Bob of Small End (88 page)

“
So did
you spend all the time in the Lake District?” asked Ken.

“
No. We
drove to Filey and stayed there three nights then we went to Boston
to see Sally. She’s confined to bed now and I don’t suppose she’ll
live much longer.”

Ken said he
was sorry then said, “Something strange happened last Thursday. Two
men called in about eleven o’clock and asked if they could look
around. I didn’t quite know what to say and had said ‘yes’ before
thinking that I probably shouldn’t let people do that. Well,
anyway, we walked along one of the benches and I showed them what
we were doing. They seemed interested but they mostly talked to the
employees. They asked how they liked working there, things like
that. After a while I began to think that they were representatives
from some union but that changed when they asked me to lunch with
them. We went to the Crown and they treated me. Eventually I asked
them what they thought about the shop and they said they were very
pleased that they had come. I couldn’t get any more information
from them. What do you think they wanted Bob?”

“
You’re
sure they weren’t union reps? Not that I’d mind. I don’t think our
lot would want to pay union dues for nothing. It’s unlikely a union
could improve their pay or working conditions.”

“
No.
They were too polite, I think, to be from a union. One of them had
an American accent. Do you think they could have come from
Great Toys
? Though they didn’t say
anything about buying the company.”

“
Maybe
they are from another company, one who’d want to buy this one and
continue running it here. That could be why they were talking to
the employees; they wanted to know what kind of people we had
working for us.”

“
Ah yes,
that could be it. I suppose they’ll contact us if they decide to do
that. If they offered a half-a-million would you sell
it?”

“
I don’t
know. No. Hmm, actually, Ken, I think I would like to sell. It
would give me all the money I’d need for holidays and, although I
like working with everybody here and with you, I think I’d like to
go back to the way I was before we started this business. Only,
this time, I wouldn’t make toys, I’d just carve birds.”

“
Oh.
Wouldn’t you soon get tired of that, after these exciting
times?”

“
I don’t
think so. I know Maria now and I’d like to spend more time with
her.”

“
Well,
you know, I wouldn’t mind selling either. I’ve had my fun, starting
and getting the place going. I don’t really want to manage a
factory each day. I’ve done that already. Well we’ll have to wait
and see what happens. We could phone
Great
Toys
if we really wanted to sell.”

“
No, not
to them, they’ll close the place. Let’s see what these two want.
They might offer the same or more and keep the factory here. Why
would they visit otherwise?”

“
Okay,
we’ll wait and see what happens.”

“
But I’m
only willing to sell if they keep running it here.”

“
Yes,
that would have to be part of the agreement.”

“
Okay.”

Bob collected
the overalls as they went out. “This extra one must be for the new
girl. How did she work out?”

“
Fine.
We might ask her to continue when the holiday’s over. You’ll have
to do that if you think it’s necessary. Lori has her phone
number.”

“
Okay.”

“
Put the
overalls in my car and I’ll drive you home Bob.”

“
Good.
Thanks.”

Ken helped Bob
carry the overalls to the kitchen then wished him a nice weekend as
he went out the door. ‘Yes,’ thought Bob, ‘I’m still on holiday.
What shall I do for the last two days?’

Chapter 37 The men

The idea came
to him that evening as he was climbing the stairs on the way to
bed. Why not use some of the money he’d eventually get to have a
bathroom put in upstairs? It didn’t seem necessary in the past but
he’d probably be using it two or three times each night as he got
older. He would never have spent five or six thousand pounds on
such a luxury a year ago but it didn’t seem too much these days. He
didn’t need three bedrooms now, in fact he only needed one. Maybe
he should change the whole upstairs and have one big bedroom with
an ensuite. But no, he’d need a spare bedroom. He’d design the
bathroom and have Jack install it. The downstairs bathroom could
become a small toilet and the kitchen or the lounge could be
enlarged. That’s what he’d do during the rest of his holiday, he’d
redesign the house.

Thinking about
this kept him awake for a couple of hours and he slept late, waking
at eight. He checked the front door, picked up the milk then
thought about what groceries he needed and made a list as he was
eating his porridge.

After
breakfast he washed the overalls, dusted and cleaned the house.
Then he put his dirty clothes in the machine, picked up his
shopping list and walked to the village grocery. They had all he
needed and he’d not have to drive to Big End. He’d spend the day
drafting, once he’d finished the gardening.

Back home Bob
cut the grass, tidied his overgrown vegetable patch and squeezed
the overalls onto the line. He’d wash his clothes later. He found
the tape measure and carried it and a pad of paper upstairs. He
measured each room carefully and the thickness of each wall then
did the same for the ground floor, putting a small circle where the
toilet waste pipe ran. Jack would need that to know where the
upstairs toilet should be positioned.

After coffee
he made several sketches, making the bathroom different sizes and
putting the bath in different positions. He’d show them to Jack
tonight and see what he’d say.

Bob went for a
walk in the afternoon. Once home he collected the overalls and used
his car to take them to the workshop. He had a bath, drew two good
plans, folded them and put them in his pocket. He walked to the
Crown and was the first to arrive.

Joe and Jane
joined him a few minutes later and Bob told them about his holidays
and repeated some of it when Jack and Rose sat down.

“
And how
have things been here? What have I missed?” Bob asked

“
We
missed you at the dance lessons,” said Rose. “We need more men. Ask
Ken if he’d come Bob.”

“
I will,
but he’d also bring Mary if he came.”

“
That’s
all right. And we’ve started charging membership and lesson fees
now,” added Jane. “A hundred pounds a year for adults and fifty for
anyone under twenty. Free for those under ten.”

“
What’s
the fee for dancing lessons?”

