by David Hockey
Chapter 37 The men
The idea came to him that evening as he was climbing the stairs on the way to bed. Why not use some of the money he’d eventually get to have a bathroom put in upstairs? It didn’t seem necessary in the past but he’d probably be using it two or three times each night as he got older. He would never have spent five or six thousand pounds on such a luxury a year ago but it didn’t seem too much these days. He didn’t need three bedrooms now, in fact he only needed one. Maybe he should change the whole upstairs and have one big bedroom with an ensuite. But no, he’d need a spare bedroom. He’d design the bathroom and have Jack install it. The downstairs bathroom could become a small toilet and the kitchen or the lounge could be enlarged. That’s what he’d do during the rest of his holiday, he’d redesign the house.
Thinking about this kept him awake for a couple of hours and he slept late, waking at eight. He checked the front door, picked up the milk then thought about what groceries he needed and made a list as he was eating his porridge.
After breakfast he washed the overalls, dusted and cleaned the house. Then he put his dirty clothes in the machine, picked up his shopping list and walked to the village grocery. They had all he needed and he’d not have to drive to Big End. He’d spend the day drafting, once he’d finished the gardening.
Back home Bob cut the grass, tidied his overgrown vegetable patch and squeezed the overalls onto the line. He’d wash his clothes later. He found the tape measure and carried it and a pad of paper upstairs. He measured each room carefully and the thickness of each wall then did the same for the ground floor, putting a small circle where the toilet waste pipe ran. Jack would need that to know where the upstairs toilet should be positioned.
After coffee he made several sketches, making the bathroom different sizes and putting the bath in different positions. He’d show them to Jack tonight and see what he’d say.
Bob went for a walk in the afternoon. Once home he collected the overalls and used his car to take them to the workshop. He had a bath, drew two good plans, folded them and put them in his pocket. He walked to the Crown and was the first to arrive.
Joe and Jane joined him a few minutes later and Bob told them about his holidays and repeated some of it when Jack and Rose sat down.
“And how have things been here? What have I missed?” Bob asked
“We missed you at the dance lessons,” said Rose. “We need more men. Ask Ken if he’d come Bob.”
“I will, but he’d also bring Mary if he came.”
“That’s all right. And we’ve started charging membership and lesson fees now,” added Jane. “A hundred pounds a year for adults and fifty for anyone under twenty. Free for those under ten.”
“What’s the fee for dancing lessons?”
“Nothing this year. It’s one that might bring in more members, that’s why it’s free now.”
“How’s the farm doing Joe?” asked Bob.
“It’s turning out pretty well. The rain and sun have been just right most of the year.”
“So we might have two holidays this winter,” added Jane.
“So might we,” said Rose. “Jack’s bringing in lots of money.”
“Oh Jack,” Bob said, “I’m thinking of moving my bathroom upstairs, putting it in one of the spare bedrooms. Do you think you can do that for me?”
“Nay, Bob. Not now, maybe in t’winter.”
“That’s okay, I should have money by then. Here are some plans I’ve drawn,” and he pulled them out of his pocket. “Can you look at them sometime and tell me what you think? There’s no hurry.”
“Aye. Nex’ Saturday okay?”
“Yes. Thanks.”
Most of Sunday Bob alternated between playing games on his computer and redesigning his house. He told Maria about changing the house layout in his letter. ‘I’ll need your help to decorate it. We could buy new furniture, new curtains, new lots of things. Would you help me choose them?’ hoping she’d say ‘Yes’ in her reply.
Ken was in the shop working on the exhaust duct above the sanders when Bob arrived Monday morning.
“Oh, when did you put the new sanders in?”
“Sunday morning.”
“Why didn’t you ask me to help?”
“You were still on holiday, remember? It didn’t take long. I estimate we’ll make an extra hundred sets a day now, using these. The coarse sander will double the speed whenever it’s used.”
“You’ll certainly be ready for your holiday Ken.”
“You’re right about that!”
“We’re making trains today?”
“Yes that way we can give Dave what he ordered.”
“Good.”
At lunch Lori and Craig announced that their apartment was all finished. “We’d like to have the celebration party this Friday evening. Since it’s our month-end lunch we’d have all the afternoon to make snacks for you.”
