Time

September 1950

"Almost at once, affluence came hurrying on the heels of penury. Suddenly shops were piled high with all sorts of goods. Boom was in the air." - Harry Hopkins, social Historian.

The shop window was piled high with an assortment of food items; margarine, eggs, apples and tinned beans. A couple of women were stood crowded around the window, gazing at all the things and then down at their rationing coupons which didn't allow them to get as much as they'd like. A women dressed in a white apron could be seen through the window inside, she was finishing stacking packs of margarine before she looked up at the wall clock and moved to unlock the front door. The women outside instantly flocked in. They finally had a Sainsbury's. Pulling up outside the shop, also, was Allie. Swinging her leg over her bike she stepped onto the path and into the shop after straightening out her dress. Aisles and aisles of food greeted her, all neatly stacked, vast colours of tins, shiny apples. Washing powder and tinned fish sat here and there while people manoeuvred around with baskets, helping themselves to different things. Just as she was moving over to inspect an overly shined apple, Allie felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see brown haired woman looking down at her.

'Allie Wilson?' she asked, Allie nodded, quickly escorted into a backroom where her own set of work clothes were pushed at her, the same as the woman was wearing. She pressed a hat onto Allie's red hair and went to grab a case of beans from the shelf in the store cupboard they were in while Allie got changed.

'Your Mother says you like hard work?'

Allie looked up from buttoning up the apron. 'I-yes?' she frowned, the case shoved at her before she could get another word out.

'Good, I don't like slackers here.' ushering Allie back into the store, she straightened her hat and placed her before the aisle which was half stacked with the rest of the beans. 'Well, I presume you know what to do, smart young girl.' she nodded to herself and moved off towards the counter where a man was waiting to pay already. 'Percy - neatly, boy, neat. People won't buy things if they aren't presented correctly.'

Turning her head as she started to stack the beans in neat order, Allie could hear the faint mumbling of a male voice. '…"stack them neatly, Percy, neatly!" I'll give her neat…-'

'You lied to me.'

Percy almost dropped the box of margarine that was in his arms, Allie smirked and grabbed the end of it to steady him but he shook her off. Her smirk quickly vanished as she saw that his left eye was a nasty purple colour, puffy and sore looking. Before she could even ask about it, a woman tugged on her arm, speaking in a hoarse, shaky voice as to where the bread was kept. Percy and Allie didn't speak again during the whole morning, they were kept busy stacking and carrying items, and it seemed Percy was determined not to le him clash with her although his eyes kept wandering towards her when he thought she wasn't looking.

It was now dinner time and Allie was contently sitting on an upturned crate, drinking a glass of orange juice as she watched the store still living through the open doorway. An apple rolled into the cupboard and she looked down at it, eyebrows screwed together as her eyes followed its trail, around the box and under one of the shelves. Shifting, she stood to get it and turned, when she felt someone put their hands over her eyes, strong masculine hands. For a moment she was even going to suggest it was Percy.

'Guess who?'

'David?' turning around, she looked towards a twenty-year-old with muddy brown hair and dull brown eyes. He was dressed in a smart shirt and trousers, a bunch of yellow and pink flowers in his hands which he prompted Allie to accept. 'W-What are you doing here?' she frowned, accepting the flowers but quickly placing them down on the crate as though afraid someone would see.

Looking around one of the aisles, Percy could see straight into the cupboard and his eyes narrowed to see David handing her flowers.

'I don't get off work yet-' ignoring her words, he lent down and went to kiss her. Outside, Percy dropped a pack of margarine, earning him a dirty look form a passing customer. 'David, not at work, I-' David tried again, hands moving to her waist, but in an instant Percy was up and weaving between them to stop the two touching. David bumped into one of the overflowing shelves and Allie fell against the door, although she looked pleased that someone had intervened. 'I'll meet you after work, okay?' she tried. David nodded, took a glance at Percy and shouldered his way out, looking thoroughly annoyed.

Neither of the two spoke for a while, Allie looking uncomfortable and Percy about as angry as David had been.

'Personal affairs during work time?' he asked, trying to keep the bitter edge from his voice. He took a glass and filled it up, the tap choking and groaning as he forced it to gush more water faster.

