Bob of Small End

by David Hockey

  Chapter 6 Driving lessons

  Bob rushed through his washing and dusting first thing Sunday morning. He had his laundry on the line and the housework finished by nine. He then had breakfast, a slice of toast and marmalade. He then took his tea to the workshop, planning to work as long as he could each day to see if he could finish all the farm sets that week. By Thursday night he knew that he would.

  The sets had been given their last coat of paint as he cleaned his brushes at seven o’clock Friday evening. All together it had taken about fifty hours to make twenty farms. He was tired but very happy and promised himself a couple of days rest next week. He warmed a frozen curry for supper and drank a bottle of beer as he ate. He watched the news, had a glass of port and was in bed just after nine.

  After a late breakfast of porridge and tea, Bob wrapped and boxed the farms. He put three boxes in a big plastic bag, added three villages and put his last three trains in another bag. Now, for the trip to Twinner.

  He caught the 9:45 bus to Big End, staying on it until it arrived at the bus station. The coastal run bus left at 10:30 and he had time for a mug of coffee. He looked at the timetable while waiting and found that the bus back left Twinner at two. ‘I’ll not get back to Small End until 4:15! It’s probably not worth selling there if it takes that long to deliver. I’ll see how many Leo sells and decide about that later. It must be a good location, lots of tourists must pass through Twinner in the summer, though they’ll also go to Big End. Jenny’s place might be enough. I’ll just have to see what happens.’

  Leo was happy to see Bob and liked the toys.

  “I’ll take all of these. They should sell well. I can call you if I need more, can’t I?”

  “Yes.” Bob made a mental note that he’d have to make trains next, though it wouldn’t be next week, he’d wanted a rest first.

  He found a Deli and had a sandwich and a mug of tea for lunch. Then he walked around the streets and did his grocery shopping until it was time to catch the bus to Big End.

  Once home he collapsed into his arm chair, put his feet on the stool and had a nap, not waking until six twenty. He had a quick wash, put on his coat and walked to the Crown. After buying a pint he joined Joe in the corner.

  “Where have you been?’ Joe asked, after Bob had sat down. “I thought you must be sick. It’s nearly 6:30.”

  “I’ve been to Twinner delivering toys to a gift shop. I spent most of the time on a bus or waiting for one. It’s a bit of a chore.”

  “Well you’ll have to buy a car.”

  “If I could afford one.”

  “You’ve a sound reason to buy one now.”

  “I don’t have a driver’s licence Joe. Years ago I took a few lessons but stopped when we realised a car would cost too much to buy and maintain.”

  “Well it’s not too difficult to get a licence. Tim Sawyer’s son, Peter, gives driving lessons. He taught Howard to drive and he passed first time. Why don’t you go see him?”

  “Well maybe I should. I’d need a car if I’m going to deliver to Twinner and, maybe, some other villages or towns. Yes, you’re probably right, I should do that.”

  “See him tomorrow, he’s opening the garage on Sundays, now the tourist season is starting.”

  “I don’t have the money to buy a car Joe. I might be able to buy a used one. Hey, how much do I owe you for last Saturday?”

  “Twenty four pounds.”

  “Right, here you are.”

  “Drinks on me t’night,” said Jack, as he and Rose walked to the table. “I’ve sold t’cottage tenants wer’ rentin’.”

  “Congratulations, I’ll have another pint,” said Joe.

  “Me too,” Bob added, and quickly swallowed the rest of his beer.

  “Gin and tonic for me, Jack,” said Rose, as she sat down. “What have you been doing this week Joe?”

  “I’ve finished the first planting and am ready to plant in the greenhouses. I can knock down the railway station after they’re finished.”

  “We’ll have to tell the brick sorters as soon as you know when you can come. The architect still wants to use the old bricks Joe?”

  “Oh, no. Jane told me he’s changed his mind. Too difficult to find matching bricks so we’re buying new ones. Jane’s talked to the bank and they’ll lend us the money if we don’t have enough. So I’ll just flatten the place. We’ll have to remove the doors and windows first. The committee thinks we could sell them. The inside wood studs will have to be removed before I push it down. It’s going to be burned. Jane’ll arrange that with the firemen. When that’s gone I’ll push the bricks, roof and slates to the far end of the parking lot and dump it down the slope. It’ll enlarge the lot a bit. Here’s Jane. She can tell you all the rest.”

  “Hello everybody,” Jane said. “Has Joe told you about what we’re going to do with the station?”

  “Yes. I guess you’ll need a crew to remove the doors, windows and wood studs now.”

  “Yes that’s right,” she said. “And I need help on the stage as well. Bob, can you come Thursday afternoon?”

  “Yes of course. What do I have to do?”

  “Help make the set for the second play. We’re doing two again. One’s a comedy and the other’s a mystery.”

  “Okay. I’ll be there. Will Jim and Ken be there too?”

  “Ken will be but I don’t know about Jim. He might be golfing.”

  “I’ve been to Twinner today, Rose. I took some toys to Leo Tinnet and he asked me to say ‘Hello’ to you. Do you remember him?”

