Bob of Small End (78 page)

“
Okay.
I’ll order the new computer as well then. Can you or Ken collect it
next weekend?”

“
How
about if we collect it on Friday after the party. One of us could
drive you home and call by the shop on the way.”

“
Okay,
that’d be nice. Thanks. Is there anything else I should
do?”

“
What
did the heater and exhaust fan suppliers say about
delivery?”

“
They’ll
be here Thursday. We should have everything by Friday.”

“
Good.”

“
Did you
see
The Week’s News
on
Sunday? There’s an article with a photo of new Community Centre.
Ken was interviewed.”

“
I met
the reporter at the opening ceremony on Saturday. Is that the
paper?”

“
Yes.
I’ll post it on the notice board after you’ve read it.”

Bob
skimmed through the article and handed it back. “She liked the new
Community Centre and the opening ceremony but she didn’t say much
about
Wooden
Toys
.”

“
Probably there wasn’t enough room to put more.”

Someone
knocked on the door and two boys entered.

“
Hello.
We’re from the high school. You told us to come when we had
finished school for the year so here we are.”

“
Ah,
yes, Ken told me you’d be coming,” said Bob. “The man you want to
meet is Mr. Smith. He’s at the old Community Centre. I’ll take you
there but I don’t think there are any jobs now,” and he looked at
Lori. “Jean’s brothers are coming in today aren’t they?”

“
I think
so.”

“
But I
thought we were promised a job when we came here last,” said one of
the boys. “It’s not fair if you’ve given it to someone
else.”

“
Well
lets see what Ken, err, Mr. Smith, says. I’ll take you to see
him.”

Ken was
running the router jig when Bob walked in the shop. Jean, Frank,
Jose, Bert and Gerry were spread along the line cutting, sanding
and painting. Bob shouted hello and walked the boys over to
Ken.

“
Ken,
these are the boys you saw a month ago from the high school. They
are hoping for a job but I told them that there may not be one
now.”

“
Oh
there will be. You’re Tiger and you’re Nobby aren’t you? Where’s
Alf?”

“
He
decided he didn’t want to make toys. I think he was afraid of what
his friends would say.”

“
Didn’t
Jean’s brothers turn up then?” asked Bob.

“
No.
Jean said they’ve taken construction jobs. About the same pay as
we’re giving but there’s plenty of overtime.” He turned to the
boys. “Well I thought there would be only one job here but I want
two people now so you’re both in luck, that is, you’ve got a job if
you can do the work. Bob, would you like to walk them along the
line or should I do that?”

“
You’d
better. You know what you want to emphasise. I’ll handle the
jig.”

So Ken showed
the boys what was happening. At the end of the line he pointed to
the painted pieces that were waiting to be put in plastic boxes and
said, “One of you can look after that job. I’ll show you where they
are stored until we glue them.” He took them to the storage room
and they returned with one of the trolleys and a load of empty
boxes. “Who would like to work here?”

“
What’s
the other job?” asked Nobby.

“
Bringing the wood from the wood storage room to the front of
the line.”

“
Then
I’d like to do this job,” said Nobby. “When can we try the
others?”

“
This
afternoon. This morning I just want you to watch what the others
are doing. When you have time stand behind one and watch what is
being done and ask questions; they’ll be glad to explain what’s
happening. Try to remember exactly what is done. And get to know
their names but first, come and get an overall and safety
glasses.”

Once they
returned he showed them where the new wood was stored then put them
to work. He stood next to Bob and watched. “That was lucky. I’d
forgotten the boys were coming and I would have to turn them away
if the brothers had showed up. I guess there’s lots of work in the
construction business now. We might find it hard to get new workers
next time we need them.”

“
I’m
sure there’s lots of work but maybe not for youngsters like Tiger
and Nobby. How’s the production? Is it near full-speed?”

“
Just
about. And it won’t take long to show the people in the old shop
how to make trains. Don’t know how long Tiger and Nobby will take
to get up to steam. Nobby seems alert, I’m not sure about
Tiger.”

“
Craig’s
showing the three you sent over how to make trains now. I expect
Lori will join them when she’s finished in the office. She told me
that all the equipment she’s ordered will be here on Thursday or
Friday.”

“
Good.
It won’t take us long to make the new bench and it’ll be good to
have everybody in the same place.”

“
I don’t
want to work in the shop Ken.”

“
No of
course not. Nor do I. We’ll be the managers.”

“
I
actually want to retire but, for now, I’d just like to develop new
toys and, like we said, do it in my shop, at home.”

“
Okay.
We can use the milking parlour shop to develop the production line
we’d need to make the fire engine or other new toys. Oh, the wood
for the new bench arrived this morning. It’s outside the back door.
Are you still okay to work on it tonight?”

“
Yes,
seven o’clock?”

“
Yes.”

“
Then
don’t arrive earlier and have half of it done before I get
here.”

“
It’ll
take all night to get it only half-done.”

“
Then
I’ll come at six-thirty. Can you manage that?”

“
Yes.
Will you bring everybody here for the last ten minutes today so I
can tell them about the engagement party?”

“
Why not
tell them at the end of lunch Ken? They’re all coming here for
that.”

“
Okay.”

“
I’ve
already told Lori when it will be. I didn’t think you’d mind me
telling her.”

“
No
that’s fine. “

“
Well
I’ll go back now. See you at lunch.”

Ken’s reply
was indiscernible for the shop bell rang. The new boys looked
around wondering what was happening and were told it was the tea
break. They were taken to the room as Bob watched. When he passed
the tea room door Jean was showing them where the supplies were. He
thought they would be very happy working here, if the smiles on
their faces meant anything.

