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The Secret Drawer
This Time Last Month
A customer
Opens door
Bell lets out two rings
That smell of books
Telescopes
Globes and other things.
Travel guides
Atlases
Maps strewn everywhere
Customer
Breaks fourth wall
Speaks as if you're there:
"I got upset when I first heard
this shop was closing down.
I don't have any reason now
to pass this way to town.
I mean - Just look! It's beautiful!
I don't know where to start
The architecture oozes charm
..It's retro future art!"
Whispers
"While the owner's in the back
I think it's fair to say
Age and life have not been kind
He struggles every day.
His shop's been here for many years
He's run it all alone
I've heard he's had to sell it though
and this has been his home.
He never talks about his wife
who left and took their son.
Rumours are he liked his drink
but somehow battled on.
His wife then died just after that
- An accident somewhere.
His son was only very young
and spent some time in care.
Son went to jail but studied too
and now might live quite near
- With a suit and tie and new cell phone
he's been seen not far from here.
The owner spied his son first time
in years just days ago
in a plush, expensive company car
but that is all I know."
Owner appears
Front of shop
As the wall clock chimes
Customer
Pays for book:
'Prey To Opus' Rhymes *
Both smile at title
Shake of hands
A joke and last goodbye
Shop now closed
Owner stares
Tear appears in eye.
One Hour Later
Lots of cash
Photos. Bible
In a secret drawer up top
Behind some boxes
Piled up high
Hidden back of shop.
Old shop owner
Takes out photos
Days of love and fun.
Sad but smiles
Happy times.
His wife himself and son.
Puts photos back
Locks secret drawer
Writes note and signs himself
Front of shop
Both key and note
Placed upon a shelf.
Today
Shutters down
'Shop For Sale'
Working all alone
Man in suit
Job to do
Talks on new cell phone:
"This shop would not be out of place
in a home like Charing Cross
He ran it like a hobby though
and ignored its mounting loss.
There's lots of boxes piled up high
on the floor of the back room
but nothing else - Report is done.
I'll get it typed up soon.
Oh and..
I've found a signed note and a key
left lying on a shelf
I think the scribbled writing says:
'It's time to find yourself'.
I'll have a think when I get back
Right now I've had enough
I'll file these under 'Now Deceased'
with all his other stuff.
Some cases that we have are sad
but moreso this because
it hurts to think he died alone
whoever this guy was."
Job now done
Sets alarm
Taps in digit code
Suit tie and phone
Plush company car
Drives off down the road.
~ ~ ~
* 'Prey To Opus' Rhymes - A book that contains a secret inside..
Copyright ©
Gary Radice
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