  “Oh yes. He used to be the treasurer for the association. He’ll probably sell several of your sets each month. Lots of people go through Twinner.”

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking him to sell mine.”

  “No, not at all. That’s exactly what you have to do if you want to expand. Ask as many retailers as you can.”

  “I’d like to expand a little but it took most of the day to take the toys to Twinner. Joe says I should buy a car. I don’t know about that but I’ve decided to get a driving licence. If I pass the test I might buy a second-hand one.

  “Wonderful, ” said Jane. “It’s a pity you didn’t have one when Betty was alive and the kids were all at home; they would have enjoyed it.”

  “Yes I’m sure they would but we didn’t have the money. I still don’t have enough to buy a new car. It’s selling the wooden toys that has made all the difference. It’s amazing how it’s changing my life.”

  “No,” said Joe. “It was Claire’s visit that changed your life most, wasn’t it?”

  Everyone laughed, and Bob blushed a little.

  “I’ll get mor’ drinks,” said Jack.

  Bob tried to sleep in on Sunday, but couldn’t. He was so used to getting up more-or-less as the sun rose that it felt uncomfortable lying in bed. There were things to do, even though he promised himself a few days rest. It seemed the only rest he could take was to work more slowly. He got up, wondering what he should do after the week’s chores had been finished. ‘Ah, yes, I’ll ask Tim to teach me to drive. And I must find out how much used cars cost.’

  Bob had a slow morning, taking time to clean the house more thoroughly than usual and having a long coffee break. He thought about buying a car most of the time. It looked as if he could earn five to six thousand pounds this year. That would surely give him enough to buy a used car, pay for driving lessons and have his holidays. One problem was, he knew so little about owning cars. He’d have to pay for maintenance and for insurance. How much would that cost? He didn’t even have a driveway or a place to park a car. He could leave it on the road but didn’t like the idea of doing that all year. It would probably be all right if he parked it in the railway parking lot although he’d have to tell the police what he was doing so that they didn’t think it was an abandoned car. He’d talk to Tim, maybe he’d have some suggestions.

  After his coffee break Bob tidied his workshop. He’d have to order more wood and he really needed a
bigger place to store it, the racks he’d made wouldn’t be big enough. Then he thought about adding a lean-to on the end of the shop. He could make one and store the wood inside. Yes, that’s what he could do this week. It would be a nice change. He’d catch the bus to Big End tomorrow and order the wood for the toys and for a lean-to. Hopefully he would have it by Wednesday. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of days to make.

  He walked to the rear of his shop. As he thought, there were six wooden windows leaning against the wall, stored there from the time the downstairs windows were replaced ten years ago. He checked the frames. Most of them were fine. They were standing on bricks and the bottoms hadn’t rotted. ‘I’ll have to putty some of the windows and the frame needs painting. I’ll buy the putty and paint for it; white would be best. I can make the door, that’d only take a day.’ He collected his measuring tape from the shop and measured the two windows he’d use for the lean-to. He locked the shop and headed indoors. ‘Time to draw up a plan and make a shopping list.’

  A cheese and ham sandwich and a pot of tea didn’t take long to prepare. He took them to his easy chair with a pad of paper and a pencil. An hour later he had a sketch of the lean-to, a floor plan and a list of items he would have to order. He’d put it on a concrete base and calculated how much cement he’d need. He leaned back and reviewed the list, mentally running through each of the steps he would have to take to make the lean-to. ‘No, I’ll call it a shed I think, it’s got a door and windows. My lean-to is where I store the garden tools.’

  Tim’s garage was on the opposite side of the road from the Crown, just a hundred yards from his house. It was windy and Bob put on his overcoat. Tim’s son, Peter, was filling a car with petrol when he arrived. They exchanged greetings as Bob passed. Tim was sitting in a chair behind his desk.

  “Hello Bob. How are you? I’ve seen you passing from time to time but I don’t think that you have ever been in here.”

  “No, that’s right and I bet you can’t guess why I’ve come. I want to learn how to drive a car and I want to know how much a used car would cost.”

  “Wow! I never expected that from you. You told me several years ago you could manage without a car. What changed your mind?”

  “Selling toys, that’s what. I’ve found that I can make enough money from selling toys to consider owning a car. I think I’ll need one if I’m going to expand my business.”

  “Well, well, well. That’s news and good news too. Take a seat and we can talk about it. First, if you want to learn how to drive you should be talking to Peter. He runs the driving school. He’ll be in as soon as he’s finished with that customer. As for buying a car, the price of a second-hand one depends upon what car it is, its age, how many miles it’s been driven and its condition. They start about two hundred and fifty pounds and go into tens of thousands. I don’t have any for less than a thousand in the yard. I can show you what I have now or we can wait ‘til you have your licence. By that time the ones I have right now might have been sold, of course.”

  “Then I’d better wait.”

  Peter walked in, wiping his hands with a rag. “Hello Mr. Barns. It’s nice to see you here. Are you just chatting or is there something we can do for you?”

