JUNE 1983
“What am I forgetting?”
“I don’t know. What are you forgetting?”
“I know there’s something I’m forgetting.”
David Gaynor looked at the kid in the backseat. He estimated his age at about seventeen. He was dressed in what appeared to be a store issue uniform; blue shirt, blue suit, his tie slightly crooked.
David had been on the road since twelve in the morning and this kid was his last fare. All he wanted to do was get his money, get him out of his cab, and go home, where he would snuggle into bed and catch the last hour of ‘The Today Show.’
“What am I forgetting?”
“I don’t know. What are you forgetting?”
“I know there’s something I’m forgetting.”
David Gaynor looked at the kid in the backseat. He estimated his age at about seventeen. He was dressed in what appeared to be a store issue uniform; blue shirt, blue suit, his tie slightly crooked.
David had been on the road since twelve in the morning and this kid was his last fare. All he wanted to do was get his money, get him out of his cab, and go home, where he would snuggle into bed and catch the last hour of ‘The Today Show.’
“Listen, kid you look fine; Except maybe for your tie.”
“My..Oh..” The kid made a nervous effort to straighten his tie.
“First day huh?”
“Uh yeah.”
“Figured as much.”
The cab pulled up in front of Burnel’s department store. Brian Cutler looked out at the somewhat-ominous structure, his new place of employ. It also happened to be his first. He wanted everything to be just right but he had the feeling something was wrong and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“My..Oh..” The kid made a nervous effort to straighten his tie.
“First day huh?”
“Uh yeah.”
“Figured as much.”
The cab pulled up in front of Burnel’s department store. Brian Cutler looked out at the somewhat-ominous structure, his new place of employ. It also happened to be his first. He wanted everything to be just right but he had the feeling something was wrong and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Hey kid, that’ll be a fiver.”
Brian meekly got out of the cab and handed the driver a five-dollar bill.
“Uh..You can keep the change.”
David looked at the kid a moment more, shook his head and drove away.
Brian quickly moved away from the curb. It had rained the night before and he was afraid another car might splash his pants. There was a mirror in Burnel’s window. He felt in his pocket and pulled out his comb. As he absently fixed his hair, he remembered the Mirror People.
When he was little, he used to imagine the reflection was a whole other world, and if you could get to the other side, who knew what wonders you could find. Of course you never get to the other side. The Mirror People always stop you...
When he was little, he used to imagine the reflection was a whole other world, and if you could get to the other side, who knew what wonders you could find. Of course you never get to the other side. The Mirror People always stop you...
His reverie was broken by a sudden realization.
“My nametag!!! I forgot my nametag!”
“Mister, hey, Mister.” Someone quite small was pulling at his pant leg. Five year old Barney Erickson stood beside him wearing light blue shorts trimmed in pink and a ‘Here Comes Hulk’ t-shirt. He was holding a dripping strawberry ice cream cone (Cake cup) in one hand and a frayed and bedraggled leash in the other. A brown and white collie puppy attached to the leash was sniffing the ground at Brian’s feet.
“You like my dog, Mister? Jus’ got him today. His name’s Grover.”
Grover was now sniffing at Brian’s shoes. He turned, dutifully lifted his leg, and sprayed Brian’s pants with wonderfully smelling liquid. Barney giggled guiltily, “Sorry Mister.”
Brian looked down at him a strange mixture of amusement and disgust splashed across his face.
Brian looked down at him a strange mixture of amusement and disgust splashed across his face.
“Barney?! Barney Erickson! Where are you?” Barney’s Mother, June Erickson came out of the shop next to Burnel’s loaded down with five dress boxes. She spotted Barney immediately and ran over to him.
“Don’t you ever, ever, run off like that again, young man! You had me scared to death!” She grabbed him by the right hand (The one with the ice cream cone) and pulled him down the sidewalk. Grover trailed along obediently.
She hadn’t even noticed Brian Cutler. He watched them go. Barney’s ice cream tottered on its perch and fell with a splat to the ground. Grover gobbled it up in one bite. They finally came to a stop in front of a bench where an old lady was sitting. June set her packages down on the bench. Barney looked back him and smiled. Grover’s nose was covered in pink.
