Store Wars (Naked Version)

By Gary Cuthbert

Meet Angus Stroud the proud owner of a corner store. Set in England in 1970 and based around real events that either the author witnessed or was told about at a later date. It tells the story of what actually went on in a local retail business. In this humours tale laugh as events unfold at Angus Strouds corner store, which actually wasn't on a corner.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Cuthbert
• Release date: Sep 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393028871

Gary Cuthbert

Gary Cuthbert has written several other novels and young children read a long books. He comes from the North East of England. Besides the Carter & Carter novels he also has available Store Wars, a humourous tale about a year in the life of a corner shop and its owner. In , Agents of the E.S.A. the world is a very different place, it is ran by super computer's. Desease and Crime are things of the past till a body is found and Agents of the European Security Agency get called in.  The Life and Death of Harry Stone is a dark comic story that features the real story of what happens when you die.  Check the website for all titles available. garycuthbertauthor.co.uk

Book preview

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

STORE WARS (NAKED VERSION)

First edition. September 7, 2020.

Copyright © 2020 Gary Cuthbert.

ISBN: 978-1393028871

Written by Gary Cuthbert.

Also by Gary Cuthbert

Carter & Carter

The Man With No Name

How It All Began

Standalone

Agents of the E.S.A.

Store Wars

Store Wars (Naked Version)

The Life and Death of Harry Stone

The Chequered Flag

Watch for more at Gary Cuthbert’s site.

Table of Contents

Copyright Page

Also By Gary Cuthbert

Store Wars (Naked Version)

Also By Gary Cuthbert

About the Author

DEDICATION

To our mam and dad (above) who introduced us to the wonderful world of retail way back in the late 1960s. To my brother Peter and his wife who may recall the basis for some of the stories within this book. To all the supplier's, customers and staff we have meet over the years and to the next generation of retailers and customers.

Eee Have You Heard!

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It was raining, which was nothing new for April 1970. As usual  Angus Stroud prepared to open the front door to the corner shop, which wasn't actually on a corner, he looked out of the window and saw the little haggled figure of Mrs. Downing, or as he preferred to call her 'I'll Just Have '. He had started thinking of her as that many years back as she always prefaced what she ordered with those three little words before going on to explain that the refrigerator was playing up so she only needed X for her husband. As far as Angus Stroud could remember it was now going on ten years since the dreaded machine had first started acting up. Mrs. Downing, was always the first customer  on a morning, followed later in the day by  putting in an appearance at three p.m. as she started to think of the evening meal. Stroud smoothed down his white overall before unbolting and unlocking the door.

Morning Mrs Downing, raining again I see, he couldn't count the times he had greeted her with the exact same sentence on a morning. The usual response was 'I'll Just Have..... two slices of bacon, or two sausages, or two eggs depending on what Mr Downing was going to eat on that morning. Never in all his years had he heard her say anything other than those words before then chatting about something in the morning papers, or what the neighbours had got up to last night, so when she replied with a different opening remarks he was initially thrown.

Eee Have You Heard Mr Stroud? taking the fact he was stunned into silence as a sign that he had in fact not heard Mrs. Downing carried on the butcher on Albright Street has died. Not that I ever went, as you know because I come here for all my meat. Plus his bacon was always fatty and his sausage were tasteless, all fat and gristle and don't you even mention his chops because the last time I bought one from him it shrank to nothing. Anyway, Mrs next door called last night and told me, said he collapsed after locking up last night and when he never arrived upstairs his wife saw him through the window laid out on the floor. She had to get the police to break the door down as he had locked the door on the inside. By the time the ambulance arrived he was gone, poor thing. Fancy dying on his shop floor In all his years Angus Stroud had never heard her talk so much without even ordering anything, out of habit he went behind his meat counter at the back of the shop and weighed out two slices of bacon, that he had already sliced before opening the front door (no prepacked bacon in those days). He slipped the bacon into a white paper bag and then wrote the price on the bag. As Mrs Downing had still not asked for anything he carried on and weighed, wrapped and then priced up two sausage's.  As she eventually came to a close, he handed over the two white bags, which she readily took hold of. Can you put these down, I'll pay on Friday when he gets paid, . (Back in the 1970s it was still a common thing to get things, goods etc on 'tick', many  owner operator businesses ran this service for the 'good customers', who would every week or so come in and pay the bill. If things got tight the special customers would suddenly disappear from sight for a week or two till they would be able to settle the account.) Stroud thought to himself that Mr Downing will think it's his birthday when he finds he had both sausage and bacon.  The bell on the front door rang as Mrs Downing left the building.

