Bob of Small End (8 page)

Walking in the
early morning became a habit and he quickly memorised the streets
in the centre of the town. On his third day he noticed an
attractive-looking bar and took Joe and Jane there that evening.
They liked its ambience and often dropped in after their evening
meal. One night they sat next to a group of three women who were
celebrating an anniversary. Two of them occasionally spoke English
so Jane asked them what they were celebrating.

“
Maria
has been divorced for three years and both Isabel and I are
divorcees so we know how it feels to be free of an unhappy
marriage.”

This surprised
Jane and she said that she and Joe had been married for thirty
three years and were still very happy. Bob added he also was very
happy during his marriage but his wife died three years ago.

“
Would
you like to pull your table next to ours?” asked Jane. “We have
longed to talk to some Portuguese people. Joe, buy us a round of
drinks.”

It turned out
that Maria and Isabel were travel agents and enjoyed practising
their English. Most of their time was spent booking people on tours
and, occasionally, guiding them. They worked together in the same
agency; Liliana worked in the shop next to the agency where she
sold dresses. They chatted about Lagos and Portugal and then about
England. All three had visited London and Maria had guided several
tours there and in the Lake District. A few minutes before leaving
that night Bob asked Maria for her agency’s business card.

“
I very
much like Lagos, its streets, buildings, restaurants and people,
and I’m thinking that I’d like to come again next year, for a
longer time. If I decide to do that what would it cost to rent an
apartment for a month?”

“
It
depends where that apartment is and its size. The agency doesn’t
rent apartments but I have a friend who does. I’ll get some ideas
from her. Would you like her to show you some?”

Bob looked at
her and smiled, “I’d rather you did that. Can you?”

Maria looked
at him and his smile and thought, ‘Well, why not? Time I got used
to being with a man again. A walk with him can’t do any harm.’

She smiled
back and said, “Okay. I can take an hour or two off, they owe me
several days. When would you like to go?”

“
Joe,
when’s our next free afternoon?”

“
Wednesday.”

“
Could
we meet, say at 2 on Wednesday Maria?”

“
Sure.
Meet me at the agency. The address is on the card.”

As he got
ready for bed that night Bob thought about what he had told Maria.
It seemed he’d already decided to make enough toys to pay for a
holiday next year. Until that minute he really hadn’t been sure
what he was going to do. He must have made his mind up
subconsciously. He wondered if it was the correct decision as he
drifted off to sleep.

The agency
where Maria worked was in the Old Town, three blocks away from his
hotel. She had the addresses of four apartments from her friend.
Two of them were within walking distance. The first was within the
Old Town; it rented at twelve hundred pounds a month during January
and February. The second, which was just outside the Old Town’s
boundary, cost nine hundred pounds a month. Both were nice places;
each had a bedroom, a small kitchen, a living room and a tiny
balcony.

“
There
are two more to look at but they’re further out. Do you like the
ones we’ve already seen?”

“
Yes I
do. Especially the first. I like its layout better than the second
and its balcony looks onto a square. It would be nice to sit there
with a coffee and watch people pass by. But I think it’s a bit too
expensive for me.”

“
Well
lets go and look at the other two,” and Maria took Bob back to the
agency and into the small parking lot that lay behind it. “We’ll
use my car. The apartments are not far away but it’s uphill. Do you
mind walking back? You told us you like walking and I’d like to
drive home after we have seen them though I could take you back to
your hotel afterwards if you want me to.”

“
Let me
see where they are before I decide Maria.”

The next two
apartments had the same features as the ones they had seen, a
bedroom, living room, kitchen and a balcony. The monthly rent was
eight hundred pounds. One apartment faced west and the other faced
east, that was about the only difference between them. They were
about six blocks from the Old Town and about the same distance to
the waterfront.

“
How do
you like these?”