“I can’t come if you have it then,” said Frank. “I’m leaving immediately after lunch. We’re driving north, on our holiday trip.”
“Me too,” said Bert. “We’ve booked a week in a Cornwall resort and it start’s on Friday.”
“Then we’ll have to postpone it again.”
“I’ve an idea,” said Ken. “Why don’t we combine your party and the month-end celebration. Bob and I’ll give you, err, two hundred pounds and you could order some take out for the lunch.”
“Oh that’s nice Ken. Thanks. We could do that. What do you think Craig?”
“Sure, that’d be fine. What does everybody else think?”
“It’s a nice idea. A double-party is a great way to start a holiday!”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. Thanks again Ken and Bob,” said Lori.
At the end of the day Bob asked Ken how the two sanders affected the speed of making trains.
“We did make about a hundred more trains using them. I haven’t checked what it might do when making the villages or farms. We’ve got about 2,500 trains now Bob. That should be enough for Dave.”
Tuesday and Wednesday they made farms, adding nearly three thousand to their stock. Even though he felt tired Bob went to the dancing lessons Wednesday evening. He could see what Jane had said, this time Jenny’s husband was the only man there beside himself.
Thursday morning, just after tea, Sam Barns, Lilly, Jane and Bess walked through the front door and into the office. Lori asked if she could help them and Sam explained that he was Bob’s son and asked if his Dad was there.
“Yes he is. Can I fetch him for you?”
“Yes please.”
“Do you think we could see what everyone’s doing?’ asked Jane.
“I’m sure you could,” said Lori. “I’ll get some safety glasses and tell your grandfather you’re here. Just a minute.” She went to the shop, collected the glasses from the box near the door, told Bob what had happened and they both went to the office.
“Hello Sam. Hi Lilly. Hi Jane and Bess! Give me a hug you two,” and Bob bent over. “You’ve grown so much since Christmas!” He stood up. “Are you just visiting for the day Sam?”
“Not quite. I get three weeks holiday now so we’re having an extra camping trip this year. We’re staying near the New Forest. Got there Tuesday, settled in yesterday and are here today.”
“That’s great, I’ll be able to visit you there. You want to see the workshop?” he said, looking at the girls.
“Yes please, Grandpa.”
“Okay. Come with me,” and he took all of them to the door in the corridor and opened it wide. “Here it is. Put on your glasses now. The shop’s a bit bigger than the one I have in my back yard isn’t it?”
“Wow, it’s immense,” said Lilly.
“Can we go closer and see what everybody’s doing Grandpa?” asked Bess.
“Of course. But first you must say hello to Ken, my partner. He’s the man who’s just started walking towards us. Ken this is Sam, my son, and his wife, Lilly. And my two granddaughters, Jan
e and Bess.”
“Hello. It’s nice to see you. Are you going to look around?”
“Yes please,” answered Bess.
“Then you’d both better hold my hands and come with me and I’ll tell you what everybody’s doing.”
Ken took them slowly along the line and Bob followed with Sam and Lilly. They said ‘hello’ to everybody as they passed by. Everyone smiled and several answered questions the girls asked. After walking along both lines Bob took them to see the wood room, the tea room then the storage room.
“I did not know it was as big as this Dad, even though I saw it on the television.”
“It might have to be made even bigger for we’d add another bench if needed. At the moment it’s just about right. If we make different toys then we’ll probably add another. Seen enough? If so, do you want to have lunch at the Crown?”
“Yes please, Grandpa.”
“Okay. I’ll just tell Ken what we’re doing.”
They had fish and chips and Bob had the curry but only drank a lemonade. When Sam asked him if he’d stopped drinking he laughed and said, “No. But I’ll be working on the line this afternoon and I don’t want an accident. When can I visit your campsite? How about Saturday or Sunday?”
“That’s no good Dad. We’re leaving on Saturday. We have to get everything ready for school.”
“Then it’ll have to be tonight or tomorrow night. How about tonight? I’ve got a party tomorrow lunchtime.”
“Yes, that’d be good,” said Lilly. “We’ll be packing Friday.”
“What’s the party Dad?”
“We have one at the end of each month to celebrate a good production. It’s fun for everybody.”
