Okay shameful confession time, sitting on my bookcase is a bible, it;s
so old and tattered the cover have fallen off and the first and last
bits of the text have gone but dammit! My gran and grandad gave it to
me!

Almost next to it (and in much better condition) is a two-volume
"Black's Children's Encyclopaedia" dating from the early 60's. I
lusted after that in the shop window, We had one at school but it
wasn't the same . I thought it was posh because it was hard backed and
had a slipcase and I craved it sooo much but it was spring so miles
away from being able to beg a birthday or Christmas present!

In the end, I negotiated with my dad ( easier than mum)  he would pay
a deposit (you could do that back then) so the shop wouldn't sell it
(I mean it was mass produced, they could have easily ordered another
one but it had to be this one) and if I brought home a good report at
the end of the term it would be mine. (I think it was because it was
an enclyopaedia, I don't think I'd have pulled the stunt off for a
doll or something like that. My dad who was very clever and later in
life taught himself a lot of things had his education disrupted by the
war and always regretted it so he was big on us getting an education)

I still remember going to the shop and watching as my dad handed over
the deposit (I can't remember how much it cost) and the shopkeeper
took it out of the window,

My teachers couldn't believe how good I was and how I worked that
term.

Then came the moment of truth I took my report home and sat there
while dad read it. Then he stood up, got his coat on and told me to
come with him, He didn't say anything so I didn't know what we were
doing, was he going to ask for the deposit back or what?

As you can guess, we went to the shop and he let me carry it all the
way home!

I can see it from here. Funny thing is if I want a quick simple
explanation of something historical I have been known to look it up in
there. When I was at Junior school, kids were supposed to know why
Carthage was important and things like that! I'll probably ask Dave to
put it in the coffin with me!

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs