Check out the Part One of this story here, and next week I’ll share Part Three, the final installment.
As I said in Part One, Fred Nichols (owner of the A&P) basically hired me on the spot. Said I’d start off as a bagger. “Between customers, you can get up to speed on the layout of the store so you can point folks in the right direction if they have trouble finding things.”
Then he handed me a piece of paper. “Here’s a map. We move things around from time to time, but this is basically it. When can you start?”
“I could work after school a couple shifts a week and on weekends until school’s finished. Then I can work as many hours as you need.”
“Sounds good. I’m sure you’ll pick it up quick. How about starting this Saturday morning, 8:00?”
“Great! Thanks, Mr. Nichols. See you then.”
And that was that. He was right. I took to it like a fish to water. Learned the store real quick, got the hang of bagging. Studied cashiering as I bagged. Mostly, I loved chatting with folks and keeping up with the latest goings on in Mahoosuc Mills. Fred was a great boss so he had great employees.
I learned bagging from Sammy. He was this middle-aged guy with Down Syndrome. Back then, we just said he was a little slow. One of the happiest people I’ve ever met. Bagging at the A&P was the only job he’d ever had, and he was a master. His name tag read, “Sammy, Head Bagger.” He was proud of that title, and rightfully so. He weren’t the fastest bagger in the world, but no eggs were broken on his watch. I still use the techniques he taught me and I pass ‘em on to others. The key is to put the heavy stuff on the bottom and don’t overload the bag. Sounds easy, but it takes real skill to do it right. And Sammy did it right, every time.
I didn’t really stay a bagger all that long. By the time I finished school, I was working the register. Claudette Francoeur taught me the ropes. She’d been at the A&P forever. I mean, her employee number was 1. Claudette was quick, efficient and a smart aleck. So much fun to work with. And nothing, but I mean nothing, phased her. I mean, a car could crash through the front of the store (which actually happened). Sadie Smith, who always drove like a bat outta hell, put her Cadillac in drive instead of reverse, looked over her shoulder, and put the petal to the metal. Bam! Glass everywhere. Claudette’s reaction? She walked over to customer service, picked up the mic and said, “Clean up, front of store.” God, I still miss her. What a card!
I worked that summer, picking up as many hours as I could, and kept at it part time my senior year. A couple weeks after I graduated high school, Charlie and me were married.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Me and the A&P Part Two