Short Stories
The Locket and Pocket Watch
Timidly, she slowly walked into the pawn shop. Anxiously she clasped her locket. As difficult as the decision had been, her mind was made up. As she walked in, Jack, the man glanced up from behind the counter and smiled broadly. Although it had been years since he had seen her or her husband, he would never forget their faces. When he was a young boy, they had befriended his family and once, when his father was facing financial difficulty and was facing losing the store, it was her and her husband who emptied their savings and gave them to his father. It was them who encouraged him to continue with his little pawn shop. Their belief in his father paid off and the business thrived. Although his father had passed away years ago, he would forever be grateful to them for what they had done. He was surprised to see her in here.
“And, just what can I do for you ma’am,” he cheerfully asked. She opened her hand and held out the locket to him. “H-how much could you give me for this?” she quietly asked. He was stunned. This locket was old, beautiful and he remembered her always wearing it. “It belonged to your mother, didn’t it?” he asked her. “Y-yes, it did,” she stammered. He couldn’t figure why in the world she would depart with something that obviously held such sentimental value. When he enquired if she was positive, she nodded her head. Then, she explained. Her sixty fifth wedding anniversary was coming up, and she wanted to get something special for her husband. Their savings had long ago been depleted from medical bills and the small social security check that they lived on was barely enough to squeak by on. But, her husband had worked so hard for so many years to provide for her, and never complained. As treasured as this locket was to her, her husband was cherished even more. And this year, she wanted to be able to give him something extra special to show her love and appreciation. She had a mighty fine man in that husband of hers.
Jack was astounded at the love that she still had for her husband after all these years and her willingness to place his happiness in front of hers. “I’ll tell you what Betsy,” he said. “I have to think about this, because there is not any market for things such as this now days. If you will trust me, I’ll hold it for you while I research what would be a fair price for you.” Betsy, remembering how trustworthy and fair his father had been, accepted Jacks offer.
After she left, Jack went deep into thought. He was trying to figure out a way to help her and yet allow her to keep her locket. “Lord,” he prayed, “Please bring about a way for me to solve this problem.”
A few days later, Tom hobbled in. Jack looked up with surprise as he seen Tom walk up to the counter. “Somehow, he must have found out what Betsy did and came back to retrieve her locket,” he thought to himself. But instead, Tom reached into his pocket and pulled out his grandfathers pocket watch. Everyone knew how Tom had valued this watch and kept it in tip-top condition, even after all these years. As Tom looked lovingly at the object in his hand, he asked Jack what he could give for it. Then Tom explained to Jack about his and Betsy’s anniversary coming up. “As fine as this watch is young man, nothing could be any better than my Betsy. All these years, she has stood by my side and never complained that my best was not good enough. Even now days with ends barely meeting, she never complains. Nope, nothing finer than my Betsy.”
Suddenly Jack knew what to do. “Well Tom,” he said, “a certain young lady that we both know came in awhile back with something that I think your Betsy would love.” He then reached into his drawer and pulled out her locket. With a gasp and tear-filled eyes, Tom looked in wonderment at her locket. Why, he would recognize it anywhere. That foolish old woman pawning her mothers’ locket and never saying a word about it. “I’ll tell you what Tom”, Jack continued, “I’ll trade you this locket plus give you one hundred dollars for that watch of yours.” Tom quickly agreed.
After Tom left, Jack immediately made a phone call. “Betsy,” he said over the phone, “I’ve made a decision that I believe will be fair. Would you mind coming down to my shop so we can talk about it. It’s something I’d rather talk to you in person about.”
When Betsy returned back to the store, Jack quickly retrieved Toms pocket watch. Amazement crossed her face. That silly old goat pawning his grandfathers’ watch. “I’ll tell you what; I’ll give you this watch plus one hundred dollars for your locket.” Betsy walked out of Jacks shop with Toms watch.
Their anniversary came. Betsy had used the money to stock up their meager groceries. And she had splurged, buying Tom’s favorite steak and fresh apples to make him a fresh apple pie. She giggled as she set the table, with wild flowers in a vase and candles in the center. Her finest china and silver were placed on the table. Yes, it was perfect. And Tom had been gone most of the afternoon, which was just fine with her, for it gave her time to have everything ready.
Tom spent the afternoon going from one shop to another, pondering what to do for Betsy with his money. He just couldn’t make up his mind what to get her or spend it on. In the end, he decided he would just tell her about the money and let her decide what to do with it.
Tom was surprised when he got home. Betsy was all prettied up just for him and his stomach growled appreciatively as the smell greeted him from the kitchen. Why, this woman of his still managed to surprise him, even after all these years. But he smiled to himself as he patted his pocket, tonight, he would be the one with a surprise.
After dinner, the two sat outside on the porch swing together. There they exchanged gifts. Both handed each other their gift and agreed to open them together. Surprise, amazement and laughter filled the night air as they each looked at their gifts.
Then Tom pulled out the hundred dollars and told Betsy about Jack also giving him the money. Laughing, Betsy told Tom that Jack did the same for her and that she used her money to buy groceries.
Each had been willing to part with something precious for the other, only to have it returned to them along with something extra.
Through out the night, they talked about some way to repay Jack for his generosity. The next day, they walked hand in hand into his store to thank him. As they attempted to return the money left over and arrange to pay back the other, Jack waved them off. He then told them that they had given him something more priceless than any money. His marriage had been in trouble and he and his wife had been on the verge of a divorce. When he saw and realized how they each placed one another in front of themselves, he had to do some honest soul searching. He realized that he had been guilty of putting his work, friends and other things before his wife. He had his priorities backwards.
A little over a year later Jack and his wife stood hand in hand in their little pawn shop looking around and laughing about the old times. Today was their anniversary and they looked forward to many more. Tom and Betsy had passed away a few months ago, within a few weeks of each other. Their sixty-fifth anniversary was the last anniversary they had had. A smiling well dressed man walked into the shop with a package in his hands. He then explained that he had been entrusted with this package and was instructed to give it to them today. Whistling, he briskly walked out the door. He had not given any names of who sent the package, just saying it would be self-explanatory. Inside the package was a locket and pocket watch, each wrapped up in a hundred dollar bill.
Kathleen Ann Shelton
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