Bob of Small End

by David Hockey

  Chapter 32 The engagement party

  It was still raining when Bob awoke and the garden was too wet to think of working there. He did the usual weekend dusting and cleaning, thinking about how much his life had changed in the last half year. Working every day, lots of money coming in—likely more in the future—and a girlfriend in Portugal. There was much to think about including how he wanted to spend the rest of his life. He decided to walk along the river after lunch and tell Betty about it.

  The rain had slackened to a heavy drizzle after Bob had eaten his lunch. His mackintosh and umbrella kept most of it off as he walked slowly along the path, thinking what Betty might have said. It wasn’t Maria for which he sought guidance, it was about the factory; he didn’t like the idea of working within a factory, even though he was its principal owner. ‘And all the money coming in, Betty, what do you think about that? Got any suggestions?’ It didn’t do any good, no solutions arrived and he turned back and began home. Near the end of the river path he saw Ronald Teller standing looking at the bushes then up into the trees.

  “Hello. Ron. What are you doing?”

  “Oh, hello Bob. I’m looking for birds. I’m what some people call ‘a twicher’. There’s a Common Yellowthroat here. I can hear it but can’t see it. Can you hear it?”

  “I can hear something but I don’t know what it is. A twichety twichety kind of call. Is that it?”

  “Yes, that’s it.”

  “Well I can’t see any birds at all even though there must be one somewhere. Do you look for birds along the path often? I’ve never seen you here before.”

  “I don’t usually come here but a friend told me a Yellowthroat’s been heard here. It would add one to my year’s list if I found it.”

  “You used to be a teacher didn’t you?”

  “Yes. I taught biology and general science in the Big End high school. How did you know that?”

  “You taught my daughter, Regina, many years ago.”

  “Regina Barns. I may have. I don’t remember her but I don’t remember many of the children I taught.”

  “Well we must have had a chat there for I thought I knew you when we met yesterday.”

  “We probably met during an interview. I’m retired now. My hobby is birding. Does it interest you?”

  “I used to carve birds but don’t have time to do that now. Making toys takes all the time I have. When I carved I sometimes looked at photographs of birds to find one to carve.”

  “Well if you every want to try bird watching give me a call. I live the other end of Small End, near to where Ken Smith lives and my number’s in the book. Ah, there it is. Look. Can you see it? It’s at two o’clock on the edge of the bush, the third bush down from us. The bird’s got a yellow throat and a black band across its beak with a white band above that. At least that’s what this one, a male, has. Here, use my binoculars,” and he handed them to Bob.

  “No I can’t see it. Oh yes, I see it now. It’s pretty.”

  “Yes it is.”

  Bob gave the binoculars back to Ron who looked at the bird until it flew away. “Well, that’s enough for me today. I’m going home to a warm fire and a rum and coke.”

  They walked together to the end of the path where they said goodbye. Ron climbed into his car and Bob walked home thinking about birding. It might be an interesting hobby if he ever had time for one. And he slowly realised that that’s what he wanted most of all, not lots of money but more time for himself. To be with Maria as well of course. He didn’t want to be an owner of a toy-making factory, he wanted the freedom to do what he wanted, any time he wanted, not making toys all the time. He wanted to retire again.

  As he opened the front door he asked himself if it was talking to Betty that helped him discover his real needs. No, it wasn’t Betty, it was talking to Ron. He made me think about having a hobby. ‘But I wouldn’t have seen him if I hadn’t gone for a walk to talk it over with Betty. So I guess I can thank both of them.’

  He wrote to Maria that evening, telling her about the new employees, that Craig and Lori had become engaged and that the BBC had filmed the shop. He looked forward to her comments on the last part.

  Craig was in the milking parlour workshop with Luke, Ray, Diane and Alan when he arrived on Monday morning. Craig was taking them along the line, as Ken had done in the other shop, explaining how the engines and carriages were made. Luke demonstrated each step as they moved from one position to the next. Bob watched from the side for a while then went into the office.

  “Hello Bob,” said Lori. “Did you have a good weekend?”

  “Yes. Except for the noisy group leaving the dance on Saturday night. How about yours?”

  “Very good. We rented an apartment and we’ll move in next Saturday. You and Ken will have to come and see it.”

