Bob of Small End (97 page)

“
You
don’t have to do it Craig. We can hire Jack. We already talked
about that.”

“
Yes we
could hire him, if we weren’t going to have to ration all the money
we get. We’ve so many debts now, it’s frightening.”

“
Yes, I
know it is, but we’ll pull through. We know that. We went over it
very carefully many times.”

“
Yes. I
know. So we’ll buy your house Bob, though, if things do go well,
we’ll sell it in a couple of years and buy a new one.”

“
I agree
with you about that,” said Lori and gave him a kiss.

Bob went to
the dancing class that evening. There were three new people, two of
them men so he didn’t feel so outnumbered. They had learned several
new steps when he wasn’t there and he stumbled a bit. His partners
and Jenny took time to show him how they went but he sat out when
they danced the tango.

Friday morning
Dave ordered a thousand farms, the same number of villages but only
three hundred trains. Bob delivered them then, after unloading,
walked into Dave’s office and sat in a chair until Dave had
finished a phone call.

“
I’ve
some big news for you Dave. We’ve sold the company. You’ll have
someone else delivering as of November first.”

“
Oh,
that’s a big surprise! Who did you sell it to? Perhaps we’re
already doing business with them. Are they a big
company?”

“
We’ve
sold to Lori and Craig so you do know them.”

“
Sold to
them? How could they afford it? You must have asked a
lot.”

“
Well,
it’s a long story. Why don’t I tell you all about it over lunch.
Can you take the time off today?”

“
You
bet. The answering machine can take over. Let’s go. I’ll take you
to a seafood restaurant. I bet you’ll like their food.”

So, at last,
Bob was able to buy a lunch for Dave. He reminded Dave he’d have to
buy Lori a lunch next time he saw her. “Not if she has Craig with
her too!” was his joking reply.

When Bob
returned he learned that Ken had left at noon.

“
Mary
called him. Their Manchester real estate agent phoned to say he had
two houses they should see this weekend because other people were
also interested in renting them. So he and Mary have driven
there.”

“
Okay.
Ah, Lori, I told Dave that you and Craig had bought the company
today and reminded him that he was to buy lunch for you when you
delivered.”

“
What
did he say about us buying the company?”

“
He was
very surprised. I didn’t say anything more about it, you can tell
him when you have lunch together.”

“
We
will, both Craig and I’ll go.”

Before leaving
Bob did a quick check of the inventory by counting the number of
boxes on one shelf then multiplying by the number of shelves. He
knew that would only be approximately right because the shelves
were not all the same size, but, according to his count, they had
8,800 farms, 8,000 villages and 4,000 trains. It was the same
figure that Lori had on her list so that was one more uncertainty
he could dismiss. He wondered if Simon would live with that degree
of approximation. He hoped so.

He decided to
collect the overalls tomorrow morning as he drove to Big End. He’d
wash them when he returned. That would be another thing he wouldn’t
have to do in the future.

Maria’s letter
said she’d arrive in Paris at the Charles de Gaulle at 14:45 on
December 22nd and she would be catching the 13:00 flight home on
Dec 29th, from the same airport. She added ‘I’d love to help you
furnish your new home.’

In Big
End, after depositing the cheques, Bob went to
Best Travel
and asked one of their agents if she
could find him a flight that went to Charles de Gaulle airport on
December 22nd and arrived about two pm. She told him that an Air
France flight would do that.

“
I’d
like to return on December 29th from the same airport, leaving
about the same time. Can I do that?” Doing so would give him enough
time to get to his own gate after Maria had left.

“
Yes,
there’s an Air France flight that leaves at two fifteen. Would that
be alright?”

“
Yes.”

“
Do you
want me to book the flights now?”

“
Yes
please,” and he handed her his credit card.

He was
surprised when she handed him the tickets. “Oh, Air France flies
from Heathrow. I didn’t expect that.”

“
Sorry,
I didn’t think to tell you which airport it uses. Will that be a
bother?”

“
No, I
suppose not. I’ve not flown from there and I hear it’s a very busy
airport.”

“
Yes it
is, but you’d have no difficulty if you gave yourself lots of time.
You’re driving to the airport?”

“
Yes.”

“
Well
give yourself an extra hour and you’ll be fine.”

He
walked from the travel agent to
Home and
Holiday
and caught Jenny as she was leaving the shop
to buy the weekend paper.

“
Hello,
Jenny. How are you? Can you have coffee with me, I’ve something to
tell you.”

“
Hello
Bob. I can do that but it’ll have to be a quick one. I can’t leave
Susan all by herself for long.”

“
Then
let’s go to the café.”

Once they had
sat down he told her that he had sold the company.

“
I’ve
sold it to Lori Turner. She and her fiancée, Craig Elton, will own
it. Do you know either of them?”

“
I know
Lori. She sometimes buys things for gifts from us. How did she get
enough money to buy your place?”

“
Her Dad
and uncles raised the money.” He didn’t bother to tell her about
how the balance would be paid. “She’s our office manager and knows
everything about the company. And Craig can already manage the
shop. They’ll do business just the way we have always done. You
shouldn’t see any difference.”

“
It’ll
be a big change for you Bob. What are you going to do with all your
spare time?”

He told her
that he had bought Ken’s house and that he had a girl friend who
he’d like to see more frequently.

“
She’ll
help me furnish the place and I hope we’ll have some holidays
together. But, mostly, I just want to relax. These past months have
been too much for an old man like me.”

“
You’re
not old Bob. How old are you anyway?”

“
I’m
nearly fifty seven.”

“
That’s
not old. My aunt’s eighty two. She lives by herself in a bungalow
and walks a mile into town to get her shopping.”

