Bob of Small End (17 page)

“
Yes.
That’s fine. If anyone asks for a train set I’ll tell them they are
on order. You know, it seems that lots of people are interested in
wooden toys now. It’s part of the green movement I suppose,
although the fact that these are locally made might be why they’re
selling so well. You might have to bring a load every
week!”

“
Well I
can’t do that. I’ll have to figure something out. Oh, do you mind
if I tell you that Jenny sells my toys on a 25% commission. Would
you do the same?”

“
Yes.
They sell easily and also help me sell other things.”

“
She
gives me a receipt each time I deliver and sends me a cheque and a
statement each month. Can you do that as well?”

“
Why,
yes, that’s no problem. Does she use a computer?”

“
I don’t
know. I’ll ask her to call you, if you like.”

“
No,
that’s all right, I’ll see her at the conference.”

“
Okay.
Leo, I have to leave now. I’m having a driving lesson and my
teacher is waiting in the car outside. I’ll see you next week. Oh,
what time do you close?”

“
Six
o’clock during the week. In the summer I stay open until nine. Why
do you ask?”

“
So I
know when to deliver.”

“
I don’t
live far away and I can always be here if you want to deliver
outside opening hours. Here’s my card; I’ll write my home number on
the back.”

“
Thanks.
I’ll see you next week then. ‘Bye.”

Bob returned
to the car and told Peter he had to deliver more sets next week.
“Can I do that on one of my lessons, preferably the Tuesday
one?”

“
Of
course you can. I think you could drive the full coastal road and
back through Big End by Tuesday. It would be better if it was in
the afternoon though, for there would be less traffic
then.”

“
That
suits me. Leo’ll be in his shop then.”

Bob drove
back, parked the car at the garage then went with Peter to his
office.

“
I have
three hours free Tuesday afternoon. When would you like to
go?”

“
Is
three o’clock okay? That would suit me best.”

“
Yes.”

“
Thanks.”

Bob walked
back to his house thinking about all the work he would have to do.
It might soon become too much. ‘I should probably slow down, but
it’s nice to make money this way. I think I will have to hire
someone. How much would that cost, I wonder? And could I pay him
and still make a profit?. There’s so much to sort out.’

He changed
into his work clothes, returned to his shop and worked until eight
cutting the long blocks he had prepared and trimming them. When he
stopped he was hungry and very tired. He ate a pot pie with carrots
and treated himself to an ice cream afterwards and felt very happy;
he was sure he could make twenty train sets in three days if worked
long enough each day.

It was
raining Saturday morning when Bob walked to the bus stop to catch
the early bus to Big End. Jenny and Susan were tidying the shelves
when he entered
Home and
Holiday
.

“
Hello
Jenny, Susan. How are you enjoying the last of the
winter?”

“
I’m
glad it’s almost over,” replied Susan.

“
Me
too,” added Jenny, “even if I won’t be wearing my new coat any
more!” They laughed.

“
Sold
any of my sets this month Jenny?”

“
Sold a
few. Come, let’s check the books.” She walked to the back office
and Bob followed.

“
I’ve
sold two of each. There’s only one village and one train set left.
Can I have some more?”

“
I only
have farm sets at the moment but I’ll soon have trains. Do you want
them early next week or can I deliver them on Saturday? I’m so busy
right now.”

“
Saturday would be all right. I’ll take up to six of each.
Just bring me what you have. I’m likely to sell more each month
from now on though.”

‘
Then,’
thought Bob, as he left the shop, ‘I’ll ask everyone tonight if
they know of someone looking for a job.’

He did his
usual grocery shopping and caught the eleven o’clock bus back to
Small End. ‘If I had a car I’d save two hours on each trip to Big
End and about six hours each time I have to go to Twinner. I really
will need one if things continue this way.”

After a quick
lunch Bob returned to his shop, finishing all the train pieces by
five. All that needed to be done now was sanding, painting and
gluing.

He was sitting
in the corner of the Crown by the fire at six with his bitter in
front of him when Joe and his pint joined him.

“
Hello
Bob. How’s driving? Enjoying the lessons?”

“
They’re
fun. Peter says I’m almost ready to take the test and he’s
scheduled one for me in April. How’s your week been?”

“
I’ve
been a bit delayed. My helpers were three days late, but we’re
almost caught up now. That means I can do the station next week. I
don’t know what day yet. If you want to help you can join the
others taking out the windows and doors. I’ll leave a wagon in the
lot to put them on and I’ll take them to the Community Centre.
We’ll stack them behind the building until we’re ready to use or
sell them. The dismantling group starts Monday morning. Jane is
arranging the details. You can tell her what you want to
do.”

“
Well I
can’t help next week, I’m afraid. I’m so busy making toys and a
storage shed. I must do those things first. Does Jane have enough
people?”

“
I don’t
know. Ask her when she comes.”

Rose and Jack
joined them. Joe and Bob brought them up-to-date with the news.
Then Jane arrived and Bob told her what he had been doing. “So you
see, Jane, I’m very busy. Can you manage without me this week?”

“
Oh
we’ll be okay. Many people want to help; everybody wants a bigger
Centre. Don’t worry about it. We can do without your help on the
stage sets too, if that’s going to add to your worries. You need
someone to help you I think.”

“
Yes I
do, but I don’t think I’d make enough money to pay a man, that’s
the problem.”

“
Why not
hire a boy?” suggested Joe. “You can pay minimum wage and the
insurance premiums wouldn’t be too high.”

“
What
insurance premiums?”

“
You
have to have insurance if you employ someone, and there’re other
things you have to pay for, like holidays and sick
leave.”

“
Aye,”
said Jack. “I hire people on contract. Nout t’worry about
then.”

“
Can I
hire a teenager on a contract?”

