Page 115 of Summer in Greece

DJ lifted his mask. ‘We’re taking the chimney breast down, Gramps. It takes up too much room. When it’s gone, and we’ve decorated, Mum’s going to take you into town to buy the biggest TV in the shop.’

Gordon’s frown faded. ‘Is that so? Then I’ll give yer a ’and, lad. Do any of you know what you’re doing?’

‘Not without a mask and goggles, you won’t,’ Shelly said, thrusting a set towards him.

He threw her a dirty look, picked up the scissors and cut a small hole in the centre of the mask before putting it on.

‘That kind of defeats the object, Gramps!’

‘Don’t care, I needs me smoke, lad. Be grateful I’ve given up the baccy and let me get on with me vape without a drama.’

DJ grinned with hero worship.

Gordon continued. ‘Now, are you sure this is safe? Has anyone checked?’

‘Yes, Dad, we got the professionals in. The surveyor said it’s not supporting anything because the upstairs chimney was taken out thirty years ago.’

‘Right then, no more shirking, people. Let’s get on with the job. DJ, swing that mallet, lad.’

Shelly smiled, this was brilliant, the four of them doing a job together. She’d never have dreamt of such a thing and it made her tingle with happiness. She watched her son swing the long-handled lump hammer. It crashed into the chimney breast at shoulder height. The whole house trembled but the chimneybreast stayed intact.

‘’Ere, yer needs to put yer back into it, lad.’

‘Built to last, Gramps.’

Shelly beamed. ‘Here, DJ, have a go at hitting my thumb.’ She placed it a little lower, centrally, above the fireplace. ‘Go on, go for it.’

He glanced at her nervously. ‘You will pull it out the way?’

She grinned and winked. ‘All you’ve got, lovey. Come on, now’s your chance to show us what you’re worth.’

‘Stand back! Stand back!’ Gordon ordered dramatically, suddenly in charge of the demolition and bubbling with fun. ‘Wimmin under the table. Make sure yer gas masks are on. The Blitz is back an Gerry’s goin’ for a direct hit!’

‘Now you’ve really lost the plot, Dad,’ Shelly said, laughing at the fun in her father.

DJ hefted the lump hammer back and swung it at Shelly’s thumb. She stepped away, he hit the spot and five rows of bricks clattered down in one great tumult.

‘Well done, lad,’ Gordon said, before puffing at his vape like a triumphant Popeye.

Shelly and Eve high-fived. Then they all, apart from Eve, shifted bricks into the barrow.

When the rubble was clear Eve cried, ‘Break time!’ and handed everyone a glass of white wine and a couple of sushi on a paper plate.

Gordon squinted suspiciously, first at the fish, then at his companions. When he thought no one was looking, he tipped his food on to DJ’s plate.

Shelly said, ‘I suspect there’s a lintel, so a little higher this time, DJ.’

He swung the mallet again. She was right. The next five rows fell in, but didn’t drop. They landed on a platform inside the chimney breast. Gordon and Shelly shifted them into the barrow.

‘What’s that, Gramps? It looks like a metal shelf with a trapdoor and a little chain.’

‘That, lad, is the draught trap. When it’s open, it draws the fire, and when the wood or coal’s goin’ good and proper, yer shuts it to stop the heat disappearin’ up the chimney. Look—’ He stuck his head in the chimney and pulled the chain. The little trapdoor almost closed.

‘Dad, be careful, a brick might fall on your head!’

‘Somethin’s jammed inside, stoppin’ it workin’. ’Ere, what’s this?’

‘Looks like one of those old camera spools, Gramps.’