On his return to the harbour, Jamie decided to buy a coffee and went into the fishmongers-cum-cafe. The fresh fish counter was empty, waiting for the day’s catch to come in. A woman in her late twenties was looking after the shop. Jamie ordered a white coffee and, on seeing some scones and cake for sale, asked for a scone also. There were no other customers in the shop and Andy sat down at a table. When she brought the coffee and scone out the woman spoke to Jamie, “You’re visiting here, then?’ she queried.
“Yes,” replied Jamie, “I’m over from West Sanby to buy some fish from Mr Walmar for the pub.”
“He’ll be in with the high tide,” she said, and went on, “Are you new in West Sanby? I thought I knew everyone there.”
Jamie nodded in reply. “Yes, I haven’t been there long.”
Just then a hooter sounded outside the harbour. “That’ll be the boats coming back,” the woman said. “By the way,” she went on, “What’s your name?”
“I’m Jamie,” he replied, “Jamie Rogerson.”
“I’m Yvonne,” the woman said. “Nice to meet you.”
Jamie returned the courtesy with a, “Likewise. I might see you again.”
She gave him a smile and said, “And buy the fish from me next time.” Jamie nodded his reply, finished his coffee and headed out of the shop to see the arrival of the fishing boats. There was a harbour wall with large iron rings cemented into it for mooring the fishing boats. At low tide the boats would be sitting on the bottom. With the tide now up, the first vessel was chugging up the channel into the harbour. Four other fishing boats were strung out in a line along the channel leading into the harbour. Behind him, a female voice said, “Walmar’s vessel is the Penny Jane. He named it after his wife.”
Jamie turned to see Yvonne standing near him watching the fishing boats coming in. She smiled at him and he returned the smile with a “Thanks,” and went back to watching the vessels coming in.
Yvonne continued, “It’s the third boat coming in. You can tell it by the distinctive red band painted around the hull below the bulwarks.”
It was almost as though she wanted to engage Jamie in conversation. He sensed this and stepped back so that he was standing level with her instead of in front of her, nodding to her as he did so. “Thank you. I assume Walmar will moor his boat in front of his shed?” he queried.
“Yes,” said Yvonne, “that would be normal.”
“How come Walmar is selling fish directly to my boss and not through the co-operative?” Jamie asked.
Yvonne replied, “They all have special customers that they deal directly with but it’s only a small portion of the catch. Most of it is sold through the co-operative. It also buys a lot of items they need for their boats and for the fishing. It works well for them.”
Jamie replied, “It must be interesting working the co-operative with such a variety of duties. Do you do most of the work?”
“Yes,” Yvonne replied. “I look after the office and the shop. I get some help at weekends when we get a lot of visitors. People come for the fresh fish and crabs.” Jamie thought to himself that Yvonne may well be a useful source of information so he decided to be friendly without going beyond friendship.
The old man that had been mending pots was pulling trolleys out and parking them at each mooring spot. The boxes of fish would be put onto them to be taken to the co-operative’s cold store. Jamie thought that he may look old but he was certainly fit. The first boat was now entering the harbour and it headed for the mooring near the shed of Anderson Bros. Other people were now arriving at the harbour, mainly women. No doubt they are wives of the fishermen, thought Jamie. “I’m going to be pretty busy very soon,” said Yvonne. “I’ll see you again?” she asked of Jamie.
“Well, yes. Certainly,” he replied, caught a little off-guard by the directness of the question. She gave him a warm smile and walked over to the fishing boat that was now at its mooring. A few minutes later, the Penny Jane arrived at its mooring and Jamie walked towards it. A woman
