Calypso Summer Read Online Free Page A

wanted Gary to sign them, to tell them I was doing work experience with him, just for a week, to keep them off my back. I knew the best time to ask was after he got back from the Ramsgate Hotel. Of course he was ducking off with his paper to have a beer and that. So one day, I told him I didn’t mind looking after the shop for as long as he wanted … and he was certainly in a good mood when he returned.
    â€˜Plenty of customers,’ I told him.
    â€˜Beauty,’ he said.
    Jumping right to it I asked, ‘Gary, can you sign this, just say I’m doing work experience with you for a couple of weeks?’
    Gary read the form and I was a bit nervous because he didn’t seem too happy about it. He squinted his eyes and went real serious.
    â€˜Maybe I could give you that reference you asked for?’
    â€˜That would be deadly but I need the form signed too.’
    â€˜I don’t know mate.’
    â€˜But if you sign it I can just keep doing what I’m doing for a while without getting hassled. Centrelink mob are getting me to fill out forms all the time!’
    â€˜You should try gambling,’ he said as he got up to grab a pen.
    When he signed the form he said, ‘But remember Calypso, I can’t promise you anything.’
    â€˜I know,’ I said … But I was hoping something might come up.
    Â°Â°Â°
    The weeks after Gary signed the form were deadly. Even though I was up early every day and working hard, I was less stressed and happier than I’d been in ages. Mum and Evelyn kept asking me what I was up to as I left for work and Run still thought I was dealing drugs for some big-time gangster but the main thing was that Centrelink wasn’t hassling me. I hid my work clothes in a backpack and changed in the public toilets down the beach to keep Mum, Evelyn and Run off my case. There was no way I was going to let Run know where I was working. And if Mum and Evelyn knew I was doing work experience, they’d get too excited and jinx things.
    What confused Run most was that I wasn’t smoking any ganja. I just kind of stopped, not entirely but almost. Well I couldn’t be wasted at work could I? And after work, instead of going home to have a smoke, I just hung around Henley Square or walked along the beach. Even after not smoking for a few days, I felt good. I wasn’t as aggro or tired and I stopped coughing up all of this crap. My chest was starting to clear up. I was kind of feeling positive even though I couldn’t understand why Gary hadn’t offered me any work. No one else was helping him out and he was raking it in.
    And then one day Gary came back from this lunch break and he was in an extra good mood, whistling and being friendly with the customers all afternoon. I had no idea what was going on.
    When I went to leave for the day, Gary said, ‘Calypso, can I have a word?’ I quickly sat up on a stool behind the counter holding my backpack. Gary rubbed his hand across his chin as he asked, ‘What would you say if I offered you a job?’
    â€˜Of course I’d take it!’
    â€˜But not this business,’ he said looking around the store. ‘DVD stores are shutting up everywhere. People are buying films online and it’s only going to keep happening.’
    â€˜What type of business then?’
    â€˜Something a bit different, something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.’
    â€˜Like what?’
    â€˜Well people are health conscious around here. That’s why they live near the beach, to make the most of the sun and surf.’ I nodded. ‘People in this neighbourhood are always walking their dogs, running, riding, swimming and playing tennis.’
    â€˜You’re going to open a sports store, unna?’ I asked almost pissing myself with excitement.
    â€˜What gave you that idea?’ Gary asked, giving me a weird look. ‘No, there are enough of them around, I’m going to