Episode #16: The Weekly Mercies of Pam Ellis

 

I shouldn’t have waited this long, but work and life hadbeen so full. I walked into the store, which had boasted cute Easter dresses thelast couple of years. I walked past a manikin displaying some weird t-shirtsand distressed jeans. Would that trend ever die? Would I live to see the daywhere people stopped paying extra to have jeans already ripped?

I went to a rack of dresses. This looked promising. Therewere lacy-looking dresses, as well as floral printed dresses. No, that one wasalmost see-through. This other one was cute…if it didn’t have a slit up theside that would give a great view of my often forgotten-to-shave legs.

I moved to a different rack. I snickered at one dress, whichmy sisters and I would call a fishing dress, the kind a girl might put on whenshe wanted to fish for a man. I then spotted a pretty purple dress with flowerson it. It was simple and pretty. I grabbed the one in my size, which made mewish it was easy to lose twenty or so pounds, and made my way to the dressingroom.

I looked in the mirror and laughed. While a pretty dress, itwas unflattering on me. The sleeves were puffy, which made me look fat.

After changing back into my own clothes, I put the dressback onto the rack. Perhaps, attaching one of my week's ideas to something asuncertain as being able to find an Easter dress had been a bad idea.

So just have fun.

I smiled at my own thought. I should. I should have fun evenif it didn’t net me a dress. I went to another store. They were smaller, but Iliked not having to wade through miles of racks.

I turned and saw a manikin in a lacy skirt and a pale pinkfloral top. I loved it. I walked around and I found the rack. Amazingly, theyhad my sizes of both. As soon as I got to the dressing room, I eagerly put themon.

I smiled into the mirror. It was perfect. I snapped a photoand sent it to my sisters.

 

I put together another Easter basket. Who knew Jared’s ideaof offering bookish adult Easter baskets would take off so well? We already hadreordered supplies once and it looked like we would need to reorder again tomeet the demand. Even than we would sell out by Easter.

I placed the raffia in the bottom of the basket and thenadded the leather journal and manly looking devotional along with a wooden penand a paperweight with a Bible verse on it. I didn’t know if people really usedpaperweights, but it was a challenge to find manly items to include in thisbasket.

I set the completed basket on the counter and wrapped itwith the plastic cover. I tagged it for Mrs. Hanasy and moved to the nextbasket.

“Wow!”

I turned, and Jared stood there, surveying the countercovered in baskets.

“You’ve been busy.

I smiled. “You did say that these needed to be done today.”

“I did.” Jared sat down at a chair. “But I didn’t think youwould have so many ready by now. I’ll start moving them to the back and callingthe customers and tell them the baskets are ready for pick-up.”

I nodded and returned to making three for Mrs. Blane. Threeteen daughters. Okay, this was perfect for young teens. I still wasn’t sureabout giving adult men Easter baskets.

“Jared was right. You're a miracle worker.”

I smiled at Lacie as I tied the bow onto the last of thebaskets for the three teen girls. “We haven’t had a lot of customers today, soI’ve been able to get a lot of these done. Besides, Jared’s making it easierfor me since he is taking them into the back and can call the costumers.”

Lacie smiled. “I don’t know what we would do without you.”

Shaking my head, I put the plastic wrap around another basket.“Well, as long as you will have me, I’ll be here.”

Lacie smiled. “Until your Prince Charming comes riding in andsweeps you off to his castle.”

I snorted. “Very unlikely.”

“Perhaps, but I can dream.”

“Well, just make sure the castle you dream up has a largelibrary.”

“Like the one in Beauty and the Beast?” Lacie asked.

“Is there another library castle kind?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen many castles. Oh, before Iforget, I sent you an email with the details for an upcoming event. There is alocal pastor who has written a book about using the summer to reach your neighbors.He wants to have a book signing here and have us carry his books. Jared read overthe book and thought it would be a great idea. I was hoping you could come upwith a small display and work out the details for some time in late May. Mypregnancy brain has not been helpful of late.”

I nodded. “I would be happy to.” I did enjoy helping to puttogether events. Lacie was always so careful about the authors she had in ourstore. I always knew they would be a joy to work with when they did.

“Great. I’ll forward you the email with the basicinformation, and I’ll let you take it from there.”

I nodded and returned to making the easter baskets for the teens.After that I had one that was Jane Austen themed. And the idea of giving adultsan easter basket was growing on me. I mean, if someone gave me a lavender/bookishone, I would be totally into it.

I mentally made a list to add to my mercy notebook when Igot home.

My new Easter outfit

Getting to make Easterbaskets

My job

Easter and the hope ofthe resurrection.