Instant promotion in the field

Unfazed by Barry’s exit, Tobes sidled into the kitchen towards Tom, the washer-upper, as if nothing had happened.

“Tom........... we’ve got a party of Americans arriving at 4:30 and they’re expecting a traditional British cream tea. Barry’s not well, could you knock up a batch of scones for them? Here’s the recipe; it’s dead easy; you can do it.

Tom, just 16, hadn’t even boiled an egg before! He likes a challenge though...

At 4:30 the Americans arrived. With no concept of the British ‘scone’, they thought them ‘really quaint’, and tipped Tom accordingly!

Like he’d won the lottery!