  “I’d like to learn how to drive, Peter. Is it hard?”

  “That depends upon you and your abilities. You have to be able to use hands and feet together, to judge distances accurately, to learn the traffic laws and things like that. You can try right now, if you like. Do you want to?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Okay. We’ll do it on the railway station’s parking lot. It’s not a very big lot but it’s big enough for you to find out what driving is like. I’ll be off for a while Dad.”

  “Okay Peter.”

  They walked into the yard and climbed into Peter’s car. Peter drove it to the parking lot, stopped in the centre, switched off the engine and they changed seats.

  “Okay Mr. Barns. First thing, I want to find out how much you already know.”

  “Thanks’ Peter. But please call me Bob. That’s what I’d prefer.”

  “All right, err, Bob. Let’s do it this way. You point to each of the controls, tell me its name and explain what it does. That way we won’t waste time.”

  Bob did that, naming the steering wheel, the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals, the control arm for the turn signals and lights. As he did so he explained what each one was used for.

  “How do you know all that if you haven’t driven before?”

  “I took a few lessons years ago and I’ve watched what drivers do. It’s obvious what each control does. It’s mostly driving practice that I need.”

  “Well, you can start now, if you like. Would you like, say, a half-hour’s driving lesson?”

  “Yes please. I like the sensible way you cover the basics and I’m sure you’ll be a good teacher.”

  “Okay. Then what gear is it in Bob?”

  “Why it’s in neutral. I saw you leave it there and the gear lever is in the slot marked ‘N’.”

  “Good. Now, before you turn the engine on, you have to put your left foot on the clutch pedal and press it to the floor. Why do you have to do that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “It’s just for safety. If you always do that it wouldn’t matter if the gear lever was accidentally in gear, because the engine wouldn’t move the car if you had the clutch pedal depressed. Where should your right foot be?”

  “On the brake pedal.”

  “Right. Now, without looking, is the parking brake on or off?”

  “I saw you pull it up, so it’s on.”

  “That’s right. Okay, summarise what you now know about driving a car.”

  “All right. When you park the car you put the gear lever in neutral and put the parking brake on. Before you start the car you check that the gear lever is in neutral and put your left foot on the clutch and your right foot on the brake pedal.”

  “And press both of the pedals down. Good. That’s what we do if the car is parked on level ground. It’s a bit different when we’re parked on a hill but I’ll tell you about that later. Now what else must you do after starting the car before driving off?”

  “’Er, I don’t know.”

  “Well you must release the hand brake.”

  “Oh yes, of course. You’d have to do that. And check the road.”

  “Good. Okay, that’s enough talk for now. Start the engine now but don’t move the car.”

  Peter watched as Bob started the car. “Perfect. Now, do nothing, but tell me what you have to do if you wanted to drive to the end of the lot.”

  “Well. I should put the gear lever into first. Then lift my left foot off the clutch and my right off the brake and put it on the accelerator pedal and press down. And take off the hand brake.”

  “Yes, that’s right. The trick is to learn how to do these things without stalling the car or making it jerk. That’s what we will practice today. So try doing all that. Start the car and drive it slowly to the end of the lot.”

  Bob checked the gear lever position, put his feet on the clutch and foot brake and started the car. Then he moved the gear lever into first gear, moved his right foot over to the accelerator and slowly lowered the hand brake. Then he took his foot off the clutch and the car stalled.

  “Why did that happen Bob?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You lifted your foot from the clutch too quickly. You have to let it rise slowly so the engine can gently start the car’s wheels turning. Turn off the key now, put the controls into a parking position and we’ll try everything again.”

  After two more tries he could start the car and drive, very slowly, near to the end of the lot.

  “Okay. Stop now and park the car.”

  He did that, smiled and turned to face Peter.

  “You’re doing very well Bob. Now I’ll turn the car around and you can try these things again.”

  Twenty minutes later Bob thou
ght he now knew how to drive the car and said so to Peter.

  “Oh, I think there’s quite a bit more to learn: how to change gears, do three-point-turns, drive through traffic and so on. Do you want to take more lessons?”

  “Yes I do.”

  “Then change places. I’ll drive back to the garage. There are some forms to fill in and we’ll decide what times will suit us both.”

  At the garage Tim asked Bob how the driving practice went.

  “I enjoyed it, it’s fun.”

  “He did excellently Dad.”

  Peter took Bob to his office and they completed the paperwork. “That’s the application form for your provisional licence. Fill it in and I’ll send it off. There’s a fee to pay but I’ll add that to your bill. You can pay me each time or each month, or, because I know you, you can pay after you’ve passed the driving test. Which way do you prefer Bob?”

  “I’ll pay at the end of each month.” Monthly payments seemed to be the best way of handling his finances these days.

  “All right. Now when do you want to have the lessons? I’d recommend you have two or three each week.”

  “Can I have them every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday? Two o’clock on Sunday and five o’clock on Tuesdays and Thursdays?”

