Chapter 4 #2
‘Look, we have to do something,’ Luke said.
‘Audrey has basically been funding this place, single-handedly for years, with little to nothing from us. She sold her house in the town to continue paying for it. And we all know why. This was her husband’s dream.
A place to help people with brain injuries with art and somewhere for artists to work and create their art.
It’s time we gave something back. And let’s face it, if this place closes, you’re never going to find another studio space that doesn’t charge anything for rent or other bills.
Clearly none of us need the money or we would have realised we had to change our way of working years ago.
So we have to make a choice, pack up and find studio space somewhere else if your integrity means so much to you, or come up with some kind of compromise.
Flick has come up with some great suggestions to sell cheaper pieces and I really think you need to consider them.
It doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the bigger stuff that you all love doing, but you need to come up with something that brings some money in too. ’
They all grumbled and muttered between them.
Flick really hoped none of them would take Luke’s first option and pack up and leave.
A working studio with no artists would be even harder to save.
But then again, with such favourable conditions, she could probably persuade other artists to come in their place.
Maybe that was what this place needed, some fresh blood.
And if the conditions were clear from the start, that the artists had to produce cheaper alternatives alongside the more expensive stuff, then at least everyone would know where they stood and what was expected.
She took a deep breath because kicking out the resident artists was probably not part of her nan’s plan for change but she had to do something to show them she was serious.
‘I totally understand your reluctance to produce pieces of art that are less than your normal high quality and if you feel you need to leave rather than lower yourself to that, then we’ll be sorry to see you go,’ Flick said, feeling herself visibly shake at the prospect of kicking people out.
But Luke was right, something had to change.
‘So it’s your way or the highway?’ Aidan asked.
Her mouth was dry as she nodded. She hated confrontation. ‘I’ll come and see you all tomorrow just before closing and you can tell me what you’ve decided to do.’
Muttering angrily between themselves, everyone but Luke left.
She let out a heavy sigh. ‘I really know how to make friends, don’t I?’
‘We don’t need a friend right now. Audrey has played that role very well over the last few years and to what end? What we need now is a boss, someone who is going to take charge of this place and drag it, kicking and screaming, into something profitable.’
Flick nodded, knowing he was right but not feeling any better about it.
‘Come on,’ Luke said. ‘I’ll treat you to lunch, I know just the place.’
If Flick had been hoping for a nice restaurant or even a friendly local café she would have been disappointed.
As it was her head was swirling with everything that had just happened in the meeting.
She kept thinking about what she could have said differently and what else she could do to save the house so she had no hopes or expectations at all for lunch.
She wasn’t even sure she could eat, her stomach was churning so much.
But when Luke walked up to a little yellow food truck, similar in size to an ice cream van, and ordered a burger and fries, she was a little bit surprised.
‘What would you like?’ Luke asked, fishing out his wallet.
She looked up at the menu for a moment before she shook her head, not really seeing the words. ‘I’ll have the same.’
‘It’ll be a few minutes. Why not grab a seat and I’ll bring it over to you when it’s ready,’ said a young, redheaded woman.
Luke nodded. ‘Thanks Polly.’
He gestured to a nearby picnic bench and they sat down opposite each other.
‘How are you doing?’ Luke asked.
‘It’s definitely a tough crowd.’
‘They’ve been stuck in their ways for years with no one telling them they have to do anything different.’
‘I think fresh blood could be the answer. People who are young and enthusiastic.’
‘I don’t know. Artists are a proud bunch, no matter how young they are, and many of them feel like their skills are above the kind of things you’re asking them to do.’
She sighed. ‘I think getting visitors up there is going to be half the battle. If they can see I’m doing that then maybe they’ll be a bit more open to doing their part.
I’d love to reopen the café if I could find someone to run it, it would bring a daily stream of visitors to the studios.
But while we were in there for our meeting this morning, I felt like it needed some TLC.
Not just cleaning, but some new countertops, maybe some new tables and chairs, a paint job.
Some of the studios need a bit of love too, or at least some more shelves or tables to display their work on.
