"Hi, guys! You are just the people I've been waiting for! Did you hear about the great buy that Eliot just got? He knows a good deal when he sees one, that's for sure. I bet it's because the Merry Men club is filled with sharp boys. Just come over here with me, guys, and I'll show you both what I've been saving for you. And I think I know how you can even put it to good use. Here it is! What do you think? Wouldn't it make a perfect anchor for your boat? You'd have the only round anchor in the harbour. And look at that color, guys. It'd be almost invisible in the water. Did you notice that it already has holes in it for attaching the anchor chain? And you get the free storage case, too. That'll help you keep it nice and clean when the boat is in dry dock. I knew you'd love it! I'll just put it on your checkout receipt right now, to keep someone else from buying it out from under you. Is there anything else I can help you find?"
There were a lot of people in the store. Nachito and Nautilus looked around to see who Lori was talking to. Lori walked away to work on her sales technique. That didn't go to plan.
"Are you sure, Jill, that you're ready to pay? Don't you want to look around a little more or wait for Silver to come back?" Unless you know the Twins well, you can't appreciate what just happened. Jill doesn't like to part with her money. In fact, you could count the cashiers on Islandshire who've ever waited on Jill on . . . well . . . one or two fingers. Silver always says that she was with Jill once when she went to pay for something and moths flew out of her purse. No one knows whether it really happened or not. But it might have happened. "Come back? Isn't Silver right behind me? Sorry, Lori. Can you just set our stuff aside until we're ready? I'd hate for someone else to come along and buy the games. Now, where is that girl? Si-i-i-lver! Oh, there you are. Are you ready to pay?"
"Sis, look! It's a BABY YODA!" Jill glanced over and laughed. Silver was what you'd call a "Baby Yoda magnet". She could spot Baby Yoda merchandise from a mile away. Jill liked Baby, too, but this special "ability" of Silver's had filled their room with a lot of Baby Yoda stuff. Baby plush that speaks, Baby plush that doesn't speak, Baby plush that's cuddly, Baby plush that's realistic, a Baby Yoda pillow buddy, posters, socks, toys, pajamas, a stationery set, disposable tableware, a plastic tablecloth, a lamp, wall clings, sheets, throws, action figures, a Golden Book, a mug, a travel cup, a Baby Yoda Monopoly game, shirts, coloring books, stickers, Funko Pops, wrapping paper, Christmas decorations, a 26" corner-standing plush, Disney pins and lanyards, an empty cereal box (no kidding) . . . and . . . did I forget anything? Oh, yeah . . . and two Build-a-Bear Baby Yoda plushes. And the boxes they came in. And the countless pre-orders that haven't shipped yet.
Lori was quick to answer with "We get a lot of nice donations. And people on Islandshire are really excited this year about supporting Bunty's Longwool Campaign." While it didn't answer the question, both statements were actually true. It's the best she could do on such short notice, though. How do you tell your friends that you're a member of ISA (Impulse Shoppers Anonymous) and that you couldn't resist buying two Baby Yoda plushes at the Build-a-Bear event, when you really only needed one. It wasn't the first time that a donation in her Thrift Store had come from Lori's own stash at home.
As Lori tallied their purchases, Jill started packing up the treasures they'd found. "Lori, we're leaving this basket with you for a future sale. Thanks for the offer, but our room is already pretty full. Instead of carrying the games home in there, we're going to stash them in this fabulous vintage suitcase that we found hiding behind the coats. What's the total? I'll let Silver drop it in the donation can, while I get the last of this packed up." Silver waited, still clutching the Baby Yoda, while Lori came up with a total. "Wow, girls! You aren't gonna believe this!" Lori held up the paper for them to see, but Silver failed to see anything noteworthy. "You hit the jackpot, girls! You get the last game over there for FREE! Silver, go back to where the game basket was and grab it. You must have just been distracted the first time. If it's too heavy for you, I'm sure that Benny or Raito will help you out. Just let me know. I'm so happy for you. It couldn't have happened to two nicer people!" Jill was busy putting coins into the donation can when Silver returned empty-handed. "I still don't see another game over there. What am I looking for?"