  “Just let me check my calendar. Yes, I can do that. Okay. Now here’s a manual for you, the Rules of the Road. You should read through it and start memorising the rules and learn the driving tips it provides. They’ll question you on those things in the exam, though you probably know most of them from watching others drive.”

  “Okay. Thanks Peter.”

  “Well, I’ll see you Tuesday. ‘Bye.”

  A letter from Maria arrived Monday morning. She told him that her friend had booked the flat, ‘the very one you wanted,’ for him for February, 1997. He should send her a cheque for five hundred pounds. She would convert it into escudos. Her company’s address and her name was on the card she had enclosed. ‘It looks like I will be conducting one of the tours along the south coast (if enough people sign up for it),’ she added. Bob replied, saying ‘I’m looking forward to seeing you again. I hope we could meet if you do lead the tour.’ Then he wrote to thank the real estate agent and sent her his cheque. He’d post both letters in Big End.

  He checked his shopping list, adding white paint, brushes, putty, door hinges and an entrance set then caught the bus to Big End. There, he went to the post office, bought five international stamps and posted the letters; the extra stamps would be needed if he wrote to Maria again. Then he walked to the lumber yard and ordered the wood, roofing shingles, nails, parts for the door and the cement and sand for the floor and the foundation. They told him it would be delivered the next day. “We’re making many deliveries to the contractors in Small End these days,” Bob was told when he asked why he was able to get it so quickly.

  In the afternoon Bob banged short dowel rods into the corners of his future shed and joined them with a string. It would be ten feet by five feet with the door on the end, facing his house. He took off his coat and started to remove about six inches of the soil inside the string. He put it in his wheelbarrow, pushed it to the back of the station’s parking lot and dumped it into the slope. Before returning he filled the barrow with crushed stone that had been sitting in a pile for fifteen years. It was the remainder of the stone that had been used when the platform was repaired. If he didn’t use it it would be pushed down the slope when the new Community Centre parking lot was made. He wheeled the stone back and tipped it onto the ground; he’d use it to make a bed for the floor or mix it with the concrete. He took a short tea break at three then continued until he had removed all the dirt from the floor area. He was exhausted when finished, ate little for supper and went straight to bed.

  Immediately after breakfast he returned to work, digging the foundation trench this time. Each time he dumped a load of dirt he returned with a load of stone. It was a fair trade, he thought, not that anyone was likely to complain. As former station master he surely had first claim on unwanted materials.

  The wood and materials arrived just as he was going into his house for coffee. The driver helped him unload and sat in the kitchen afterwards drinking and chatting.

  “I expect you’re busy these days, with the new construction in Small End and elsewhere,” said Bob.

  “Yes, we are. In fact Leon, that’s the manager, told me they’re going to extend the lumber yard for fifty yards. We’ll need more room for all the wood they’ll be stocking. The developer in the subdivision that’s behind your garden told me he expects to sell twenty houses this year. Lot’s of people want to move south or get away from the big cities. You’ll have two or three hundred families on the other side of the railway lines in a couple of year’s time I think.”

  “Where’s everyone going to work?”

  “Don’t know. There’s a rumour that an industrial park will be set up somewhere near here, no idea where though.”

  After the driver pulled away Bob returned to work. He removed the dowels and string then spread about three inches of stone on the shed floor and raked it smooth. He placed a wide board across the foundation trench then began mixing his first batch of concrete, sand and stone in the wheelbarrow. When done he filled two pails with water and poured some into the barrow. He stirred it backwards and forwards with his garden hoe, adding a little water when needed. It didn’t take long to mix. Then he wheeled the wheelbarrow to the far end of the shed and dumped the cement into the foundation trench. As soon as he had done this he decided to collect some bigger stones; it would take a long time to make enough cement to fill the trench using just small stones. He washed the wheelbarrow then wheeled it back to the station yard. This time he filled it with rocks and old pieces of brick, dumping them beside the pile of stones he’d retrieved. He’d add the rocks and brick pieces to the next load of cement before putting it into the trench. He made a dozen trips to collect rocks and big stones then stopped for lunch.

  Bob heated a can of soup and drank it from a mug with a slice of bread, not feeling hungry, just thirsty. The soup and his tea put back some of the water he had sweated out that morning.

  He had filled all the trench by four o’clock and was ready for a rest. He cleaned the barrow and the hoe and sprinkled water over the concrete then went indoors for a mug of tea and two of the Hot Cross buns he had bought when shopping, warming them in the oven before eating them in the kitchen.

  ‘Now for a bath and clean clothes,’ he told himself. ‘I hope Peter doesn’t question me on the rules of the road, I’ve not yet looked at the book.’

  He walked down to the garage and saw Peter standing beside the car.

  “Hello Bob. Get in and I’ll drive to the parking lot then you can take over.”

  In the lot Bob practised changing gears and reversing for twenty minutes. Then Peter told him to drive to the road and turn left, away from the village.

  “I’m breaking the law when we do this because your provisional licence hasn’t arrived yet so drive carefully! We’ll take the road to Easing. You’ll be able to change into third and fourth gears along that road, it’s wide and there are few cars to worry about. I usually have beginners practice there.”

