Chapter 9 - Fast Food Nightmare
Ewan's worst fear comes true but learns the old adage that the truth shall set him free
Welcome to chapter 9 of this epic exclusive YA urban fantasy saga. Feel free to reach out or comment if you like this story. Your feedback is what keeps the magic flowing.
Friday evening in The Blossom Garden was the busiest time of the week so it was no surprise that the shift flew by. For Ewan being busy had another advantage, it left him no time to dwell on the events of the afternoon, both in the park and at home. Anna had organised things so that Ewan cooked and she served the customers, so by the time the queues started to grow they had an efficient system in place.
By nine thirty the queues had started to die down so Ewan took the opportunity to start the clean down whilst Anna finished serving the last of the customers. Ewan was just starting in the kitchen prep area when he heard the voices that sent a chill down his spine.
“‘ello lovely, we’ll have five fish suppers,”
“Yeah, and don't skimp on the chips, neither,”
“eye, an’ plenty o’salt n vinegar an all!”
Mackie and his gang had entered the shop and Ewans hands started to shake at the realisation he’d decided to make good on his promise to collect the compensation money.
“Oy, darling, is, er, Ewan about? He said to come by tonight as he ‘as sommat fer me.”
“He’s out back, do you want me give him a shout?”
Ewan hadn’t had time to talk to Anna about the earlier incident so when she called his name he started to shake so badly that he had to stop what he was doing before he caused an accident.
“Ewan, there's some lads out here to see you”.
Oblivious to his panic Anna continued to complete their food order and package the parcels of fresh fish and chips, drenched in salt and vinegar stacking them on the counter.
Peering out from around the doorway Ewan saw one of Mackie’s companions reaching to pick up the first of the meals and he prayed that they might just take their food and go.
“That'll be twenty quid, please!”
Ewan groaned as he remembered Anna was always the best at dealing with potentially awkward customers and it was very rare that anyone ever got away with pulling the wool over her eyes.
Ewan’s heart sank when he heard Mackie’s response and knew this wasn’t going to end anytime soon.
“What do mean, twenty quid?”
“Five fish suppers at four pounds each is twenty quid.” Anna held her hand out expectantly.
“But Ewan said we could have them for free. He said to come along tonight to pick up the money he owes me and he’d give us some free food for our trouble.”
“I don’t think so,” Anna stood her ground and snorted with disdain.
“Why don’t you ask him then?”
“Ewan, can you come out here for a minute please. These lad’s are saying they’re here because you own them some money and that you said they could have some free food, is that right?”
All Ewan could do was close his eyes and wish the ground would open up and swallow him whole. He didn’t know how this day could get any worse.
“Ewan, are you there, Ewan!” He could tell from their voices that Anna was becoming more insistent and Mackie was beginning to get angry.
“Look love, I’m just here for the money that I lent Ewan earlier, and he said we can have some free food on account of the last lot I had here gave me food poisoning,”
“I doubt that, you haven’t ever been in here before. Ewan, can you come and sort this out now please.”
Realising he didn’t have any choice, Ewan reluctantly slunk back in to the main serving area. Upon seeing him Mackie was the first to speak.
“‘Ere he is, alright Ewan mate, I’ve come for that thirty quid you owe me…”
“Ewan, is this right, why do you owe him money, and why did you say he can have free food? You know what your dad would say.”
“Remember earlier Ewan, in the park. You ask’ed me to lend you thirty quid in an emergency, or was it fifty, I can’t remember? Do you remember, Ewan?”
The tone of Mackie’s voice was becoming more threatening and Anna was becoming more and more suspicious. Ewan just wanted to keep quiet and not make eye contact with anyone in the hope that this nightmare would end.
“Ewan, tell me the truth, did you borrow money off him earlier?” The insistence in her voice was growing by the second.
“No, I…, err no, it wasn’t like that, I didn’t, he said I owed him money as compensation because he got food poisoning and blamed it on dad’s fish!”
It was hard to say which was worse, the look of shock on Anna’s face or the anger building on Mackie’s. But having blurted out his predicament Ewan knew he needed to keep going, to keep telling the truth or else he’d never be free.
“And, when I said I didn’t have any money, he smashed my phone and said he’d be back tonight to collect.”
“I think you lot should leave. Now! You’re just a bunch of bullies, get out now! Before I call the police.” Anna said pointing at the door.
Ewan couldn’t tell if Anna was as scared as he was as she did a much better job of hiding it. She quickly moved the parcels of food and put them out of reach under the counter just as one of Mackie’s companions tried to make a grab for them.
The atmosphere was becoming more tense by the second and Mackie looked like was about to explode.
“You can stick ‘yer friggin chips, ya nasty cow. But I ain’t going anywhere until I’ve got the fifty quid that little ginger twat owes me.”
