The radio was blaring in the kitchen and June was in her own little world. With a tea towel over her shoulder, she was merrily humming along as she washed the mountain of dishes that had appeared on the work unit. That was the downside of living with someone, twice as much washing up to do; the household task she hated the most. Still at least with the music on she could make the time go by quicker.
She was suddenly disturbed by a yell from upstairs.
"JUNE!" Jim's voice boomed
She jumped and the cup in her hand clattered to the floor, smashing into small pieces. "Damn," she muttered throwing the tea towel onto the unit.
"Jim, are you ok?" she shouted up the stairs.
"Erm," she heard back in response.
"Jim?" she questioned.
Leaving the shards on the floor, she wiped her hands on her jeans before heading upstairs.
The bathroom door was ajar, the tiles and mirror frosted with steam. June pushed the door open further, her eyes turning to Jim as he sat in the bath.
"I hope you've not dragged me up here to scrub your back again," she smiled as she walked into the room.
"Not exactly."
"What then?" June said, sensing Jim's unease.
"Erm," Jim nodded towards the end of the bath. "There's a bit of a problem."
June cast her eyes over to the opposite end of the bath to where Jim was wallowing.
"Jim," she said trying not to laugh. "Is it stuck?"
She giggled loudly.
Jim looked at her; he was not appreciating her laughter. He nodded sadly.
June bit her lip, swallowing her giggles as best she could.
"How Jim?" she said.
"A long story," he muttered, his face going redder by the second, "The water was getting a bit cold so I tried to turn the tap on with my foot�but it slipped� and now I'm stuck� Don't laugh please."
"If this was me you'd be in hysterics," June smiled.
"Yeah probably," Jim sighed, "But it's not is it."
"What am I going to do with you?" she spluttered.
"I don't care as long as you get me out," he said sadly. The water's going cold."
June composed herself. "Right," she said, "First things first. Shall I phone the fire brigade?"
Jim blushed, "Only as a last resort. Can you not try something first?"
"Erm�"
"Well?"
"Have you tried pulling it?" she asked.
"Of course." He rolled his eyes.
"Let me try," she said.
Walking over to the side of the bath, she took hold of his leg and pulled. Her hands slid on the lather and she lost her balance, falling headfirst into Jim's lap.
"Bah�" she spluttered, looking up, her face covered in white lather. She directed a breath at her eyebrows and bubbles flew off in all directions.
"Are you ok?" Jim laughed.
June wiped her face. "Yeah," she smiled, brushing her hair back off her face and rubbing the remaining lather away. "That didn't really work did it?"
She looked at Jim who was smiling.
"Ow," he cried, "Laughing makes my leg shake and that hurts."
June giggled. "Well that cheered you up for a second."
"It didn't help me though did it," Jim said glumly. "I'm still stuck." He sighed loudly. "I can't believe I was so stupid. I mean to get your toe stuck in the bath. Only an idiot could manage that."
"Hey," June said sitting down on the bath beside him, "Don't put yourself down. Accidents happen." She kissed him on the forehead.
"Yeah, but why do they always happen to me?"
"I don't know Jim," she smiled. "But it's not the end of the world. I'll get you out of there soon. Shall I phone Reg and ask him, I'm sure he'll know what to do?" She bit her lip trying not to laugh.
"No," Jim replied angrily.
"Fine, I'll leave you there then."
"June�" he sighed.
The doorbell rang loudly.
"Be right back," she said running out of the bathroom.
"Don't you dare bring anyone up here," Jim said loudly.
**
June opened the front door and was surprised to see Tony standing there.
"Hiya June."
"Hi� erm�. Tony."
"Jim ready?"
"Erm� now's not a good time."
"June, who is it?" Jim hollered.
"Tony."
"Oh�" Jim replied quietly.
"I told Jim I was coming round, we're supposed to be off out for a drink and a chat with the lads whilst the match is on."
"Erm� I'm not sure if he'll be able to make it."
"Why he hasn't forgotten has he?"
"No, he's erm just running a bit late. I can get him to meet you there."
"I can wait."
"Come in then," June sighed opening the lounge door. "Make yourself a coffee or something. I'll go and see what he's doing."
**
"Jim," June walked into the bathroom, "I couldn't get rid of him."
"Great," Jim huffed.
"Don't be like that we me, you were the one that invited him round."
"Yeah, but I wasn't planning on this happening was I?"
"Everything ok?" Tony shouted up the stairs.
Jim glared at June and shook his head. "Don't�"
"June?" Tony shouted.
"Don't�" Jim warned again.
"Is everything ok?" Tony said peeping round the door. "I didn't get an answer so �"
Jim blushed pulling the lather up over his groin.
"What is it?" Tony said gently, sensing Jim's unease.
