Mr. Knead - The Ring Road

If you looked at objectivly you would rightfully say that it was excess coffee consumption, not the vibrations from passing trucks, that caused Mr. Knead to spill almost every coffee he made. Unfortunatly objectivity was not one of Mr. Knead's strong points.

"Damn it, everytime..." He flicked his shirt, trying to dislodge the coffee before it was able to add to the scattered stains colouring most of his working wardrobe.

"I don't understand it. Where do they go?"

Joanna looked up to see if he directed the question at her. Satisfied that he was venting to the gods she went back to the delicate task of pouring the coffee that spilled into the saucer back into the cup.

Outside another truck passed, rumbling to a stop at the intersection. The engine strained under the heavy load. Every piece of china and glass rattled filling the shop with the sound of an unrestrained timpony.

"That is it" Mr. Knead yelled over the noise "something has to be done. We need a ring road. It is not safe having trucks roll through the centre of town. They never stop, all they do is cause trouble. Tear up the road, it is dangerous for kids. We need a ring road. You agree don't you Joanne?"

Joanne tried to ignore him, she was on annual leave and didn't plan on getting involved in anything for the next two weeks. Besides Mr. Knead was famous for running to the picket line over the smallest quibble.

"Joanne?" he turned from the window and confronted Joanne directly in the eye "You agree don't you Joanne?"

"Yes"

"Well it is settled then, I am going to find Mr. Nazeer. We are going to get this ring road for the good of Winters. Are you able to look after the shop while I am gone, I shouldn't be too long and it is a slow day"

"No problem" Joanne couldn't wait for Mr. Knead to leave so she could get back to the crossword puzzle "I have no other plans for the afternoon"

"Thank-you. Help yourself to coffee, it is on the house. We are going to do this and Winters will be all the better for it"

He picked up his jacket and left Joanne in the shop. Town was quiet, with the exception of the comstant rumble of trucks. Albert hunched his sholders and marched to the mayors office.

At the first intersection a truck pulled up next to him and they both waited for the lights to change. Mr. Knead had to force himself to look straight ahead, he didn't want to have any contact with any of the drivers.

"Hay mate" a voice came from the truck and Mr. Knead turned to face his nemesis "mate, how do you get out of here. I'm lost" the driver leaned over, his greasy face framed in the open window.

"I don't know" yelled Mr. Knead "turn around"

The truck started with a roar and pulled away. "Yeah up yours too mate" were the parting words from the truck driver as he pulled away in a cloud of smoke. Mr. Knead was furious, he marched on stewing on the ordasity of the truck driver.

He was so tied up in his thoughts that he walked right into Jade making her drop books on the ground

"Hi Albert are you in a hurry?" she said crouching down to pick up the books.

"Sorry Jade, didn't see you I am going to see Nazeer to put a stop to all these damn trucks coming through town."

"Oh, ok. Lucky you bumped into me then or you would have walked right passed his office" she pointed to the building they were standing next to, the mayors office and town library. "Good luck with your mission" she said as she walked off.

---

"What do you mean he is out?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing "It is the middle of the afternoon, what are we paying him for?"

"I don't know he mumbled something about getting some air, going to the park"