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

where he can see the car park and with only his head showing, he dismounts laying his bike on the ground and moves slowly forward.
The car park is empty; except for a police car parked in the far corner that overlooks the sea.
Simon goes back to his bike, picking it up and keeping his head down below the brow of the hill he uses The Towers as a shield between him and the police car. Crossing the graveyard he reaches The Towers; looking around a rain soaked corner he looks down at the car park; the police car has gone!
Simon looks around wildly for it and his eye catches movement by the old Arcades as the police car drives up the road. Simon smiles in relief and leaning his bike against The Towers he runs back to Stef and Nicola and waves them forward.
Stef tries hard to pedal away from the wall but the bike and bag are too heavy for the soft ground. He dismounts and pushes it up the hill towards Simon, as a dripping Nicola follows behind.
Simon runs down to Stef and getting hold of the other side of the bike helps him push it up the hill. The rain has eased a little but everywhere is soaked and dripping, including themselves!
They push Stef’s bike over to The Towers to get some shelter from the rain and catch their breath. Nicola impatiently leans her bicycle against the brick of The Towers, walking past Stef and Simon she approaches the corner and cautiously peers around the brickwork at the car park below; with relief she sees that the car park is empty and can see no signs of life.
“There’s no one about.” she says softly to Stef and Simon.
“I’ll go first again,” volunteers Simon; “the problem is the pub, there are bound to be people in there, maybe even looking out of the windows.”
“How we gonna do this?” asks Stef nervously as Nicola comes back from the edge of The Tower.
“I’ll ride to the far end of the car park in case there are people watching from the pub. I’ll give the all clear by taking off my rucksack and I’ll drink from my water bottle.”
“And what if it’s not cool?” Stef asks with a frown.
“I’ll go in the pub.” Simon says with a grin.
Looking up at the sky Simon mounts his bike; “Is that getting brighter, or is it my imagination?”
Stef and Nicola look at the sky; “Could be.” says Stef optimistically.
“See you on the other side Dude.” Simon says as he rides out of the shelter of The Towers and into the rain.
Stef and Nicola watch him ride slowly down the steep path and into the car park. Simon cycles to the top of the car park and turns around facing them and the public house. He sits still and looks up at the sky, Stef and Nicola know he is looking all around and eagerly, and nervously await his signal. Simon appears to find something interesting to look at near the Arcades; the road is in that direction and Stef feels his stomach tense.
Simon slowly removes his rucksack and takes out a bottle of water, turning in their direction he drinks from the bottle.
“Come on.” says Stef grabbing hold of his bicycle, he pushes it away from The Towers and contemplates the steep slope before him; “Hang on Nic, let me go first as I will have to walk most of the way down the hill or I will fall off.”
Nicola nods in agreement and steps back behind The Towers so that she is out of the rain, nervously she watches him struggle to control the heavy bicycle. When Stef is about halfway down he quickly steps astride his bike and free wheels down the hill and into the car park.
Nicola quickly follows, though like Stef she walks part way down the hill before freewheeling into the car park. Pedalling furiously to keep her momentum going she soon pulls up alongside Simon who is putting his rucksack back on, Stef has continued past him and is nearly at the field.
“Keep going, I’ll catch up.” Simon tells Nicola who wastes no time and cycles quickly to Stef, who is struggling now he has reached the grassy field.
The rain has softened the ground at this part of the field which grips the wheels making it difficult for Stef to ride. He gets off and pushes his bike for about fifty metres until the ground starts to slope away and is a little drier. Stef pedals slowly weaving about and is unable to keep his bike in a straight line, Nicola and Simon keep behind him until the ground starts to rise again forcing Stef off his bike. He turns and looks at his friends, the tiredness and frustration showing on his dripping face.
“You alright Dude?” asks Simon.
“This is hard work I’ll have to walk up to the top.”
“No problem to take it in turns Dude.” suggests Simon.
“Yeah there is, we need to keep the bag dry.” replies Stef, even though he has dismounted his cape is still draped over the handlebars and saddle protecting the holdall from the rain.
“No worries, I’ll give you a push.” says Simon as he moves forward and putting his hand on the back of the saddle starts to push Stef’s bike along.
Stef is taken by surprise and nearly loses his footing as he is still holding onto the handlebars and Simon's push jerks him forward.
