The Shop That Isn’t There

An Advent Calendar of Stories

December 06 2014

The Shop That Isn’t There

Roger Noons

Mary Anne always enjoyed a bottle of stout – after she’d shut the shop, of

Course

I remember Mary Anne, the proprietress of our local corner shop. You could buy anything there; The Beano, hairnets, a pint of vinegar, a pound of spuds, firewood and if they’d had such things in those days, a toilet roll. She was an innovator; way before her time. She spent long days sitting on three cushions, atop a beech wood box by the till.

‘You can help yourself, young man, you know where everything is. Tell me when you’re done; I’ll tot up your bill.’

Her corner shop’s long gone; replaced by a self-service store.

About the Author

Roger Noons is a regular contributor to the CafeLit site, a prolific and talented writer and you will see a number of his stories here. He is also included in the Best of CafeLit series.