We Won't Go There...Again!

Sometimes there are people, places or things your prefer stay locked away in the catacombs of your memory.  It doesn't necessarily mean, it's bad, just a forgettable moment.  I honestly don't know why I thought of it but it's there, still floating around, so let's talk about it.  Early on in our ownership of Fred's, we had a customer that visited everyday.  She was  kind of, sort of ... kooky and came with the place, as did her mood swings, which would change faster than the New England weather.  Often the question arose: Was she a multiple personality?  No, at least you'd think one of the personalities would of been sweeter, if she were.  People shuddered as she parked in front of the restaurant, but always cordially greeted her.  Yes, there were days she was descent, always asking questions, trying to fit in.  Everyday, everyone hoped this would be the new woman.  Jumping ahead ten years later, our paths crossed, she seemed relatively speaking, a bit happier.  Married and more settled in her life, although still sporting the sullen look, albeit a happier sullen look.

Back to the earlier years.  If everything was going good, people prodded, just to see if they could get a rise out of her.  She never disappointed them.  As soon as they'd leave, she would cry.  We truly felt sorry for her.  Much like a small child, constantly being picked on by older siblings, she always whined.  Reminding her to ignore the taunting, could often bring the fury to the forefront..depending on the day.  Yet we let her stay.  Such a sad soul but there was something about the heart.  Not being able to pinpoint why we liked her yet despised her multiple personalities, was always a source of wonderment to me.

A few times she tried to bare her soul, usually ending with a crying jag, bitching under her breathe as she exited Fred's News.  Everyone felt her wrath, yet everyone spoke to her.  Some days conversations were good, hard to believe it was the same person.  With her the old saying "What goes up must come down" describes her perfectly.  By all accounts she was as close to a manic depressive, without being diagnosed as such, but that girl had a heart, she did touch ours.

One Summer day, all excited, she bounds into Fred's News.  She had received an invite to attend some timeshare seminar in Newport, Rhode Island. Although gifts were promised just for attending, we tried to explain this to her, but there was no changing her mind.  The only issue plaguing her...no one would go with her.  As she was beginning to come down off her cloud, youngest son Mark appears.  "Please, please let Markie come with me!" she begged.  Looking at Mark, I  knew he felt the same way as we did...she had a heart.

Mark returned looking much older and wiser after his "day adventure".  His story quite comical,  to our knowledge she did not purchase a timeshare, yes, she received EVERY gift that was promised.  We are now sure that she could make a living renting herself out to people, just to go to these things and bring home the gifts.  No one in their right mind would every invite her again!  Mark was also her friend for life, although looking back I believe he is the only one that never felt her wrath.  She did have a heart!