  He enjoyed the drive and learned how to keep his eyes on the side of the road when other cars approached rather then look at them, which Peter said might cause him to drive towards the other car. The Peter’s Driving School sign on the roof probably made other drivers slow down and keep clear as well.

  When they got to the outskirts of Easing Peter told him to drive into the pub’s parking lot and park the car. There they discussed the drive and the parts that caused a little difficulty then Bob drove home.

  “I think you’ll be ready to take your test next month at the rate you’re going Bob. Do you want to?”

  “If you think I’ll be ready, yes, I do.”

  Bob cooked salmon for supper that night. Then he watched television but found himself falling to sleep in his ch
air so he went to bed, knowing that it would be another hard day’s work tomorrow. He felt good as he fell asleep; he would have a shed to store things in when he was finished.

  There was an intermittent drizzle most of Wednesday morning but Bob didn’t mind. It wasn’t enough to stop him from making, laying and smoothing the concrete floor and the thin coating of moisture kept it damp, helping it to cure properly. ‘I’ll take a risk and not cover it with plastic, it’s not going to rain much longer,’ Bob thought.

  After lunch he worked in his shop, scraping the flaking paint from the windows then renewing the putty where needed. He took a short tea break before returning, when he painted the window frames white. After supper he tried reading the drivers’ manual but kept falling asleep so he went to bed, knowing that it had been another good day.

  Thursday he made the shed door. It was a simple one, wide boards held together with three boards and two cross-pieces. It was finished and painted white by lunchtime. He had a sandwich for lunch then walked to the Community Centre. The Smiths and Jack were already there and were looking at the plan for the new Centre. It would be nearly three times bigger than the one they already had, having a hall, a cafeteria, cloak room, toilets and about ten meeting rooms.

  “Impressive,” said Jack. “Wots they goin’ t’do wiv t’old Centre Jane?”

  “It hasn’t been decided.”

  “Wud they sell it?”

  “Perhaps. Why do you ask?”

  “I’d make it inter a shoppin’ complex if I ‘ad backers.”

  “I’ll let you know what the committee decides Jack. Okay everyone. It’s the comedy we’re working on this afternoon. We have the wood so the sets can be made but the canvas hasn’t arrived. I ordered it two months ago and they promised it would be here by now. I’ll be very worried if it’s not here by next Thursday.”

  As they were walking to the pub afterwards Bob told the crew that he wouldn’t be having his supper in the Crown on Saturday. “I’m having driving lessons.”

  “How’s it goin’?” asked Jack.

  “Pretty well I think. Peter says I might be ready to take the test next month and he’s going to book one for me. I have three lessons each week and I’m going for one now.”

  “All right,” said Ken.

  “We’ll be careful and keep to the side of the road when we come out!” added Jim.

  “Ha, Ha!”

  Peter wasn’t at the garage when Bob entered.

  “Hello Bob,” said Tim. “Peter had to go to Big End to collect some parts. He’ll be back soon. Do you want to wait here or do you want him to collect you from your place when he arrives?”

  “I’ll wait for him here Tim. I’d like to look at the cars you have for sale to see what they’re like.”

  “I’ll come with you but there’s still nothing selling for less than a thousand pounds.”

  “That’s all right. I just want to know what I would get for my money if I bought one, although I’d be looking for one that cost around five hundred, not a thousand.”

  Peter interrupted their discussions when he drove into the yard twenty minutes later.

  “Sorry I’m late Bob. The shop needed the parts urgently.”

  “That’s all right. I’ve been learning about buying a second-hand car.”

  “Well if you’re ready we’ll start the lesson now. I think it’s time you practised three-point turns. We’ll do some in the station’s parking lot then try them on one of the wide sections along Easing Lane. Oh, here’s your provisional. Bring it each time we drive.”

  “I’ll put it in my wallet Tim.”

  “I also have the date for your driving test. It’s on April 26th. That’s a Friday. It’s at ten o’clock and we have to be at the test centre at nine thirty. Because the test’s in Bournemouth, we’ll have to leave about seven thirty. Will that be alright?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  Three-point turns were easy for Bob to do in the parking lot. The first time he tried doing them in the lane it became a five-point turn but he soon learned how far he had to turn the steering wheel and did four turns without trouble after that.

  “Excellent Bob, you’re doing well. Now this Sunday we’ll drive along the coast road, you’re ready to do that. We’ll use the back roads to get there. Don’t worry about the traffic; there won’t be much.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  The phone rang at eight o’clock Friday morning, just as Bob was leaving the kitchen to go to his shop.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello, Is that Bob Barns?”

  “Yes. Who’s calling?”

  “It’s Leo Tinnet. I’ve been trying to reach you the last two days. Have you been on holiday?”

  “No. It’s probably my phone. If I’m working in the garden or in my shop I can’t hear it ring. I’ll have to have an extension line put in.”

