U3A Writing: The Nut
A screw falls from the sky, almost hitting a chap who is passing by. So what is the kid who let it fall? Derek McQueen’s short, short story provides the answer.
“You know this has just dropped forty feet and missed me by inches, do you?” I yelled, holding up the huge steel nut.
“It’s taken a piece out of the bloody pavement. Lucky for you I’m still here.”
The blonde kid peered down from the scaffolding. He looked about eighteen.
“Sorry about that - it’s my first day and I couldn’t get the wheelbarrow past this pole,” the kid shouted down, as if by way of reasonable explanation.
“Where’s the screw it fits then?” I said, peering upwards. “Is that still up there or did you try to kill somebody else earlier?’’
“Ya what?” the kid yelled. “I’m struggling to hear ya. It’s windy up here.”
I squinted upwards in the bright sunlight.
“The screw,” I screamed. “Where’s the bloody screw?”
“It’s our twelve o’clock break,” the kid shouted. “The crew are having their dinner, there’s only me here.”
“Not the crew: the screw. Where’s the bloody ---.” My voice choked in frustration.
“Sod it,” I said half to myself.
I made one last gasp response.
I screamed up at the scaffolding. “You’re a bloody nutter, you are.” I said. “Do you know that?”
