Page 16 of Love's Harvest
Sarah’s gaze took in a girl of average height and size, brown hair, and pretty blue eyes.She was wearing a blue skirt, a white blouse, and white sneakers.
“Hi, April,” said Sarah, getting to her feet.“We’re glad you’ve agreed to help us out for a while.I think you’ll like the job.Unloading stock, opening boxes is a little like Christmas.”
April lips stretched into a nervous smile.“Thanks for having me.Ms.Toomey told me I was lucky to get this job, but that I was excellent with numbers, and that’s what you needed.”
“Exactly,” said Sarah.“I also know how careful you are about doing your work and completing it.That means the world to us.”
April stood quietly, clinging to her hands.
“This downstairs floor is where most of the receivables is entered into our computer system, marked, and stored.From here it goes into our display of goods.The heavier, bulky items like mowers and snow blowers are brought to a storage area near our receiving dock to be entered in our system and marked.”
“Are all the holiday things stored here?I thought I saw a Christmas tree,” said April gazing around the large space.
“Yes.We can have some fun with some of the Halloween things I’ve ordered.I’m going to do a holiday window display, and our store will be a stop on the Halloween parade of treats.”
“Nice,” said April.“The kids in my neighborhood love to get dressed up.I’m too old.”
“If you want to be part of handing out candy here for the parade, you can dress up then,” said Sarah.“We could use the help.”
“Okay,” said April, her eyes shining.
At that moment, Sarah knew she’d do anything to help April.She’d already seen beneath her solemn, anxious appearance to the adorable, eager girl just waiting to bloom.
Sarah led April over to a long table where a small box sat.A larger box sat on the floor.
“This is where we receive orders.We open the box, get the packing slip out, and check to make sure everything that is on that sheet is actually here in the box exactly as ordered.Sometimes descriptions are available.Other times, only the numbers for different items are shown.”
April nodded politely.
Sarah held up the box cutter.“This is very sharp.You need to be careful with it and very careful opening the boxes, so you don’t harm yourself or what’s inside the box.Here.”
April accepted the cutter from Sarah and worked carefully to open the box.
“These are for my Halloween display,” said Sarah.“A black cat, a witch’s hat, and some little stuffed mice.Look.Each mouse is a little different.This is where you have to be careful in checking them off on the packing slip.”
Sarah let April set the pace as she worked her way through the items in the box.
When she was done, Sarah said, “Okay, now we have to enter this items into the computer.First, we look for the company and bring up its account in our system.Then we enter the date we received it, today, and then we use our automatic screening device to input the numbers to our computer.In doing so, it will automatically determine the sales price.When that work is completed, we can print off a sheet of sticker prices to use for each item.”
April studied the sheets.
“So, it makes sense?”
April gave her an unsure look.“Yes, but I’ll need to do it a few times to get comfortable.”
“Of course,” said Sarah.“That’s how we all learn.Let’s complete this exercise by tagging only what items we are going to sell.We can keep the others without tags because they’re part of our window decorations and can’t be sold.”
Sarah stood by, reminding herself not to jump in as April figured out which of the items needed tagging.She wanted to give April a chance to have some success.
“There,” said April.“I’m done.”
“Great,” said Sarah.“Now I need to show you how you put tags on soft items like these.Other items in other boxes may need stickers affixed to them.”
Later, after stowing the display items on a special shelf, Sarah turned to April.“Okay, we’re done for the day.Do you have a way to get home?”
“I brought my bike,” said April.
“Are you able to come after school tomorrow?”At April’s nod, Sarah continued.“Let me show you the clock where you check in and out.It’s important you do it both times so we can get your hours for payroll.Don’t worry.I’ll make a note on the card that you arrived at two thirty.”