  “Oh, use a cordless phone, that’s what we use. Get one with a long range. Now, I’ve sold all the toys you gave me and I need some more as soon as possible, before the weekend if you can. Can I have six of each?”

  “Oh, that’s great Leo. Yes, I’ll bring what I’ve got but I’m not sure when. I’ll come as quickly as I can.”

  “Thanks Bob, they’re popular with the tourists. Selling your farms helps me to sell my animals too. In fact I’d like to make it a dozen farms if you have them.”

  “I’ll bring what I can.”

  He hung up, fetched his notebook from the lounge and checked to see how many sets he had. The totals were as he remembered; the book said he had five village sets, seventeen farm sets and no train sets. He’d have to tell Leo that he would have to deliver the trains next week.

  But when? He didn’t want to waste a whole day delivering them. Then he remembered his driving lesson. He’d call Peter and ask him if he could have it today instead of Sunday. Since he had said they would be driving along the coast road he could drop them off in Twinner.

  He called the garage and Tim answered.

  “Tim, it’s Bob Barns. Is Peter there?”

  “No. He’s giving a lesson. He’ll be back just after nine. I’ll ask him to call you then, if that’s okay.”

  “Yes, please do.”

  He looked at the clock. It was 8:15. He had time to check the shed floor, water it if it wasn’t damp enough, and bag the sets for Leo. Then he’d wait for Peter’s call in the kitchen. ‘I hope Jenny hasn’t been trying to reach me as well. I’ll have to make more sets next, the shed will have to wait.’

  On his way to his workshop he checked the concrete. It was fine and the foundation would be strong enough to hold the walls any time now. In the shop he counted his sets. They agreed with his book tally; five village, seventeen farm and no trains. He put the sets for Leo in bags and took them to the kitchen. There he changed the number of toys he had in the shop and changed Leo’s list. ‘I’ll have to make trains first, then villages, and I can’t look for more retailers, I can’t keep up with the ones I’ve already got!’ The phone rang and he picked it up.

  “Hello Bob. It’s Peter. Dad said you wanted me to call.”

  “Hi Peter. I wonder if you could help me. I have to deliver some of my toys to Twinner as soon as I can. It takes most of a day if I go by bus. Can I have my Sunday’s driving lesson today? Do you have time to fit me in?”

  “Just a minute Bob, I’ll check. Yes, I can, I have two hours free this afternoon but I’ll first have to see if my Dad needs me. We are a bit short-handed at the moment. Let me call you back.”

  Two minutes later Peter called.

  “Yes. I’m free. Is one o’clock okay for you?”

  “Yes it is.”

  “Then I’ll be at your house at that time. You can drive all the way, but, remember, it’s not a rush, it’s a driving lesson!”

  “I’ll not forget. Thanks Peter.”

  Now there was time to work in the shop. He’d give the shed windows and the door their second coat of paint later. He took them to the end of the s
hop and leaned them against the walls and began making trains. By ten he had the long bases and the blocks for the carriages cut and stopped to make a pot of tea but carried his mug back to the shop and cut the dowels to make the engines, the chimneys and the wheels. It was surprising how quickly he could make them now and hoped the quality wasn’t deteriorating. Perhaps he could make the twenty train sets in just three or four days now he was using the acrylics.

  He stopped at twelve thirty, tidied the shop and locked the door. He made a quick sandwich and ate it as he changed his trousers and shirt. He put on a grey sweater; it looked nice, both for a driving lesson and for delivering supplies to Leo. He drank a can of lemonade while watching for Peter who arrived just before one.

  “Hello Peter. Thanks for making time for me. Was you Dad upset?”

  “No. I can help him this evening and we’ll be caught up by tomorrow. We often have extra work to do in the Spring; people want their cars tuned or their summer tires put on. Okay, you drive and we’ll go through Easing to Twinner, then along the coast a bit before turning back. You’re not ready to drive through Big End yet, especially not on a Friday afternoon. It’ll be very busy. Do you want to have your usual lesson on Sunday? If you do then we can drive through Big End because there won’t be much traffic then.”

  Bob thought about what Peter said. He wanted to work on the train sets and there was the shed to complete too but if he was going to have his test in five weeks time he’d better have the lesson.

  “Yes, please, I’d like to try. Are you sure I can do that?”

  “I think so. We’ll find out, won’t we.”

  On the journey to Twinner Bob told Peter what he had in the bags and described how busy he was these days. Peter said it reminded him of when he started giving driving lessons. He was very busy then. He had to memorise all the traffic regulations and learn how to how to handle high school students when there were two critics decrying the driver’s actions sitting in the back seat.

  The drive was pleasant and there were few cars on the road until they came close to Twinner. Bob kept to the speed limit even though many cars wanted him to go faster. Peter told him to ignore the other drivers because he would fail the test if he went faster than allowed. Apart from a few irritated drivers, who seemed not to see the learner’s plate or the driving school sign on the roof and who tooted or shot past whenever they could, the journey was uneventful. Bob parked near Leo’s shop and carried in the bags.

