Yarn Shop Tale # 5

Hardship was something of which Doreen was comfortable.  The ice on her windshield did not deter her from trying to hurry it along with the scraper, although both hands were red and raw from the lack of gloves and being accustomed to hard work.  Dale, her husband was always harping at her to slow down and take better care of herself.

At sixty-five, she felt as healthy as she did when she was twenty-five.  All this talk of gyms and spas made her grouchy.  Her daughter, Donna, spent a lot of  hard earned money at those places. Yes, she looked young and vibrant as a result, but her attitude about life as a rule was not something Doreen was proud of.

 As Doreen's pickup was now warmed and thawed, she inched her way down the icy hill through their subdivision.  The road meandered past a few ranch style homes, then newer, more spacious ones and finally, the older homes at the bottom of the hill, where the road met the main road. On her right, she noticed the McNurray's inflated turkey was going flat. "The turkey has lost his gobble," Doreen thought as she drove by.  The McNurrays were big on their seasonal decorating.  In a couple days Doreen expected one would see an inflated Santa and his sleigh taking the place of the turkey.

Doreen's thoughts turned again to Donna. She and Dale would be going to the airport tonight after work to pick up Donna and her two daughters.  Doreen was excited about that.  She'd spent the morning finishing with preparations in the guest rooms and cleaning a little.  She'd even managed to put away a batch of chocolate chip cookies she knew the girls would like.  While Donna seemed aloof and embarrassed of Doreens down to earth ways, her grand daughters, Izzy and Beth loved her unabashedly. When she was with them; all the troubles of the earth drifted away.  Her grand babies didn't see her wrinkles and flaws.  They didn't try to bring her up to date on the latest gadgets.  They didn't care that she didn't have a cell phone or tablet or computer or television.  When they came to visit, they came ready to take walks, read books, and play old fashioned board games.  At the Pawn Shop, they occupied themselves by helping her with the cleaning or whatever else the day held.

Doreen parked her pick up on Main Street and entered the Pawn Shop, her thoughts continued.  Now, Donna was another story.  She would come prepared for battle.  She'd try to get Doreen to redecorate the shop or at least paint something.  She'd probably try to drag her mom to the nearest spa for a facial, and then take her to the city for nice clothes. "Nice" meaning expensive.

  Doreen was thankful Donna wasn't staying long this time. Jack, Donna's husband was flying in later to join her at the nearest ski resort for a week, leaving the girls with their grandparents. Of course, they'd be coming back for Christmas and then, Donna would have a whole week or so to work on reforming Doreen to "her version" of decent mom.  Doreen sighed with dread.

 At least they had one daughter of sorts who loved them. Robin, the niece they had taken into their home after Donna left for college,had offered to make the trip to the city for Donna and the girls.  Dale and Doreen were comforted with Robin's care of them, but felt they wanted to do all they could to improve things with Donna.

Dale was working with a customer, looking at a chainsaw when Doreen entered the shop.  By the looks of things, she predicted they would be starting it.  She envisioned oil and fumes spewing and knew it would involve cleaning up the floor again.  Doreen didn't mind, it gave her something to do and cleaning up after Dale was something she had been doing for forty eight years.  It was something she did well and it gave her a sense of fulfillment; another thing Donna had scoffed at in the past.

"Hey Red," Dale interrupted her glum thoughts." What time would you like to leave for the big city?"  He was wiping his hands on a rag as he walked toward her.

Doreen realized she had missed the chainsaw transaction in her melancholy.  She answered, " I think about closing time, maybe five.  They fly in at eight, so we can leave as soon as you'd like after closing."

"What's my red headed beauty fuming about this morning?" Dale might be getting close to seventy but he was still able to lift her spirits with a little flattery. "Look mah deah", he often slipped into a bad British accent when trying to cheer her, "Let's do leave a mite early, we'll stop for a bit of food along the way."

"Oh you flatterer," Doreen pretended to bat her thinning eyelashes, "Anyone with eyes can see I'm no beauty," she swatted at him.

