Bob of Small End

by David Hockey

  Chapter 7 Ken

  Ken wasn’t at home when Bob telephoned so he left a message. He collected the wooden pieces and sat on a stool in the garden and began sanding. The phone rang five minutes after he had started.

  “It’s Ken here, Bob. I got your message and was about to call you when Jim phoned. He said you’re looking for someone to help you make toys. You know, I might be interested.”

  “Ah, I can’t hire a man Ken. It costs too much; his wages, benefits, sick-leave, pension and so on. I was looking for a teenager who would perhaps work on contract for a few months.”

  “A few months is all I’d want to do, too. And I won’t want a pension, I’ve one already, nor do I need benefits and so on. Why don’t I come round tomorrow and you can show me what you do and if I like the idea of helping, I will. We can discuss pay later.”

  “Well, okay. Can you come at nine?”

  “Sure. See you then.”

  This was something new to think about. What would it be like working with Ken? He seems a nice enough chap but I’m not making enough to pay him a man’s wages so the idea won’t come to anything. I’ll let him make villages tomorrow and see how it works.

  Bob was cleaning his paint brushes in the kitchen Monday morning when Ken knocked on the door. “Hello Ken. How did you know I was in here?”

  “I thought you were in your shop and went there first. Then I saw you here. What are you doing?”

  “I’ve just been giving the trains a coat of paint. I normally do that in the shop but with you coming I thought it would be better to do the painting here. Take a seat. Would you like a mug of tea?”

  “No, thanks. That’s a lot of pieces, they’re for carriages for your trains, right?”

  “Yes, that’s right. I make twenty sets at a time. Each set has an engine and three carriages. I make three different kinds of toys; trains, farms and villages. I used to make and sell birds as well but I don’t do that now. It takes too long.”

  “I’ve seen your trains and birds in Rose’s shop. I’m surprised she sells that many. Is someone else selling your toys as well?”

  “Oh yes, they are now. Home and Holiday in Big End and Toys and Gifts in Twinner. Home and Holiday’s been selling them since January and Toys and Gifts started just over a week ago. It is hard to build all they’re asking for so I need help. That’s why I’m looking for a young man.”

  “I see.”

  “Is that your lunch?” and Bob pointed to a paper bag Ken was carrying.

  “Yes.”

  “Let me put it in the fridge.”

  Bob showed Ken the bathroom then took him to his workshop. On the way he pointed to the concrete pad, “I’m making a shed to keep the wood in. I need more room in the shop, for painting and gluing now I’m making twenty at a time. Come in.”

  Ken stopped just inside the shop’s door and looked around. “It’s nicely laid-out. The bench’s strong, you’ve got good lighting and some decent tools. Your shop’s much better than mine. Working conditions interest me. You know I was the General Manager of TimberForms, the furniture-maker in Southampton?”

  “Yes, Jim told me. So that’s why you were interested in the layout. Well, I’m glad you like it. Let’s hope that you still do after today! I’d like you to try making villages. I’ll show you what I do then watch you do it. If you’re okay, I’ll leave you to it and make the walls for the shed. Will that be okay?”

  “Yes, of course, and if I run into trouble I’ll see you.”

  “Right. I usually start at eight each morning, stop for coffee about ten and eat my lunch around twelve, but since it’s nearly ten now I suggest we delay the coffee and lunch breaks for an hour.”

  “Okay. Can I see a completed village before we begin?”

  Bob took one of the village set boxes off the shelf, opened it and spread the pieces over the bench.

  “These are the large houses and here is a small one. This is a row of shops. That’s the church and there’s the Community Centre and the post office. These are hedges. If you think of any ways to improve the design please let me know, but don’t make it too complicated. I don’t want to spend more than six days to make twenty sets. The farms are similar to this set; they also take about six days to make twenty. The train sets are much easier and take just three days.”

  “Okay. Show me what you do.”

  “First I shape a block long enough to make twenty houses. I do that with the circular saw.”

  Bob took down a length of wood and started shaping it. As he worked he explained what he was doing. “After shaping this piece of wood I cut it into twenty houses. I do that eight times and end up with eight houses for twenty villages. Then I make five large houses for each village. I do the same thing again, to make twenty churches, but there’s only one of them in each village. Then I make two rows of shops the same way. The other things come next. The most time-consuming part is hedges, they take over a day to make. I’ll show you how I do that when you’re ready. See, I’ve shaped the long block now. It’ll make twenty houses, as I said. It didn’t take long, did it?”

  “No, but it’s a bit rough. You sand the pieces later?”

  “Yes. I usually do that at the end of the day to let the dust settle overnight. I use a belt sander and some sandpaper. I tried sanding outside recently and I might do that in future. If it’s not raining, that is.”

  “Okay. I understand. Can I try making a house block now?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Ken walked to the wood and selected one of the pieces.

