Vanishing Alley

-3-

- "'Hello. Welcome to Annie's Antiques!'"

- "'Oh, hello. How are you?'. He answered with a polite, but distant, tone."

- "'I'm well thanks, and yourself?'"

- "'Huh? Oh, uh... yeah... I'm ok thank you.'"

- "'Is there anything specific you're looking for that I can help you find? Or are you just browsing today?' I asked him as he was looking around at what seemed to be every item in the store."

- "'Oh, uh, just browsing, thanks.'"

"He seemed very distant, deep in thought, and I'd even say nervous, which made me feel a bit uneasy about why he might have been here. But I try not to jump to conclusions, even though I had my phone, ready to call for help if I needed to. Anyway, I kept an eye on him, making sure he wasn't here to take anything. After about 10 minutes, he approached the counter..."

- "'Hi. Uh, I'm wondering if you buy watches.' He seemed very nervous to ask me this question and I couldn't understand why."

- "'Yes, I do. But it must be at least 25 years old - the older the better, actually. Do you have a watch you'd like to sell?'"

- "'I... uh... do I have a watch?... uh...'"

"I could not understand why he was so nervous! It was just an antique shop!"

- "'You asked me if I buy watches.' I waited a minute. When he didn't answer I asked, 'Sir, is everything ok?'"

- "'Huh? Oh, yeah. Uh, fine.'"

- "'Ok. It's just that you seem a bit nervous. Just because you came into my shop, you're not obligated to sell me your item, even after I appraise it.'"

- "'Oh, yeah, I know. It's just that...'"

- "'Yes? It's just that...?'"

- "'Well, this watch has been in my family for many years. Since the 1920s, actually.'"

- "'Oh wow! I can understand why it can be difficult to part with such a treasured heirloom.'"

- "'No. Well, yes, it is an heirloom that has been passed down from generation to generation.'"

- "'Well, I'm sure you have an excellent reason for considering to part with it, that your family would understand.'"

- "'No, no, my family understands. In fact, it was my parents who encouraged me to try to sell it. You see, yours isn't the first antique shop I've been to. It's just that the others have said no. That they didn't want to buy it.'"

- "'Oh, I see.' Now I was REALLY curious about this watch. Why did the other shops say no to him? Why didn't they want to buy this watch? 'Can I ask why the other shops refused to buy it?'"

- "'You know what, never mind. I shouldn't have come.'"

- "'No please! Wait!'"

- "'No, I-I shouldn't tell you. You'll just refuse to buy it also. Plus, if you hear the story behind this watch, you're just going to think I'm crazy or making it up.'"

- "'No, no. I'd like to know! In fact, whenever someone comes in to sell me an item, I always ask if there is a story that comes with it. One reason is because I love to hear them, and the other is because I find customers are more interested in the items once I tell them the story.'"