"Yes, I am sure that it won't be long before you will have to do that, but in the meantime, as you are buying so much more stock now you should be able to find a carter who will deliver at a reasonable price."
"It's being so young that's the trouble, Mr Landon. They all want to take advantage of me, but I'll get the better of them, I will. And I'll never get into strife like than any more, I assure you."
"I know that, lad. Off you go and sort things out. I'll have to go back. My people will be wondering where I disappeared to." He chuckled. "That young Will certainly is quite something. They wouldn't listen to him when he asked for me, so do you know what he did? He just stood there and yelled for me. It was most effective."
"Golly, did he do that? Gee, I am sorry, sir."
"Think nothing of it, Ricky. I am sure my daughter will like to hear about Will's effort, when I tell her tonight."
"Miss Amabel, sir? You won't tell her about what happened, will you, sir?"
"Well, some of it. Especially about Will. She is always interested in what you boys do. She remembers you got hurt on her behalf, lad." Looking intently at the boy he added, "And so do I."
On returning to the office John Landon walked to Summerland's desk and said, "Come to my office."
The head clerk followed into the glass office and carefully closed the door. John Landon spent the next few minutes telling Summerland just what he thought of servants who did not do as they were asked. He had raised his voice so that everyone could hear what was occurring and Summerland felt smaller and smaller, every now and then trying to get a word in to excuse himself. John Landon finished by saying, " I don't need to tell you why I am interested in those boys, that is none of your business. But if any of them receive anything but complete courtesy from any of my staff the person responsible will be sacked. You can tell them that."
Judging by the complete silence from the outer office Summerland knew he would not have to pass that word around, he knew that they had heard it. At the same time he wondered why the boss was so interested in a trio of stray boys.
Summerland valued his excellent job and decided that the best way to get back into the boss' good graces was to apologize to Ricky for the treatment he had meted out to him. He found that too hard a pill to swallow, but decided that perhaps he could try to quietly make up for it in some way without losing too much face. So Ricky was surprised when he came in to the shop one day and made a half-hearted offer of friendship. Ricky was wary but realised that the man was trying to get out of a sticky situation so without a show of enthusiasm replied in kind. After a few encounters they both lowered their defenses and Ricky at last found the helpful man he had expected to find when he first made contact with him.
In the meantime Ricky had come to an arrangement with his old wholesaler, Charlie, who after chaffing him about being taken for a sucker was able to put him on to a carter who would charge reasonable prices and deliver when it suited Ricky. So the business thrived and grew to such an extent that Ricky could look into the future and see that he would one day have to employ helpers and he was already making plans for extensions.
So life moved on apace. Tad was now installed as office boy at the news office, not liking the change, for he was ever an outside person always wanting to know what was happening in the town he knew so well, but with a knowing eye to the future he was content to work hard and wait for the opportunity he knew would come. He was saving a small amount each week and depositing it meticulously, each pay day, in the bank. Will called this his "horse money", for when the great day came that Tad would be a full blown reporter, he wanted to have enough money to buy a horse so that he could ride faster to and from his assignments.
Mr Landon had learned his lesson. He now kept the boys in sight at all times, not that they knew that for he respected Ricky's need to keep his independence, but from afar he watched over them. He saw the business grow and noted that Ricky had added to his stock and also to the variety of his stock, he was now not a fruiterer alone but had gone into such a variety that one could call his shop now a general store. Many a time, Landon chuckled over the appearance of a new line. Over some, shaking his head knowing that they wouldn't sell, and watching them disappear from the shelves never to appear again. And others, adding quality to the place and therefore enhancing the shop. There was now a continual stream of customers and Landon stood by, sharing his thoughts with Summerland, who had now become quite an ally of Ricky's, waiting to see the next move from the up and coming lad.