  “This is where you keep the wood to make small houses?”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  He watched Ken shape the wood. ‘He did it almost as quickly as I did,’ Bob thought, ‘and its shape is just as good.’

  “That’s great Ken. It’s very good, in fact, even though it’s the first time you’ve done that.”

  “Thanks. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any woodwork. When I was about ten I made a rifle and a revolver. My friends saw them and wanted them so I made several and sold them, making enough money to buy sweets for several months. It was fun. You know, I think I’d enjoy working with wood again.”

  “I hope you do. Okay, I’ll leave you to it and work on the shed. Call if you need me.” Bob took his plans, a tape measure, circular saw and an extension cord from the bench and went outside. It was still cloudy but the morning weather forecast said there shouldn’t be any rain for the next two days.

  He put his things on the concrete and removed the plastic sheet that covered the wood on the lawn. Checking his plans he pulled the four-by-two lengths he needed to make the rear end wall and began cutting them to length. Once he had finished cutting all of them he went into the shop for the nails.

  “How’s it going Ken?”

  “Fine. I’ve already made all the small houses. Do they look okay to you?”

  “They look fine to me. At this rate you’ll probably finish twenty villages quicker than I can!”

  Bob picked up the box of nails and went outside. He laid the four-by-twos on the concrete floor and nailed them together. Twenty minutes later the wall frame was made. He leaned it against the back of the shop and checked his watch. There was enough time to make the front wall before coffee. This one was a little more complex, for it included the door-opening, but it was finished and nailed together by eleven fifteen. He put his head in the shop and told Ken that he was going to put the kettle on for coffee. “Come when you are ready.”

  Over coffee Ken told Bob how he had been made redundant when his company had been bought. “They used their own manager. It was the right thing to do, of course; their manager knew their machinery and their construction methods. They gave me a reasonable redundancy package and I started my pension. I’ve been at a bit of a loss this last nine months. My wife thinks I should go out more, she probably wants the house to herself during the day. Jim’s wife is like that so he plays a lot of golf although that’s what he’s al
ways done. Golf doesn’t interest me so I’ve been riding my bike, walking the paths, helping in the garden, reading books in my study, things like that, but I’d like to do something more interesting.”

  “Working here might be more interesting Ken but I can’t pay you much.”

  “Let me worry about that Bob. I’m sure we can work something out. Let’s forget pay until I know if I want to continue, we can talk about it then.”

  “All right.”

  “I’ve been looking at the hedges you’ve made and thinking how you must have done it. I can see that it must have taken a long time. I think there’s probably a quicker way. I don’t know for sure, but I think so.”

  “It’ll be nice if you could find a quicker way. Well, I’ll have to get back to the shed.”

  “Let me know when you are ready to fasten the walls together and I’ll give you a hand,” said Ken, as he walked into the shop.

  The long wall, with two window openings, took over an hour to make and Bob decided to join the walls together after lunch. He opened the door to the shop. “I’m going to have my lunch now. Are you ready to eat?”

  “Almost, be with you in a minute.”

  Bob put the kettle on the stove and made himself a lettuce, tomato and cheese sandwich.

  “Ah. Hi Ken. I’ve put your lunch bag on the counter. With all this stuff on the table we’ll eat in the lounge. Do you feel tired?”

  “A bit. I’ve worked harder this morning than I’ve done for several months. It’s enjoyable. I’ve finished the conservatories and front porches for the big houses and I’ll make the churches, shops, and post offices this afternoon. I won’t be ready to sand any of them today though.”

  “Yes, that’s what I do. I make the pieces first then sand. Can you help me fasten the shed walls together before you start?”

  “Sure. How do you fasten the bottom plates to the concrete?”

  “I drill through the wood and into the concrete using a carbide bit, bang a piece of wood right down to the bottom then drive a long nail into it. It’s a strong joint and easy to do. I fastened the workshop walls to the floor that way twenty years ago and there’s never been any trouble.”

  Ken stood up and pointed to the window. “There’s some dark clouds on the horizon. It looks like it’s going to rain. We should fasten the walls right now if you want to get them up today.”

  With Ken’s help the shed walls were up, squared, nailed both to the foundation and to the shop in thirty minutes. “Perfect,” said Bob. “It doesn’t matter if it does rain now. I’ll start on the trusses Ken. Might be able to cut them before the rain starts.”

  Unfortunately, that didn’t happened. Bob felt the a few drops as he was about to cut the first length of wood so he unplugged the saw, put it in the shop and covered the wood pile with the plastic sheet.”

  “It looks as if it’s going to rain for the rest of the day Ken. I’ll give you a hand. Okay if I make the hedges?”

  “Sure. Do you want the stool?”

  “No.”

  “What are you going to sit on?”

  “The saw horse. I’ll have to get another stool.”

  “I can bring mine tomorrow.”

  “Thanks. I’ll make another soon as I have the time.”

