The Old Tuck Shop

ELEVEN

The CO-OP was only across the road, so it wasn't a long trek. Before stepping inside, I quickly tidied myself in an attempt to look more presentable. I felt the cool air from the fan as I walked in the store. I went straight to the counter and asked for the manager.

"Um...good morning sir. I saw the help wanted sign on the window, and I want to apply," I said, nervously.

"Ah, yes, I'll have to ring the manager," he said, in a thick Welsh accent.

We shook hands.

"Okay, so I'll have to take your full name."

I had to think for a while. I had a first name. Cae. But a surname? I hadn't thought about that.

I scoured around the store for anything that may work. Walkers crisps? No. Bassett's liquorice? No.

Jacobs crackers?

That should work!

"Cae Jacobs, sir," I answered, confidently.

"Hmm. And your age?"

I knew I couldn't say 15 because it was against the law, so I stretched the truth a little.

"16."

"Okay, then," he said, dialling and picking up the phone.

I fidgeted as I waited to be called in.

"Okay, she's ready to see you, I'll come and take you to her office."

He showed me to an office, which was at the end of a long corridor.

"Good luck!" he said, as he left.

"Come on, Finn, you can do this," I whispered to myself.

I knocked cautiously on the door, and I was asked to come in.

I was greeted by a young woman with blonde and brown hair. She was wearing an orange blouse and a black skirt. She pointed at a chair and I sat.

She pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.

"So, Mr Jacobs is it?" she asked.

"Um...yes, Madam," I replied.

"Did you bring your CV with you?" she questioned.

Crap. What was I going to do?

"Um...you see Miss. I have had no work experience."

"I see." She wrote on a piece of paper.

My whole body trembled.

"But you have done your GCSEs, yes?"

"Um...no Miss," I stumbled.

"Right, okay." She scribbled out her notes.

"I think the interview is concluded, Mr Jacobs."

My hands shook.

"I'll be honest with you, Miss Evans." I looked at the badge on her blouse.

"I dropped out of school, okay, and I could do with the money."

She looked at me sternly.

"I don't have much experience, but I did a lot of volunteering, and I have high confidence, and I feel like I'd be good at customer service," I pleaded.

She looked me up and down.

"Okay, Mr Jacobs. I'm sorry, but I can't do anything. Without any form of identification, I cannot hire you."

"You will find a place, but it's... it's not here."

"No, I need the money! Please!" I begged.

"Calm down, Mr Jacobs."

"No, you don't understand!-" I slammed my fists on the desk.

"Mr Jacobs!"

"Please!-"

"Mr Jacobs, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she shouted.

I walked out of the store with my arms crossed and a huge frown. I burst into the shop and went straight to Cal, who saw immediately that I was distraught.

"Wow, wow, Cae, what's the matter?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, Cae, son I'm sorry. It's their loss, eh."

I sighed.

"Eh, don't worry about it. Any store would be grateful to have you working there."

"You know, you could always come and work here," he said.

"Really?"

"I could always use the help." He smiled.

"You can start right now," he said.