'He just brought me flowers.' Allie said, suddenly defensive. What was it to him if she had friends to see her on her break?

Percy gave a derisive laugh. 'Be grateful I don't report you.'

Was he threatening her? 'Do it.' she shrugged, tone sour. 'Report me then. I don't care.'

'You won't have a job.' back to her, he frowned. She was supposed to care. If she didn't, then being cruel had no point. She didn't say anything. 'You tell him he's not to come again-'

'How'd you get that black eye?' she interrupted, eyes blazing and he swivelled around to look at her. Her jaw was taut and once again his eyes fell to her lips, perfect, tightly closed.

Absentmindedly he rubbed his eye, it was still tender and he couldn't hide his wince. 'None of your business.' he muttered, disgruntled to the change of subject.

'Then the same goes to you. My business is mine.' and for the third time since he had met her, she left him, standing stock still like an idiot.

'Butter won't stack itself, Percy!'

Although she had nothing to weigh the day against, Allie would have said that today was the worst. Now she knew why people who worked were always so angry and grouchy when they arrived home. She wouldn't have minded if Percy hadn't been there, she'd put up with David's wandering hands and lips for a while now, they became nothing, but it was the fact that Percy had been there, he had seen, they had spoken and he had been as arrogant as the day she first met him as children. She knew David was waiting for her, too, outside the shop. At the moment he was chatting to some young females, all laughing and looking giddy as he waved his hands around to explain something. It was finally the end of the day and she was free to go home, but she had one last obstacle, and that was David Casey.

Shouldering past a few late night shoppers, Percy finally broke into the bleary street, the sky orange, turning deepest azure. He had just gotten past Allie's parked bike when something latched onto his arm, non to lightly and pulled him back. He looked up into the agitated face of David.

'Where's Allie?' he demanded, Percy blinked a couple of times, trying to wrench his arm back. Bodily strength had never been his forte. 'I asked you a question, boy-'

'I don't know no Allie.' Percy replied sharply, getting his arm back and straightening his jacket before starting down the path to home. So she was late to visiting her boyfriend, why should he care? He wasn't even lying, he didn't know Allie, he just worked with her. Two blonde girls walking down the street with linked arms, bowed their heads and pointed to his black eye as they past, turning their heads to look at his back when he picked up his pace. What the hell were they staring at?-

From the corner of his eye he could see a redheaded female walking down the street, failing to pull on her coat in her haste. No, it couldn't be. Percy didn't turn.

'Percy - wait!' Allie panted, picking up into a run and shifting behind a bin to disguise herself when David turned. Percy continued to walk and she laughed at him, now only steps behind. 'Isn't this ironic?' she asked, covering the steps quickly and keeping in time with him as they turned a corner. 'A few months back, you were the one chasing after me-'

'And you didn't stop.' Percy recalled, still not anywhere near to slowing.

'But, I did!' Allie protested, failing to keep up with his suddenly increased speed.

'And you wouldn't go on a date with me.' he stiffened, she frowned at him.

There was a slight pause as she repeatedly opened her mouth and closed it, trying to choose the right words. 'I couldn't.' seeing as he didn't stop, she did. 'I wanna be friends, Percy.' after a few seconds he finally paused under a street lamp. 'It's going to rain.' she told him, looking at the sky when he didn't say anything.

'Go on a date with me.'

Rolling her eyes, Allie tilted her head as he turned to look at her. 'I can't!' she threw her hands in the air to stress her point. Percy narrowed his eyes.

'Why?' small drops of rain started to fall on the both of the them. This time Allie stayed quiet. 'I got an umbrella.' Percy waited, mouth slightly parted as he watched her weigh the situation. 'You're gonna get wet.' he pressed, she shrugged.

'You wanna come a party with me on Saturday?' she asked, glancing down the road where she could just see David disappearing, having abandoned the idea of waiting if it was going to rain.

Percy closed his mouth. 'What?'

'At the village hall, seven o'clock. You be there.'

'Where you going?' he took a step towards her as she turned in the other direction.

'I gotta get my bike - go! It's going to rain!' she grinned, then set off into a jog.