  “We must. Let us know when you’re ready for visitors. Oh I have some news for you but don’t tell anyone except Craig because Ken want’s to announce it when we finish tonight; we’re having the engagement party for you this Friday afternoon. It’ll be at Ken’s place.”

  “Oh that’s nice. Thank you.”

  “It’s Mary who you should thank, she’s making all the arrangements.”

  “I will.”

  “Ken and I have withdrawn £35,000 Lori. And I’m going to discharge my mortgage. Isn’t that good?”

  “It certainly is. You know, I think that July’s income will be as good as June’s. I’m still getting lots of requests. I’ll make up the delivery list later today. Do you want to be on the road this week?”

  “No, just make lists for Gerry and Bert.”

  “Okay.”

  “Can you ask the phone company to switch our numbers on Friday? We’ll move the office to the Centre next Monday. We’ll need another desk and a chair and a couple of easy chairs for visitors and anything else you think we should have. Could you order them and have them delivered Friday too, if they can do that?”

  “Okay. I’ll order the new computer as well then. Can you or Ken collect it next weekend?”

  “How about if we collect it on Friday after the party. One of us could drive you home and call by the shop on the way.”

  “Okay, that’d be nice. Thanks. Is there anything else I should do?”

  “What did the heater and exhaust fan suppliers say about delivery?”

  “They’ll be here Thursday. We should have everything by Friday.”

  “Good.”

  “Did you see The Week’s News on Sunday? There’s an article with a photo of new Community Centre. Ken was interviewed.”

  “I met the reporter at the opening ceremony on Saturday. Is that the paper?”

  “Yes. I’ll post it on the notice board after you’ve read it.”

  Bob skimmed through the article and handed it back. “She liked the new Community Centre and the opening ceremony but she didn’t say much about Wooden Toys.”

  “Probably there wasn’t enough room to put more.”

  Someone knocked on the door and two boys entered.

  “Hello. We’re from the high school. You told us to come when we had finished school for the year so here we are.”

  “Ah, yes, Ken told me you’d be coming,” said Bob. “The man you want to meet is Mr. Smith. He’s at the old Community Centre. I’ll take you there but I don’t think there are any jobs now,” and he looked at Lori. “Jean’s brothers are coming in today aren’t they?”

  “I think so.”

  “But I thought we were promised a job when we came here last,” said one of the boys. “It’s not fair if you’ve given it to someone else.”

  “Well lets see what Ken, err, Mr. Smith, says. I’ll take you to see him.”

  Ken was running the router jig when Bob walked in the shop. Jean, Frank, Jose, Bert and Gerry were spread along the line cutting, sanding and painting. Bob shouted hello and walked the boys over to Ken.

  “Ken, these are the boys you saw a month ago from the high school. They are hoping for a jo
b but I told them that there may not be one now.”

  “Oh there will be. You’re Tiger and you’re Nobby aren’t you? Where’s Alf?”

  “He decided he didn’t want to make toys. I think he was afraid of what his friends would say.”

  “Didn’t Jean’s brothers turn up then?” asked Bob.

  “No. Jean said they’ve taken construction jobs. About the same pay as we’re giving but there’s plenty of overtime.” He turned to the boys. “Well I thought there would be only one job here but I want two people now so you’re both in luck, that is, you’ve got a job if you can do the work. Bob, would you like to walk them along the line or should I do that?”

  “You’d better. You know what you want to emphasise. I’ll handle the jig.”

  So Ken showed the boys what was happening. At the end of the line he pointed to the painted pieces that were waiting to be put in plastic boxes and said, “One of you can look after that job. I’ll show you where they are stored until we glue them.” He took them to the storage room and they returned with one of the trolleys and a load of empty boxes. “Who would like to work here?”

  “What’s the other job?” asked Nobby.

  “Bringing the wood from the wood storage room to the front of the line.”

  “Then I’d like to do this job,” said Nobby. “When can we try the others?”

  “This afternoon. This morning I just want you to watch what the others are doing. When you have time stand behind one and watch what is being done and ask questions; they’ll be glad to explain what’s happening. Try to remember exactly what is done. And get to know their names but first, come and get an overall and safety glasses.”

  Once they returned he showed them where the new wood was stored then put them to work. He stood next to Bob and watched. “That was lucky. I’d forgotten the boys were coming and I would have to turn them away if the brothers had showed up. I guess there’s lots of work in the construction business now. We might find it hard to get new workers next time we need them.”

