Disclaimer - I don't own Dinnerladies. BBC television and the late, great Victoria Wood own all. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred.

Summer

"Alright Bren?" Twinkle walked as Tony headed into his office. "Sad Man in? Only I wanted to have a quick fag before we do anything."

"Yeah."

"You alright? Cardiman keeping you awake?" Twinkle teased. Jean walked in.

"Not sleeping Bren? What's our Tony doing to you?"

"Nothing." Bren sighed.

"Bren?" She sighed as she walked out of the kitchen into the dining area. She began wiping tables and preparing the canteen for the day ahead. If things were going to change, if the canteen was to close then she'd make sure the girls from the offices and the lads from the shop floor remembered the canteen as the heart of the factory. She didn't want them thinking the place was dirty and outdated.

"Where's Bren?" Jean turned around as she realised Tony was watching from the office doorway.

"Out there."

"What's wrong, Tony? You've not upset her? Have you? Because you know she's a sensitive soul, our Bren."

"I've not upset her. Well, I don't think I have. Didn't mean to, dunno. She's quiet. Not herself. Might be fed up of me. Im old and boring. She might want a younger model. Has the veg man been?"

"You are hopeless! You've upset her and you don't even know how you've done it! And no, since you ask, the veg man hasn't been!" Jean threw a tea towel on the counter before heading off to the dining room.

Tony frowned. He felt sick. Something had upset his Bren and he had no idea what.

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