The lunch hour passed quickly, and Lori was still in the process of straightening up the shelves (and worrying about the washer and dryer) when Zaida came in, looking for an umbrella. "They're right over there, by that beautiful bowling ball in the corner. Just holler if you need help, Zaida. I've got a little more straightening to do. By the way, you might take a really good look at the ball while you're over there. And notice that it comes with its original bag." Zaida had heard stories from the morning shoppers. She didn't say anything but just quickly faded away to find the umbrella. That was smooth, Lori thought to herself. I think this might be a better approach. Smooth and by-the-wayish. Bet she buys the ball and forgets the umbrella . . .
Trudy was right behind Zaida, ready to interview Lori for the Islandshire Gazette. Lori jumped at the chance, seeing it as a great opportunity to not only spread the word about supporting the RBST's Love a Longwool event but also to spotlight a few of the non-clothing items. Lots of people on Islandshire are probably looking for an old bowling ball right now and don't know where to find one . . . right? Trudy was hoping she'd have time to look around after the interview. She'd noticed a coat that might be her size and a pair of boots that had her name written all over them. (Not really. That's just an expression. Trudy knows a lot of expressions like that. She is a reporter, you know.) "Trudy, could you give me a minute, please? I've got to make a quick pit stop and then find my lemonade. Have a look around. We've got a lot of nice things for sale today. That bird cage, for instance. Do you have a bird that needs a cage? No? Okay, well, look around while I'm gone, and I'll be back in a jiffy. If you find my lemonade cup, would you just put it by the register for me?"
Lori hadn't been back one minute, when the "red-haired trio" blew in with Eliot and Harold in close tow. "Good morning and welcome! Do you guys mind if I do my interview with Trudy while you look around? If you need help, please don't hesitate to wave me down. Won't be a minute!" Lori did a double take and stopped in her tracks. "Hey, where's Georgiana? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. A bad cold isn't something to be taken lightly, but she'll be missed this year. Please send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Back in a minute." Lori and Trudy found a quiet corner at the back of the Center for their talk, and the others made plans to meet later. "With the wind and cold drizzle raging outside, let's not be in a hurry to leave soon. Why don't you boys rummage around a bit?" As the boys walked away, Bunty heard them talking about Vesey's great find that morning. Couldn't quite catch the name of what he'd found, but it must've been something really good. Harold and Eliot aren't exactly . . . well, let's say . . . keen on shopping. As the boys turned down an aisle, the girls set off for the clothes racks. Brighton and Natalya were sure they hadn't brought enough warm clothes to get them through the week. Although Bunty didn't really have an "identified needs" list, she's always on the lookout for a new treasure. After all, Lori would tell you that thrifting is like one big treasure hunt!
Natalya headed right to the rack of jackets and warm things. "Not that I really need clothes. We've got a lot of things at home, and someone is always sewing cool new stuff. But I just can't help looking. Boy, that's a nice jacket. I think Bryllen has one just like it."
"Bunty, come here! You have to look at this!" Brighton was so excited that she was practically shouting. (Notice Zaida back there, making like a fly on the wall, avoiding Lori and the bowling ball.)
"It's a sheep lamp, Bunty! You need this! Wouldn't it be perfect in your bedroom?!" Brighton was holding the cutest little table lamp, with a red base and white fluffy sheep sitting under the shade. How fun! They'd been here less than a minute and already had a treasure in their pile. "Hey, Brighton, look at these bags. sitting here. Aren't they just what we need? And we can use them today for our shopping. One for you and one for me. Let's put the lamp in one, and you take the other. Now, don't argue with me. We're bound to find more good stuff in here. Besides, these will be great for yarn and wool later on!" That got her.
