Well after 6 months learning the shoe business in the bargain basement an opportunity arose for me to become assistant manager in the upstairs classy departments. We had women's shoes on the third floor with the fine clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics, children's on the 4th floor with the toys and pet department. Men's shoes were on the street level with candy and perfume and assorted other departments.
I got to wear a suit and tie and actually work with a class of people who to me seemed upper class and well bread. When you come from a small working class town, being able to go to work in air condition, wear fine clothes and well basically not come home dirty and sweaty, it was a sense of refinement. The funny thing is is that the farm and factory workers made as much money as the retail folks. It wasn't about the money to me it was about not being a "blue collar" worker.
Well, I was doing just fine and really enjoying the experience for the most part. I loved selling in the men's shoe dept during the guy who was a fixture there with his own book of trade went to lunch. He was a very classy guy and the guy I wanted to emulate. I wanted to be a gentleman. This was the closest I could get.