“
Nothing
this year. It’s one that might bring in more members, that’s why
it’s free now.”

“
How’s
the farm doing Joe?” asked Bob.

“
It’s
turning out pretty well. The rain and sun have been just right most
of the year.”

“
So we
might have two holidays this winter,” added Jane.

“
So
might we,” said Rose. “Jack’s bringing in lots of
money.”

“
Oh
Jack,” Bob said, “I’m thinking of moving my bathroom upstairs,
putting it in one of the spare bedrooms. Do you think you can do
that for me?”

“
Nay,
Bob. Not now, maybe in t’winter.”

“
That’s
okay, I should have money by then. Here are some plans I’ve drawn,”
and he pulled them out of his pocket. “Can you look at them
sometime and tell me what you think? There’s no hurry.”

“
Aye.
Nex’ Saturday okay?”

“
Yes.
Thanks.”

Most of Sunday
Bob alternated between playing games on his computer and
redesigning his house. He told Maria about changing the house
layout in his letter. ‘I’ll need your help to decorate it. We could
buy new furniture, new curtains, new lots of things. Would you help
me choose them?’ hoping she’d say ‘Yes’ in her reply.

Ken was in the
shop working on the exhaust duct above the sanders when Bob arrived
Monday morning.

“
Oh,
when did you put the new sanders in?”

“
Sunday
morning.”

“
Why
didn’t you ask me to help?”

“
You
were still on holiday, remember? It didn’t take long. I estimate
we’ll make an extra hundred sets a day now, using these. The coarse
sander will double the speed whenever it’s used.”

“
You’ll
certainly be ready for your holiday Ken.”

“
You’re
right about that!”

“
We’re
making trains today?”

“
Yes
that way we can give Dave what he ordered.”

“
Good.”

At lunch Lori
and Craig announced that their apartment was all finished. “We’d
like to have the celebration party this Friday evening. Since it’s
our month-end lunch we’d have all the afternoon to make snacks for
you.”

“
I can’t
come if you have it then,” said Frank. “I’m leaving immediately
after lunch. We’re driving north, on our holiday trip.”

“
Me
too,” said Bert. “We’ve booked a week in a Cornwall resort and it
start’s on Friday.”

“
Then
we’ll have to postpone it again.”

“
I’ve an
idea,” said Ken. “Why don’t we combine your party and the month-end
celebration. Bob and I’ll give you, err, two hundred pounds and you
could order some take out for the lunch.”

“
Oh
that’s nice Ken. Thanks. We could do that. What do you think
Craig?”

“
Sure,
that’d be fine. What does everybody else think?”

“
It’s a
nice idea. A double-party is a great way to start a
holiday!”

“
Then
that’s what we’ll do. Thanks again Ken and Bob,” said
Lori.

At the end of
the day Bob asked Ken how the two sanders affected the speed of
making trains.

“
We did
make about a hundred more trains using them. I haven’t checked what
it might do when making the villages or farms. We’ve got about
2,500 trains now Bob. That should be enough for Dave.”

Tuesday and
Wednesday they made farms, adding nearly three thousand to their
stock. Even though he felt tired Bob went to the dancing lessons
Wednesday evening. He could see what Jane had said, this time
Jenny’s husband was the only man there beside himself.

Thursday
morning, just after tea, Sam Barns, Lilly, Jane and Bess walked
through the front door and into the office. Lori asked if she could
help them and Sam explained that he was Bob’s son and asked if his
Dad was there.

“
Yes he
is. Can I fetch him for you?”

“
Yes
please.”

“
Do you
think we could see what everyone’s doing?’ asked Jane.

“
I’m
sure you could,” said Lori. “I’ll get some safety glasses and tell
your grandfather you’re here. Just a minute.” She went to the shop,
collected the glasses from the box near the door, told Bob what had
happened and they both went to the office.

“
Hello
Sam. Hi Lilly. Hi Jane and Bess! Give me a hug you two,” and Bob
bent over. “You’ve grown so much since Christmas!” He stood up.
“Are you just visiting for the day Sam?”

“
Not
quite. I get three weeks holiday now so we’re having an extra
camping trip this year. We’re staying near the New Forest. Got
there Tuesday, settled in yesterday and are here today.”

“
That’s
great, I’ll be able to visit you there. You want to see the
workshop?” he said, looking at the girls.

“
Yes
please, Grandpa.”

“
Okay.
Come with me,” and he took all of them to the door in the corridor
and opened it wide. “Here it is. Put on your glasses now. The
shop’s a bit bigger than the one I have in my back yard isn’t
it?”

“
Wow,
it’s immense,” said Lilly.

“
Can we
go closer and see what everybody’s doing Grandpa?” asked
Bess.

“
Of
course. But first you must say hello to Ken, my partner. He’s the
man who’s just started walking towards us. Ken this is Sam, my son,
and his wife, Lilly. And my two granddaughters, Jane and
Bess.”

“
Hello.
It’s nice to see you. Are you going to look around?”

“
Yes
please,” answered Bess.

“
Then
you’d both better hold my hands and come with me and I’ll tell you
what everybody’s doing.”

Ken took them
slowly along the line and Bob followed with Sam and Lilly. They
said ‘hello’ to everybody as they passed by. Everyone smiled and
several answered questions the girls asked. After walking along
both lines Bob took them to see the wood room, the tea room then
the storage room.

“
I did
not know it was as big as this Dad, even though I saw it on the
television.”

“
It
might have to be made even bigger for we’d add another bench if
needed. At the moment it’s just about right. If we make different
toys then we’ll probably add another. Seen enough? If so, do you
want to have lunch at the Crown?”

“
Yes
please, Grandpa.”

“
Okay.
I’ll just tell Ken what we’re doing.”