Workhouse Girl by Holly Green

Author:Holly Green [Green, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473551107
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

A few days later, in a pause in the normal work of preparing supper, Vera said, ‘I’ve got a new idea.’

Patty looked up. It had been a long day and she was tired, and Vera’s ideas usually meant extra work. ‘What now?’

‘The cakes went down really well, didn’t they?’

‘Yes. But it was a once in a blue moon thing. It won’t happen again.’

‘Not like that, of course. But listen, we get paid a few pence every week for our work in the kitchen. If we pool our resources, by the time the next Thursday we are allowed out on comes round we should have enough to buy the ingredients to make maybe a dozen buns. They don’t have to be anything elaborate, like the cakes we made for the children. There are lots of people who would be happy to pay a penny for a sweet bun.’

‘I suppose so,’ Patty said cautiously. ‘But will we be allowed to do it?’

‘Who would know? We shall not be using any of the stuff supplied by the management. And no one who enjoys the buns is going to let on.’

‘But I don’t see the point,’ Patty said. ‘Why are we doing it?’

‘So we make a profit. And by the next month, we can buy enough to make twice as many. Do you see where I’m going?’

‘I’m no good at adding up,’ Patty said. ‘I always got my sums wrong when I was in Miss Bale’s class. But I don’t see the point, if we are always going to spend any profit we make on ingredients for the next month.’

‘But there will come a point when we don’t have to do that. We can buy enough flour and butter and what not for two dozen buns and have money left over – and that we can save. See?’

‘I think so,’ Patty said. ‘But why are we doing it?’

‘Because we’ve already agreed that if we are going to start a business of our own we need capital.’

‘But it will take months – years – to save enough for that.’

‘Maybe. But which is better, to save for five years so we can get out of this place – or to make up our minds that we’re going to be here for the rest of our lives?’ Vera asked.

Patty summoned up a weary smile. ‘You win. You’re right as usual.’ She reached out and caught hold of Vera’s hand. ‘I’m so lucky I’ve got you for a friend.’

Vera squeezed her hand in return. ‘The feeling’s mutual.’

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.