Lori took a deep breath and knew it was now or never. "Why . . . it's the BOWLING BALL, of course! That's the greatest GAME there is! And don't forget the matching bag! Just imagine, you almost left without it! And you guys hit the perfect total, earning you ONE FREE GAME! Wow! Wait'll the rest of the kids hear what you won! I bet they'll all be jealous!" Exhausted, she looked around for her lemonade and leaned against the counter. Jill and Silver just shook their heads, said "no but thanks anyway", and ran as fast as they could for the door. Lori looked at the clock and almost cried.
Then it happened. Perked Lori right up when she saw it. Benny and Nanea were standing near the back wall. Right in front of . . . the WASHER & DRYER. The bowling ball was nothing compared to these white elephants. The Merry Men club members hadn't minded moving them over here for a worthy cause, but they'd made it clear that the cause was NOT worthy enough to move them back to her store without some extra help. Lori started thinking out loud again. "Okay, forget the bowling ball and the lemonade. Forceful. Be forceful." Janie, standing nearby, thought Lori was talking to her, so she followed close on her heels as Lori swooped down on her unsuspecting friends.
"Hey, guys! I'm sorry that I didn't have time to talk to you before this, but the crowds haven't died down since I opened this morning. I've had to empty the donation can six times already. Wow, Nanea that necklace is beautiful! Did you buy that from Jacqui and Toni? And Benny, you're looking very . . . sharky. Anyway, couldn't help but notice you looking at this really nice washer and dryer. What washer and dryer?" Maybe I'm not being forceful enough. "The ones right behind you, of course. Look at that, they just blend into any decor. I could see by your face, Nanea, that you think they're as pretty as I do. They're in great condition, too. Hardly used at all. Tell you what I'm gonna do. Since you're such good friends, I'm gonna make you a special Wool Week deal. A TOGO deal!"
"A TOGO deal? What's that?" Benny is a smart little fella who was beginning to smell a rat. A rat in girl's clothing. "Why, Benny! I'm surprised at a sharp boy like you not knowing about TOGO deals. I'm sure that Nanea is a savvy shopper who knows all about them. This is how it works. You take the washing machine for free -- FOR FREE -- and you get the dryer for free! TOGO. Get it? Take One Get One." Janie didn't say anything. This sounded worse than the bowling ball. Maybe she should leave and get Nautilus to come back and explain things to Nanea and Benny, too.
Lori took another deep breath, knowing that the situation had now reached a point of sink or swim. "Oh, Benny! I knew you were the right person to make this offer to. You're one of the smartest people I know. Did I tell you that they're only a teensy-weensy, itsy-bitsy used? And look at the color. It matches so many things in your house. What's the catch? It isn't really a catch. Just a friendly agreement, really. Well, just one small string, if you put it like that. In exchange for this AMAZING washer and dryer pair, all you have to do is . . ." Lori ran out of steam when she looked at Benny's face and stopped. Just stood there poking her toe at the pair of boots someone had left sitting on the floor. Maybe that was a tiny bit too forceful.
Nanea's small voice broke the silence. "So far, Lori, you've told us what we get out of this TOGO deal, but what do you get out of it?" Lori held back the tears and blurted out, "All I was hoping for was that the new owners would volunteer to wash and dry all the clothes that get donated to the Thrift." Benny wasn't falling for that one! "Are you kidding?! Wash all your donations just to get an old washer and dryer for free?!" Nanea shushed Benny and put her arm around Lori. "Oh, Benny! Can't you see how much this means to her? Besides, I think it's a great deal! Don't you get it?! Hey, please don't walk away, Benny. Just listen to me for a minute. Think about it. All I have to do is wash a few donations in return for a free washer and dryer. It's like trading. And you're always saying how much you like to barter." Another thought popped into her head. "And I would be able to try on all the clothes and buy what I want without having to go shopping! Just think how much time and money that would save us!" Lori stopped crying and just stared at Nanea. Why hadn't she thought of that? Nanea was masterful. Lori was impressed. And Raito came over to see what the fuss was all about.
