That Second Jewelry Store

When I first checked out the mall in Dallas, I saw a non-chain store and went it to look for something nice at a good price.  When I look for jewelry, I look for something different and a good value.  I generally don't like the chains since I see the same pieces over and over, and I might have skipped Gordon's if I knew it was part of the Zales chain.  One exception: I really like Helzberg Diamonds.  They have some very nice pieces, they don't dicker with the price, and their clearance values are incredible!  Look at the clearance items first.

Anyway, earlier in the week I went into this store that had a back display case filled with turquoise and silver, and cases with more traditional stones around the shop.  The pieces were less ordinary, and I saw a pendant with three different-coloured emeralds on it.  I asked for a card with the details and price so I could come back and find it again.  The man said that he's usually there; he owns the store with his wife.  A family business.  I like shopping at family businesses.

Well, Meg came back a few nights later.  I remember seeing someone who might have been the guy I saw a few days earlier.  He had a middle eastern, maybe Indian look.  I wasn't sure.  I figured, this will be a more interesting interaction than the previous store.  I wondered if he'd remember me.

The salesman seemed taken aback by Meg.  He came across as reluctant to help.  He mumbled something about asking if I needed help, but I had to ASK him for help, and we were in an empty store.  Generally people on commission and store owners (!) are more than ready to help, show you something special, tell you about sales (the man on Monday did), and so on.  Look up and you'll have a shadow, if he wasn't hovering already.  Instead he had buried himself in his work behind the rear counter.

I asked to see the piece with three emeralds.  We looked through cases until I found it.  It was not as nice as I had remembered it.  It was definitely not something I wanted to buy.  A piece in the next counter caught my eye and I asked to look at that.  It was more interesting in the case than in my hand though.

I finally showed him the card to make sure that the piece I had looked at was the right one.  He looked at the card and was visibly relieved when he realised his BROTHER had helped me ~ not him.  I would love to have heard the conversation later that evening!

"Why didn't you tell me about the crossdresser who came in the other night?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The guy who came in dressed as a woman and asked for your card so HE'd remember this piece!"  [I had left the card with him.]
"Are you nuts?  No guy came in dressed as a woman!"
"A you sure?  You mean that WAS a woman?  No.  It couldn't be.  He must have fooled you."
"You probably don't know what a woman looks like.  I hope you didn't insult HER.

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall.

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