  “I’m sure there’s lots of work but maybe not for youngsters like Tiger and Nobby. How’s the production? Is it near full-speed?”

  “Just about. And it won’t take long to show the people in the old shop how to make trains. Don’t know how long Tiger and Nobby will take to get up to steam. Nobby seems alert, I’m not sure about Tiger.”

  “Craig’s showing the three you sent over how to make trains now. I expect Lori will join them when she’s finished in the office. She told me that all the equipment she’s ordered will be here on Thursday or Friday.”

  “Good. It won’t take us long to make the new bench and it’ll be good to have everybody in the same place.”

  “I don’t want to work in the shop Ken.”

  “No of course not. Nor do I. We’ll be the managers.”

  “I actually want to retire but, for now, I’d just like to develop new toys and, like we said, do it in my shop, at home.”

  “Okay. We can use the milking parlour shop to develop the production line we’d need to make the fire engine or other new toys. Oh, the wood for the new bench arrived this morning. It’s outside the back door. Are you still okay to work on it tonight?”

  “Yes, seven o’clock?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then don’t arrive earlier and have half of it done before I get here.”

  “It’ll take all night to get it only half-done.”

  “Then I’ll come at six-thirty. Can you manage that?”

  “Yes. Will you bring everybody here for the last ten minutes today so I can tell them about the engagement party?”

  “Why not tell them at the end of lunch Ken? They’re all coming here for that.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ve already told Lori when it will be. I didn’t think you’d mind me telling her.”

  “No that’s fine. “

  “Well I’ll go back now. See you at lunch.”

  Ken’s reply was indiscernible for the shop bell rang. The new boys looked around wondering what was happening and were told it was the tea break. They were taken to the room as Bob watched. When he passed the tea room door Jean was showing them where the supplies were. He thought they would be very happy working here, if the smiles on their faces meant anything.

  The day passed much as planned. £1,837.50 arrived and there were more calls for sets. Everyone cheered when Ken told them that the engagement party would be that Friday.

  “Can we go to the party?” asked Nobby.

  “Of course. Unless you quit or are fired before then,” said Ken. “Have you already decided you’d like to make toys?”

  “Sure, it’s fun,” said Tiger.

  “Yes it is,” said Nobby.

  “Well if you can do as well as everybody else you’ll both have jobs.”

  Ken and Bob both arrived at exactly six-thirty that evening. They worked hard until nine-thirty when two-thirds of the bench was built.

  “How about taking tomorrow night off and coming back Wednesday?” asked Ken.

  “That suits me. I feel pretty tired right now.”

  “The rest of the bench won’t take so long.”

  “What about fitting it up?”

  “I don’t want to do that in the evenings, Mary wants to see something of me this week. How about Saturday? Can you help?”

  “Yes I can but isn’t Jack going to be here?”

  “Yes. I want him to install the fans and duct work. If you’re not up to it we can manage.”

  “No I’ll be here. I’m just not so young as you two, that’s all. I run out of steam more quickly.”

  “Then just grab a chair and sit down when you feel tired Bob. Don’t overdo yourself. There’s no need for that. Let me drive you home tonight.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Will six-thirty on Wednesday be all right?”

  “Sure.”

  Cheques for another £487.50 arrived Tuesday morning. Bob, Craig, Luke, Ray, Diane and Alan made trains, exchanging places every hour or so. Lori worked with them when she wasn’t answering the telephone. When the five o’clock quitting-time came they had started the third run of a hundred train sets.

  “You’ve done really well,” said Craig. “I think that you know all you need to know about making trains now. What do you think Bob?”

  “Yes I agree. You’ve all learned very quickly.”

  “It’s easy, except for the painting. That’s difficult.”

  “Yes, but don’t worry, Diane. When we move to the new shop painting trains will be done using the track-system. Tomorrow go to the new shop. Jean and Frank will be coming here.”

  “What about Tiger and Nobby?”

  “Ken says they don’t need to work here. You’re here to learn, of course, but also because we need train sets. So I’ll see you at lunchtime tomorrow then.”

  They left just as Bert drove the big van into the yard. Bob helped him load the trains then rode to the new shop. It was closed so Bert parked the van and said he’d get someone to help him move the extra trains to the storage room tomorrow.

  “How do you get home if Gerry isn’t here Bert?”

  “I catch the bus.”

  “Oh, of course.”