Brian laughed a wry, but not humorless, laugh.
"What am I going to do now?
Brian laughed a wry, but not humorless, laugh.
"What am I going to do now?
Brian thought a moment and then he remembered He had been to Burnel's hundreds of times. This was just his first time as an employee. With these hundreds of times he also had thousands of memories of this place. Most them centered around the toy department and all the wonders he had found there. Once he had succeeded in acquiring one of these pertys, as he called them, he then had to plot a course for home.
This wasn't easy either.
He had to somehow get his mother past that jungle of dress racks placed so strategically close to the door. To this day he would wince when he shopped with his mother. They would be almost outside, a feeling of triumph welling up in his heart, and then, she would stop at the rack right in front of the door.
However the most important thing he remembered about this place right now was that the washrooms were in the front of the store on the far right side. He could get to them easily enough without causing much of a stir. He walked quickly but calmly through some of the offending dress racks. If the few early arrivals to ladies department noticed the aroma he was giving off they made no indication. Breathing a sigh of relief he crossed the threshold of the small hallway he remembered leading to the washrooms. His recollection had not failed him. There were three doors in the passage. A classroom, empty now, where he and his Mom had once taken a microwave cooking class (boring). A beauty shop and down at the very end was- - the ladies’ room!
This wasn't easy either.
He had to somehow get his mother past that jungle of dress racks placed so strategically close to the door. To this day he would wince when he shopped with his mother. They would be almost outside, a feeling of triumph welling up in his heart, and then, she would stop at the rack right in front of the door.
However the most important thing he remembered about this place right now was that the washrooms were in the front of the store on the far right side. He could get to them easily enough without causing much of a stir. He walked quickly but calmly through some of the offending dress racks. If the few early arrivals to ladies department noticed the aroma he was giving off they made no indication. Breathing a sigh of relief he crossed the threshold of the small hallway he remembered leading to the washrooms. His recollection had not failed him. There were three doors in the passage. A classroom, empty now, where he and his Mom had once taken a microwave cooking class (boring). A beauty shop and down at the very end was- - the ladies’ room!
His memory had betrayed him after all. When he was a toddler his Mom had taken him into the ladies’ room with her and that’s where he had made his mistake. The men’s room was all the way at the back of the store in the hardware department. What to do, what to do? He didn’t want to hazard walking all the way through the store; he was afraid someone might get a whiff of him if he had to do that.
He tentatively walked to the door and touched the handle. Slowly he opened the door and stepped inside. In the closed space of the bathroom, the pungent odor hit him in unrelenting waves. He grimaced and felt as if he might throw up. He quickly surveyed the row of stalls. Thankfully there didn’t seem to be anyone here. He turned and locked the door. "Okay Cutler, what now?” He scanned the room again and saw what he was looking for.
Up on top of the towel cabinet was a can of Glade.
He was too glad to see it to wonder why it was there. He grabbed it and began spraying his pants. Little aerosol particles drifted up into the air and found their way into his nostrils.
He sneezed, once, twice, three times...
He sat the can back on the towel cabinet and looked at his watch. It was 9:05.
Brian Cutler was five minutes late.
Up on top of the towel cabinet was a can of Glade.
He was too glad to see it to wonder why it was there. He grabbed it and began spraying his pants. Little aerosol particles drifted up into the air and found their way into his nostrils.
He sneezed, once, twice, three times...
He sat the can back on the towel cabinet and looked at his watch. It was 9:05.
Brian Cutler was five minutes late.
“That's just great." He muttered.
He opened the door and started walking to the back of the store. Maybe it was just his imagination but it seemed to him that even more heads were turning his way. Maybe it was just that he was now rushing or maybe it was because they now smelt the fragrance of Glade Winter Garden. Whatever it was he felt his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. He stopped running when he came to the hall that led to the store offices. At the end of the hallway in front of two swinging doors marked EMPLOYEES ONLY, he took a deep breath and then quickly stepped through. The door closed lightly, clicking behind him.
.
