Bob of Small End (71 page)

“
I like
that,” exclaimed Ken. “What does one of those cost?”

“
About
nine hundred pounds.”

“
Oh. I
guess we won’t be buying one for our shop then.”

“
Well I
find it very useful. Now I understand you’d like us to be one of
your wholesalers and that you make toys. Do you have a description
of them?”

“
Yes,”
said Bob, “here, and he handed over an envelope and a memory stick.
“The photos show what the toys look like, the text explains they’re
made of wood. The pictures and the descriptions are also on the
memory stick.”

“
That’s
helpful. You make just three toys?”

“
Yes,
that’s all.”

“
Oh! Do
you make any money?”

“
We made
nearly eighteen thousand pounds in May and we have just begun
building a group of retailers.”

“
That’s
net or gross?”

“
Gross.
It’s bound to be more for June because we went from, what, twenty
shops, to over a hundred during that month. We’ve over three
hundred and fifty outlets now.”

“
I see.
These are the suggested retail prices for each toy?”

“
Yes. As
far as we know, everyone of our retailers sells them at that
price.”

“
How
much do you get from each retailer?”

“
I don’t
see why you have to know that,” said Ken.

“
Well,
just curious. You know we would take thirty percent of the
retail?”

“
Yes,
we’d expected that. Do you give better rates at all?”

“
Ah,
we’d have to talk about that later, when we know more about how
well your toys sell but, generally, it would be when we sell tens
of thousands each month. When that happens talk to me and I’ll put
you in touch with the people who handle our finances. All right.
We’ll give it a try. This is how it works. We’d buy the toys from
you. To begin with we would only buy what we thought we’ll be able
to sell, probably a hundred the first time. Once they started
selling we would phone for more when we run short. Payment is net
60—you’d be paid sixty days after we received your shipment. And
you have to deliver to us, here, in this warehouse. Is all this
agreeable?”

“
60 is
too long. We want net 30,” said Ken.

“
I can’t
do that. Our retailers have net 30. I’ll give you 50
then.”

“
Can you
make it 40 Mr. Posser?” Asked Ken. “We have our bills to pay
too.”

“
Oh all
right. My boss isn’t going to like it but I’ve got away with it in
the past.”

“
Thanks.”

“
Then
I’ll type up the agreement and we’ll sign it. That’s all it
takes.”

“
When do
you want the first shipment from us?”

“
Not for
a while. The catalogue isn’t printed yet. That’ll be done next week
and delivered to our shops the following week. I’ll phone you when
I know it’s in their hands. That’ll be in about two
weeks.”

He finished
the typing and printed five copies. “Please sign here and here on
each copy and I’ll do the same.” They signed and were given three
copies. “There’s an extra for your lawyer if you need it.”

“
Thanks.”

“
Now
this is about us,” and he handed Bob and Ken a sheet of paper. “Our
address, phone and fax numbers are listed. You’ll need them when
you tell your retailers to order from us. On this page,” and he
handed Ken a sheet of paper. “I’ve given each of your toys a
number. It’s the numbers that are important to us; that’s how our
men locate the items ordered. So tell all your people to include
that number when they place an order. Okay?”

“
Yes.”

“
Well
good luck to both of you. I hope we’ll make a fortune!”

“
I think
we will,” said Ken and smiled at him. “Goodbye.”

“
Goodbye
Mr. Smith, Mr. Barns.”

They walked to
Bob’s car, waved to the guard as they passed through the gate and
drove to the main road and parked.

“
I was a
bit surprised when he said he’d only want a hundred. A hundred of
each I hope,” said Bob. “Why did he do that after we told him how
many we’re already selling?”

“
It’s
understandable. He’s buying them from us and he only has our word
that we think they’ll sell everywhere. As far as he’s concerned he
might have wasted nearly four thousand pounds of the firm’s money
when he buys the toys.”

“
I
suppose so. Well we’ll soon prove him wrong. Why did Mary come with
you today?”

“
We’re
going to London for the night. We’re both ready for a change. Mary
now says she doesn’t see enough of me!”

“
Are you
going to a show?”

“
We
haven’t booked anything except the hotel so I don’t know. Ah, there
she is,” and Ken opened his door, got out and waved to her. He
walked over to the car as she pulled to the curb. He turned and
looked at Bob. “Have a safe trip. I’ll see you on Monday.
‘Bye.”

“‘
Bye
Ken. Enjoy yourselves.” As soon as the road was clear he reversed
the car and headed for the highway.

He stopped for
an early lunch and bought a big bunch of flowers for Sally. He
wondered how she was and hoped she wasn’t in any pain. He didn’t
know much about emphysema, only that it couldn’t be cured. He
arrived at the residence at four o’clock, told the receptionist who
he was and carried the flowers to Sally’s room. She was in an easy
chair watching television.

“
Hello
Bob. What nice flowers. Are they for me?”

“
Of
course Sally. I’ll put them next to the others. Do you have a
vase?”

“
No.
I’ll have to phone for one. Put them in the sink with some water
for now. Tell me what you’ve been doing since I saw you
last.”

“
I’ve
mostly been driving to shops across the south of England and into
Wales. We now have about three hundred and sixty retailers. This
morning we signed a contract with a wholesaler who’ll deliver the
toys to shops all over Great Britain.”

“
Then
you’ll have to make lots more toys. Do you have a lot of
employees?”

“
We have
six now and another six are joining us on Monday.”

“
My, my!
You know, I’m surprised you sell so many.”

“
So am
I. But we think it’s a fad, we think that people want to buy wooden
things today because of the Green Movement. Tomorrow they’ll want
to buy something else different, electronic toys,
maybe.”