“I wish we had one at work! That’s a great idea.”
“Suggest it to your boss and see what he says. Right, sketch a map of where your campsite is.”
“Come for supper Grandpa. We’re having hot dogs, done on the grill.”
“We’ll have sausages as well,” added Lilly.
“Can you come about six Dad?”
“Sure.”
“Good.”
“I must go back to work now,” said Bob.
“All right. Time to go girls.”
They made just over fifteen hundred villages that day. Bob checked the stock list before leaving; they had about 3,800 farms, 2,300 villages and 2,500 trains.
The tents at Sam’s campsite were pitched in open areas among trees that boarded a small field dotted with swings, roundabouts and slides. A big sandpit sat on one corner. Many children were playing there but Bess and Jane were at the tent, helping their mother put things on a picnic table.
“Perfect timing Dad,” called Sam. “The food’s just cooked. Do you want a beer?”
“Yes, that’d be nice. Thanks.”
He stayed for about an hour and the girls showed him around the place.
“We like it here Grandpa. There’s lots to do,” said Bess.
“Is it better to have a holiday here than go to Snowdon?” Bob asked.
“That was good too. I’ll have to tell everybody about what we did there when I go back to school. But it’s easier to make friends at this camp.”
“Yes even boyfriends,” said Jane.
“Yes. We both have a boyfriend Grandpa.”
Bob didn’t say anything even though he thought it was a bit early for the girls to think about boys. He thought that didn’t happen until they were fifteen or sixteen but supposed it was different these days.
At nine that night he had a phone call. It was Ken.
“I’ve just found out what the two men who visited this shop were interested in Bob. Me. They want to hire me! They have a factory in Manchester that has made luxury wooden office furniture for a hundred years or more and they want to expand. They want me to help them do that and manage it’s growth. In fact they want to triple its size.”
“Don’t they have their own people to handle all that? Why do they want you?”
“The owner is retiring next year and doesn’t want to oversee the change and his two sons, the men who visited, are very progressive. They want their employees to like their job, to be like ours are. They saw how our people behaved when they watched the BBC show but they don’t know how to achieve the same result. They came to see first-hand if everybody was always like that. And to see me I suppose.”
“Do they want me as well?”
“No Bob. Just me.”
“Good. I don’t want to move to Manchester. Are you interested?”
“I think I am. But it will mean so many changes. We’ll have to talk about it tomorrow.”
“There won’t be much time to do that tomorrow Ken. Someone has to drive to We-Have-It and we’ve the lunch and party as well.”
“We can we discuss it afterwards. All right? I’ve told them I’m on a cruise for the next two weeks and won’t give them my decision until I return. I want to know what you think about it before I leave on Sunday.”
“Okay. Let’s talk after the party. I’m glad you phoned me, it’s a lot to think about.”
Bob slumped in his chair after hanging up. ‘If Ken moves what’s going to happen? I don’t want to run the shop. Craig and Lori could do it, I suppose. I’d have to pay them more but I could afford it. And Ken’s share of the company, what he going to do with that? Will he keep it or sell? And who is he going to sell it to? I’m not going to agree if he said Great Toys. I suppose I could buy it, over time, with my share of the profits. But I don’t want to do that; I just want my holidays and an easy retirement. Oh dear, what a mess.’
He slept poorly, waking every half-hour and thinking about the future for an hour or so before drifting back to sleep. He was glad when sunlight brightened the room. He got up, had a bath and put on comfortable clothes. He’d drive to We-Have-It, that is, if Dave called, and take his time. He didn’t want to return and start working in the shop. He just wanted to think.
He drove the car to work Friday morning, ready to take three or four to Lori’s party at noon. All the employees were excited, laughing as they put on their overalls and talking about what they would be doing for their holidays. Lori was quieter, probably thinking about the party she and Craig were about to give. Ken and Bob had their thoughts elsewhere and were very quiet, hardly speaking. Bob was glad when Dave called and made his order and happier after he had loaded the van and was driving away. What was going to happen if Ken said yes.
He avoided the motorway and drove along the back roads to Basingstoke, stopping once to let a herd of cows pass as they were driven from one field to another. The wide verge where he was parked and the peaceful view over the wooded slopes and fields would be a good place to picnic with Maria though he wouldn’t have time to spend doing that if he had a workshop to oversee.
