by Douglas Young<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 Julissa Ye relished all the comfortable little routines and quietude defining her part-time job at The Bookery, downtown\u2019s last small, locally owned bookstore. As much as she enjoyed the excitement of the college social scene, working at The Bookery provided a tranquil respite from the other rooms of her life which were often too crowded, loud, and dramatic. Though mostly satisfied with her family, friends, roommates, and classes, she savored the sense of serenity soon enveloping her as she walked to the bookstore just a few blocks from campus.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Entering The Bookery infused her with an aura of peace, permanence, and predictability unrivaled by any other chapter in her biography. From the consistently gracious greeting of the owner, dignified old Mrs. Varina Davis, to the soothing smiles and nodding heads of the largely older regular patrons, Julissa saw her job as a charming recess from whatever family, romantic, or academic turmoil troubled her that week.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Upon signing in for the afternoon shift, Miss Ye conscientiously inspected all the shelves to make sure no book was astray, being careful to frequently glance at the checkout counter in case anyone was there. Aisle by aisle, she diligently shifted books, so no shelf was too full or bare. Satisfied the shelves and promotional displays were all in swell shape, she moseyed up to the checkout counter by the store\u2019s entrance to confirm everything there was in its proper place and to greet each of the store\u2019s new arrivals.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mrs. Davis knew she would hire Julissa the minute she asked for the job with one of the sweetest, most ebullient faces she could ever recall. As cute, friendly, and well-spoken as she was, Varina sensed Miss Ye would be the ideal pretty and perky employee to lend a youthful charm to the old bookstore inherited from her father. The young lady was immediately embraced by the other two part-timers, as well as all the clientele, and Mrs. Davis was delighted with what a dependably upright, respectful, and upbeat worker Julissa at once proved to be. In fact, Varina soon realized she was in better spirits and looking more forward to work on days she knew Miss Ye would grace the store, for this young coed was inspiring many more smiles and happy conversations with all but the most curmudgeonly customers. Varina also noticed sales had increased in the first months of Julissa\u2019s employment and gratefully awarded her a raise after just half a year on the job.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Miss Ye never expected a pay increase, especially so soon and, though she didn\u2019t need the money, impulsively gave Mrs. Davis a hug amidst a couple of tears on what had been a decidedly difficult day. Varina was touched by her young employee\u2019s gratitude and felt a strong maternal affection for her, even wishing she was a grandchild.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Julissa quickly saw Mrs. Davis as a surrogate grandmother. Though she loved her grandparents, they remained in Liaocheng, China when Miss Ye\u2019s father and mother moved to America. Despite communicating frequently by mail and phone, Julissa had always been jealous of friends whose grandparents were within easy driving distance.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Ever since early childhood, she had informally adopted many cherished old friends at church and in the neighborhood as surrogate grandparents, both within and without the local Chinese community. Mrs. Davis was the latest for her benevolent and traditional ways. Though Julissa had only met her kind and courtly husband Jeff twice, she admired how the couple had been married 44 years.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since her parents\u2019 divorce when she was a high school sophomore, Miss Ye found herself intently studying the interplay within married couples, especially old ones hitched for several decades. Her parents\u2019 parting had been particularly painful for Julissa, hurling her into therapy. Since this was the first divorce in the small local Chinese immigrant community, a deep loss of face was added to the family\u2019s ordeal. What made the split all the more humiliating was that neither parent was \u201cABC\u201d \u2013 American-born Chinese. Many Chinese had wanted to believe only those born and bathed in the culturally corrupt ways of the West would be susceptible to such disharmony. Julissa\u2019s grandparents were convinced the first marital break in their families\u2019 history never would have occurred had their children remained in China.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Their super sensitive, American-born granddaughter had worried about her own chance of marital success ever since the collapse of her parents\u2019 union. Reliably romantic, each subsequent breakup with a boyfriend unleashed another wave of fears she might have inherited some inability to maintain a long relationship. Adding to her concern were all her friends\u2019 parents who had divorced and the countless times she had heard older Chinese immigrants bemoan the stumbles of ABCs. Learning in a college psychology class how the children of divorce were also more likely to divorce convinced her the odds of attaining an enduring marriage were not favorable.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So Julissa scrupulously studied the interactions of any married pair that appeared happy and every couple married a long time. What was and was not said were noted and analyzed, often at length and discussed with friends until they got bored. The body language of old husbands and wives was likewise scrutinized for any revealing keys to marital durability.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Perched in the highchair atop the raised checkout counter gave Miss Ye an excellent view of<\/p>\n