  As soon as they began they ran into a problem, there was only one table saw and both couldn’t use it at the same time. “What are we going to do about that Bob?”

  “I don’t know. I could buy another saw but where can I put it? There isn’t enough room.”

  “We’ll have to plan our work better then; one of us could cut the blocks while the other one shapes the hedges. That would work.”

  “Okay. When you’ve finished with the saw we’ll break for tea and afterwards I’ll cut the hedges. I’ll make a list of things to buy while you’re using the saw.”

  At Ken’s suggestion Bob added “masks” to his shopping list. “It would be best if we had a ducted exhaust system to use when sanding,” Ken added, “but they cost a lot of money. We must sand outdoors whenever we can. Breathing sawdust isn’t healthy.”

  “Yes, I agree. I’ve never had this much to sand in the past. Okay, I’ll put the kettle on, it’ll take about ten minutes to boil.”

  As they were drinking their tea Ken said he had thought of a way to make the hedges quicker. “We could use three routers in a jig. Three of them would only cost about fifty pounds if we bought second-hand ones. Do you think it’s worth trying?”

  “How much quicker would it be, Ken?”

  “Don’t know until we try. It’d make hedges for twenty villages in a couple of hours I think.”

  “It could be that fast? That’d be marvellous.”

  “Also, I think it would be quicker to make the houses and shops using a jig, but that would cost money, maybe as much as a hundred pounds. The big problem about what we’re doing, apart from the money, is room; there’s not enough room in here. We’d have to enlarge the workshop somehow and I don’t see how we can. So it really comes down to this, are you sure you want to make a lot more toys?”

  “Yes I’m sure. If we found a way to make the shop larger how long would it take to make twenty villages, that is, if we had both of your jigs and they worked as well as you’ve suggested?”

  “Less than two days maybe even only one day, plus the time it takes to paint the pieces.”

  “Twenty sets would bring in about three hundred and fifty pounds! In two days! Wow.”

  “I don’t know how much money it’d make but could you sell that many if we made them?”

  “I’m not too worried about selling, at least, during the tourist season Ken. There are lots of gift shops around here. I wouldn’t like working in the shop day after day, week after week, though.”

  “Well if you’re sure you can sell the toys I’ve a suggestion: I could make the toys, or you could hire people to make them, and you could concentrate on selling. What do you think?”

  “I don’t know. Selling has been fun so far. I like meeting and talking to the retailers. They like the sets and seem glad to sell them. But I’ve never thought about being a salesman and someone else making the toys. I’ll have to think about that.”

  “It’s just a suggestion Bob. You could do both jobs if you wanted. Alright, you think about it. I’ll help you tomorrow and Wednesday but I can’t come Thursday or Friday; we’re going to London. We’ve tickets to a show Thursday night.”

  “Okay Ken. Thanks.”

  Both men were rather quiet as Ken finished cutting the extra pieces for the set. When the clouds suddenly cleared away and the rain stopped Ken unscrewed the belt sander and took it outside, making enough room for Bob to cut the long hedge blocks.

  As he prepared supper that night Bob rethought Ken’s ideas. ‘It’d be easier if I stayed small; I know what that kind of life’s like. As long as I make enough money for a couple of holidays each year I’ll be satisfied. If I don’t try making more will I regret it later? And what about all the extra money I’ll have to spend to increase production? Well, I guess it wouldn’t cost much to buy the routers and saws, surely I can afford two hundred pounds. I suppose the biggest question would be, do I want to sell and let someone else make the toys? Would I be happy doing that?’

  He thought through these questions during his supper and afterwards, when he glued the train pieces together. ‘Do I want to become rich or remain more-or-less poor? If I sold lots of toys then what am I going to do with all the money I’d make apart from spending it on holidays? Give it to the children? Take lots more expensive holidays? I suppose I could go to Europe two or three times a year if I earned enough, though that might not be so much fun if I didn’t go with Joe and Jane.’

  Bob finished the gluing, washed his hands and sat in his easy chair, thinking and rethinking, but finally he had to stop and go to bed. Perhaps he would know what to do when he woke up. Funnily enough he slept well and he also knew what to do when he woke up early the next day.

  When Ken arri
ved carrying his stool Bob was in the kitchen, having added the eyes and hooks that linked the engine and carriages and painted the lines that added more realism to the toy. He told Ken to sit down, offered him a mug of tea which Ken accepted this time.

  “Buy the routers and the saws Ken and make the jigs. It’ll be great if they worked. Almost any improvement in the speed of making the hedges or other parts would be very welcome. And I think we’ll have room enough to use them when the wood is moved into the shed.”

  “I’m pretty sure that the hedge jig will work Bob. Years ago we used jigs like the one I have in mind in our factory; we made mouldings with them. Later we bought a special machine to do that but I remember how well the jigs worked. Just how many toys are you thinking of making?”

