About Nippers and Little Nippers

Nippers:
Grandad's Clock

Not now.

He left work last week.

He used to work at the sugar factory. Worked there fifty years.

He liked it there. Specially the band. He used to play trumpet in the band.

He came home and he said, "They've given me a clock. Factory's gven me a clock. For working there fifty years."

"Ay, that's lovely," said our Mam, putting on the chips.

"Don't soft-soap me, queen," said Grandad.

He calls our Mam "queen", though he never calls our Dad "king".

"Don't soft-soap me, queen," he said. "It's daft."

I said to him, "Don't you like it Grandad?" Don't you want a clock?"

"What do I want with a clock?" he said, all crabby.

"It's to tell the time, of course," I shouted.

"TO TELL THE TIME!"

Mam was going mad. "You'll blow the cups off the dresser!" she yelled.

"It's to tell the time, Grandad!" I shouted.

He took the trumpet away from his mouth.

"To tell the time! I know the time!" he said. "Always! I always know the time!" And he put his trumpet back to his mouth.

He blew the cat out of the chair.

"You can't, Grandad!" I shouted. "You can't always know the time. Nobody can!"

He took his trumpet away from his mouth again.

"Listen, girl," he said. "When whistle blows for factory, I know it's seven o'clock. And when Tom comes by on his bike, I know it's five past. Never been on time in his life, Tom. Be late for his own funeral."

And he started to put his trumpet back to his mouth again. Our Mam looked daggers.

"But what about later, Grandad?" I said fast. "How d'you tell the time later?"

He put his trumpet down again. I thought he was going to bat me with it. But he loves it, that trumpet.

"When the pneumatic drill starts down the road," he said, "I know it's eight o'clock.

And when old Fred marches up with his lollipop, and sees the kids over the road, I know it's half past eight.

And when the school bell goes, I know it's nine o'clock.

And when the old ferry hoots, I know it's half past nine."

He was starting to put his trumpet back to his mouth again. So I said fast, "But what about in the night, Grandad? What if you want to know the time in the middle of the night?"

Grandad scrunched his teeth.

He wiped his face with his handkerchief.

"Then I get out of bed," he said.

"And I go to my cupboard.

And I take out my trumpet.

And I go to the window.

And I lean out.

And I blow!

And I'll bet you anything you like, that some fool," he shouted, glaring at our Mam,"some fool across the road is sure to yell

And then Grandad blew us all out of the kitchen.

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