TWENTY-ONE
Jack settled quickly into his new occupation, his naturally flamboyant manner both amusing and endearing, while his dramatic skills proved useful to persuade customers they needed an extra item or two. In an effort to enhance the stall, he attached multicoloured bunting to the front awning and wound strips of bright fabric around the poles holding the sides in place; everything obtained cheaply by sweet-talking the middle-aged woman behind the counter at a Mornington shop. Using discarded bricks and timber scrounged from a builder’s yard, he created tiered shelves to display his wares better, then cut out arrow-shapes from old cardboard boxes to draw attention to bargains or new-season varieties. Dugald Ritchie – sober and even prone to the occasional good mood – expressed sati