"Girls!! Look at this!!" Natalya came running over with a big red suitcase. "It's just what I need. This way, I'll be able to take home souvenirs. And it's the color of a cherry (my favorite fruit, you know). And it's actually shaped like a cherry. Cool, huh?" It did seem like the perfect solution to Natalya's packing problem. Bunty couldn't help but wonder if they might not find another suitcase that Brighton could buy. She always overpacks and never has room for taking new stuff back home. "Isn't this weird, girls? We have more than just red hair in common. All three of us went straight for containers to hold the stuff we hope to find. Aren't we funny? As my Grandfather used to say, 'Souvenirs . . . ya gotta have souvenirs!'" Harold and Eliot heard the giggling but went about their business in companionable silence. Girls.
Just then Bunty noticed the boys at the clothing rack. That was promising. She'd been trying to get Eliot to add a little variety to that same old outfit of his, but it's hard to talk your brother into shopping for clothes. (Actually, she thought that just changing clothes would be a step in the right direction.) Good thing Harold seemed to be looking for something over there, because Eliot actually stopped to page through the hangers, too. On his own. Without help. Bunty thought it was certainly worth braving the weather for this!
Bunty got so caught up in what the boys were doing that she continued to stare. "Girls, what's Harold so excited about? Ooh, it's a beautiful wool coat. I wonder how Eliot would look in something like that. Whoops, Harold's already laid claim to it. Well, here's hoping that his fashion sense will rub off on Eliot a bit. Look, girls! Eliot's taking something off the rack. It's . . . okay, so . . . a flannel nightshirt wasn't exactly what I had in mind. But it's a bit of progress in the right direction. It's . . . different."
The store was buzzing with shoppers now, and Trudy had bought her coat and boots and gone back to publish her interview. Everyone was commenting on how Lori had outdone herself with variety. No wonder the boys had been tired yesterday after moving her stuff over here. "Bunty, just look at these lambie slippers. And they're just your size. Bring your bag over here." No wonder the three of them are closer than sisters.
Before Bunty could admire the lambie slippers, Natalya stuffed them into her bag. "Just so no one else buys 'em!" Bunty chuckled and thought that Natalya reminded her of someone, but she couldn't quite think who it was.
Lori popped up from behind the counter at the mention of lambie slippers. "You know, I'm pretty sure there is a pair of jammies to match those around here . . . somewhere. Try the shelf over there with all the PJs on it. By the way, have you seen that nice bowling ball in the corner? And it has a special after-lunch price -- half off whatever donation you were thinking of putting in for it." Now Bunty knew who Natalya reminded her of. Maybe Lori would like to engage her as a helper for the afternoon. Half the donation price? Boy, she's good . . .
"Thanks, anyway, Lori, but I don't know how to bowl. Natalya and I are just going to look for the jammies." Lori hadn't expected this. "Oh, you don't have to know how to bowl. It's a handy thing to have around, just in case. In case . . . in case you ever need one!" Natalya was impressed.
Just then, Zaida asked Lori a question, and Bunty and Natalya ran off to find the PJ shelf. As they turned down the aisle to get to the back of the store, they saw the boys by the shoe rack. Something about the whole scene made Bunty uneasy. There they were, looking at all the shoes, Eliot grinning away. "Natalya, what's Eliot saying? That smile on his face makes me nervous." They made their way closer, Brighton joining them to show off what she'd found. Bunty motioned to Brighton to be quiet, and the three girls casually glanced at the clothes on the rack as Bunty explained. "Sssh. We're trying to hear what the boys are saying. Oh, Girls. I don't like the looks of that. Eliot and Harold are very animated over something Eliot's found. Hope it's not a LaCrosse racket. I just donated his old one yesterday. Can either of you see what he's holding in his hands? Well, okay. It can't be too bad, because Harold looks really happy about it. Let's get a little closer, without looking like we're paying attention to them, and see what's got them so excited. Ssssh . . ."
Bunty screeched to a halt and stared at Eliot, who was holding up a rather all-too-familiar-looking pair of boots. "Oh, Girls! Those are Eliot's old boots that I donated when he was . . . well, sorta . . . not looking. You don't think he's going to buy them back, do you? Oh, please tell me he's not getting ready to buy them back. I can't look. Please tell me he isn't."
