The Tobacconists
It was a different world.
Masculine.
I enjoyed being part of it.
Shouted tips for the 3:30 and swearing at football predictions.
Hand on chin by the till, propped on the glass topped display counter. (Old fashioned in 1986.) My elbows hovered above Montecristo’s and carved bowls of Meerschaum pipes. I watched red faced men struggle to reach their mags. Being green, I never offered them a bag.
About 11am 'Ounce of SP please' (said with a lisping nasal twang) would come in.
Sometimes the boss let me take an empty wooden cigar box home. It was the only perk.
- Category: True Stories Told As Fiction
- Tags: tobacconists
3 comments add one below
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Neville Hunt over 7 years ago
You have to take what perks you can. Montrcristos were my favourites in the days of yore before I kicked the cigar habit - in the days of expense accounts. Never really cared for ciggies though. (Making the blighters stretch to the max for their top shelf consumption...and not helping them hide their sordid purchases either. You adopted the correct strategy, even if it was 'green'!)
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Tim Jones over 7 years ago
Sounds fab in an odd way. Imagine the next generation never experiencing indoor smoking. I miss it!
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Lisa Williams over 7 years ago
Nev- Seem to remember they came in their own tubes? X
Tim- It was odd, there was an unused old fashioned barbers downstairs- like some one had left in the 50s & not returned. Surreal really X