“Sorry Dude.” Simon laughs.
Stef takes a couple of quick steps and helps push the bike through the soft ground. Nicola stays a few metres behind, nervously she looks behind them and with the rain getting lighter is relieved to see that the car park is still deserted. Looking out to sea she can see nothing except for a lonely seagull bobbing on the waves far in the distance. Her wet jeans stick to her legs like a second skin and feel most uncomfortable; and she is getting cold as well!
They struggle along, with Simon helping to push the heavy bicycle they make good time and stop in the lee of the old customs building that is on the top of the cliffs.
“I could go to sleep.” says Stef in a weary voice.
“We can’t stop long Dude, there were cops in the car park when I first looked, now the rain is easing they are bound to come out again.”
“Thanks for telling us!” says Nicola in a stressed voice.
“I thought it best.” smiles Simon.
“Come on then.” says Stef impatiently and pushes his bike away from the wall and follows the path down towards The Glen.
Simon and Nicola follow wearily behind; the rain, long journey, stress and cold is taking its toll and they still have a fair way to go before they are safe and dry.
Stef struggles to control his bike as he slips and slides down the steep path, Simon helps him by holding the saddle and keeping the bike upright. The conditions improve as they enter The Glen, sheltering them from the wind and rain. Stef gets on his bike and cycles slowly along the path, wisely he dismounts and walks across the wooden bridge. The wood is wet and slippery; to fall here when so close to home would be difficult to take.
As Stef approaches the entrance to The Glen he stops and waits for the others to catch up; anxiously he looks out across the rough surfaced car park.
“You gonna check it out?” he asks Simon.
“Ok Dude.” answers Simon as he cycles past and out into the car park, circling around he comes back to Stef and Nicola; “Not a soul Dude, who likes the rain?”
Stef gives a cold grin and rides out into the car park, Simon and Nicola follow and they get across and onto the path that leads to the seafront without seeing anyone. Stef turns onto the path halfway down the smoothed cliffs and with a spurt of energy pedals hard not stopping until he is forced to go uphill and has to dismount. Pushing hard he is soon at the top and breathing hard jumps astride his bike and cycles quickly along the road.
Nicola and Simon struggle to keep up with him and they marvel at Stef’s new found energy, too tired to say anything they push on hard to try and catch him up, which they eventually do when they reach Stef and Nicola’s front gate!
Stef is already putting his key in the front door when they pull up and opening the door he pushes his bicycle inside.
Simon leans his bike against the front of the house and shuts the front gate. When he enters the house Stef has already opened the inner door and is putting their bikes into the spare room, the holdall lies on the floor just inside their flat.
Stef comes out of the room and drags the heavy holdall further into the flat; “Come in Si, and shut the door.”
“Yeah, too right” answers Simon as he walks in closing the door behind him; “Where’s Nic?”
“Getting changed, she’s soaked and so are you, I’ll see what I got.” says Stef as he walks into the bedroom.
Simon stays where he is not wishing to sit down in his wet clothes, a couple of minutes later Stef comes out of the bedroom carrying a black tracksuit; “Here ya go, that should fit, though you are a bit taller than me.” he says as he hands the tracksuit to Simon and goes back into the bedroom.
Simon walks to the bathroom at the back of the building, shutting the door he strips off his sodden clothes and puts the tracksuit on; which is too short at the arms and legs! The end of the sleeves are a good six inches from his wrists and the trousers finish halfway down his shins making him look most comical.
Picking up his wet clothes he puts them in the enamel bath and goes back into the front room. The holdall lies on the floor where Stef had dragged it and Simon looks down at it with a happy smile on his face. Sitting down on the huge couch he stares and dreams until Stef and Nicola bring him back to earth by entering the room, both now wearing dry clothes.
“I need a drink, you wanna coffee Si?” asks Nicola.
“Yeah please.” answers Simon, still with a dreamy look on his face.
Nicola laughs, looks at the holdall and goes into the kitchen, the sound of running water and clashing mugs shows that she is in a hurry to make it.
Coming back into the room she looks at Simon and Stef who are staring at the holdall as if it contains some wild animal, or something dangerous!
“Aren’t you going to open it then?” she asks in a commanding voice.
Stef seems to snap out of his dream and looks her in the eyes; “What’s the hurry?”
“Are there any valuables in your clothes Si? I am going to put them