  “I guess that depends on how many I can sell. Have you got any more ideas?”

  “Yes I have. One of the first things you should do is copyright your company’s name. Actually it’s not a copyright you need it’s a trade mark.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if you’re successful people will come to know your name. Once bigger manufacturers realise how successfully your wooden toys were selling they’ll make the same thing cheaper and quicker than you and soon put you out of business. However, if people already knew the company’s name they’re more likely to buy your toys not other company’s.”

  “I see. How do I obtain a trade mark?”

  “Go to an agent. He’d do it. I know one in Southampton. What would you call the company?”

  “Ah, I’ve already decided that, it’s on my labels. It’s “Small End Wooden Toys.”

  “Okay. Lastly, here’s one other suggestion. Take time to think about it and I don’t mind which way you decide to go, instead of you paying me to work for you how about us forming a partnership? I would look after making the toys and you would look after selling them. You’ve told me that you don’t like the idea of making the toys under pressure. From what you’ve said you’d probably like travelling the country, visiting new places, talking to new people and seeing new things. Of course that can become tiring but you need only do as much as you want. You don’t have to continually revisit your retailers, they can phone when they want more toys and we can hire a man to deliver them. There’s all sorts of things like that we can do, once we grow big enough. Now, take your time to think about all this. It is a big step but something like that is needed if you are to become much bigger.”

  “What kind of partnership do you mean Ken? Are you thinking we would be equal partners?”

  “We could do whatever you want Bob. It’d be nice to be equal but it’s your business not mine; you have to make that decision. All I’m doing right now is making toys for you but making them faster than you did.”

  “Oh no Ken, you are already doing much more than making toys. You’re giving me many new ideas. It’s a very interesting suggestion. I’m sure you could create a toy manufacturing company, and a very successful one, as long as I could sell all the toys you’d make. I’ll think about us becoming partners.”

  “There’s no hurry, as I said, take your time. Well, let’s start the days’ work.”

  “Would you help me with the shed first Ken? I’d like to put the roof and the siding on. Once that’s made we’ll put the wood in it and rearrange the shop.”

  “Of course. Let’s go.”

  Cutting and fastening the roof joists to the window wall and to the workshop didn’t take long. Once in place they held the shed firmly in place. Ken cut the siding and Bob nailed it onto the back and window wall. They were completely covered by eleven when they broke for coffee, drinking it in the kitchen and talking about how the shop should be reorganised once the wood had been put in the shed.

  “We could put the boxes that store the pieces and the boxed sets in the shed as well as the wood,” said Ken. “We could even move the belt sander there, the place is big enough.”

  “The dust would coat everything if we did that.”

  “Not if we made a plastic-enclosed sanding booth. I know a shop where we can probably buy a second-hand exhaust fan. We’d have to have one of those. Oh, another thing. I think that cutting the long blocks into the separate houses or the dowels into engine boilers and so on could be done much faster and more accurately if we used a band saw.”

  “Yes I know. I thought about doing that a couple of weeks ago but it seemed an extravagance then.”

  “We needn’t buy a new saw: an old one with a new band would do.”

  “I see.”

  They covered the front wall with siding then stopped for lunch. While eating Bob thought a lot about what Ken had said and, unusually quickly for him, made his mind up as he swallowed the last of his sandwich.

  “You’ve lots of good ideas Ken and I think they are sensible ones so let’s go for it. Let’s become partners and see what happens. We should be equal partners for you’ll probably be doing more work than me if everything goes the way you suggest.

  “Well I’m glad you’re willing to take the risk Bob. We should do well, I think. However, you’d better have fifty one percent, not fifty. That way you’d always have control. It’s really your business, I’m just joining it.”

  “Would forty nine percent be all right with you?”

  “Of course. I’m only doing this for fun. Then let’s see a lawyer and formalise it.”

  “All right. We should share the expenses and income from now on.”

  “No, that’s not fair Bob. This month’s income is yours; you did all the work. Let’s share everything beginning next month.”

  “Well, okay. The cheques arrive at the end of the month, so it’s easy to arrange. I’ll tell everybody what we’re doing next time I see them.”

  “Wait until we’ve signed the agreement Bob.”

  “Okay.”

  They boarded and shingled the roof and fitted the windows after lunch but left the door for Bob to fit later. There was plenty of wood left from the shed’s construction. Bob planned to use it to make racks to hold the wood and shelves to hold the boxes, leaving room by the door for the sanding booth.

  “Let’s go to Southampton tomorrow Bob. If we left at eight we should be finished by lunchtime. I’ll phone the lawyer and agent when I get home. If they can’t see us I’ll phone you tonight and we’ll set another time or date.”

  “All right. I must buy a cordless phone while we’re there. I can’t hear the kitchen phone when I’m in the shop. Leo said a cordless phone would solve that problem.”

