Nonnie’s Gifts and Antiques
The old storefront connecting to Mr. Jessup’s Corner store was getting a face lift. The painters had just left and Nonnie Scott stood out on the sidewalk admiring the job they’d done. It was just the right shade of pink, not too girly but it caught the eye. The large display windows had been trimmed out in shiny black and tomorrow the sign would go up over the door.
Nonnie was still weeks away from opening and as she stood there in her paint spattered overalls and baseball cap Mr. Jessup came out to complain about the color.
“But Miss Nonnie, it’s pink and it clashes with my store, takes away from the gray green that I chose.”
“It’s not part of your store and therefore should stand on its own, besides I like the color. I’m not going to be selling breath mints over here.” She pulled her cap down a little lower on her forehead. She’d come to know her neighbor a little more over the past week. He had to be endured.
“It’s not going to be a junk store is it?” he asked in his mild mannered soft voice.
“One man’s junk is another’s treasure Mr. Jessup, and my junk is going to be pricey.” She walked back inside and picked up her paint brush thus ending the conversation with Mr. Jessup. She laughed to herself, wait until the flower boxes show up and the outside displays she had planned to cluster around her doorway. He’d probably be back.
Nonnie climbed the ladder with her bucket of pink paint. She’d always dreamed of having a shop like this and now she had the means to make it happen. A rich uncle was backing her, he was in the trade too but only very rare and expensive antiques in Coffs. Nonnie wanted a mixture, some good, come collectible and some fun. She also planned to carry a selection of handmade soaps and candles and potpourri. Her shop would be scented and hopefully make customers want to buy. She also had a supplier of locally made pottery pieces she thought might do well in this area.
Miss Peeg out on her lunch walk stopped and poked her head in, “Hullo?” she called out and seeing the young woman on a ladder, “oh I didn’t mean to interrupt, only curious.”
“Hi there, I’m Nonnie Scott,” Nonnie came down the latter, “have to excuse me I’m a mess with paint.”
“I do love the color, I’m Winnie Peeg and I work across the street at Mr. Robert’s he’s a solicitor.”
“Yes I know, I was advised to talk to him about what I plan to do here just to make sure I don’t step on any toes with my um neighbor.”
“Just pop over anytime I’m sure. What is it you’re going to do here?”
Nonnie told her about the shop. “I hope it will do well, there’s nothing else like it around here.”
“Oh I’m sure it will, I can hardly wait for opening and my niece I’m sure will be in. Will you live above?”
“I don’t know yet, it’s not been renovated but it’s a good sized unit I may do something with it later. Right now I live in Coffs with my uncle. He’s the only relative I have left in the world and he’s backing me in this venture so I must get it right or else,” she smiled.
“I shouldn’t worry dear, you’ll do well here, I must get on with my walk…and welcome to the Glen.”
“Thanks, Miss Peeg it was nice to meet you.” Nonnie pushed her pony tail over her shoulder spreading a little more pink paint around and climbed back on her ladder. A little later another head popped in.
“Hi, don’t come down I’m Lucy Anderson I have the bakery. Miss Peeg just told me about your shop and I wanted to say welcome and that I can’t wait for it to open, I love shops like that.”
Nonnie smiled, “Well good, I’m Nonnie Scott.”
“I’m off delivering desserts to Andy’s, he’s my husband the one that owns the restaurant. Ta-ra Nonnie.”
“Bye,” Nonnie called after her and thought she needed to paint a little faster customers were lining up.