  They walked to the bus stop where Bob said goodbye. As he walked up the hill to his house he was glad that this would be an evening without work.

  Jean and Frank spent Wednesday and Thursday learning how to make trains and carriages. Wednesday afternoon Lori told Bob that no more cheques had arrived and that June’s income was £52,968.75.

  “I don’t think there’ll be any more. The expenses for June come to £8,796.71. That includes the salaries, your journeys to find new shops, the new equipment we ordered, the rent, telephone, electricity and so on. The net is £44,172.04. You and Ken took out £35,000. So there should be £9,172.04, plus what we started the month with, in the bank.”

  “Once I’ve deposited the cheques we received this week, that is.”

  “What
are we going to pay Nobby and Tiger?”

  “£125 a week. We’ll probably increase their salaries once they become fully productive. Ken or I will tell you when to do that. Do you think that everyone’s content with what we pay them?”

  “Yes, I think so. You’ll give the others £175 a week soon?”

  “I’ll talk to Ken but I think we should start that next week. I’ll see what he says and let you know.”

  “Okay. Do Craig and I get an increase anytime?”

  “Probably. You’ve both been doing excellent work.”

  “So you’ll talk to Ken about that too?”

  “Yes Lori. I will.”

  As they worked that evening Bob talked to Ken about the June earnings and then about the pay they were giving to the employees.

  “I think we should increase their salaries Ken. This is what I suggest. Pay new workers £125 a week for the first two weeks. Then increase it to £175, like we did with Luke and Jose and the others. But increase it again to £200 a week after the first two months and keep it there. We could give a bonus at Christmas if we want to.”

  “All right. I don’t mind that.”

  “I think we should also increase Lori and Craig’s salaries, Lori’s especially. I couldn’t do all the stuff she’s doing.”

  “I couldn’t do all this if it wasn’t for Craig,” said Ken. “What do you think we should pay them?”

  “They’re getting £200 a week now so I think we should increase it to £250. They deserve it.”

  “Okay. What’s all that add up to each week?”

  “Well, if you keep everybody we’ll have thirteen employees. If, to simplify it, eleven of them earn the maximum £200 and Craig and Lori earn £250 it would be £2,700 per week, or about £11,000 a month.”

  “And the other expenses are about £5,000 a month.”

  “Yes about that. As long as we weren’t setting up another bench.”

  “Then we’d have to earn £16,000 a month before we make a profit.”

  “Yes. Of course we won’t get so much from each sale with the wholesaler taking his cut but with more shops selling we should be okay.”

  “Yes I think so.”

  “We’ll tell them about the new wages on Friday and they’d be effective immediately?”

  “Starting next week, okay.”

  They finished the new bench at eight fifteen, locked the Centre and went to the pub to celebrate. Bob had two pints, Ken had two double whiskies then drove Bob home.

  There was a phone call from Dave Posser about nine-thirty Thursday morning asking to speak to Ken or Bob. Lori fetched Bob who was in the middle of sanding the ends of the train chimneys.

  “Hello Dave. You have some news for us?”

  “Hello Bob. The new catalogue was sent out on Monday and we have a few orders for you.”

  “A few? How many?”

  “Six,” said Dave.

  “Six!”

  “That’s right. It’ll probably go up each week. Most sales start slowly unless there’s been some advertising before hand. So we’ll buy fifty of each set. Can you deliver them today?”

  “Just fifty! Yes of course. I’ll bring them to you this afternoon.”

  “Can you make it this morning? We have to send them north and our inter-warehouse lorries leave in the afternoon.”

  “Okay. I’ll leave now.”

  Bob told Lori what had happened then went to the shop and told Craig. They had just put fifty train sets in one of the small vans when Lori came out with a list of requests.

  “Can you deliver these too Bob? They’re all between here and Basingstoke with most being around Southampton. You don’t have to go far out of your way.”

  “How many shops Lori?”

  “Seven, and they’ll all take ten of each.”

  “Did you tell them that we have a wholesaler now and that they should call them?”

  “Yes. I’ve sent a letter to everyone saying that and I reminded those that called. Actually we’ve had calls from nineteen retailers. I told them to call We-Have-It Wholesalers and asked them if they had received my letter. They had and most said they would call the wholesaler from now on. But six said they’d rather have us deliver if we could. Three of those are on this list. I’ve marked them with a question mark so that you know who they are.”

