Village Life Continued.....
"Don't hit me, I can explain" screamed Sunny Dave as Murray took aim at him with her baseball bat. The pub went quiet as Murray said "This had better be good. Barmaid is going to go bonkers if she finds out you've ridden your Honda 50 in here. Anyway, what are those cow horns and bread crate doing fastened to it?" Sunny-Dave turned the key and with a fart and a splutter the moped fell silent. "It's for the orphans party in the village hall. The moped is Rudolph and the bread crate is the sleigh full of presents."
"What presents? It's empty" shouted an observant Dee Sa from her usual Danger Seat (under the dartboard).
"I know" whimpered Dave "they must have fallen out as I rode here. That's why I've come in here...I urgently need some presents for the poor little orphaned kiddies." He turned and faced the villagers with an impassioned look on his face. As one, the villagers suddenly found the pub carpet fascinating to look at.
Stepping through from the Snug, Shoota said "We should all do what we can to help."
Faced with a man who appeared to be absent mindedly toying with a loaded shotgun pointing in their direction, the villagers began rummaging in pockets and handbags. A pile of items grew steadily on the bar. LadyJ (formerly known as Mrs J Bloggs, village lollipop lady, until Mr Bloggs purchased a suspect 'Lord of the Manor' title for ten shillings in 1970) stepped forward and said in the pseudo refined voice the villagers knew and had grown to hate "Aye'll take control of the situation. Taymes layke this call for a natural leader." With a gloved hand, she carefully poked through the sorry pile.
"Used carrier bags, dried up biros, a bus timetable, a packet of polo mints, a rain hood and a copy of Goat Breeders Weekly." Stepping back towards the crowd she waved a hand in the general direction of no one in particular and said "Sod this for a game of soldiers, I delegate. Pass us a stiff drink and some pork scratchings Minty love."
Stifling a sob, Dave said "We'll have to do something quick. Not only are the poor orphaned tots waiting in the village hall...so is Santa"
"Santa?" squawked several voices at once. "Who is playing Santa?"
"When I tell you" wailed Dave, "you'll understand why he can't be kept waiting..."
TO BE CONTINUED