Mail and Gadgets

Chapter Twelve - Go To The Mattresses

Hi,
Another chapter for all you lovely people.
All images used are off Google.
I'm really happy with this chapter.
Dedicated to T my lovely chingu. :-D
Enjoy.

'Remember, is a place from long ago.
Remember, filled with everything you know.
Remember, when you're sad and feeling down.
Remember, turn around.'
             Remember - Harry Nelson

As the last customer left, leaving behind the echo of the bell over the door, a blanket of silence fell over the shop. Today had been slow, more slower then usual, which had not helped with Arthit’s mood at all. He had smiled, said good morning or good bye and waii’d at each person that had come in. He had been the ideal store owner, always happy to help anyone that had asked for it and even those that did not but it was all a mask. Deep down he was worrying. He was worrying about the store and he had no idea how to solve the problem he had. He was going to loose the one thing that had always connected him to his parents and he had no idea how to stop it from happening.

It hadn't helped his mood either when we he had walked into the store that morning and Bertie had mentioned what he had recently seen. He had walked back over to the accursed store, just to see for himself and spotted it in the window. There in big black wording was the name of the one person that he thought would not betray him. Mprang knew what that store was doing to him, to his business. Deep, way down in his conscious mind he understood but it had still irked him.

It had been his family tradition for years to put up a small tree in the store window. His mother, Pensri, had started it when the store was first hers after seeing a Christmas display in the front window of a store in London. A trip she had taken as a teen with her own family. It had been a small green tree with tiny, twinkling lights, small, colourful ornaments and a scent of pine. Even the glittery and shiny presents decorated in green, red and gold, that were placed underneath, had fascinated her. These were so obviously fake but they had still seemed mysterious and exciting to her.

The idea of the tree and lights had stuck with her after that and when Pensri had met his father, years later, it was the one thing that she had insisted they do every year especially at the store. Being fully in love with his mother, his father had agreed whole-heartedly.  Arthit always felt both his parents near him, especially his mother. when he put up the tree and he missed them both like crazy.

So that is what Arthit was doing.

Both Rome and Kao had offered to help but Arthit wanted this time on his own. He had found all the boxes he had needed in the back store cupboard, tucked behind unpacked merchandise. Pulling them out and carrying them over to the dimly lit window, he made a nest nearby so he could concentrate on the task at hand. The biggest box contained the folded up 6ft tree which had been purchased some years ago when Arthit had been little. It was put up every year but was losing some of it’s deep forest green colour, which had faded over time and some of the fake pine leaves had broken off. The lights were in the next box which came in different colours, all twinkling and which Arthit, at that moment, was trying to untangle. It seemed that even with them being put away neatly they still came out tangled which always baffled Arthit. The last was a small box that contained all sorts of ornaments, some bought over time, some made from popsicle sticks and some given to the store from appreciated customers as a thank you but with each one was etched a part of Arthits memories.  

Even though the weather was warm, a storm had started and it was raining hard outside. As Arthit sat there on the large window sill he had a front row seat as he watched late shoppers pass by, each hurrying to escape the downpour. A small family walking past smiles and waves. The small girl who was with them, spoting him at the window, shouting out his name and giving him a enthusiastic wave. He smiles back and gives her and her family a wave. He watchers as more shoppers go past, some carrying bags with the LEO Gadgets name and logo on. He lets out a deep sigh. It really wasn't fair but what could he do. That store was a lot bigger than his.