Landon did visit openly at times. Usually at closing time when he was on his way home, sometimes buying flowers for his wife. He used the excuse of having a cup of tea with the boys while seeing what progress Will was making with his drawings. He had become very interested in the youngest boy and could see his potential. He had not really taken much notice of Will's interest until the day he found Will alone in the kitchen and wanting to speak with Ricky , who had slipped out for a time, he got chatting to the boy and discovered what he thought could be a mine of talent.
He asked Will if he was still intending to be an artist. Will's face lit up in a way that surprised the man. This small lad, although he must be about 14 now, thought John Landon, seemed to glow. He looked at Will while the boy showed him some of his work, and saw a slight lad with a very pale skin and dark straggly hair. He looked very frail, and he was, according to what Ricky had indicated. He knew that Ricky and Tad took great care of him and would not allow him out in cold or wet weather. Will limped badly as he had a twisted foot, or something of the sort, so he knew that Will found it difficult to walk any distance.
Landon was thinking all these things and only half listening to what the boy was saying, he missed looking with any great interest at one of the several folders that the boy had, but as Will took out one labelled "Church", he focused on what Will said. Inside this folder were heads, noses, eyebrows, eyes, ears, mouths and other bits of the human face and then there were faces, full heads, hats, bonnets, and all sorts of things that immediately took the eye.
"What are these, Will?" he asked eagerly. "Did you do all of these? Where did you see such people?"
"In church," answered Will nonchalantly.
"Do you go to church?" the amazed man asked with a smile.
"Oh, yes," Will replied. "You see as soon as we moved here and were able to get some better clothes Ricky said we had to go to church. He is great on church, is Ricky."
"I didn't know that," said Landon wonderingly. Thinking with appreciation of the little dead woman who had had such an influence on these boys. "Do you like going to church, Will?"
"Oh yes," he said honestly, "there are such interesting people, and I can get to draw them because they sit so still. The trouble is that Ricky won't let us sit in different places each week and so I don't get to do all the ones I want to."
"Where do you go, Will? Actually I think I can tell you. St James, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir, St James. But how do you know?"
"I don't think there would be more than one nose like Macgillicuddy's in Sydney."
"Yes, it is a good one isn't it?" They both laughed over a sketch of a man's head that was decorated by the biggest and most bulbous nose that one could ever find on a human being.
"Do you like the Chaplain's sermons, Will?"
The boy looked up and he flushed, took a deep breath and said in a rather muffled voice, "Well, I reckon I miss a lot, Mr Landon, 'cos I am so busy drawing that I forget to listen. Ricky gets mad at me. "
"I am surprised he lets you draw. You shouldn't, you know."
Will looked more sheepish than ever.
"A bone of contention, is it, Will?"
"I don't know what a bone ... what did you call it, sir?"
"I called it a bone of contention. That means that he has one idea and you won't move from yours."
"Yes, that's it. A bone of con… conten ..."
"A bone of contention." John Landon made sure he spoke to Ricky about Will. Up u
ntil now he hadn't given much thought to Will's welfare. He just accepted the fact that Ricky and Tad looked after him and was their responsibility. Will had suddenly become a person in the man's eyes. He waited until the day that Ricky was due to pay his rent and told the clerk on the front desk that he wished to see the lad when he came. As Ricky was extremely punctual he knew when to expect him and was waiting .
After a few preliminaries he said, "Ricky, I feel as though I am only getting to know young Will. What is to become of him. Tell me your thoughts."
"I am glad to have the opportunity to speak of him Mr Landon, for Tad and I are rather worried about him."
"How old is he? And all of you for that matter?"
"Will is 14, Tad is nearly 16 and I am nearly 19, sir. We are getting old," he said with a grin.
"You are indeed."
"At least I know how old I am but the others don't really know for no-one ever told them when their birthdays were, but that's what we have worked out."
"And I hear that you are all called English?"
"Yes. That was Tad's idea originally, for he didn't really know what his name was. Will, too, made such a mull of working out what his name was that Tad thought it would be a good idea if they both used my name. It makes us feel like brothers."
