understand how I feel
about Deputy Ben.”
Can I? Hmm.
The next morning
CeCe and I opened the shop as usual.
“I’m starting the
coffee,” CeCe announced and headed straight for the back where the coffee maker
lives. We have a small kitchenette across from the dressing rooms equipped
with a microwave, refrigerator, toaster oven, and the previously mentioned, all
important coffee maker.
The sun streamed
brightly through the front windows of the Big and Blessed shop early each
morning. I was feeling very relaxed and contented while I enjoyed the cozy
feeling our business gave me, which was unlike me before coffee. I started
straightening racks and thinking about how much I love this place. In addition
to feeling at home, due to spending afternoons and weekends here while growing
up, there was the whole being my own boss thing.
CeCe and I both
had part time jobs throughout our college years, so there wasn’t a day that
went by that we didn’t appreciate working without a supervisor. I did have a
head honcho or two in my past that I appreciated. A couple of them were pretty
cool. However, the bosses that stood out in my memories and still made me
cringe were the ones who fell into the categories of extremely eccentric, just plain
ignorant/lazy, or pure evil.
My thoughts were
interrupted by the tinkling door bells as customers entered. The two women who
entered the shop looked at me expectantly as they stopped just inside the
doorway.
“Welcome to the
Big and Blessed shop,” I greeted. “May I help you find something?”
“You’re Pearl’s
daughter, aren’t you? My daughter Melissa is feeling a little depressed, and I
thought a new outfit might make her feel better,” the older woman explained.
I thought they
looked familiar when they walked in, but I was having trouble coming up with
the names. When she said her daughter’s name, recognition hit me.
“Melissa? How are
you? Remember, we went to high school at the same time, though I think you
were a little younger – maybe a grade behind me? Oh, and yes ma’am, I’m
Maggie, Pearl’s daughter. Is this the first baby and grandbaby?” I asked
carefully.
“First?” Melissa
shrieked. “Try fourth. And my mother is mistaken. I am not a little
depressed. I am extremely upset ! Do you want to know how old my third
child is? 13 months! You know how old my first one is? Four!”
“Now dear,” her
mother interjected. “He’ll be five next month. Melissa loves her children,”
she explained turning to me. “She’s just a little, uh, surprised by this
pregnancy.”
“Idiot moron
doctor,” Melissa clarified. Then she quoted him, “‘ I’m afraid, Mrs. Pentella,
you will not be able to have any more children.’ ” As Melissa mimicked the
doctor’s words, a look came into her eyes that did not bode well for the good
doctor. “Oh, he’ll be afraid all right, when I go over there and kick his
ass!”
Since I had no
idea how to respond to that, I decided getting down to business might be the
safe way to go.
“What kind of
outfit are you looking for today? How about a dress? Maybe you would like a
nice blouse and pants set?” I asked Melissa, but it was her mother who
responded.
“What about a pair
of comfortable pants and a smart looking top? Would you like that, dear?”
Melissa’s mother encouraged.
While her mother
and I both looked hopefully at Melissa, her face turned a little pink, her eyes
grew moist, and her bottom lip began to quiver.
“I have to pee,”
she announced as she bolted for the back so we wouldn’t see her cry. Or maybe
she really did have to pee. What do I know?
“You go right
ahead, dear. Maggie and I will choose some lovely things for you to try on
when you get back,” her mother assured her. The last of her mother’s message
was yelled toward the closed bathroom door at the rear of the shop.
“Poor thing,” she
confided in a hushed
about Deputy Ben.”
Can I? Hmm.
The next morning
CeCe and I opened the shop as usual.
“I’m starting the
coffee,” CeCe announced and headed straight for the back where the coffee maker
lives. We have a small kitchenette across from the dressing rooms equipped
with a microwave, refrigerator, toaster oven, and the previously mentioned, all
important coffee maker.
The sun streamed
brightly through the front windows of the Big and Blessed shop early each
morning. I was feeling very relaxed and contented while I enjoyed the cozy
feeling our business gave me, which was unlike me before coffee. I started
straightening racks and thinking about how much I love this place. In addition
to feeling at home, due to spending afternoons and weekends here while growing
up, there was the whole being my own boss thing.
CeCe and I both
had part time jobs throughout our college years, so there wasn’t a day that
went by that we didn’t appreciate working without a supervisor. I did have a
head honcho or two in my past that I appreciated. A couple of them were pretty
cool. However, the bosses that stood out in my memories and still made me
cringe were the ones who fell into the categories of extremely eccentric, just plain
ignorant/lazy, or pure evil.
My thoughts were
interrupted by the tinkling door bells as customers entered. The two women who
entered the shop looked at me expectantly as they stopped just inside the
doorway.
“Welcome to the
Big and Blessed shop,” I greeted. “May I help you find something?”
“You’re Pearl’s
daughter, aren’t you? My daughter Melissa is feeling a little depressed, and I
thought a new outfit might make her feel better,” the older woman explained.
I thought they
looked familiar when they walked in, but I was having trouble coming up with
the names. When she said her daughter’s name, recognition hit me.
“Melissa? How are
you? Remember, we went to high school at the same time, though I think you
were a little younger – maybe a grade behind me? Oh, and yes ma’am, I’m
Maggie, Pearl’s daughter. Is this the first baby and grandbaby?” I asked
carefully.
“First?” Melissa
shrieked. “Try fourth. And my mother is mistaken. I am not a little
depressed. I am extremely upset ! Do you want to know how old my third
child is? 13 months! You know how old my first one is? Four!”
“Now dear,” her
mother interjected. “He’ll be five next month. Melissa loves her children,”
she explained turning to me. “She’s just a little, uh, surprised by this
pregnancy.”
“Idiot moron
doctor,” Melissa clarified. Then she quoted him, “‘ I’m afraid, Mrs. Pentella,
you will not be able to have any more children.’ ” As Melissa mimicked the
doctor’s words, a look came into her eyes that did not bode well for the good
doctor. “Oh, he’ll be afraid all right, when I go over there and kick his
ass!”
Since I had no
idea how to respond to that, I decided getting down to business might be the
safe way to go.
“What kind of
outfit are you looking for today? How about a dress? Maybe you would like a
nice blouse and pants set?” I asked Melissa, but it was her mother who
responded.
“What about a pair
of comfortable pants and a smart looking top? Would you like that, dear?”
Melissa’s mother encouraged.
While her mother
and I both looked hopefully at Melissa, her face turned a little pink, her eyes
grew moist, and her bottom lip began to quiver.
“I have to pee,”
she announced as she bolted for the back so we wouldn’t see her cry. Or maybe
she really did have to pee. What do I know?
“You go right
ahead, dear. Maggie and I will choose some lovely things for you to try on
when you get back,” her mother assured her. The last of her mother’s message
was yelled toward the closed bathroom door at the rear of the shop.
“Poor thing,” she
confided in a hushed
Similar Books
