Charity Begins At Home
All it took was the enthusiasm of a friend to help Nancy blossom and find her voice once more…
Although Nancy only really met Sadie when she started volunteering in the same charity shop as her, she felt like she’d known her for a long time.
Sadie was instantly recognisable around town and would probably be best described as a ‘character’, with her long flowing skirts, her leather biker jacket and her ever-changing array of chunky beads and bangles.
It was her hair that Nancy had always noticed, though.
Sadie had glossy hair that was styled into big, loose waves and was a beautiful red colour.
And Nancy definitely meant red – not ginger, not auburn – but scarlet, obviously dyed, and with an amazing sheen to it.
Any time Sadie had passed her on the street, or in the supermarket, Nancy had silently sighed to herself, wishing that she could have hair as bold as that.
Her husband, Ron, was not so impressed. He came up with a nickname and referred to Sadie as “the hippy chick’, then made jokes about her having got lost on her way back from Glastonbury.
Nancy cringed. Since when had her husband become so petty? Sadie wasn’t doing anyone any harm and she always looked so cheerful and full of life.
Unlike Nancy, who felt like a shadow of her former self, having come through the menopause, retirement from her job at the bank, and the departure of her three grown-up children from the family home over the past few years.
Now sixty-two, she often failed to see what her purpose was any more, apart from doing all the housework and the cooking.
Ron felt this was a fair division of labour in the house, seeing as how he still went out to work each day. And although Nancy didn’t agree with him – after all, she’d still done most of it when she was working full-time herself – she realised she was just grateful that Ron left the house every day for up to ten hours. Blessed relief…
After being retired for a few months, Nancy decided to do her bit and volunteer in one of the many charity shops on the High Street. She picked the one that had the prettiest window display and walked in to offer her services.
Which is when she met Sadie properly, and when things began to change.
“Hi, what can I do for you?” Sadie said.
Nancy felt nervous and embarrassed, and very old and faded compared to Sadie, who was dressed in polka-dot dungarees over a long-sleeved red top.
“I was wondering if you could use some help…” Nancy mumbled. “I’ve just retired and I could do a few hours a week.”
Sadie grinned. “Perfect timing!” she said. “One of our younger volunteers has just left for a permanent job so we have all her hours to fill. I’m Sadie. You are…?”
“Nancy – I’m Nancy.”
And so after filling in some forms and being given a whirlwind tour of the shop, the stockroom and the office, Nancy was taken on as a store volunteer and given a rota of twelve hours a week.
Sadie was actually a paid employee rather than a volunteer and shared the role of store manager with Frank, a mild-mannered man in his thirties.
Nancy soon realised that although she had worked in a bank for most of her career, the charity shop was a different kind of customer service altogether.
It was like being part of a family.
Many of the customers were regulars, who often came in just for a chat, or for some company.
Nancy soon grew familiar with them and enjoyed the friendly, easy-going pace of the store. She liked sorting through the bags of donations, took pride in creating the window displays and most of all, loved having Sadie as a new friend.
She was unlike anyone Nancy had ever met before, and not just because of how she dressed or coloured her hair. She was a ball of energy and had a positive outlook on everything.
Over coffee one day, when the shop was quiet, Sadie had given Nancy a brief summary of her life.
She’d trained as a hairdresser and opened her first salon before she was thirty. By the time she’d retired, at the age of sixty, she had a chain of four busy hair studios in different towns and managed to sell them all on as a going concern, meaning she didn’t have to worry about money any more. She had moved into the local area a couple of years back.
“What brought you to Newhaven then?” Nancy asked. “It’s not exactly bustling with excitement – aren’t you bored around here?”
Sadie laughed. “There’s excitement to be found everywhere, Nancy – you just have to look for it!”
Then she explained that she’d moved here to look after her mother, who had been ill and had died last year, though Sadie smiled and said they’d had a lovely time together during that final year.
By then, Sadie had felt quite settled in Newhaven and had decided to stay on, selling her mum’s large house to buy a little cottage near the park.
There was no husband – Sadie had been married and divorced twice, and had two sons who were currently away travelling together.
Nancy couldn’t help but envy her new friend’s life. It seemed so free and easy!