the entire little store, able to survey every aisle. Though Mrs. Davis implored her part-timers never to stare at customers unless they thought they were shoplifting, whenever an older couple arrived, Julissa\u2019s eyes would unconsciously follow the lady and gentleman throughout The Bookery. And, though fond of conversing with everyone checking out, she especially treasured the chance to engage old couples.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So, when the elderly pair entered the store that afternoon, Miss Ye immediately smiled at them. The hunched little man struggled to hold the door for his wife who walked through with a frown before turning around.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, come on,\u201d she sighed as he stopped to look over the store with a slight smile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHello and welcome to The Bookery,\u201d chirped Miss Ye.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat? Oh, hi,\u201d answered the wife perfunctorily as the husband seemed satisfied to stand and sop up his new surroundings. Julissa had not seen them before and wondered if this was their first time in the store.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHow are you?\u201d She asked the husband, but he was focused elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow we don\u2019t have time to just stand around,\u201d the woman remarked to the man. \u201cI told you how much we have to do today. So you just stick with me. Now come on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He dutifully followed as she led them to another part of The Bookery. Above a gentle smile, Julissa\u2019s eyes followed them as they walked around the store. She wondered how long they had been married and guessed and hoped it might be even over 60 years. How adorable, she thought.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMiss Julissa, is that list of book orders I mentioned earlier anywhere up there, dear?\u201d Varina inquired.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, ma\u2019am. Here it is, Mrs. Davis,\u201d Miss Ye replied and handed the paper down to her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Love.\u201d Varina smiled and took the list back to her office.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLeave that be,\u201d a raised voice declared thirty feet from Julissa\u2019s perch. The old woman snatched the book the old man had been reading, put it back on the shelf, and turned him around to follow her to another aisle.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Julissa again turned her gaze to the pair and observed the wife\u2019s eyes squinting as she quickly perused each shelf. The husband appeared to be slowly taking in the sights, unconcerned about his wife\u2019s search.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCan I help you find something, ma\u2019am?\u201d Miss Ye asked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d The wife looked up. \u201cOh. No thanks. I know it\u2019s here somewhere. I\u2019ll find it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The gentleman was intrigued by another book and began to read it. Julissa noted how slowly and carefully he opened the volume and how deliberately he turned each page, as if examining a just-discovered rare artifact. She fondly recalled Grandfather Ye treating a book in the same reverent way when she visited him in China.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAt last!\u201d The wife exclaimed triumphantly. \u201cY\u2019all do still have a copy after all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She pulled the coveted book from the shelf and turned towards the checkout counter. Then she noticed her husband completely engrossed in a new find.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow I told you we don\u2019t have time to monkey around today. We\u2019re on a very tight schedule. So put that back where you found it and let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She took his book, checked its author\u2019s last name, and placed it back on the shelf in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCome on,\u201d she took her husband\u2019s arm and started him in the direction of the checkout counter. He blinked a few times and obediently complied as his wife quickly walked in front of him, put her book on the counter, and opened her purse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHi,\u201d Julissa smiled as she checked the book\u2019s price tag, rang up the sale, and announced the charge. She couldn\u2019t help but grin as the old man gradually but purposely made his way towards his wife. His gentle, placid countenance appeared pleasantly absorbed by whatever came into view.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, now I believe I should have exact change here,\u201d the wife stated absent-mindedly as she carefully probed her purse. \u201cAnd I need to get rid of some of these ones too. Gracious, I didn\u2019t realize just how much cash there was in here. Maybe we better make a little deposit at the bank this afternoon too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Joining his wife at the counter, the man looked at her and began to pull out his wallet.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo. I\u2019ve got it. I want to get rid of some of these one-dollar bills and loose change,\u201d she remarked without looking up.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He slowly put the wallet back in his pocket and soon picked up a magazine in front of the checkout counter, seemingly oblivious to his wife\u2019s determination to find the right change.<\/p>\n
Julissa admired his apparent sense of complete calm and wished she could attain it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere. I do believe that\u2019s it,\u201d the wife declared with satisfaction as she laid all the one-dollar bills, dimes, nickels, and pennies on the counter.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPerfect,\u201d Julissa pronounced as she gathered up the money and put it in the cash register. She printed the receipt as the man read the magazine and the woman began talking to herself with her forefinger to her lips.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou know what,\u201d the wife mused. \u201cI \u2019spect we better head to the shoe store just down the street first, get to the post office before it closes, and then go to the grocery last so nothing melts in the car,\u201d she reasoned with a furrowed brow.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHere\u2019s your receipt, ma\u2019am,\u201d Miss Ye smiled. \u201cWould you like a bag for your book?