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

in the tumble drier as that tracksuit does not become you!” and she laughs and laughs, laughing more with relief, than at Simon’s ill fitting tracksuit.
Simon blushes a deep red and joins in the nervous laughter, when he manages to catch his breath he is able to say; “Only money.” before he goes into hysterical laughter.
Stef joins in, relieved that the ordeal is over and excited as to how much money is in the bag!
Nicola goes back into the kitchen and finishes making the drinks, carrying three mugs in her hands she comes back in and puts them on the coffee table. The holdall remains on the floor unopened and she kneels down and unzips the bag. Standing up she goes back into the kitchen to put Simon’s clothes in the tumble drier.


Chapter Three

“We counting it Dude?” asks Simon.
“S’pose we’d better.” laughs Stef, reaching out for a coffee he takes a sip and closes his eyes in appreciation.
“There sure is a lot there.” says Simon excitedly.
“Yeah, looks to be a million, they are bundled in twenties and fifties!”
Simon takes a drink of his coffee and stares at the open bag, eager to count it he feels that Stef should make the first move and looks at him impatiently.
Stef laughs and putting down his coffee he drags the bag closer and reaching in takes out several bundles of twenty pound notes, handing them to Simon he laughs; “Here, have a count.”
Simon quickly puts down his coffee cup and reaches for the money; “Cheers Dude.” he laughs, putting the bundles down onto the little table he takes one, removes the elastic band and starts to count.
Stef takes a bundle of notes out of the bag and taking a sip of his coffee and removing the elastic band he starts to count.
Nicola comes back into the room, seeing them counting she picks up her coffee cup and takes a drink as she watches.
Several minutes later Stef slaps the bundle of money down onto the table; “Five.” he says with a loud laugh.
Simon looks at him as he finishes counting; “I made it four eight; I musta missed one.”
“How much?” shouts Nicola.
“Five grand in mine.” Stef laughs.
Nicola leans down to look inside the bag; “But there are loads!” she exclaims holding one of the bundles of fifties.
“Better get counting then instead of watching us.” Stef commands.
Nicola obediently takes a handful of the bundles and sitting back in the armchair removes all of the elastic bands and excitedly starts to count.
A frown crosses Simon’s brow; “Problem we got is counting all that lot again!” he looks down at the coffee table. As they had been counting they had removed the elastic bands dropping them on the floor. The money, after they had counted it they have been putting on the coffee table; which is now covered in loose money.
“Oh yeah, I see what you mean.” laughs Stef, “better organise a bit better.” he says as he picks up some of the elastic bands from the floor.
“Keep ‘em in the elastic bands, put ‘em in ten thousands make it easy to count at the end.” orders Stef.
Nicola stands up and putting the money she was counting onto the table she bends down and starts to take the money out of the holdall putting it on the floor.
“What are you doing?” asks Stef.
“I counted six bundles and each one had five thousand pounds, just thought that I would count what was here.”
“We’re getting in a mess here; help us sort this out on the table and we won’t have to bend down too much.”
“Ok.” replies Nicola disappointedly and starts to count the money on the table; “Put it in ten thousands you said?”
“Yeah be easier.” confirms Stef, wrapping an elastic band around a bundle of twenties as he puts it down onto the table and picks up a large wad and counts quickly.
All is quiet as they concentrate and tie the newly counted larger bundles with the elastic bands and stack them neatly onto the coffee table. Stef starts to empty the bag and with the help of Simon and Nicola they stack the money in neat piles.
“I think we need a calculator.” laughs Nicola as she stands and walks over to a chest of drawers. Opening the top drawer she reaches inside and takes out a large calculator, with large square buttons that make it look like a toy.
“Does that work?” asks Simon.
“Course it does.” states Nicola firmly.
Nicola turns on the calculator and looking at the table of money pushes buttons with a thoughtful look. Stef and Simon watch her with impatience, a few minutes later and with an excited glint in her eye she hands the calculator to Stef.
“How much?” he asks taking the calculator from her outstretched hand.
“See if we make it the same.” she replies as she walks back to the chest of drawers. Opening the top drawer again she takes out a ballpoint pen and an envelope and writes down her total.
Simon and Nicola stare at Stef as he works the calculator and after a few minutes he hands the calculator to Simon and stands up; “I need the loo.” he laughs and walks across the room.
Simon counts silently, a frown furrowing his brow as he concentrates. As Stef comes back into the room he looks at Nicola with a questioning expression.
