Chapter 24

Monday it was back to work, I was the assigned driver, a task I didn't mind, Jess was a careful driver so on the first trip she nervously sat on the edge of her seat, by the time we had reached the store she was beginning to relax.

"OK Jimmy I believe you about your other life ability as a driver, I guess a mother always worries about her child's safety but the way you drove this morning my fears are greatly diminished."

"Thanks Jess, I intend to take great care with Jen on board, she's the mother of the future generation of Watsons." Jen gave a little squeal and leaned over the back of the seat and gave me a big kiss.

"Thanks big brother I love you lots for saying that and believe me that future generation will definitely be a fact when we get married."

Later in the morning I heard heated voices coming from the furniture department, wandering though I saw a beefy salesman trying to browbeat Allan into taking a fancy Italian waterbed, it was something one would see on a movie set, the base and bed head were done in a blue suede leather, there was mirrors set into the head and a fancy radio and bed light completed the ensemble. If was anything like the pictures I could see us being stuck with it. The salesman wanted the store to buy it and put it on display.

I listened to his overbearing sales pitch and could see Alan was getting a little hot under the collar. I suggested the salesman should leave the bed at no cost to Watsons. He turned on me and snarled "I'm talking to the manager kid not some snotty little office boy so piss off."

"Mr James is not the 'snotty little office' boy you imagine him to be but the owner of the store, if you had any chance of getting your bed on show in this store you've just blown it, I suggest you leave immediately."

The salesman made to take a swing at me when Billy stepped in from nowhere and grabbed his arm. "Don't make the mistake that many others have made, I will beat you to pulp if you don't leave NOW."

The salesman paled and nodded his defeat, "OK I'm leaving."

After he had gone Billy told me that I was getting an undeserved reputation for hitting people so he was going to belt him before he got a hit at me, I thanked him for his concerns and agreed about the undeserved reputation, my feelings were that I was a peaceful person who was in the right places at the wrong times.

Later in the day I took a stroll over to Bill Geenos garage, I was looking for a car for Billy, he was fast becoming my best friend and the way he took that salesman it looked like he was my self elected defender.

As I walked into Bill's office he looked up and said "Thirty thousand pounds, walk in walk out, no offers."

"Whoa Bill, I came looking to buy a car for Billy Radak, not the whole box and dice."

"I'm not joking Jimmy, the Doc's given me six months at most, you seem to be a good business man even if you're a bit young, would you like to consider the offer?"

"I would have to talk to Ron and the family, I think that at that price it would be a steal, I'm sorry to hear what the Doc told you though."