  “It would. We have one and I use it in my garage and in the garden with no problem.”

  “Good. I’ll see you at eight tomorrow then. If you have to call me tonight don’t call before 6:30, I’m having a driving lesson.”

  “Okay. Have fun. ‘Bye.”

  Bob boxed six train sets and put them in a bag ready to take to Leo then he washed and changed. Peter arrived promptly at five.

  “You drive Bob. We’ll go the route I suggested, along the back roads, through Easing to Twinner then along the coast road. We’ll return if the traffic gets bad along there. Keeping to the speed limit when most people want to exceed it can be very stressful.”

  Peter quizzed Bob on the traffic regulations while they drove. He could answer most but didn’t know much about the penalties.

  “Read the book Bob. There’s lots to remember. The most important thing, though, is the way you drive and I don’t think you’ll have any trouble with that.”

  Bob parked opposite Toys and Gifts in Twinner and carried the sets to Leo. “I was about to call you because I have only one village set left Bob. Did you bring me any today?”

  “Sorry Leo. I’ve only got trains. I could bring you some villages on Sunday. Do you need more farms?”

  “No, I’ve still got five.”

  “You’re selling almost everything I can make right now. Leo. I’m hoping to increase production and I’ll tell you about it when it’s all arranged.”

  “Good. Lots of pe
ople want to buy your toys. Some are put off when I tell them how much they cost but most of them buy.”

  “I’m glad. Then I’ll see you Sunday afternoon. I’ll be here about 2:20. Should I go to your house?”

  “No. I’ll be working in the back of the shop. Just knock hard if you can’t see me.”

  Bob stopped about half-way along the coast road, did a three-point turn and headed home. In Twinner he practised parking between cars several times.

  “I think you could pass the test tomorrow Bob. It’s a pity it’s not until the 26th. Are you interested in taking one earlier if there is a cancellation? I’ll phone them if you are.”

  “I would be, if you think I’d pass.”

  “I’ll call them tomorrow and ask. I suggest we wait at least two weeks because you must have some practice driving on the motorways and through city traffic first. We can go along the A31 and the M27 on Thursday. If we do that we’ll need a two-hour lesson. Is five o’clock alright?”

  “Five’s okay. I need to practice driving in the dark as well Peter. Could we do that if we started later?”

  “No. You should do that on less busy roads first. Next week would be best. Drive to the garage and park at the back Bob.”

  “Okay. If the date for the driving test is changed can you call me in the evening tomorrow? I’ll be in Southampton during the day.

  “Sure.”

  He thought about all the things that were happening to him as he walked up the road to his house. ‘It’s almost more than I can handle right now; I hope it slows down soon.’

  The skies were grey and gusts of rain hit Bob as he ran to join Ken in his car on Wednesday morning. “Hi. I look forward to the day when I have a car Ken. It’s not much fun waiting for busses when the weather’s like this. When’s our first appointment?”

  “Ten o’clock, with Arthur Glone. He’s my lawyer and he’ll draft the partner-ship agreement. The trade mark agent, a Mr. Smyth, will be in his office all afternoon and we can see him anytime. That gives us plenty of time to do our shopping. How well do you know Southampton Bob?”

  “I’ve been there a few times. I took Betty and the kids to the docks once and we shopped there occasionally but I don’t really know the town. The best part of going there, for me, was when the bus went through the forest. We had competitions, like who could spot the most horses.”

  “There are lots there, not that you can see many from the road. They roam all over the place.”

  “I know. It was just a way to shorten the journey for the kids.”

  “Well I know Southampton very well. When I worked at the factory we lived near the common so were quite central. I’ve known Arthur Glone for two years. He acted for me when I sold our house and when I bought the one in Small End. When I called him last night I asked if he had drawn up any partnership agreements before and he said he had. He told me that some can be very complex but they can also be quite simple, it depends on the number of people involved and how complex the agreement is. I’m sure ours will be one of the simple ones Bob.”

  “I should think so. We’ve agreed on the split, there are only the two of us and we have little to start with. That’s it, I suppose.”

  “He’ll probably raise other things we should consider. Lawyers usually do.”

  Bob kept a close eye on Ken’s driving, particularly when he entered and exited the motorway. He drove just as the driving manual suggested, speeding up on the ramp. It was interesting to look for a driver’s mistakes almost as good as a taking a driving lesson.

  They arrived at the lawyer’s office ten minutes early and the receptionist asked if they would like coffee or tea. They both took coffee and ate a couple of biscuits. The lawyer came out of an office as they were finishing.

  “Welcome Ken. I think that this must be your colleague. Hello. My name is Arthur Glone. Please call me Arthur.”

  “Hello Arthur. I’m Bob Barns. I guess that Ken’s told you that we want to form a partnership, making toys.”

  “Yes, he told me last night. It sounds an interesting venture. I don’t know of another business like that around here. I think there are some in London or up north but I’ve never dealt with one before. Let’s hope you’re successful. Please, come into my office.