He moved his van to the side of We-Have-It’s parking lot after delivering the load and went into Dave’s office. “Hello Dave. I’ve just dropped off the toys. I thought I’d let you know we’ve included the last three hundred trains this time. So you have all you ordered now. Here’s the list of what I’ve delivered,” and Bob handed it to him. “2,000 farm, 2,000 village and 1,500 train sets. You phoned for 1,000 train sets earlier.”
“Hello Bob. Yes, I did. Good. Thanks for telling me though I’d know what you’d delivered before the end of the day, I get a copies of all delivery receipts so I know what’s happening. What’s happened to Lori?”
“She’s busy in the office and in the factory.”
“She’s a good woman. You’re lucky to have her working for you.”
“Yes we know. And she’s looking forward to her lunch with you later this year.”
“Oh good. Maybe I can persuade her to come and work for me. I’m looking for a good secretary.”
“Don’t you dare Dave. I’ll not let her do the deliveries if you’re going to do that!”
“Just kidding Bob.”
“I want to tell you that we’re on holiday next week. The workshop will be clo
sed. Call me if you want more stock, here’s my card.”
“You’ve just been on holiday haven’t you Bob?” asked Dave.
“Yes I have, but no one else has yet. That’s why we’re closing the workshop. It’s just for one week.”
“What do you have in stock right now?”
“Nearly two thousand farms, a thousand villages and probably over a thousand trains.” Dave made a note. “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll phone you if we need some, which we almost certainly will. I’ll phone before nine thirty all right?”
“Yes. Thanks.”
Bob was a bit more cheerful on his drive back. Ken hadn’t yet decided to go and perhaps he wouldn’t. If he did something would work out. It always did. He arrived just after twelve as they were packing up. He saw that Lori had updated the stock lists and checked them; they now had 1,800 farms, 1,000 villages and 1,200 trains, just about what he’d told Dave.
Lori and Craig, Diane and Jean crammed into Bob’s car and were the first to leave. When they got to Lori’s apartment she told them what they’d do. “We’ll put the trays of snacks in the oven to warm and take all the beer out of the fridge and put it in the cooler. Then we must reload the fridge with more beer. That’s about all, everything else had been done.”
As soon as everyone had arrived, been shown around the place and had a drink in their hands Lori shouted out that there were three menus and some paper on the corner table.
“Look at the menus, choose what you want to eat and write it on the paper. Make sure you put it on the paper headed by the restaurant that provides what you want or you won’t get it. When that’s done we’ll order the food. So if you’re hungry you better do it now. I’ll place the order in ten minutes.”
The food was ordered fifteen minutes later and it arrived just as they had finished the last of the snacks. By two o’clock some people were saying goodbye and others started to clean up and wash the dishes. Ken and Bob stayed until the end and helped Lori and Craig finish tidying up.
“Was two hundred pounds enough Lori?” asked Bob.
“Oh yes. There’s about forty pounds left. Here it is, and thanks.”
“No, no, you keep it.”
“Yes, it’s yours,” said Ken. “It was a great party; much better than the ones we have in a pub.”
“Thanks.”
“Well, have a good holiday,” said Bob. “What are you going to do?”
“Just take a couple of day trips, I think,” said Craig. “We’re saving money for the wedding now.”
Ken asked Bob if he’d come to his home to discuss the man’s proposal as the left the apartment so Bob followed him there. He didn’t see Mary when they went in and Ken said she was playing bridge with some friends. They went into Ken’s study to talk.
“Have a scotch Bob?”
“Yes please.”
They sat in the same chairs they used when Bob first visited the house. Ken put the bottle and soda siphon on the table beside him.
“Let me tell you a bit more about the offer Bob. The company’s called Goodner’s, you may know the name.”
“I don’t think so. Was it a good offer Ken?”
“Yes. Very good I think. They’d give me a three-year contract, pay me £200,000 a year, although half of that would be in five-year options. They’d pay for the move, give me a car and make me the CEO. And I’d be on the board of course.”
“Sounds as if you want the job Ken.”
