Norman Runs Away [Different Version]

Chapter 6: At the Beach

The thugs' motor home pulled up into the car park at Newtown Beach.

When Norman & the thugs got out, Spanner fetched a barbeque from the motor home, and lit it with a match. Instantly, the heat licked the coals.

He then put some bacon & sausages from the meat boxes onto the barbeque, and they cooked to perfection within minutes.

Once they were cooked and cooled, Spanner put the bacon and sausages in some of the bread buns from the bread boxes.

To finish, he squirted some tomato ketchup over the bacon & sausages. "Grub's up, guys!" he said.

Everyone tucked into their delicious breakfast.

"Wow." Norman thought to himself as he chewed. 'This is really good.'

Once he had finished his sandwich, he said to Spanner, "Thank you, Spanner. What nice food you made for us."

"Think nothing of it, Normie." Spanner said. "It's my specialty."

Norman grinned. 'I wish Mam and everyone else in Pontypandy were here.' he said to himself. 'They'd love Spanner's bacon and sausage sandwiches.'

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Meanwhile, at the café, Newtown's police officer, Officer Luke, was investigating the van robbery.

Officer Luke was a thin and lanky man, with fair skin, dark brown hair, and brown eyes, and a stubbly goatee. He wore a uniform consisting of a policeman's cap, a light blue collared shirt, a dark blue tie, blue pants with a brown/yellow belt, and black shoes.

"So," he said to the delivery man, "how did the robbery happen?"

"Well," said the delivery man, "It started like a normal delivery run. I'd just parked my van, then I heard a crash in the alley next to the café. I went to investigate, and the next thing I knew, someone shoved a garbage can over my head. I couldn't see where was I going. When Sharon, the waitress, got the can off my head, I returned to my truck, and some of my bread & meat was stolen!"

He dropped to his knees and covered his face with his hands. Sharon, the waitress put a hand on his back to comfort him.

"Don't worry, sir," Officer Luke said. "Me and my fellow officers will be on the search for the perpetrators of this heinous crime."

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At Newtown Beach, Norman and the thugs, 'the perpetrators of this heinous crime', were spending some time at the beach, blissfully unaware that the Newtown police was searching for them.

Jackson was building a sandcastle, Barge was lazing on a towel, and Gruffston, Spanner and Norman were paddling in the water.

Norman was immediately starting to feel happy with them. They were like the uncles he wished that he had. He also wished his family and friends from Pontypandy could meet them. "This is great! This is the life! I really wish everyone in Pontypandy could meet you guys!" he said, splashing around in the sea.

"Pontypandy?" Gruffston said suddenly.

"Yes." Norman said, "that's where I came from."

Gruffston & Spanner glanced along the shore, and this is what they saw; far in the distance, the lighthouse on the cliffs of Pontypandy.

"See that, Gruffston? That's the lighthouse I heard that Mike Flood was working on a few days ago." Norman said.

"You know, Normie," Gruffston said, "I used to live in Pontypandy a few years ago."

"Really?" Norman said.

"Really, Really." Gruffston said.

"It was a long time ago, long before you were even born." He added.

"Wow!" Norman said to himself, quite excited, "I Bet everyone in Pontypandy never knew this!"

"You know," he said to Gruffston, "maybe you and your friends would like to go there sometime."

"That's sounds a good idea, Norm." Spanner said. "I'd love to meet the people in Pontypandy. If it's ok with the boss, of course."

Immediately, an idea sparked into Gruffston's mind.

"I think it's a brilliant idea, Norman." Gruffston said, a grin crossing his face. "Before I consider it," he added, "I just need to talk to the boys in private - you know, like a meeting."

"Why are you telling me this?" Norman asked.

"It's plot exposition;" said Gruffston. "It has to go somewhere." He turned to Spanner. "Fetch Barge & Jackson, and meet me over by the motor home, now."

"Should I come with you?" Norman asked.

"Uh, no, Normie." Spanner said. "This is an adults only meeting. Just stay on the beach for a while till we've finished. Make sure to stay where we can see ya, OK?"

"OK... I think." Norman said. he was quite puzzled, but still, he went outta the water, and watched as Gruffston and Spanner went over to Barge & Jackson, told them about the meeting, and they, as well as Gruffston and Spanner, grabbed their footwear, and walked over to where the motor home was parked. "I wonder what their meeting is about." Norman thought.

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By the motor home, the thugs had just got their footwear back on, and were listening to their leader's plan.

"So you're saying we should go to Pontypandy?" Jackson said.

"Exactly." Gruffston said.

"You sure that's a good idea?" Barge said. "I mean, you don't have a good history with that town, boss."

"Barge is right, y'know, innit." Jackson said, "If anyone sees you, you'll be caught. And so will all of us."

"Ah," Gruffston told Jackson, "but it won't be all my idea, will it?"

"Uhhh, I don't think we follow, boss." Spanner said.

"I'm talkin' about Normie." Gruffston said. "After all, he started all this when he ran away from there, didn't he?"

"Yes." the thugs said.

"Exactly." Gruffston said, "So, I believe it's only right that he finishes it, by leading a raid on his home town!"

"A raid?" Jackson said, puzzled.

"Yup." Gruffston said. "That old codger Norris Steele will never be able to stop us! He'll be the first to fall."

"And," he added, with a sinister grin on his face, "He's gonna get his just desserts for what he did to me all those years ago."

The thugs immediately agreed, with sinister chuckles sounding. "Oh, boss, I love it when you talk like that." Jackson said. "I could just kiss you."

The other thugs stared with stunned expressions.

"What?" Jackson said.

"So, it's simple." Gruffston said. "We'll head to Pontypandy after lunch. And then, this is the plan..."

So Gruffston whispered his plan to the thugs, and, as we pan out from the beach, with an instrumental of the Thomas & Friends song 'I'm Full of Surprises' played in the background, whilst Norman Price was playing in the sand, blissfully unaware of Gruffston's plan.