| A story from Wonderland by Hitomi |
|
|
 YomKippur with Mr.Shrewbury
Payless clothing is closing
|
|
|
Sept 28th Weather: nice
"I got allowance from my mom. Let's go get cinnamon rolls at Everybody's coffee."
Kenny took $5 bill out of his pocket.
Cinnamon Rolls from Everybody's coffee are the best. Waving $5 bill high up to the sky, we dashed to Everybody's coffee. After Kenny bought them for both of us, he still had some money left.
"Let's get one for Mr. Shrewbury."
We decided to buy another Cinnamon Roll for Mr. Shrewbury and stop by Payless clothing.
S tanding in front of Payless clothing, we saw what we'd never expected. " Everything must go" sign at the entrance....
"Closing sale?"
"Is Mr.shrewbury closing the store?"
"Where is he going?"
We were very shocked.  |
Mr.Shrewbury was busy with taking care of the customers inside, but when he saw us coming in, he pointed at the chairs next to him and said, "Come sit here. I have lots of things for you guys."
After a group of the customers left, he brought two empty carton boxes and then began to throw the clothes in the shop into each box.
"I am trying to choose fluffy ones for your kneading and Kenny, you like green, don't you? I know Lisa loves pink." said Mr.Shrewbury, throwing one clothe after another into the boxes. Soon each box was filled with the clothes.
"Are you closing?" I asked.
"Where are you going to?" Kenny asked.
"I am going back to Brooklyn where I came from and live with my daughter. My daughter has been suggesting that for a long time, but I was hesitant to leave this nice weather."
He sounded cheerful.
"Then why did you decide now?" I asked.
Mr.Shrewbury came back to the counter with two boxes full of clothes in his hands.
"My daughter has been worried about me a lot since I had heart attack last year. You can see I am doing fine, still being self sufficient, independent and capable. But she can't see that since she is away in Brooklyn. She is getting tired of making sure if I 'm OK and I am getting tired of being made sure if I am OK. I thought it might be time to listen to her and go back to where my life started."
Both Kenny and I couldn't hide our disappointment.
"Maybe it's nice to live with your family. She can cook every day for you." Kenny said, but sounded discouraged.
"That's true. You have someone to talk to at home. "
I agreed with Kenny, but sounded discouraged as well.
"You guys are right. But I am going to miss both of you."
Mr.Shrewbury responded with smile and patted our backs.
Feeling disappointed to see his decision was already made, I wasn't able to smile back to Mr.Shrewbury.I I held out a bag with Cinnamon Roll in to Mr.Shrewbury in silence. Not being able to hide his sadness, Kenny also stood there in silence.
"Is this from Everybody's coffee? That's my favorite."
Mr.Shrewbury opened a bag and started to munch Cinnamon Roll.
"I moved in here 5 years ago after my wife passed away. I had always wanted to live in California where the sun shines all the times.When I said I was moving, none of my family was happy about my idea. But I worked all my life to support my family. I was never out of Brooklyn in my life. I had never done any adventure in my life. I thought I deserved to do what I wanted once in lifetime. I knew I would regret it if I didn't, so I did."
"Are you glad you did?" Kenny asked.
"Yes, California was exactly what I expected. Nice weather, friendly and cheerful people. I am glad I did."
Mr.Shrewbury opened the counter show case, grabbed several jewelry out of it and put them on top of the clothes in each box for Kenny and me.Then he took business cards out of his wallet,and put them on the top of the jewelry.
"I designed those jewelry. Give them to your girlfriend, Lisa and your mom. This is the address of my jewelry store in Brooklyn. Come visit us any time."
I picked one of the jewelry and put it around my neck. It was a beautiful star shaped necklace in gold. Kenny picked one and put it around his neck as well. Fiddling it with his fingers, he sadly mumbled without looking at Mr. Shrewbury.
"Who is coming after payless clothing? I hope someone we can stop by and have us for a chat like you did."
"No one leased yet. But I promise I will choose the tenant who can have you as a company. I own this building." said Mr.Shrewbury, chewing Cinnamon Roll slowly. Then he turned to us and curiously asked, "I heard your mom designs unique clothes. Maybe she can sell them here."
I got a little bit of excitement back when I heard his idea. "Mrs. Malchovich is talented. We all became Bunny in Easter in the costumes she designed, but Lisa said it's embarrassing."
"Yeah. They are taking all the spaces in my closet and Lisa's, but Lisa likes the clothes you have here better than my mom's."
Kenny also got his cheerfulness back and finally smiled.
"Then you should ask Mrs. Malchovich if she wants to take over here so that you guys can stop by for a chat anytime you want to."
Mr.Shrewbury finished his cinnamon roll and wiped his hand with napkin.
We were still sad to find he was not going to change his mind about leaving , but at least Mr. Shrewbury's idea cheered us up a little. |
"How come all the necklaces you designed are a shape of the stars?"
Kenny held up the necklace around his neck to Mr. Shrewbury.
"Those are YomKippur necklace. Today is a day of prayer for forgiveness for sins committed during the year. It is a very sacred day to purify all of us by forgiving the sins of others and by repenting our own sins against God. I'm sure both of you are good boys and don't have any sins to confess. "
Mr.Shrewbury smiled at us and put one on his own neck.
"Yes!We are always good."
I jumped up, holding up the necklace around my neck to prove that I was always in a good behavior. But both Mr.Shrewbury and I realized there was no reaction coming from Kenny. We both looked at Kenny, and then looked at each other.
"Am I forgiven if I confess today?"
Kenny slowly took the necklace out of his neck and put it back in the box.
"Yes. We all make mistakes. What is important is to be honest and learn from our mistakes." said Mr.Shrewbury in a gentle way, but I could tell he was afraid what Kenny would say next.
So I frankly asked Kenny, "What did you do?"
 "I took $5 from my mom's wallet today."
Kenny mumbled and then lashed out to defend himself.
"I was going to ask her, but she wasn't at home. Don't worry. I am going to ask her when I get back home."
"But where is $5 now?" asked Mr.Shrewbury.
Both Mr.Shrewbury and I looked at a brown empty bag which Cinnamon Rolls were in a few minutes ago.
Then we heard Kenny say, "At least I shared."
After helping Mr.Shrewbury closing his store,
we managed to carry each box in our hands.
" Mr.Shrewbury, we will definitely visit you in Brooklyn."
When we were leaving Payless clothing, Mr.Shrewbury said to our backs,
"Don't lose those jewelry. No one ever expected to find those at "Payless clothing". But they are made of real gold.
I am going to miss Mr.Shrewbury.
To read the previous stories, visit
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