"What is Tad's name, Ricky, is it Thaddeus?"
"He doesn't know." Ricky laughed. "I tell him it is Tadpole, but we all decided that it should be Thaddeus. It sounds good, don't you think?"
"Yes, I do. Now, back to Will. You've made a good job of him Ricky. He speaks well and seems quite bright. Can he get any sort of work, do you think?"
"We hoped he could be a quick sketch artist like Mr Fraser at the newspaper office. But Will wouldn't be able to keep up the pace, sir. He can't hurry or go far and so he couldn't rush out on assignments like Tad does. I find it's a bit of a worry. I would like him to be independent but I can't see how. I know it worries him, too, Mr Landon, because he is such a willing little bloke, he helps me a lot. He can't stand for long in the shop though, so I try to get him to do other things, so he feels useful. He writes a very good hand so I use him to copy letters and accounts. He likes doing that. `He is all right if he can take his time and rest between jobs, but he could never keep up with anyone else."
"What about his art work. Do you think he could develop that?"
"He just loves it. I have hoped that I could get him real lessons. I'd have liked him to go to school, too, but he wouldn't have stood the bullies, sir."
"Quite a responsibility, eh, lad?"
"Yes, sir, it is."
"Would you let me help, Ricky? I would like to think about it and see what I could do. But if I do think of anything, would you let me help?"
"Yes, sir." Ricky smiled. "I know you think I'm pig-headed, but where Will is concerned I would be glad of your help, for I don't know what to do."
"I can see that school wouldn't help. In any case I daresay he wouldn't fit in with school children, with the life he has led. Incidentally, I think he is quite bright."
"Yes, Tad is a wonderful teacher. He makes Will sit down and do all sorts of work, but even Tad is limited. I would like to get someone to help both the boys, and me as well, but I don't know anyone who could help. I had thought of getting someone to come in a few hours a day a give him lessons."
"Leave it with me, Ricky."
But John Landon didn't have to find a teacher for Will. One appeared in the shop. Or at least, he didn't just appear, for Ricky knew Mr Fishbon, who called in at the shop regularly for supplies. He knew Mr Fishbon was married and lived not too far away. The old man seemed always to have enough money, so Ricky had often wondered why the man of the house shopped and not left it to a servant. One day Mr Fishbon explained.
Geoffrey Fishbon had been a well-known teacher at a famous English boy's school and when the Kings School started in Parramatta he was asked to join the staff. So he and Mrs Fishbon agreed to come with great happiness, for their son wished to emigrate, too, and become a landowner. They all came together, Mr and Mrs Fishbon, their son Anthony, his wife and three children. Anthony had bought a beautiful property on the Hawkesbury and was prospering very well indeed, his two sons being educated at the Kings School, where Mr Fishbon was a master. It was a happy situation for all concerned until Mr Fishbon fell and broke his leg. He was never able again to resume his teaching for his leg did not heal well and he was unable to stand before a class. Anthony was only too pleased to supply his parents with such an adequate income that they would never be in want, and had bought them their present house, in Elizabeth Street, and the older couple settled down to a happy retirement. But even though Mrs Fishbon was completely busy with her household matters and a certain enjoyment in a little social life, her husband found that time hung heavily on his hands. He missed the liveliness of the pupils he had loved. He took on the job of shopping for the household so he could keep in contact with 'people'.
He had liked and admired Ricky from the start, had always taken an interest in the boy's progress. He hadn't spoken to Ricky very much but being a student of human nature he was able to sum up the situation without much prompting. Given the opening, Ricky one day found himself telling the tale of his concern for Will to this very good listener. He was surprised to find that the man was a teacher and one who was more than willing to take on the lad. In fact it pleased Mr Fishbon so much that he almost danced from the shop. He had made Will's acquaintance on the occasions when he was in the shop and had discovered that he was a lad of some potential.