No rushing to get the dinner on the table for six every night, or having to iron Ron’s work shirts, or make sure the house looked spotless for him coming home each evening – for a man who did zero housework himself, he had surprisingly high standards of cleanliness.
Before long, the three afternoons Nancy worked in the charity shop became the highlight of her week.
She felt more relaxed, yet full of purpose, and found herself being chatty and even witty around Sadie.
Over the past few years, Nancy had become more quiet and withdrawn, allowing Ron to do all the talking. She’d sometimes wondered if she’d just run out of things to say.
With Sadie, though, there was suddenly lots to chat about – books, clothes, films, food, celebrities, politics and so much more. Nancy felt alive again.
One day, as they were sorting through stock, Sadie held up a purple jumpsuit.
“Nancy, this would look amazing on you!”she announced, holding the item against her. “I insist you try it on and if it fits, I’m going to buy it for you as a gift.”
Nancy blushed, secretly pleased.
“What? No, don’t be silly, Sadie! I could never get away with wearing something like that…”
But Sadie only tutted and ushered her towards the small changing room.
“What are you talking about, Nancy? You’ll look amazing! Although you try to hide it under your sensible jumpers and loose trousers, you have a great figure for a woman your age – and I’m allowed to say it because I’m about the same age as you!”
Nancy gave in and went into the changing room, where she cast aside her clothes and stepped into the jumpsuit, which was silky and fitted yet comfortable and stylish.
She turned to look in the mirror and gasped at what she saw.
Sadie had been right – the fit and colour of the jumpsuit was perfect and it was probably the most flattering outfit Nancy had worn in years.
She stepped out into the shop and did a twirl for Sadie, who applauded loudly.
“Nancy, you look stunning!” she said.
“That jumpsuit was made for you and I insist you keep it on. The shop closes in ten minutes, it’s Friday and we’re going to go for a celebration drink at the wine bar along the road!”
“You’re kidding!” Nancy said. “I can’t go anywhere – I have to get home to make Ron’s dinner…”
Even as she said it, Nancy realised how pathetic she sounded. When had she turned into such a dull, dutiful wife? She’d been a feminist back in her student days!
Sadie laughed. “I’m sure Ron can manage without you for one night, Nancy! And if he can’t, well, it’s not like he’s going to starve to death!”
Although it was right in the town centre and looked very appealing, Nancy had never set foot in the wine bar before. They arrived just before six, when it was filling up with the post-work crowd, and Sadie guided them to a small table in the corner before heading to the bar to get the drinks.
“Is white wine OK for you, Nancy?” she called across the room and Nancy smiled, nodded and relaxed back into her seat.
The quick drink turned into a couple more, before Sadie suggested they stay on for a bar supper.
“The food here is really good,” she said. “Let’s order a sharing platter and a couple of salads, then we can just pick and choose what we eat!”
Nancy loved this spontaneous way of dining. At home, there was a fixed menu set in advance for the week – Friday was pork chop night – yet the truth was, Nancy often wasn’t in the mood for cooking or eating a big meal. It had just become habit.
Maybe she could persuade Ron to change his ways a bit.
She’d sent him a text earlier to let him know what she was up to and smiled to herself as she imagined his reaction.
Finally, as it approached nine, Nancy insisted she had to get home, and the two women shared a taxi.
Nancy felt bubbly and happy as she opened the front door as quietly as she could and popped her head into the living room, where Ron was watching TV.
The remains of his supper – which had apparently been toast and tea – were on the coffee table.
“Nancy! Finally! Where on earth have you been? And what is that you’re wearing?”Ron spluttered.
The old Nancy might have felt embarrassed and foolish at this point.
The new version simply smiled and sat down.
“I went to the wine bar with Sadie for Friday drinks, to show off this lovely jumpsuit that she bought me as a gift!”
That seemed to do the trick as, for once, Ron was lost for words.
From then on, outings with Sadie became a regular occurrence. She’d produce tickets for a music event she’d heard about, or book a table at a new restaurant, or announce that they were having a “girls’ day out at the shops” and Nancy delightedly went along with it all.
Sadie was impulsive, generous and full of fun – it was impossible not to be caught up in her enthusiasm.
Ron sensed that Nancy was changing, becoming more confident, and wisely, no longer referred to Sadie as “the hippy chick”.