The day passed
much as planned. £1,837.50 arrived and there were more calls for
sets. Everyone cheered when Ken told them that the engagement party
would be that Friday.

“
Can we
go to the party?” asked Nobby.

“
Of
course. Unless you quit or are fired before then,” said Ken. “Have
you already decided you’d like to make toys?”

“
Sure,
it’s fun,” said Tiger.

“
Yes it
is,” said Nobby.

“
Well if
you can do as well as everybody else you’ll both have
jobs.”

Ken and Bob
both arrived at exactly six-thirty that evening. They worked hard
until nine-thirty when two-thirds of the bench was built.

“
How
about taking tomorrow night off and coming back Wednesday?” asked
Ken.

“
That
suits me. I feel pretty tired right now.”

“
The
rest of the bench won’t take so long.”

“
What
about fitting it up?”

“
I don’t
want to do that in the evenings, Mary wants to see something of me
this week. How about Saturday? Can you help?”

“
Yes I
can but isn’t Jack going to be here?”

“
Yes. I
want him to install the fans and duct work. If you’re not up to it
we can manage.”

“
No I’ll
be here. I’m just not so young as you two, that’s all. I run out of
steam more quickly.”

“
Then
just grab a chair and sit down when you feel tired Bob. Don’t
overdo yourself. There’s no need for that. Let me drive you home
tonight.”

“
Thanks.”

“
Will
six-thirty on Wednesday be all right?”

“
Sure.”

Cheques for
another £487.50 arrived Tuesday morning. Bob, Craig, Luke, Ray,
Diane and Alan made trains, exchanging places every hour or so.
Lori worked with them when she wasn’t answering the telephone. When
the five o’clock quitting-time came they had started the third run
of a hundred train sets.

“
You’ve
done really well,” said Craig. “I think that you know all you need
to know about making trains now. What do you think Bob?”

“
Yes I
agree. You’ve all learned very quickly.”

“
It’s
easy, except for the painting. That’s difficult.”

“
Yes,
but don’t worry, Diane. When we move to the new shop painting
trains will be done using the track-system. Tomorrow go to the new
shop. Jean and Frank will be coming here.”

“
What
about Tiger and Nobby?”

“
Ken
says they don’t need to work here. You’re here to learn, of course,
but also because we need train sets. So I’ll see you at lunchtime
tomorrow then.”

They left just
as Bert drove the big van into the yard. Bob helped him load the
trains then rode to the new shop. It was closed so Bert parked the
van and said he’d get someone to help him move the extra trains to
the storage room tomorrow.

“
How do
you get home if Gerry isn’t here Bert?”

“
I catch
the bus.”

“
Oh, of
course.”

They walked to
the bus stop where Bob said goodbye. As he walked up the hill to
his house he was glad that this would be an evening without
work.

Jean and Frank
spent Wednesday and Thursday learning how to make trains and
carriages. Wednesday afternoon Lori told Bob that no more cheques
had arrived and that June’s income was £52,968.75.

“
I don’t
think there’ll be any more. The expenses for June come to
£8,796.71. That includes the salaries, your journeys to find new
shops, the new equipment we ordered, the rent, telephone,
electricity and so on. The net is £44,172.04. You and Ken took out
£35,000. So there should be £9,172.04, plus what we started the
month with, in the bank.”

“
Once
I’ve deposited the cheques we received this week, that
is.”

“
What
are we going to pay Nobby and Tiger?”

“
£125 a
week. We’ll probably increase their salaries once they become fully
productive. Ken or I will tell you when to do that. Do you think
that everyone’s content with what we pay them?”

“
Yes, I
think so. You’ll give the others £175 a week soon?”

“
I’ll
talk to Ken but I think we should start that next week. I’ll see
what he says and let you know.”

“
Okay.
Do Craig and I get an increase anytime?”

“
Probably. You’ve both been doing excellent work.”

“
So
you’ll talk to Ken about that too?”

“
Yes
Lori. I will.”

As they worked
that evening Bob talked to Ken about the June earnings and then
about the pay they were giving to the employees.

“
I think
we should increase their salaries Ken. This is what I suggest. Pay
new workers £125 a week for the first two weeks. Then increase it
to £175, like we did with Luke and Jose and the others. But
increase it again to £200 a week after the first two months and
keep it there. We could give a bonus at Christmas if we want
to.”

“
All
right. I don’t mind that.”

“
I think
we should also increase Lori and Craig’s salaries, Lori’s
especially. I couldn’t do all the stuff she’s doing.”

“
I
couldn’t do all this if it wasn’t for Craig,” said Ken. “What do
you think we should pay them?”

“
They’re
getting £200 a week now so I think we should increase it to £250.
They deserve it.”

“
Okay.
What’s all that add up to each week?”

“
Well,
if you keep everybody we’ll have thirteen employees. If, to
simplify it, eleven of them earn the maximum £200 and Craig and
Lori earn £250 it would be £2,700 per week, or about £11,000 a
month.”

“
And the
other expenses are about £5,000 a month.”

“
Yes
about that. As long as we weren’t setting up another
bench.”

“
Then
we’d have to earn £16,000 a month before we make a
profit.”

“
Yes. Of
course we won’t get so much from each sale with the wholesaler
taking his cut but with more shops selling we should be
okay.”

“
Yes I
think so.”

“
We’ll
tell them about the new wages on Friday and they’d be effective
immediately?”

“
Starting next week, okay.”