The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

Author:Melody Carlson [Carlson, Melody]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2011-10-23T15:56:57+00:00

On Friday afternoon, the Johnson Sign Company showed up at the Barton Building and hung a big sign. In bright green and red and all caps, the words The Christmas Shoppe now hung above the front door. By Saturday midday, the rumor spread like wildfire that Matilda Honeycutt was out of her head—certifiably nuts.

“Nothing but a bunch of worthless old junk in there,” people were telling each other. “And that crazy lady calls it a Christmas store!”

“Something’s got to be done,” George Snider told several of the business owners as they met for coffee on Sunday morning. This impromptu meeting had been initiated by the councilman. “You can’t let one business ruin the downtown atmosphere, and especially right before Christmas.”

“That’s right,” one merchant said. “I peeked inside there yesterday afternoon, and the trash in that shoddy little shop makes Marty’s Secondhand Stuff look like a boutique.”

Everyone laughed.

“It seems irreverent to call that place a Christmas shop,” Lauren from the shoe store said. “I call it a little shop of horrors.”

“It’s bad enough she’s a newcomer, but to do something like this is almost like spitting in our faces,” Ben Marshall declared. “My family’s owned our hardware store for five generations, and I’m not about to take this sitting down.”

“What do we do to get rid of her?” Cindy from the Clothes Horse asked. “I’ll do anything to help.”

“Should we circulate a petition?” someone else asked.

George waited contentedly as the group kicked around a number of ideas. Some good. Some not so good. He wanted to be sure they really got their ire up, and then he made a suggestion. “A petition isn’t a bad idea—or perhaps just a letter signed by all the downtown merchants to show you’re all united in this. Make plenty of copies of the letter, and be sure to come to the city council meeting tomorrow night. Be there early so you can sign up to address the council.” He chuckled. “The more the merrier. I’ll make sure the press is there as well. And make sure you choose a spokesman to present the letter with the signatures.” He nodded to Ben. “You’d be a good candidate for that.”

The others agreed, and Ben seemed glad to help.

“What should the letter say?” Cindy pulled a small notebook and pen out.

“State the facts,” George told her as she made notes. “Say that the local merchants are offended that the city would allow a thrift store in a part of town where it’s clearly in violation of zoning and permit ordinances. Demand that this wrong be righted immediately. Make sure you take one copy of the letter to the city manager’s office, stating that you want to hear a response from her at the meeting as well.”

“Is that enough to get rid of that woman?” Ben asked.

“It should shut her business down,” the councilman told him. “I expect it’ll just be a matter of time before she moves on.”

They talked for a while longer. George felt confident that their effort would do the trick.

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