The Woolworths Saturday Girls by Elaine Everest

Author:Elaine Everest [Everest, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2021-12-13T17:00:00+00:00

16

‘Hello Tony, it’s nice to see you back,’ Sarah said, her face lighting up as she spotted Freda’s husband standing at the open door of her office. ‘Have you been home yet?’

‘No, I’ve just arrived – I thought I’d check in here first. Have you seen Freda?’

Sarah looked up at the clock. ‘The second tea break has just started, so you’ll probably find her in the staff canteen. I’m going that way myself.’

Tony faltered. ‘I wonder, can I borrow your office while you’re not using it?’

Sarah raised her eyebrows and smiled gently. ‘Of course you can. I know you’ve not been working here for a while, but you are still our manager. Shall I send Freda in? I’ll not say you are here,’ she said, starting to grin as he thanked her.

As she headed to the staff room, she thought how lovely it was to be young and in love. It seemed an age since she and Alan had been like that. Their marriage was good, but sometimes she yearned for the days when it was only the two of them; then the war had intervened and then Georgina and Buster had come along, and life got in the way. Perhaps I should try to spend more time alone with him, she thought.

Reaching the canteen, she collected a cup of tea at the counter from Maureen, refusing one of her oatcakes while patting her stomach. ‘I’m starting to fill out a little bit, so I’ll say no this time, thanks Maureen.’

She went over to the small Formica-topped table where Freda sat chatting with Claudette and Dorothy. ‘Sorry to interrupt you ladies,’ she said. ‘I wonder if you could pop up to my office for a moment, Freda? There’s something in there you need to see.’

‘Whatever do you mean? I’ll wait for you and then we can go together. I have ten minutes left of my break.’

‘No, I’d prefer you to go right now. It’s quite important,’ Sarah said mysteriously.

Freda got to her feet to take her empty cup back to the counter. ‘If you say so, but I’d rather have had another five minutes sitting here resting my feet.’

‘You can always come back; it probably won’t take long,’ Claudette suggested.

Sarah watched her young friend leave the room and smiled to herself.

‘Is there something going on, Auntie Sarah?’

‘Tony has just arrived, and I thought it would be nice if Freda spoke to him alone,’ she replied. ‘What have I told you about calling me Auntie Sarah at work? You and the other girls can call me Mrs Gilbert on the shop floor, and Sarah at any other time,’ she said, giving the girl a friendly smile. ‘And perhaps when you see your sister you can remind her. I do hope she’s feeling better soon,’ she added.

‘She’s not well? I had no idea – I’ve not seen her all morning. We’re working on different counters at the moment. It’ll only be a few more days, then we won’t be able to work during the week and will return to being Saturday girls.

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