Special Effects: The Jacket

Daniel's mother sat in the old, shabby, creaky chair at the back of the second-hand clothing shop. She folded the last of a pile of jerseys and lifted them carefully up to a shelf. Then she sighed. It was the end of another long day. Only a handful of people had come in, and most of them had been friends. They came to chat, not to buy.

The back room of the shop was dark, and smelled of damp, musty clothes. It was a depressing job, in some ways, but good too because at least it gave her something to do - something to get her out of the house for the day. Many people, who would not admit to the word 'poor' came to buy their clothes here. It was the only place in town where they could afford them. And besides, there were some great bargains.

Daniel's mother was always on the look out for a bargain too. She liked to be the first to open the bags or parcels. When the churches or charities dropped them in, she would carry the bundles to the backroom and start sorting through, with a rather greedy look in her eye.

Socks, shirts, coats, jackets, dresses, children's wear, shoes, books, even handbags, and gloves. Sometimes the clothing was as good as new. This was the best part of the job: finding the new stuff.

Just as the clock ticked around to 4 pm a scruffy little girl came in, hugging a brown paper parcel. She tottered up to the counter and heaved her load on to the scratched glass top.

"Mum says this is for you," she said in a soft, high voice.

"Thanks dear," said Daniel's Mum.

The girl smiled shyly and ran out of the shop. The door banged shut after her, and Daniel's Mum was left in the quiet. She picked the parcel up and took it to the back room. She put the parcel down and stripped off the sellotape.

Clothes. A large, grey, woman's coat. Old-fashioned. It smelled of camphor. Daniel's mother put it to one side and flicked through the other garments.

A pair of trousers, three pairs of black socks, a bundle of handkerchiefs and a jacket. It was a good jacket too. Nearly new. Good material. Well sewn. Nice styling. Desirable.

Daniel's Mum held the jacket up to herself and considered. Yes, it was exactly the right size. She would take it home for her son. He would be very pleased