couldn’t find a translation for “duffers.” Now she knew it meant ‘someone useless.’ It was the kind of thing her father might have said to her in his joking way. Wasn’t she like Roger and Kitty and the others? All alone, and she was making decisions as best she could. She
had
to buy the book for Bridget’s birthday. They’d both read the library copy, and Bridget had said, “I’d love to have my own.” Bridget had become such a good friend, always doing things for her. This could be something Marianne could do to please her. Sometimes Marianne worried that when Bridget went to grammar school, she’d find another best friend, that things wouldn’t stay the same between them.
“Are you going to read the whole book before you buy it?” Her math teacher was smiling at her.
“Sorry, Sir,” said Marianne and gave him a threepenny bit.
“How much change would you like, Mary Anne?”
“One penny, please,” she replied.
Teachers could never resist a chance to teach, even after school.
Mr. Neame said, “Well done,” and handed her the book and the change. That left fourpence. It didn’t seem much to buy a pair of shoes. Even the worn-out ballet slippers were sevenpence.
“What are you looking for?” the woman helper at the shoe stall asked her.
“Walking shoes, size, um … three (that was the size of her Wellingtons) … or three and a half. Thank you,” Marianne said.
“There’s a big box of shoes under the table; I haven’t had time to price them yet. Have a look and see if you can find what you want.”
Marianne rummaged through them, finding nothing in her size.
“How about this pair? They should do you, nice leather, and only a bit scuffed. They’d soon brush up. They’re hardly worn. Let you have them for ninepence.”
“Thank you, but I’ve only got fourpence left.”
“Sorry, dear. I don’t think I can let them go for that. Tell you what, if I haven’t sold them by the time we close at 7:00 P.M. , I’ll let them go for a bit less. Come back then.”
Marianne did some quick calculations: she had fivepence at home, but she needed stamps and toothpaste. She stood there undecided.
Mr. Neame called her over. “Mary Anne, is there a mathematical difficulty I can help you with?”
Suddenly Marianne felt the whole gymnasium go quiet as if, at that moment, everyone was listening.
How can I explain that I have no shoes, that there’s no one to tell what any mother would know?
She could feel herself blushing.
“It’s … that I did not bring enough money to spend, Mr. Neame. It doesn’t matter, thank you. I must go now.” Marianne started to edge away.
Mr. Neame said, “Do you know what a short-term loan is, Mary Anne?”
She shook her head.
“Suppose you want to buy a shop, but don’t have quite enough money to pay for it. You could borrow the money from a bank, and sign a paper to promise to pay the debt by a certain date. Now, how much do you need for your purchase?”
Marianne thought,
He’s a kind man. He does not use the word “shoes,” and he is pretending that we are having a math lesson.
She said carefully, “I have fourpence here, and I have fivepence at home, but I’m saving it.”
“If you want to buy something, as it is for a good cause, I am prepared to make you an indefinite loan. I am sure you will repay me as soon as you can. Do you think your parents would approve?”
“I think so. One day they’ll come to England,” said Marianne.
“I’ll be happy to meet them,” said Mr. Neame. “Here is sixpence.”
“Thank you very much, Sir,” said Marianne, and gave him one penny change. She handed over her money to the woman behind the shoe table. Marianne put her purchases in her schoolbag, and walked out of the gymnasium. She told herself she had nothing to feel ashamed of. Marianne ran all the way back to the house. The shoes might have sold if she’d waited till seven, and she did need them.
Gladys opened the door. “You’re
had
to buy the book for Bridget’s birthday. They’d both read the library copy, and Bridget had said, “I’d love to have my own.” Bridget had become such a good friend, always doing things for her. This could be something Marianne could do to please her. Sometimes Marianne worried that when Bridget went to grammar school, she’d find another best friend, that things wouldn’t stay the same between them.
“Are you going to read the whole book before you buy it?” Her math teacher was smiling at her.
“Sorry, Sir,” said Marianne and gave him a threepenny bit.
“How much change would you like, Mary Anne?”
“One penny, please,” she replied.
Teachers could never resist a chance to teach, even after school.
Mr. Neame said, “Well done,” and handed her the book and the change. That left fourpence. It didn’t seem much to buy a pair of shoes. Even the worn-out ballet slippers were sevenpence.
“What are you looking for?” the woman helper at the shoe stall asked her.
“Walking shoes, size, um … three (that was the size of her Wellingtons) … or three and a half. Thank you,” Marianne said.
“There’s a big box of shoes under the table; I haven’t had time to price them yet. Have a look and see if you can find what you want.”
Marianne rummaged through them, finding nothing in her size.
“How about this pair? They should do you, nice leather, and only a bit scuffed. They’d soon brush up. They’re hardly worn. Let you have them for ninepence.”
“Thank you, but I’ve only got fourpence left.”
“Sorry, dear. I don’t think I can let them go for that. Tell you what, if I haven’t sold them by the time we close at 7:00 P.M. , I’ll let them go for a bit less. Come back then.”
Marianne did some quick calculations: she had fivepence at home, but she needed stamps and toothpaste. She stood there undecided.
Mr. Neame called her over. “Mary Anne, is there a mathematical difficulty I can help you with?”
Suddenly Marianne felt the whole gymnasium go quiet as if, at that moment, everyone was listening.
How can I explain that I have no shoes, that there’s no one to tell what any mother would know?
She could feel herself blushing.
“It’s … that I did not bring enough money to spend, Mr. Neame. It doesn’t matter, thank you. I must go now.” Marianne started to edge away.
Mr. Neame said, “Do you know what a short-term loan is, Mary Anne?”
She shook her head.
“Suppose you want to buy a shop, but don’t have quite enough money to pay for it. You could borrow the money from a bank, and sign a paper to promise to pay the debt by a certain date. Now, how much do you need for your purchase?”
Marianne thought,
He’s a kind man. He does not use the word “shoes,” and he is pretending that we are having a math lesson.
She said carefully, “I have fourpence here, and I have fivepence at home, but I’m saving it.”
“If you want to buy something, as it is for a good cause, I am prepared to make you an indefinite loan. I am sure you will repay me as soon as you can. Do you think your parents would approve?”
“I think so. One day they’ll come to England,” said Marianne.
“I’ll be happy to meet them,” said Mr. Neame. “Here is sixpence.”
“Thank you very much, Sir,” said Marianne, and gave him one penny change. She handed over her money to the woman behind the shoe table. Marianne put her purchases in her schoolbag, and walked out of the gymnasium. She told herself she had nothing to feel ashamed of. Marianne ran all the way back to the house. The shoes might have sold if she’d waited till seven, and she did need them.
Gladys opened the door. “You’re
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