young people milling around. Although a handful looked like locals wearing the customary track suits and white trainers, many were better dressed and seemed to be students. These young people gave the whole place a trendier atmosphere and she felt comfortable in their midst. When she reached the shop she was greeted by a well-spoken Asian girl.
“Just moved in have you?” the girl asked. “I don’t remember seeing you here before. Are you a student? What’s your name then? I’m Seher, by the way.”
“My name is Katy and I’m not a student. I have just moved in. I work for an insurance broker.”
Seher glanced beyond Katy. “Right, Agnes, hand me that basket and I’ll ring your stuff through. We’re just gabbing,” she said to a plump lady of indeterminate years who was waiting patiently behind her.
As the woman stepped forward Katy saw she was wearing slippers and she was holding a television remote control.
“If I leave this with ma weans they’ll fight over it and I don’t want them breaking ma ornaments while I’m out,” she explained.
As Seher rang Agnes’ shopping through the till another couple of shoppers approached the counter. One man simply placed coins in front of her to pay for his paper then left saying nothing. The other held up a packet of tea.
“Ma wife said she’ll square up tomorrow if that’s okay lass, she won’t trust me with the money in case I buy beer,” he explained.
“That’s okay, Mr. Costello, tell Eileen I’ll see her tomorrow.”
Soon the other shoppers had gone and once again she turned to Katy.
“It can be a bit frantic in here, it’s lucky we women know how to multi-task. Which broker are you working for? I’ll probably know them. I’m actually a lawyer you see. When my Dad died last year my wee brother took over the shop. He’s in charge of the family now. He’s not here because he’s taken my sister to Pakistan to meet her future husband’s relatives. So for two weeks I’ve been left to look after the shop. Some way to spend your summer holidays, eh?” she added and she pursed her lips to show her discontent.
“I’ve just moved to Glasgow. I’m living up there,” Katy said pointing to the high rise building in front of the shop. “I’m on the top floor.”
“Are you beside Granny Alison then?”
“Yes, that’s right. Do you know everyone who lives here? ” She was impressed.
“All the regulars,” Seher replied. “The students come and go, but some of the old biddies have been here since the flats were built and I was born here.”
Katy glanced at the clock behind the counter. “I’d better pick up my shopping,” she said. “Granny Alison has invited me to eat with her and I’m due there in half an hour.”
“Let me guess,” Seher said laughing, “Steak slice from Gregg’s and a wee trifle to follow.”
Katy laughed too, “You’re right about the steak slice. I’ll let you know about the trifle tomorrow.”
“Trust me, it will be trifle,” the girl replied.
Katy quickly gathered up essentials, bread, milk, cheese, eggs and such like. On Seher’s recommendation she picked up a packet of custard creams and some Typhoo tea for her neighbour.
“That way she won’t be out of pocket for your dinner,” the girl explained. “She always comes in to buy her tea and biscuits on a Saturday. Granny has her pension counted out to the last penny.”
Katy was grateful for the advice as she hadn’t considered having to survive on a low budget, but she’d be careful now.
“Have you got everything you need for your flat?” Seher asked as she rang the shopping through the till.
“Most things, but I could do with a television and some books to read otherwise I’ ll get bored very quickly.”
The girl reached under the counter and lifted a paperback book.
“I’ve just finished reading this. It’s set in Glasgow and it actually mentions Townhead.
“Just moved in have you?” the girl asked. “I don’t remember seeing you here before. Are you a student? What’s your name then? I’m Seher, by the way.”
“My name is Katy and I’m not a student. I have just moved in. I work for an insurance broker.”
Seher glanced beyond Katy. “Right, Agnes, hand me that basket and I’ll ring your stuff through. We’re just gabbing,” she said to a plump lady of indeterminate years who was waiting patiently behind her.
As the woman stepped forward Katy saw she was wearing slippers and she was holding a television remote control.
“If I leave this with ma weans they’ll fight over it and I don’t want them breaking ma ornaments while I’m out,” she explained.
As Seher rang Agnes’ shopping through the till another couple of shoppers approached the counter. One man simply placed coins in front of her to pay for his paper then left saying nothing. The other held up a packet of tea.
“Ma wife said she’ll square up tomorrow if that’s okay lass, she won’t trust me with the money in case I buy beer,” he explained.
“That’s okay, Mr. Costello, tell Eileen I’ll see her tomorrow.”
Soon the other shoppers had gone and once again she turned to Katy.
“It can be a bit frantic in here, it’s lucky we women know how to multi-task. Which broker are you working for? I’ll probably know them. I’m actually a lawyer you see. When my Dad died last year my wee brother took over the shop. He’s in charge of the family now. He’s not here because he’s taken my sister to Pakistan to meet her future husband’s relatives. So for two weeks I’ve been left to look after the shop. Some way to spend your summer holidays, eh?” she added and she pursed her lips to show her discontent.
“I’ve just moved to Glasgow. I’m living up there,” Katy said pointing to the high rise building in front of the shop. “I’m on the top floor.”
“Are you beside Granny Alison then?”
“Yes, that’s right. Do you know everyone who lives here? ” She was impressed.
“All the regulars,” Seher replied. “The students come and go, but some of the old biddies have been here since the flats were built and I was born here.”
Katy glanced at the clock behind the counter. “I’d better pick up my shopping,” she said. “Granny Alison has invited me to eat with her and I’m due there in half an hour.”
“Let me guess,” Seher said laughing, “Steak slice from Gregg’s and a wee trifle to follow.”
Katy laughed too, “You’re right about the steak slice. I’ll let you know about the trifle tomorrow.”
“Trust me, it will be trifle,” the girl replied.
Katy quickly gathered up essentials, bread, milk, cheese, eggs and such like. On Seher’s recommendation she picked up a packet of custard creams and some Typhoo tea for her neighbour.
“That way she won’t be out of pocket for your dinner,” the girl explained. “She always comes in to buy her tea and biscuits on a Saturday. Granny has her pension counted out to the last penny.”
Katy was grateful for the advice as she hadn’t considered having to survive on a low budget, but she’d be careful now.
“Have you got everything you need for your flat?” Seher asked as she rang the shopping through the till.
“Most things, but I could do with a television and some books to read otherwise I’ ll get bored very quickly.”
The girl reached under the counter and lifted a paperback book.
“I’ve just finished reading this. It’s set in Glasgow and it actually mentions Townhead.
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