Writing for Fun
April 2017
Pennies From Heaven - Jeanette Rothwell
It's hard to keep a smile on your face when you really want to cry. Rose was making her weekly visit to her Mother who immediately bustled around making tea and slicing a lovely Victoria sponge. Charlie, Rose's son, was chatting to his Grandma and in the background she could hear Bing Crosby crooning 'Pennies from Heaven', her Mum's favourite record. As she was not required to say anything for a while because Charlie was doing all the talking, she listened to the lyrics of the song. The line 'If you want the things you love, you must have showers' struck a chord with her. She certainly felt that she was experiencing the showers at the moment.
She was a single Mum with an 11 year old son. For the last five years she had been working in a local minimarket for a Mr. Khan. He was an elderly, good humoured gentleman who had been very understanding about her need to take her son to school and collect him at the end of the school day, take time off if he was unwell and attend any school functions. Mr Khan's flexibility suited her very well and in return she worked hard for him. He had a gentle sense of humour and they got along extremely well. She loved getting to know the regular customers and finding things for them.
Then a month ago she had turned up for work on a Monday morning only to find Mr Khan's son sitting behind the counter and his daughter-in-law moving around the shop, making notes and changing the stock around. Mr Khan Junior explained that they had persuaded his father to retire and from now on he was in charge of the shop. In about the same breath he explained that as his wife would be working in the shop there was no job for Rose and she was redundant. He gave her a month's notice. She reeled from the sudden change in circumstances and was helpless to do anything about it. She was owed a little redundancy money but realised that would not last very long. She immediately began to apply for other jobs but to no avail.
Her visit to her Mother coincided with the third week of her Notice and she was feeling very depressed and worried about the future. She hadn't told her son about her imminent lack of employment, but she was sick with worry.
Then when she turned up for work at the beginning of her last week, there was old Mr Khan standing at the door, beckoning her in. As she approached he urged her to put the kettle on for a cup of tea and he would shut the shop for a little while so that they could talk. Puzzled but hopeful, Rose did as she was told.
Mr Khan then explained that he had visited the shop one evening after his son and daughter-in-law had gone home and had a look at the books and the change of stock. He was appalled that business was definitely going downhill and he didn't like the new layout of the shop. He then phoned his son and dispensed with his services. He had been bored stiff with retirement and he wanted to come back and put everything back as it had been and he told Rose to tear up her Notice and help him re-arranged the shop.
At the end of that week, she was a much happier person and she was vaguely aware that Mothering Sunday was coming up. When she got to her kitchen that Sunday morning, there on the kitchen table was a bowl of cornflakes, a jug of milk, a Mother's Day card and a small package. Charlie followed her in, very excited. He had been up for a while and laid the table for breakfast. She was delighted and so proud of him.
The little package contained a CD by Michael Buble which puzzled her. She had never shown any particular preference for his singing. However, when she looked at the tracks on the Album, there she read 'Pennies from Heaven'.
'How could you afford to buy a CD and how on earth did you know that I liked that song?' she asked.
'Oh Mum, when we left Grandma's house last time she gave me some pocket money and you kept humming that tune so I asked you what it was called. I know it isn't that old chap's recording, but Michael Bublé is quite a modern singer so I thought it would drag you into the 21st Century!'
'Cheeky!' said his Mum.