Keira jutted her chin out. “You’re doing what?”
“Bin man. Some people call it refuse collecting these days or waste operative or something, but I prefer to call a spade a spade. I got a job as a dustbin man.”
“Oh.” She forced her lips to a straight line but that was all she could manage.
“I know – it’s not exactly something you can brag to your friends about …” He cast a sweeping glance at Mel and Noah. “I told you it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“No,” Keira said, her voice coming out slightly squeaky.
“Do you know what I’ve always wondered?” Mel moved her chip wrapper to the table and rested her elbows on her knees. “How do they decide who drives the lorry and who collects the bins? Do you get a set role or do you rotate and all have a turn at doing everything?”
“You need an LGV license to drive the truck,” he explained. “But they’ll pay for me to get that, so I’ll be able to drive too. You get to have a turn at everything. I start next week so I’ll know more then.”
“You’ll be the king of the road, driving one of those things,” Mel said with a wide grin. “You take over the whole road and no one can do a thing about it.”
Noah nodded. “I bet it’s interesting to see what things people throw away. When I was living in Bristol there was this old lady who lived on our road and she used to give the bin men bacon sandwiches. Apparently they loved her for it and would take away anything for her. Even big bulky items that they’re not really supposed to take.”
“Do you think you’d accept bacon sandwiches as a bribe?” Mel asked him.
Keira’s dad chuckled. “I hadn’t thought about it.”
“If you’re ever driving around here,” Mel said, “could you give me a shout and let me come and press the button … you know, to make the truck eat the rubbish.”
Noah’s eyes lit up. “I always wanted to do that when I was a kid.”
“Are there even bin lorries on Scilly?” Keira asked him, amused.
“No. But I saw them on TV.”
Keira’s chest bubbled with emotions, loving how enthusiastic Noah and Mel were about her dad’s new job. With anyone else the conversation might well have been slightly embarrassing.
“It sounds as though it’ll be good for you,” she said, smiling at her dad.
“I’ll give it a go and see how it is.” His cheeks pinked and he cleared his throat. “I was thinking a lot recently … about various things … and I decided working in a betting shop might not be the right thing for me, you know?”
Her throat tightened. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t know about anyone else,” Mel said loudly, “but I need a cup of tea to wash that dinner down. Who wants one?”
When they’d all taken her up on the offer, she stood over Noah, glaring down at him.
“Yes, please,” he said again.
With a distinct eye roll, she tilted her head. “Would you like to come and help me make them?”
“Help you make tea?”
She rolled her eyes again and Keira couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Oh, right.” Noah got up. “Yeah. I can help. Mel’s not capable of dealing with boiling water on her own … I’ll go and help.”
Mel elbowed him in the ribs as they headed for the kitchen.
“I better let them know how many sugars we take,” Keira’s mum said, following them out of the room, leaving Keira alone with her dad in an awkward silence.
“I’ve got something for you,” he said, taking his wallet from his pocket.
“What’s that for?” She stared in confusion at the twenty-pound note he held out.