How did I end up selling newspapers?
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
December 7, 2015 8:29am CST
Most days I take a quick trip into the city centre to break up the day. A friend of mine has been selling the Manchester Evening News from a stand for many years now, so I often wander round and have a chat with him.
Today I arrived, along with a cup of coffee for him, only to have him say that he needed to go to the toilet in the Arndale Centre. Of course I could not refuse to help and leave him standing there and unable to leave the stand, so I had little option but to agree to watch the place in his absence.
I never expected to end up selling newspapers from a stand, but fortunately it was not busy in his absence.
13 people like this
13 responses
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
7 Dec 15
Well it is about time you found gainful employement!! You have been enjoying retirement way too much lol
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Dec 15
@BelleStarr The Manchester Evening News is free two days per week, so on those days he could have just left the stand unattended. Of course he has to pick a day that they cost 70 pence and con me into it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
7 Dec 15
@Asylum Having worked in the circulation department at a newspaper I am very familiar with the process and have sold a few myself over the counter!!
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
8 Dec 15
Looks like you can meet a lot of people like this. But also not such an easy job. when it's cold you watn a lot of warm liquid to drink. In this condition it can be very hard to find a person to take your place. Good you were there in time to help him ut.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
7 Dec 15
I often wondered what people did when they worked alone, but needed to visit the loo. Now I know.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
8 Dec 15
@Asylum That would be annoying on a daily basis. It was annoying being a teacher, and not allowed to "go" when nature called.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Dec 15
@ElizabethWallace I agree, it must be a very difficult situation to be in.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
9 Dec 15
What a good friend you were to be there just in time for your friend.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
8 Dec 15
@Asylum Great!
You should have kept the profit of selling three news papes with you.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Dec 15
I only sold 3, but he was only away for 10 to 15 minutes. Oddly it became busy as soon as he returned, so it may be that many of his customers know him and look out for him.
Of course he was not really interested in the number of papers sold and simply wanted someone he could trust to ensure that nothing was taken while he was away.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 15
Moonlighting now are we? I hope you managed to see one or two?