Ethel’s quilts are in a big pile on the floor.
’ She chewed her lip. ‘Maybe we can hold a painting party, invite people up here to help with the painting in return for free pizza.’ She sighed, she didn’t think many people would give up their time just for some pizza.
‘There is a small kitty of money,’ Luke said. ‘If there is some decorating or any repairs that need doing, especially with your plans to reopen the café, there is a bit of money to do any renovations with.’
‘Oh my nan never mentioned that. I got the impression she didn’t have any money at all.’
‘It’s just for any improvements or repairs. So let me know what you need and I’ll get it for you or arrange it. I know a lot of local tradespeople so I can get jobs done quite quickly.’
Flick felt herself brighten at the prospect of smartening up the place. ‘I’ll make a list today. ’
She looked around. They were on the far side of the village green, which was surrounded by brightly coloured shops and houses.
She was surprised to see pirate flags flying from every tree, lamppost and shop window.
There were skeletons in cages, parrots perched on top of lamp posts, and cannons dotted around the green that certainly hadn’t been there when she used to come here as a child.
‘What’s with all the pirate stuff?’
‘Oh, we have our annual pirate festival on Saturday, everyone dresses up, there’s skirmishes on the boats, cannons being fired and lots of bands singing sea shanties. It’s a lot of fun. Well, for half the town. The other half all roll their eyes and laugh at grown adults dressing up.’
‘Which half are you?’
He closed one eye and hooked a finger. ‘Arrr,’ he growled.
She laughed.
Polly came over then with two trays laden with burgers and fries. They both thanked her and she went back to the van.
Flick tucked into her burger. ‘Oh my god, this is amazing.’
Luke grinned. ‘I know, Bumblebees does the best burgers in Lovegrove Bay.’
Flick popped a chip in her mouth. ‘These are great too, crispy, fluffy and perfectly seasoned.’
‘I think she uses paprika.’
‘They’re delicious. ’
‘Polly is a culinary queen. She does the best bacon or sausage sandwiches in the mornings for breakfast, and burgers, baked potatoes and other sandwiches for lunch. A lot of people just come here for the fries. She does great hot chocolates too, with lots of different flavours. Coffees and teas too of course.’
‘Do you think she wants a job running a café?’ Flick joked.
Luke paused with a chip halfway to his mouth.
‘Why don’t you ask her? Her Bumblebee van is a bit limited in terms of size and its cooking capabilities but it’s flexible, she can take it wherever she wants and Waterfall House is a little bit out of the way so not as much footfall as she gets down here.
But we used to get loads of visitors up there when the café was open so maybe being out the way won’t matter with the right person running the place. ’
Flick swallowed her mouthful of burger as she stared at him. She wasn’t sure whether Polly would go for it, but there was only one way to find out. As Polly was clearing away the rubbish from the next table, Flick waved her over.
‘Is everything OK with the food?’ Polly asked, as she walked closer.
‘Everything is great. Better than great actually. We were wondering if you wanted a job?’
Polly looked at her in surprise. ‘A catering job?’
‘I’m from Waterfall House, up on Waterfall Hill.’
‘The House with the Wonky Tree? Yes, I know it.’
‘I’m Audrey’s granddaughter and I’m taking over the management of the place. We want to reopen the café and we’d like you to run it.’
Polly blinked in surprise.
‘It’d be totally yours to do with what you want.
But really we’d like the same kind of thing you’re doing here, bacon and sausage sandwiches for breakfast, burgers, chips, baked potatoes and sandwiches for lunch, maybe some cakes.
Though if you wanted to do something more elaborate that would be fine too. ’
‘What are your terms? Am I renting the place off you or are you employing me and paying me a wage?’
Flick cursed that she hadn’t really thought this through. She certainly didn’t have any money to employ her and she didn’t want to have to think about sorting out national insurance or anything else as an employer.
‘The place would be yours, just like the van,’ Luke said, looking at Flick to see if she agreed.
Flick nodded.
‘I lease the van.’
