When I came back from my days off, I was informed by Tony that I was getting a young guy called Sam as an apprentice, and that he was starting work at ten that morning. I was so excited about this, and asked Tony why the lad couldn't start at seven with me, or at eight, and help with the breakfast!
The workings of this new plan by the government was then explained to me in fine detail! Youngsters who had no jobs would be employed by a hotel, or garage, or shop, where they were to be taught the ropes, and the government would pay the youngsters, and not the employer! And, he explained, they were only to start at ten, work until one, and then start again at six for the dinner shift. That was a brilliant idea, and I was really thrilled, until at about ten minutes passed his due time, my apprentice kind of ambled in, and I saw with a sinking heart that my guy was non else than young Sam, grandson of the owners of the Immervioulin caravan park, and son of Janet, a lively single mother!
My heart was sinking, because just a few days previously, Janet had told us that they just could not handle young Sam, as he was supposed to help in the park, but kept on disappearing, and only coming back when all the ablution blocks were cleaned by Emma, the younger sister of Janet, and the most hardworking girl I have ever met, and all the other jobs allocated to him was finished!
I tried to hide my feelings, and told him gently that what I wanted him to do first, was peeling the potatoes, and cut the chips, sighing with relieve that I would not have to do that on top of all the other chores! He rolled an incredulous eye at me, tried to outstare me, looked with utter disgust at the two big pockets of potatoes, the stuck out a thin finger, and asked with a voice like ice; 'You want me to peel all that?' I knew that if I did not get on top of this now, I will have a lot of trouble in the near future, so I gave him a stern eye, and said that yes, indeed he had to, or would he like to do the baking? I had to do some scones urgently, as they had run out while I was away, and also the lasagnes and steak pies were finished, and at this Sam capitulated, and after moaning and groaning for about ten minutes, after I told him to get on with it, he started the peeling!
All the excitement I felt when I heard about my apprentice had now evaporated, leaving me with a heart as heavy as a huge piece of lead, and I felt really sorry for myself! Tony was of no help, as he was great pals with David, Sam's granddad, and would not for anything on earth do anything to upset him, the family being our greatest supporter of take-aways! It took ages for the youngster to peel the potatoes, and after I had done the cooking and baking, he had done only three quarters of the first one. As it was now after twelve, with the lunch session almost upon us, I had to start cutting the chips, as I would need it for lunch!
he kind of kept going until one, when he downed the peeler, and disappeared like a bally daylight ghost! He was of very little help, and I had spent again a lot of time talking and trying to cajole him into working faster! I wanted to cry!!!