The Girl and The Shop
It was a chilly, rainy afternoon on Skid Row. It was the type of dreary day that made one want to stay inside with a warm blanket and a good book. That's exactly what Clementine Elizabeth Grace wanted to do, but instead found herself trapped in a rainstorm. "All I wanted to do was window shop at the toy store…" The little girl looked at the grey sky, cursing it to herself...well as much as a 5-year-old could curse. Grumpily wanting to get out of the rain, Clementine turned and saw a small corner flower shop. "Mushnik's Skid Row Florist" was sprawled on the display window in strange red letters. There was an overhead awning that seemed just big enough to avoid the rain. Clementine sighed and ran for cover. She stood there, shivering, and rubbing her hands together. Her tattered grey dress was not warm enough for this early fall weather. The girl stared at the rain falling from the awning and tears formed in her eyes. She was suddenly feeling sorry for herself, standing there all wet and cold…
"Oy!" A gruff voice bellowed behind Clementine. "No loitering!"
Clementine jumped and turned to see a stalky, but short older gentleman with very little hair and a bushy mustache. His face was puffy and red, and he looked grumpy. Clementine, still shivering pathetically, tried to stand up straighter and looked the man in the eye.
"Sorry, sir" She muttered through her teeth. "Just trying to get out of the rain." The man looked the small child over, noticing she was dripping wet and had no coat. His expression softened, but only a little.
"Where are your parents, girl?" He demanded, crossing his arms.
"Um…" Clementine shuffled her feet, suddenly very sad and embarrassed. "I don't have parents…"
The man's eyes widened, but then narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I live at the Girl's Home." Clementine replied, gesturing towards the direction she came from. "The orphanage?"
There was an awkward pause, as the man looked the girl over again, his expression softening with each second.
"I know the place." The man said gently but darkly, then sighed. "Come in, come in. Hurry" He moved aside and ushered Clementine inside the flower shop. Once inside, Clementine took in her new surroundings. There was a dirty yellow and red rug with so many stains Clementine wondered if it had once been white and pink. There was a counter, and a door behind the counter and one right beside it. The white walls looked cracked, like old china, and had yellowed in some places. A lonely "fire bucket" full of dirty water stood in a corner. There were plants, but Clementine could see each plant was withering or dead. Overall, Clem knew it was a dump, but it was better than standing outside freezing to death. "Maybe this place once had charm" she thought optimistically and smiled to herself.
"You can sit here." The man said, plopping a chair down at a nearby card table. Clementine obeyed, grateful to be off her feet in a relatively warm place. The man sat at the counter and opened a newspaper, eying the girl every now and again.
Some time later, the door opened and a bell dinged. A young woman with short feathered blonde hair, big brown eyes and a sensible but low cut blue dress bounded in. She immediately shucked off her white faux fur and hung it up on a rack beside the front door.
"Sorry I'm late again, Mr. Mushnik!" She said, turning on her heel and flashing a small smile. She saw Clem, and her smile grew. "Oh! We have a guest!"
"Yeah, I found the pathetic thing standing around right outside the door and shivering! She's from the girl's home." Mr. Mushnik said, though not meanly. "Poor girl."
"Oh no." The woman looked sadly at Clementine. "Well, welcome! I'm Audrey. Audrey Fulquard". She extended a hand to Clem, who took it awkwardly. Audrey smiled warmly and shook her hand. She couldn't help but to smile back at Audrey. She could tell Audrey was a warm and cheery woman.
"I'm Clementine. Clementine Grace." The girl replied, beginning to relax.
"You are all soaking wet! Hows about I get you a towel, huh?" Audrey's eyes widened. Clem nodded vigorously and waited while Audrey disappeared into the back room. She returned with a soft towel. The girl took it gratefully and began to dry off. She wrapped it around her body to warm up.
"So, Audrey, you finally…" Mr. Mushnik said, putting his newspaper down.
Suddenly there was a loud CRASH from downstairs, and Mr. Mushnik's expression darkened and his face turned blood red.
"SEYMOUR what is going on down there!?" He bellowed, banging the counter with his free hand. It made Clementine and Audrey jump.
A young man burst through the door beside the counter. He had big blue eyes, super curly brown hair and a kindly but nervous look on his face. He had cardboard box in his hand, and Clementine could see it was full of broken pot. He sheepishly handed the box to Mr. Mushnik.
"Sorry Mr. Mushnik!" He cried meekly "It was accident" Mr. Mushnik's red face began to turn purple.
"Krelborn!" He screamed "That's the second shipment of pots you broke! I'm not made of money, you good for nothin KLUTZ"
"Don't yell at Seymour, Mr. Mushnik!" Audrey said over the yelling, diverting the attention of the men. Seymour turned to see the young girl and he raised an eyebrow. Audrey continued: "Clementine this is Seymour, he works here too!"
Seymour looked curiously at Clementine.
"Hey there." He began. "You're, uh, a bit young to be alone."
"Yeah I am." Clementine retorted, but kindly. "I, uh, live at the orphanage."
Seymour's eyes lit up with some sort of recognition and he nodded solemnly.
"Mr. Mushnik here took me out of the Boy's Home. I was about your age, so I understand."
Clementine looked at the ground, not sure how to take the gentleness of these people. Well, Audrey and Seymour anyway. 'And Mr. Mushnik was a little rough, but he can't be that bad, since he took in Seymour and offered shelter to me when I needed it' the girl thought. She was used to being shoved aside or ignored by most people, not being told 'I understand' or anyone noticing her when she needed something.
"I was just thinking…"Audrey began, a cautious sparkle in her eye "That Clementine here could help out around the shop?" She smiled at Mr. Mushnik, whose face was twisted with annoyance. Before she could control herself, Clementine gasped and her face lit up. "She could be useful, and help us tend to the plants and help Seymour clean!"
Clem looked at Mr. Mushnik hopefully. After a moment, the man rubbed his temples, then gave a long sigh.
"Ok. But I'm not keeping you around here! One idiot is enough." He gestured to Seymour, who's face fell. Clementine gave Mr. Mushnik a look that she hoped said 'A bit harsh, don't ya think?' but the man simply shook his head and returned to his newspaper.
"Uh, how about we start training our new friend, eh, Seymour?" Audrey smiled gently, noticing her friends long face, and the team leaped into action.
The rest of the day, Clementine learned the basics of tending to the shop. She enjoyed her time there, despite the shop being desolate and basically customer-less. She returned to the orphanage that evening, ate her pitiful dinner, and went to bed elated. Audrey had called her a friend. She had always wanted friends, and now she had friends and a job, even though she knew she wouldn't be paid. She couldn't wait to go back the next day.