115 Goodbye International Stores

Getting up early to do a paper round before school never appealed to me. But my old mate Paul Parker was earning good money after school delivering the Evening Post and when he suggested I do the same, I was tempted. The earnings were variable but, for comparable hours, a wage above my International Stores’ fifteen bob a week was practically guaranteed. And it’d leave Saturday’s free for going to football again. That was the clincher. I went to see Paul’s boss, a gruff old bloke who issued the papers from his home on Boughton Close. ‘Start on Monday,’ he said.

Yes!

I left my job at the International Stores that Saturday…

I felt a bit sad when the staff assembled at the back of the shop, as usual, just before six. Everyone went away happy on Saturday nights; Mister Sullens, Mrs Brown the supervisor, and the girls; Pat, Margaret, Liz, Janet and Sue. This Saturday was no different but there’d be no ‘see you next week’ from me. I’d miss them all, especially Sue, who’d tried so hard to bring me out of my shell.

As always, nobody left until Mister Sullens gave the word. A meticulous man, he’d busy himself till the last second before dismissing everyone with a ‘right, off you go ladies’ that sufficed for me too. But not this evening, instead, he joined the waiting throng. I guessed something was going on when he ushered Sue forward.

‘We’ve brought you a little present,’ said Sue, as she handed me a boxed tie and a huge block of Cadbury’s.

Overcome with surprise, gratitude and an awful lot of embarrassment, I was stuck for words.

‘I-I don’t know what to say… thank you,’ was as much as I could stutter, as my face burned up.

‘Aww, he’s shy,’ was the last thing I needed to hear amidst their giggles. Caught in the spotlight with those young ladies smiling at me, I didn’t know where to look. I’d have melted on the spot if Mister Sullens hadn’t come to the rescue.

‘Right, off you go ladies.’