  “Hello Leo. I’m sorry I missed your earlier calls but I’ll look for a cordless phone when I’m in Big End. Here are the sets I have at the moment. Twelve farms and five villages. I don’t have any trains but I’ve started making them and I’ll deliver them next week. I hope that’ll be all right.”

  “Yes. That’s fine. If anyone asks for a train set I’ll tell them they are on order. You know, it seems that lots of people are interested in wooden toys now. It’s part of the green movement I suppose, although the fact that these are locally made might be why they’re selling so well. You might have to bring a load every week!”

  “Well I can’t do that. I’ll have to figure something out. Oh, do you mind if I tell you that Jenny sells my toys on a 25% commission. Would you do the same?”

  “Yes. They sell easily and also help me sell other things.”

  “She gives me a receipt each time I deliver and sends me a cheque and a statement each month. Can you do that as well?”

  “Why, yes, that’s no problem. Does she use a computer?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll ask her to call you, if you like.”

  “No, that’s all right, I’ll see her at the conference.”

  “Okay. Leo, I have to leave now. I’m having a driving lesson and my teacher is waiting in the car outside. I’ll see you next week. Oh, what time do you close?”

  “Six o’clock during the week. In the summer I stay open until nine. Why do you ask?”

  “So I know when to deliver.”

  “I don’t live far away and I can always be here if you want to deliver outside opening hours. Here’s my card; I’ll write my home number on the back.”

  “Thanks. I’ll see you next week then. ‘Bye.”

  Bob returned to the car and told Peter he had to deliver more sets next week. “Can I do that on one of my lessons, preferably the Tuesday one?”

  “Of course you can. I think you could drive the full coastal road and back through Big End by Tuesday. It would be better if it was in the afternoon though, for there would be less traffic then.”

  “That suits me. Leo’ll be in his shop then.”

  Bob drove back, parked the car at the garage then went with Peter to his office.

  “I have three hours free Tuesday afternoon. When would you like to go?”

  “Is three o’clock okay? That would suit me best.”

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks.”

  Bob walked back to his house thinking about all the work he would have to do. It might soon become too much. ‘I should probably slow down, but it’s nice to make money this way. I think I will have to hire someone. How much would that cost, I wonder? And could I pay him and still make a profit?. There’s so much to sort out.’

  He changed into his work clothes, returned to his shop and worked until eight cutting the long blocks he had prepared and trimming them. When he stopped he was hungry and very tired. He ate a pot pie with carrots and treated himself to an ice cream afterwards and felt very happy; he was sure he could make twenty train sets in three days if worked long enough each day.

  It was raining Saturday morning when Bob walked to the bus stop to catch the early bus to Big End. Jenny and Susan were tidying the shelves when he entered Home and Holiday.

  “Hello Jenny, Susan. How are you enjoying the last of the winter?”

  “I’m glad it’s almost over,” replied Susan.

  “Me too,” added Jenny, “even if I won’t be wearing my new coat any more!” They laughed.

  “Sold any of my sets this month Jenny?”

  “Sold a few. Come, let’s check the books.” She walked to the back office and Bob followed.

  “I’ve sold two of each. There’s only one village and one train set left. Can I have some more?”

  “I only have farm sets at the moment but I’ll soon have trains. Do you want them early next week or can I deliver them on Saturday? I’m so busy right now.”

  “Saturday would be all right. I’ll take up to six of each. Just bring me what you have. I’m likely to sell more each month from now on though.”

  ‘Then,’ thought Bob, as he left the shop, ‘I’ll ask everyone tonight if they know of someone looking for a job.’

  He did his usual grocery shopping and caught the eleven o’clock bus back to Small End. ‘If I had a car I’d save two hours on each trip to Big End and about six hours each time I have to go to Twinner. I really will need one if things continue this way.”

  After a quick lunch Bob returned to his shop, finishing all the train pieces by five. All that needed to be done now was sanding, painting and gluing.

  He was sitting in the corner of the Crown by the fire at six with his bitter in front of him when Joe and his pint joined him.

  “Hello Bob. How’s driving? Enjoying the lessons?”

  “They’re fun. Peter says I’m almost ready to take the test and he’s scheduled one for me in April. How’s your week been?”

  “I’ve been a bit delayed. My helpers were three days late, but we’re almost caught up now. That means I can do the station next week. I don’t know what day yet. If you want to help you can join the others taking out the windows and doors. I’ll leave a wagon in the lot to put them on and I’ll take them to the Community Centre. We’ll stack them behind the building until we’re ready to use or sell them. The dismantling group starts Monday morning. Jane is arranging the details. You can tell her what you want to do.”

  “Well I can’t help next week, I’m afraid. I’m so busy making toys and a sto
rage shed. I must do those things first. Does Jane have enough people?”

  “I don’t know. Ask her when she comes.”

  Rose and Jack joined them. Joe and Bob brought them up-to-date with the news. Then Jane arrived and Bob told her what he had been doing. “So you see, Jane, I’m very busy. Can you manage without me this week?”

