MonuMental

The screen door clapped like a mousetrap behind Kim as she stepped up the single step and went inside the little store. It was slightly darker and cooler than it was outside, even with the rain. The old wooden floors had a thin layer of permanent dust just from the aging boxes and bodies that inhabited the shanty turned trading business. Patrons entered the country store and were greeted by a small chalk board listing ice cream flavors. To the Left was an old ice-cream freezer with a glass top and sliding doors on the opposite side for serving. The counter and cash register was to the Right where one could find anything from lip salve or fingernail clippers, to kid’s candy and baseball caps. Amongst the several short aisles that led you to the refrigerated display doors hosting a small bounty of chilled and drinkable products was a small two-person booth where Kim and Shad had spent more than an hour on a number of occasions. Shad took a seat as Kim took a walk around to survey her snack options as neither of them thought anything of the quietude of the store. Though it was only after deciding to forgo her craving for chips and instead pick up a single-serving bottle of apple juice that Kim entered a section of the store with some minor disturbance. As she walked towards the back of the mildly-lit store she ran upon the sound of quiet sweeping, introducing good ol’ Chuck Ellis into her mind just a few seconds before making a visual debut. The soft sounds of an old broom on the timeless hardwood floors was the preceding noise to rounding any curb and seeing a soft old man tending to his housekeeping. Chuck Ellis was a white-haired, warm-hearted institution of the area as he opened the store each morning in his red flannel shirt and trusted overalls. He stood about the same height as the rest of them but had a bit of a belly and moved like a man who had seen the best of his days but knew the secret to it all was to just keep it moving.

“Hi Chuck.”

“Hey there Sweety.” And with that Chuck ushered his little pile of dust and dander to the end of the aisle and rested his broom against the wall. “What are you up to today pretty girl?”

“Shad and I just gettin’ out the rain. Might be a storm on the way. We was just down at the river and got run off b’cuz of it.”

“Oh yeah Almighty, I heard it booming a ways off just a while ago. You know, me and your Grandfather got chased off the river by a great big storm back when we were kids. ‘Cept we got in a heap of trouble ‘cuz we didn’t leave when it got bad. We stayed out on the river… ended up stranded ’til morning. Whole town was worried but only two of us was in trouble. Your father didn’t ever cause much trouble but what little he did I tell ya he got it honest.”

Chuck shot Kim one of his glances filled with the signature warmth that only comes from an old man and his memories. Kim always looked to Mr. Ellis as a surrogate grandfather coupled with the fun and pleasure of a family friend. She and most of the McDermott children looked forward to seeing him when they stopped by the store. Kim smiled back at him and turned to open the full length glass door behind her where she knew Chuck stocked the apple juice. Turning back to her old friend, she followed him down the short aisle and back to the counter where he rang up her sale and laid eyes on Shad for the first time.

“Hey Chuck!” shouted Shad just as the two were exchanging coins.

“Hey buddy, how ya doin’ today?” responded the store owner without looking up from the transaction. “Heard y’all were running from a storm.” and with that Chuck raised his head to smile back at Shad. He then turned all the way around towards the window behind the register and gave a good observance to the rain.

“Yes sir we were. Headed to the pavilion first but it was full up with cones and stuff.” Shad said.

“I saw ’em bringing all that in ‘ couple hours ago. Thought it was actually the storm they were calling for making its way here early; big trucks and all. I think they’re doing something with Henderson’s field right there in town. Some folks was talking about it I think.” and with that Chuck turned back around to the two young McDermott’s and took a half step forward to lean his forearms on the counter clasping his hands. His thumbs like scissors cutting back and forth around each other.

“What’re they buildin’?” said Kim.

“Shucks I don’t know. That field right there in town’s always been prime property. it’s nice no one’s tried to do anything to it all these years. Ain’t had any of the Henderson’s living or even come around here for twenty years pro’lly. Isn’t that where you kids normally play ball on Saturdays?” he asked, motioning towards Shad.

“Nah we all go over to the school for that. Long as nobody messes anything up they don’t care none. We were thinking about heading over earlier until we were blessed with this pour-down.” responded Shad.

“Well with as much ruckus as they came into town with I’m sure it ain’t gonna be no secret.” smirked Chuck, and with that the wind started to blow and the sky rapidly became darker. Having only been in Ellis’ Country Store for a few short minutes Kim and her brother became glad they had made it in time despite their lack of hustle.

Shad sat there in contemplation as his old friend took a seat on the patched up stool behind the register counter and looked out into the falling rain. Kim stood next to the ice cream freezer and sipped on her juice while she stared out the little country window on the other side of the doorway. He watched in peace and fiddled his thumbs as they all sat indoors and waited out the storm that had come to them.