“I made it three million three hundred pounds.” she says grinning broadly.
“That’s what I made it,” laughs Simon; “What ‘bout you Stef?”
“We’re rich!” he shouts with excitement; “How much is that each?”
Simon pushes buttons on the calculator; “That’ll be; dunno what’s that say?” he asks in confusion showing the calculator to Stef.
Stef looks at the figures on the calculator, at first not understanding the confusion of figures; “Erh .... That’s one million one hundred pounds.” he says giving Simon an odd look.
“And one hundred pounds?” laughs Simon.
“Let’s have it?” Nicola asks walking over to Simon. With shaking hand she takes the calculator from Simon and with a serious expression pushes the buttons. Simon and Stef watch her expectantly as she works out the money, hitting a final button hard she looks up and smiles broadly; “That’s what I make it too.” she laughs; “Do it in your head.”
Simon and Stef both say the same swear word and burst out laughing as Nicola sits back down in the armchair.
“I’ve had enough of counting; you’ll have to count your own.” Stef tells Simon.
“You serious Dude, a third?”
“Yeah, I found it, but I couldn’t have got it home on me own.”
“Wow, hey thanks Dude.” answers Simon with a big grin and starts to separate the bundles of money in front of him.
“I need another drink.” says Nicola as she picks up the empty mugs and goes out into the kitchen.
Simon concentrates on counting his money and when he has a large pile in front of him he looks at Stef;
“You owe me one thousand three hundred Dude; coz I can’t be bothered.” he laughs as he sits back on the couch.
“Sorry mate I’m skint.” laughs Stef.
Simon shrugs his shoulders and stares at the money before him; “What ya gonna do with yours?” he asks Stef.
“Need a new motor and we wanna go to Australia, this will sort us right.” replies Stef with a huge grin on his face.
“They won’t accept pound notes in Australia Dude, its dollars out there in it?”
Stef’s face falls and he frowns in annoyance; “Ya know I hadn’t thought of that, do you know a money changer?”
“Not an illegal one, maybe you’d better stay here, you got no problems now.”
Stef looks at the money on the table deep in thought; “No, we’re going to Australia.” he states firmly.
“What’s the matter?” Nicola asks as she enters the room carrying three mugs of coffee.
“Stef says you are going to Australia; how are you going to spend this down there?” Simon asks nodding towards the money on the table.
Nicola puts the mugs down on the only spare space on the table and looks intently at Stef; “Well?” she asks in a cold voice.
“I’ll think of something, Martin will know someone.”
“Martin? He works in the bank admittedly but doesn't he still owe you one hundred and twenty five pounds?” says Nicola angrily. All her dreams seem to be falling around her faced with this problem, she had dreamt of owning a lovely home in Australia and had thought finding this amount of money would enable her to fulfil her dream. This is a large problem and she is angry at herself for not thinking of it; and not knowing the solution! With a worried look she stares at Stef hoping he could come up with a different solution. Martin, though a good friend mixed with the wrong kind and she felt that she could not trust him.
“He knows a lot of people, I know he’s got some dodgy mates but he knows some good people as well.” answers Stef defensively not answering her question.
Nicola stares at him not convinced as her mind races for a better solution, in frustration she realises that she knows no money launderers and clenches her jaw in agitation.
“Don’t worry about it.” assures Stef, “Anyway we’ll eat well,” taking a twenty pound note from the table he waves it around; “Anyone want a Take Away?”
“Yeah, I’m starving, let me pay.” laughs Simon taking a twenty from the pile in front of him.
“I can’t afford it.” laughs Nicola holding up a huge bundle of money; “I only got this and it’s gotta last me.”
They all laugh, Stef walks over to the telephone and dials a number, after a few seconds he speaks into the telephone and orders three large pizzas. Confirming his address and telephone number he hangs up the phone and waits for the return call. The telephone rings almost immediately and he confirms his name and address.
“What did you order Dude?” asks Simon.
“Thought we’d celebrate; so I ordered three deep pan tropical.”
“Cool.” laughs Simon.
“I’d better sort some plates and things out.” says Nicola as she stands up, looking down at the money on the table she shakes her head in wonder at the sight and goes out into the kitchen.
“I’m starving Dude, did they say how long?”
“About twenty minutes, the fella reckoned.”
“My clothes must be dry by now.” says Simon as he stands and walks into the kitchen, going to the tumble drier he opens the door and puts his hand inside.
“They should be dry, they’ve had long enough.” Nicola tells him as she opens the cupboard door and gets the plates out.
Simon pulls out his hot