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

and guzzled over half the contents in one long swallow, smacking his lips after it went down. When he’d finished, he jumped off the crate and headed back inside, eager to continue what he had started.
    As Henry entered the store, he heard Mr. Engelmann talking with someone. Jenny? He rushed to the doorway and pushed aside the curtain that separated the stockroom from the store. It was Jenny! His heart bucked at the sight of her.
    “Hi, Jenny,” he said as nonchalantly as he could, trying to hide his surprise and excitement.
    “Oh, there you are! Mr. Engelmann just told me you were working for him. That’s great!” She rushed towards Henry, grabbing his hands. His face flushed. She dragged him toward the windows at the front. “Look, Henry. Mom and I went shopping for house supplies and things. We went by this wonderful shop and look what I got.” Her sparkling eyes beamed as she raised her arms slightly and cocked her hip to one side. What was she talking about? Oh! New clothes! Miss Universe was modeling in front of him. He scrambled to think of something to say, letting out a sigh of relief when Mr. Engelmann helped him out by saying, “You look beautiful, Jenny.”
    Henry nodded. She cast her eyes downwards, not waiting for any more compliments, and continued, “And look how shiny my new shoes are!”
    Finally finding his tongue, Henry choked out, “Boy, you look great, Jenny.” So that’s why she hadn’t been home at lunch. He was still stunned, but very pleased, that she had come here to show him her new outfit.
    “So, when are you done?” she asked with a coy smile.
    Henry looked at Mr. Engelmann.
    “He needs to clear up what he started so we can walk in the back,” the old man replied. “Perhaps, oh, one or two hours,” he continued, looking more towards Jenny than to Henry.
    “Well, call on me when you’re finished, and maybe we can go for a walk or something,” Jenny offered.
    “Sure, Jenny, see you later, then.”
    “’Bye, Mr. Engelmann.” She turned and danced out the door.
    Mr. Engelmann and Henry watched as she left, savouring her youthful gait and playful manner.
    “A very nice young lady,” Mr. Engelmann commented, “reminds me a little of my Anna.” There was a long pause and Henry sensed Mr. Engelmann was reliving some past experience. “I can see you are quite fond of this girl, Henry.”
    Henry’s face reddened again. “Yes, I am.” Had he said that out loud? He surprised himself by adding, “I sure am.”
    Mr. Engelmann raised his eyebrows and looked at Henry above smudged glasses. He nodded slightly and smiled.
    Taking Mr. Engelmann’s nod as both a sign that he understood and that their conversation was finished, Henry turned and headed back to the storeroom. Jenny’s visit fuelled his enthusiasm to finish his work.
    Henry stayed much longer than he had intended. In fact, over three hours had elapsed since Jenny left the store, but he got everything organized into categories. Much to his surprise, there were two empty shelves when he was finished, enough room to bring up the remainder of the stock from downstairs. He’d do that in the morning. He took all the empty boxes out back, broke them down and tossed them into the garbage. The back store room looked neat, tidy and organized. He was very proud of this evidence of his hard work.
    As Henry headed to the front of the store to leave for the day, Mr. Engelmann came in. He stopped mid-step, his mouth and eyes wide open.
    “Why, Henry, this looks beautiful. So clean and tidy.”
    He moved closer, studying the shelves, turning his head side to side and up and down, staring in disbelief, trailing arthritic fingers over the neat rows of cans and boxes, all facing front. For a moment, Henry thought Mr. Engelmann would tell him to put everything back where it had been. He’d made a lot of changes; it would probably take Mr. Engelmann months to get used to it.
    Finally, Mr. Engelmann spoke. “ Ach, mein lieber Gott.