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Authors: Jeanne Marie Leach
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feeling just fine. And
you?”
“I’m not doing too badly today. Of course, it’s been
so hot these days. The heat gives me such a terrible rash, but what’s a person
to do? One just has to take what comes their way. I sure do hope and pray for
rain soon, though. There’s the danger of fire whenever it gets this dry in
these parts, you know.”
And thus, Amelia was initiated at Conner’s Mercantile.
She allowed Mrs. Conner to just ramble on as she fingered the many interesting
goods they’d stocked. There were books and jewelry and dry goods. Home canned
foods, sealed safely in their glass jars lined several shelves. Amelia
particularly liked to touch the porcelain dolls, feeling their faces to try to
distinguish what they looked like, marveling at the softness of their gowns. All
in all, she decided it was a pretty standard emporium.
One item particularly caught her attention, though. It
felt like a figurine of a woman, apparently made of fine, smoothly glazed
porcelain. The lady stood about five inches tall on a round, wooden base. Amelia
spent extra time trying to observe every tiny detail of the miniature dress,
the lady’s facial features, and how her hair was pulled back upon her head.
Several other customers milled about the Mercantile,
so when she heard the footsteps of a gentleman come up behind her and stop, she
gave no particular thought to it.
“It’s musical,” Mrs. Conner said as she walked over to
her. “Here, let me wind it up for you. There’s a key on the bottom.” The woman
gingerly took the figurine from Amelia, and as she turned the key hidden on the
bottom the mechanism clicked. When she stopped winding it, she placed it on the
shelf and put Amelia’s hands on it. “And she twirls as the music plays.”
Amelia smiled with pleasure as she carefully held her
hands around the skirt of the tiny lady who slowly and gently raised and
twirled to the music.
“Her dress is pink.” Paul Strupel announced from his
position directly behind her.
She jumped at the sudden sound of his voice. “Paul.”
“I hope I didn’t startle you. I was just enjoying
myself by watching you enjoy yourself.” He chuckled. “Does that make any sense?”
“It makes perfect sense---I think.”
“Forgive me, Mr. Strupel. Is there something I could
help you with today?” Mrs. Conner gushed over Paul.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Conner. I was distracted by the town’s
newest member. Yes, I need my usual order of unlined, white paper. And I
thought I’d check to see if that sash saw blade has come in yet.”
“No. I’m sorry, it hasn’t I am surprised, too. Usually
that company is much more efficient than this. I’ll get your paper right
away.”
“It’s not your fault,” Paul replied. “As often as that
thing has broken down this past year and a half, I should just automatically
stock a couple extra blades. I just pray that the one I have doesn’t get caught
on a knothole or something. If you please, I would appreciate knowing
immediately when it comes in.”
“Of course.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you this morning,” Paul
said as he turned back to Amelia. “Whenever I get to spend a little time with
you in the morning, the rest of my day seems to go so much smoother.” He paused
a moment. “In fact, several things have gone wrong today. You know what, Amelia?
I think you’re a good luck charm.”
“Indeed?” She smiled at him.
“Are you enjoying your shopping?”
“Well, I’m not shopping . I’m just finger
shopping.”
“Finger shopping?” He smiled at her. “You never seemed
to run out of things that intrigued me.”
“Yes. You see, sometimes, when I feel nosy and want to
find out if I’m missing anything, I just put my fingers on everything in the
shop, and my snoopiness is satisfied.”
Paul laughed enthusiastically. Everything about her
mesmerized him, the way the light danced off her silky hair, her sweet smile,
her sense of humor, the tasteful
you?”
“I’m not doing too badly today. Of course, it’s been
so hot these days. The heat gives me such a terrible rash, but what’s a person
to do? One just has to take what comes their way. I sure do hope and pray for
rain soon, though. There’s the danger of fire whenever it gets this dry in
these parts, you know.”
And thus, Amelia was initiated at Conner’s Mercantile.
She allowed Mrs. Conner to just ramble on as she fingered the many interesting
goods they’d stocked. There were books and jewelry and dry goods. Home canned
foods, sealed safely in their glass jars lined several shelves. Amelia
particularly liked to touch the porcelain dolls, feeling their faces to try to
distinguish what they looked like, marveling at the softness of their gowns. All
in all, she decided it was a pretty standard emporium.
One item particularly caught her attention, though. It
felt like a figurine of a woman, apparently made of fine, smoothly glazed
porcelain. The lady stood about five inches tall on a round, wooden base. Amelia
spent extra time trying to observe every tiny detail of the miniature dress,
the lady’s facial features, and how her hair was pulled back upon her head.
Several other customers milled about the Mercantile,
so when she heard the footsteps of a gentleman come up behind her and stop, she
gave no particular thought to it.
“It’s musical,” Mrs. Conner said as she walked over to
her. “Here, let me wind it up for you. There’s a key on the bottom.” The woman
gingerly took the figurine from Amelia, and as she turned the key hidden on the
bottom the mechanism clicked. When she stopped winding it, she placed it on the
shelf and put Amelia’s hands on it. “And she twirls as the music plays.”
Amelia smiled with pleasure as she carefully held her
hands around the skirt of the tiny lady who slowly and gently raised and
twirled to the music.
“Her dress is pink.” Paul Strupel announced from his
position directly behind her.
She jumped at the sudden sound of his voice. “Paul.”
“I hope I didn’t startle you. I was just enjoying
myself by watching you enjoy yourself.” He chuckled. “Does that make any sense?”
“It makes perfect sense---I think.”
“Forgive me, Mr. Strupel. Is there something I could
help you with today?” Mrs. Conner gushed over Paul.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Conner. I was distracted by the town’s
newest member. Yes, I need my usual order of unlined, white paper. And I
thought I’d check to see if that sash saw blade has come in yet.”
“No. I’m sorry, it hasn’t I am surprised, too. Usually
that company is much more efficient than this. I’ll get your paper right
away.”
“It’s not your fault,” Paul replied. “As often as that
thing has broken down this past year and a half, I should just automatically
stock a couple extra blades. I just pray that the one I have doesn’t get caught
on a knothole or something. If you please, I would appreciate knowing
immediately when it comes in.”
“Of course.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you this morning,” Paul
said as he turned back to Amelia. “Whenever I get to spend a little time with
you in the morning, the rest of my day seems to go so much smoother.” He paused
a moment. “In fact, several things have gone wrong today. You know what, Amelia?
I think you’re a good luck charm.”
“Indeed?” She smiled at him.
“Are you enjoying your shopping?”
“Well, I’m not shopping . I’m just finger
shopping.”
“Finger shopping?” He smiled at her. “You never seemed
to run out of things that intrigued me.”
“Yes. You see, sometimes, when I feel nosy and want to
find out if I’m missing anything, I just put my fingers on everything in the
shop, and my snoopiness is satisfied.”
Paul laughed enthusiastically. Everything about her
mesmerized him, the way the light danced off her silky hair, her sweet smile,
her sense of humor, the tasteful
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