“You ain’t getting nothing, now get out, I won’t tell you again.” Anna said.
“Oh yeah, who’s gonna make me, eh, you? You an who’s army then, eh?”
“Hey Mackie, how about Ewan Wu’s army?” said one of the other bullies pointing at Ewan cowering in the doorway, “He looks like he’s about ta piss himself”, this only served to Mackie and the others all laugh.
“For the last time, get out, Ewan call the police.” Anna was also beginning to sound desperate now and Mackie could sense it like a hyena closing in on its wounded prey.
“I’ll go when I’ve got my money, do you think you’ll be able to stop me?”
“If need’s be, you don’t scare me Wayne Mackinson,”
“You look scared, and you know who I am, good, now be a good girl, open the till and give me fifty quid or I’ll open it meself and take a hundred for me trouble.”
“Ewan! Call the police, now!”
Mackie pointed at Ewan, “Touch that phone and I’ll break every bone in your body, and slap little miss mouthy here to…”
Before Mackie could finish his threat he was catapulted forward and just managed to catch himself before he smashed against the counter.
“What the…”
“You better be behaving yourself Mackie.”
Ewan watched open mouthed as Mackie turned round and saw what had made him stumble. One of his cronies who’d been standing at the back of the group was now sprawled in a heap in front of the counter where he’d landed after being forcibly shoved from behind knocking Mackie over in the process.
In his place stood a large, heavy set teenager that both Ewan and Anna were very happy to see.
Malcom ‘Big Mac’ Connolly or simply Mac as he was more commonly known was one of the shop regulars. He always came in at least two or three times a week and never missed a Friday night.
He was about the same age as Anna but thanks to his large muscular frame looked a lot older. Despite the muscles and freakish strength which he had developed from countless hours of hard work in the local scrapyard he was usually very quiet, especially around Anna and her friends. Unless you knew him well you’d probably describe him as shy.
Mac had been on his way to collect his supper when he’d seen the commotion unfold and decided to step in. Quite literally.
“Big Mac, wh… what are you doing here?”
Mac was just standing in the doorway and staring back at Mackie and his gang.
“I said, you’d better behave yourself Mackie, I think you’re upsetting my friends and they’ve asked you nicely to leave.”
Mackie looked round at his gang, they were all waiting to see what was going to happen next, as not one them wanted to get on the wrong side of ‘Big Mac’.
“Just having a bit of fun, that’s all,”
“Don’t look like fun to me, Anna, Ewan, you ok?”
“Mackie here was trying to mug poor Ewan out of fifty quid, and it looks like they was picking on him in the park earlier.”
“Is that so?” Mac asked
“Look Mac, no harm done, we was just having a bit of a laugh that’s all.”
“Well that’s all the fun you’re gonna get round ‘ere unless you want to start something more?”
Ewan could see the realisation dawning on Mackie’s face that he was way out of his depth and that his next actions could have serious ramifications.
Mackie looked across at what remained of his gang and weighed up his options. Judging by the look on Mac’s face and the way he was clenching his fists Ewan wondered if Mackie was now feeling the same way he had this afternoon.
“All right, take it easy big guy, we don’t want any trouble.”
It looked like Mackie had finally come to his senses.
“Then I suggest you best apologise and leave now like you were asked.”
Ewan felt a sigh of relief as Mac stepped to the side allowing the other gang members to leave, which they did quickly with their heads hung low.
Before Mackie got a chance to follow Mac stepped back to block his path and Ewan held his breath in case it kicked off again.
“I said apologise,” despite Mac’s quiet voice the deathly silence in the room allowed his word’s to ring out loud and clear.
Mackie stopped and tried to look Mac in the eye as if trying to save face but couldn’t quite manage it. “You know my uncle, he’s just got out the nick, he’s gonna do you for this, all of you.”
Mac just shook his head.
“I don’t think so, what you gonna do, run home and cry that you got showed up in front of your mates over a bag of chips?”
Ewan could hardly breathe as the tension continued to build, even Anna took a step back from the counter.
Mackie started to open his mouth, looking for a suitable retort but before he could speak Mac repeated his earlier request.
“I said apologise, now, then you and your little scally mates can get good and lost.”
Recognising that he was on the loosing side for once Mackie made the intelligent choice.
“Yeah, right, sorry, no offence, no harm eh, just a bit of jokes.”
Ewan was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as Mac once more moved to the side and Mackie shuffled out the door.
“Don’t wanna see you round ‘ere again, understand?”
Mackie nodded his head and as he left Anna shouted out “and yer barred too, all of yous, for ever!”
Great installment, Jon! I love how Mackie loses face in front of his lackies!