Mavis, Stroud raised his voice to address the white-haired assistant who had still not appeared on the shop floor. Have you heard about 'Slimy Joe'?   Stroud had always thought of his fellow businessman as 'Slimy Joe' as no matter what happened Joe Jackson, the butcher, had always wriggled out of things. Be it giving a gift for the scouts Christmas party or avoiding receiving a fine or a warning from the local environmental health inspector.

No Mr Stroud, why what has he done now? Mavis hurried in from the back shop still fastening up her blue overall. It was well known that 'Slimy Joe 'and her employer did not see eye to eye.

He's only gone and died, ,he had intended to sound concerned but it came across more like he was happy. I bet he was trying to get out of paying that boy of his wages,

MR STROUD! Mavis chastised don't speak bad of the dead. Even if he was a drunk and a poor butcher, Although Mavis had no actual information that Joe Jackson was a drunk or even liked a drink she had once heard a customer claim he had made a pass at her one night in the local pub.  Angus Stroud wandered to the front of the small shop and ventured behind the counter. He retrieved a small notebook from under a shelf by the 'till' (checkout). He flicked through the pages till he found a page which was headed with 'Mrs Downing ', he quickly scribbled the cost of Mrs Downing's recent purchases and then totalled them up.

Well, I better order extra meat, we might pick up some of his customers, Angus Stroud rubbed his hands, although he hadn't meant to, it was just a reaction to the idea of making extra sales. Mavis, can you tidy up the shelves, . Mavis Reilly, although she had white hair was in her early forties. She had worked for Mr Stroud for five years after the last of her three children had left school she had needed to fill in the hours of the day.  Slim and some would say not unattractive, she was happily married. She would never say she loved her job or that she was well paid, just that it kept her from getting bored. The shop, which basically was a rectangular shape of approximately thirty feet, the doorway was near centre of the shop front, once inside you were faced with a central shelving which automatically made you turn to your left this lead straight too Mr Stroud's area of command. This was a refrigerator cabinet, were he displayed both cooked and uncooked meats, cheese plus other items. Next to this was the fruit and vegetables display.(In the 70's there was no such thing as pre-packed food other than bags of potatoes ). The checkout, or till area was to the right of the doorway, to get here you had no choice other than to walk all the way around the store.  Local 'corner stores', as they became known as would be  the fore runner to the modern day 'convenience store ' but unlike the modern counter part they sold nothing but varies forms of food stuffs.

Angus Stroud had purchased this store during the 1950's, then it was modern and totally unlike local stores of the time, his was a self service store unlike the others that mainly had  items  behind counter's and the customer had no other choice other than to ask for them. This was a time when  most grocery shopping was still done in small, high street super markets, which sold nothing but food.If you required meat you went to the butchers, fish the fish monger's, fruit and veg you visited a green grocer no such thing buying it all under one roof.

Mr Stroud, the fruit man's here, Mavis called out as she saw the pick up truck pull up outside.

OK, Mavis, Stroud took up his post behind the meat counter to wait the arrival of the mentioned 'fruit man '.  The door bell rang as the short man, wearing clothes that had seen better days enter the building. He also sported a flat cap with checked pattern. He looked to be older than his actual fifty three.

Have you heard, Mr Stroud, Frank Fletcher the 'fruit man ' said the moment he was through the doorway. Poor Mr Jackson,

Yes, such a shame. At least he wont be killing people with his over priced junk, Stroud saw Mavis turn towards him and look disapprovingly. I mean, it must of been a shock for his poor wife . Frank Fletcher walked and stood opposite the meat counter to await the days order. Stroud, feeling his own importance tucked his hands into his overall pocket but hooked his thumbs to the outside. This was his usual stance when dealing with 'salesmen ' or rep's '. He gave Fletcher his order for the day, which included ' half a carrot and half banana '. ( This was of course half a sack of carrots, which came in 28lb bags and half a box of banana's. )

Don't know what I'm going to do now, used to be able to split things with him, Fletcher gave a little shake of his head before removing his cap and scratching his head. Thank goodness he paid me every day Fletcher only gave credit to his good customers who would pay for the goods at the end of each week. Fletcher replaced his cap and set off to bring the ordered goods in.

