Chapter 8. A New World

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Chapter 8

A New world.

(This story is entirely ficticious)

Over the next few weeks Geoffrey and Mavis felt they had moved to a different world. Milkem and Bankrupt moved about ten new people into their tiny factory and, although Stan, Irene and Reginald were still there, they couldn't do any work because they were falling over new people all the time. And these people seemed incredibly busy. In particular they were busy decorating.

Mr Bankrupts personal assistant, Juicey Lucy, appeared to be in charge. Mavis wasn't at all happy about this.

“If she were my daughter I'd be wiping all that paint of her face and buying her a few clothes that were the right size and didn't show what most ladies keep as a Sunday treat for their husbands” she said.

“I think young girls think differently about that sort of thing” said Geoffrey nervously. “They're less timid these days about showing what they've got hidden.”

“That one hasn't got it hidden at all” Mavis snapped at him. “I could tell you how many Weetabix she's had for breakfast. If those knickers she wears got any smaller, they'd be called postage stamp on string. And if her breasts come any further out of that dress they'll be punching us all in the face every time we talk to her!”

Geoffrey decided to err on the side of caution and said as little as possible about Juicey. And so the battle between the two ladies continued on a daily basis.

“Mavis,” Juicey would say almost every morning, “if I've asked you once I've asked you a hundred times, what colour do you want your office painted? And do you want basket weave or shag pile on the floor?”

And every morning, Mavis just looked at her with disdain.

“I don't want basket weave or shag pile” she said angrily, “I just want to make toffee and we're about 15,000 bars down on the orders.”

The debate was endless. Juicey insisted that no more toffee should be made until the ambiance was right because customers coming into what she called 'this cattle shed' would not be inspired to buy anything. Mavis insisted that her customers, who she'd had for years, weren't interested in coming to visit, they just wanted their toffee delivered on time.

“And another thing” Juicey said “you, Mavis, are a Director of this Company and we can't have you coming to work and putting your slippers on. Not to mention the fact that you appear to be buying your clothes from Oxfam.”

“I do” Mavis confirmed.

“Right, note in diary” said Juicey, “Once a week, take Mavis shopping.”

“But I don't want to go shopping once a week” Mavis said indignantly, “I just want to make toffee.”

Things could have been a lot worse between Mavis and Juicey but for the intervention of Mr Soderbread who was continually popping round to see how things were progressing. As Mr Bankrupt very rarely put in an appearance, Mr Soderbread insisted he would get his updates via quick meetings with Juicey in the Board room, which was previously the store room for the toffee ingredients.

It did not escape the notice of Geoffrey, Mavis, Stan, Irene or Reginald that both Mr Soderbread and Juicey herself, came out of these meetings very flushed.

“These young people seem to have very intense Board Meetings these days” commented Stan. “I wish I had the energy to get so animated about a business meeting. Still, they look as if they're getting a lot done.”

Mavis wasn't convinced. Nor did she like the quick grin that past between Geoffrey and Stan on the matter of these Board Meetings.

After a month the Northern Block Toffee Company factory looked like a completely different place. Everywhere you looked there were fake leather sofa's with leopard skin throws, the walls were adorned with minimalist paintings and in every room there was a very pretty young girl or very intense looking young man, all working away furiously on computers and all looking very busy. What there wasn't was anywhere to make toffee.

Geoffrey, Mavis, Irene, Reginald and Stan, spent most of their time sitting in Mavis's newly refurbished office (with purple shag pile) playing Domino's and drinking tea. Every day Geoffrey would attempt to organise a meeting with Milkem, Bankrupt, Soderbread or even with Juicey Lucy but they were all far too busy. And when ever he broached the fact they were no longer producing toffee and had now lost the majority of their old customers, he was always told he shouldn't worry and that very soon now Northern Block would be launching on the world markets.

At the end of the first month Mr Milkem arrived in the office and gave Geoffrey and Mavis a cheque for £12,500 each.

“How can we be getting so much money” geoffrey asked him? “We haven't sold any toffee this month.”

“Doesn't matter” said Milkem happily, “we'll soon be selling it by the ton.”

“How can we do that when we're not actually making it?” asked Mavis.

Milken didn't answer but just winked at her as if to say 'that's all you know.' At that moment Juicey Lucy joined them.

“Right Mavis” she snapped, “slippers off, coat on, we're going shopping.”

“Oh no we're not” Mavis snapped back at her.

“Now come on Mavis” said Milkem, “you go off with Juicey and do what you girls do best – shop. Here” he said handing both women a wad of notes, “get yourselves a little something extra from me.”

Mavis started to object and tried to hand the money back but Milkem wasn't having it.

“I insist Mavis” he said sternly. “Now off you go and I'll just take Geoffrey down to the wine bar for a spot of lunch.”

“But I've got my cheese and chutney sandwich” said Geoffrey getting the sandwich out of Mavis's shopping bag. “Mavis and I always have cheese and chutney at lunchtime.”

Milkem took it off him and threw it in the bin. “Live dangerously Geoffrey” he said “let's go to the winebar and have some steak and oysters.” Then he marched to the door and held it open until Geoffrey followed him. Which he did with much trepidation and with a backwards glance at Mavis that said 'help'. But Mavis had her own problems.