Brighton and Natalya didn't have the heart to say anything to Bunty, but Eliot couldn't stop talking to Harold about what he'd found. "Look at these, Harold! Wow! It's my old pair of boots! I've been wondering what happened to them. Bunty must have donated them without asking me. I wondered why they disappeared and these new ones appeared in their place." Both boys stared down at Eliot's feet with a look of betrayal on their faces. "These old ones are much more comfortable, so I'll just buy them back. It's for a good cause, you know. And I bet she'll never notice." Harold just nodded his head, glad that he didn't have a sister old enough to get rid of his favorite things. "You know, it's amazing that you found them before someone else did. I wonder why no one picked them up this morning. Maybe the early shoppers just didn't have an eye for the bargains." As the boys turned away to make their purchases before the trio saw them, Harold voiced what Eliot was afraid to say out loud. "Do you think Bunty will let you keep them? I know what! I'll take a BIG box of doughnuts over later, filled with her favorites. We 'Merry Men' have to stick together, you know."
Just then, Zaida asked Lori a question, and Bunty and Natalya ran off to find the PJ shelf. As they turned down the aisle to get to the back of the store, they saw the boys by the shoe rack. Something about the whole scene made Bunty uneasy. There they were, looking at all the shoes, Eliot grinning away. "Natalya, what's Eliot saying? That smile on his face makes me nervous." They made their way closer, Brighton joining them to show off what she'd found. Bunty motioned to Brighton to be quiet, and the three girls casually glanced at the clothes on the rack as Bunty explained. "Sssh. We're trying to hear what the boys are saying. Oh, Girls. I don't like the looks of that. Eliot and Harold are very animated over something Eliot's found. Hope it's not a LaCrosse racket. I just donated his old one yesterday. Can either of you see what he's holding in his hands? Well, okay. It can't be too bad, because Harold looks really happy about it. Let's get a little closer, without looking like we're paying attention to them, and see what's got them so excited. Ssssh . . ."
Bunty screeched to a halt and stared at Eliot, who was holding up a rather all-too-familiar-looking pair of boots. "Oh, Girls! Those are Eliot's old boots that I donated when he was . . . well, sorta . . . not looking. You don't think he's going to buy them back, do you? Oh, please tell me he's not getting ready to buy them back. I can't look. Please tell me he isn't."
Brighton and Natalya didn't have the heart to say anything to Bunty, but Eliot couldn't stop talking to Harold about what he'd found. "Look at these, Harold! Wow! It's my old pair of boots! I've been wondering what happened to them. Bunty must have donated them without asking me. I wondered why they disappeared and these new ones appeared in their place." Both boys stared down at Eliot's feet with a look of betrayal on their faces. "These old ones are much more comfortable, so I'll just buy them back. It's for a good cause, you know. And I bet she'll never notice." Harold just nodded his head, glad that he didn't have a sister old enough to get rid of his favorite things. "You know, it's amazing that you found them before someone else did. I wonder why no one picked them up this morning. Maybe the early shoppers just didn't have an eye for the bargains." As the boys turned away to make their purchases before the trio saw them, Harold voiced what Eliot was afraid to say out loud. "Do you think Bunty will let you keep them? I know what! I'll take a BIG box of doughnuts over later, filled with her favorites. We 'Merry Men' have to stick together, you know."
Too late. There was Bunty, running down the aisle. (The two friends stayed behind, knowing when not to mix in a family squabble.). Harold whispered, "Might be better to just get it over with." Bunty did her best to convince Eliot that they were old and that the new ones were so much nicer. He stood firm, though. With Harold offering a kind of silent moral support, Eliot was determined that the boots were going back home with him. "Bunty, I've already decided. I'm going to buy these back and keep the new ones as a back-up pair. Just in case these ever start to look old or worn-out." Bunty quietly turned and walked back to her friends in abject disbelief. Boys.
Brighton and Natalya just watched and giggled. "Good try, Bunty! Let's look over here now!" Even though Brighton's bag was pretty full, it wasn't going to stop them from doing a little more shopping. A lot more shopping. Who cares about a full bag, anyway? The boys would be glad to carry it home for them. Or would they? Maybe some buttering up was in order here. "Hmm, Natalya, do you think we should just casually mention to Eliot that he's found a treasure in boots that are as comfy as they are handsome?"
The boys went off for a closer look at a pair of earphones, old boots in hand, smiling in victory. Not one to let defeat spoil a fun outing, Bunty grabbed her friends and started toward the PJ shelf. "Lori sure does know her stock, doesn't she? Boy, there are enough PJs here to fill even Connie's closet. Here they are! Aren't they just the cutest pair of of lambie jammies you've ever seen? And just my size!" Brighton loved them, too, but just stared really hard at the design. "I think they look remarkably similar to a pair I have at home. When I get back, we'll share photos! I should have brought those with me for Wool Week. What was I thinking of, not to pack them?!" While the other two oohed and aahed over the cute lambies, Natalya had her eye on a pair of pink summer pajamas. She could just see a bit of them, down there on the bottom shelf, but it looked like they sported a cute elephant in a hula skirt surrounded by the words "Late Night Luau". She sure was glad to have found the cherry suitcase. Wool Week had just begun, and she was already filling the luggage she had with "souvenirs".
Lori was laying in wait. "Ah, Bunty, my dear friend. You have such a nice big house, and you're just the person I've been looking for. Look at this great pair over here. Have you ever seen such a nice washer and dryer? That color is just perfect for you. And they're in great condition. Just a little bit used, but you'd hardly know it. And I've got a special deal. You can have them totally free -- FREE! Even Eliot will like the price! All you have to do is volunteer to wash and dry all the clothing donations that come in to the Thrift Store. But, as clever as you are at managing your time, that would be no problem for you, I'm sure. It's a special Wool Week deal, though. Good today only. Don't let this get away. If you take too long to think about it, someone else might come along and scoop up this deal of the century!"
We just stood there speechless. I think that Brighton and Natalya thought she was kidding, but something in my face must have refrained them from laughing. I couldn't come up with a polite answer. But I don't think Lori was expecting one.
We just stood there speechless. I think that Brighton and Natalya thought she was kidding, but something in my face must have refrained them from laughing. I couldn't come up with a polite answer. But I don't think Lori was expecting one.
Nautilus came up to ask a question, which broke the awkward silence. The red-haired trio took advantage of this, before Lori could start up again, and told her they were ready to check out. The boys didn't notice the girls paying at the register, though, so Bunty let her friends go first and waited for Eliot to finish. Harold (with his earphones and wool coat) and Eliot (proudly carrying his nightshirt and boots) continued to meander through the store, thinking that they were just waiting on the girls to finish their shopping. Then it happened. Like the bug in your mouth when you stick your head out the car window and try to talk. Things happen like that, you know. Just out of the blue and . . . zap. That's how it was with Eliot.
"Harold. Harold. Look at that. It's just what I need. Harold. Can you believe it? I've been needing a TV set for a while but just couldn't find one I liked. Can you believe it? It's such a good modern set. It's just the thing for the old Schoolroom. I can't believe it. Imagine finding something like this at Lori's Thrift. And during Wool Week, too. Can you believe it?" Lori knew a sucker . . . I mean a customer, when she saw one. She saw one.
"Sold! And the Merry Men club offers help with delivery, if you need it."
The boys just looked at her blankly. "Um. We are the Merry Men."
"Oh, yeah. Right. Well then, you won't have a problem getting it home, will you? Great. Right. That's one big item SOLD!
Eliot blinked and looked at Harold with a dazed "deer-in-the-headlights" stare. "When did I say I was going to buy it? I don't remember saying that. Did you hear me say I wanted to buy it?" Harold shrugged his shoulders and said "You really need to get out more. I mean, if you'd helped us carry all this stuff over yesterday, you'd've seen it then. And you'd've saved us one trip with a heavy load. Boy, did Lori see you coming. And Bunty just paid for it. Without a word. Guess she's over the boots."
"Harold. Harold. Look at that. It's just what I need. Harold. Can you believe it? I've been needing a TV set for a while but just couldn't find one I liked. Can you believe it? It's such a good modern set. It's just the thing for the old Schoolroom. I can't believe it. Imagine finding something like this at Lori's Thrift. And during Wool Week, too. Can you believe it?" Lori knew a sucker . . . I mean a customer, when she saw one. She saw one.
"Sold! And the Merry Men club offers help with delivery, if you need it."
The boys just looked at her blankly. "Um. We are the Merry Men."
"Oh, yeah. Right. Well then, you won't have a problem getting it home, will you? Great. Right. That's one big item SOLD!
Eliot blinked and looked at Harold with a dazed "deer-in-the-headlights" stare. "When did I say I was going to buy it? I don't remember saying that. Did you hear me say I wanted to buy it?" Harold shrugged his shoulders and said "You really need to get out more. I mean, if you'd helped us carry all this stuff over yesterday, you'd've seen it then. And you'd've saved us one trip with a heavy load. Boy, did Lori see you coming. And Bunty just paid for it. Without a word. Guess she's over the boots."
While Bunty finished paying, the boys each took a side of the TV and started off, while Lori . . . um . . . managed the move. "Be sure to get the DVD player. You did get that, right? Careful, don't bump into the canning jars. Oh, and the remote is in there. Wait, you don't want to hit the umbrellas or anything. Here . . . I've even got a set of batteries to stick in the remote for you. You'd better take them now. All right, let me put them in your pocket. Watch out for the step at the door. Bye! Thanks for coming in today!" Lori wanted to do a happy dance but settled on a big sip of lemonade instead. Dancing in the store was not dignified. And Lori liked to maintain an air of professionalism at all times. (Well, unless another air was needed to sell off the heavy stuff.) One down, two to go. Don't worry, she only thought it. Even though she wanted to turn around and shout it out loud. Dignified, remember. Besides, the girls were still standing behind her.
As Lori tidied up the top of the washer and dryer where the old TV had been sitting, she started thinking to herself again. Boy, am I glad that thing is gone. Now, if I could only find someone to take these home . . . these and the bowling ball . . . and its matching bag. Let's not forget the bag. That's going to be what pushes it over the edge, I bet. Hmm. Maybe I've found the right approach. Don't ask. Just add it to their bill. Only when I know they need it, of course. After all, I wouldn't want to burden my friends with things they don't need. I'm talking to myself again. Where's my lemonade?
As Lori sat down to have a drink and a long-overdue breather, she took a quick survey of the shop and noticed that things were selling really well, with shoppers still pouring in. Who's here just now? Hmm. I'm sure that someone needs that washer and dryer. Oh, look! It's Nautilus and Nachito. They don't have room for the laundry equipment, but maybe they could use the bowling ball as an anchor. Worth a try! You know, it takes a lot of imagination and creativity to be a crackerjack salesgirl. I wonder if I'm creative enough. Maybe I need to stop being so mild-mannered about it. A little more forceful might not hurt. Wish I hadn't eaten all the Twizzlers this morning.
Join us tomorrow for the final exciting episode of the Thrift Store saga, including some unexpected twists and happy shoppers. Did Zaida find her umbrella? What did Bunty do with those old boots once they got home? Are Bunty's pajamas the same as Brighton's? And does Eliot's new modern TV even work? You won't find the answers to any of these questions, but you won't want to miss the end of the story. Ta ta and toodle pip!