My dad offered to show me the nearest supermarket, which was a quiet five minute stroll beside a river. On the way back we stopped to eat on a bench next to the water. I swapped him one of my prawn mayonnaise sandwiches for one of his BLT’s. I think I got the rough end of the deal, the BLT’s were on wholemeal bread.
“What do you think Lu?” He stuffed his face.
“Not sure yet Dad, I don’t know how to do anything yet.” I stuffed my face and tried to ignore a group of hungry looking ducks that seemed to be approaching us on the river.
“Just stick with it Lu, you’ve only been here half a day. I’ll try to find you something more interesting when we get back.”
“But Pete said I’m not allowed to use the machines.”
“What and you think we were when we started out? You’ll pick it all up over the years.”
“But in the meantime I won’t actually be doing any proper work. What’s the point of them paying me?”
“You’re missing the point Lu. You might not be able to make the furniture yet but all these other little jobs you’re doing are jobs we’d have to do. All the time you spend sweeping up or making coffees is time we can spend getting on with proper graft.”
“I suppose.”
“Don’t look at it as we’re only giving you the jobs we don’t want to do. Look at it as these are your jobs now, regardless of whether we want to do them or not. Up until today we’ve all had to; even Pete, although he hardly ever made the coffees.”
“So it’s my job now to sweep up now?” I asked.
“Your job to sweep up?” my dad laughed. “You might as well write your name on the broom.”
I threw my sandwich crusts to the ducks who had by now almost reached the riverbank. The sound of their excited quacking followed us as we walked back.
With lunch over I was given to Keith, who taught me how to stain furniture.
“Just a little at a time Luke,” he said, “like these sample pieces of wood, that’s what the customer has requested. Remember you can always make it darker, you can’t make it any lighter.”
Helping him with that and listening out for random coughing fits that signalled it was time to put the kettle on, kept me busy until we finished at half-past four. As it turned out I did more there on that first day than I ever thought I would when I walked in. I knew it wasn’t for me though, after just nine hours. Even if I didn’t know what was for me at that point. I just didn’t find it interesting, and I couldn’t bear the thought of spending my forever doing something I didn’t find interesting.
By the time we’d driven home again I was knackered. I’d promised Al I’d knock round for him but didn’t bother, instead showering and going straight to bed. Roll on Friday I thought, can’t wait to get bloody paid, that would make it all worthwhile, and at £100 a week it was going to be the most I’d ever earned. Even if I’d rather have earned what I had at Ship’s, to be back working there with Al.