Papergirls

It’s our second week as paper girls at Crofts Newsagents on Muskham Street. Pauline thinks we should save our first 7/6d until we’re paid again on Friday; she wants us to buy them t-shirts with ‘DONOVAN’ printed on the front. They’re fifteen bob in the C&A sale.  We’re both mad on Donovan so I don’t know what to do ‘cos I really fancy some of that make-up in Woollies.

“Hello there,  my old sugars,” smiles Mrs Crofts. “Now then, how about a nice bit of chocolate to set you up for the day?”

Pauline nudges me and grins, “Oh ta, Mrs Crofts.”

We load our hefty Sunday papers into the scruffy canvas bags then heave them round our necks and stagger out top-heavily. Clambering on our bikes I envy Pauline, she can lodge her bag on the cross-bar as hers is a lad’s bike. Mine has to balance on my handle bars.

“See you later then, my old sugar,” we squeak in unison. Giggling and waving we wobble off in opposite directions on this dark, cold, Sunday morning. I’ve forgotten how the heavy Sunday bags drag and how they rub the back of my neck.

Oh, oh,  I’ve just remembered, it’s Collingham Footway on Sundays.  Lucky for Pauline, she’s got a bit of Arkwright Street on her round. At least there’s some lights on Arky,  not like Collingham Footway. Black as hell it is down there. I’m pleased Dad put some new batteries in my lights last night.

Brrr, it’s cold, and I’ve had nothing to eat. Lucky for me Dad has to get up for work the same time as I do, so I always manage to gulp down a cup of his strong tea before I get going.  I don’t know why he’s suddenly started to get up early on Sundays too, he never used to; but there he was again today at the sink  pouring my scolding tea from one mug to another trying to get it cool enough for me to drink. That clarty feel of sterilised milk and sugar that coats my tongue and the top of my mouth gives me a nice warm feeling inside.

It’s funny how me and Pauline always finish our rounds and arrive back at Crofties about the same time, and today’s no different. “Ay up. How was Collingham?” Pauline asks.

“Horrible and dark as usual. I just shut my eyes like you said and I didn’t crash this time.”

“Good. Come on then.”We go into the shop and there’s no-one about. I’m starting to get bored so I nudge Pauline and say, “Hello my old sugar. How about a bit of chocolate to set you up for the day.”

I’m just reaching for a bar of Aero when Mr Crofts comes out from the back…

Written by: Shirley McIntyre

October 2015