Mr. Minser owned the only general store in town. He was friends with many of the farm estates from whom he bought wheat, corn, chicken, and beef. They would often come to give him deals, and do business with him. The only people who purchased from his store were the estate's servants, except for Mr. D, the man who sold him the beef and chicken. Mr. D had 15 children, one of whom was 18 and accompanied his father almost everywhere. There was only one large wheat estate nearby, as well as other large estates in the area. Any other nearby estate was at least two hundred miles away.
On a busy day, four businessmen entered his shop. They were the men from whom he had borrowed a loan one year ago in order to purchase a much-needed supply of corn and wheat. However, he was still unable to pay back the loan.
"Look," said one of them, seeming half-asleep, "you need to pay your loan."
Suddenly, there was a shout as someone tried to enter the shop, but the crowd of chatting people inside the doorway prevented them.
It happened to be his sister with her four little kids with their pocket money who liked to buy candy. His sister simply grabbed an apron, smiled, and said, "Busy day, huh?" before going into the back of the store.
"I want four candies," said the youngest, timing up to the counter and putting down his money.
"Ok, just wait one minute," he replied.
Just then, Mr. D entered with his two oldest sons. "I have got a parasol for you, plus I need my rifle back. I asked you to fix and clean it the other day," he said. "Oh, and I got this list. I don't really know what's on it, save ginger. My wife wrote them down. She ain't feeling good these days. It's ingredients to make some sort of tea I heard." He then frowned .
Mr. Minser nodded, taking the parasol and rifle from Mr. D. "I'll take a look at the list and see if we have the ingredients for the tea," he said sympathetically. "I hope your wife feels better soon."
As Mr. Minser looked over the list, he realized that it was written in a messy handwriting, making it difficult to decipher. He recognized a few items like ginger and cinnamon, but the rest were unclear. He decided to ask Mrs. Johnson, one of the estate servants who often shopped at his store and had knowledge of herbal remedies.
"Mrs. Johnson," he called out. "Do you have any idea what these ingredients on this list might be?"
Mrs. Johnson, a kind older woman with years of experience working on the nearby wheat estate, approached him with a smile. "Let me take a look, Mr. Minser," she said, adjusting her glasses. After examining the list for a moment, she nodded. "These are herbs and spices commonly used for a calming tea. It seems like Mrs. D might be having some anxiety or trouble sleeping."
Mr. Minser thanked Mrs. Johnson for her help and quickly gathered the needed items from his store shelves. As he bagged them up, he handed them to Mr. D. "Here are the ingredients for the tea," he said. "I hope it helps your wife."
Mr. D thanked him and paid for the items before leaving with his sons. Meanwhile, the four businessmen who had been waiting approached the counter again, looking impatient.
"We don't have all day, Minser," one of them grumbled. "When are you planning to repay your loan?"
Mr. Minser sighed, feeling the weight of his financial struggles. He glanced at the children who were still patiently waiting for their candies and made a decision. "I understand your concerns, gentlemen," he said calmly. "I am working hard to repay the loan, and I assure you, I will do so as soon as I can."
The businessmen exchanged doubtful glances but eventually left the store without causing any more trouble. Mr. Minser turned his focus back to the children, who were now excitedly picking out their desired candies.
"Alright, little ones," he said with a smile. "It's your turn now. What candies would you like?"
The children gleefully pointed at various colorful treats, and Mr. Minser carefully packaged them up, making sure to give each child their desired candies. As he handed the bags over, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and gratitude for the simple joys his store provided to the community.
Amidst the challenges and pressures he faced as a store owner, Mr. Minser found solace in the camaraderie of his customers and the support he received from his friends like Mr. D and Mrs. Johnson. With a renewed determination, he vowed to continue working hard to overcome his financial difficulties and maintain the cherished role his store played in the town.