Page 50 of Autumn at the Oak Leaf Café
‘I’m sorry to hear that. Your mother sounds like my grandmother. She would have shooed me away from her bedside if she’d been able. Told me to go out and do something useful.’
‘She sounds like a wonderful woman.’
Darren smiled. ‘She was, for sure. That wasn’t why I didn’t show up yesterday, though.’
‘No?’
Darren’s smile dropped. ‘Some scumbag wheel-clamped my car.’
23
New Friends and More
‘The hospital car park was full,’Darren said, ‘so I had to park in the Pay and Display just up the street. I was in a bit of a hurry, as you might have expected, and when I got back, my car was clamped, for no obvious reason. I called a helpline number on the machine, and after wasting God knows how much money and time getting through a stupid automated system, I finally got in touch with their customer services. All the idiot could tell me was that I had to wait until the clamp guy showed up again.’
‘What a nightmare.’
‘I waited around for half an hour, then he finally appeared. It turned out I’d been clamped because my car wasn’t straight in the space. I wasn’t even over the lines, but because my car wasn’t straight, according to the company that was breaking some kind of fine print rule. Of course I disputed it, refusing to pay the hundred and fifty quid fine. An absolute joke. We almost got into a fight right there.’
‘What did you do? Did you pay it in the end?’
‘No chance. I called a mate at Radio Devon, and he called a mate who works for ITV. Half an hour later I had TV cameras down there. No way I was letting those scumbags win. It was on yesterday’s news and everything.’
‘Sorry, I didn’t see it. My dad might have, but I don’t watch much television.’
Darren smiled. ‘Don’t worry. My hair was a mess.’
‘Did he let you off?’
‘In the end, yeah. Not before I had to create a hell of a fuss on live television. In the end, the guy said he’d release my car as a “goodwill gesture” which took into account my “grief.” What an utter, utter scumbag.’
‘Let me guess, the car park was owned by Snide and Company?’
‘You’ve got it.’ Darren narrowed his eyes. ‘Whatever happens, we cannot let the council sell the theatre car park to those devils. Sycamore Park will be ruined.’
‘Do you want a coffee?’
‘I’d love one. I have something else for you, though.’
‘Really?’
‘Well, kind of. It’s more for Hazel.’
‘Hazel?’
Darren smiled. ‘Wait a moment.’
He went back outside, and returned with a small carry cage, which he set down on a table. ‘I had a visit from Tom this morning,’ he said. ‘This little chap has a broken wing and needs a bit of nurturing. We’re not sure he’ll ever be able to fly again, but he should be fine for swimming about. He’s only a youngster, though.’
Madeline peered in through the carry cage at a young duck sitting inside. ‘You … ah … brought that for Hazel? She’s only ever caught butterflies and a few caterpillars.’
Darren laughed. ‘No, I don’t mean it like that. I was talking to Tom, and he was a little worried that when Hazel gets bigger, she might start targeting the park’s birdlife. He thought it might help if she started to see birds as friends.’
‘Well, you can try, but I can’t guarantee Hazel will go for it.’
Hazel, for her part, was watching with interest from the basket at the top of her cat tower. As both Madeline and the little cat watched, Darren opened the carry cage and took out the little duck. He gave a quack, but otherwise seemed happy enough in Darren’s hands.
‘His name’s Sampson,’ Darren said, holding him up towards Hazel. The cat’s ears pricked up, her eyes watching the duck intently. Sampson gave a little quack, then, as he came in range, bent to give the cat an exploratory peck. Hazel shifted back, then reached up a paw and gave the duck a pat on the head.