  “Oh we’ll be okay. Many people want to help; everybody wants a bigger Centre. Don’t worry about it. We can do without your help on the stage sets too, if that’s going to add to your worries. You need someone to help you I think.”

  “Yes I do, but I don’t think I’d make enough money to pay a man, that’s the problem.”

  “Why not hire a boy?” suggested Joe. “You can pay minimum wage and the insurance premiums wouldn’t be too high.”

  “What insurance premiums?”

  “You have to have insurance if you employ someone, and there’re other things you have to pay for, like holidays and sick leave.”

  “Aye,” said Jack. “I hire people on contract. Nout t’worry about then.”

  “Can I hire a teenager on a contract?”

  “I don’t see why not,” said Joe. “I do that during the picking season. They usually do a good job. I pay piece-work, so much for each pound or each basket they turn in. Could you do something like that?”

  “I probably could. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the suggestions, they make me feel much better. Let’s get another round and order supper, I’m hungry.”

  The men walked back to the bar and bought drinks and ordered the meals. When Bob returned to the table he asked Rose if she’d sold any sets this month.

  “Two. It’s too early for visitors in Small End. I’ll sell more when we have the Spring Show as you know.”

  “Yes.”

  While eating Jane told them how the show was progressing and, finally, the big surprise.

  “Guess what happened this week. Small End’s been given a £100,000 grant from the government to build the Centre. We’d asked for that and we have now got it! It’s more than enough to pay the electricians, plumbers and other contractors. So we may have a new Centre, all paid for, by the fall. And we’ve got all the money we raised from the shows to cover other things. Isn’t that great!”

  “Wow, yes!” “Congratulations!” “That’s tremendous!” Everyone raised their glasses to Jane for she had done more than anyone else during the past four years.

  As they got up to leave half an hour later Jane took Bob to one side.

  “I think I know a teenager who might be able to help you. It is Jim Smith’s son, Benny. He’s sixteen. He quit school at Christmas but hasn’t got a job. Jim says he sits in front of his computer all day playing games. He sometimes replies to ads but hasn’t found any work yet. Call Jim and see what he says.”

  “Thanks. I’ll do that tomorrow. Let’s hope the kid’s interested, I certainly need someone.”

  His clothes were drying on the line and all the dusting finished Sunday morning when Bob filled the kettle. He’d have a quick coffee than sand the pieces. He switched on the stove then phoned Jim.

  “Hello Jim. It’s Bob Barns. I was talking to Jane last night about needing someone to help me in my woodwork shop and she suggested Benny. What do you think? Can I see if he’s interested?”

  “Yes, certainly. I want Benny to get a job, it’s not good to do nothing all day. Can you come over and see him?”

  “I will, after I’ve had my coffee. In fifteen minutes. Can you tell him I called?”

  “Sure, and I’ll tell him to take the job.”

  “Thanks. See you soon.”

  Benny must have been watching the garden gate for he opened the door as Bob walked up the path.

  “Hello Mr. Barns. Dad’s told me you might have a job for me. Come in, but I should tell you that I don’t think I’d like it.”

  “Why not Benny?,” said Bob as he walked in. “Why do you think that you’d not like the job when I haven’t told you what it is?”

  “Because it is indoors. I’ve told Dad many times that I want to work outside. Then he asks me what kind of a job I want outside and I can’t tell him. I don’t know. I had thought of going to Canada and planting trees but I’ve found out I’m too young. Maybe I’ll do that later, when I’m eighteen or so. I’ve worked on the farm for Dad’s cousin, Joe Smith, and I like that. Trouble is, it’s seasonal work. What I’d like is a year-round, outside job.”

  “That’s a pity, for me, at least. I don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t like what they’re doing, they’re likely to make too many mistakes. Do you know anyone who might like to make toys?”

  “I don’t think so. I didn’t take any woodwork courses at school. My friends mostly like computers and I don’t think any of them would do anything like that. You could ask the school’s woodwork teacher if he knows of anybody.”

  “Ah yes. That’s a good idea, thanks. Then I should let your Dad know what we’ve decided. Is he here?”

  “He’s in the garage, cleaning his golf clubs. Golf, that’s his passion. Ever since retiring playing golf is what he wants to do. I’ll take you to him. You know, he’s an outdoors person too, maybe I’m the way I am because of him.”

  Jim knew why Benny declined the job. “You only want to work outside, I know, Benny. Well, I’ll go and see Joe again and ask if he has a job for you, though I don’t like the idea of you being a farm labourer all your life.”

  “I don’t have to be, Dad. I could become a farm manager, couldn’t I?”

  “I suppose so, if you’re any good. Well I’ll talk to Joe then.”

  “Thanks Dad.”

  “Do you know any young man who might work for me Jim?”

  “I don’t think so. You could ask my brother, Ken. He’s worked with wood all his life. Did you know he was the general manager of TimberForms? They made furniture and were bought out last year and Ken was replaced by the new firm’s manager. He’s got a good pension so he’s not looking for a job but he might know of someone who is. Why don’t you call him.”

  “Yes, thanks, I will.”