Have you ever stopped to think about all the things mice must see when they situate themselves in corners?
I was telling a co-worker about a shopping adventure that transpired this past weekend and I caught myself saying, “I would have loved to have been a mouse in the corner when my husband and our neighbor, Sam, went chair shopping on Saturday.” I decided it was post worthy so here goes.
Last week Don was out of town for work. Our current home is quite small and he has asked me to agree, on numerous occasions, not to bring anything more into this already cramped space and to simply wait until we move to a bigger house. I try to agree with him but great deals weaken me and last week a great deal presented itself. Before I succumbed I decided I needed to talk it over with Don. I’ve been the one attempting to enforce communication and this was definitely a communication issue. The great deal was a really nice pressed back oak chair at one of the local thrift stores I frequent on a regular basis. I thought it would look nice sitting where the green plastic lawn chair was near our door where we sit to put on our shoes. The asking price was $24.99. I found the same chair on the internet for $139.99. This, my friends, was a great deal! I broke the news to Don in a text and he asked me to send a picture. His response was positive so I got ready and headed to the store. I walked around for a few minutes so as not to appear too uncontrollably excited but eventually I wandered down the aisle where the chair was sitting the day before and it…..was……GONE!! The approval period lasted too long and I lost out. I was bummed but it wouldn’t be the first time and I knew life would go on. I really thought this was the end of the story. I was wrong.
I had visited with our friend Sam about the chair I wanted and Don knew about it and they both knew I didn’t get it. Here’s the part I didn’t know anything about.
On Saturday, while I was at work, Don decided to do a little shopping. When I got home from work he met me at the door and as I entered the house I saw a brand new, very attractive chair occupying the space where the plastic green lawn chair had been sitting!
He pointed out some minor flaws it had on the back but they weren’t at all visible from where it’s sitting and then he asked me to guess how much it cost. About then I saw Sam sitting in the dining room and they both kept saying “no, lower” every time I guessed the price. They found it at a rather well known furniture store and it is really nice so I started my guesses at $139. From there I went to $129, $100, $79, $59 and it wasn’t until I got to $19.99 that Don said, “It cost $25 bucks plus tax!” Apparently they went to this store and looked around. They spotted the chair and it was marked $59. Don said he didn’t want it for that price as it was damaged but Sam said, “Ask them if they’ll take less.” Don didn’t want to so Sam did. The sales clerk said she would have to ask her manager and when she returned the guys were told it was a go for $25! Sam followed her up to the counter to pay for the chair and then told her he would like to finance the purchase and offered to pay $5 per month. Apparently they all got a pretty good chuckle out of it and the chair is now being used daily and making the area near our door look mighty fine!
I’ll bet you would have liked to have been “a mouse in the corner” right along with me when those two characters set out to create a happy ending to “the chair by the door” story!