“
I
prefer the second one, the one that faces west, but the first one
you showed me this afternoon is still the best because it’s in the
Old Town. It’s close to the waterfront, the restaurants and the
bars. That’s the place I would rent if I can afford it and I should
know if I could by August or September. Would that be too late to
rent it or another one like it, in Old Town?”

“
I don’t
think so but I’ll ask my friend to write to you so you’ll know if
you should book it earlier. Give me your address.”

Bob copied it
down on the back of one of her cards then Maria said, “I must go
now. Do you want me to take you back to your hotel?”

“
No.
It’s not far and it is downhill. I’ll walk, see some of the city I
haven’t been to before and I won’t get lost. Thanks for showing me
these places. Will you be in the bar the next four
days?”

“
No. I’m
going to be with my mother. She lives in Lisbon and I won’t be back
until Monday. That’s the day you leave isn’t it?”

“
Yes.
Well, if I return next year I’ll see you then. Thanks for showing
me these places.”

“
I’m
glad I did. I hope to see you again.”

“
I hope
to see you too,” replied Bob, with a smile.

As he walked
away Bob wondered why he said that. Was he just being friendly? Or
had Claire’s influence awakened a wish to become friendly with
women. Interesting. He didn’t usually say things like that.

His walk back
to the hotel was enjoyable. However the views of the waterfront
were broken by buildings, several old, dilapidated, but graceful
homes and some modern, uninteresting-looking apartment blocks next
to several others being constructed. The area was certainly not as
interesting as the Old Town. Yes, he decided, that was where he
would rent, even if it cost more. He could easily earn the
difference, selling forty train sets would do that. He wondered how
many Rose or Jenny had sold by now. Probably none, for it was still
the wrong time of the year.

There were two
more coach outings that week. The first was to a vineyard, the
second they had visited. The first time Bob hadn’t bought any wine
but this time he liked the red and bought a bottle, noting that it
was much cheaper than the wine he bought in England. He had already
decided to buy a couple of bottles of Taylor’s Tawny Port at the
airport’s duty-free shop. Port was now one of his favourite
after-meal drinks and he had drunk a glass each evening since he
had been given one on the first night.

The last
outing was to a long beach, twenty miles east of Lagos. Children
and a dozen people dashed in and out of the water and others made
castles with the sand. Bob and Joe walked along the beach for a
mile or more, chatting about the holiday and saying how much they
had enjoyed it. Bob told Joe that he was thinking of renting an
apartment for a month next year. He asked if they would be
interested in doing the same thing but Joe told him that they had
been discussing Spain. They liked Portugal but they also wanted to
see a bit more of Europe. The year after that they thought that
they would try a week in Paris or Berlin.

“
You
should think about going with us to one of those cities Bob. They
would be quite different from Lagos. We’d visit the museums and art
galleries on that trip. Would you like to do that?”

“
I think
so, but I’m not ready to do that yet. I’d like to join you if you
go in a couple of year’s time and if I have enough
money.”

“
Good.
I’ll remind you of that,” said Joe.

They returned
to the group to have lunch, a special farewell buffet held in a
large restaurant. Bob chose a mixed seafood casserole and drank a
local beer instead of wine, just for a change.

There were no
organised activities on the last day, Sunday, February 11th. This
gave everybody time to do what they wanted, to buy last-minute
gifts and to pack their cases for the airport bus which was leaving
at six Monday morning.

As Bob had
expected the journey home was simple. There were no surprises for
he remembered the Faro airport layout and now knew what flying was
like. The only thing he didn’t know was the Customs procedure
entering England but it was easy to understand and remember.
Walking back to Joe’s car Bob realised he could easily travel to
Europe by himself now. He didn’t have to go on a tour, especially
not if he had an apartment waiting for him. The only problem would
be getting to and from the airports but there were plenty of busses
in England and on the Continent and he didn’t expect that part of
the journey to be difficult.

“
Thanks’
for asking me to go with you Joe, Jane. It’s been lovely. I’ve
learned so much and had such a nice time.”