June stepped to one side, exposing Jim's feet.
"Ah," Tony bit his lip, swallowing his laugher. "How long's he been like that?"
"A while," June replied.
"Oops." Tony smiled.
"I am still here you know." Jim said aggressively.
"Sorry."
"It's really not funny." Jim looked down and rubbed his eyes with his hands. "And if this gets round the nick�"
Tony spluttered and walked out of the bathroom.
"I'll be right back, "June said to Jim following him.
**
"I'm sorry June," Tony said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I couldn't help it."
"I know I'm the same."
"If it was me I wouldn't be happy either."
"He's so upset and worked up though," June said, "and I feel awful cos I laughed at him."
"How long's he been there?"
"A while, but I don't know how long before he called me."
"Poor Jim�"
June nodded.
"Bet the water's going cold."
"Hey," June swatted Tony on the arm laughing, "That's cruel."
"Want me to rescue him?"
"You can?"
"Yeah it's easy. Watch"
**
"Right Jim, time to get you out." Tony said striding into the bathroom.
"Well don't pull it, it doesn't work."
"I wasn't going to."
"Good." Jim sulked.
"All you need to do is turn the cold water tap on."
"What?" June said.
"Simple science lesson," he chuckled. "When things are hot they swell up. So you just need to cool it down so it'll shrink."
"Of course," June smiled. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Jim coughed. "I am still here you know. Someone want to help me? I can't exactly reach the tap."
June stepped over to the bath and turned the cold tap on.
"Sheesh," Jim shivered.
"Well don't want me to call the fire brigade do you?" June laughed.
Jim shivered and gingerly moved his toe. June and Tony held their breath.
"Ahh," Jim gasped as his toe slid out, pulling it up to him and rubbing it hard.
"I'll leave him to get dressed," Tony said leaving the room. "Make us all a coffee."
June took the towel of the radiator and handed it to Jim as he stood up in the bath.
"Thanks," he smiled, "Sorry for being so grouchy."
"I'll let you off," she said rubbing him with the towel, "Just this time though mind you."
He nodded at her.
"I'll go any talk to Tony, you get dressed. I'll make you a coffee you're shivering."
"Thank June," Jim said again. "My toe still hurts though."
She slapped him gently on the arm. "Stop complaining or I'll leave you there next time, or phone the fire brigade, or the rest of the nick."
She wandered downstairs as Jim padded into the bedroom, the towel wrapped round his waist.
**
"He'll be down in a minute Tone, he's just getting dressed� Tone, where are you?"
"In here." He shouted from the kitchen.
June walked through and found Tony picking up the shards of the cup she'd dropped earlier.
"You've done enough today," she smiled. "You didn't have to clean that up too."
"I was making the coffee," he said, "No trouble to pick it up."
June walked over to him and put her hand on his arm.
"Thanks Tony, he'll probably forget to thank you if you're off to the pub. You know what he's like."
"It's ok, you guys would do the same for me� I think."
The electric kettle clicked off and Tony stepped towards it.
"Let me," June said pouring the water into the mugs.
**
Jim appeared in the doorway as June handed the mugs over to Tony.
"Here mate," Tony said handing over a steaming mug of coffee, "Get that down you."
"Thanks Tone," Jim replied scratching his chin, "Thanks for�" he gestured upstairs with his head.
They wandered through to the living room and sat down.
"It's ok, like I was saying to June before, you guys would have done the same for me in the same situation."
"Of course, you know we would, but� you're not going to mention this to anyone are you?"
"No mate," Tony chuckled, "Would I?"
"Most probably," June added, appearing in the doorway.
Jim shook his head. "It's not funny you know� my toe still hurts." He flushed red.
June nodded and smiled. "Yeah you mentioned that a few times."
"I was moaning wasn't I?" Jim sighed.
"Not exactly," Tony grinned draining his mug, "More like panicking. Anyway, look at the time, we were meant to be in the pub half an hour ago. I phoned the lads to tell them we were delayed. Didn't tell them why though. That one's up to you."
"Erm..."
"He was washing his hair?" June suggested.
Jim glared at her and stood up. "Come on Tone we'll miss the start of the match at this rate." He walked over to June and kissed her on the cheek, "I'll not be late, enjoy you're night in front of the telly."
"I will. Bye love. Bye Tony."
"See ya June. Come on Jim," Tony said walking towards the door, "We'll miss the whole thing if you don't get a move on. And you can think up your excuses on the way."
June walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa pulling her feet up beside her. Hearing the front door close, she picked up the remote control and flicked on the telly. Toto wandered in and jumped up, curling up on her lap. June stretched out to stroke his ears.
"What are we going to do with him, eh?" she chuckled.