‘Mrs Marsh, I don’t think you work here?’
It struck Carmen as ridiculous that she didn’t actually know Mrs Marsh’s first name.
‘Well, obviously,’ said Mrs Marsh. ‘Because if I did, it would be nothing like this.’
‘Actually, I’m here to revamp it,’ said Carmen proudly. ‘I’m here to do a kind of consulting interior design exercise.’
She felt annoyed with herself for showing off, but she wasn’t going to be talked down to by the malevolent ghost of her old boss, not here and not anywhere.
Mrs Marsh stepped forwards, ran her finger along a line of books for dust, and found plenty.
‘So where are you going to start?’ she said. ‘Remember what I told you?’
Carmen felt annoyed. Mrs Marsh had various retail mantras she was always trying to instil in them, and she and Idra had made a point of completely ignoring them and sniggering up the back.
‘What have I always told you?’
It was definitely something beginning with C. Crappy, cloudy and cluttered? Cheap, cheery and crud? Carmen frowned.
‘Clean! Clear! Curated!’ said Mrs Marsh, after waiting on a pause.
‘Oh right,’ said Carmen, feeling sulky.
Mrs Marsh caught her gaze suddenly.
‘You know,’ she said, and Carmen realised it cost her something to say it, ‘it was the fashion and the white goods that did for Dounston’s. Did you know that? Haberdashery was always profitable. Always.’
This … it almost sounded like praise. Carmen frowned.
Mrs Marsh turned around slowly, like a battleship, and reached for the door.
‘I don’t know what I’m doing here,’ said Carmen suddenly. ‘I’m not quite sure where to start.’
Mrs Marsh whipped back round immediately.
‘Well, get to know your stock for a start rather than standing around like a pudding. And for goodness’ sake get something going on for Christmas. It’s the beginning of November. Forty per cent, you know! Forty per cent of your year’s sales to see you through happen in the next eight weeks! Did you listen to nothing I said?’
Carmen didn’t answer that.
‘Well. Better late than never. You get this place looking Christmassy. And get ittidied up. Fill it with Christmas … things … ’
‘Books.’
‘Yes. And for goodness’ sake, clean. I don’t want to leave wrapped in filth. And neither does anyone else.’ She gave Carmen a penetrating gaze. ‘Are you up to it or not?’
And then she did leave, without a goodbye, without even waiting to hear the answer, leaving Carmen shaken and annoyed.
Presently, a group of tourists came past, and peered in the window. They weren’t to know they were entirely audible through the thin glazing.
‘Oh my God, look at that,’ said a loud woman’s voice. ‘Do you think something new is going in there?’
‘They should put a juice bar in,’ said another voice. ‘I mean, look at the crap in there.’
‘Oh yes, all these bloody hills,’ came another as they marched past. ‘You get thirsty.’
‘Oh, I don’t know. If you ever want some really shit postcards … ’
‘Shh,’ said the first voice. ‘They might hear you.’
