8

‘There’s no need to look so worried,’ Sarah said when Jessie returned to the office. ‘I’m extremely impressed by the results of your arithmetic test; you only got two slightly wrong,’ she said as the young woman sat down.

‘I’m sorry,’ Jessie stammered. ‘I was so nervous and couldn’t add up to save my life. I lost count of the times I checked my answers, and each time I made them different.’

Sarah chuckled. ‘I’m the same, and it never hurts to double-check. I do have one question, though, and it has nothing to do with your adding up. Your references seem a little out of date. I wondered what you’d been doing since, as there is nothing on your application form?’

Jessie looked down into her lap, avoiding eye contact with Sarah. ‘I thought this would be my downfall. I’m sorry for wasting your time,’ she said as she got up to leave.

‘For goodness’ sake, sit down. I have no intention of turning you down for the vacancy. I just want you to be honest with me. After all, there may be a time when you want my advice over something and, as the store’s personnel manager, I need to know all about you. You do understand, don’t you?’

She beamed. ‘Oh, thank you so much. I thought I’d messed up.’

Sarah looked at the young woman; she’d not changed much over the years, and the mop of dark, unruly curls and her slight frame did little to show that she was a mother in her mid-twenties. ‘Never think that, as we all make mistakes at times. No one is perfect. Now tell me why there is not a reference from Hedley Mitchell, as the last time I bumped into you, you served me tea in their tea room and told me how my father had helped you out with a housing problem.’

‘That’s right, and you said that if I ever wanted to work for Woolworths to ask for an interview.’

‘That’s correct. After all, you know the store very well, from the time you hid away here during the war.’

The girl went bright red. ‘I did explain at the time . . . I was running away from someone. It was cold and there was a window open. Everyone was very kind to me.’

Sarah was thoughtful, as it all came back to her. ‘Are you now happy with your life? I see you have young children.’

‘My life isn’t perfect, but I want to be able to earn enough money to pay the rent and feed my kids. I promise I won’t bring my problems to work with me.’

‘Tell me about your time as a waitress at Hedley Mitchell and why you don’t have a reference?’

‘I’m ashamed to say I was sacked for causing a rumpus in front of customers.’

‘Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good. Was it an unpleasant customer?’

Tears started to fall onto Jessie’s cheeks as she fumbled in her coat pocket for a handkerchief.

‘Here, take this. It is freshly laundered,’ Sarah said, taking a white cotton handkerchief from a small pile in her desk drawer, thinking how often Betty Billington had done the same when she looked after the staff. Betty had been a good teacher.

‘Thank you,’ Jessie sniffed.

‘Take your time,’ Sarah said gently.

‘When I ran away and hid in this store just before Christmas, I was afraid of being caught. My family have a travelling funfair, and an uncle wasn’t very kind to me and some of my cousins. I can’t even think about it,’ she trembled.

‘Then we won’t discuss it,’ Sarah said, trying not to imagine what Jessie meant.

‘Please, I need to explain. I want to be honest with you. I thought my life was back on track, but while I was working at Mitchell’s this uncle spotted me and tried to cause trouble. You see, I’d spoken to the police at the time, and he’d been given a six-year prison sentence and he blamed me. He’d been brooding about it, and then when he heard where I was working . . .’

Sarah thought it didn’t seem enough time in prison, but didn’t like to say so. ‘I take it you fought with him and for that you got the sack?’

‘Yes, he could always charm the birds off the trees, and he made me look like the one in the wrong. My supervisor thought I’d been rude to a customer and wouldn’t listen to my explanation. Since then, I’ve done a bit of this and that to get by. There’s always work to be found on the farms, and I went hop-picking with the children just to keep my head above water. But deep down I knew I needed a proper job that I could be proud of. It was then that I remembered meeting you.’

‘I’m glad you did, as I can’t begin to imagine what life has been like for you. I am a little concerned about your uncle. Is he likely to turn up?’

‘I doubt it, as the fair will be off on its travels again. They do have a yard in Belvedere, but mainly they are on the road.’

‘Well, Jessie, I am more than happy to take you on as a sales assistant. I don’t want you talking about this to any of the staff. What has been spoken about here will go no further. However, if at any time you want to speak to me, please do so.’

‘I’m ever so grateful,’ Jessie said, looking as though she was about to fling herself across the desk and hug Sarah.

As Sarah started to explain more about the duties of a counter assistant, there was a knock at the door and Betty and Freda walked in. Freda hurried over to hug Jessie.

‘I’m so happy to see you,’ she said. ‘I’ve often wondered about you.’

‘I too recall you from that Christmas,’ Betty said as she shook Jessie’s hand.

‘Will you be my boss?’ she asked.

