"Sale, Miss Brahms."
"Yes Mrs. Slocumbe." She said with her heavy cockney accent.
Mrs. Slocumbe rang up the charges, "And don't worry madam, you'll find that the sleeves will ride up with wear." Miss Slocumbe said with practiced ease.
They gave the customer a smile and she headed for the lift. As soon as she was out of ear shot, they continued their conversation.
Mrs. Slocumbe got right down to her gossiping. "Ough, I can't believe we're closing up for the last time in less than three days."
"I know, I can't believe it me-self. Ya know, I can't wait until they close them doors for the last time. These sales is making this place into a right zoo." She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes.
"I know, you know that last customer, she bought more under garments from me than I would normally sell in a week. If it weren't for the fact that we still make commission on the sales I'd be out that door. I've never been so tired in my life and I am unanimous in that!" said Mrs. Slocumbe as she closed her eyes and stuck her nose in the air.
There were more customers to attend to so their conversation had to wait.
A high, effeminate voice called you, "Captain Peacock, are you free?"
Captain Peacock looked around. All of the customers were busy browsing through the sales racks. "At the moment Mr. Humphries."
"Could you assist me on the counter, I've got a line that starts at the dressing rooms."
Mr. Spooner left the week before when he heard that the store was closing. He wasn't old enough or worked at Grace and Brothers long enough to receive a part of the pension plan. Since then, Mr. Humphries had to work the men's ready-wear suits department. No one held it against Mr. Spooner, but they would miss him.
"I suppose I could help you for the moment Mr. Humphries."
"Thank you Mr. Peacock." He said with a grin on his face.
After the line went down and they had a second to talk, Mr. Humphries said "I can't believe they're making us stay overtime tonight. My mothers going to have a fit when I get home."
"Well this is the busiest that Grace Brother has ever been, I'm not surprised that they want us to stay longer. I for one am looking forward to retirement and my well earned pension."
"Well, you've got a point there."
Mr. Harman was busy removing all of the mannequins from the floor. He wasn't included in the pension plan. They'd set something else up for the maintenance workers. At the moment he was taking apart a mannequin. Captain Peacock strode over to Mr. Harman.
"Mr. Harman," Captain Peacock used his officious floor-walkers voice, "This may be the last time I tell you this but please do not come on to the floor during the store hours!"
"I was asked by Mr. Rumbold to wrap all the dummies up and take 'em down in the lift." He paused to wrap the mannequin in a clear wrap. "Be lucky that I'm wrapping up these dummies an' not you lot… The way Miss Slocumbe's lookin' right now she could easily be mistaken for one." He said wryly.
Captain Peacock glared at him. "The way Miss Slocumbe looks has nothing to do with you being on the floor. Kindly take the mannequins and yourself off the floor before you wrap them. The less customers see of you the better!"
Mr. Harman dragged the mannequin off the floor. As soon as Captain Peacock turned around he blew him a raspberry. Captain Peacock looked outraged, but continued back to the men's counter to assist Mr. Humphries.
"Ough, I'm starving!" Mrs. Slocumbe whined.
"Me too. You shoulda' heard the way my stomach was making noises be'ind the counter."
"I did" Mrs. Slocumbe mumbled under her breath to Miss Brahms.
Captain Peacock and Mr. Humphries sat beside them. Mr. Humphries sighed, "You know, I was beginning to think of this place as a sort of home and all of you as part of my family." He lowered his voice. "I saw that tall, good-looking fellow from haberdashery this morning. He was sobbing his eyes out"
"Why?" asked Miss Brahms, "Is 'e gonna miss this place too?"
"No, he was sobbing because they found out he was skimming the till. I guess when you work in haberdashery you can fiddle with the numbers."
"Yeah, well he's been fiddlin' with that girl from the elevators for a long time too. Maybe he's just prone to fiddling'?" said Miss Brahms.
"Ough, it's always the lift girls that gets the fiddling. You know I was with him on the lift a few days ago and he didn't try anything." Mrs. Slocumbe sounded disappointed.
After their food and coffee was brought out to them, Mr. Rumbold stropped at their table. "Hello everyone, don't get up."
No one made a movement to; Mr. Rumbold seemed a little disappointed. "Yes, well… One of Young Mr. Graces solicitors, Mr. Thorpe, has asked if we could see him about the pensions. I was wondering if you would all come with me."
"But we just started in on our coffee. Can't 'e wait?" Asked Miss Brahms.
"Apparently not, he says he needs to discuss with us what's happened to the pension."
"HAPPENED?! Ough, I don't like the sounds of that! If Young Mister Grace lost our pensions I'll dig him up and give him a beating and I am unanimous in that!" Mrs. Slocumbe said as she looked at the others. They were all nodding their heads.
"I guess we better see what he wants!" snapped Captain Peacock. He drank the last of his coffee and got up. The rest of the department followed behind him.