Page 21 of On The Edge

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“Darling you mustn’t do too much, you give me the receipts and I’ll see if I can get them to pay for something. These city people in London don’t care about anything up here in ‘rural-ville’”. Monique sat behind the reception desk with papers scattered all across the table. She seemed to be picking up folders and placing them in alternative positions; Cat was not entirely convinced she was organising the clutter. “The more work you do, the easier it is for them to sell the place and make a hefty profit. So we must get what we can from them!” Her face turned a little pink and then she sighed. She stood up, slowly took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Poor Marge, she loved that house. Those people only care about money, they didn’t care about Marge one little bit when she was alive.”

Cat gently put her arm around the glamorous woman, feeling a little scared in case she was told off for doing such an informal thing. “I love that house too, and I’ll take care of it.”

Monique patted her hand with affection. “I know you will darling.”

“If the family want the money so much, why haven’t they sold it already?”

“That would involve them coming here and getting their hands dirty – or paying someone else to. Besides the market isn’t so good at the moment. Different story in London I’d imagine, but not many people are prepared to put their hard-earned cash into a property on a remote island these days.” She sighed.

“Would it be possible to stay here two more nights until the house has had a little more work done to it?”

“Of course, you can stay a week if you would like?” Monique’s glasses were back on and her sensitive side hidden again.

“Thank you, I don’t think I’ll need that much time. Just two nights and I’ll get a bedroom tidied up”.

Monique nodded her approval. “And as a wee favour, could you be in the bar tonight? Poor Jim has flu.”

“Just me?” Cat got slightly anxious at the prospect. “It’s Saturday night, will I have any help?” Weekends were incredibly busy, and there was usually two people behind the bar.

“Just you I’m afraid darling, I’m sorry, all my staff are unwell!” Monique shook her hands as if wanting to strangle someone, so Cat made her exit quietly and anxiously awaited her shift.

When Cat emerged from the staff door into the bar, she was faced with the three usual customers. She greeted them and received some nods, while one read the newspaper, and the other two watched the TV screen above the bar. What could go wrong? They order the same drinks all the time, it’ll be fine. She reassured herself.

Five hours later she was not of the same opinion. After the kitchen staff had gone home, two large parties of men had entered and soon the bar was full. She ran out of change first of all, as the tills hadn’t been stocked; luckily all the men had been happy to pay by card so she had quickly resolved that issue. Then the kegs had needed changed, all the while men were demanding drinks over the bar with the jukebox playing in full swing. Cat had scanned the room for some customers she vaguely knew, and asked them to help with the kegs while she continued to serve. Just when she was collecting herself, thinking with relief that now all she had left to do was call out last drinks; a fight broke out between the two parties. Fists were flying, and Cat stood frozen to the spot looking at the scene before her, while the jukebox blared away merrily. What should she do? How did this even happen? They were all laughing just a second ago! She shook herself and without further thought, marched up to the main switchboard, turning off every switch her hand felt. The result was darkness, and no more music. The shouting stopped abruptly, the men subsequently unable to see who they were hitting. Cat clasped her hand around a broom that lay next to her, and shouted, “OK, EVERYONE OUT!” A roar of men laughing and shouting met her in the darkness, so she switched on the light with the bleary eyed faces looking at her and continued: “I’M CALLING THE POLICE, GET OUT IF YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE ENDING THE NIGHT WITH A CHAT AT THE STATION!” She started to dial digits on the counter phone, and went out the room to the staff quarters. There she stayed for a few minutes trying to calm herself a little. After several minutes had passed, she emerged again to just one man at the bar. He was one of the old regulars who had sat quietly sipping his pint all night long.

“Are they are all gone?” Cat asked wearily.

“Yes love, all gone. Thought I’d stay just to make sure.” And with that he drained his pint and got up to leave. “I’ll be off too, better lock this door after me in case you get anyone else coming in.” He slowly put on his waterproof jacket and trudged out.

Cat did as he said and immediately locked up. She took a deep breath and realised she was trembling. She poured herself a dram and knocked it back with a cough. She looked over the mess in the bar and hastily cleared up the broken glass. She put a song on the jukebox, took another dram, which she paid for, and cleaned up a bit more. The cleaning turned into singing, then singing into dancing. After two more songs, she switched everything off for the second time that night, and headed upstairs, realising with surprise she was smiling.