“
So
you’re making hay while the sun shines?”

“
Yes.
Now how are you doing Sally?”

“
Well
it’s quite a bit harder to breathe now. I don’t have much energy
and feel tired most of the time.”

“
Do you
get out often?”

“
I could
but I don’t really want to. I don’t need to shop for anything and
there’s nothing I want, except flowers, of course. Thanks. If I
need something, toothpaste for instance, the staff will buy it for
me. Oh Bob, I couldn’t reserve the visitor’s room, someone had
already booked it. So I’ve made a reservation for you at the
Bentley Hotel. It’s in Boston, on Market Square. I think you’ll
like it. Years ago Bert and I stayed there once or
twice.”

“
Thanks
Sally. Can I still have supper with you?”

“
Yes of
course. Look, I must have a little nap now. I’ll phone for a vase
first. Why don’t you check-in at the hotel and come back at seven,
that’s when dinner’s served.”

“
All
right. I’ll do that.”

“
Give me
a kiss before you go Bob.”

The hotel was
comfortable but dark. The wood-panelled entrance lounge and
restaurant needed many more lights but his room was bright with the
sunlight falling on the white bed cover. He washed and replaced his
sweater with his blazer and went to the bar for a beer, guessing
that they wouldn’t serve beer where Sally was.

At seven he
knocked on her door. She was ready, sitting in her wheelchair. He
pushed her to the elevator then down a wide corridor to the dining
room.

“
That’s
where I usually sit Bob. Take me to the side where there’s no
chair. Yes. Thanks.”

“
Do you
sit by yourself Sally.”

“
No, not
normally. I’ve two or three friends and they usually join me but
they know you’re coming tonight so they sat elsewhere. Two of them
are at the table near the fireplace.” Sally pointed to them and
waved her hand as they sat watching her and Bob settle
in.

“
Tell me
about Maria now Bob. How is she? When did you last meet
her?”

So Bob began
describing what he and Maria had been doing, all except sharing a
bed in London. He’ d let her guess that, if she wanted to.

The meal was
as nice as one he might have bought in a good restaurant. Of the
three entrées Bob had the grilled trout. Sally asked for a small
helping of the sea-food pasta. Bob found he could order wine so he
bought a Sauvignon Blanc, learning that he could have had a beer if
he wanted. They skipped the dessert but had a coffee and when they
were ready to leave he found that he couldn’t pay for the wine. He
was told that it would be added to Sally’s monthly charges.

“
I’m
sorry that you have to pay for the wine Sally. I didn’t know that’s
the way it worked.”

“
Nothing
to be sorry about Bob. I enjoyed our meal together. And our
conversation.”

“
What
time do you have breakfast?”

“
Ah,
they don’t serve that to visitors, just to residents and those
staying in the visitor’s room. Can you come for lunch? It’s at one
o’clock. Would that be a problem? You’d be late getting home if you
came.”

“
No of
course that’s no problem. I can come before one, if you
like.”

“
No,
that’ll be the best time. I usually have breakfast in my room then
have a rest after getting dressed. Come at one. I’d like
that.”

“
All
right Sally.”

“
Take me
over to my friends now Bob. I’d like to introduce you.” He pushed
her across the room where he said hello and she explained that not
only was he her nephew but he was about to sell wooden toys all
over England! There was a little more talk then he took her to her
room and kissed her good night.

“
I’ll be
here at one,” he said, as he closed the door.

Bob had a late
breakfast then walked around the centre of Boston, looking in a few
of the windows before finding a small park. He checked out at
eleven, put his bag in the car and drove once more to look at
Sally’s old house. Two children were playing in the garden, a boy
and a girl. The boy had a cricket bat and the girl was throwing a
ball towards him. It reminded him of the times he and Uncle Brian
had done that. He sat, watching them for a little while then drove
around the countryside until it was time to join Sally for
lunch.

They ate at a
small table under a canopy in the back garden. He told her about
the children in the garden and that that reminded him of playing
cricket with Uncle Brian.

“
We,
your mother and I, also played with you sometimes Bob. So did your
Dad. Don’t you remember us doing that?”

“
No I
don’t.”

“
Well we
did. Of course Brian and you played more often, nearly every
evening if the weather was fine.”

“
I liked
those holidays Sally.”

“
We
liked them too Bob.”

They
day-dreamed for a moment then Sally said “You must bring Maria next
time you come. I want to see her.”

“
She’ll
be in England in August, guiding the tour I’ll be taking. I’ll
write and ask her if she can take a few days off and we’ll see you
then.”

“
When
would that be?”

“
Sometime after August 18th. That’s when the tour ends. She
couldn’t come before.”

“
All
right, I’ll expect both of you then.”

“
If she
can get the time Sally. If not I’ll come without her.”

“
Yes.
But it’s her I want to see. I want to know if she is good enough
for you.”

“
Oh
Sally. Of course she is.”

“
I just
want to make sure. Now I must have a rest and I think you should be
going, it’s nearly two. Give me a kiss and say goodbye here. The
staff will take me back to my room.” Bob got up, hugged Sally and
kissed her cheek then left her sitting alone in the
garden.

He wrote to
Maria that evening and asked if she could take a few days holiday
at the end of the August tour ‘enough to visit my Aunt Sally. She
wants to meet you.’ He imagined that Sally wanted to see if Maria
was a suitable lady in case he wanted to marry her. but he didn’t
think he’d do that. He loved Maria but as a girl friend, not a
wife.

Bob had just
walked into the office on Monday morning when Ken and Lori arrived.
Ken had a small microwave that he put on top of the filing cabinet
in the office. Lori was carrying an answering machine and a small
box. She plugged the machine in and turned it on.