Taking a Chance on Love

by Joan Jonker

  ‘My mam wouldn’t let me wear lipstick or nail varnish, so it wouldn’t do me no good. She says I’m too young to be putting that stuff on, and making an old woman of meself.’ Marie began to giggle as in her mind’s eye she could see her mother wagging a finger in her face and warning: ‘Yer’ll be old soon enough, my girl, so don’t be wishing the years away. Enjoy yer youth while yer’ve got it, ’cos it doesn’t last forever.’

  ‘I don’t think my mam would mind a bit of powder,’ Ginny said. ‘But she wouldn’t like me to plaster make-up on, like some girls. There’s a girl in our street, I’d say she was about eighteen, and she wears thick powder, with great big spots of bright red rouge on each cheek and lipstick so red yer can see her coming a mile off.’

  Marie grinned. ‘My mam says girls like that look as common as muck with their faces painted like a clown. Good time girls, up to no good.’ The grin turned into a chuckle. ‘And if she ever sees me looking like a painted doll, she’ll put me across her knee and take her slipper to me. And disown me into the bargain.’

  Ginny was just beginning to feel more cheerful when she noticed chairs being pushed back and workers getting to their feet. ‘Everyone is leaving, it must be time for us to get back to our posts.’

  Her friend showed her serious side then. ‘Yer looked really down in the dumps when yer came in, and that’s not like you. If this woman ye’re working with starts picking on yer, don’t put up with it. As my mam always says, start as yer mean to go on. If she thinks ye’re soft, she’ll only pick on yer more. So put yer foot down with a firm hand.’

  As the friends left the canteen, Ginny said, ‘I did stick up for meself, I didn’t just stand there like a lemon and let her get away with it. But I’m frightened that if I go too far she’ll report me and I’ll get the sack.’

  ‘It would be your word against hers, but if she’s been here donkey’s years the bosses would probably take her side.’ Marie shrugged her shoulders. ‘Just see how it goes, kid, that’s all yer can do. What’s this woman’s name, by the way?’

  ‘Miss Landers. I think her first name is Frances, but why I think that I don’t know. She certainly didn’t tell me. Miss Halliday may have mentioned it, or else I’m going round the twist.’

  Marie touched her arm. ‘Here’s where we part company. But I’ll wait for yer outside tonight, and we’ll travel home together.’

  As soon as they parted company, Ginny could feel knots in her tummy and her heartbeat quickened. It had been her dream to work behind a counter, and since she’d been told she had the job at Woolworth’s, she’d lain in bed each night practising how she would smile at the customers and make sure they were satisfied with their purchases. She’d always be cheerful, helpful and patient, she had vowed. Or that had been her dream until she’d been introduced to Miss Landers, and then the dream turned into a nightmare. Now she wished she was working in the stock room with Marie where she could be having a laugh and a joke.

  Ginny’s thoughts were all over the place as she walked back to the haberdashery counter. And when she got there, and saw a strange woman behind it, she thought she was in the wrong place. But she couldn’t be because there were the buttons, wools and needles, just as they’d been before she went for her lunch.

  The young woman behind the counter could see the confusion on the girl’s face. ‘Are you Miss Porter?’

  Ginny nodded. ‘That’s me, but where’s Miss Landers?’

  ‘Come through here, we can’t talk over the counter.’ There was a smile on the woman’s face and friendliness in her voice. ‘She’s gone for her dinner break. Didn’t she explain it all to you?’ A deep sigh was her answer to Ginny’s shake of the head. ‘Well, my name’s Miss Sutherland and I’m senior assistant on the next counter, selling gloves and purses amongst other things. The seniors’ dinner break is split into two shifts, which means a shortage of staff for those two periods. So we each have to cover and take responsibility for two counters. I’m surprised Miss Landers hasn’t told you this, she’s supposed to be training you and filling you in with all the information you’ll need in your position as junior sales assistant.’

  ‘Perhaps she’ll do it this afternoon, when she gets a chance.’ Ginny decided diplomacy was the best way to keep the peace. ‘She was busy replenishing the stock this morning.’