The huge room before him seemed to contain nothing but boxes. Boxes, stacked against the wall and in rows from one end of the room to the other. His eyes danced around the walls until he found the little rack filled with cards and the box of most importance right now: the time clock. He went over to it and checked his watch again to make sure the two were set the same. They were, give or take a few seconds. “Drat".
"Mister Cutler, how nice of you to grace us with your presents.”
Brian recognized the voice at once. It belonged to Adam Burnel, the grandson of Lawrence Burnel, the founder of this great establishment.
Adam had hired Brian on Friday.
He opened the door and started walking to the back of the store. Maybe it was just his imagination but it seemed to him that even more heads were turning his way. Maybe it was just that he was now rushing or maybe it was because they now smelt the fragrance of Glade Winter Garden. Whatever it was he felt his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. He stopped running when he came to the hall that led to the store offices. At the end of the hallway in front of two swinging doors marked EMPLOYEES ONLY, he took a deep breath and then quickly stepped through. The door closed lightly, clicking behind him.
.
The huge room before him seemed to contain nothing but boxes. Boxes, stacked against the wall and in rows from one end of the room to the other. His eyes danced around the walls until he found the little rack filled with cards and the box of most importance right now: the time clock. He went over to it and checked his watch again to make sure the two were set the same. They were, give or take a few seconds. “Drat".
"Mister Cutler, how nice of you to grace us with your presents.”
Brian recognized the voice at once. It belonged to Adam Burnel, the grandson of Lawrence Burnel, the founder of this great establishment.
Adam had hired Brian on Friday.
"Sorry Mister (His mind flashed on Barney for a moment) Burnel. I ran into a little trouble."
"Just see that it does not happen again." Burnel looked Brian up and down. "Mister Cutler, what am I going to do with you? Not only are you late but one very important part of your attire is missing."
"I know. I left my nametag on my dresser.”
"Well, we just cannot have you go out into the marketplace, as it were, unprepared. Now can we?"
"No sir."
"Alright then, let us see what we can do to rectify the situation." Burnel walked over to a cabinet that Brian hadn't noticed before and pulled out a small plastic placard (As Burnel might have called it. His formality of speech had almost cost Brian the interview. He wanted to laugh so hard) and a Dymo label maker and proceeded to click out Brian's name. He fastened it securely and handed it to Brian.
"Now where was I? Ah, yes." He took a clipboard from the wall and studied it. “That tie… just will not do Mister Cutler. Burlap may be the thing these days, to use the vernacular, but no Burnel employee will wear shredded potato sacks. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir, I'll change it as soon as I can."
"Good enough. I am placing yon in the toy department. You will be under Jack Farmer."
The toy department, the play-land of his youth; a sappy smile washed across his face.
"There are no objections are there Mister Cutler?”
“0h, no, no, not at all."
“Very well then- -" Burnel paused. His nose wrinkled slightly as he caught a whiff of what had been emanating from Brian all along. "Mister Cutler, you smell awfully... floral."
"Good enough. I am placing yon in the toy department. You will be under Jack Farmer."
The toy department, the play-land of his youth; a sappy smile washed across his face.
"There are no objections are there Mister Cutler?”
“0h, no, no, not at all."
“Very well then- -" Burnel paused. His nose wrinkled slightly as he caught a whiff of what had been emanating from Brian all along. "Mister Cutler, you smell awfully... floral."
Brian's cheeks turned red again. "I...I guess I'll have to change my after-shave too."
"No…no, I think I like that. What did you say the name of it was?"
"I.. I think it's called 'Winter Garden’" And again it took all Brian had not to laugh out loud.
"Yes, yes I think I like that. I will certainly have to look for that the next time I shop. Or maybe
I could ask my wife to pick up a [Can] bottle of it. Now Mister Cutler, if you will follow me. "
As it turned out, the lady on the bench was Barney’s Grandmother, Beatrice Abercrombie. She had been staying with the Erickson’s for almost a week and Barney had thought it would be a neato idea if his Gran came with them to pick up his new puppy. The other family pet, Snitter, a wirehair terrier (The one to whom the frayed and bedraggled leash had first belonged to) had been hit by a truck two months before. And it had taken Barney this long to get over it. He had started talking about getting a new dog about two weeks ago, and his mother was partially happy that he was getting over Snitter but partially worried about the responsibility of a new dog.
