Payday

I knocked firmly on the door marked 'J. T. IKE - FOREMAN' . A gruff voice came from within 'Who is it?'�. Suddenly I didn't feel quite so confident and paused for a moment or two wondering whether it such a good idea to go in and ask for a rise after all.
Even the door squeaked angrily as I pushed it open.
'I'm sixteen today Mr Ike'� I blurted out to the figure perched on a high stool and hunched over a mass of blue prints, spread out on the desk.
He turned and looked at me over the top of his glasses
'Is it really lad'� he said, his beady old eyes lighting up. I stood rooted to the spot as he stepped down and took my hand in his.
'Congratulations'� he beamed
'W w w will I get my rise on Friday, sir'� I stammered nervously, feeling slightly uncomfortable as his ancient long sinewy fingers lingered around my hand.
He went back and remounted his stool
'You'll get your rise a week on Friday'� he said looking down at his blue prints again ' we work a week in hand here'�
'But my birthday's not a week in hand'� I replied and instantly regretted my foolhardiness
I could see that Mr, Ike was trying not to laugh
'Clear off before I kick your arse' he said
Thomo and the other older men, I worked with, wanted to know how I'd gone on.
I told them
'Cheeky little sod'� Thomo said 'But Ike'll enjoy that one ' he'll be telling all his cronies about it, you can bet on that ' he's one of the old school is our Mr, Ike ' he can see himself in you, forty years ago'�
'But will I get my rise this Friday?'� I wanted to know
'Probably not'� Thomo said shaking his head. Then, seeing my disappointment, he put his hand on my shoulder and said 'But you can come to the pub with us on Friday night'�
That made my day ' out with lads on a Friday night ' I was suddenly a man ' a proper man.
Surprise ' surprise I got my rise on that Friday.
'It must be a mistake'� Mr. Ike said as he handed me my pay packet ' 'don't spend it all ' they'll no doubt want it back again next week'�

That evening I got the trolley bus to the pub on Alfreton Road where Thomo and the others gathered on a Friday night. I'd never been in a pub before and the sickly smell of ale and the choking atmosphere of tobacco fumes almost caused me to turn back into the street but Thomo and the others had spotted me. They were seated over in the far corner. Thomo beckoned me over.
'Get the lad a pint, Hoggy'� Thomo called out to Hoggy, who was standing at the bar. Hoggy, who was a good deal older than the rest, grinned back displaying his one and only tooth. Unlike the others, he was still in his work clothes ' rumour was it that he daren't go straight home on pay day, in case his missis beat him up and took all his money off him.
'Is he old enough?'� HP wanted to know, pointing in my direction
'Yeah he's a man now ' aren't you kid?'� Thomo said putting his arm round me
'I thought it was eighteen'� old misery guts HP muttered
I'd never tasted beer before ' it was horrible and there was a whole pint of it to drink.
'Come on get that down you'� Thomo said 'I'm going for a slash, let's see you on your next one when I get back'�
'Cheers'� I raised my glass and gulped another mouthful of the foul stuff down
I could see that HP was not at all easy about me being there 'I'm sure it's eighteen'� he moaned again
'He looks eighteen ' easy in that suit'� Hoggy smiled his one tooth smile
'It's a bit tight on him ' and the trousers are half way up his legs'� HP remarked spitefully and I wanted Thomo to hurry back ' he was chatting to two women sitting near the door. Eventually he returned.
'Young Rita over there has taken a shine to you, kid'� he said to me
'What?'� I gasped
'Yeah ' she says she's left her umbrella at home ' she only lives just down the road and she wonders whether you would go back with her to get it ' she's a bit scared of going on her own'�
'I could go'� Hoggy chirped and the rest laughed.
'Go on ' get over there ' she's waiting for you'� Thomo pushed me onto my feet
'I don't know'� I tried to say
'Go on ' you're a man now - and men have to do these things'�
'But----' my voice trailed off. The girl was standing up and beckoning me ' there was no escape.
The air outside smelled so sweet ' I never knew Forest road could smell so beautiful. We walked along, Rita's heels clicking happily away on the wet pavement. She took my arm and I swear I grew a foot taller
'I'll wait out here for you ' if you like'� I said, outside her house.
'Don't be silly'� she said and practically dragged me in through the front door
She took her key out of her shinny black leather handbag and opened the door of the first room along the hall.
'This is it' she said as we entered
The room was not all that big and the bed seemed to dominate everything. I stood just behind the door -wondering ' how could a young girl like her have her own place? ' she wasn't all that much older than me and in those days you didn't leave home until you were married
'Have you got the money, then'� Rita said as she sat down on the bed
'What?'� I gasped
'Didn't Thomo tell you? ' it's thirty bob'� she was taking her stockings off now
'What about your umbrella?'� I enquired
'Not for thirty bob, duck, that sort of thing's extra'� she laughed as she pulled her jumper over her head '
Her bra came off next.
'I haven't got thirty bob'� I gulped trying not to look
'Liar ' you got paid today, didn't you? '� She took her skirt off. I wondered about her lack of underwear but said nothing in case it might embarrass her
'But- but I've only got our mam's board and a few bob left'� I stammered,
She fell backwards onto the bed
'Come on ' what are waiting?'� she asked holding out her arms 'and don't take all day ' my mam'll be here in a minute with her next client' .

Looking back, I can see now that it's at times like this that you really become a man.

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