Mavis waited till the door closed before turning towards her boss, who was still stood at his post.

You two shall go to hell. Fancy thinking about yourselves at such a time.Think about poor Mrs Jackson, what is she going to do now ? This made Angus Stroud think, what in fact was Mrs Jackson going to do now. She would need to sell the business, this gave him idea's, not of helping the grieving widow but of increasing his own sales. He was still stood thinking about this even after the fruit man had delivered the days order and left.  By dinner time arrived deliveries from both the milkman and bread man had arrived and left, both started the conversations with the same words Have you heard about the butcher, . To tell the truth Stroud was sick of hearing about it. He never liked slimy Joe when he was alive and now he was dead he liked him even less.

Mavis, I'm going to the bank, he announced. Mavis had no need to hear it, he went every day Monday to Friday between twelve and one. Stroud went through into the back shop, collected up the day before takings, his coat and the keys to his car. Although the car, that was parked at the side of the shop was old, a Mark 1 Humber Sceptre, which he had bought new when it first came out in 1963, it was still road worthy even if by then it was seven years old and had seen better days. He opened the door and climbed in putting the key in the ignition as he did so. It, as usual, started first time, he slipped it into first gear and drove away. He never wore a seat belt, not because he choose not to but because it didn't even have them. These were the days that even essential items such as windscreen wipers were classified as an 'extra'  and had to be added to any new car purchased (radios a thing for luxury models only ) Cars back in the sixties and early seventies were solid built, for the most cases at any rate, safety was at a very early stage and took low priority. He drove along heading towards the nearby high street, in those days they  still had a central point for shopping and other retail activities including banking. If you wanted money out of your bank account you had to queue up and ask for it, if you wanted to put money into your account you had to queue up to do so. No such thing as ATM's then (they had been introduced by Barclay's Bank in 1967 but only a few machines would be in service for years to come ). People would stand in silence, it took as long as it took, you couldn't rush the bank teller, heaven forbid if you upset one because they would make your life a misery, going even slower than normal or waiting till you got to the window and then closing it so you ended up at the back of the line again. If you needed a loan, you would book an appointment with the manager and turn up wearing your smartest clothes. In most  cases you would be made to sit and wait till the manager was free, sitting would feel like waiting outside of the head masters office at school, or a doctors surgery when you are expecting bad news. He found a spot to park not far from the bank and after easing the large heavy car into the space got out and set off towards the banks entrance.He never arrived, as he walked along he spotted a florist, a shop he had passed countless times before without noticing it but today he headed straight inside. Just as in his own premises a little bell was attached to the door. The perfume of the shop filled his nostrils. Although the little shop was small it seemed to have a vast choice of varies flowers.

Hello, can I help you ? he had failed to notice the young woman arrive from the rear of the shop. At the sound of the voice he turned to face the direction  it had came from. Oh hello Mr Stroud, nice to see you , obviously this woman knew him although he didn't recognise her at all. Its me, Mr Stroud, I used to be your Saturday when I was still in school, (Saturday girls,  to those who don't know, would be  school aged girls who would help out in various retail business's, mainly doing menial task's like washing floors. They invariably would be paid as little as the owner thought he could get away with ). Jenny, Mr Stroud,

Oh yes Jenny, I remember, he lied he had no idea who she was, all the young girls he had employed looked the same to him. It was only if they messed up in some way that he would recall them.

Are you looking for some flowers for Mrs Stroud? Is it her birthday or anniversary,

No, no I need some thing to give to a friend who just lost her husband ,

Mrs Jackson? did every body know about slimy Joe dying. I heard he collapsed after having sex with one of his customers who owed him money. Well that's what my friend Sharon said she heard, he was always nice to me when I called to get mam something. Although his boy Nigel always looked at me with those eyes, Stroud thought to himself 'how else would he look at her if he didn't use his eyes ' creepy, she added for emphasis.

I want some flowers, Stroud tried to change subjects.

Well you wouldn't come here if you didn't now would you, Jenny gave him a little smile what would you like,

Something that says sorry to hear about your loss,

Lilies ??? They are always good, Stroud looked at the lilies, noticing the small price ticket attached, he flinched visibly. Or perhaps something a bit cheaper? Jenny had noticed his reaction.

