Shopkeeper

For one brief day I was a shopkeeper! It was a fun challenge, especially since I had no orientation before the owner was out of the state. Only a few brief (very brief) instructions over the phone and I was on my own.

I got up in plenty of time that morning, stopped to pick up the key and headed to the store well before 9 o'clock. I had no trouble getting in but I searched high and low for the cash bag. I finally figured out I was looking in the wrong room and when I found the right one the instructions made a lot more sense. I turned on the cash register and played around with it a bit to make sure I knew how to operate it.

At 9 o'clock I took a deep breath, girded up the loins of my mind and went to unlock the door. Maybe there won't be much going on today, I thought, but it would be fun to have some business. Well, I had two phone calls and two customers in the first 15 minutes! I scarcely had my wits about me and so we hunted together for the items they wanted. I felt quite proud as I rang up the first sale of the day. The lady looking for bobbins decided to wait because she wasn't sure what size she needed.

After that little flurry of business there was an hour and a half lull. It gave me a chance to look around, write in my journal, read "The Carbohydrate Addict's Program for Success" and call my sister.

Just as I was starting to get bored another customer walked in and then another and another. I gave them a friendly greeting and asked if I could help them, fervently hoping they wouldn't ask something I didn't know. The one couple came to look at the heaters that were advertised. I could show them the heaters but I sure couldn't make any good sales pitches. They said they'd be back. Another lady brought a sewing machine to be serviced. In vain I hunted for the repair tags and finally took the information down on a sticky note. After she left I searched in earnest for those tags and at last located them in the workroom.

Later there was a phone call from an upset customer who said she had brought a machine in for repairs two months ago. I tried to calm her down and said I'd find out what's going on. After a call to the owner, a trip to the neighboring store for a phone number and another phone call, it was all taken care of and I sighed with relief as I sat down to eat my lunch.

But eating lunch in peace was not to be! I had just taken a big bite of sandwich when the phone rang again. I debated whether to spit it out or quickly choke it down. I chose the latter and after the third ring was able to answer in a fairly "normal" voice. I no sooner got off the phone then the UPS guy stopped by with a delivery. So much for a quiet lunch!

Dad and Mom stopped by with my camera after lunch and I snapped a few pictures. Before I knew it 2 o'clock rolled around and I was off.

What a fun, unusual day!