“
Good
for her. I hope to do the same when I’m that age but, right now,
I’m ready for a rest.”

“
I’ll
miss you. Come in and see me sometimes Bob. I’ll have to leave now,
it needs two to run the shop these days. All the best
Bob.”

“
Same to
you Jenny.”

As he walked
back to the car Bob thought he should tell Leo about the change too
so, after he had finished his shopping and had been given six
strongly-constructed empty boxes by a man at the back of the
supermarket, he drove to Twinner. Leo was as surprised as Jenny had
been and asked the same questions.

“
Well, I
don’t know either of them but if they’re going to continue the way
you’ve done I expect we’ll meet sometime. Tell them I wish them
luck.”

“
I will
Leo. Thanks for all the suggestions you gave me, they helped me a
lot. ‘Bye.”

“‘
Bye
Bob. Enjoy your retirement.”

He put half
the overalls in the washing machine before heating a can of soup
for lunch. After lunch he hung them on the line and loaded the
machine again. He then took the boxes to his workshop and began
filling them with tools. It took four boxes to hold all that he had
on his shelves and in the drawers.

It was strange
to see his shop with no hand tools and just the bench saw, sanding
belt and drill press. He’d remove them tomorrow, the screws and
bolts that held them to the bench would likely be difficult to undo
so he rummaged through the boxes he’d just filled and took out the
spanners he might need and a large screwdriver.

After tea and
a bath he put his clothes in the washer then hung all he could next
to the overalls. The rest he draped over the furniture in the
lounge and kitchen. He had a nap in his chair until his alarm
sounded at six and he remembered to turn on the railway lamp before
heading to the Crown.

When he walked
in Joe was telling Rose and Jack about his visit to Howard.

“
They’re
getting married in the spring Bob. In May.”

“
That’s
nice. I hope they’ll be very happy. Did you take them any of your
pies Jane?”

“
Of
course. I always do. And I don’t have any left for you to try
Bob!”

“
Have
you heard what’s been happening to me this past week?”

“
You’ve
married Maria.” guessed Jane.

“
No.
It’s a long story so maybe we should order before I tell you all
about it.”

Once they’d
done that Bob reminded everybody that they were selling the company
because Ken had accepted a job in Manchester. “Well Lori and Craig
have bought it. Lori’s Dad and her three uncles raised enough money
for a big deposit. And Lori and Craig are going to buy my house. So
all the worries I had have simply all disappeared!”

“
Wow!
You must be so relieved,” said Jane.

“
Yes, I
certainly am. I still feel as though it’s not really happening.
It’s almost too much to take in at once. It’ll probably take a year
to sink in.”

“
Great
news,” said Jack.

“
Yes.
Lets celebrate, the engagement and the sale of the company,” said
Bob. “I’ll buy some champagne.”

Len brought
them a cold bottle and some flutes and they quickly brought him
up-to-date. He was happy for Bob, shook his hands and wished him a
happy retirement.

The red lamp
welcomed him as he walked into his garden and he thought it’d look
nice if he hung it over the door at Ken’s house. He checked the
washing before going in and decided to leave it on the line even
though it felt dry. It didn’t look as if it would rain that night
and he was a little drunk. Drinking champagne twice in one week!
This is a step up!

Chapter 43 Sally

Bob had a
leisurely breakfast of kippers, toast and tea then walked over to
his workshop, feeling the overalls as he crossed. Most of them were
damp from the dew so he left them for the sun to dry. It took him
an hour to unfasten the saw, drill and vices from the bench.

He passed Ron
and his birding group as he walked along the river after lunch and
waved to them. He didn’t stop but he slowed down as he came toward
Betty’s tree and told her that he’d sold their house. ‘Do you
mind?’ he asked. He didn’t think she would. He asked the same
question when he stopped at his parent’s grave. Perhaps they would
mind more than Betty; they had lived there much longer than she
had.

Supper was a
pot pie, easy to heat and eat. He phoned Regina afterwards. She was
surprised to hear from him in the middle of the month.

“
Hello
Dad. Is there anything wrong?”

“
No
everything’s good. I’ve lots of news for you,” and he told her
about selling the company, selling his house and buying Ken’s
house.

“
There’s
room for everybody in the new house, Regina. Room for you, Bernard
and Roy and Sam and his family at the same time. Although Roy would
have to sleep in the storage room. I could put a camp bed there for
him. Once we’ve furnished it you should all come and we’ll have a
family party. You should all stay for a week or, at least, a
weekend. I’d like that.”

“
So
would I. It’d be nice for Roy to spend time with his cousins. It
sounds as though you’ll have to buy a lot of new
furniture.”

“
Yes,
we’ll have to.”

“
We
being you and Maria?”

“
Yes.”

“
Are you
going to marry her Dad?”

“
I don’t
think so. What do you think? Would you mind if I did or if I
didn’t?”

“
You
should do whatever you want Dad. I don’t mind either way. And I’d
have to see her before I could make any kind of judgement like
that.”

“
You
will, as soon as she comes here next.”

Regina told
him that Roy had joined the drama club at school and that he’d have
to visit to see the play they’ll be putting on in December and told
him the date.

“
Yes,
I’ll mark it on my calendar. Can I stay with you that
night?”

“
Of
course Dad.”

“
Good.
All right. I’ll phone Sam now and tell him the news. ‘Bye
Regina.”

“‘
Bye
Dad.”

Sam answered
the phone and listened carefully as Bob told him what had been
happening.

“
I’m
surprised you sold the company Dad. It looked like a very good
business though I can understand you wanting more time to yourself.
And moving to a new house too. It must be a big one if all of us
can stay there at the same time. I’d enjoy that, all of us being
together again.”