reassuringly.
‘You’re looking very dapper. I
was expecting you to be wearing jeans and a leather jacket for some reason.’
Eddie smiled and sat down on the
chair John pushed towards him. He took off his jacket and felt instantly at
ease.
‘Right, well this interview's
only a formality. The job's yours anyway. I know you well enough, and I
couldn’t wish for anyone better. I think Jane’s already told you that as well
as records and sheet music we’ll be stocking musical instruments?’
‘She has.’
‘As manager, you’ll be
responsible for both departments, with the help of Carl as your assistant
manager. I’ve interviewed a young lass called Tina Pickles who’ll be your
junior sales assistant. She’s a school leaver. Wrote a nice letter asking for a
job. Saved me having to advertise. We’ll see how the three of you manage for
the time being. Stuart will help you Saturdays and college holidays. If you
feel you need extra staff, just let me know.
‘I’ve lined up a young lad for
Jane’s new assistant, name of Sean Grogan. He’s the grandson of my Dad’s
golfing partner. He’s seventeen, good looking; full of dubious Irish charm. Has
a look of The Beatles about him, so he’ll go down a bomb with the young
girls who congregate in here after school.’
‘Sounds good,’ Eddie nodded.
‘The only problem I foresee is
Angie,’ John continued. ‘How will you manage to keep her and Jane apart? The
last thing you need is fur and feathers flying between them in your place of
work.’
‘Leave it with me, John. I’ll
think of something. Jane and I are keeping our relationship low key. Sammy and
Pat’s parents saw me kissing her the other night outside their place and asked
what’s going on. But they’ve agreed to say nothing to Jane’s mum and dad until
we’re ready to break the news ourselves.'
‘That’s good,’ John said. ‘I
remember there was no love lost between you and Jane’s mum.’
‘Don’t know why my girls’ mothers
don’t like me. They must see me as a threat or something.’
‘Lock up your daughters and throw
away the key!’ John laughed.
‘Something like that. Anyway, my
marriage is more or less over. Just as long as Angie lets me see my little lad,
that’s all I’m bothered about.’
‘Who’d ever have thought a rebel
like you could turn into such a doting parent? ‘Have you seen Jonny this week?’
‘No. I’m having him this
afternoon for a few hours. Only problem is, I’ve got to collect him from Old
Mother Turner’s place and the woman hates my guts.’
‘What time is she expecting you?’
‘ One
o’clock .’
‘Well let’s go and tell the
others you’ve got the job. Then I’ll run you to your dreaded ma-in-laws. I
doubt she’ll say anything out of place with me there. By the way, your
wages will be eight pounds a week while you’re training and ten when you’re
managing the store. You’ll get twice-yearly raises, two weeks paid holiday,
bank holidays and ten per cent commission on any instrument sales you make. How
does that sound?’
‘Fantastic.’ Eddie shook John by
the hand. ‘When would you like me to start?’
‘A week on Monday suit you?’
‘Perfect.’
***
Mark left Pickford Music Exchange
with a packet of bass strings stashed in his jacket pocket. He popped into the
Black Lion for a quick pint, and then made his way towards Flanagan and Grey’s.
As he rounded the corner, he stopped at the sight of John Grey and Eddie Mellor
leaving the shop. The pair hadn’t seen him; they were walking in the opposite
direction and appeared to be deep in animated conversation.
Mellor was smartly attired in a
suit and looked happy and confident. A far cry from the down-at-heel young man
in the paint-stained jeans and biking jacket who had held and kissed Jane the
other night. Mark shrugged and continued on his way into the shop.
Stuart looked up from the
newspaper he was reading. He greeted Mark with a friendly smile. ‘Hi
‘You’re looking very dapper. I
was expecting you to be wearing jeans and a leather jacket for some reason.’
Eddie smiled and sat down on the
chair John pushed towards him. He took off his jacket and felt instantly at
ease.
‘Right, well this interview's
only a formality. The job's yours anyway. I know you well enough, and I
couldn’t wish for anyone better. I think Jane’s already told you that as well
as records and sheet music we’ll be stocking musical instruments?’
‘She has.’
‘As manager, you’ll be
responsible for both departments, with the help of Carl as your assistant
manager. I’ve interviewed a young lass called Tina Pickles who’ll be your
junior sales assistant. She’s a school leaver. Wrote a nice letter asking for a
job. Saved me having to advertise. We’ll see how the three of you manage for
the time being. Stuart will help you Saturdays and college holidays. If you
feel you need extra staff, just let me know.
‘I’ve lined up a young lad for
Jane’s new assistant, name of Sean Grogan. He’s the grandson of my Dad’s
golfing partner. He’s seventeen, good looking; full of dubious Irish charm. Has
a look of The Beatles about him, so he’ll go down a bomb with the young
girls who congregate in here after school.’
‘Sounds good,’ Eddie nodded.
‘The only problem I foresee is
Angie,’ John continued. ‘How will you manage to keep her and Jane apart? The
last thing you need is fur and feathers flying between them in your place of
work.’
‘Leave it with me, John. I’ll
think of something. Jane and I are keeping our relationship low key. Sammy and
Pat’s parents saw me kissing her the other night outside their place and asked
what’s going on. But they’ve agreed to say nothing to Jane’s mum and dad until
we’re ready to break the news ourselves.'
‘That’s good,’ John said. ‘I
remember there was no love lost between you and Jane’s mum.’
‘Don’t know why my girls’ mothers
don’t like me. They must see me as a threat or something.’
‘Lock up your daughters and throw
away the key!’ John laughed.
‘Something like that. Anyway, my
marriage is more or less over. Just as long as Angie lets me see my little lad,
that’s all I’m bothered about.’
‘Who’d ever have thought a rebel
like you could turn into such a doting parent? ‘Have you seen Jonny this week?’
‘No. I’m having him this
afternoon for a few hours. Only problem is, I’ve got to collect him from Old
Mother Turner’s place and the woman hates my guts.’
‘What time is she expecting you?’
‘ One
o’clock .’
‘Well let’s go and tell the
others you’ve got the job. Then I’ll run you to your dreaded ma-in-laws. I
doubt she’ll say anything out of place with me there. By the way, your
wages will be eight pounds a week while you’re training and ten when you’re
managing the store. You’ll get twice-yearly raises, two weeks paid holiday,
bank holidays and ten per cent commission on any instrument sales you make. How
does that sound?’
‘Fantastic.’ Eddie shook John by
the hand. ‘When would you like me to start?’
‘A week on Monday suit you?’
‘Perfect.’
***
Mark left Pickford Music Exchange
with a packet of bass strings stashed in his jacket pocket. He popped into the
Black Lion for a quick pint, and then made his way towards Flanagan and Grey’s.
As he rounded the corner, he stopped at the sight of John Grey and Eddie Mellor
leaving the shop. The pair hadn’t seen him; they were walking in the opposite
direction and appeared to be deep in animated conversation.
Mellor was smartly attired in a
suit and looked happy and confident. A far cry from the down-at-heel young man
in the paint-stained jeans and biking jacket who had held and kissed Jane the
other night. Mark shrugged and continued on his way into the shop.
Stuart looked up from the
newspaper he was reading. He greeted Mark with a friendly smile. ‘Hi
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