Eleven years had gone by since Seymour had first arrived at Mushnik's flower shop. Now that Seymour was an adult, Mushnik had moved into an apartment about two blocks away from the shop to give Seymour a little more independence. However, Seymour still had to deal with Mushnik's constant berating every time they worked together in the store. And business was still not going well, which caused them to struggle to make ends meet.
"God, when will my luck ever change?" Mushnik complained in his usual daily ranting of how bad his life was.
"Sir, you just have to think positive. Something will come around." Seymour said, trying to encourage him.
"Krelbourn, let me remind you of something. I've run this store for almost 12 years in the most run down area of Manhattan. Business has been not exactly on the upside for all those 12 years as well. Now, do you honestly think that after 12 years of running a flower shop in Skid Row that doesn't bring in the dough, something will look up!" Mushnik said with rising frustration in his voice.
"Um, well maybe it might-." Seymour started to say but Mushnik cut him off with yet another one of his rants.
"Might what? Might what, Krelbourn! Yeah, this job somehow manages to help me make ends me, although I barely get by some times. But I can't do anything else with my life, so all I can do is run this place and pray every day that something will change. Maybe nothing will happen, but I can dream it will happen." Mushnik ranted.
"At least you dream about good business, which sounds like a good idea to me." Seymour said meekly, hoping to avoid more of the rants.
"Yeah, well what else can you do but dream in Skid Row? Very rarely does an opportunity for a better life come around here." Mushnik said.
The two spend the remainder of the day hanging out in the shop and assisted any customers who came inside. They were surprised that they had about 20 people come in that day and purchase flowers or plants, so they were able to make a fair amount of money that day. Both were in surprisingly good moods as they closed up the shop at 6 p.m. that day.
"Today was actually a good day, don't you agree?" Seymour asked Mr. Mushnik as he wiped down the check out counter and cash register.
"Yes Krelbourn, one of the very few good days we get around here." Mushnik said as he watched Seymour tidy up. Then Mushnik suddenly got a look on his face like he thought of something brilliant.
"What are you thinking now, sir?" Seymour asked him
"You know Krelbourn, I've been thinking. Maybe what we need around here is more help." Mushnik said.
"Ok, how are we gonna get more help around here?" Seymour asked him curiously.
"It's simple, Krelbourn. I'm gonna place an ad in the paper for a new employee." Mushink said.
"Oh, ok. But do you think anyone would want to work here?" Seymour asked him.
"Krelbourn, in Skid Row anyone unemployed is desperate for a job even if it pays little dough. Someone will take this job, trust me." Mushnik said with delight. "Now I'm gonna go home and write the ad, it will be placed in the paper tomorrow. Goodnight Krelbourn, see you in the morning." Mushnik added as he walked out the door to go home.
Seymour walked downstairs to his basement bedroom, wondering if anyone really would answer the ad to work at the shop. All he could hope was that the person was nice and he or she would enjoy working at Mushnik's Skid Row Florist.