The Chinese couple in the booth across the crosswalk brought us some Chinese candy. The amish man, that has the wooden toy store, Mr.Zook, was very friendly, and the owner of the Italian restaurant/pizza shop invited us to have our first lunch on him.
“Thank you very much, we’ll be over about noon,” Joyce replies.
We all chatted awhile and described eachothers merchandise but dispersed when customers started showing up. Joyce took my hand as we walked back “I feel real good about our being here,Roger. The people around us are very nice. It’s a family place.”
“Well, lets see how the public reciieves us. The bottom line will be paying the rent each Friday,”I moved to greet our first customer.
We spent the whole morning waiting on curious people, even made a few sales. My wif’s country pillows, and one of my prints. In between I spent the time putting the finishing touches on our presentations. I was surprised at the never ending stream of people.
I realized at noon there was too much traffic for both of us to leave and take Joe up on his lunch invitation. Joyce suggested I go over and ask him if he could convert the lunch to take out or sandwiches. I did and Joe readily agreed.
He motioned me into a booth while he gave the order to the kitchen, and slid in opposite me talking very softly. I’m glad to have this chance to talk to you alone. There is something you need to know. We had an art shop, with framing and prints of original works, in here about a year ago. A young Puerto Rican couple, Juan and Marie Martinez. She was an artist and he did the ftraming. They got a storm of protests, and bad mouthing from Dirk Streitweiser who is the owner of the framing shop at the West end of the marketplace. He complained to the management but got nowhere. He started a whispering campaign against them with the help of his girlfriend who owns the bookstore.
I was surprised by his telling me all this in confidence but appreciated the heads up. He felt the young couple had been done wrong by Dirk and his girlfriend even though the young people were possible competition.
Our lunch came, and I thanked him for the food and the advise I got back to our stall and waited for a quiet moment . As we had lunchI told Joyce about Joe’s warning. “ I’m amazed that this Dirk would take such a negative attitude about potential competion in a marketplace with this much traffic.It is disappointing news.”
“I’m disappointed too, honey, but it only proves that there is one in every crowd. We’ll stay out of his way. Let the public decide. There are merchants of many types. The Amish, the Mennonites, Polish, Italian, Chinese all hardworking people trying to make a living from their businesses. One hundred and twenty mom and pop stores are here under one roof. No franchises , no AAA’s among them.. This is Main Street as I new it as a child.””
Just then, a thin young fellow on roller skates in a lavender shirt, matching shorts, and shoe skates with a lavender parakeet on his left shoulder came rolling up. He slowed down and looled very intently at the pillows, all the paintings, and prints He skated slowly around the corner and then up the walkway to the west.
Startled by the lavender apparition I said to Joyce, “ did you see that? “
“ There are some real colorful people in this marketplace she replied.
In twenty minutes, he was back after skating around the whole marketplace.
“ How much is this print ““pointing to one of my sea scapes,
“It’s $75, and I’ll frame it for another $95. if you like”.”
“ Will I be able to pick it up next Saturday “?”
I nodded,
“Okay, I’ll pay for it, with framing now and Pick it up Saturday.
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