  Miss Sutherland tutted. ‘Did she allow you to help her? That’s the best way of learning what goods you actually stock, and their prices.’

  Ginny was in a dilemma. This woman was a different kettle of fish from Miss Landers; there were no airs and graces about her, and her voice and manner were friendly. ‘I thought Miss Halliday said I was to watch how Miss Landers dealt with customers without getting under her feet or hindering her in her work, and I was to acquaint myself with the merchandise on the counter. So while she was serving and replenishing stock on the counter, I stood back so I wouldn’t be in her way. But I have noticed that all the goods have prices on them, anyway.’

  ‘That’s a fat lot of good if you’re standing behind the counter, dear, because you’d have to stand on your head to read them.’ Miss Sutherland felt sorry for the girl for being unfortunate enough to be put on this counter with an assistant who was unpopular with nearly all the staff. Life wasn’t going to be a bed of roses for her, that was for sure. And if Miss Halliday decided to do one of her spot checks on how a junior assistant was progressing by inspecting the neatness of the counter and asking her the price of various items, you could bet your sweet life that Frances Landers wouldn’t shoulder the blame for her not knowing. No, the supervisor would be told the girl was lazy and slow to learn. Not up to the job, in other words.

  ‘During Miss Landers’ lunch break, you will notice I will not be paying much attention to my own counter. This is because I know my junior is quite capable of running it on her own. If she was in doubt about anything, of course she would ask for my help or advice. But I know I have no worries on that score because I taught her properly from the very start and have complete faith in her ability to cope. She is seventeen and has been with me since the day she started three years ago. Her name is Helen Bleasedale. I’m Dorothy Sutherland, though as you are aware first names are not allowed during working hours. But there’s no harm in me asking yours, is there?’

  ‘Virginia.’ Ginny was thinking what bliss it would be if she’d been put on a counter with this young woman. ‘But my friends call me Ginny.’

  ‘Well, Ginny,’ this was said in a conspiratorial voice, ‘shall we make a start? While I’m serving, you can go to the front of the counter and familiarise yourself with the items we sell and their prices. Make sure you don’t get in the way of any customers, though.’

  Ginny’s face lit up. ‘Ooh, can I do that?’

  ‘Of course you can! But don’t forget what I said about not getting in the way.’ Because the girl looked so pleased, Dorothy Sutherland decided to help her by injecting a warning note into what she was saying. ‘You won’t be allowed to serve for a while, but if any other jobs on the counter need doing, you can tackle them. For instance, you can start now by putting the buttons in the correct boxes. You see, customers pick them up, then perhaps decide they’re not what they’re looking for and throw them down anywhere. And you can do the same with everything else on the counter. While you’re doing it, you can be making a mental note of all the prices in case Miss Halliday asks. She may come up on you one day when you least expect it, and I’m sure you’d like to have the prices off pat. That would certainly be a feather in your cap.’

  The next half hour went too quickly for Ginny, who was really enjoying what she was doing. And she was pleased with herself because she thought she was doing it well. But all too soon Miss Landers appeared on the scene. ‘What d’you think you’re doing on this side of the counter?’

  ‘I asked her to do some jobs while I’ve been serving,’ Miss Sutherland said, seeing Ginny flinch. ‘I’ve been quite busy and have been glad of her help. She’s got a good little he
ad on her shoulders, she picks things up very quickly.’

  This wasn’t what Frances Landers wanted to hear. She didn’t want a junior with a good head on her shoulders who picked things up quickly. There was sarcasm in her voice when she replied, ‘I can’t say I’ve noticed it. Probably because I’ve been too busy.’

  As she was squeezing through the gap in the counter, ready to return to her own, Miss Sutherland kept her voice low so as not to embarrass the young girl. ‘Well, you wouldn’t notice it if you leave her standing by the wall doing nothing. She was taken on to learn a job, not to be a statue.’ She passed Ginny and noticed all the eagerness had left her pretty face. The girl looked decidedly downcast at the return of her senior. On impulse, Dorothy put a hand on her arm and squeezed. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Porter.’