  “There are several things you should discuss and agree upon before we word a partnership. I’ll outline a few of them. The agreement should name those in the partnership, the name of the business and it’s address, the company’s fiscal year, the accounting method to be used, the funds contributed by each partner, if new partners can be added, how the partnership is to be dissolved. Things like that. I have a form that will help you to decide. You can fill it in and give it to me. I’ll review it and we’ll discuss any items that may cause you trouble in the future. Then I’ll have the agreement drafted. There is a glossary at the end of the form and that will help you make your decisions.”

  “Oh. This is a bit more difficult than I had expected,” said Bob.

  “It may sound difficult but it really isn’t. By making these decisions now you can avoid all sorts of problems later.”

  “What will all this cost?”

  “If you already agree on most or all of the items and if it is a simple agreement then it should not cost more than two hundred and fifty pounds. But that is not a quote; it’s only a guess. I think you two are likely to get along with each other so there shouldn’t be much disagreement and my fees will be minimal. Here are the forms, one for each of you. I suggest you write your answers in pencil then meet and discuss what you have written. When you have agreed then send the forms to me. I’ll go over them, we’ll meet and I’ll suggest additions or amendments if there are any. Then I’ll have it typed, you sign it and I’ll look after everything else. Then you’ll have a legal and binding document linking you together.”

  “Well, that sounds straightforward. Thanks Arthur. I’m glad Ken suggested coming to you; you make things easy to understand. Can I have one of your business cards?”

  “Of course.”

  Arthur ushered them out. Luckily the rain had stopped but the wind still pushed them around as they returned to the car.

  “What did you think about Arthur, Bob?”

  “I liked him and his form looks pretty straight forward. I can fill mine in during the next night or two. When do you suggest we meet to discuss it?”

  “Saturday or Sunday. I’ll do mine when we get back from London.”

  “Let’s do it Sunday then. How about Sunday afternoon, after I’ve finished my driving lesson. That would be around four o’clock.”

  “All right. Why don’t you come to our place and have dinner with us. Mary is anxious to meet you.”

  “That would be very nice. Thanks I’d love to. Okay, what do we do next?”

  “I want to go to a shop I know that sells second-hand equipment as well as new stuff. That’s where I hope to buy the routers and saws.”

  “Okay, and from now on we’ll share all costs. Or, more correctly, I’ll pay 51% of the costs and you pay 49%.”

  “That’ll be a bother, there’ll be a lot of expenses. Do we always have to do that?”

  “Of course, but we need only do it at the end of each month after all the expenses are added together. Just keep all the bills.”

  “Okay.”

  The shop had several routers and Ken chose three small ones. There were several band saws but there were only two of the kind he wanted. He bought them and asked the salesman to call him if more like the ones he’d chosen came in. He also bought two new bands and paid for the lot using his credit card.

  “I’m glad they have the routers. That’s what I need to make the hedges. The jig to make them is going to be a bit more complicated than I first thought. It’ll have to be adjustable, I think, because we might want to make different size hedges one day.”

  Next they went to a radio shop and Bob asked if they sold cordless phones.

  “We have four models, for large or small houses. How bi
g is your house?”

  “I want it to go from the house to a workshop in the garden. About thirty yards.”

  “I’d recommend this one. It’ll easily go fifty yards if there’s nothing in between. It should do the job.”

  Bob bought it and they walked back to the car and put it in the boot.

  “I’m paying for that Ken. It’s something I need for the house.”

  “If you are sure Bob, although I expect you’ll mostly be using it for business. Or I will, since I’ll be the one in the shop and you’ll be on the road.”

  “Not until I have my driving licence and a car. Thinking about that, I hope I pass the test first time. Worrying about that keeps me awake sometimes; I’ll be glad when it’s over. Now, where shall we go for lunch?”

  “How about fish and chips? There’s a shop I often went to. It’s supposed to be the best in town and it has room at the back to park.”

  “Okay.”

  They ordered cod and chips, added malt vinegar and salt, then ate them in the car. Afterwards they drove to a pub for a pint. “This is a nice way to do business,” Bob said, as they entered.

  They drove to Mr. Smyth’s office afterwards and told him they wanted to trademark the name “Small End Wooden Toys” for a business they were starting.

  “I don’t think you’ll have any difficulty with a name like that, it’s not likely that anyone else would already have it but I’ll have to search the register to be sure. I’ll need a couple of days to do that. I’ll register the name for you if it’s available.”

  “How much will this cost?” asked Bob.

  “About twenty five pounds.”

  “Okay. What happens after you’ve trademarked it?”

  “I’ll send you a statement saying I’ve registered the name for you. You should take it to your lawyer and ask him to explain the Business Names Act or you could look it up in a library, it’s not difficult to understand. Okay. I’ll need your names and addresses. It’s a limited company you’re forming?”

