Change For The Better
By bestselling author Jane Corry
If it hadn’t been for the coffee shop, it might never have happened. But Emily had been lured by that deep rich smell floating out as she walked past on her way to the interview.
“One cappuccino to take away please,” she said to the girl at the counter.
There wasn’t anyone in front of her so it shouldn’t take long. But the girl was ages out there in the back. What was she doing? Emily glanced at her watch nervously. It wouldn’t do to be late.
For two pins, she’d just go but she hadn’t paid yet and Emily didn’t like the idea of a small shop like this losing out.
“I’m so sorry,” said the girl finally returning with her drink. She had a slight Italian accent. “There are problems with the machine and…”
“It doesn’t matter.” Emily didn’t normally speak so brusquely but she was up against the clock! Thrusting a ten pound note into the girl’s hand, she grabbed her change and ran out into the street.
Emily didn’t like rushing. She prided herself on being nice and calm and organised, unlike her mother who had always been late for everything. Emily could still remember the shame of being the last one left at school, waiting to be collected…
“Whoops!” In her hurry, she’d collided with the bus stop. Now she’d gone and stained her skirt with the coffee! What sort of impression was that going to make at the interview? Still, at least the bus was here so with any luck she would still be on time.
“Haven’t you got anything smaller, love?” asked the driver as she gave him a ten pound note.
“I should have,” said Emily, opening her purse again. Oh, no! The Italian girl in the coffee shop must have mistakenly given her a fifty pound note instead of a five pound note, along with the two pounds-fifty change!
Emily was always careful to check her receipts. On the rare occasions when she’d been given too much – like now – Emily always went back b and took pleasure in being thanked t for her honesty.
But the bus was moving now and a she had to stay on or she’d miss m the interview.
Never mind, Emily tried to reassure r herself. She’d return to the t coffee shop later and put matters straight.
Taking a seat, Emily went through the papers in her bag to prepare for the interview. It was no good. She couldn’t concentrate. The over-payment of fifty pounds was a lot for a small coffee shop. But it was also the principle that mattered – as she knew all too well.
How much longer is this going to take?” demanded the young man who was texting on his mobile.
“I am so sorry,” replied Giulia with one of her best smiles. “The machine, she is slow this morning, but I will be as speedy as I can.” “Well I’m not waiting any longer.” “But please, you have ordered…” Too late. The angry young man had gone. He wasn’t the first. There had already been several abandoned coffees that morning because the customers couldn’t wait. Hadn’t she told her boss they needed a new machine? But it was she, Giulia, who had to take the brunt of it – as the dictionary said.
This was her favourite book along with her How To Learn Engish guide. Every night, before she went to sleep in her narrow bed, no matter how exhausted she was after her day, Giulia worked her way through, one letter a time. At the moment, she was on the letter H. It was not an easy letter to say in this beautiful English language. She practised out loud now. “Huh! Huh for ‘Hello’.”
“What are you doing, harrumphing like that?” demanded a voice behind her. “And where have all the customers gone? There was a queue of them.”
Giulia took a deep breath before turning round to face her boss.
“They would not wait. I tell you
before, Mr Evans. The machine, she is old. She needs fixing.”
“And I told you not to interfere. I pay you to serve, not complain.” He opened the till. “How many coffees have you sold today?”
“Just one,” she said, thinking of the tall woman with the beautiful auburn hair who had come in just after the shop had opened.
“Then perhaps you can explain why the fifty pound note in the float is missing?”
Giulia went hot and cold. It was so difficult to understand the difference between notes in this strange currency. “I do not know.” “That’s not good enough!” His short stubby finger jabbed at the till. “It’s not the first time, is it? I might accept one honest mistake but this shows you are a thief! It’s hardly worth me running this place. You can leave immediately.” “What about my wages?” “It can pay for your errors. Now go. And take that How To Learn English book with you.’
Giulia’s eyes filled with tears. She had to pay the rent on her tiny one bedroom flat. But most important, she needed to send money to Nonna back in Italy.
Now what was she going to do?
Emily got to the interview just in time. But she found it hard to concentrate on the questions and answers. That fifty pound note kept coming into her mind. It was silly really. But then, anyone who knew where she’d really come from, would understand. “We’ll be in touch.” Four simple words at the end of the interview which could mean the beginning or the end of so many hopes! Life, thought Emily, could be tough sometimes. Thank goodness for David! As if on cue, a text came up on her phone: Everything allright?
Tell you tonight, she texted back. Then she added, Might be a bit late.