  Ginny nodded. She felt so miserable she wished she could cry. But she told herself she was a working girl now and tears were out of the question. ‘Thank you, Miss Sutherland.’

  Slyness being part of her nature, Frances Landers waited a few seconds before saying, ‘You are one little creep! First you crawl to Miss Halliday, now Dorothy Sutherland. What have you been saying to her about me?’

  Ginny didn’t answer immediately, she waited until the unfairness of it all called up her temper. If it wasn’t for this woman, she’d be really enjoying her first day at work. ‘I haven’t said a word about yer. Why should I, and how could I? I don’t know the first thing about yer except that ye’re supposed to be training me.’

  ‘Are you answering me back? How dare you!’

  ‘If yer can call telling yer the truth answering back, then I suppose I am. But I’m not deaf, dumb or daft, so I’m not just standing here listening to yer calling me for everything when I haven’t done nothing wrong.’

  Nostrils flared and eyes shot daggers, but there was no immediate retaliation from the senior assistant. The simple reason for this was that she could see she was being watched from the next counter, and Dorothy Sutherland was one member of staff she didn’t want to cross swords with. ‘Seeing as you’re so clever, you can carry on what you were doing. But keep well away from customers.’

  This suited Ginny because she didn’t even like standing near this woman who seemed intent on doing her harm. So she speedily moved to the front of the counter, smiling at the customer who was waiting to be served with ribbon. She was straightening the cards which had hair nets on, and wasn’t really listening to what was being said across the counter, until the woman raised her voice in protest. ‘But it’s got here that these ribbons are tuppence a yard, not threepence.’

  Ginny’s eyes slid sideways to where the woman was pointing to the reels of coloured ribbons. They were in three different widths, from one penny to threepence a yard. ‘I’m sorry, my assistant must have put them under the wrong sign. The red ribbon you are interested in is threepence a yard. The narrow one is tuppence.’

  She’s telling lies, Ginny thought, and blaming me for mixing them up! But it wouldn’t do for her to interfere, not in front of a customer. But why was Miss Landers trying to overcharge the customer? She wouldn’t be gaining anything by it. Or did she just get a kick out of telling lies and being wicked?

  The customer looked confused. The narrow ribbon had a ticket on it saying it was a penny a yard, the medium one had tuppence a yard on its ticket, and the wide one threepence. The signs were clear enough, and she wasn’t blind or stupid. ‘I’m not paying over the odds for anything so don’t bother yerself. I’ll go to TJ’s for what I want.’

  Miss Landers was around the counter in a flash. ‘Don’t be so hasty, dear, wait until I check. I’d be the last person in the world to want to overcharge you.’

  Ginny couldn’t believe her ears as she listened to the woman being fawned over and apologised to. According to the senior assistant, she’d made a great mistake and hoped she would be believed when she said the prices had been altered while she’d been at lunch, and no one had informed her. So the woman went away with one yard of red ribbon for which she was charged tuppence. As she was walking away, she was asked if she would like a receipt. After being treated so well, the customer smiled when she replied that it wasn’t worth a receipt for tuppence. It wasn’t as if the ribbon was for someone else and she needed proof.

  The whole time this was going on, not once did Ginny lift her head or her eyes. That poor customer would have been diddled out of a penny if she hadn’t been alert. Heaven knows why because the ribbons were very clearly marked. Still it was no good arguing with the woman she was disliking more as the day wore on, and who she was beginning to think had a slate loose.

  Miss Landers was serving a customer when Ginny went back behind the counter. Although she took care not to move too close, she listened to what was being said. After all, she was here to learn, not stand like a dummy. The woman wanted two yards of the widest ribbon in a pretty pink. Automatically Ginny’s mind told her that would be sixpence. She watched the ribbon being measured on the round wooden measure, and then cut with the scissors that were kept under the counter. Then she was all eyes as she took note of how the senior assistant curled it around her fingers before popping it into a bag. She could practise that at home with a piece of string until she got the hang of it.