  Craig overheard this and took the trolley back into the shop coming back with another hundred train sets.

  “I’ve brought more in case you need them Bob.”

  “Thanks Craig.”

  He drove to the new shop and told Ken what had happened. They collected a hundred and fifty village and farm sets and put them in the van with the trains.

  “We’ll have to decide if we want to deliver to the retailers who said they’re rather we delivered to them Ken.”

  “Yes. It could be a problem if we did that, others might want the same.”

  “Yes. Well, I’m off now. I’ll check with you when I get back.”

  Dave must have told the gate he was coming because the guard jumped in the van as soon as Bob pulled up and showed him where the delivery doors were. The receiver did all the work and gave him a receipt when he had finished. There was a note from Dave fastened to it. “The cheque for these will be in the mail to you in forty business-days. Thanks. David Posser.”

  Bob stopped for lunch at a small restaurant near the warehouse, having a roast-beef roll and a coffee. He then drove towards Southampton. At the shops Lori had added a question mark he asked the manager or owner why they preferred Wooden Toys to deliver. They all said that they liked the smiles and cheerfulness of the man delivering.

  “Was it Gerry or Bert?” asked Bob.

  “It didn’t matter,” said one. “Both were very pleasant. It’s nice to see a delivery man with a grin on his face.” It was nice to hear them say that but it wasn’t a good enough reason to continue delivering the toys themselves. The best reason for them to deliver would be that they wouldn’t have to give thirty percent to the wholesaler to deliver them. However they’d have to pay Bert and Gerry’s salaries and rent the vans. Since two thirds of the retailers Lori spoke to then actually did call the wholesaler there’d be fewer shops for them to cater to. They’d have to estimate the costs of each way before they could make a rational decision.

  Bob was back at four o’clock and stopped at the new shop to speak to Ken. The hall looked a bit crowded with the two benches and nine people. He wondered what it would look like if they had fourteen people or another bench and six or seven more working on them.

  He took Ken to the office and told him what the retailers had said.

  “It’s nice to hear what they say about Bert and Gerry. They’d probably say that about you too, if you were doing the deliveries.”

  “Maybe, but we have to decide whether or not to do it ourselves Ken. As I see it, a third of the retailers prefer us to deliver but they’re spread all over the place. If we did deliver to them we’d have to pay Bert and Gerry’s wages and rent the vans. I think that it would be better if we had them working in the shop.”

  “It would be nice to get more money but it’s more important to find good helpers,” said Ken.

  “Okay then, we’ll have Bert and Gerry work in the shop. I’ll tell Lori that we’re not going to deliver any more and she’ll have to tell the retailers.”

  “Okay. Then we can return two of the vans. Which two, that’s the question now. The two small ones I think. Surely we’ll soon get bigger orders from the wholesaler.”

  “Yes, of course we will Ken, Dave said that sales grow slowly unless there’s some advertising.”

  “That costs a lot of money.”

  “I know and I don’t want to advertise until we have to,” said Bob. “I’d like to see how they sell by word of mouth. That’s actually what’s already happening; we didn’t advertise.”

  “You had a booth at the conference.”

  “Yes, I suppose that’s advertising. Maybe I should look for something li
ke that and do it again. There must be a conference in London now and again. I’ll ask Leo if knows when there’ll be one. Have you told Lori and Craig about the wage increases?”

  “Yes. I told them about theirs after lunch. They were very pleased. Then I told them about the wages the others would be getting but said they weren’t to tell anyone because I wanted to announce it at the party. They were happy that the others would be getting more too. Now about tomorrow. Mary’s got everything organised. She expects us about twelve-thirty. If you and I drive and if Frank can drive and Gerry takes Bert on his bike we can get everyone there in one trip.”

  “I told Lori I’ll take her home afterwards and collect the new computer. I can take others at the same time too.”

  “All right. We’ll work out the return trip in the afternoon. Can you ask Frank about driving tomorrow?”

  “Sure.”

  Frank said he’d take Ray, Luke and Jose, since they normally rode with him, and that he could squeeze in another person. “I’m looking forward to it! Jose has told me it’ll be a great picnic!”

