"Every town needs a newspaper."
"I wouldn't worry about that just now, Miss Tully. We can cross that bridge when we come to it. What I believe Missus Thornton-Carlton meant was as we go along and if and when things get busy as they can, well perhaps we could train you to take orders or perhaps give out information about our printing service, that sort of thing. But like I said, that is probably a ways off yet." Phin explained.
"Until then, well cleaning up, sweeping those sorts of chores is what I had in mind, and what you would be most comfortable doing for now, and actually, that's all that is really important, isn't that right, Sarah?" He asked his star reporter, if not his only one, aside from himself that is. But she had been a real boon to the paper, and that did free up Phin to purse ad's and stories.
@JulieS, @Bongo
"Serve customers?" Now that caught Tully's interest, not that she wanted anything to do with people beyond what was necessary. "But...this ain't no cafe or nothin'...ain't no tables nor food...is there a kitchen?" She looked around, then back to Sarah. "Do ya bring in cakes or somethin', ta go with th' coffee? Ain't that what they do at th' Lickskillet?"
Sarah shook her head slightly, "No...we don't serve food here. Our customers are mainly people who wish to place advertisements in the newspaper. Some also come to get flyers or posters printed."
"I'd rather clean dishes or mop th' floor, if that ain't a problem...me an' people don't get on too good."
"I wouldn't worry about that just now, Miss Tully. We can cross that bridge when we come to it. What I believe Missus Thornton-Carlton meant was as we go along and if and when things get busy as they can, well perhaps we could train you to take orders or perhaps give out information about our printing service, that sort of thing. But like I said, that is probably a ways off yet." Phin explained.
"Until then, well cleaning up, sweeping those sorts of chores is what I had in mind, and what you would be most comfortable doing for now, and actually, that's all that is really important, isn't that right, Sarah?" He asked his star reporter, if not his only one, aside from himself that is. But she had been a real boon to the paper, and that did free up Phin to purse ads and stories.
"Yes, Phin is right, you should feel comfortable when you work. I, too would hate having a job where I am expected to do things that I am not ready to do. Perhaps one day you shall be ready and when that day comes we will both here to help you with whatever you need."
Sarah warmly smiled at Tully. From what she had seen and heard so far, she felt sorry for the girl. She was also glad that Tully had accepted the offer of help from Phin as it would help improve her lot in life. However, what perplexed Sarah was why Phin was so willing to help her and not any of the other unfortunate girls in town. In her time, at the Union, a number of young women had come looking for a job but he had always told them that he had Tommy and didn't have enough work for two. Thankfully, he did help them out by pointing these ladies to places that could offer them a job.
So, why was Phin so interested in helping Tully in particular? Maybe he felt sorry for her or maybe someone from the Ladies Society put a bug in his ear about how it would boost newspaper sales if he was a bit more charitable. Whatever it was, it would be interesting to see how it would pan out.
@Flip @Bongo
Tully nodded, still a bit confused, but relieved that no one seemed to want to press her into anything that made her uncomfortable. "I can clean real good," she declared, after all, she'd been doing that since she was little, "an' ya won't hardly notice I'm here."
Being 'invisible' was usually her goal in life, but now that she was actually venturing out of the shadows now and then she was growing bolder, and wanting to embrace a more 'normal' life. It was just a matter of learning that she didn't need to be afraid, not that that meant that she didn't also need to stay wary.
"I can do some'a my letters," she muttered with a small smile, "an' I know how ta hold a pencil right," she added proudly, "I make pictures sometimes, so I can use pencils, pen an' ink an' even paints when I got 'em."
Sketching was one of the things she really enjoyed, and felt that she could do well, not that she ever let anyone see her work.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"You make pictures? Now, that's a wonderful talent to have. And you can do some of your letters, which can take you a long way in this world." Phin said, "You know, if you were a mind to, well, we could help you with learning more, that is if you want. And as far as the cleaning, I'm sure you'll do just fine, and young Tommy will be glad of the help." He smiled.
