Benefits of Retail

Two of Mikey's most prized possessions when he was a little boy were his fuzzy flannel pyjamas with the button up feet (oh, they were so soft and cute with the little puppies all over them...Mikey), and his Bulova Space View watch, the first thing he bought with his first real pay cheque. This is the watch he wore when he started Fantasy In Glass going on 25 years ago. Sadly, like some of the staff, it stopped working one day, and was resistant to any prodding in spite of being sent off to Bulova themselves for factory service. Sitting lonely in Mikey's centre desk drawer for the last fifteen years, Mikey would take a forlorn glance at that watch occasionally, remembering the good old days fondly when that watch told him excitedly when to open his humble establishment, and then sadly, when to close at day's end.

Well, you know, sometimes you meet the nicest people. About a month ago, a lovely couple dropped into the store with a repair and through some pleasant conversation Mikey learnt that Albert and his wife owned a jewelry store for many years and that he might be able to fix Mikey's most prized possession (Mikey long ago outgrew the pyjamas sadly). Nervously passing on his watch to a complete stranger, Mikey waited anxiously for what seemed like an eternity, with each passing day one more day closer to possible disappointment.

Albert and his lovely wife (who I'm embarrassed to admit I've forgotten her first name) came into my store yesterday (I don't know quite at what time because they had my watch, remember?...Mikey), with my prized Bulova (the one with the tuning fork- I remember fondly how that humming sound would soothe me contently like a purring kitten as I fell asleep every night, anxiously awaiting the morning to bound back to Fantasy In Glass to start another day). They even brought a new bracelet and patiently explained how to cut, fit and install it.

Mikey now can be found every day at exactly 9:29 a.m. anxiously standing and staring at his repaired Bulova Space View (the one with the tuning fork) waiting for 9:30 a.m. to come and start his day. Let's just hope the battery holds up.