Down the Street

Editor’s Note:Today’s post isn’t so much of a story as it is a character sketch. I hope you enjoy it.

It was one of those afternoons when there weren’t enough customers to keep the workers as Ellen’s café busy when Sara walked out the front door, made a left and walked down the street. Most of the shops were as deserted as Ellen’s café. A few customers browsed the wares, but many of the shopkeepers sat inside reading books or stood staring out the windows, hoping for any sign that someone would open the door and step inside.

And it was little wonder that there were so few people shopping. On top of it being in the middle of the week, the mercury hovered just below eighteen degrees, even with the sun shining brightly and trying its hardest to push it a little higher. A gust of wind hit Sara in the face and she pulled her coat a little tighter. She came to a shop, opened the door and stepped inside.

There were three other people inside. One was the owner. The other two were a mother and daughter who were in one corner of the store, looking through scarves. The owner smiled at Sara when she recognized her and went back to rearranging one of the displays, more to give her something to do than out of necessity.

“It’s still here,” the woman said.

Sara looked at the dress, hanging from one of the store mannequins. The fine fabric and the sequins shimmered in the lighting for the display.

“I don’t know where I would wear it if I had it,” Sara said.

“I know what you mean,” the woman said, “but it did turn out rather nice.”

Sara reached up and held the helm of the dress in her hand, not far from telling the woman that she would buy it.