Chapter Twelve - An Ending and a Beginning
"My inseam is a 34 and my waist is either a 33 or 34, depending on how they fit. I take a 44 long usually in jackets. But you can measure me up and then let's have a look at herringbone tweed sport coats and a nice pair of wool dress pants to go with them," says Adam, as Joseph, the clerk in Craig's Men's and Women's Wear on King Street back in Brockville goes off to find a measuring tape.
"I got a date comin' up for someone's birthday real soon, Joseph and I wanna' look really nice that night," He says to the clerk.
"How about this jacket here, Aaron? It's Harris tweed and not too thick and heavy that you can't wear it for all three out of four seasons. It's on sale and very versatile and practical. The colours in the tweed would be good with your colouring and it should fit you very well, especially in the shoulders and in the length."
Adam tries on the jacket, looks at himself in the three-way mirror and smiles. "I like the browns and tans in it. This orange and blue paisley lining is great ... my favorite colours! And without any pocket flaps or shoulder patches or any of that 'university professor or lord of the manor' crap, I'm thinkin' it looks pretty damn good on me. I like the back side vents too. Ummm, uh ... the arms need to be lengthened a little though."
"Oh yes, Aaron! It looks like it was made just for you!"
"Adjusting the arms and buttons on the cuffs won't be a problem. And, I think it needs to be taken in a little at the back to emphasize your athletic torso. Our tailor in the store can do that at no charge for you. I'll take care of that, no problem."
"Good! Now, find me a nice pair of brown trousers to go with it, wouldya' please, Joseph? No pleats in them or cuffs though... and I want them to fit me like a glove, if you catch my meaning..."
"Ahhh, yes... I think I know just what you're looking for."
Twenty minutes of tailor's chalk adjustments, then pinning, tucking and hemming the pants to really show off his ass... three hundred dollars later, and Adam heads back to Fullerton's just down the street to finish his shift with a big smile on his face.
"I don't know how to thank you for the bonus, Mrs. Fullerton. The new clothes will help a lot when I start to look for a new job. And that letter of recommendation you wrote to your friend at the Ministry of National Health and Welfare in Ottawa... well, I wantcha' to know, that meant a lot to me." Says Adam to Mrs. Fullerton.
"You know Adam, I've always felt like an aunt to you. A crotchety and interfering old aunt at times, yes I know. But, not having had any children myself, I always considered you almost one of my own. The past five years you've been with me here have been a God Send. I didn't know what to do with the store when Mr. Fullerton died. If you'd hadn't agreed to come in and work here for me, I think I would have closed the store back then and sold out to a chain in 1972. I'll be eighty-one this coming spring and it's time to finally step down and enjoy whatever is left of my life, Adam."
"Yes ma'am. You know how much I'm grateful for the chance you gave me here. I'm real sad to see this place get taken over. But, I understand. And the way the rest of Brockville is goin' these days, I suppose this was bound to happen."
"I'm happy you understand, Adam. I only wish I could do more to help you on your way now."
"Well, laying me off will let me collect unemployment insurance faster. And with the savings I've got and your letter and all... ummm, well, I think I'm gonna' be just fine. You know, Mrs. Fullerton... things happen for a reason. And I think this is comin' at a good time for me. I haven't said anything to anyone about this yet, not even my Mom. I figured you'd wanna' be the one to let customers know and all. Do ya' have a firm date for when Rexall's is gonna' take over?"
"The end of February. We can close off the end of the calendar year here and hold a big sale for Christmas and early January and do a final inventory of whatever is left after that. And Adam, you'll get another bonus from me then when I pay off the suppliers and see what's left after we clear out whatever stock we can sell between now and then. I'd be grateful if you could stay on with me until the end of February. And of course, if you need time off for job interviews or whatever you're plans are, then that won't be a problem at all."
Adam gives Mrs. Fullerton a hug and says, "Ma'am you know you've always been able to count on me. That's never gonna' change ya' know."
You know, Adam ... there are a few things I want to say to you, here and now. First of all, I'm an old woman who's lived a long, long time and can say whatever the Hell I damned well want. People can either like it or lump it. I haven't got much time left to me and it seems to go faster with each passing year. I've seen a lot in this city and have watched it grow from a little town to what it is now. There are two types of people in this place now, Adam. With all of the factories ... Black and Decker, Dupont, Brockville Chemicals, Automatic Electric, Phillips Cables and Parke Davis Pharmaceuticals, you've got a lot of blue collar workers making up most of the city now. And then you've got retired old rich, bitches like me that have been around forever. There's nothing in the middle and I've always felt that this wasn't a place for you to live your life in. I remember your Dad, Adam. He couldn't fit into the mold of factory shift worker and when he left, I wasn't surprised. None of my business I know... but I felt you needed to hear that. I know you've got a new young friend that is in College up there now. And I'm not going to pry into your personal business. But, something you should know about Mr. Fullerton and I ... I was ten years younger than him when we got married more than sixty years ago. It wasn't easy over the years. But we stuck together and in the end, it was being together that made up for all the sadness and disappointments we had to endure over the decades. Age is just a number. Maturity and character are what's important, Adam. If you care for someone, then be patient and love and trust them. It'll all work out in time. You live your life the way you want to and never be afraid to show others who you are inside. Do you understand what I'm trying to say to you, Adam?"
"Yes ... I think I do, and thank you, ma'am."
Meanwhile, Mrs. Fullerton with tears in her eyes says to Adam, "You're a good boy, Adam. I hope you'll come and see me after things wind down here."
"Count on it. Mrs. Fullerton. I'll always be around for ya', ma'am."
It's Friday, December 2nd ... the last day of formal classes, with a week to go for hand-in of final assignments... also my last weekend alone with Adam in Ottawa, before I head back to Brockville for the Christmas Break. The bus is over an hour and a half late because of the blizzard that has descended on the Capital. The Voyageur Colonial bus stop in Ottawa is steaming with humid heat, while anxious passengers arrive and those who wait for them stare through fogged-up windows heaving huge sighs of relief as each bus is announced on the loud-speaker and pulls into the station. Adam's bus finally pulls in just after 10:30 PM.
"Adam! The bus trip must have been awful. It's been snowing heavily up here all day. I was starting to get really worried!" I say, as Adam comes through the doors and looks around for me.
