27 February 2013
Anna pulled the car into the huge open field where the farmers market was being held. She shut the engine off and climbed out of the car. Derek jumped out as quick as he could and was by Anna's side within a flash.
'Here I'll get those heavy crates for you.' he crooned jumping on the charm offensive.
'Thanks Derek. Grab that stall by the entrance.' she told him.
Derek decided to go for a stall in the middle as if the media were turning up the entrance would be completely blocked. Luckily for Derek a fat old farmer dumped his sausages on the stall Anna wanted and walked away.
'Did Joe grab that stall?' she asked appearing at his side with a pulley full of crates containing the jams.
'Yeah' Derek said trying to sound exasperated.
Anna covered the table with a cute patchwork table cloth what matched the fabric on the jam jar lids. Derek helped her clip the cover overhead to shield them from the light morning drizzle. The little stall was taking shape. It looked very cosy like a miniature gingerbread house.
Anna had thought of everything. She had miniature gas heaters to keep warm and cosy chairs to sit on if there was a quiet time. She'd also brought along freshly baked bread and butter so people could sample the jams.
'I made all these flyers last night for you Anna.' Derek informed her.
'Derek that's wonderful. Thank you so much.' she exclaimed.
'Since we're all set up I'll hand a few out and grab us some cups of tea, is that ok?' he asked her.
'Sure that's grand Derek.'
Anna bent over to pickup some blueberry jams and Derek had a lovely view of her arse. It was so peachy. He wanted to reach out and grab it. He leant over to grab the leaflets and pressed his body to hers. Anna went rigid and tried to stand up but Derek was leaning over to get the leaflets.
'Anna scoot over I need to get the leaflets before they blow away.' he chuckled.
Anna laughed and wriggled over so he could grab them. Derek turned on his heel and left her sorting the stock. Whilst wandering aimlessly through the stalls he handed out flyers and spoke to the locals. The grass crunched beneath his boots and he could see his breath in the air. He pulled his hat lower over his ears and carried on up the winding path. Finally reaching the tea stall Derek joined the queue. It was a short while until he reached the front.
'Two teas and two blueberry muffins please.' he asked the young girl behind the counter. She busied herself making his order whilst Derek continued to hand out the leaflets. She handed him his purchases on a cardboard tray.
'Thanks honey.' he beamed at her and she flushed scarlet. A shout made Derek turn around. He saw Colin walking towards him with a journalist and a cameraman. He had a giant muffler and a reflector board tucked under his arm.
'Morning Colin. I'm just getting supplies I'll show you where the stall is.' he informed his manager.
Colin was small and had mousy coloured hair which was thinning on top. He was chubby and seemed to be succumbing to middle aged spread. Colin had to jog gently to keep up with Derek's long strides.
'So the TV crew have got you a prime time slot at lunchtime then again at dinner time. It'll be promoting your input and how well the business is going.' Colin told Derek slightly out of breath.
'Cool. Listen I want you to meet Anna, Shea just over there setting up.' he told his manager.
Derek made his way back to Anna who had completed her stall and was eagerly awaiting customers who were being lead through the kissing gate by the owner of the farm land. Hoarded of women were making their way through clutching wooden and jute baskets wanting to fill them to the brim with the freshest products. Anna had a small gathering around her stall by the time Derek and Colin had came back with teas and muffins.
'Thanks Derek.' Anna took the drinks from him and placed them behind the jam towers. 'Oh my, whose the film crew for?' she asked eyeing the muffler with interest
'You.' he told her proudly. 'This is Colin my manger. He wangled two prime time slots on TV to promote the jam.
Colin gave a little wave as Anna's face broke into an amazing smile.
'This is amazing!' she squealed with out stretched arms. Derek opened his arms to accept her hug but she walked straight past him and hugged Colin. Embarrassed Derek grabbed a woman looking at jams and embraced her.
'Hey, what th....' she protested
'Sush, smile for the camera Ma'am.' He pleaded just as the journalist prepped for the camera roll.
The woman shook herself free of Derek muttering under her breath. Anna was standing with Colin who was explaining to the journalist what to say about the farmers market and the jams.
Derek was fuming. Once again he was side lined. This wasn't what he was used to. He was always in the spotlight.
