Georgina sighed as she wondered how she was going to get residents to sign up. Last year the job had been given to Mrs Calloway, and Georgina remembered how difficult Mrs Calloway had found the role, because of course Mrs Calloway would tell everyone she came into contact with for an entire six months after the event. Thank goodness for Christmas, otherwise she might be still moaning about it now.
Georgina bit her bottom lip and wondered if the fact that due to her gossiping nature, Mrs Calloway was just a person most people avoided with a barge pole when she’d made a beeline in their direction, hampering her efforts to get willing volunteers.
Georgina dressed as she continued to think about her dilemma. She glanced at the clock. She needed to hurry, otherwise she would be late for her new job working as a cashier at the local petrol station.
Grabbing her car keys, she headed outside to her old Golf. Clicking the fob, the doors unlocked, and she climbed in. Sliding the key into the ignition, she turned it, and the car’s engine made a whirring noise. ‘Come on baby. I know you are in desperate need of a service, but you will have one as soon as I get my first paycheck. Just hold on a little longer please. There is only a couple of weeks until I get paid, then you’ll get your oil change and new air filters and whatnot—I promise.’
Georgina tried turning the key again and the ignition whirred once more before the engine spluttered into life.
‘Yes baby! Thank you.’ Georgina kissed the steering wheel.
She lurched forward and headed up the steep hill out of Seagull Bay to the A road. Five minutes later she was parking up at the petrol station where she worked.
Mr Klein was one of the first customers she served on her shift.
‘Oh hello, Georgina love. I forgot you worked here. I usually fill my tank up at my local supermarket when I get my weekly shopping, so this is not my normal port of call.’
‘Yes, I’ve worked here two weeks now Mr Klein, although it’s only part-time hours. By the way, don’t let my boss hear you saying you get your petrol from the supermarket, otherwise he’ll be like a bear with a sore head for the rest of the day.’
Mr Klein Laughed. ‘Tell him to drop a penny or two off a litre of petrol and I’ll come here all the time.’
‘I don’t think it’s as simple as that, Mr Klein, laughed Georgina.
‘Hey, did I hear right? Are you the unlucky one to be lumbered with organising the volunteers for the sunset picnics event?’
Georgina nodded sweetly. Everyone thought the same thing about the volunteer position to organise the annual sunset picnic’s event, but she was determined to do a better job than anyone else who’d done it before her—although maybe not her mum—she was the best. ‘I wouldn’t say it’s unlucky...more an honour.’
Georgina’s brow shot up when Mr Klein burst out laughing. ‘We’ll see about that. I’ll even call here for my petrol next week just so that I can get an update on how you’re doing getting people to sign-up their skills as the entertainment.’
Georgina was instantly put-out by his defeatist attitude. She wanted to prove to him right there and then how good she was going to be at accomplishing her task. An idea instantly formed into her mind. If she could get Mr Klein to sign up while he was so sceptical, then it would prove to herself she could do this—that she could make a success of the annual sunset picnic event.
Lately, she felt as though her life had little direction. She’d started a new job, but other than that, Georgina felt as though her life was flatlining.
She reached for a notepad and pen and planted the biggest smile on her face she could muster as she held it towards him. ‘How about you Mr Klein? Why don’t I put you down as my first ever entertainer? I’m sure you have a special talent hidden away that the community of Seagull Bay would be in awe of seeing.’
Georgina’s optimistic smile and raised eyebrows fell when he burst out laughing and shook his head. ‘No. Definitely not. I’m not going to embarrass myself in front of my neighbours. The last thing I need is Mrs Calloway bringing unwanted attention my way.’ Mr Klein continued to shake his head vehemently. ‘No, sorry Georgina love, good luck to you with this quest, but I’m not going to be able to be one of the people to save you. Maybe try asking in The Cheese Wedge and Pickles this evening. There’s a quiz night. It will be crammed full.’
Georgina’s smile was forced. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but she was grateful for the advice about going to the pub to seek volunteers. It would reduce her door to door quest. ‘Okay. I understand Mr Klein, and thank you for that suggestion.’ She paused and grimaced a smile. ‘Although Mrs Calloway isn’t that bad.’ Mr Klein’s brow shot up and they both stared at each other contemplating the absurdity of Georgina's statement before they both erupted into laughter.
‘I’m going before I say something I might regret.’
Mr Klein made his way to the door still chuckling and shaking his head. Georgina watched him while chewing on her bottom lip. Getting volunteers was going to be harder than she realised. Her jaw set firm. Yet, Mr Klein rejection to add his name to the volunteer list had not deterred her. She was still intent on asking every single local Seagull Bay resident who came into the forecourt garage shop today if they wanted to volunteer.
Four hours later, Georgina emerged from the garage after her shift with her head hung a little lower and her shoulders rounded. She had asked at least ten residents from Seagull Bay who had refuelled at the petrol station if they would like to volunteer their entertainment skills for the annual sunset picnics event on the beach, and out of all ten, the only hint of someone contemplating adding their name to the list was a ‘I’ll think about it’ response from a resident who didn’t even live in the bay, but lived on the outskirts, someone who normally kept themselves to themself. It was a response which Georgina knew was only made to get away from her quicker.
She climbed into her car, her body feeling heavier than it had done hours earlier, before starting her shift, and turned the key in the ignition. The starter motor made a clicking-whirring noise. Georgina held her breath. The car fired into life, and she exhaled audibly. ‘Come on baby. Don’t scare me like that. You breaking down is the last thing I need right now. It’s already going to take me forever with these part-time hours to save up the funds to fix you.’ Georgina shook her head as she pulled off the forecourt. ‘I need to get either another full-time job, or at least find a part-time one to make my wage up.’
As she drove along the A road heading back for Seagull Bay Georgina thought about her new job at the petrol station. She really enjoyed it, but it didn’t provide enough hours to pay for her rent, food and bills and give her that little extra to have a social life and a bit on the side to save as contingency money in case anything unexpected occurred in life. Right now was an example of needing savings, because her car desperately needed some TLC.
Her father Tom would lend her the money at a drop of a hat, but she had always been independent. Georgina may not have had the best GCSE results like her sister, who had made a careerfor herself in one profession, but she had always worked—always had a job since leaving school.
Georgina had loved her previous job, working in a surf-come-beach shop. She’d been there three years. It was a shame its popularity with the visitors to Seagull Bay had started to dwindle off the previous summer season. But with a seaside coastal town which looked like it belonged to Cornwall, but was actually located in the Yorkshire, she supposed there really wasn’t much call for surfboards, so it was very sad but not that much of a surprise when the owner decided to relocate to the south, where the beaches actually had waves to surf.
It was no use; Georgina would simply have to look for additional work over the next few weeks, whilst also trying to find volunteers.
She was just rounding a bend, when her car decided to splutter and lose all power. ‘Oh no...not here! Don’t stop now.’
Her car came to a standstill right on the bend. A car suddenly lurched around the corner and honked its horn, its owner protesting over where Georgina had stopped. She literally jumped out of her skin in surprise—her heart coming up into her throat. She quickly pressed her hazard button and climbed over the gearshift onto the passenger side, to get out of the car onto the safety of the grass verge.
