True Colours

The wall telephone rang in the stockroom. Colin answered it and then called for Captain Peacock.

"Your missus!" he said, handing the receiver to Captain Peacock.

Stephen removed his handkerchief from his smock pocket and wiped the mouthpiece,"Thank you, Colin."

Jack and Paul tittered as they watched Captain Peacock talk animatedly to his wife. He curled the telephone cord round his fingers and turned toward the wall, speaking in a hushed voice.

Malcolm, a new hire, much younger than the other men in the Packing and Maintenance department, watched his co-workers with interest.

"What's the attraction? Surely you've seen someone talking on the telephone before?" Malcolm asked.

"Oh, it's Captain Peacock!" Jack quipped, motioning toward Stephen with his chin, "When his missus calls, she talks dirty to him. He comes completely unhinged!"

"His wife's a looker?" Malcolm arched an eyebrow.

Both men sputtered laughing.

"Hardly. She's up there in age, like us," Paul said pointing to Jack and himself.

"And she has that effect on him?"

"Oh, yeah!" Jack drawled, "It's actually very funny. His eyes get all glassy and he goes quite barmy! Sometimes he comes in with love-bites on his neck! Mel used to make him show them."

"From an old boiler?" Malcolm scoffed.

"He's got three beautiful little girls from that 'old boiler'," Paul boasted endearingly.

"Amazing," Malcolm shook his head.

Colin said sternly, "It would do you well to learn your place here before you get the sharp edge of Captain Peacock's tongue."

Stephen continued talking quietly to Betty, his back to the others.

"Does he know you watch him?" Malcolm stared in amazement.

"No. He doesn't have a clue we watch him!" Jack whispered.

"You three stop!" Colin admonished, "You're awful!"

"Oh, give over!" scolded Jack, "You do it too!"

"You ought to see this lot when his missus brings those little girls in here to visit their daddy. They fall all over themselves!" Colin stated.

Paul and Jack nodded in agreement.

Stephen ended his phone call and headed straightaway for the gents.

Jack nudged Paul and both men tittered.

"Now what?" Malcolm asked.

They shot him a knowing smile and Colin cringed.

"No!" Malcolm gasped incredulously, "Really? He's going for a toss?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down, boy!" Jack snapped.

"I'd like to be a fly on the wall at his house!" Paul mused, "Come to find out, all this time she's been telling him to bring home eggs and sugar!"

Paul and Jack chuckled at the thought.

Malcolm walked across the floor to where Stephen had been standing and bent over, "Hello! What's this?" he said, picking up Captain Peacock's little black notebook.

"That's Captain Peacock's little black book. He's always writing in it. Taking notes, I suppose," Paul said matter-of-factly.

Malcolm opened it and his eyes scanned the page, "Oh, this is interesting! 'Malcolm West, junior. Shows promise. Needs to pull up his socks and learn his place.' "

The others laughed.

"That sounds like him!" Jack stated.

"Yeah? There's something in here for everyone! Listen! 'Jack- late fifth, sixth, and seventh August . And he's got check marks next to the dates."

"I wonder what that's all about!" Jack frowned.

"Hmmm? Paul, is it?" Malcolm started, turning to Paul, "Here's a little something for you: 'Paul- smock mucky. Sleeves need to be turned. Work boots in poor condition."

"Why, the old bastard! Where does he get off? This isn't the bleedin' Army!" Paul fumed.

"Put that down!" Colin growled, "That's his personal notebook. We've no business reading it!"

"Oh, funny you should say that! There's a little bit about you, Colin," Malcolm said smugly, "Shall I read it aloud?"

"Yeah! Go on!" Richard chided, "Maybe then Colin won't idolise him so much!"

"'Colin: 12 October- had to tell him three times to empty the dustbins in the Men's Department."

"So? What of it?" Colin retorted, "Nothing's been done. None of us've not been sacked, have we?"

He stormed over to Malcolm and snatched the little notebook from the young man's hands, "Give me that!"

Colin flipped through the book angrily, "Oh, wait! It gets good! Wanna hear?" he said, his eyes wild.

The men stood nodding speechlessly and Colin cleared his throat, "'4 September - RE: Jack: went to see Mr. Woodward about Jack's mother's pension; Mr. W said he would make a few contacts.'"

Jack's face fell, "A week later, almost to the day, she received her full benefits and a letter of apology for them taking so long."

The men looked accusingly at Malcolm.

Colin turned the page, "Wait! There's more! Paul: Checked on compensation for injuries from carton baler."

Paul smiled sheepishly.

Colin continued, "Oh, this one's nice: RE: Close shop 22 September and send flowers for Richard's mother's funeral. And this: 28 October: Colin- pay rise."

Malcolm turned to him defiantly, "Did you get it?'

"Yes, I did," Colin answered defensively, his jaw set.

The men turned to their comrade.

"Captain Peacock might be a hard-nosed, nit-pickin' bastard at times, but he's fair. Remember the bonus he asked Mr. Woodward for when we scrubbed the store top to bottom and worked three days straight at eighteen hours a day for the Queen's walk-through of the borough? And how about when he goes upstairs and barks at the department heads for their floorwalkers and staff being so rude to us?" Colin's head swiveled to Richard, "Yes, Richard, I do respect the man. Now, everyone, get back to work before he returns."

Colin placed the notebook on top of the telephone and strode back to the baler.

Captain Peacock returned to the floor, patting his smock pockets. He eyed the black notebook on top of the receiver and went to retrieve it.

Colin walked up to Captain Peacock, wrapped his arms round the older man's waist and gave him a gentle hug.

"Oof!" he grunted, "What's that for?"

Stephen looked round nervously to see his subordinates beaming proudly at him.

"Thanks," Colin said and walked away.