Helping Hands

[Darren Nash]

After the new belt goes swiftly on, Darren gives the motor a quick clean and opens the door to check all is ok before strolling back into the kitchen, wiping his hands on a bit of old blue rag.

"All done," he declares, "just needed a belt replaced and a bit of a spruce. Door opens like a dream now." Smiling at a task well done, Darren continues by asking, "Right, what's next?" knowing that he hasn't got anything planned except hoping to get a couple hours to check on the gym next to the Grindhouse Theatre the student, Michael, had told him about.

[Frost]

Miss Claire looks uo thoughtfully. "Well the shed in the back does need to be cleaned out. A lot of my husband's old tools are stored in there and I just don't have the strength to move them myself. I don't know how many of them are good anymore, but you're welcome to them if they work. I could use the space for my gardening equipment. I could get all of it out of the garage and put it in there instead. It would give the boys some more room to tinker around in there if they need to for any projects."

She finishes up the dishes and wipes her hands on a towel.

"Let's go have a look, shall we?"

She takes him out to the back yard and opens the shed. The place is dusty and filled to near bursting with power tools. It looks like the shed might have been a work room at one point in time, but was now just a place of storage. The "shed" seems just a big large for a simple shed, as Darren looks around. It might have once been a garage for the old house and had been replaced by a new addition Miss Claire now called the garage.

Her eyes light up as an idea comes to her.

"You know Darren, the boys have been asking for a workout room in the house here in the last few months. I was a little loath to give up this place to them since Henry spent a lot of his time here. But, if you cleaned the place out and brought in some equipment, I think it might make a good room for you boys to get all of that extra energy out. What do you think?"

Looking around Darren realizes the place is big enough to use as a small gym if he can get the equipment.

[Darren Nash]

Eyes lighting up with excitment, Darren replies, "That would be a brilliant idea, ma'am, so long as you don't mind at all? I could get started on clearing away Mr. Claire's power tools." His face drops slightly almost in regret in hope he doesn't upset his landlady. "What would you like me to do with your husband's tool? I'm sure they must mean alot."

[Frost]

Miss Claire waves her hand dismissively. "They're tools Darren. Besides, I came to terms with Henry's death a long time ago. I was thinking maybe you could sell them to get the money for that equipment? The stuff you don't need to work around the house, of course."

[Darren Nash]

Looking towards his landlady, Darren takes her hands in his own.

"Thank you, Miss Claire, for everything. You've taken me in, fed me and now this," he says, turning and indicating the old garage. "I'm lost for words, but I will do everything I can to make it up to you, I promise."

[Frost]

Miss Claire laughs, a little embarassed at the tears coming to her eyes. She shakes her head. "Think nothing of it, Darren. You are a nice man who seems to have been delt a lousy hand. Henry would have liked you and insisted that I help you anyway. And, you can help me keep the other boys in line. They get rowdy sometimes, you know."

She pulls her hands away, a blush creeping up her face. "Now, you best get to work. I will be in the house doing the laundry if you need anything."

She walks back toward the house.

(If Darren begins to clean out the shed, I will need a wits + comp roll please)

[Darren Nash]

As Miss Claire returns to the house, Darren watches her disappear and begins on the inside of the shed, being as careful and respectful with Mr Claire's tools as possible. Looking at his watch, Darren has a new energy to him with intentions to work until dinner. Maybe the students will be willing to help when they finish.

[Frost]

As Darren begins to clean out the shed, he feels very peacful here at first. After about an hour, he starts to get the sense that he is being watched. But, since there is a window in the kitchen, he figures maybe Miss Claire is keeping an eye on him. So, he shrugs it off and keeps working. After three hours however, the feeling is so strong he is constantly looking over his shoulder expecting to see someone standing in the doorway staring at him, but everytime he looks there is no one there.

Then, small things start being moved around. He will put a screw driver on a table and turn around to open a tool box. When he turns back around for the screw driver, it is no longer on the table. Instead it is hanging on a hook on the wall. This goes on for a while with just about every small tool Darren picks up and puts back down.

[Darren Nash]

Those fucking students! Darren thinks. They come home early and talk to Miss Claire to find out what I'm up to and decide to play some kind of prank? Well, two can play at this.

Darren quietly leaves the shed, making an over-the-top show of stretching and yawning, and starts to head back up towards the house. However, instead of going through the door, he tries to hide behind a bush and wait for one of the students to show themselves.

[i]Now who's gonna crap their pants?/[i] he chuckles to himself.

[Frost]

Darren waits behind the bush for fifteen minutes and sees no one.

Finally, Miss Claire comes out the back door and looks around. "Darren? Are you out here?" She is carrying a tray with sandwitches and lemonade, looking confused.