CHAPTER 94: Seal The Deal

 

Today was a big day for Barbara Dubois.  Not only did she have a double shift at work to do, she had an 11am appointment to see her bank manager about securing a loan to pay for the shop she wanted to set up.  By the time she got back from her first, early morning shift her boyfriend Jeremy had himself left for work and next door neighbour, John Action, had come calling around.

"Hey, Babs" he began.  "My TV's on the blink and I wanted to watch the football...I got money riding on the game."

"Yeah, sure John" she replied, frantically unlocking the front door and letting the both of them in. "I'm in a bit of a rush...got to get to the bank to see about a loan"

"Oh yeah, for the shop.  Good luck with that" he said.

"I'm nervous, John.  I mean...what to wear to make a good impression?"

"You want to look stylish, Babs, like you could own the joint.  A sharp skirt suit should do the trick"

"Hmmm, I only have one skirt suit" she replied.

"Well, that's sorted then" said Action.

Barbara went to the bedroom to get changed into her smartest outfit, put on some make up and give herself a good pep talk before going downtown to the bank.

"You can do this...you can do this...you can do this..." she repeated in a whisper to her reflection.  There was a knock on the bedroom door.  

"Hey, it's just Action here....the game's about to start and whoa, dang! Woman!  You look mighty fine!" he said as he caught sight of Barbara.

"Do you think so?" she replied.

"I keep telling Jeremy that he's one lucky fella...now you go in there, wow everyone and you seal the deal, woman!  Seal the deal!" Action's speech was increasing in fervour as he looked her in the eye.  "Now you do with them what I'm doing with you now....you look them square in the eye and you lay out why you need that loan and that you deserve it!  Look 'em in the eye, you got that?"

"I think so" she replied, softly.

"Dang, you Canucks are too polite!  You walk in there like you own the place!  Seal the deal!" said Action one more time.

Barbara repeated "seal the deal" and nodded.  She thanked Action and told him to help himself to snacks in the fridge and when the game was over to just shut the door on his way out.  Then, taking a deep breath, she headed into town.

The wait in the bank was interminable and she found herself drumming her fingers on her thighs as the clock in the waiting room ticked.  She went over what she was going to say in her head over and over, right down to how she was going to say it.

"The manager will see you now" said the secretary.  Barbara stood up, brushed down the front of her skirt, and walked into the manager's office.

"Well, Miss Dubois, I've read over your proposal and I must say this is very comprehensive...you have a good eye for detail." said the manager.

"Thank you" she said, gulping nervously.

"You've submitted a full costing of the purchase and repairs to the property plus a quarterly analysis of costs of supply, sales and upkeep.  Very good."

"If you have any further questions about how the business would run I have the information" she added.

"I'm sure you have but what you have already provided is detailed enough" the manager said, smiling.  "Well I think, despite your youth, you have a sound business head and this looks like a good investment.  Loan approved.  The full details are here, in this document" he said, pushing a large multi-paged document across the desk to her.

They talked further about the loan and the business account that would be set up but Barbara, despite her joy inside, played it cool in front of the manager.  Once outside, however, she couldn't contain her excitement and ran to the subway station...she couldn't wait to get somewhere very important to her heart.

With a skip in her step and a song in her heart she made her way from Newcrest to Magnolia Promenade and the site of her acquisition...or at least her intended acquisition:  The boutique!  It was still largely a shell at this stage but as she looked in the dusty windows she could imagine the possibilities of what it will look like once finished.

Now it was all possible, she thought.  But just having the money wasn't enough, nor was giving the shop a lick of paint....she needed stock:  The latest trends, the grooviest threads, the fab gear.  Something that the young, hip and in touch with the Now Generation could afford.  She wanted to make her place not so much a shop but a focal point for young people like her.

She took one last long look at the shop...soon to be HER shop...before heading home.  When she got there, Action had left but Jeremy was there and still in his business suit.

"Oh darling!" she said smiling from ear to ear and throwing her arms around him "I got the loan!"

"That's wonderful news, Sweetie!" said Jeremy.  "Let's open a bottle of wine and celebrate!"

"I wish I could right now but I've got my work shift in an hour and I have to get changed out of my suit" said Barbara.

After she had changed she joined Jeremy again for a light meal and to update him on her meeting at the bank.

"So they've agreed to what I asked for and they really liked the business plan!  Thanks to your friend Farquhar..."

"Fanshawe" said Jeremy, correcting her.

"Fanshawe....and of course you my sweet!  You were with me every step and you hammered that business plan into shape.  The bank manager was very impressed"

"I'm in this together with you" said Jeremy, reaching out to hold her hand.

"We'll celebrate tomorrow evening" said Barbara, kissing Jeremy on the cheek before she headed off for her evening shift...maybe her last one?  Jeremy sighed with relief and changed out of his business suit...at a loose end he went to visit Action next door.

"Hey Action" he said, after being greeted.

"Yo, Jeremy...has Barbara told you the news about her meeting?" replied Action.

"She said it was a success!  She's going to get the shop" 

"Slam dunk it my girl!" said Action.

"I heard you gave her a pep talk this morning" said Jeremy.

"Man, she was so uptight this morning...I just gave her a bit of the old Marine drill instructor routine.  Suck in that gut, put your shoulders back, imagine your enemy's face on that sack as you send the bayonet home..."

"I hope you didn't tell her to drive a bayonet into the bank manager!" said a shocked Jeremy.

"Relax man...I'm speaking metaphorically.  But she clinched it, that's the main thing...fancy a beer and watching 'The Fugitive'?"

"Yeah, why not.  I'm a sucker for that show." said Jeremy.

"Here's to Babs!" said Action, raising his beer bottle in salute.

"To Babs!" replied Jeremy.