But he had to draw the line somewhere. "Okay. You can have the washer and dryer -- but I'm PAYING for them. If you want to volunteer to wash 'some' donations, that's fine. But this way, no one will have to feel bad if something doesn't get done. Besides, you have to keep up with your hula practice and help me dive for pearls, so you don't have that much spare time. Deal?"
"Sold!" Lori wasn't about to lose this opportunity over any small technicality.
Nanea couldn't believe her ears! Throwing her hands in the air, she gave Benny a big hug. Right there in public. "Oh, Benny! You're the most wonderful brother ever! Thank you! Thank you! They're just what I need! And you'll see! I'll have time for everything!" Benny muttered something like "okay, okay" and went off to see if the rain had stopped. It's a good thing no one could hear what he was thinking. I can't be expected to move these monstrosities in the rain. Bad enough that Lori just HAD to move these to the Community Center yesterday, but now we have to move them again. Harumph. And to my OWN HOUSE. How am I going to get the plumbing for these done AND get the pearl stall ready to re-open when the weather warms back up? TOGO deal indeed. All he said to his friend was, "I hope I don't live to regret this."
As Benny moved to the front of the Community Center, he spied Eydie coming through the door. "What's the weather like right now? I've got something big to move, but I can't do it in the rain." Eydie just smiled. The news had spread across Islandshire about Lori's . . . um . . . special deals. "It's fine right now. The rain has stopped, but it's still awfully cold," she said, as she stared at Benny's bare arms. "Maybe you should buy a jacket or sweatshirt while you're here." Benny just turned and walked away, thinking about girls and shopping. I'll be hot enough when I 'm moving these again. And it won't cost me anything, either.
Benny found Raito and explained the situation. "Hey, man. I need your help." As an honorary member of the Merry Men club, Raito didn't even wait to hear what the favor was before he shouted, "I'm your man!"
While Lori emptied the hamper, Nanea started off to see if Benny and Raito needed any help. She didn't get far, though. She overheard Eydie telling Kitty all about "Islandshire's very own Laundromat at Benny and Nanea's house". Wow! Customers before she'd even put up a sign . . . or told Benny about the great idea . . . uh oh . . .
Lori was . . . just pooped. But buyers still lined up to pay. "Wow, Kitty! That jacket is perfect with that dress! Are you coming to Bunty's presentation tomorrow? Hard to imagine that all this will be gone and the chairs back in place, isn't it? Oh, no. I don't have to empty it out. The Merry Men club members volunteered to move the unsold items back to the store for me. They're a great bunch of guys!" Kitty could hardly wait to spread the news. "Did you hear about Nanea and Benny? They're so happy that you had the washer and dryer here today. Benny has a great idea about opening the very first Laundromat here on Islandshire." Blink blink. Lori just stared and asked "Huh? Where'd you hear that?" "From Eydie," Kitty hollered over her shoulder, as she hurried home to call all her friends. Lori relaxed enough to squeeze in a few bites of a half-eaten Twizzler stick she'd found on a shelf, shaking her head and still trying to figure out which approach had worked with Benny. She finally decided that it didn't really matter. It was done.
In her relief, she hardly noticed that the sale was in its final rush . . .
"FREE. It's free! Congratulations, Jerri! You just found the hidden Wool Week 'Deal of the Day'! How clever of you! Wow, and it even matches your outfit!"
Patty and Lori were alone now. Lori knew it'd started raining again. She could hear the raindrops hitting the building's metal roof. This was quite often her favorite time of the day. She liked having a Thrift Store. And she loved being with all the people. But she also liked the peace that came at the end of the day when the shop was empty.
A voice startled Lori out of her reverie. Patty's "Christmas shopping" was still going strong, so Lori offered to put some of the things on the counter for her. It was nice being there with Patty, just the two of them, walking around together with no fuss and bother. Lori went to the door and flipped the sign over to read CLOSED.
That's when Patty spotted it. Right there in front of her. In person. "Oh, Lori! I can't believe my eyes! I had a wish book once that showed a little bear just like this, and I used to make up stories about it being mine for real. I can't believe my dreams have come true. Now I won't have to make up stories. He's really mine!" She didn't seem to notice the few little tears that fell on the bear's head and turned his nose all shiny. Lori gave her a big hug and left her alone to enjoy the nearness of her newfound friend.