There’s Always Tomorrow – Episode 18
There's Always Tomorrow by Mark Neilson
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- 1. There’s Always Tomorrow – Episode 18
“I’m Larry,” he said when he arrived. “And this is Helen. Fit like, Wullie?”
Wullie nodded.
“Aye. Could be better, could be worse.” He glanced at Lorna, his eyes twinkling.
“That was Larry asking how I was.”
“They speak a foreign language here.” Lorna sighed, turning to Helen.
The younger woman smiled but said nothing.
“Would you like a scone and a cup of coffee?” Lorna asked.
Having settled them in the armchairs, coffee and scones in hand, an awkward silence developed.
As hostess, Lorna sought to break this before it settled.
“Wullie tells me you have lots of animals,” she said to the quiet young woman.
Helen nodded.
“They’re rescue animals,” Larry explained.
“Oh. Are you fostering them?” Lorna asked brightly.
“No. They’re mine.”
Her voice was not so much dismissive as self-contained, Lorna thought.
Her lifetime of experience in dealing with other people’s problems made her prick up her ears.
There was something wrong here. But this young woman was not the immediate issue. It was the total lack of other people.
“There’ll be naebody coming now,” Wullie judged, looking out of the window. “This is it.”
Lorna had guessed as much. Should she cancel the meeting, or chat about her idea to the two who had bothered to turn up?
She chose the latter, and when she had finished it was Helen who replied.
“It’s a great idea,” she enthused.
“The village needs a place that draws people out from behind their curtains to have a cup of coffee and a chat.
“I’ve only been here for a week, but the whole place seems to have withdrawn into itself.”
Larry nodded.
“A community shop would provide a focal point. But Mearns folk are likely to be suspicious and slow to respond.
“Particularly to an idea floated by an incomer.
“Even if they need a shop, would they support one? Or would they hold back and wait to see if it failed?”
“They’ll hang back,” Wullie stated truthfully. “Can I have my cake now?”
“Have two,” Lorna replied. “Would you like another coffee?”
“No, I’ll make myself a cup of tea in your kitchen.” Wullie went through and filled the kettle.
“I don’t always like what he tells me.” Lorna sighed. “But he’s usually right. Should we abandon the idea?”
“We’ve come this far.” Wullie’s voice drifted through from the kitchen. “It would be daft to tak’ fright now.”
“Couldn’t we negotiate with the shop owner to try it for a month or so?” Helen suggested.
“Buy in minimal stock, open up and see how people respond?
“If it works, we expand. If it fails, we take the hit.” She smiled. “I’m happy to help.”
“It’ll be hard work, cleaning out the place,” Lorna warned.
“Wullie and I can clear up the windows for you,” Larry offered.
“Here!” Wullie cried, emerging from the kitchen. “Dinnae you be volunteerin’ other folk.”
Larry smiled.
“You’ll do it, won’t you?”
Wullie sighed.
“I’d better. She pays my wages.”
“I’ll help scrub inside,” Helen offered. “I’m used to hard work.
“We’ll need to work out how much it’ll take to rent the shop for a month, plus buying stock.
“We should make cakes, too, rather than buying them.”
“I can do that,” Lorna said. “But it might take a few days.”
Wullie reached for another slice of cake.
“It’s been empty for three years,” he reminded them. “Another week won’t hurt.”
After the younger two had gone, Lorna turned to him.
“Thanks for supporting me,” she said. “But what do we do with all these scones and cake?”
“Eat them,” he replied with a grin. “The cake will keep. But you should never hae buttered these scones until you saw the whites of their eyes.
“Are ye sure about this shoppie?” he went on. “Renting for a month could cost a fair bit o’ money.
“’Specially if folks hold back for a whilie – they don’t like new ideas around here.”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Lorna replied, sounding more confident than she felt.
“Surely people will support something that helps them, or have enough curiosity to come along and see what we’re doing.”
Wullie scowled.
“Maybe aye, maybe no,” he finally said. “You’re a fighter – I’ll give you that.”
Lorna smiled.
“But you still have to live here,” he continued.
“And if your idea goes pear-shaped . . . Well, this could all end in tears,” he warned.
“I won’t let it,” Lorna said defiantly.
“So there’s no point in me arguing?” He sighed.
“None whatsoever,” she replied firmly. “It needs to be done – and I’m doing it.”