Chapter 29

“Try being alone and ancient.” Numb feet yet restless legs, my bladder’s overactive yet my bowels underachieve. Everything on me is at odds with each other.”

This comes from an elfin man whose feet just touch the floor when he sits. He is also the one who, when I first walked in, kept excitedly saluting me, like his arm was stuck doing it.

“Barry, meet Shorty Iverson. He lost Mrs. Iverson going on two years.”

Shorty salutes me again.

Roxanne hesitantly says, “By the way, I sure can’t afford much in it, but I love your store.”

I thank her for the compliment, even if it was drowned out by the subtle shake of her tin cup.

Sally adds, “I saw those pictures in that home magazine. Sure was something. “

Roxanne offers that, “you must see décor flaws everywhere.”