Down here at the pawn shop - Page 61

Undertoad · 11-12-2013, 12:12 PM

Today Alan is morose as his dad is still in the hospital for his 7th day. He was supposed to come off the respirator yesterday, but did not. Alan is the most unemotional person in the world, but you can hear in his voice that the news is not good.

The old man founded the place and is the rock, the accountant, the player. But he's not in good shape. He reflects what it's like to have been at the shop for so long: he's 71, but looks and acts like he's 85.

Even as there is the stink of death filling the place - just like last year at this time - some animal has decided to die in the space between the floors.

Meanwhile disgusting co-worker Ron tells tales of his leasing of various prostitutes.

Bad times are all around.

footfootfoot · 11-12-2013, 01:03 PM

glatt · 11-12-2013, 01:18 PM

There's a cold wind blowing, too. Gray sky.

Griff · 11-12-2013, 08:36 PM

bummer

sexobon · 11-16-2013, 12:15 AM

Bad times were all around and the sky was gray
UT was down at the pawn shop the other day
He'd of been safe and warm in virtual PA
In The Cellar dreamin' on such a bitter day

Alan was morose 'cause his dad's not in good shape
Coworker Ron was leasing hos and telling the tales
An animal got between the floors and died in that space
There was the stink of death filling up the place

Bad times were all around and the sky was gray
UT was down at the pawn shop the other day
Good thing that he told us so we can pray that he's
In The Cellar dreamin' on future bitter days.

footfootfoot · 11-18-2013, 07:02 AM

Excellent, sexobon!

Undertoad · 12-03-2013, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Poor Richard.

He fell in love with a Yamaha digital piano in the shop. (I did too. It's such a beautiful thing. I hope to have one some day.)

It's $299. He came in two months ago and put $100 down in a layaway on it.

But hard times have fallen on Richard, and he's getting evicted. He has a temporary job and is going for a better permanent job. But now he's just hoping he can stay with a friend for a while until he gets back on his feet.

He came in yesterday with $13 to his name and put $10 down on the keyboard to keep hold of it. He needs it; it's as important to him as life. I know this; I helped him set it up when he tried it. I saw how he felt about it when he heard it.

I forgot to document this, but last Saturday Richard came in and made the last payment on the keyboard. It's his now, if he can keep it.

Sitting in the back doing my job, I didn't realize it was him until the last minute. But he was loudly joyous, and he and Alan recalled that it had been a year since he decided to put money down on this thing. I was the one who took his first payment. And I said it 10 months ago, but I will always remember how Richard fell in love with that keyboard.

Alan, being the unmovable sociopath that he is, did not take any joy in this day. Richard praised him up and down for keeping it in the back, and Alan hates that kind of treatment. Richard doesn't know that it was only the shop's laziness on layaway processing that kept the keyboard around for him, and Alan gave it no thought and deserves no credit.

In fact Alan gave a loud "Ugh!" after Richard left the store and he could feel free to register some emotion. Alan has contempt for anyone who wants to assign him humanity. His favorite customers are the ones who register no emotion and simply run their transactions.

Maybe he's right. Alan has seen plenty of people finish payment on items, only to bring them back a month later to be pawned.

Maybe to be happy with some part of the ghetto is to have your heart broken.

Big Sarge · 12-03-2013, 11:15 PM

Good for Richard. Everyone needs a little joy in their life

xoxoxoBruce · 12-04-2013, 01:17 AM

It's a fool, that plays it cool, by making his life a little colder.

Griff · 12-04-2013, 05:27 AM

Amazing that he pulled it off. Good on him.

Gravdigr · 12-04-2013, 02:35 PM

I hope Richard writes a song called "Fuck You Alan" and gets rich and famous off of it.

Yeah, I'm in a foul mood today.

glatt · 12-04-2013, 02:49 PM

I'm happy for Richard.

limey · 12-04-2013, 05:01 PM

Me too. Even if it's only temporary. Which I hope it isn't.

Sent by thought transference

orthodoc · 12-06-2013, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Maybe to be happy with some(one you've helped in the ER) is to have your heart broken.

Burned-out ER docs know this tune.

Undertoad · 12-13-2013, 11:31 AM

A banner day today as I stood outside my car, looking at the meter and thinking I'd have to get back in the car to get to my change there, when a black woman comes up to me and hands me 2 quarters, and walks away without saying anything.

Thank you ma'am MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The gents felt this was an impossible event and that it must have been someone I was nice to while I was working the counter.

11-12-2013, 01:03 PM	#902
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	__________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

11-12-2013, 08:36 PM	#904
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	bummer __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-18-2013, 07:02 AM	#906
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Excellent, sexobon! __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-03-2013, 11:15 PM	#908
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	Good for Richard. Everyone needs a little joy in their life __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

12-04-2013, 01:17 AM	#909
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	It's a fool, that plays it cool, by making his life a little colder. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-12-2013, 12:12 PM	#901
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Today Alan is morose as his dad is still in the hospital for his 7th day. He was supposed to come off the respirator yesterday, but did not. Alan is the most unemotional person in the world, but you can hear in his voice that the news is not good. The old man founded the place and is the rock, the accountant, the player. But he's not in good shape. He reflects what it's like to have been at the shop for so long: he's 71, but looks and acts like he's 85. Even as there is the stink of death filling the place - just like last year at this time - some animal has decided to die in the space between the floors. Meanwhile disgusting co-worker Ron tells tales of his leasing of various prostitutes. Bad times are all around.

11-12-2013, 01:18 PM	#903
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	There's a cold wind blowing, too. Gray sky.

11-16-2013, 12:15 AM	#905
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	Bad times were all around and the sky was gray UT was down at the pawn shop the other day He'd of been safe and warm in virtual PA In The Cellar dreamin' on such a bitter day Alan was morose 'cause his dad's not in good shape Coworker Ron was leasing hos and telling the tales An animal got between the floors and died in that space There was the stink of death filling up the place Bad times were all around and the sky was gray UT was down at the pawn shop the other day Good thing that he told us so we can pray that he's In The Cellar dreamin' on future bitter days.

12-04-2013, 05:27 AM	#910
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Amazing that he pulled it off. Good on him. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-04-2013, 02:35 PM	#911
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I hope Richard writes a song called "Fuck You Alan" and gets rich and famous off of it. Yeah, I'm in a foul mood today. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

12-04-2013, 02:49 PM	#912
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I'm happy for Richard.

12-04-2013, 05:01 PM	#913
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Me too. Even if it's only temporary. Which I hope it isn't. Sent by thought transference __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

12-13-2013, 11:31 AM	#915
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	A banner day today as I stood outside my car, looking at the meter and thinking I'd have to get back in the car to get to my change there, when a black woman comes up to me and hands me 2 quarters, and walks away without saying anything. Thank you ma'am MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! The gents felt this was an impossible event and that it must have been someone I was nice to while I was working the counter.

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