The Discount

The Discount

James watched the customer perusing the cases, trying to act nonchalant. The young man reminded him of himself at that age. He was immediately whipped back in time to the day he, himself had been in a jewelry store looking at rings.

Twenty three years old, determined to make sure he didn’t lose Annie, even though he often wondered what she saw in him. Whatever it was, he wanted it to last if it could.

Gerald had been at the counter then, and he had tried to act nonchalant. Gerald had seen right through it. Gerald walked up to him asking if he could help. James remembered as if it was yesterday.

“Just looking,” he’d said, “how much does this one cost?”

“Don’t you mean how much is it worth? Tell me about her,” Gerald said, breaking any desire on his part to pretend it was no big deal like his friends had suggested. He started talking.

Gerald had helped him pick out the perfect ring. Annie loved it, and wore it still, forty two years later. They had a wonderful life, not perfect, but wonderful because they did it together, and still do.

This young man reminded him so much of himself at that moment. He walked over to the counter, the young man looked up, trying not to seem interested.

“Ah, how much does this one cost?” he said pointing to a ring very similar to the one he had gotten for Annie all those years ago.

“Let’s start with another question,” James said, “How much is it worth? Tell me about her.”

As he watched all the tension flow out of the young man’s body, and a dreamy look spread over his face he was pretty sure this young man was about to get an amazing discount.