“
I don’t
see why not,” said Joe. “I do that during the picking season. They
usually do a good job. I pay piece-work, so much for each pound or
each basket they turn in. Could you do something like
that?”

“
I
probably could. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the suggestions,
they make me feel much better. Let’s get another round and order
supper, I’m hungry.”

The men walked
back to the bar and bought drinks and ordered the meals. When Bob
returned to the table he asked Rose if she’d sold any sets this
month.

“
Two.
It’s too early for visitors in Small End. I’ll sell more when we
have the Spring Show as you know.”

“
Yes.”

While eating
Jane told them how the show was progressing and, finally, the big
surprise.

“
Guess
what happened this week. Small End’s been given a £100,000 grant
from the government to build the Centre. We’d asked for that and we
have now got it! It’s more than enough to pay the electricians,
plumbers and other contractors. So we may have a new Centre, all
paid for, by the fall. And we’ve got all the money we raised from
the shows to cover other things. Isn’t that great!”

“
Wow,
yes!” “Congratulations!” “That’s tremendous!” Everyone raised their
glasses to Jane for she had done more than anyone else during the
past four years.

As they got up
to leave half an hour later Jane took Bob to one side.

“
I think
I know a teenager who might be able to help you. It is Jim Smith’s
son, Benny. He’s sixteen. He quit school at Christmas but hasn’t
got a job. Jim says he sits in front of his computer all day
playing games. He sometimes replies to ads but hasn’t found any
work yet. Call Jim and see what he says.”

“
Thanks.
I’ll do that tomorrow. Let’s hope the kid’s interested, I certainly
need someone.”

His clothes
were drying on the line and all the dusting finished Sunday morning
when Bob filled the kettle. He’d have a quick coffee than sand the
pieces. He switched on the stove then phoned Jim.

“
Hello
Jim. It’s Bob Barns. I was talking to Jane last night about needing
someone to help me in my woodwork shop and she suggested Benny.
What do you think? Can I see if he’s interested?”

“
Yes,
certainly. I want Benny to get a job, it’s not good to do nothing
all day. Can you come over and see him?”

“
I will,
after I’ve had my coffee. In fifteen minutes. Can you tell him I
called?”

“
Sure,
and I’ll tell him to take the job.”

“
Thanks.
See you soon.”

Benny must
have been watching the garden gate for he opened the door as Bob
walked up the path.

“
Hello
Mr. Barns. Dad’s told me you might have a job for me. Come in, but
I should tell you that I don’t think I’d like it.”

“
Why not
Benny?,” said Bob as he walked in. “Why do you think that you’d not
like the job when I haven’t told you what it is?”

“
Because
it is indoors. I’ve told Dad many times that I want to work
outside. Then he asks me what kind of a job I want outside and I
can’t tell him. I don’t know. I had thought of going to Canada and
planting trees but I’ve found out I’m too young. Maybe I’ll do that
later, when I’m eighteen or so. I’ve worked on the farm for Dad’s
cousin, Joe Smith, and I like that. Trouble is, it’s seasonal work.
What I’d like is a year-round, outside job.”

“
That’s
a pity, for me, at least. I don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t
like what they’re doing, they’re likely to make too many mistakes.
Do you know anyone who might like to make toys?”

“
I don’t
think so. I didn’t take any woodwork courses at school. My friends
mostly like computers and I don’t think any of them would do
anything like that. You could ask the school’s woodwork teacher if
he knows of anybody.”

“
Ah yes.
That’s a good idea, thanks. Then I should let your Dad know what
we’ve decided. Is he here?”

“
He’s in
the garage, cleaning his golf clubs. Golf, that’s his passion. Ever
since retiring playing golf is what he wants to do. I’ll take you
to him. You know, he’s an outdoors person too, maybe I’m the way I
am because of him.”

Jim knew why
Benny declined the job. “You only want to work outside, I know,
Benny. Well, I’ll go and see Joe again and ask if he has a job for
you, though I don’t like the idea of you being a farm labourer all
your life.”

“
I don’t
have to be, Dad. I could become a farm manager, couldn’t
I?”

“
I
suppose so, if you’re any good. Well I’ll talk to Joe
then.”

“
Thanks
Dad.”

“
Do you
know any young man who might work for me Jim?”

“
I don’t
think so. You could ask my brother, Ken. He’s worked with wood all
his life. Did you know he was the general manager of TimberForms?
They made furniture and were bought out last year and Ken was
replaced by the new firm’s manager. He’s got a good pension so he’s
not looking for a job but he might know of someone who is. Why
don’t you call him.”

“
Yes,
thanks, I will.”

Chapter 7 Ken

Ken wasn’t at
home when Bob telephoned so he left a message. He collected the
wooden pieces and sat on a stool in the garden and began sanding.
The phone rang five minutes after he had started.

“
It’s
Ken here, Bob. I got your message and was about to call you when
Jim phoned. He said you’re looking for someone to help you make
toys. You know, I might be interested.”

“
Ah, I
can’t hire a man Ken. It costs too much; his wages, benefits,
sick-leave, pension and so on. I was looking for a teenager who
would perhaps work on contract for a few months.”

“
A few
months is all I’d want to do, too. And I won’t want a pension, I’ve
one already, nor do I need benefits and so on. Why don’t I come
round tomorrow and you can show me what you do and if I like the
idea of helping, I will. We can discuss pay later.”

“
Well,
okay. Can you come at nine?”

“
Sure.
See you then.”

This was
something new to think about. What would it be like working with
Ken? He seems a nice enough chap but I’m not making enough to pay
him a man’s wages so the idea won’t come to anything. I’ll let him
make villages tomorrow and see how it works.

Bob was
cleaning his paint brushes in the kitchen Monday morning when Ken
knocked on the door. “Hello Ken. How did you know I was in
here?”