There had been others who had wanted to see about working odd jobs for him, but Phin had been able to direct them to other places where they could find work that they might be better suited for. Tully Nevada though seemed to have different needs as far as employment was concerned. And here at the Union, it would be an easier pace than most any place else in town. A real benefit would be her ability to learn more of reading and writing at a gentler pace than she might find elsewhere.
"So, it's settled then. Two dollars a week to start and we will see where it goes from there. Does that sound fair?" He asked.
@Bongo @JulieS
It was an exorbitant amount for Tully, who had rarely had more than a couple pennies at a time, but even so, she hesitated, again carefully thinking over the offer, looking for any sort of subterfuge, but finding none.
"Yes, sir," she finally agreed, then she glanced at Sarah. "Miss Bridget wants me ta learn readin', but she can't much 'cause she can't see. She did show me some of her books that got them raised dots, but they...well, they just feel like goosebumps ta me. An' Miss Arabeller...she tries, but she's so..." How did one describe Miss Arabella Mudd? "She makes my ears hurt an' my head feel like there's bugs in there, crawlin' around an' chewin' through what's left in there!"
She realized that the girl was well-intentioned, but that didn't make it any less painful!
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Phin smiled what better place for a body to learn reading than in a newspaper office, where words were the essence of the newspaper business? And would there be time for the process of learning to take place? Questions that Phin was asking himself.
There would be himself, there almost all of the time. There was Sarah, who would be there a good deal of the time, and Tommy, who was there afternoons. Phin was already figuring out where he and young Tommy could alternate on certain tasks to allow more time for the process. His answers came back a resounding yes! Not only could it be done, it would be done, Miss Tully approving the whole idea, as well as Sarah's willingness to help. Tommy? Well, a young man given to help a pretty young woman?
"So, how about aside from the chores, you were willing to take lessons from Sarah and myself and, young Tommy when he's here after school? How does that sound?" Phin offered.
@JulieS @Bongo
For a moment, Tully thought that over, although she was more looking for a good reason to turn down the offer. But, of course, there wasn't one, and she reckoned that she didn't want to spend the rest of her life living under porches and stealing food, and the only way to really do that was to get some sort of learning.
"Reckon I could do that," she finally murmured, looking from Phineas to Sarah. "Don't want ta put ya out, though, but I'll do my best." And maybe once she understood her letters, the tiny bumps in Miss Bridget's books would make more sense.
In the mean time, there was a nice little area under the back steps, so she could stay close, and it would be sheltered from the wind rain, come winter.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Excellent, young lady," Phin exclaimed, beaming. "Now, about a place to stay, unless you have one, of course." He wanted her to be able to say yea or nay regarding an offer of someplace to hang her hat. He had the perfect place in mind. The empty storeroom out behind the office would make for a comfortable place. But that would be up to her to accept.
Now, if you're looking for a place, there's an almost empty storeroom just outback you're welcome to it. Tommy and I could help get it ready, take out what few things are in there, and see if we couldn't make it a bit more livable. Couldn't we do that, Sarah?" He asked his star reporter.
"Most certainly," Sarah replied. "With the winter coming on I would hate for you to be in a place that isn't safe and warm. The church is organising a fundraiser to help those in need, and I know that some people have been donating furniture for the new homes that are being built to help those still suffering from the Whitefish disaster last year. I'm sure Pastor Evans won't mind helping you out with a bed and a small table at the very least."
She smiled, "With a little effort, I have no doubt that we can make the room very liveable."
@Flip @Bongo
Again, Tully hesitated. Her core being warned her not to accept help from anyone, but recently, she had tasted the luxury of a bed and a clean blanket, and it was difficult to turn down the offer.
Of course, it depended, too, on how much she trusted the two people talking to her...were they really wanting to help, or was this a ruse to trap her? But she couldn't think of any reason they would do that, so she nodded.
"Reckon I could try. Don't need much." She shrugged, giving them a slight, rare smile. "Maybe just a cot...an' a table'd be nice, too, so I can do my sketchin'...an' practice my letters."
Could she really believe that her life might actually be taking a turn for the better? What with these two, Miz Clara, Miss Bridget and Arabeller...it was getting better.