Read Online Pewter Angels by Henry K. Ripplinger - Free Book Online

the oil mingled with the dank, musty smell of old basements everywhere. Beside the furnace stood an old wringer washer and next to that were several lines of sturdy string running from the wall to a support post for hanging clothes to dry.
    In front of the north wall was a makeshift worktable that had not been used for a long time; dust had fallen on it so thickly the top was barely visible. Above the table a few tools hung under a veil of cobwebs. Beside the table was an alcove with two slanted doors midway up the wall to the ceiling. These opened up to the patch of yard behind the store. Sun streaming through the cracks in the doors revealed dancing dust particles and cast sharp bands of light on the rough floor.
    Breaking the silence, Mr. Engelmann said, “I don’t want to store too much down here anymore. It’s getting too hard for me or Anna to carry things up and down. Try to make some room on the shelves upstairs and take up as much as you can.”
    “Sure, Mr. Engelmann.”
    As Mr. Engelmann trudged back up the creaky stairs, Henry began studying the goods to see where they might fit on the shelves in the store room upstairs. Everything was coated in dust. The labels on many of the cardboard boxes had yellowed and peeled off, and some showed signs of nibbling mice. Most of the boxes, though, contained canned goods that would still be usable. Henry hurried back upstairs and found a broom and a clean rag. He swept the dust and spider webs off the boxes then cleaned the products off with the rag. After carrying several boxes upstairs, he soon realized he would have to reorganize the upstairs shelves again to make room for all the additional items.
    When Mr. Engelmann checked on Henry an hour and a half later, there were boxes everywhere. He stared at Henry and put both hands to his head. “ Ach, mein Gott, what is going on here?”
    Henry called him over to the end of the shelving and explained that he was storing the goods according to category and that each shelf now had similar or related supplies. It would give them more shelf space and make it easier to find things.
    Mr. Engelmann looked at Henry quizzically. He then turned and began to study the shelves Henry had already reorganized. Gradually, Henry saw the concern fade from Mr. Engelmann’s face and then he nodded.
    “Maybe you have a good idea, Henry. Go ahead. Let’s see what happens. But first of all, you take a break. Go to the cooler and take whatever drink you want—go out back and sit down a bit.”
    Henry pulled out a Dr. Pepper from the cooler, pulled off the cap with the cooler’s front bottle opener and walked out the back of the store. The sun felt good and instantly thawed the chill he still felt from working downstairs. Just outside the back door were several large crates, the wood stained with age. Henry hopped onto one and folded his legs under him. He placed his drink on his bent legs, put his hands on top of the bottle and rested his chin on top of his hands.
    He sipped his drink and took stock. The building sorely needed painting. Where the paint had already peeled away, the bare wood had turned a weathered grey. Over the years, signs advertising various kinds of soft drinks had been nailed over the entire back wall of the store. They were all different shapes and overlapped one another. Henry felt a sudden eagerness to make more improvements. He didn’t know how just yet, but he began to get goose-bumps thinking about the challenge of it all.
    His thoughts turned from work to Jenny. He was surprised that he’d actually been able to think of something other than her. How could someone be so attracted to another person or fall in love so quickly? Henry only knew he wanted to be with her and gaze into her eyes forever. His body tensed as he tried to figure it all out. He raised both shoulders to his ears then deliberately allowed them to fall slack, releasing the pent-up stress.
    He put the bottle, which had started to warm, to his lips