Every time I go in I find something totally cool like a decorative turn plate of a hundred year old door bell, or a brightly covered English tea container with lid that was being used to hold plastic washers. The store honestly looks like a hardware store museum and I am usually the only customer there.
I first went to the shop looking to set up an interview with its owner the distinguished town elder Mr. Ranieri. I heard from my neighbor that Mr. Ranieri now in his mid-eighties not only owns most of Franklin, but can talk for hours about the town’s history. Living here his whole life Mr. Ranieri knows everyone and everything of importance that has to do with our town since the 1930’s. Sadly when I went to the shop that first day Bruce told me that Mr. Ranieri being of ill health does not go to the shop much anymore. I was sorry to hear about Mr. Ranieri, but it was love at first sight! How can a girl resist a shop that’s window display consist of a row of toilet seats in various colors? Also they let you pick through bins and boxes of old stuff and if you sweet talk them enough anything is for sale.
Back to my drawer pull. I walked through the door on Thursday and who is sitting there in the front of the shop but a little old man wearing a full suit with vest and a lovely smile. I was so excited! He got up and greeted me welcoming me to his store. He also asked why I was holding a drawer ( I hate measuring, numbers are not my friends. If I want to make sure the drawer pull fits, I bring the drawer). I told him what I was looking for and then I asked if he was Mr. Ranieri. He said he was and then we started chatting and I fell madly in-love.
He was the most charming lovely man, showed me around the store showing me things that I had never noticed before; like his grandfather’s handmade sled, and large tongs used in Franklin many years ago by the local ice-men. He asked me all about myself, my family, my hair, he loved me hair, and I told him that I loved him. Joking back he told me that he was sorry but he was a married man, and that his wife was a multimillionaire. I said “Yeah, isn’t that because you own most of this town?” He laughed and said.
“In school I was so dumb. Oh I got all F’s I was the dumbest kid in class. They told me I’d never amount to anything.”
I said. “You showed them huh?” He laughed and said.
“I sure did. I’ve done OK.” His eyes smiled so bright.
We talked about so many things. I explained EBAY to him. He asked me to take a look at a few antiques he has in the back. Then he told me that he never throws anything away and that he has a small warehouse full of old stuff. My knees almost buckled. He said that when he was ready to start letting things go he’d give me a call. His daughter came to pick him up and he had me write my first name, the date and time, my phone number and the word “EBAY” on a business card. He took the card put it in his wallet and told me that it was wonderful meeting me. Then he told the Buddie (the guy behind the counter) not to charge me for my drawer pull.
I hope that he remembers me and that we do meet again. I used to be annoyed when I saw his family name put up on so many building in town. I especially didn’t like him when his family turned the 20 acres of woodlands behind our cul de sac into townhouses for a 55 and older community. Well now I don’t miss the woods, there is a wooded trail we can follow around the town houses. I also like having new neighbors, but more than anything I have a new friend and I do love Mr. Ranieri.
No comments:
Post a Comment