Jolly Japes - 15

Gosh! All hustle and bustle yesterday as hubby wanted to hurry back home from the shops to watch a taped recording of the Liverpool match (his favourite football team). Just had time, though, to buy him some spicy cumberland sausages from our friendly local butcher. After seeing him settled down, decided to nip up to BIG RON's place who I knew would be on his own as his wife visits her sister the same time every week. Marched through the drizzly pour hoping to find him in. Luckily he was, and seemed surprised to see me so early in the day and even more surprised when I refused the drink he offered me. I was jolly well determinded to find out one way or another what was going on between him and this barmaid down at the Plough. People, I began, were beginning to spread all sorts of malicious gossip about him. He cut me short with one of his customary deep chuckles and appeared completely unflustered as he went on to give an explanation of what really went on that day. Apparently, as a good friend of the barman and formerly being in the bar trade himself, he'd offered to lend a hand in shifting some beer casks. But was that all he was handling I wonder. Gosh!