Nancy by William Kenneth Jones

Author:William Kenneth Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Authors On Line Ltd
Published: 2013-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 46

The Fabric of Life

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Greg arranged the obligatory week’s notice for the three of them to leave the Tobacco Factory. On the completion of that week – twelve o’ clock on Saturday – Mrs Shufflebotham called them into her office, to express regret about their leaving and to offer best wishes.

Nancy then realised how much she regretted leaving. Again she realised the depth of admiration she’d developed for her supervisor, and hoped that the person in a similar position in her prospective job would prove to be as pleasant and accommodating.

On the morning of the appointed day – Monday the 28th June – Nancy waited on the corner of Angel Street for Liz and Agnes. They arrived within a few minutes of the agreed eight o’ clock. Nancy notice they appeared as cheerful as they’d been when Greg explained the job. She felt glad about this because their mood matched how she felt.

In that shared spirit, they took a chatty short walk to the top end of Shude Hill, where they then turned left into Swan Street.

“The weather’s on our side, Nancy,” Agnes said with a cheerful smile – pointing up to the blue sky that the weekend shut-down of factories had allowed to clear of smoke-haze. “Wi’ve plenty o’ time. Time enough t’ walk an’ save our pennies.”

“But noise an’ joltin’ ont’ tram’ll wake us up,” Liz countered with a grin. “Then we’ll look alert enough t’ impress our new boss – whoever it is.”

Nancy took the introductory letter from her handbag.

“It’s addressed t’ Mr Ainsworth,” she informed. “But he might have the same position as Mr Simkins, so the supervisor could be someone else.”

“Wi’ve got t’ impress whoever it is,” Liz answered. She paused and then, with a grin: “As wi usually do.”

“Wi can leave it t’ Nancy’s looks t’ impress any lads,” Agnes said mischievously.

“I don’t want t’ impress anyone,” Nancy replied – embarrassed.

“As far as lads are concerned, y’u will,” Liz commented with a smile. “It’s the cross y’u’ll have t’ bear.”

They’d reached the end of Swan Street with the start of Oldham Road on their left and the beginning of Great Ancoats Street immediately ahead of them. A stationary tram stood on its corner, opposite to the one where they now stood to get their bearings.

“There’s the tram,” Nancy said quickly, in order to change the subject. “The one Greg said’ll take us t’ Pollard Street.”

They hurried across the tramlines set in the cobbles of the busy junction, dodging its traffic to reach the hotel on the left-hand corner of Great Ancoats Street, where the tram stood waiting. They climbed aboard its access deck, on which the tram-driver sat on his tall stool to their left.

“Hey,” he called out as they walk by to enter the passenger compartment. “Where’s y’ur fares.” He gave them a broad grin that softened his demand.

Nancy thought this unusual, because a tram had – in addition to a driver – a conductor who collected fares after passengers had found a seat.

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