22
"So… you just stepped back and went off the deck?" Ianto asked as he counted the buttons with amusement.
"Yeah. Talking to Herself about the garbage cans and one of the younger kids was yelling something. I turned to tell 'em to shut up and wobbled" Manny replied as he leaned on the shop counter, his throbbing ankle in the cast rested on a neat little scooter thing that he was kneeling on.
"Well easy enough to do. Don't' tell Jack but I wobbled off the back step the other day meself" Ianto replied, then lifted a pretty little fairy. The wings were glass and it looked expensive.
"Asked if I do tick. I said no so she got that out and said she wanted credit now" Manny laughed "so taken back, just like her mama so… I folded and she had two more shops."
"Right. I think looking at this swag we can confidently take most of this to River for the treasure box so we can start putting the local currency back into circulation. I have new boxes of things in the roof of the Gift House so no one can see them. Three girl, three boy and two whatever do ya think?" Ianto leaned back and swept everything into a little box Manny had provided.
"You know, this never gets old" Manny said happily "I seem to be though."
"Tell me about it. I have to admit, the pepper salt look down below might amuse Jack but it is soooo shocking each time I look down to discover another bloody grey one." Ianto sighed theatrically and Manny roared with mirth then cursed as he started to roll back, gripping the counter.
"Look I don't know about you but sometimes I wonder what the hell happened. I mean, I still feel twenty but fuck me mate, try telling my knees that" Manny laughed then looked horrified as someone made a noise behind him.
He slowly turned to find his wife with her arms folded. "Hello dear"
"Your man was just telling me about his fall. Good thing you have a downstairs bedroom" Ianto tried it lighten the mood.
She humphed and turned to wander off as Manny let his breath out "Damn. The grandbaby is teething and keeping her awake. But still, she won't sleep downstairs with me. Too scared of someone breaking in. Stupid huh?"
"I did offer them a house of their own but she insisted they stay until the baby is older" Ianto shrugged "No, I don't think it's stupid to be nervous. You know, there is a wonderfully large and scary looking German shepherd in the community pack that would be a great watch dog. Could sleep down stairs here."
"A dog. In a food shop."
"A kiddy gate so it is contained out back during shop hours but visible, then once closed for the night, open the gates and let him roam. Sooner or later the entire village will know you have a fur coat with razor blades on staff." Ianto shrugged.
"And there ya go. Fixing things again. You're right" Manny grinned. "And… someone will sleep with me downstairs."