'We're rolling Derek. Over by Anna please.' The sniffy cameraman ordered him. Derek walked to where Anna was just in time for the camera to begin.
'Good morning and welcome to Elton Lane farmers market, where fresh foods sourced locally are on sale in this wonderful community. A range of produce all lovingly grown, meat what has been expertly reared and prepared and condiments made with love and dedication. Today our focus is the homemade jams by Anna Tate.' As the newsreader reeled off his spiel, Derek prepped his hair in a pocket mirror. He checked his teeth and skin for any imperfections. He felt a dig in his ribs. Anna was pointing at Colin who was counting down on his fingers. Derek hastily stowed the mirror in his pocket. 'And helping on this fine winters morning is Derek Hansell. England's cricket wonder kid grew up here as a young child, played cricket as a boy and has permanent roots in this sleepy quaint village. It's only natural that he'd want to get stuck in and help the people of this community. 'Derek, what made you want to team up with Anna?' He asked
'Erm exactly what you said Nigel. I want to help people in my community. Give back for all those years people helped fundraise for the cricket club when I was a boy. It's an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of local produce and how important it is to support small businesses.' Derek reeled off from the cards Colin was holding up behind Nigel the newsreaders back.
'Also with the food horror stories you read about everyday in the media, it's reassuring to know exactly where your food originates from and what is in it. These jams are all preservative free, GM and dangerous E number free. The only sugars are the natural ones fermented by the process Anna uses to produce the jams. There's no trace of aspartemine or any artificial additives. My involvement is to hopefully make people more aware of their food and that they should care about what is actually in what they are about to eat.'
'Thanks Derek. It's lovely that small businesses are receiving recognition from stars like yourselves. Anna, what made you begin making jam?' he asked her in a slightly bored voice.
Derek started to serve people who wanted to purchase the jams. He left Anna answering Nigel's questions. An old lady had two jars, Derek wrapped them in newspaper for her and placed them into her jute bag. All the while watching Anna and smiling at how happy she was that the jam was getting the air time it deserved. Derek posed for a few photos throughout the morning and continued chatting away to people about the partnership in the jam company. It was reaching eleven when the last jar had been wrapped and !sold. Anna was flushed in the face.
'Derek I've never sold so many jams before. Thank you so much. We've been a roaring success. She hugged him tight and planted a kiss on his cheek. He froze. His face felt hot where her lips had touched his skin. Anna turned around to pack up the table cloths. Derek felt like dying on the spot. He shook his head to get himself out of his daze.
'I'm glad you're happy Anna, anything I can do to help. You know that don't you?' he said.
'Yes. Derek today has been wonderful. My jams might finally get a little bit of interest. Enough to get them in a supermarket outside of our village. More clients you know?' she informed him.
Colin walked over and patted Derek on the shoulder. He was beaming.
'Feedback from the station was grand, bloody fantastic. We put your email address on the screen and there's offers flying in from all over. Not just for you though Anna. Derek has been offered to do a cookery programme once his cricket commitments finish for the season.' he told them
'What did you tell them Colin, I said no to more work remember?' he pleaded but Colin wasn't listening.
'It'a a six figure pay day Derek lad. You can't turn that down for a week on set.' Colin crooned gleefully. 'Listen I have to run, I've got to get back to London mad fast. I'll email you Derek and Anna, a pleasure.'
Colin planted a kiss on the back of Anna's hand and patted Derek on the arse like a pervy uncle would. Slightly shocked, Derek looked at Anna who was in hysterics.
'Well that was unexpected. He's never been that affectionate before.' Derek giggled.
'I think you should come to the pub to celebrate our success.' Anna said, her eyes twinkled.
'I'd love to Anna, but I've got to go back to Cheshire because the selection for the New Zealand test series is coming up. I've got to get my fitness up or I face the cut.' he informed her.
'Oh. When will you be back in Yorkshire? Or are you taking a long distance commitment now? She questioned him.
'I'm not sure what's going to happen to be honest. But I've got one final surprise for you, for your business I mean. Follow me.'
Derek made his way to Anna's car and jumped in the passenger seat. Anna got behind the wheel and looked at him. Her eyes full of wonder.
'Drive to my folks cottage. You'll see.' he teased.
Derek forced himself to look out of the passenger window and not Anna his heart was too swollen. He'd had the the best day ever. H
9. • Opuss № I