‘No, I took early retirement as I have a young family at home, but you will often see me about the place. A Mr Harrison is the current manager. I was hoping to see him, to introduce myself.’ She looked at Sarah with an enquiring glint in her eye.

‘He is not yet back from lunch,’ Sarah said.

‘Then I will have a cup of tea in the staff room and say hello to a few of my old staff. I suppose I’m allowed to do that?’

‘Of course,’ Sarah grinned. ‘It seems like old days to have you here.’

‘There was another lady,’ Jessie said. ‘She was rather poorly that Christmas. Does she still work here?’

Freda looked sad as she explained. ‘That’s Maisie, and she lost her baby; it was a difficult time for her. However, she has a lovely family now and owns Maisie’s Modes in the High Street.’

‘Oh my, I often look in the window at the beautiful frocks, and my kids have a few outfits from her make do and mend section. Who’d have guessed!’

‘You will meet her once you start work, as she can’t keep away from the place,’ Freda laughed. ‘As for me, I’m a lady of leisure,’ she said, pointing to her bump. ‘I also have a young son.’

‘Make the most of it,’ Jessie said as she congratulated her. Turning to Sarah, she enquired, ‘May I ask if the other lady was successful in her interview?’

‘Yes, she was, so we have two new Woolworths girls!’

The women cheered.

‘Well, well, well, what’s all this then? Are you all having a ladies’ tea party while the hard-working boss is having his lunch break?’ Mr Harrison said from the doorway.

‘Mr Harrison, I am Betty Billington, one of the previous store managers,’ Betty said holding out her hand, which he ignored.

‘Time to be on your way, ladies. You should be at home preparing your husbands’ dinners, and Mrs Gilbert should be trying to earn her wage.’

Sarah was seething. How dare he speak to them in such a way! ‘This is one of our new counter assistants,’ she said as Jessie smiled politely.

‘I’m looking forward to working here,’ she said.

Ignoring the women present, Mr Harrison turned to leave, calling over his shoulder, ‘Gilbert, a word in my office right now.’

Sarah went to follow him, her face like thunder.

‘No,’ Betty said, placing her arm on Sarah’s. ‘You may say something you regret. Let me deal with this,’ she said, leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

‘Oh dear, he seems rather grumpy,’ Jessie said, looking worried. ‘Does he often speak to the staff like that?’

‘You will see very little of him on the shop floor, so please don’t worry. I’m looking forward to you working here. I’ll see you bright and early on Monday morning. Please come to my office first, and I’ll have your uniform ready for you and will talk you through your duties.’

Jessie made her thanks and hurried away.

‘Crikey, I thought for a moment there I’d lost a new staff member. What an odious man he is,’ Sarah said, falling into her seat and indicating for Freda to sit down.

‘I could smell drink on his breath and he was slurring his words,’ Freda replied. ‘Why ever was the man hired?’

‘I have no idea, but wait until you meet our new floorwalker; he will give you the creeps. I’ve had a complaint from one of the counter staff about his wandering hands. I did mean to speak to Mr Harrison about it, but I’ll not do so today, as the drink will be affecting his judgement and he won’t be open to a sensible discussion.’

‘Hmm, it makes me wonder how Betty is getting on?’ Freda said. The two girls looked at each other, before creeping along the hall towards the raised voices coming from Mr Harrison’s office.

‘I have no idea why you are even in my store,’ Philip Harrison growled, ‘but while you are here, you can fetch me a cheese sandwich and a cup of strong coffee from the canteen.’

Betty frowned. ‘I came into the store to speak to Mrs Gilbert, as she has a problem that I might have been able to help with,’ she said, giving him a hard look and hoping he didn’t ask what the problem was. He’d not be too pleased to learn it was his bad management that had had Sarah considering handing in her notice.

Harrison ran a hand though his thinning hair and groaned. ‘Did you notice the name on the door?’

‘Yes, it is your name . . .’

‘Correct, and above it the word Manager?’

‘Well, yes,’ Betty replied, wondering what he was getting at.

‘I am the manager of this store and, as such, I – and not you – advise the staff. You, Mrs Billington, were a temporary stand-in while we men were off fighting for our country. Do you understand?’

Betty sighed. It wasn’t the first time a man in management had made jibes about female staff only being good enough to stand in during times of war until the men returned to take up the reins. ‘That is your opinion, Mr Harrison. From where I sit, the women who worked for F. W. Woolworth did a jolly fine job, on a lower wage than what you were receiving. However, I am not here to argue with you, as I am a busy woman and I can see you have a lot to be getting on with,’ she said, looking aghast at the heap of papers on his desk. ‘I came here to introduce myself and to ask if you needed any advice about the Erith store. If you do, then I’m more than happy to offer it. However, I suggest that before you start work, you collect your own food and drink and don’t expect a woman to do it for you.’

