Many years and a couple of husbands ago, I lived in a postage stamp sized studio in New York. I was poor but happy living my big city adventure. As the holidays approached, I thought about getting a Christmas tree for my humble home, but the prices for trees in Manhattan were exorbitant.
One evening, I got off the bus a few blocks away from my stop so I could walk in the snow which has just begun to fall. As I passed by a corner market, I spied a small, spindly tree among the other larger and lovelier pines for sale. It was almost bare and quite pathetic.
As I paused to look, the shopkeeper came out of the store. I asked him the price of the tree. He said: “Forty dollars.” I plucked up my nerve, looked him in the eye and said: “Mister, there is only one person in New York City who would want that Christmas tree, and you’re lookin’ at her. I’ll give you 5 bucks for it.”
I saw just the hint of a smile on his face as he said...“It’s yours.” I carried it home, cheered by my victory and the sense that I was on my way to becoming a real New Yorker.
2 comments:
I love this post so much!! Way to assert, girl - way to assert!
Great story Pam! Love it.
XO,
Lisa
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