“Yes, I’m pretty sure I do. And Mary wants me to take it. Manchester’s only seventy miles from Nottingham where James lives. We could get there in a couple of hours, less if we bought a house in the right place.”
“Are you going to tell them you’ve decided today?”
“No. I said I’d let them know what I want to do when I came back from my holidays. I’d have to visit them first and talk to their father. I want to see if the chemistry is right before finally deciding. But I’d like to say yes. So the issue now is, what do you think about me doing this?”
“I’m not happy about what will happen to the workshop Ken. I’m happy for you. And for me, I think, as long as I don’t have to be the one to run the place. Maybe Craig and Lori can run it and you and I can just be the owners, although I don’t really want to be an absentee owner because one of us should keep an eye on the place and you’re too far away to do that. But I guess things will work out, somehow.”
“I hoped you’d feel that way. Look, I know that this is a big change. Think about it while I’m away and see if you can come up with a better way of running things, one you’ll benefit from too. For instance, if I do agree to move do you know anyone who might want to buy the company, one who’ll keep it in Small End?”
“I don’t know anyone who’d want to do that. If I could find someone would we sell for half a million?”
“Sure. We know it’s making more than that each year right now but we also know it might collapse anytime. The selling price doesn’t matter that much to me, I already have a pension and the new job.”
“I had enough money before all this started,” said Bob, “but it’s nice to have a bit more. Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds would be fine for me. Okay, I’ll think about who might want to buy it but I won’t say anything to anybody until you’ve decided. You’ll keep it quiet too?”
“Yes, only Mary knows right now. Okay. How about another drink?”
“No thanks Ken. Well that’s simplified the situation for me, knowing what you’re likely to do.”
“Yes, I suppose so. Do you want to stay for supper? Mary will be home soon.”
“No thanks. I think I’ll leave now. I’d like to think about what you’ve told me. Say ‘Hello’ to Mary for me. I hope you both have a good holiday.”
Maria’s letter was waiting for him when he walked in. She’d be glad to help him decorate his renovated house because, she wrote, ‘Effective December 31st I’ll be a freelance agent!’ Her agency said they would make her their first choice when they wanted tours to be researched and also be a guide for them when they needed someone. ‘So I’m not afraid of failing now. Two other agencies know I’ll be freelancing and will hire me, as I told you. So I can come over when you’re ready.’
That’s wonderful, Bob thought. He wrote to her after supper, describing all the things he thought they might do when she had more time. He didn’t mention Ken or that he might not have as much time in the future as he had earlier expected and signed off, ‘with all my love, Bob.’
He tidied the garden Saturday morning, cleaned the house, did his washing and shopped, both in the village and in Big End, posting his letter at the main office. He had lunch in a pub at Big End and sat in his lounge most of the afternoon. He bathed at five, put on his blazer and some smart trousers then went to the Crown.
After everyone had caught up on the local gossip Joe said, “I’ve found a man who wants to rent the milking parlour Bob. He called me today and said he’d like to take it tomorrow.”
“What’s he want it for?” asked Bob.
“He sells evestroughs. None of the builders put them on so he goes to the new owners as soon as they’ve moved in and offers to install them.”
“Oh, well that’s good news for both of us. But we’ve still got a few things in there. I’ll come around tomorrow and get them.”
“Okay. You’ll give me the keys when you’ve finished?”
“I’ll give you mine. Ken will give you his when he returns from his holidays. He’ll be back in two weeks.”
“That’ll be all right.”
“Is everyone going to the dance tonight?” asked Jane.
“Nay,” said Jack, “too tired.”
“I’m going though,” said Rose.
“And you Bob?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’d better leave now, it’s nearly eight.”
“You go. I have to talk to Jack first.” He looked at him, “About the sketches I gave you.”
After the others had l
eft Bob asked Jack what he thought about his drawings.
“Looks okay but I gotta know which walls are load-bearing before estimatin’. Need to check ‘em.”
“Okay, but not tomorrow. There’s no hurry,” replied Bob.
“Right.”
Bob only stayed for an hour at the dance. He found it hard to make conversation because he kept thinking about what would happen to the company once Ken moved away. But he slept well; knowing that he had another week of holidays ahead of him may have contributed to that.