of their manageress, Lena Winters, as some shop assistants only got half an hour.
Miss Winters was in her forties, and though she had crooked teeth, she was quite an attractive woman. Carol often wondered why she had never married, but she
had told them little about herself, only that she lived alone above a shop on Northcote Road. As their manageress, Miss Winters kept herself a little aloof and as questions about her private life weren’t welcomed, they knew little about her.
The shop wasn’t busy; it rarely was on a Monday, and she and Amy had been given the task of checking stocks. Carol was up a ladder in the back room, calling out any sizes that had sold out, but paused to say, ‘Well, what did you think of him?’
‘Carol, that’s the umpteenth time you’ve asked me. As I’ve said before, I think he looks a bit old for you.’
‘I reckon he’s in his late twenties and I don’t see anything wrong with that, after all, I’ll be eighteen next month. Oh, I can’t wait for my lunch break.’
‘You’ve only got ten minutes to go.’
‘Does my hair still look all right?’ Carol asked worriedly.
‘Its fine, now what did you say about size five?’
‘We’re out of the D width.’
‘Amy, we have customers. Can you come out front, please,’ Miss Winters called.
As her friend scuttled off, Carol descended the ladder. She would go to the toilet, touch up her make-up and then it would be time to go. Her tummy was fluttering with nerves as she applied a dab of powder and fresh lipstick. She had only been out with boys of her own age and this time she was feeling out of her depth.
With one last look in the mirror Carol went out to the shop and spoke to Miss Winters. ‘Will it be all right if I go to lunch now?’
‘Yes, off you go,’ the woman agreed.
Amy was on one knee, helping an old lady to try on some shoes, but she looked up and grinned as Carol passed. With a tight smile on her face, Carol left the shop and soon she was hurrying to the Nelson Café which
was a short distance up St John’s Hill. She hoped he was already there as she opened the door and glanced quickly around, relieved to see him sitting alone at a table. He waved a hand at her and as Carol approached, he pulled out a chair.
‘Take a pew,’ he said, smiling.
‘Thanks,’ Carol replied.
‘I wasn’t sure you’d come. Do you usually have your lunch in here?’ he asked.
‘No, I don’t, but it looks all right,’ she said, her eyes flicking round the café.
‘What’s your name?’
‘Carol. What’s yours?’
‘Roy,’ he replied and handed Carol the menu as the waitress approached. ‘What are you having to eat?’
Carol took a quick look to find the cheapest thing and ordered an egg and chips, while Roy asked for shepherd’s pie. She usually took a sandwich for lunch to save money, but she’d been up late that morning and a cooked meal would make a nice change.
‘Would you like something to drink?’ the waitress asked.
‘A Pepsi, please,’ Carol said, while Roy ordered a cup of coffee.
‘Do you live around here?’ he asked as the waitress walked away.
‘Yes, at the bottom of Lark Rise, off Lavender Hill. Do you know it?’
‘No, I can’t say I do.’
‘Where do you live then?’ Carol asked, thinking that Roy really was handsome as she took in his hazel eyes.
He looked away for a moment, but then said, ‘In Tooting.’
Carol didn’t know much about that area and found herself floundering for something to say, only coming up with, ‘Do you live with your parents?’
His eyes widened. ‘You must be joking. I flew the nest years ago.’
Carol tensed, and asked, ‘Are you married?’
‘Nah, I’m still foot loose and fancy free. I’ve got my own place though, only a small flat, but it suits me fine.’
‘Really,’ Carol said, impressed. All her previous boyfriends, like her, still lived with their parents. She still didn’t know how old Roy was and felt he might even be in his early thirties, yet she really fancied him. He had a round face, with dark blonde, crew-cut hair. His neck was short over wide shoulders, and she could just imagine his muscular torso; Carol hated long, thin men and saw them as puny. She was snapped out of her reverie when Roy spoke.
‘Now that you’ve had a good look, I hope you like what you see,’ he said, smiling.
Aware then that she had been staring at him, Carol flushed, but she still managed to quip, ‘I was looking through you, not at you.’
‘If you say so, but I’ve been clocking you too and I like what I see. You’re a nice-looking bird, but how old are you?’
‘I’m not sure I like being called a bird, but thanks for the compliment and I’m twenty-three,’ Carol lied, thinking that if he knew she wasn’t yet eighteen there’d be no chance of a date.
Their drinks arrived, followed soon after by their food, and as they ate Carol found that their eyes kept meeting across the table. Would Roy want to take her out? She hoped so, and then at last, between mouthfuls, he asked, ‘Are you seeing anyone?’
‘Not at the moment,’ she replied, wondering if this was the moment.
‘In that case, can I take you out to dinner on Friday?’
Carol was startled. That was different. Most boys just suggested the pictures, or dancing, but then again Roy wasn’t a boy. He was a man. She didn’t want to appear gauche or unsophisticated, so she hid her surprise and said, ‘Yes, that would be lovely.’
‘I’ve got a car so do you want me to pick you up, or would you rather meet somewhere?’ Roy asked.
‘As you don’t know Lark Rise, we could meet outside Arding & Hobbs.’
‘Okay. Shall we say eight o’clock?’
‘That’s fine.’
‘It’s a date then,’ Roy said, grinning.
Carol was already wondering what to wear as they continued to eat, and as soon as they had finished Roy beckoned the waitress over to ask for the bill. ‘Sorry,’ he said when she went to fetch it, ‘I only get a half hour break and I’d best get back. You stay and finish your Pepsi.’
‘Let me give you my share of the bill.’
‘No, have it on me,’