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDo what? Oh. No thank you, dear. That won\u2019t be necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSir,\u201d Julissa looked endearingly at the old man reading the magazine. \u201cWould you like to buy that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, Lord knows he doesn\u2019t need that,\u201d answered his wife as she took the magazine from him and put it back on the rack. Without changing his expression, the husband looked up to reassess his setting.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hesitating but not wanting to miss an opportunity she knew she would otherwise regret, Julissa decided to speak.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf y\u2019all don\u2019t mind,\u201d she lowered her head a little and offered a sheepish smile, \u201cWould you please tell me how long y\u2019all\u2019ve been married?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat? How long we\u2019ve been married?\u201d The wife widened her eyes, leaned her head back, and laughed as the husband looked elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI just think it\u2019s so lovely seeing a couple that\u2019s likely been married a real long time and I\u2019m just curious. I hope you don\u2019t mind,\u201d Julissa nervously giggled.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSixty-two years last month,\u201d the wife replied.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWow! That\u2019s over three times longer than I\u2019ve been alive. That\u2019s even longer than my parents have been alive \u2013 way longer,\u201d Julissa laughed.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHa!\u201d The woman chuckled. \u201cWell, I guess that makes us about as old as the hills. Lord knows I sure feel that way some days. Maybe we have lived past our time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, no! I\u2019m sorry. I didn\u2019t mean it that way,\u201d Julissa put her hands to her face.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo offense taken, child,\u201d the lady raised her hand. \u201cThe Good Lord\u2019s been mighty good to us and we\u2019re grateful. Thank you, dear. Come on,\u201d she looked at her husband and pointed towards the door.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s your secret?\u201d Julissa blurted out before she could stop herself.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMy \u2018secret\u2019?\u201d The woman stopped and frowned.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou know — to how long y\u2019all\u2019ve been together,\u201d Miss Ye quickly replied. \u201cHow have y\u2019all had such a successful marriage and stayed together so long?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, my Lord, Shug. Well,\u201d she paused. \u201cI guess we never got divorced and the Good Lord just hasn\u2019t called either of us home yet,\u201d the wife reasoned and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAh, you\u2019re being way too modest, I\u2019m sure. Seriously, I\u2019d really love to know. What\u2019s been y\u2019all\u2019s secret to such a long marriage?\u201d Julissa inquired intently.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As her husband gazed contentedly at the many magazine covers before them, his wife wrinkled her brow, sighed, looked at the floor and then the wall, squinted, and finally turned to the young lady.
\n\u201cPatience,\u201d she pronounced slowly before beginning to nod. \u201cUm hum. Young lady, I do believe that\u2019s it. Have a good day now.\u201d She then put her hand on her husband\u2019s back and started towards the door.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Surprised at her answer, Julissa acquired a pensive look and cocked her head to one side.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cInteresting,\u201d she murmured, genuinely intrigued by the answer, having fully expected to hear \u201cLove\u201d or something romantic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before the couple reached the door with the wife\u2019s hand on the husband\u2019s left arm, Julissa realized with a start that he hadn\u2019t answered her question.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, sir. Excuse me. I\u2019m sorry,\u201d she laughed nervously. \u201cBut what\u2019s been your secret to such a long marriage?\u201d She smiled at him eagerly.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The wife stopped him mid-stride and he turned to her and blinked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShe wants you to answer her too,\u201d his wife told him, motioning her head towards Julissa.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He turned and for the first time got a good look at the young lady. She gave him her warmest grin of the day and he immediately beamed back in kind. When he didn\u2019t answer, Julissa kept smiling and began to nod her head hopefully.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, answer the girl,\u201d his wife said as she pointed to Julissa with her purse.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When he appeared confused, Miss Ye smiled again and raised her voice.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d just love to know the secret to such a long marriage \u2013 sixty-two whole years,\u201d she remarked in a congratulatory tone while standing and leaning forward with both hands on the counter.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The old gentleman cleared his throat and in a raspy voice finally spoke.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Honey. I haven\u2019t heard a thing in ten years.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Douglas Young \u00a0 \u00a0 Julissa Ye relished all the comfortable little routines and quietude defining her part-time job at The Bookery, downtown\u2019s last small, locally owned bookstore. As much as she enjoyed the excitement of the college social scene, working at The Bookery provided a tranquil respite from the other rooms of her life […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1595,77],"tags":[1565,1596,1123],"class_list":["post-14551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-egophobia-74","category-english","tag-douglas-young","tag-egophobia-74","tag-english"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6DakB-3MH","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14551"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14552,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14551\/revisions\/14552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}