The Woolworths Girls

The Woolworths Girls by Elaine Everest Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: The Woolworths Girls by Elaine Everest Read Free Book Online
Authors: Elaine Everest
girls had been working non-stop and were grateful for their short tea breaks. ‘So that we know what the time is and the customers know when the shop is closing. If there wasn’t a bell ringing, how would you know you could go for a cup of tea or pack up and go home?’
    ‘You’ve got a point there, love. I’d hate to be stuck in here overnight with old Benfield.’
    Sarah giggled. It was well known that the manager, Mr Benfield, was the last to leave and the first to arrive each morning. They did wonder if he ever went home, as he seemed to be a firm fixture in the shop.
    ‘Here, which one of these calendars should I buy me mother-in-law for Christmas?’
    Sarah looked between the two that Maisie was holding up. There were so many scenes to choose from. Everyone in Erith, as well as the surrounding villages, would have a calendar from Woolworths in their stocking. Each large piece of card showed a pretty picture that would grace the walls of many a home for all of 1939. ‘I like the cottage scene, but perhaps your mother-in-law would prefer the seaside picture.’
    Maisie shrugged, her perfectly painted lips pouting despondently. ‘She’ll moan whatever one I buy. I’ll get her what I like. After all, I’ll probably ’ave to look at it for all of next year.’
    ‘No chance of you finding your own place, then?’ Sarah asked as she pulled a dust cover from under the counter as yet another bell rang to indicate that all customers had left and the staff could start to put the shop to bed for the night.
    ‘Nah – and now Joe’s talking about joining up. He reckons it’s better to jump in now before all this conscription lark starts. He says it’d be safer for me to stay with the old girl. Safe from what? I’ll go insane stuck in the house alone with that old bat.’ Maisie ran her fingers over a calendar that depicted a thatched cottage. ‘Now, if I had a place like this to live in, I’d be in heaven. I fancy ’aving a few chickens and some kiddies running around in the garden.’ She sighed wistfully.
    ‘I’ll buy the thatched-cottage calendar for my mum,’ Sarah said. ‘My parents have a lovely house, but she’s always wanted to live in a cottage with a thatched roof.’
    ‘How’s she doing, ducks? Yer nan said she wasn’t so happy with you being up here and yer dad travelling back and forth so much.’
    ‘She’s not so good, Maisie. Nan told me that when Mum and Dad moved away from Erith, it changed Mum’s world. I was only a toddler at the time so can’t remember any of it. Mum liked joining the clubs and meeting new people. Most of them owned businesses and were well-do-to. Nan said it turned her head a bit and gave her airs and graces. It seems that my aunt Pat wouldn’t speak to her when we came back to Erith to visit and Mum looked down on everyone.’
    ‘Sounds as though she’s a bit above everyone else, don’t it?’
    Sarah nodded. She hated talking about Mum like this, but Maisie was a friend now.
    ‘At least your dad’s all right. It’ll be nice to see him when we get to your nan’s place. It was good of her to let us get ready for the Christmas party at her house. She’s a right laugh.’
    Sarah grinned. ‘Yes, she is. She’s always happy when the house is full of people.’
    ‘Here, look sharp – Bossy Billington’s coming along to empty the tills. If we aren’t quick, she’ll have us doing more work and we’ll never get away on time. Where’s Freda?’
    ‘She went to the warehouse with a pile of empty boxes. She said she’d meet us in the cloakroom. She’s so excited about tonight.’
    Maisie threw the last of the covers over the counter and, grabbing Sarah’s arm, steered her away from the counter so they could escape. ‘Bless her. I don’t think she ’ad much of a life before she came here. I wish she’d open up a bit and tell us, but even I can’t get anything out of her. Do you know, she was even thrilled when Miss Billington told us we’d have

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