  It would have been a great picnic if it hadn’t rained. Not continuously but enough to force everyone indoors several times. Craig swam but nobody else wanted to. He tried to organise a cricket match, formed two teams of seven and had started a game on the soggy lawn when it began raining again. So they spent most of the afternoon indoors. Lori, Diane, Jean and Luke helped Mary in the kitchen and discussed cooking. Luke explained how he cooked honey dampers in a frying pan on a camp fire in Africa then Jean said she could show them how to make Zapekanka if Mary had the ingredients. She had everything except the sour cream for the topping so they made a butter-sugar custard to cover the cheesecake, doubled the receipt and spent an hour making enough for everybody to eat after their steak and chips. The frozen chips were warmed in the kitchen oven and Ken cooked the steaks on the barbecue in the garage. Craig, Bert and Gerry watched and drank beer as he worked. They saw the barrel sander he was building and he explained how it worked. Jose taught Frank, Tiger and Nobby how to play poker and Alan spent much of the time teaching Ray to use his PDA, an Apple Message Pad that his American uncle had sent him for Christmas.

  They crowded into the living room to eat the steaks, chips and salads. The custard was an immediate hit, especially when ice cream was added. They had drunk beer and soft drinks until now but at the end of the meal Ken opened four bottles of champagne. He, then Bob, toasted Lori and Craig and wished them a long, happy marriage.

  “When is it to be?” asked Diane.

  “Not for a year or so,” replied Lori.

  “You’ve just rented a flat haven’t you?” Jean asked.

  “Yes, and you’re all invited to a party there as soon as we have got it organised.”

  “When will that be Lori?” asked Nobby.

  “What do you think Craig, in two weeks?”

  “Better make it three, there’s all the painting and the kitchen to do.”

  “Okay. Then we’ll aim for Saturday, August, err. . . “

  “August 10th” said Alan, who had his Message Pad in his hand.

  “Okay, August 10th, unless we have to make it later.”

  “And do we have a party at the end of the month too?” asked Nobby. Everyone looked at Ken and he looked at Lori. “Will we meet the target Lori?” She nodded her head. “Yes we will.”

  “Right” said Ken. “Just choose the pub and let us know.”

  “This is a great place to work,” exclaimed Nobby. “Parties every two or three weeks! Alf won’t half be mad when I tell him!”

  “There’s one more announcement. It’s about your wages. We are doing very well. The toys you make are of excellent quality and we’re selling lots of them. So we are changing the pay scale. This is how it’ll work. New workers will be paid £125 a week for their first two weeks. Then we’ll increase it to £175 for the next two months. Then we’ll increase it to £200 a week. In addition we may give a bonus at Christmas but that depends on year’s sales.”

  “Whoopee!” cried Diane.

  “So Luke and I get £200 a week Ken?”

  “Starting on Monday, yes.”

  “Wow, great. Thanks.”

  “Craig and Lori are paid to a different scale because they are, effectively, on the management side. That’s why I’m not discussing their salary. Okay?”

  Diane stood up, raised her glass and proposed a toast to Ken, Bob, Craig and Lori. Everyone rose, refilled their glasses and drank. Afterwards they stood talking to each other about the raise and what they would do with the extra.

  There was a sudden flash of lightning then a loud thunderclap. Everyone stopped talking and looked out the window.

  “I think that we should go home now,” said Lori. “It looks as if the rain will be much worse soon. Thanks again, Mary, Ken and Bob, for a wonderful, wonderful, engagement party.”

  A fierce rainstorm hit the house then it suddenly stopped. Everyone grabbed their coats and rushed to the cars. Mary was left with all the tidying but she said she didn’t mind. After dropping Luke and Jose at their homes Bob drove Lori to the shop where she’d ordered the computer. On the way Lori told him that they’d also have to buy the word-processor and spreadsheet programs and asked if she could buy one of the new printers.

  “Sure,” said Bob. They put the boxes on the back seat and Bob drove Lori home. Afterwards he drove to the Centre and put the computer and other boxes in the office. ‘I’ll have a nice lazy evening,’ thought Bob as he drove home. ‘No need to cook and it’s not five o’clock yet. I’ll have Ron’s favourite drink, a glass of rum and coke. I’m sure the coke I bought for Christmas is in the cupboard.’ That brought Claire to mind and he wondered how she and her husband were and how they were passing the time. Immediately following he thought about Maria and that it was only three more weeks before they’d be together again. He hoped she still felt the same way about him as he felt about her. He hoped there was a Friday letter waiting for him but when he opened the door there was nothing on the mat.