‘Well, there would be no rent or overheads to pay at the café,’ Luke went on.
‘All income would be yours for the first two months which will give you enough time to establish yourself and get it up and running. After that, you’d pay us twenty-five percent just like the artists do when they sell one of their pieces. ’
Polly stared at them, considering their offer, then she looked at the van fondly, painted bright yellow with bees and flowers round the sides. ‘I love my little bumblebee van.’
Flick’s heart sank. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy .
‘But I’ve always dreamed of having my own café or restaurant one day – although I’m not sure if Waterfall House is the right place for me.’
‘Maybe you could use the experience of running a bigger place, see what you would do if you had your own place one day,’ Flick said.
‘I have to be honest, reopening the café is our last-ditch attempt at saving the studios. If we can’t make a profit for the studios in six months, the place will be sold,’ she added.
‘And I know that isn’t a great incentive but at least if you gave us six months and you didn’t like it, it’s not a big commitment.
You could even keep the van and just work in the café in the mornings and then come back down here in your van for the lunchtime rush, or work in the café three or four days a week and use the van on other days. ’
‘We’ll pay for all your food and supplies for the first two months,’ Luke added. ‘After that it will have to come out of your income.’
Polly chewed her lip. ‘I need to think about this.’
‘I understand,’ Luke said. ‘But we do need someone to start as soon as possible. Why don’t you come up to the café this afternoon, once you’ve finished here, and we can show you around and you can see if it’s somewhere you’d like to work.
Also if the café needs any utensils or… blenders or coffee machines or anything else you can think of, we can make a list of things we’ll get, within reason, to make the place work for you.
No pressure, or commitment, just come and have a look. ’
She nodded. ‘OK, but just a look. It’s not a yes.’
‘Of course,’ Flick said, trying and failing not to get her hopes up. ‘We were going to give it a lick of paint too, so if there’s a colour scheme that works for you, you could let us know about that as well.’
Polly smiled cautiously. ‘I’ll see you this afternoon.’
With that she returned to her van.
‘What do you think, will she do it?’ Flick asked as she returned her attention to her delicious burger.
‘I don’t know. I think she’d be perfect but it’s a big change and not necessarily the best thing for her.’
Flick smiled. ‘Did you bring me down here because you thought she would be a good fit?’
He grinned. ‘Maybe. You said you wanted someone to run the café, Polly has the skills and the experience. I thought it would be good for the two of you to at least meet.’
‘Crafty.’
‘Practical. When we get back, I want you to look at the shop space next door to the café. I think you should open a gift shop. People love a gift shop. There are catalogues that you can order gifts like scarves, gloves, cuddly toys, calendars, diaries, bird feeders from, that sort of thing. You buy them at cost price and sell them with a mark-up. You can source local foods like honey, jam, pickles, cheeses and sell those too. If you don’t feel comfortable enough to have your own studio space to sell your wish jars, you could sell them in the shop.
But mostly you could sell craft supplies: paints, brushes, canvases, embroidery threads, wool, crochet and knitting needles, clay, maybe little kits to make mosaics or everything you need to start painting, or fused glass kits, just as you imagined. ’
‘But I don’t know the first thing about running a business.’
‘You don’t need to. You source stuff, you sell it, that’s it.
If stuff sells well you buy more, if it doesn’t you don’t.
If people ask if you sell something you haven’t got, tell them you can order it in and we’ll find it somewhere.
If lots of people ask for something like chocolate or candles, order some in and see if they sell well too.
But at least, in some small way, you’d be living out your dreams to sell craft supplies. ’
‘You make it sound so simple.’
‘It doesn’t have to be hard.’
Flick wanted to protest. She couldn’t run a shop. Could she?
‘There’s enough money in the kitty to buy some stock to start you off.’
‘There is?’
‘Yes, we can stretch to that. What have you got to lose? In six months Waterfall House could be gone so you might as well give it a go.’
She bit her lip as she thought, unable to come up with any more reasons why she shouldn’t.
‘I’ll have a look. It’s not a yes.’
He grinned. ‘I understand.’