  “Yes” Ken said. “That is, we own the company and we hold all the shares.”

  “All right.”

  Bob gave him one of his business cards and Ken wrote his name and address on a pad of paper the agent provided.

  “I’ll send you an invoice and after you’ve paid that I’ll give you the signed registration form.”

  They thanked him and walked back to the car.

  “Should we read the act or ask Arthur to explain it Ken?”

  “Just read it. He said it was easy to understand. We have to keep our expenses down if we want to be profitable.”

  “Yes, I’m already worried about how much we are spending.”

  Bob watched Ken as they drove home and could reliably predict when he would pull out and overtake another car and when he would hold back. He felt that passing his driving test was probably more important than how to conduct the business but he wasn’t going to tell Ken that. They arrived at Bob’s place mid-afternoon.

  “Enjoy your time in London Ken,” called Bob, as he opened the boot to get his phone. “I’ll see you Sunday with my form.”

  “It’ll look much like mine I expect,” shouted Ken, as he drove off.

  Over supper Bob checked his lists. ‘Yes; fourteen train sets, five farms and I’ll soon have twenty villages. I’ll have to make farms next.’

  After supper he checked what he had in his shop, muttering to himself, ‘don’t need more paint or glue, but need more hooks. I should list what wood, paint and things I buy for the records in future. No. don’t have to do that, the bills will tell me. I’ll have to check every day what’s in the shop so I don’t run short. No, Ken will be doing that.’ He wrote down what he had to buy and put the paper in his pocket. ‘I’ll order it by phone, they know what kind of wood I use.’

  Then he remembered his cordless phone, returned to the house, poured himself a mug of tea, took it to his easy chair and opened the box. The instructions couldn’t have been easier. All he had to do was insert the telephone jack and the electrical plug into their sockets; the extension only needed electricity. He plugged them in so the batteries would charge. ‘I hope someone phones me tomorrow so I can find out if the phones work. Now, what’s the next thing; read the traffic regulations or work on the partnership form? I’d better read the manual, the forms can wait until tomorrow.’

  After breakfast Bob was fastening the door to the shed when he heard a phone ring. It sounded different from normal and suddenly he remembered his cordless phone. He rushed into the shop and picked up the extension.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello Bob. You sound agitated. Did I interrupt something?”

  “No. It’s Peter isn’t it? I’ve just installed a cordless phone and you’re the first person to call on it. I’m glad you did, for now I know it works.”

  “Good. I’ve some good news about your driving test. When I called them yesterday they said there was already another person on the waiting list. So I asked them to add your name. They’ve just called me and said there have been two cancellations so they now have room for you. It is on Wednesday, April 10th. At 10 am. Would you like to take it then?”

  “Yes please. Where will it be?”

  “In Bournemouth, this side of the town. I know the roads they use so we will go there and practice soon. Okay. I’ll phone them and book it.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll see you at five tonight? You’ll be driving to the A31 and M27, remember?”

  “Yes, I do. I’m looking forward to it. See you at five Peter.”

  Bob hung up and went to the kitchen for his coffee. Whilst the kettle was boiling he called the lumber yard and ordered the wood. “It’ll be delivered tomorrow, before noon,” he was told. He’d put the wood in the shed with the old wood from the shop. Ken could then organise the workshop the way they had discussed when he came back.

  After coffee Bob made the shops, churches, post office and Community Centre for the village sets. In the afternoon he cut the hedge blocks, stopping just in time to wash and change his clothes before Peter arrived.

  They practised exiting and entering the motorway every time they came to an intersection and it soon became an easy routine. “Well you’ll have no difficulty with that,” Peter said, “although I don’t expect them to ask you to do it. But there will be questions on how you should do it on the written exam.”

  “Is it a hard exam?”

  “It won’t be for you. Nor is it for most people. Most failures are on the driving part, not completely stopping at stop signs, failing to signal, driving too close or too fast and so on. You don’t make those mistakes and you park and do three-point turns without difficulty. You’ll pass first time Bob. Wait and see.”

  That cheered Bob, although, by now, he was fairly confident he would pass. The drive home was pleasant; he even had time to take a look at the scenery now and again. Once home, Bob heated a chicken pot pie, changed back into his work clothes while it was warming, ate the pie rather quickly then headed for the shop to continue working on the villages. He stopped at ten, after the hedges, the hardest part, were made. Then he remembered; he hadn’t looked at the partnership form. ‘Well there’s plenty of time to do that before Sunday.’

  The wood was delivered when Bob was sitting on a chair in his garden finishing the sanding Friday morning. The driver was surprised to see his new shed and helped him stack the wood inside.

  “Why did you build that? I thought you stored the wood in the workshop.”

  “I need more room in the shop. I’m getting some new equipment so I’m making room for it.” He signed the invoice and told the driver he’d pay when he was in Big End.