Erm, yes maybe something a little more reasonable, after all its not like me and slimy Joe were best friends, he said it without thinking but quickly realised what he had said I mean Mr Jackson,

Well how much would you like to spend ?

I'm not sure, a little less than the lilies but not as cheap as daisy's out of the park,

How would it be if I put together a bouquet, you just give me how much you wish to spend and ill put something together for you. You can wait or come back in maybe ten, fifteen minutes, Stroud thought this was a good idea, handed over a couple of notes and left the young girl to get on with it whilst he went to the bank.

––––––––

The bank was busy, as per usual only three of the checkout windows  in use even though the queue had twelve people in it . In front of  Stroud he spotted two of his customers, he tried to look the other way in the hope they wouldn't notice him but too late as  a call from one end of the line to the other.

Oh hello Mr Stroud, Annie look its Mr Stroud, Doris Johnson spoke in a loud voice.Have you heard Mr Stroud about poor Mr Jackson the butcher. Such a shame. His poor wife. What do you think will happen to his debt list now that he has gone ? It was obvious that Doris Johnson was one of the butcher's 'special' customers who had been allowed goods on tick.

Nice day today though Mr Stroud, Annie, the other woman joined in I heard that the butchers is going to be a Chinese,

I think it's a bit early for any plans yet. I can not see it being a Chinese, we don't have any Chinamen around here so would be little point in having a shop selling Chinese food, Angus Stroud couldn't see why anyone in the right mind would eat this ' foreign muck' when they could eat good British food. Of course he had heard that big cities like London now had many of these 'Chinese' takeaway shops but that was London, that sort of thing would never happen around here, he was confident of that.

The slow moving snail, that was the line of customers, shuffled its way forward. With each step Stroud's mood grew worse, he always hated having to stand with the ' normal' customers.He thought he should, as with every businessman, be given a special window to themselves, after all Britain was built on the back bone of small business's.  He stood waiting, two out of the three windows were occupied by Doris and Annie, who had already completed there transaction and were now gossiping, no doubt about slimy Joe thought Stroud. The third window became vacant and Stroud moved forward without being asked.

Good afternoon sir how can I help you, the woman behind the counter said without looking up, when she eventually did lift her head to look she realised who was stood in front of her oh hello Mr Stroud, have you heard about the butcher on Ellison street ? Angus Stroud just smiled.

Yes, he was getting tired of the constant mentioning of slimy Joe.He had hoped that now he was dead that slimy would be less of a nuisance than when he was alive but seems he was wrong. He had noticed the clerk had said the wrong street but deemed it pointless putting her right. 

Stroud completed his transactions then returned once more to the florist, Jenny had a bouquet ready and waiting, they looked suitable enough, not too cheap looking with plenty of colour. He got back into his old Humber and drove back to his shop. The shop was a building on its own, that and then adjoining house and at the front it had a lay bye which was also a bus stop. To the left of the building was a little alley way that he parked his car and deliveries were made via the entrance to the back door. Above the ground floor shop was the living accommodation where along with his wife he lived. Taking the flowers with him Angus Stroud entered his premises.

Hello Mr Stroud, Barbara greeted him, she had replaced Mavis as she did afternoons and Mavis mornings. Have you heard ? such a shame about Mr Jackson. To think I was only there the other day to get a joint for Sunday.,

Why is everyone so concerned about a butcher for heaven sake ? It's not as if he was a proper businessman or anything, he snapped back.

Nice flowers, is it your wife's birthday ?  

No they are for Mrs Jackson   Stroud stormed off into the back shop, threw the flowers into the sink in the corner then retrieved his white overall.

The afternoon ticked on, customers came and went. Some asked if they had heard about the butcher, others just bought there goods and vanished. Come three o'clock, the door bell rang as the door opened, in walked Mrs Downing.

I'll just have, two thick slices of chopped pork Mr Stroud, I'm doing him fritters tonight.You know how  I like them Mrs Downing stood in front of the counter as Stroud set about slicing the chopped pork as requested. (Back then, pre packed meat was not as popular as fresh meat that was sliced before the customer ). The fridge is acting up again, or I would buy more,

Have you not had that fixed yet ? Stroud, wrapped the meat, then popped it into a white bag, writing the price on the outside.

No not yet, Mrs Downing collected her purchase and headed to