Read Online Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carole Matthews
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looks thoughtful as he chomps on his biscuit. Eventually, he declares, ‘You have to set up on your own, then you can work hours to suit you. It’s the only way.’
‘I can’t do that. I don’t know the first thing about running a business.’
‘I’ll help you all I can,’ Phil offers. ‘You know that. The money you get back from the college course can go towards start-up costs.’
Start-up costs? ‘But what would I do?’
‘What have you learned on your course so far?’ Jenny wants to know.
‘Not a lot, Jen,’ I admit. I’ve only been there a scant month.
‘A bit of the basics of screen printing. I know my way round a camera better than I did and I can handle a glue gun now.’ All great stuff, which I’ve loved doing, but not that much practical to show for nearly a month of study.
‘You could start up a company that revamps chippies,’ Constance suggests.
‘She did that for a bit of fun,’ Jen says, ‘and to help Phil out. What she really needs is to do something that she’s got a passion for.’
They all turn to look at me, expectant.
‘Handbags.’ It’s out of my mouth before it’s gone through my brain. ‘Handbags.’ I blink at the revelation and they blink back. ‘That’s what I’ve got a passion for.’
‘Brilliant,’ Jen says, applauding. ‘Handbags it is!’
‘But I don’t know anything about making handbags.’
‘Get on that internet then, love,’ Constance suggests. ‘You can find out how to make anything on there, they must have a section on handbags.’
We all giggle again and I sigh with relief as the tension ebbs out of me.
‘There are all kinds of grants for new businesses,’ Phil says. ‘Once you get your plan together, I’m sure you’ll be eligible for something.’
Plan ? Even the word terrifies me. ‘Do you think?’
‘You’ll never know until you try, love,’ Constance says. ‘You’ve got to give it a go. You can’t give up at the first hurdle.’
‘What about if it all goes horribly wrong, like the college course?’ I’m not sure my fragile ego could take another knock-out blow.
‘Do you think Alan Sugar would have given up at the first hurdle?’
I shrug. ‘I guess not.’
‘You’ve got a lot to think about, Nell,’ Phil says. ‘But never forget that we’re here to help you.’ He squeezes my shoulder. ‘We’re your friends.’
‘I don’t know what I’d do without you guys,’ I admit. ‘Now,’ I wipe my eyes on my sleeve, ‘I’d better get home as I’m due back here very soon.’ In less than an hour to be exact.
‘I’ll cover your shift tonight,’ Constance says. ‘You look exhausted.’
Normally, I’d protest and insist that I carry on and think about how much we need the money, but I feel completely wiped out and emotionally drained. Plus, Constance has her not-to-be-argued-with face on. ‘I would quite like a night in with Olly and Petal.’
‘Then that’s what you should do.’ She pats my knee.
‘Thanks, Constance.’ I kiss my friend gratefully. ‘Thanks to you all.’
‘Go home,’ Jenny says. ‘Or you’ll have us all blubbing.’
So I gather myself together and leave them to finish tidying up.
I walk slowly towards my home and take my usual route past Betty the Bag Lady. Betty isn’t in this afternoon, it’s her assistant who’s on duty, so I stand outside and stare at the bags in the window. All of my life I’ve loved them.
Could I do this? Can I skip the whole formal training thing and go straight into doing something like this? My friends seem to think that I can, but then their confidence in me could be entirely misplaced. After all, I have absolutely no confidence in myself.
Chapter 17
Olly and I lie on the sofa facing each other like bookends, feet entwined, enjoying the rare night in together. He still looks rather shell-shocked by my news. To be honest, I’m not much different. My thoughts are scattered all over the place like seeds in the wind. On the one
‘I can’t do that. I don’t know the first thing about running a business.’
‘I’ll help you all I can,’ Phil offers. ‘You know that. The money you get back from the college course can go towards start-up costs.’
Start-up costs? ‘But what would I do?’
‘What have you learned on your course so far?’ Jenny wants to know.
‘Not a lot, Jen,’ I admit. I’ve only been there a scant month.
‘A bit of the basics of screen printing. I know my way round a camera better than I did and I can handle a glue gun now.’ All great stuff, which I’ve loved doing, but not that much practical to show for nearly a month of study.
‘You could start up a company that revamps chippies,’ Constance suggests.
‘She did that for a bit of fun,’ Jen says, ‘and to help Phil out. What she really needs is to do something that she’s got a passion for.’
They all turn to look at me, expectant.
‘Handbags.’ It’s out of my mouth before it’s gone through my brain. ‘Handbags.’ I blink at the revelation and they blink back. ‘That’s what I’ve got a passion for.’
‘Brilliant,’ Jen says, applauding. ‘Handbags it is!’
‘But I don’t know anything about making handbags.’
‘Get on that internet then, love,’ Constance suggests. ‘You can find out how to make anything on there, they must have a section on handbags.’
We all giggle again and I sigh with relief as the tension ebbs out of me.
‘There are all kinds of grants for new businesses,’ Phil says. ‘Once you get your plan together, I’m sure you’ll be eligible for something.’
Plan ? Even the word terrifies me. ‘Do you think?’
‘You’ll never know until you try, love,’ Constance says. ‘You’ve got to give it a go. You can’t give up at the first hurdle.’
‘What about if it all goes horribly wrong, like the college course?’ I’m not sure my fragile ego could take another knock-out blow.
‘Do you think Alan Sugar would have given up at the first hurdle?’
I shrug. ‘I guess not.’
‘You’ve got a lot to think about, Nell,’ Phil says. ‘But never forget that we’re here to help you.’ He squeezes my shoulder. ‘We’re your friends.’
‘I don’t know what I’d do without you guys,’ I admit. ‘Now,’ I wipe my eyes on my sleeve, ‘I’d better get home as I’m due back here very soon.’ In less than an hour to be exact.
‘I’ll cover your shift tonight,’ Constance says. ‘You look exhausted.’
Normally, I’d protest and insist that I carry on and think about how much we need the money, but I feel completely wiped out and emotionally drained. Plus, Constance has her not-to-be-argued-with face on. ‘I would quite like a night in with Olly and Petal.’
‘Then that’s what you should do.’ She pats my knee.
‘Thanks, Constance.’ I kiss my friend gratefully. ‘Thanks to you all.’
‘Go home,’ Jenny says. ‘Or you’ll have us all blubbing.’
So I gather myself together and leave them to finish tidying up.
I walk slowly towards my home and take my usual route past Betty the Bag Lady. Betty isn’t in this afternoon, it’s her assistant who’s on duty, so I stand outside and stare at the bags in the window. All of my life I’ve loved them.
Could I do this? Can I skip the whole formal training thing and go straight into doing something like this? My friends seem to think that I can, but then their confidence in me could be entirely misplaced. After all, I have absolutely no confidence in myself.
Chapter 17
Olly and I lie on the sofa facing each other like bookends, feet entwined, enjoying the rare night in together. He still looks rather shell-shocked by my news. To be honest, I’m not much different. My thoughts are scattered all over the place like seeds in the wind. On the one
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