Deasil Street

6.1

Teresa was getting worried. Her pay cheque had come through just in time to pay off some nasty bills, and was completely spent on them. They’d be back in debt just buying food this coming month. If they had any more unexpected expenses they would have to sell some furniture or something.

She tried talking to Warren about it, about how they had to expand, start digging up more of the garden, plant more… but he brushed her concerns aside. Again. But this time she wasn’t going to be ignored. It was getting too serious.

She tackled him head on. His reckless spending on the house had left them with debts they wouldn’t be able to pay next month. Unless they found another source of income or increased their main one, they were screwed.

He started spluttering. It wasn’t as bad as all that. Her job was bringing in money, and he had a number of… she cut him short.

It was as bad as all that, perhaps he should follow up all those opportunities he had instead of just talking about them. He agreed readily.

He seemed to get the message properly after some machinery broke down the next day. Next time the brewing machinery blew up in her face Warren might not be handy enough to fix it. If it broke properly they couldn’t afford to but another, neither could they afford to live off the sale of vegetables alone.

They were on a tightrope, and Warren was finally done shaking it.

Instead of concentrating on his finances, Warren preferred to spend time continuing his plan of action with Alfred Henrrick. He guilt-tripped him into ‘getting to know his neighbours’, and tried to befriend him.

Henrrick wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. He had tried being unfriendly, but Warren wasn’t getting the hint. The man was like an eager puppy, being mean to him made you feel bad.

Despite himself, he began to have a good time.

Chowing down after their night out, Warren mentioned doing it all again next week - and trying to get Marley involved. Henrrick found himself agreeing without a single protest.

For some reason, the idea of spending more time with Warren wasn’t anathema to him. Perhaps it was that the man was so bumbling, so well meaning… it was almost impossible not to see the world his way after a while. Even if reality reasserted itself once he was gone. The eternal optimism of Warren Bailey was fascinating to a man like himself.

Warren just had his fingers crossed. He really hoped the three of them would hit it off and be mates.

Malika was taking a break from hanging out with Megan in the park. Since Annette had made new friends, she was finding herself in much higher demand and Megan could get a bit much sometimes.

Her peace and quiet was shattered by a woman chasing a man, who when caught up with was rude and insolent. Malika couldn’t help but stare, she wondered how the two knew each other. The woman seemed very angry.

Suddenly, the woman pounced on the man, who was halfway through insulting her. Taken by surprise, he went down like a sack of bricks. Malika fell off the bench with alarm, she had never seen a fight before! What should she do?

The woman beat the man, who sat on the floor moaning. Malika had never thought something like this could happen in the park! Who was she? This woman was amazing but a little bit scary.

When the woman dragged the man to his feet and cuffed him she understood. The woman was a police officer! Starstruck, Malika stared as the woman phoned for backup, read the criminal his rights and had him taken into custody.

When he was gone, the officer checked to make sure the little girl who had witnessed her arrest was alright. Seeing a fight could be frightening. She then gave Malika a lift home, as it was getting dark so curfew would soon be in affect.