Everything Stops For Tea

Can Rose win over a disapproving mum-in-law-to-be?

Rose Neville looked up from a pile of paperwork on her desk as someone knocked on the closed door. “Come in,” she called out.

Manageress of the popular Lyon’s teashop in Margate may seem like a dream job, but at that moment she was wishing she was free of all this paperwork. Her job was becoming more and more deskbound. Any visitor – as long as it wasn’t the area manager – was a welcome break.

“Excuse me, Miss Neville, I was told to bring you this as you missed your lunch.” A pale-faced young woman dressed in the smart black and white uniform of a Nippy entered the room carrying a silver tray of neatly cut sandwiches and a pot of tea. Rose smiled kindly at the girl.

“Thank you, Iris. Why don’t you sit down for a minute? I’d like to know how you are getting on here. It’s been so busy since the teashop was damaged in the bombing, I don’t feel as though I’ve spoken two words to you. How are you enjoying it here in Margate?”

The girl sat down lacing her fingers and stared into her lap. “I’m all right, thank you for asking,” she mumbled.

Rose watched the girl closely.

“Are you happy in your job, Iris?”

“Oh yes, Miss, I love working here as a Nippy. I had hoped that I too could go to London on the training course, but with the war and everything I know it’s almost impossible. I have learned a lot though and hope I’ve not made too many mistakes.”

Rose had assigned two of the senior Nippies to teach the new employees. It wasn’t just taking orders from customers and serving meals. There was so much more to do, as Lyon’s ran a tight ship.

Rose had used the written instructions she’d kept from when she went through her training at Nippy school. She was pleased to see all the staff learned willingly, with some of the older staff joining in sessions before the teashop opened.

A cynical memory crossed her mind; when she’d informed head office of the way she was training her Nippies she later found out one of the male supervisors had adopted the idea as his own. But that was the life of a female in management. She

www.myweekly.co.uk knew that she could be relegated to being a Nippy once the war was over and the men returned to work. At least her staff were well-trained, and her customers given the best service possible.

“If I look a little glum it’s nothing to do with work. I do try to smile in front of the customers,” Iris explained. “It’s my mother-in-law to be…”

“Do you not get on?” Rose asked.

No, I only met her once when my Fred took me home for tea and introduced me.” Rose felt sorry for the girl.

“Was it that bad?”

Iris gave a weak smile. “It was worse. My hand shook, I spilt tea in the saucer and I forgot to use a pastry fork,” she said, looking mortified.

Rose stifled a giggle. “I’m sorry. The same thing happened to me except I dropped a sandwich. I was so nervous, the pew watching me? I swear I will shake so much I won’t be able to put one foot in front of the other.”

Rose was saddened to see how upset the girl appeared. “Why don’t you invite her here for afternoon tea on your next day off? Your future mother-in-law will be able to see how hard a Nippy works. I’ll make sure you have the table by the window.”

Iris thought for a moment. “That’s a wonderful idea.” She stood up. “Thank you, Miss Neville, I feel much happier. I have a half day on Friday, I’ll invite her to tea then. If after that she remains unpleasant, I shall just be very careful in her company. I love Fred and I don’t want anything to spoil my wedding day.”

As she reached for the handle, the door burst open and Rose’s manageress friend, Katie, burst in.

“Oh, I’m sorry – I didn’t realise you had somebody with you.” She took a step sideways to allow Iris to leave. Doing so, she knocked against a pile of paperwork on the desk causing it to fall to the floor.

“Let me help,” Iris said. They both knelt to retrieve invoices and purchase orders scattered on the linoleum. Handing them back to Rose, Iris frowned.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying but the figures on this invoice have been added up wrong,” she said timidly.

“Oh dear. I’m not the best at arithmetic. Thank you for being eagle-eyed,” Rose said as Iris smiled shyly and left the office.

“Crikey,” Katie said as she sat down in the vacated seat. “She’s a bright one,” watching as Rose corrected the total at the bottom of the invoice. “I wish I had a bright spark like that working at my branch, she’d be a most useful assistant. Is there any more tea in that pot? I’m parched.”

Rose poured the tea for her friend with a thoughtful look in her eye.

Tell me, who is that miserable-looking woman sitting over there with Iris?” asked one of the senior Nippies as she sidled up to Rose.

Rose wasn’t one to gossip, especially about her customers. However she wanted everything possible to go right for Iris as she entertained her future mother-in-law.

“I wonder, may I have a few words, Iris?”

“Oh – please, sit down.” The girl pulled out a vacant seat at the table.

“I would normally talk with you while you were on duty, but knowing how busy we will be tomorrow, and how important this is, I thought now would be the ideal opportunity.” She placed the envelope on the table. Iris eyed it warily.

“A vacancy has arisen for an office assistant to help with my paperwork. Of course, it would mean you would no longer be a Nippy and wear a uniform. I’m sure we could help find you suitable clothing, if that is a problem?”

Mrs Daniel’s eyes moved between Rose and Iris as Rose explained how impressed she had been with Iris’s arithmetic when she’d spotted the mistake on an invoice.

“Iris, you’d be a fool not to accept this promotion,” Mrs Daniels said. “As for your outfits, myself and Mr Daniels will help with the cost. I’m a good seamstress and can run up a respectable dress or two and alter one of my woollen suits to fit you.”

Iris was clearly dumbfounded.

“There will also be an increase in your weekly wage,” Rose added.

“I really don’t know what to say apart from thank you for the opportunity. I’m truly grateful,” Iris stammered.

Mrs Daniels patted Iris’s hand. “You must accept this promotion. I’m very proud of you, my dear,” she beamed.

Rose grinned; her plan had worked.

“The envelope holds details of your promotion and your first step on the ladder of management in the Joe Lyons Empire.”

Mrs Daniels puffed herself up and looked around the busy teashop.

“You’ve done very well, Iris, very well indeed. Now, please, Miss Neville, you must join us to celebrate.” She waved to Phyllis, who was hovering nearby trying not to look as if she was eavesdropping. “Young woman – tea for three, please. We have something to celebrate.”

ChristmasWithThe Teashop Girls by Elaine Everest will be published by Pan Mac, PBO, £7.99 on October 15.

At the Lyon’s Teashop in Margate, this is one Christmas that Rose will never forget. With a wedding to plan and the war looming ever closer, the Teashop Girls’ true spirit is tested in this popular 1940s saga.

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