But when Emily got to the coffee shop, the fifty pound note ready in her hand, there was a sign on the door: CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Oh no! Now she’d never be able to repay the money!
Emily felt terrible as she walked on round the corner. The note felt as if it was burning a hole in her hand. “Got anything to spare, Miss?” Normally Emily walked past
The FIFTY pound note felt as if it was BURNING a hole in her HAND
people who begged. She didn’t approve of giving them money in case they spent it on drugs or drink. But the fifty pound note that wasn’t hers might as well go to a good cause. “Please buy food with it,” she said. “I will, Miss. Don’t you worry.” But she couldn’t help fretting. When it came to money, Emily needed to know she was beyond reproach. And right now, she didn’t feel she was.
Do not worry, my little one,” soothed Nonna when Giulia used her precious phone card to ring home and explain what happened. “Something will come. I feel it in my bones. The important thing is that you are innocent. You did not take the money, no matter what your boss says. You are not like that.”
But Giulia wondered how anyone knew what someone was really like.
“Evening, ducks,” said the homeless man as Giulia went back to her flat.
“I’m so sorry I don’t have anything for you today,” she said.
“Don’t you worry.” He pointed to an empty chips and burger packet and rubbed his tummy, grinning. “I got lucky today – and there’s enough for the rest of the week if I’m careful.”
At least some kind person had helped him. But now she would be in trouble if she didn’t find a job to pay the rent.
Then her eye fell on the free newspaper lying beside the homeless man. It was open at the Jobs column. Quickly, Giulia picked it up. Wanted said an ad. Bilingual assistant. Must be fluent in Italian and French.
There was still time to apply. It was, as Nonna might have said, a sign.
Good luck,” said David kissing Emily goodbye the following morning as she made a sandwich for lunch. Emily smiled. Ever since their eyes had met at Business School, they’d known they were right for each other. But most important, David was an honest man.
He was also very understanding when she told him about her father being sent to prison when she was a child.
“I’ll never forget the police knocking on our door because he’d defrauded his boss,” she told him. “My mother had to do all kinds of jobs to keep us going, so she was often late picking me up from school. It made me stand out.”
Looking back, Emily realised she’d been too hard on her mother. Still, that was why she made sure Mum was comfortable now. It’s why this job was so important to her.
Her route took her past the homeless man, still there on the corner.
“I thought you might like this.” She said, dropping her sandwich into his lap.
“Thanks.” He grinned toothily. “But I did what you said and bought food. So I’ll give this sarnie to one of my mates.”
“That’s wonderful!” Emily walked on, her heart warm. It just went to show that you shouldn’t judge others.
Giulia took one look at the big glass building and nearly ran away. This place was so smart!
“You can be anyone you want,” Nonna always said. So, taking a deep breath, Giulia smoothed down her only skirt which she’d bought from the charity shop, and went in.
“I’m here for the bilingual assistant interview,” she told the girl on the desk. “I phoned yesterday…”
The girl beamed, making Giulia instantly feel more relaxed.
“You’re early. The boss will like that. Do go through.”
Giulia was ushered into a bright airy room. The woman on the other side of the desk looked vaguely familiar.
“It’s you,” she said to Giulia. “The girl from the coffee shop.”
Giulia’s brain suddenly “clicked” as her English dictionary put it.
“I think I give you fifty pound note instead of five.”
Her interviewer flushed. “I did come back at the end of the day but the shop was closed until further notice.”
Giulia frowned. “Maybe because it loses my boss money. He sack me because of the mistake.” “I cost you your job? I’m so sorry!” Giulia shrugged. “He also dislike my suggestion that he get a new machine to increase business.”
“But that shows initiative,” Emily exclaimed. Could she finally have found the right person to handle her new international client? She didn’t need anyone with numerate skills but the language was important – and so was honesty, as well as punctuality. “Please sit down,” Emily said. “Thank you, Mrs Hall.” “Please. Call me Emily.” “I have a question before we start… what about the fifty pounds…?” “I gave it to a good cause.” “Ah, that is good. My dictionary says that what goes round, comes round.”
Emily put her coat on and kissed David goodbye. “Sure you don’t want me to come too?” he asked.
“Thanks but this is something I need to do on my own.”
It was true. This meeting wouldn’t be easy but she had to be strong.
“I’ve put it behind me,” her mother had said enough times over the years. “Can’t you? Dad knows he did wrong but he’s learned his lesson.”
As Emily reached the small flat where her parents now lived, she couldn’t help thinking that honesty was all very well – but as her bright new assistant had taught her, so too was forgiveness…
Emily would NEVER forget when the POLICE knocked on their DOOR