon turns back round in his seat as Stef takes the corner heading for the seafront saying; “This'll be the best way out I reckon, the town was a bit congested in places. We gotta go slowly along here but at least we'll keep moving and it will keep us off the main roads for a while.”
Simon gives a big sigh of relief as Stef turns onto the seafront; “I guess this is a good time to say thanks Dude.” Simon says with a smile.
“My pleasure Dude, except that you can tell me everything when we get back to Heather's, and I mean everything. Just so I know what I am getting into this time.” Stef smiles – but the smile lacks warmth and Simon knows that Stef feels he is responsible. In embarrassment Simon looks out of the side window at the arcades and people enjoying themselves and leaves Stef to concentrate on his driving.

Steve hammers on the door in annoyance that the door is not being opened for him. The sound of footsteps thumping down the stairs prevents him knocking again. The door is opened wide by a sad looking Curly Pete; “Hi Steve, when we gonna get on with this?” he asks impatiently eager for revenge; “Lots of grumbling amongst your new friends.”
“Be about half an hour,” Steve replies as he starts to walk up the stairs; “has Alex been round yet?”
“No, what's he good for?” asks Curly Pete voicing his disapproval of Alex as he follows Steve up the stairs.
“He's only making a delivery, so be nice to him, it will only be for a few minutes.” orders Steve as he enters the lounge.
Barry and Dave are still seated on the couch with Phil sitting opposite them in the armchair and Steve agrees with Curly Pete that they do