Water Bowser Consequences 6

Cyril Mason looked in irritation across his desk at the man he thought he had removed from his world … how wrong was this proving to be!

‘Bill, how can I give you a good reference when I’ve just sacked you for not doing your job?’

‘But I need one to get another job ……. Sir.’

‘Well I’m sorry Bill but no can do .. . we all have principles…’

This was an unfortunate contribution to the discussion.

‘Principles ?! Principles ?!’ Bill, in his anger had completely lost his carefully constructed air of deference, ‘Where are the principles in an unfair dismissal – you shafted me and you know it!’

‘Now just wait a minute Bill, those are serious allegations.’

‘It’s a serious matter …. Cyril  …. I’ve got a family to support and the Union says I have grounds for a claim of unfair dismissal.’

‘Huh the Union! Have they nothing better to do than waste everyone’s time and money …. and’, he paused feeling bile rise again, ‘I’ve met your son and his friends.’

‘Give me a good reference and I’ll withdraw the claim for ……’

‘Get out of my office!’ roared Cyril Mason.

— x —

Tuesday evening saw Eb making his way to football practice. A bus pulled up just in front of him and off got Johnny. Eb felt decidedly panicky …. where was J when you needed him?

‘Hi Eb,’ Johnny called out cheerfully as he fell in alongside, ‘I say, I’m awfully sorry about my Pater the other day, he can be an absolute arse at times.’

Eb was speechless (probably a good thing). First there was Johnny apologizing to him after the way they had behaved in the café, then there was the challenge of the word ‘pater’ – and finally he was calling his Dad ‘an arse’. Now Eb had very strong feelings about his own dad but he couldn’t imagine calling him an arse to anyone.

Johnny continued, ‘I must have a word with Davey, the old man told me all about the water bowser and him sacking his dad in the car on the way home – at least he told me his version of events. I told Mater about it and she says that Davey’s Dad should have a strong case for unfair dismissal. She also said that Pater is a cowboy who is ruining the firm’s reputation and threatening her investment in it with another employment tribunal to come.’

Eb had let his mind wander. There was Johnny’s ….. er Pater, stetson on his head sitting with his back to the wall in a bar that looked rather like the town café. As the Sheriff and his deputy entered through the swing doors he rose, drawing his colt 45s without warning and …..

‘Any way told him I didn’t want him at football and came by bus, it’s only 50 minutes and I’ve managed to have a stab at my Latin, although it might be fairly illegible.’

‘You come from Rochester?’

‘Yep, can’t get a game at Rochester College so Mater had a word with Coach here – seems you needed a goalie.’

‘You go to Rochester College?’

‘Yeah ….. it’s not too bad, great for sports and that – and we get longer holidays than you do, ah!’ Johnny quickened his pace, ‘there’s Davey.’

— x —

Saturday’s match was away in Chelmsford and the teams, under 12 and under 15s, travelled by coach. Johnny had been dropped off by his mum. When the team ran out onto the pitch they noticed that the three faithful mum supporters had been joined by a fourth. At the end of the game the four suddenly disappeared, reappearing again when the coach dropped the boys off at their home club.

On the coach back, Johnny told the other three that his mater wanted to discuss with the other mums the situation about Davey’s dad and what might be done to sort it out. Davey had been silent throughout what turned into a reprise of comments in the café the previous week directed at the identified baddie in all this – Mr. Cyril Mason. Johnny seemed confident that his mater would come up with something and J and Eb were left heartened by this.

‘Must go round and tell Jan and Maureen,’ was J’s parting comment to Eb.

— x —

The following Tuesday evening found Richard Brown back in Bill Chadwick’s scullery, sitting at the same table with the same teapot. They were both writing on sheets of paper – at least they were trying to. Richard had set off at a fast lick and filled almost a whole page before pausing, considering what he had written and then, with a sigh, crossing most of it out.

Bill had been steadier and more methodical – but had only completed one sentence and had spent most of the time staring at it as if willing it to multiply by itself when there was a knock on the back door and in came a man, younger than them still in work clothes.

‘Hi Joe,’ Bill sounded relieved, then to his co conspirator he added by way of explanation, ‘Rich, this Joe … old workmate of mine …. said he’d come and help with the reference ….. he’s better at words than me, he’s got building qualifications …. been to tech college and all that.’

‘Good, I think we could do with some help.’

Joe sat down and took the sheet from Bill, then burst out laughing, ‘I can see you’ve not written a reference before ….. he gets jobs done quickly and tells the men what to do !’

‘It’s difficult writing about yourself’ protested Bill.

‘Let’s have a look at yours Dick.’

‘Richard,’

‘Eh?’

‘It’s Richard, not Dick.’

‘Oh …… OK, let’s see yours Rich.’

Aware that he had already trampled over his mate’s confidence Joe tried to keep a straight face as he worked his way through the scribbles and crossings out before him. Even the words were hard to read, just like Doctors he thought.

‘Look Dick’

‘It’s Richard.’

‘Oh yes .. sorry …. Er … Rich …. this might be OK for court .. and,’ he reflected trying to be charitable, ‘might be useful at a tribunal if it comes to that, but I don’t think Mason would write a reference like that.’

‘I know,’ nodded Richard wearily, ‘that’s why most of it is crossed out.’

‘Let me have a go.’

The other two sat back with a sigh of relief as Joe got to work on a fresh sheet of paper. He took his time, with many pauses and some crossings out before he felt satisfied enough to push the paper over to Bill, who had just refreshed the tea pot.

‘Blimey Joe,’ exclaimed Bill when he had read it through, you make me sound good at what I do.’

‘That’s because you are good Bill, too good for that Mason and more than good enough to be overseeing foreman at Rush and Tomkins.’

‘Oh ……. er…. thanks mate.’

‘Happy to help Bill, you always helped me and I worry that my problematic drains got you into this situation.’

‘Mason was looking to let you go whatever,’ interjected Richard.

‘Mind you,’ Joe grinned, ‘I’ll be looking for a job there meself once you’re on the inside.’