“
And
become a seafood eater and a port drinker too!” said
Joe.

They laughed
and Jane repeated what Joe had told him, that they would be going
to Spain the next year, and asked Bob if he would like to go with
them.

“
I don’t
think so Jane, but I might return to Portugal. I haven’t decided
what to do yet. Maybe in the end I’ll decide not to take a
holiday.”

“
Why
ever not?”

“
Well
I’ll have to make lots of toys and I won’t do that if they’re not
selling. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I should do during the
holiday. I’ll tell you what I’ve decided when I know.”

Chapter 4 What to do?

Bob had
finished his breakfast and washed the dishes by seven on Tuesday
morning. The clothes he had washed Monday afternoon had dried
overnight so he put them away then looked over the lounge to see if
it needed cleaning. It looked okay to him and he didn’t see any
dust when he ran his finger over the top of the side table. No need
to do any cleaning until the weekend. He walked to his workshop and
checked the wood he had on the racks. Overnight he had thought that
he might have to order some more but there was enough for now.
There was no news from Jenny in his mail, just his usual bills and
a late Christmas card from Aunt Sally. He sat at the kitchen table
and planned his activities for the week. Today he’d return the
suitcase, go to the gift shop and talk to Rose, then catch the bus
to Big End do some shopping and find out if Jenny had sold any of
the farm sets.

Jane was busy
in her kitchen when Bob arrived.

“
Oh,
hello Bob. No, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t need the suitcase. You
can keep it. It’s an old one and we’re not likely to use it any
more.”

“
Thanks
Jane. Can I leave it with you now and collect it later? I’m going
to see Rose and then to Big End to talk to Jenny Wood and see if
any of my toys have been sold. I don’t want to carry it there and
back.”

“
Sure.
Let me know if she has when you come back.”

“
I
will.”

Rose welcomed
him and asked if he had enjoyed his holiday.

“
It was
very enjoyable Rose. Lagos is an interesting town, friendly people,
many lovely buildings and lots of exciting food. I’m thinking I
might go again, next year. How are you and Jack doing?”

“
We’re
fine. We’re thinking about holidays too. Just for a few days.
Somewhere not to far away that we can drive to. We can shut the
shop Monday to Thursday any February week. Most of our customers
only come on the weekends then and it’s too cold to work on the
cottage so Jack’s free. Oh, yes, about your farm sets. I’m sorry, I
haven’t sold any more. I think it’s too early. We’ll probably sell
one or two over Easter and more during the summer. If you make any
village sets I’d like to have one, just to see how they look and to
find out if they’ll sell.”

“
Okay,
I’ll make a couple and bring one to you in a few days time. I’m off
the Big End now to see if Jenny has sold any. ‘Bye
Rose.”

“‘
Bye
Bob. Good luck.”

Jenny was glad
to see Bob when he arrived. “I’ve some good news for you. I’ve sold
three farm sets and lots of animals and it’s not tourist time yet.
They sold to local people. Isn’t it great!”

“
Oh yes!
That’s excellent. You know I also make train sets and I’m going to
make a village set next. Perhaps you would like to see them. I
could bring you some next time I’m here.”

“
Yes, I
am interested. If they are a good as these farm sets I would like
to have six of each. Let me give you a cheque and a statement for
the ones I’ve sold.” She sat down, filled in a form and gave a copy
to Bob.

“
As you
can see it says, ‘Sold three Small End Farm Sets at £22.50, minus
thirty percent commission. £47.25. Do you agree with
that?”

“
I’m
sure that’s correct,” and he put the cheque and the form in his
wallet. “Thank you Jenny.”

‘
Oh,’
thought Bob, as he walked out of the shop, ‘that was nice. But now
I’m in trouble. I have to make six train sets and at least one
village set before I see Jenny again. I’m glad I didn’t tell her I
make birds. Well I’m not going to stop at the Fox nor have lunch
here. I’ll just do the shopping then spend the rest of the day in
my workshop.’