Chapter 32

Right at the start of June, Toby received an unexpected summons to pay a visit to the Regional Staff Manager in Bristol. Such an invitation was rather unusual and neither the Manager nor Beevish seemed to know what it was all about.

‘Perhaps it has to do with what you get up to in staff rest rooms, Mr. Adamson dear,’ suggested Beevish wickedly.

‘Oh go boil your head, Shag,’ retorted Toby crossly.

Beevish laughed his head off, for Toby only ever called him that if he was extremely irritated.

There was nothing for it but to go and see what was up, so pressing his trousers neatly, polishing his shoes and fuelling up the car, Toby drove down to Bristol at the Bank’s expense to keep his afternoon appointment with Mr. B.L. Smythe, the Regional Staff Manager. He arrived on time but it was twenty minutes until he was shown into the big man’s office.

‘Mr. Adamson, sorry to keep you waiting and many thanks for trekking all the way down here to see me.’

Mr. Smythe held out his hand and his manner was both welcoming and informal. Toby thought that it was a great deal more pleasant than his initial interview.

‘They have just passed me the report from the Chief Inspector’s Department following the recent visit to Nalchester,’ explained the Regional Staff Manager, ‘I must say that they were very impressed with your performance.’

‘Oh that’s good. Thanks very much, sir. The inspection was a very interesting experience for me.’

‘They tell me that they feel you should have an immediate up-grading,’ said Mr. Smythe, ‘Bearing in mind that you’ve been holding down a Grade four job on a Grade one salary for about the last five months, I’m rather inclined to agree.’

Toby smiled but said nothing.

‘Tell me, Toby, how would you feel about moving?’ asked Mr. Smythe suddenly.

The use of his Christian name was not wasted on Toby and he looked at the Regional Staff Manager with interest.

‘Well, sir, obviously I should be sorry to leave Nalchester. They’ve been very kind to me there. However, I said at the beginning that I would be mobile and that’s still true.’

‘Very good,’ nodded Mr. Smythe, ‘I still don’t particularly want to put you into a job in a Branch though. I’d like to keep you floating if that’s all right with you.’

Toby nodded in agreement.

‘What I have in mind is to attach you to my staff here in Bristol. I should like to send you out on relief work at various Branches, depending on where you’re needed and also on where I feel that the experience gained will be of use to you as well.’

‘It sounds like a most interesting job,’ mused Toby.

‘Yes, I think that you’ll find it is. Now the only one problem is that I’ll want you based here.’

‘In Bristol?’

‘That’s right. I’m afraid that it will mean lodgings of some sort, but the Bank will pay good expenses, both on that and on your travelling.’

‘Here, in Bristol,’ repeated Toby thoughtfully, ‘Hey, yes, wow, that would be absolutely perfect.’

‘I beg your pardon?’ the Regional Staff Manager seemed somewhat taken aback by his response.

‘Sorry, sir,’ laughed Toby, ‘It’s just that my best friends from school are at University here in Bristol and I’m certain that I will be able to share their flat.’

‘I see. Then I can take it that you’ll accept the job.’

‘Oh yes please, sir. Thanks very much indeed, sir. I would be delighted.’

‘Excellent Toby, I’m very pleased. I’d like you to start quite soon, say in the next week to ten days. Do you think that will be possible to arrange, accommodation-wise?’

Toby nodded.

‘Yes, I would think so. I shall have to pay my friends a visit when I leave here to make sure. May I contact you through Mr. Anchor tomorrow?’

‘Yes, that will be excellent. Now let me take you through and introduce you to Mr. Williams. He’ll explain how the system works and in future he’ll be the man who directs your movements.’

Before he took Toby out into the office Mr. Smythe gave him a slip showing his new grade and salary and another with details of lodging and travelling allowances. For the first time since joining the bank Toby felt quite affluent.

He was waiting in the car outside the flat when he caught sight of Andrew who was the first to arrive home. He stuck his arm out of the window and waved wildly.

‘Hello, sport,’ cried Andrew, rushing up to the car, ‘What brings you to this neck of the woods?’

‘Listen, how do you fancy taking in a lodger?’ asked Toby, ‘Please say yes, or I’ll end up sleeping in the car.’

‘You?’

‘Me.’

‘Why?’

‘This is turning into a very silly conversation,’ laughed Toby, ‘Invite me in and I’ll tell you all about it.’

He and Andrew were sitting in the kitchen having coffee when Natasha came in through the door.

‘Toby,’ she exclaimed, ‘How lovely to see you. What are you doing here?’

‘I’m about to come and live with you,’ he replied, ‘I do hope you don’t mind.’

‘Are you?’ Natasha’s face lit up, ‘No, I think that would be simply lovely as a matter of fact. You’ll be able to stop Andrew and Emma from ganging up on me and you can help with the washing up too of course.’

‘Oh dear,’ he laughed, ‘Somehow I’m wondering if this is a good idea after all.’

‘How long are you moving in for?’ asked Natasha.

‘I don’t know really. At least a year I would have thought.’

‘You’re serious,’ exclaimed Natasha, ‘How amazing. What’s this all about?’

‘When does Emma get home?’ asked Toby.

Andrew looked at his watch.

‘Any time now I should think.’

‘In that case can we wait for her and then I shan’t have to go through it all over again?’

‘OK,’ agreed Natasha, ‘In the meantime I’ll make myself a coffee. Do you two want some more?’

They both nodded and she went over to put the kettle on.

A little while later they heard the front door open and Emma’s voice called out.

‘There’s a car outside that looks just like Toby’s.’

‘Is there?’ asked Toby, ‘How strange.’

‘I thought it was you,’ laughed Emma, coming into the kitchen and kissing him even before her boyfriend, ‘Hello stranger, what are you doing here?’