He began to make more effort around the house and even offered to cook at the weekends, which he turned out to have quite a talent for.
One day in the shop, Nancy and Sadie were sorting through a range of hats, occasionally trying them on and posing in front of the mirror.
Nancy sighed. “I sometimes wished we lived in the olden days, when women wore bonnets all the time – I’d love to keep my hair covered. It’s so dull.”
Sadie turned to her friend.
“Nancy, what are you talking about? You have great hair – you just need to find the right style. There’s no rule that says women over sixty should all have grey shoulder-length hair, you know.”
Nancy had almost forgotten that Sadie was a hairdresser and smiled at her.
“You know, I’ve always fancied getting a bit of colour in my hair, Sadie… What do you think?”
Sadie grinned. “I’m thinking a sleek pixie crop style with lavender highlights!”
It was incredible the difference a simple hair style could make.
Sadie took Nancy back to her cottage and in the space of two hours, had transformed her from a matronly-looking pensioner into a trendy, fun new woman.
Nancy had never loved a haircut so much in her life! It was shorter than she’d ever had, yet the long layers on top gave the impression of length, and the lavender highlights made the whole look work.
“Sadie, you’re a miracle worker!” she laughed. “I’d never have believed it was possible for me to like my hair again! And I don’t just like it – I love it!”
Sadie smiled and hugged her.
“Nancy, for some reason, you’ve been hiding yourself away from the world. It’s time you came out to play again. Let’s start with a glass of champagne!”
Sadie bustled about finding glasses and opening a chilled bottle from her fridge – somehow, it didn’t surprise Nancy that this fabulous woman simply kept champagne in her fridge as part of her normal routine – then they giggled and clinked the elegant flutes together as Sadie made a toast.
“To the new, improved Nancy – long may she reign!”
Ron did a double take when his wife strolled through the door an hour or so later.
“Nancy!” he gasped. “You look – absolutely stunning!”
It was as though he was looking at her for the first time, or could suddenly see her for the woman she was, and always had been.
He came over and hugged her.
“You look too nice to stay at home,” he declared. “Let’s go out for dinner somewhere special!”
Later that night, Nancy thought over all the changes that had happened recently, and was amazed at the difference that Sadie had made to her life.
She decided their friendship was fate taking a hand – she’d needed to get out of the rut she was in and Sadie had been just the person to force her to move.
A few days later, Sadie breezed into the charity shop with a huge smile on her face.
“Guess what, Nancy? I’ve decided to take a gap year!”
Nancy looked confused.
“A gap year? Where? Who with?”
Sadie laughed. “The boys called me last night. They’re in Australia, working on a fruit farm, but they’re moving to the coast next week and they’ve invited me to join them for a bit.
“I’ve always wanted to travel, but could never find the time, what with the salons, and the husbands and then my mum’s illness… Anyway, I think this might be the time!”
Nancy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d finally found a true friend, someone to take her out of herself, and now she was leaving?
“But, Sadie,” she said. “What about the shop? And your cottage? And – me?”
Sadie hugged her.
“I’m going to recommend that you take over my role as store manager, Nancy – if you’re interested – and I can leave the cottage empty for a while. I might not be away for a year, and I know I’ll be back here at some point, but I want to see the world, Nancy!
“Life’s an adventure – we have to grab it with both hands!”
And so a few weeks later, Sadie headed off to the airport, clutching a backpack – “Best to travel light – I can buy more clothes in charity shops overseas!”– and promising to send regular emails.
Which left Nancy on her own again. Only this time, she didn’t feel so lonely.
She was appointed co-manager of the charity shop and developed a good working relationship with Frank.
She told Ron that the fixed menus at home were a thing of the past – in future, there would be less meat, more salads and occasional sharing platters, some of them cooked by Ron.
Meanwhile, Sadie sent weekly updates from her travels and posted pictures from Australia, then New Zealand, then Thailand…
Nancy showed the photos to Ron. He smiled and said how impressed he was by Sadie’s courage and sense of adventure.
“I was thinking, Nancy – if Sadie can make a trip like that on her own, what’s to stop us doing something similar together? You’ve always wanted to visit Argentina.”
Nancy smiled. Sadie had been right – life was an adventure, and the new, confident Nancy now had every intention of grabbing it with both hands.
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