  The sixpence was handed over in exchange for a receipt, then Miss Landers turned towards the till. Ginny carried on watching because the more she learned the better for herself. She saw the till drawer being opened, then the next thing she knew, Miss Landers was bending down to the floor. Thinking the sixpence must have dropped, Ginny moved forward to help. ‘Have you dropped something?’ Then her senior moved so fast, Ginny wasn’t sure afterwards whether she’d imagined it or not. But she thought she saw Miss Landers with her fingers inside her shoe.

  ‘No, I have not dropped something! I thought I’d snagged my stocking on that rough piece of wood. Nothing for you to get bothered about.’

  Ginny turned away. The sixpence must have gone in the till without her seeing. Anyway, one good thing came out of it: Miss Landers had snagged her stocking. The girl laced her fingers and looked towards the ceiling. Forgive me, God, but I hope she has three dirty big ladders in them tomorrow, Ginny prayed.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ginny stood by the counter watching Miss Landers checking that it was ready for the next morning. She could see some of the staff walking towards a door at the rear of the store where the cloakroom was situated, but was too afraid to follow for fear of falling victim to her senior’s vicious tongue. Not one civil or kind word had she heard all afternoon. She felt the woman’s eyes on her, and when she met her gaze it was to see the sneer she was getting used to.

  ‘Don’t stand there like a fool, take yourself off! You’re neither use nor ornament to me, I can work better without you.’

  Ginny hesitated, not knowing whether to say ‘good night’. She didn’t want to, not after the way she’d been treated, but her mam had told her she should always respect her elders. Then the decision was taken from her when something happened to change her outlook on her first day at work. She found herself faced by a young woman she’d glimpsed working on the next counter.

  ‘Hello, I’m Helen Bleasedale, I work with Miss Sutherland.’ The young woman turned her head and smiled. ‘See, she’s waving to yer.’

  Sure enough, when Ginny looked there was Dorothy Sutherland waving. As she waved back, Ginny’s spirits lifted. ‘I’m Ginny Porter.’

  ‘Yes, I know.’ Helen was an attractive girl with a mane of dark hair which she wore tied back for work, laughing eyes, a nice set of teeth and a sunny smile. ‘Come on, I’ll walk to the cloakroom with yer.’

  This act of friendliness gave Ginny the courage to say airily, ‘Good night, Miss Landers.’

  ‘How did yer first day go?’ Helen asked. ‘And how did yer get on with your senior, Miss Frances Landers?’

  ‘All right, I guess. But she’s not the easiest person in the world to please.’

  ‘That is pu
tting it mildly. I feel sorry for yer being put with her, she’s a bad-tempered so-and-so. Wicked, too! I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her. But yer’ve always got me to talk to now, and Miss Sutherland. So don’t think ye’re on yer own, Ginny, ’cos we’ll always help yer.’

  Before Ginny could answer, she found herself being grabbed from behind. And when she turned, there was Pat, the girl who’d started with her and Marie that morning. She was the second person in two minutes who had greeted Ginny with a smile. ‘I wondered what had happened to you! Me and Marie were talking about yer at dinnertime.’ Then Ginny remembered her manners. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, this is Helen Bleasedale who works on the next counter. Helen, this is Pat, she only started this morning.’

  ‘I’m on cosmetics,’ Pat said proudly. ‘It’s the gear, I’m made up.’

  ‘Who’s your senior?’ Helen asked.

  ‘Miss Ramsey, and she’s great. We get on like a house on fire.’

  ‘Yeah, she’s very nice,’ Helen agreed. ‘Very popular with all the staff because she’s got a terrific sense of humour.’

  ‘Yer mean she likes pulling people’s legs,’ Pat chuckled. ‘I’ve fallen for it a few times today. I should have had more sense, I know, but I never thought anything of it when she sent me to the counter selling shoe laces and tins of shoe polish, and told me to ask for a tin of elbow grease. It didn’t dawn on me until I saw the face on the girl behind the counter. She called her assistant over and, looking dead serious, told her what I wanted. Then the pair of them burst out laughing and I realised I’d been had.’ She grinned at Ginny. ‘What about the one you’re working with, did she play any tricks on yer?’