tell me all about it?
Georgina smiled, her heart fluttering. It had been quite a day, and she couldn't wait to share it with Matt, but it wouldn’t be tonight. She had to rush home and freshen up ready for her shift at the petrol station.
As she typed her reply, she realised just how tired she was feeling. She’d made five spelling mistakes in just three sentences.
I’d love to, byt I have to wurk
at the petrol station tonight.
I’ll be at the garage bright
and early tomorrow thouh.
I’d like a strong coffee with
one sugar waiting please.
She laughed to herself and quickly corrected her errors before sending it.
Later that evening, Georgina almost dropped off to sleep twice standing in front of the till while working at her other job at the petrol station. It had been a long day, and she knew the next week or so would be just as tiring as she juggled three parttime jobs in addition to organisingthe entertainment and donations for the annual charity sunset picnics event on the beach.
A smile lit up her face as she thought about the escapades of the day with the little Shih Tzu named Muffin. But it slid away just as quickly as it had formed when she recognised the blue Volvo estate that pulled onto the forecourt and saw Mrs Calloway climb out.
A large sigh escaped her mouth as Georgina pressed the button allowing Mrs Calloway to use the petrol pump.
Georgina rolled her eyes. Mrs Calloway barely ever used this petrol station, and never at this time of night. The only reason she could think of, was because she had her nosey head on and wanted to see how Georgina had progressed with collecting volunteers over the last couple of days since her last enquiry about it.
Georgina chewed on her lip as she contemplated telling Mrs Calloway a white lie, then pushed the thought away immediately. For one, she never told lies and now was not the time to start. And two, Mrs Calloway knew everything anyway. She would probably already know who had signed up and what entertainment skills they were planning on showcasing.
Mrs Calloway put £20 of petrol in her tank and then ambled over the forecourt to the door. If she’d had come just five minutes later, the door would be locked, and she would have had to pay at the window. As it happens it wasn’t locked, and Georgina would just have to suck it up and answer the one-hundred and one questions Mrs Calloway would fire at her.
She gave Mrs Calloway the best smile she could muster as she entered. ‘Good evening, Mrs Calloway. This is a late time for you to be out.’
To Georgina’s surprise, Mrs Calloway appeared to be flustered by the comment. ‘Oh-oh, yes. I-I was out just calling on a friend.’
‘Oh, okay. That will be £20 please. Are you paying cash or by card?’ Georgina wasn’t surprised by Mrs Calloway’s quick recovery of character.
‘Cash...and can I have a receipt please?’
Smiling sweetly, Georgina nodded as she processed the transaction. ‘There you go.’ She chose her next words carefully, so as to not illicit conversation. ‘Enjoy the rest of your evening.’
Mrs Calloway nodded with a smile and turned to leave. Georgina’sshoulders dropped in relief. She was thankful Mrs Calloway hadn’t broached the annual sunset picnics event, and started to tidy up the till area ready for when the next staff member came in to take over the shift. But Mrs Calloway stopped in her tracks and turned back around to face her.
‘I hear you are still struggling getting volunteers. I didn’t do as well as I expected last year either, but at this rate, my poor effort to get volunteers might not look as bad.’
Georgina’s feathers were rustled. She knew Mrs Calloway’s comment hadn’t been said maliciously, but at that precise moment, she had never wanted to prove herself to anyone more than she did right then—she knew she could achieve so much more—regardless of how tired she might get over the next couple of weeks.
Georgina forced a smile. ‘Let’s hope for the best, shall we? It’s not about the numbers, it’s about making the day as special as possible for all who attend, and getting as much donation money we can to put towards getting a new maypole made.’
Mrs Calloway’s face brightened. ‘It is. You are a good girl Georgina, putting yourself out like this for your community, just like your mother used to... Don’t worry, I’ll help as much as I can getting volunteers for you.’ Mrs Calloway smiled and nodded, turned and left.
A warm feeling spread through Georgina’s chest. Mrs Calloway had praised her mother’s efforts with the charity. Nowshe was even more determined to do her best. She wanted to make her mother as well as Mrs Calloway proud of her efforts.
Yawning, Georgina came from behind the counter and locked the door. She looked up at the clock. One more hour and she’d be tucked up in bed. She couldn’t wait. Tomorrow she was working with Matt in the morning and then she was working with Marcus in the afternoon. That meant she would have to use her free time in the evening to walk the steep streets of Seagull Bay again, knocking on doors looking for volunteers. An image of Matt came to mind. She knew how she’d rather be spending her time, but for now she needed to get her priorities right.
Chapter nine
Georgina leaned on the desk with her head resting in her hands and watched Matt as he unloaded a car from the back of the pickup truck. She loved the way the sun shining on his dark-brown hair brought out its auburn lowlights and she wondered if the gene was from his father or mother. Both Francis and she had brown hair like their father, but their mother had been a strawberry blonde.
