Creeps by Darren Hynes

Author:Darren Hynes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group (Canada)

TWO

Wayne’s mother puts a basket of fries down between them (the gravy on the side as per Marjorie’s request) and two Pepsis full of ice and lime wedges and with bendable, candy cane–coloured straws. She steps back and watches, hands on her hips, hairnet, Woolworths uniform, apron, and name tag.

“A lot of fries here, Mrs. Pumphrey,” Marjorie says.

She smiles. Juts her chin in Wayne’s direction. “Isn’t every day he brings someone to share them with.”

Wayne adjusts his straw and takes a sip.

A fat man in a toque and parka comes and sits on a stool at the far end of the counter. Rubs and then blows into cupped hands. “Cold front moving in,” he says to no one in particular.

“When isn’t there one moving in?” Wayne’s mom says.

He laughs and his shoulders bounce and everything on the counter shakes.

“I suppose you’d like coffee?”

“I’d like a pot.”

Wayne’s mother nods. “Be right there.” She turns back to Marjorie. “Wayne says you’re the best actress.”

Marjorie shrugs and dunks a fry in the gravy and takes a bite.

“She’s better than the Hollywood crowd,” Wayne says.

“Yes, that’s exactly what he’s been saying: that you’re better than all them in Hollywood.”

Marjorie’s redder than the ketchup. “Well, Wayne’s a very good assistant director.”

“Is he?”

“Mm-hm. Always jotting away in his notebook.”

Wayne’s mom looks at him. “He’s like that at home. Hunched over his desk writing God knows what.”

The fat man coughs and takes off his toque. Unzips his jacket and glances over.

Wayne’s mother holds up a finger and says, “One sec,” then steps forward and leans across the counter so that her face is close to Marjorie’s. When she speaks her voice is a whisper. “How’s your mom?”

Before Marjorie can answer, Wayne goes, “She’ll know to make the beef chunks smaller from now on.”

“What?”

“Nothing, Mrs. Pumphrey. She’s fine.”

Wayne’s mom wipes her hands on her apron. “That’s good.” She heads over to the coffee pot. “Better not see one fry left over.”

“You won’t,” Wayne says.

She takes the pot over to the man and he thanks her and says again how a cold front’s moving in.

Wayne dunks two fries into the ketchup, then into the gravy, finishing them off in one bite. Wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

The fat man wants a cheeseburger with extra cheese and extra bacon. Onion rings instead of fries. Extra onion rings. He’ll pay the difference.

Wayne’s mom goes through the swinging doors.

Marjorie says, “It wasn’t the beef chunks.”

Wayne lets go of his Pepsi and looks at her and waits for ages.

Finally, she says, “Her nerves. Thought she was dying.” Marjorie grabs the counter and starts swivelling to the right, then left, and back again.

The fat man adds spoonful after spoonful of sugar to his coffee and enough cream to fill a pastry. His bulk hangs out over the edges of his stool as he stirs and sips, then adds another sugar packet and stirs and sips again.

Wayne says, “How can nerves kill you?”

Marjorie does two complete spins, raising her hands in the air like she’s on a merry-go-round, then stops herself and says, “You’d be surprised.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.