"Yes, my love, but they do not see what I see.  You are beautiful to me;  Always have been, always will be."  With that, Dale disappeared into the repair room and Doreen went back to her ritual of cleaning the glass cases. She felt more cheerful and balanced.  Dale hadn't prodded her, although he knew the pain she sometimes felt over her relationship with Donna.  He understood how to handle her overwrought emotions on this manner, and that was: to go on with everyday things; not spending too much time analyzing the situation.
                            ***********************************************
 On their way out of town, they stopped at the diner or rather, "The Peak", as the new owners had changed the name when they came to town.  They both ordered the soup of the day and bread sticks.   Doreen wasn't sure what kind of soup she was eating, but it was tasty and warm and nourishing.  Wasn't that the point of food?  So what if there was a funny herb taste she wasn't familiar with.  They ate in silence, both enjoying the warm, clean environment.

Ben, the new owner, approached their table, wearing a chefs apron over his faded blue jeans."How's the food?" he asked, the expression on his face looked anxious. "Sybil is giving me a break from the kitchen, she said you two are out here and I've been wanting to talk to you both."

"The meal is quite tasty." Doreen affirmed
.
"What can we help you with?" Dale prompted.

Ben explained they were looking for suggestions on how to better serve the community's idea of good food.  He wanted to know more specifically the style and approach his deceased uncle had used when owning the place.  They'd been open for business going a month and things weren't picking up as they'd anticipated.

Doreen was sure she could tell Ben a thing or two about what the town wanted, but she'd noticed Sybil's reaction to prior helpful tips she'd given and was glad when Dale began to speak.

"It's just going to take some time to catch on.  People in these parts are used to a less cultured approach in both food and manners," Dale was launching into one of his favorite topics.  Doreen groaned inwardly. "A lot of folks come from the woods for a cup of hot soup. Or you have the truck driver passing through wanting a quick meal and cheap. And then",  Dale was really warming up now, "You'll have those people home from their fishing trips to Alaska and they want to have a good fish meal at a good price, fixed up in a little flour and seasonings and fried in butter, nothing too fancy.  But," Dale added as an afterthought, "You'll also get people in here that are headed for the ski resort and those kind want the kind of food you got going on here."

 
Doreen gave Dale a swift kick under the table.  Good grief!  Didn't the man know when to shut up? She wondered.

Dale ignored her and continued, "For instance, our daughter and family are flying in tonight. Donna and Jack like classy food. I'll bet they'll be in here more n they'll be at our house come mealtime." He winked at Doreen.

Ben had witnessed the exchange between Dale and Doreen.  He was having a hard time keeping a straight face.  They were one of the most interesting couples he had met in his lifetime. "You have been very helpful."  He shook hands with Dale and grinned. "I'd like to meet with you after work some evening and get more ideas.  Let me know when." Ben bowed graciously, chef style and returned to the kitchen.

             *******************************************************************

The drive to the airport went smoothly. Before Doreen was ready mentally, they were pulling up to the curb outside of baggage claim.  Donna and the girls were waiting. They waved and the girls began jumping up and down in excitement.

"Nanna Red!" screams and giggles surrounded Doreen as she knelt on the curb and hugged her grand daughters tightly.  She couldn't help it, tears were streaming down both cheeks as the girls plastered her with kisses. Donna stood nearby, quietly watching in amazement.  She couldn't remember if she'd ever seen her mother cry before.  As Doreen stood, Donna gave her a warm hug. "Good to see you, Mom," she whispered into her ear.

They drove home in the comfort of each others company. Doreen sat in the back between the girls.  They had fallen asleep within the first hour.  The rest of the journey, Doreen listened to Donna and her father chat quietly in the front seat.

  Donna explained about Jacks work schedule and flight plans of the next day.  He planned to rent a car so there wouldn't be a need of anyone making the trip back to the airport.  His real estate business was going well.  He was too busy and the whole family felt the stress, but in spite of all this, Donna sounded good. She seemed tired, yet, calm.  She said she was looking forward to the time she and Jack had planned for the ski resort and also was thankful for her parents because the girls would get to spend time with their grandparents as well.

Doreen didn't know what had happened to the Donna she'd come to know.  She had never seen her daughter so relaxed and calm.  She seemed almost joyous, which Doreen didn't think she could have  accused her of before. Doreen didn't know what it was all about, but she aimed to find out.  These were her last thoughts as they all tucked into bed that night. Contentment and hopefulness filled her heart as she drifted off to sleep.  Content to be with her grand babies and hopeful that she and Donna might have a better relationship some day soon.