The Fortunoff Sales Lady
Yesterday Andrea asked me if Kelly could eat with me today. She wanted to go to exercise at the gym after work. Of course I said yes! She told me what dish she thought he would like. Just in case she finished in time, I prepared two vegetarian dishes as well, for she’s vegetarian.
As I started preparing, I happened to use a serving knife I had bought at Fortunoff a lifetime ago. It is comprised of a set of a knife and fork. I do not know why I do not use that set of tools. Perhaps it’s a force of habit. I use the same set all the time. As I worked with that knife, my mind wandered back to the time I bought the set. It was so many years ago…
It was summer and my parents had come to visit from California. As is our habit in summer, we have our meals on the porch. That day, the weather was beautiful. We lingered over our breakfast. Even Peter did not rush off to court. The leaves on the trees in the garden whispered sweet nothings. The birds warbled merrily. The cicadas’ tune rose to a crescendo then went down to a diminuendo. It was our share of paradise. We all dallied over our breakfast. At last, with a little sigh, Peter reluctantly got up.
‘’As much as I would like to stay, I have to leave,’’ he declared. With that he departed.
With utter contentment, I leaned back in my seat and asked, ‘’What would you like to do today?’’
‘’Maybe we can go shopping?’’ Mama asked hopefully. She loved to shop.
‘’I don’t want to go clothes shopping! That’s that what you always want to do!’’ Papa commented peevishly. Poor Papa! He would much rather have painted, read, or listened to classical music.
’’How about going to Westbury. There we can go to Loehmann’s for Mama, Barnes and Nobles for books, Fortunoff to see what you would fancy and that diner that you both like so much for lunch. What do you think? I suggested. They liked the idea.
Soon we were along our way. The stores were all in the same mall. The parking lot was full and busy. Aha! After slowly cruising up and down the length and breadth of the parking lot for twenty or so minutes, I finally found a spot near Fortunoff. As we approached the store, I held open the door for my parents. As they were about to enter, a rude, full of herself woman, brushed past them and tried to enter. I quickly partially closed the door!
‘’Where are your manners? I did not open the door for you. I opened it for my parents!’’ I exclaimed. With her nose up in the air and an annoyed, ‘’Humph!’’ she went through without a hint of an apology.
Once more I opened the door for Mama and Papa. As they went through I wondered if that woman had any parents and if she dealt with them the way she had just treated my parents. Your elders should be treated with consideration and respect. Now that I am the elderly woman, I realize good manners have by and large gone out of the window in today’s society. A sad sign of the times.
I loved Fortunoff. To me it was a wondrous temple of things of beauty. My favourite department was the antique jewelry. When alone, I lingered there for a long time. I also loved the beautiful dishes, crystals, and silverware. I loved their linen. I loved everything about that store. Over the years, I accumulated so much from there, not because I needed it, but because I desired it. Peter’s favourite phrase to me was, ‘’Stella, do you need it or do you want it?’’ Most times I wanted it because it was beautiful. I learned to recognize the difference and curb my impulses. Peter, bless his heart would never refuse me. I had learned to say no to his generosity.
That day, Fortunoff was having a crazy sale. I found a fine hand-hemmed linen tablecloth for twelve dollars! Twelve dollars? It was so beautifully hemmed. I bought it and embroidered sprays of flowers scattered about it. I made napkins and a tea cozy to go with it. I gave it to Peter’s daughter. She had recently married.
I spied a German steel fork and knife set to cut a whole chicken or roast at the table. It was fifteen dollars! I put it in my basket. Last, but not least, I spied a large old-fashioned beige earthenware English milk jug edged with cobalt blue. It spoke to my heart. It begged me to take her. I picked it up. I couldn’t believe. It was marked five dollars. ‘’Of course I will take you,’’ I said.
Mama and Papa were walking with me. We stood in line. It was a long queue. Finally, it was our turn. Now the ladies at the checkout counter were not ladies that needed a job at Fortunoff. They were mostly wealthy women whose children were older and who were bored. This was a prestigious store. These women were elegant and well-to-do.
The checkout lady picked the linen tablecloth, looked at the price, looked at the cloth once more, then with a steely voice she said, ‘’This cannot be right. You are trying to cheat the store!’’ she said.
I flushed with anger. “I have no need to cheat nor steal! Why don’t you go check?” I answered.
She looked at Papa, pointed a finger at him, and said, “You, go check this for me.” If I was outraged before, I was even more so now. Very slowly, enunciating succinctly, I said, “This is my father. He is almost eighty years old. He is NOT ’you! He is SIR to you. This is your job! We are clients, not your errand boys! Now go and do your job. That’s what you are paid to do!” My voice was shaking with fury.
She became flustered. She did not expect a sharp retort. When she came back she rang me up. Her hands were shaking. She charged me twelve dollars for the table cloth, fifty cents for the fork and knife, and another fifty cents for the jug. I spotted the mistakes immediately but did not say a word. At another time I would have, but not then! I hoped they would fire her at the most or make her pay for her mistake at the least. She deserved that and much more! With Mama and Papa at my side, I walked out of the store. The woman’s attitude had really got to me.
As I used that knife today, I had a wicked grin all over my face as I recalled that day.