Woolworth's

 

Woolworth's

I am sure that you all recall when there was a Woolworth's in every town. Remember how they were all laid out the same. The counters were oblong enclosures with a server installed in the middle next to a till and surrounded by the goods.

I was a Saturday girl in Tunstall when I was about 15 or 16. I had a test which involved what one might call shopping sums. Most of it was easy but it ended with a long addition which I am sure I got wrong. I was never very good at mental arithmetic.

After a time I was promoted to the sweet counter. I knew it was a promotion without a pay rise because the manager was very serious about what was expected of me. She ended her explanation with a warning. "If ever you are caught eating it will be instant dismissal," she said. This didn't stop the girl on the next counter from bending down and almost crawling unseen to steal a handful of salted peanuts which were also by the sweets and my domain.

One day in the school holidays when I wasn't working in Woolworth's I went shopping in Hanley. I needed some white socks for school and thought obviously the best place to buy them would be Woolworth's. I found the sock counter quickly and purchased just one pair of white ankle socks. They were to wear when I played tennis, otherwise we had to wear grey knee length socks. Can you imagine young teenagers of today wearing grey knee length woollen socks.

So I paid for the socks and was surprised that the girl behind the counter handed them to me with out a bag. You may remember that goods in bags in Woollies was proof of purchase. "I am sorry," she said. "But I haven't any bags left."

I thought it would be OK and put them in my shopping bag, and didn't want to argue as I was in a rush to get the bus home so I walked very quickly almost running to the door which I supposed made me look suspicious. The floor walker stopped me at the door. I can't remember whether he was in uniform or not. I think not because I was surprised and not a little frighened of this burly man demanding to look in my shopping bag.

He took out the socks and accussed me of stealing asking,"Why are they not in a bag." I was terrified but managed to say that the girl on the sock counter had run out of bags. He sort of frog marched me to the counter and asked the girl on the counter if she had served me and why hadn't she put the socks in a bag. I saw immediately that it was a different girl.

"Oh you are looking for June? Sorry she has just gone on her break."

"Come with me," said the man and almost dragged me up stairs and pushed me into an empty room saying,"Now wait in there. I'll sort this out." and he closed the door. I sat down and looked around at the bare walls. I felt like crying and then I felt angry. "I have done nothing wrong and he is treating me like a criminal."

"I am not staying in here, " I thought so I jumped up and tried the door intending to leave but it was locked. I walked away from the door and noticed that there was a window. I tried the latch and guess what? It was unlocked. "Right," I thought, " I'll get out of here before he comes back." So I dragged the chair over to the window, stood on the chair pushed the window open wide climbed up onto the ledge leant over to look down thinking that this is easy when horror of horrors back comes the man, and would you believe it? He grabbed my leg and started to pull it. Just like I am pulling yours.