June had taken him around to all the pet shops and they found Grover at Mrs. Kenerly's Kennel Shop. Mrs. Kenerly promised to have him all fed and watered (Which Brian Cutler could certainly attest to) and ready to go.
They got up bright and early at 7:00 and came out to pick him up.
“Are you alright Mom?" asked June.
"Yes dear, I think I'll at least last out the morning.”
“0h, Mom, I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.”
“I’m fine dear."
"I think I'm going in Burnel’s to do some more shopping." June said.
"Yes, and put your husband in even more debt than he already is." Bea said with a smile.
As it turned out, the lady on the bench was Barney’s Grandmother, Beatrice Abercrombie. She had been staying with the Erickson’s for almost a week and Barney had thought it would be a neato idea if his Gran came with them to pick up his new puppy. The other family pet, Snitter, a wirehair terrier (The one to whom the frayed and bedraggled leash had first belonged to) had been hit by a truck two months before. And it had taken Barney this long to get over it. He had started talking about getting a new dog about two weeks ago, and his mother was partially happy that he was getting over Snitter but partially worried about the responsibility of a new dog.
June had taken him around to all the pet shops and they found Grover at Mrs. Kenerly's Kennel Shop. Mrs. Kenerly promised to have him all fed and watered (Which Brian Cutler could certainly attest to) and ready to go.
They got up bright and early at 7:00 and came out to pick him up.
“Are you alright Mom?" asked June.
"Yes dear, I think I'll at least last out the morning.”
“0h, Mom, I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.”
“I’m fine dear."
"I think I'm going in Burnel’s to do some more shopping." June said.
"Yes, and put your husband in even more debt than he already is." Bea said with a smile.
"Honestly, sometimes you'd think you’re his mother instead of mine."
"I'm just looking after both of you. This little darling set you back a few cents." And she patted Grover on the head.
"Can I go, can I go, can I go, can I go?” said Barney, jumping up and down on June's arm.
"Can I go, can I go, can I go, can I go?” said Barney, jumping up and down on June's arm.
“Yes, Barns, you can go. How about you Mom, you want to come?
“No dear, I’ll just stay here and keep Grover company while I catch up on my knitting.” She touched the bag beside her.
“No dear, I’ll just stay here and keep Grover company while I catch up on my knitting.” She touched the bag beside her.
“Well, all right. We'll be back soon.”
June and Barney walked back toward Burnel’s. Barney noticed that Brian was gone. He put his hand to his mouth to stop a giggle. Inside June stopped to look at the dresses Barney sat down under the rack and let the dresses dangle down around him.
The legacy continued.
June and Barney walked back toward Burnel’s. Barney noticed that Brian was gone. He put his hand to his mouth to stop a giggle. Inside June stopped to look at the dresses Barney sat down under the rack and let the dresses dangle down around him.
The legacy continued.
“Alright Barns, that's enough of that." She pulled him up out of his seeming sanctuary.
“Listen kiddo, you want to go to the toy department, don’t you?"
“But you said.”
"Never mind that. I guess I was a little hasty. You go on and have a good time. I'll be there soon."
"Never mind that. I guess I was a little hasty. You go on and have a good time. I'll be there soon."
"Okay."
He ran off and disappeared behind a case filled with cassette players and radios.
Barney began dancing in the aisles. He knew exactly where he was going. Suddenly he tripped on something and fell to the floor. An old and weathered hand reached down to help him up. Barney looked up uncertainly. Then a tiny smile crossed his lips. He knew this man.
When he reached the toy department, all the sparklers, drums, Matchbox cars, Hot Wheels, and games, overpowered Barney along with various other miniature marvels. He reached up to touch them. He walked down the aisles with eyes as big as saucers tinged with green. Something touched him on the leg. He turned and what he saw filled with even more wonder and delight.
When he reached the toy department, all the sparklers, drums, Matchbox cars, Hot Wheels, and games, overpowered Barney along with various other miniature marvels. He reached up to touch them. He walked down the aisles with eyes as big as saucers tinged with green. Something touched him on the leg. He turned and what he saw filled with even more wonder and delight.