  Bob took his coffee into the shop, sat on the stool and wondered if he should start rearranging the shop after he’d moved the rest of the wood to the shed. He considered moving the bench to give more room for cutting the long pieces but couldn’t decide where it should go. It’d be easier to decide once the wood was out.
Coffee finished, he transferred the wood and the finished sets to the shed. It was surprising how much bigger the shop looked afterwards. ‘I can see where the bench should sit now but maybe Ken should be the one to decide where it should go. It’s more Ken’s shop than mine now.’

  He began painting the village sets, stopping after they had been given their first coat. Supper that night was a curry, washed down by a bottle of beer.

  After tiding up Bob sat in his easy chair with the partnership form and a pencil. He found most of the areas easy to complete but left the accounting method line empty, Ken or the lawyer would have to help him with that. He wrote that he’d have a fifty-one percent interest and Ken would have forty-nine. And he stated he would contribute £2,550 to the start-up capital and, presumably, Ken could write £2,450. £5,000 should be enough to start the company. They’d have to talk about where the money should be kept; he assumed they’d have to open a new bank account. He left the space for the accountant’s name and address blank and suggested July 1st for the fiscal year. However he wasn’t sure what date would be best.

  Completing the form took about an hour and Bob was tired but happy when he’d finished. He had read somewhere that starting a business was hard and time-consuming and was now beginning to understand why; filling forms, stock-taking, keeping track of expenses and income, knowing what retailers could or could not supply and more. He guessed that even after he’d learned all about those things he’d still be worrying about whether their income would cover their expenses. Hopefully they wouldn’t have to worry about sales. That is, if he could find enough retailers who were willing to stock their toys.

  Bob arose early again on Saturday, put his clothes in the washer and dusted the downstairs rooms before giving the village set its second coat of paint. After lunch he caught the two o’clock bus and went directly to Home and Holiday.

  “Hello Jenny. How are you? Hi Susan. How’s business? Are you ready for the spring crowds?”

  “Not quite Bob. I’m glad to see you though. We’ve sold about half of your toys. Come into the office and I’ll check. Yes, here we are. We sold three village sets, three trains and two farms in March. If I don’t sell any today I’ll be sending you a cheque for, just a minute, £123.75. It’ll arrive by Wednesday, I expect.”

  “That’s great Jenny. I’m so happy; it looks like we’re both going to make money. I’d still like to buy lunch for you but it’s too late today and I know Saturday’s not a good day for you. Maybe some time next month.”

  “Thanks Bob. I’ll probably need more sets by mid-month and perhaps we can lunch then. Right now I’ve three or four of each toy. The Easter visitors will buy most of them, I expect.”

  “Let’s hope so. I’m off now, got to go to the bank. Call me when you need more.”

  At the bank Bob transferred five hundred pounds from his savings to his checking account, withdrew one hundred pounds and ordered more cheques. At the lumber yard he paid for his wood and thanked the manager, who was at the counter till, for delivering it so quickly.

  “We deliver materials to Small End builders three or four times a week these days, that’s why you get it quickly.”

  “You mean the sub-division behind my house? I live next to the railway station.”

  “Yes. Although there’s going to be another sub-division soon, north of the railway tracks. They’ll lay the water and sewer pipes this summer, I’m told. It’s likely they’ll build some model homes after that. I’m extending my yard to hold all the wood they’ll need. There’ll be an industrial area in Small End but I’ve not heard where or when they’re going to put it.”

  “One of your drivers mentioned that. Where do you think all the people will be coming from?”

  “From London, I guess, or from cities where there’s low employment. There’ll probably be a lot of retirees too. Small End will be as big as Big End in ten years if the rumours are correct.”

  “I won’t like that at all. I sure hope it doesn’t happen.”

  “We’ll have to see what happens. I like the growth, it’s good for business, but I don’t live there.”

  Bob thought about what he had been told as he walked to the super-market. He didn’t want Small End to become a great deal bigger. It was bad enough with the new sub-division behind his house. They couldn’t put lots of people there, there wasn’t enough room, but if they built above the railway track there’d be cars and busses running up and down in front of his house all day.

  He checked his watch and realised it was later than he thought. He’d missed the bus and wouldn’t get home ‘til 6:15 now. Well, Joe would save a seat for him. He might as well go to the library and read the Business Act.

  “You probably mean the Business Names Act of 1985. Yes, we have it. It’s often called for. Most small owners ask to see it. Are you starting a business?”

  “Yes, with another man. Can I borrow it?”

  “No. I’m sorry. It’s in one of our reference books. If you only want the act you can buy a photocopy.”

  “Then I’d like to buy two copies please.”

  He sat in the library reading the act until it was time to catch his bus. The act was straight-forward and it looked as if the only thing they would have to do would be to buy some headed stationary. Arthur would tell them if they should do anything else.