She wanted to say more, but knew she was on a sticky wicket as she was no longer on Woolworths’ payroll, something she was starting to regret. Checking her watch, she went on, ‘I must leave you, as I must be at my husband’s office to discuss business matters. He does value a woman’s input.’

Harrison snorted. ‘I’d heard your husband was some big shot in this town. No doubt we will meet before too long.’

Betty kept a straight face. ‘I hope you meet soon in a professional capacity.’

Harrison nodded his head approvingly.

‘You do know my husband is a funeral director?’ she said, before holding her head high and leaving.

‘Whoops-a-daisy,’ a tall man said as he gripped Betty around the waist as she hurried into the hall, intent on seeing Sarah to discuss her boss.

‘Remove your hand from me,’ she spat at him, before wrinkling her nose. ‘You, sir, have been drinking.’

‘A little of what you fancy does you good,’ he smirked as she slapped his hands away before hurrying down the passage.

What had become of her beloved store? She was still fuming as she approached the Erith branch of the funeral directors that her husband, Douglas, owned along with Maisie’s husband, David. It wouldn’t do for their recently bereaved clients to see her in such a state. She stopped to gaze into the florist’s shop next door and took a few deep breaths to compose herself before entering the office at the front of the undertakers’ business. Apart from several flower arrangements, an oak desk and various armchairs, there was little to show it was a place to arrange funerals. They had decided not to have posters and brochures on show; discretion, sincerity and sympathy were always observed. Betty was visiting today to help her husband for a couple of hours as their receptionist was unwell.

‘Hello, my love.’ Douglas appeared through a door that led to the back of the building. ‘Are you sure you are feeling well? You look a little flushed.’

‘Oh, Douglas, I’ve made a terrible mistake; I should never have left F. W. Woolworth,’ Betty said as she pulled off her coat and gloves and placed her handbag in the top drawer of the desk.

Douglas Billington looked concerned. It wasn’t the first time Betty had left the company to care for their family. ‘We agreed you would devote yourself to our family, my love. If you wish to return to the workplace, David and I would gladly find a place for you in this business. Having four premises, as well as the florist’s next door, we are in dire need of reliable staff.’

Betty took her husband’s hand and held it to her cheek. ‘As much as I would like to be by your side every waking hour, I don’t see the funeral business as being right for me. My heart is in retail. I miss working for F. W. Woolworth. I wonder . . .’ She stopped talking and looked away from Douglas, as she took a deep breath to gather her confidence and voice her feelings. ‘I wonder, would you approve if I contacted head office and asked for my old job back? I’m not needed so much at home, now Clemmie and Dorothy are older, and the little ones are just as happy with our staff. Gosh, that makes me sound like a bad mother.’

‘You have never been a bad mother,’ Douglas was quick to interject. ‘You are simply one of those women who is not complete being a wife and mother. I’ve often thought there were three in our marriage: you, me and Woolworths. You’ve worked for Woolworths a lot longer than you’ve known me, and I’d be the first to say you are nothing if not loyal to the store.’

‘Oh, Douglas,’ Betty said, holding tightly to his hand. If they had been anywhere else, she’d have thrown herself into his arms, but it would not be seemly, here in the funeral establishment. With his silver hair and strong stature, he reminded her more of a matinee idol than an undertaker. ‘I don’t deserve you. I promise I’ll make it up to you and the children.’

‘There’s no need, my love. You come alive when you are busy running the Erith store, and I’d rather have a wife full of life than one stuck at home turning into . . .’

‘A wilting lily?’ Betty asked, looking towards the flower arrangement on the desk. ‘Besides, they may not want me back.’

Douglas didn’t want to agree, although the thought had crossed his mind. ‘What has made you come to this decision so suddenly? I can see something has happened to upset you. We have ten minutes before our next client, so tell all.’

Betty quickly outlined her brush with Mr Harrison, along with how low morale seemed to be among some of the staff. ‘I’m not saying I’m perfect, but that man is a terrible manager. There’s something about him I’m not sure of.’

‘Why not speak to Tony Forsythe? Freda is sure to have a telephone number she can give you.’

‘That’s the other problem. As far as I know, when Tony finishes helping to train our Olympic cycling team, he will want to return to management, and he was shortlisted for the Erith branch. With Freda expecting their second child and them having a home in the town, although nothing was decided before he left.’

‘My advice would be to take things slowly. After all, there is no point in rushing in and causing problems.’

Betty agreed, but shook her head, looking glum. ‘My goodness, life can be such a conundrum at times.’