Will on the other hand was not all that pleased when he heard the news, but being of sound good sense, it was not hard to talk him into accepting this new experience that his mentor had arranged for him.
Soon Mr Fishbon seemed to be part of the family. Will learned to respect his new teacher, for Mr Fishbon was one of those men who delighted in broadening a youthful mind, and Will's was like one he had never come across before. He was so ignorant of some things of life, but very far advanced and mature for his age in others. At times it even seemed as though Will was teaching the teacher. It was not long before Mr Fishbon exceeded his duties by sometimes spending an evening with the boys and discussing things like literature and history. He delighted in their passion to learn, finding that each had different skills and were sincere in their need to develop those.
John Landon was very pleased that Mr Fishbon had come into the boys' lives for he knew the man slightly, better knowing his son, who was a well thought of pastoralist.
CHAPTER 6 Life Skills and Finding Tom
It was not long before Mrs Fishbon decided to come in to the boys' lives. Her husband was forever speaking about these pupils of his who were so different and so she accompanied him on one of his shopping excursions to meet them. On that occasion she met Ricky and Will for Tad, of course, was away at his job. She liked what she saw and suggested to her husband that they invite to the boys to dinner, pointing out that a little social polish would do the boys a great deal of good.
"But, my dear," Mr Fishbon replied, "I cannot see those fellows enjoying an evening being polite to two old fogies like us.'
"Precisely, Mr Fishbon. I am surprised that you cannot see that those young men are going to make a mark on this town and will need some social graces before long and who better to teach them, but you and me." Mrs Fishbon nodded to emphasize her remark.
"Yes," mused her husband, "you are quite right, my dear. I must admit I did not think of that. Yes, by all means let us have them to dinner. But at first let it be a simple affair, nothing to frighten them off, and then put the proposition to them that they can look to us for some polish."
"But we won't put it like that," said his wife sagely. "No, we must not. We must be very diplomatic. Geoffrey, it will be such fun. I can think of all the things we can teach them. I know they will learn easily, from what you tell me."
"Yes, indeed. They pick things up very quickly and will not need telling twice."
When
Mr Fishbon suggested that the boys dine with them, Ricky and Will were at first rather non-plussed, but Mr Fishbon used the diplomacy suggested by his wife and the boys found themselves agreeing to attend on the stated date. At first Tad was very reluctant to attend, but on thinking it over he, too, decided to accompany his friends.
The first problem appeared when they started to dress for the night out. Tad was all right for Ricky made sure he was always dressed well enough for his job, but Ricky had always been happy to just get by in enough clothes to work in and one set good enough to be able to slip into the back of the church on Sunday or to see Mr Landon . But this was different. Ricky had remembered the sort of clothes his parents wore when dining out and he felt that his and Will's clothes were not what one should wear to grace a lady's table. However, they wore their best.
Then came the problem of how to transport Will to the Fishbon's house. In the end Ricky decided to call a cab. It was such an adventure for them all, but they were very nervous as well. Will had never been in a cab and sat quite silent throughout the journey. The Fishbon's maid received them at the door, taking their hats and laying them carefully on the hall table, before showing them to the sitting room where Mr and Mrs Fishbon awaited their guests.
"Come in, come in," greeted Mr Fishbon. Turning to his wife he said, "You know Mr Richard English, and his brother William, but allow me to present Mr Thaddeus English." This startled the boys, for they were not used to being addressed so.
Mr Fishbon was a tall man, almost 6 feet, his hair was snowy white and quite abundant. His wife was a plump little lady who knew how to put the boys at their ease. She was wearing a dress of deep plum silk and over her shoulders she wore a cream shawl with a long fringe, best of all she was wearing a wide smile and it seemed right from the start that she intended to make her guests feel comfortable.
She came forward extending a friendly hand and bid them all to sit and take their comfort. The three perched on the very edge of their chairs and looked decidedly uncomfortable, for so far ladies' drawing rooms had not come their way and it was quite terrifying.
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