Fannings Property/General Store

Mel stared fixedly at a broken flowerpot some punk kid had just knocked from the shelf. Damn kids. Damn everything. With an exaggerated sigh, she slowly crouched, supporting herself on a nearby shelf, slowly, slowly coming closer to the ground. One by one, she picked up the pieces and collected them into her apron pocket. The kid had jogged off out of sight into the street, and she didn't exactly feel like talking his parents into paying for the damaged property; let bygones be bygones. Perhaps she could glue it back together in some way in her spare time. She had far too much of it these days. She glanced over her shoulder at one of her many prized timekeepers mounted on the wall above the counter. Twenty minutes until she could call it a day... Damn.

Clyde adjusted the bow tie sitting atop his collared shirt and vest for the umpteenth time. This damn heat was truly getting him. Damnation was a bit of theme this terribly humid day. He sighed, glanced at his wonderful wife. Through it all, at least he had her. Sometimes it worried him the way she worked. That pot for instance. Why didn't she holler for him? He could have chased the punk down and clop his ears till Hell froze over. But no, she just let it be. Maybe that is why he loved her. Maybe his train of thought was a little off. Maybe his author lacks the inspiration to continue. Maybe.

He smiled at Mel with another sigh, "The days are getting longer an' longer."

"It's too damn hot, that's what's happening," proclaimed Mel, adding to the day's leitmotif. "I swear, everyone's going loopy."

"If only my father wasn't such a Scrooge, we could be lounging at home doing absolutely nothing." Clyde sighed once more, coming his fingers through his hair. "Could I convince you to make lemonade once we get home?"

"The outlook's dim on that one. We're near out of sugar, and unless you want to lug another sackload up those stairs on a day like this..." She dropped the last shard of pottery into the pocket -- clink! -- and slowly began the rise to her feet.