To the world, it’s just another day
To him, it’s the end
His last day in the store
The last day of his working life
He opens the store, for the last time
That thought won’t leave him as he works
This is the last time he'll perform his daily routine
“I need to order more…, No, I don’t.”
“I’d better clean the…, No, what’s the point?”
Forty years of habits die hard.
“Good morning Mrs. Johnson”
“Good morning, Bill, isn’t this your last day?”
“Yes, I’ll be locking up for good tonight.”
“Well, have a happy retirement”
“I’m sure I will, it’s been nice… serving you all these years.”
Pulling up his sleeves, he begins packing up the produce
The building will be sold by a realtor while he’s gone
Things shouldn’t be rotting on the shelves
He’ll overfill the dumpster today.
“Well hello, Miss Adams, I haven’t seen you in a month!”
“I just got back from college. Are you really closing the store?”
“Yes, I’m afraid I have to.
Too many people have switched to the new store”
“Well, they will never give the service you have all of these years
Say, do you still have any of those root beer sticks?
It’s funny I haven’t thought about them in years.”
“Yes, I do have some left. Here, take the jar, for old time’s sake.”
“Oh, what do I owe you?”
“Nothing at all, Miss. You’ve lightened my heart a bit on a heavy day.”
“Thank you… We’ll miss you Bill.”
“I’ll miss you too. See you tom… I wish you the best.”
“G… Take care, Bill”
As the door closes behind her, he sets back to work.
He sweeps the floor, thinking "the last time"
Checks the temperature in the cooler
Noticing the empty cooler shelves,
He turns the refrigeration off
The customers are scarce today
A few people stop by
Mostly to reminisce
His mind works in circles
This is the last time I’ll hear the noon news on this radio
This is the last time I’ll pick up the mail
This is the last time I’ll see dust floating in the low angled sun.
It’s near closing time now.
The boy walks in
Caught somewhere between Opie Taylor and Huck Finn
He’s been helping out these last days
Doing odd chores
“Sorry I’m so late, Bill, I had to help Mom
Looks like that little sign over the door is comin’ loose.
You want that I should fix it? I know you like things all pretty.”
“No, Johnny, let it be.
It doesn’t matter now.”
“You need help with anything else?”
“No. I think everything is done.
Here’s the money I owe you and here I want you to have this too.”
“But, Bill, this is your favorite picture. You’ve had it forever.”
“I’ve had it since 1964 young man, hardly forever.
I know that you like it as much as I do
I think it should spend the rest of forever with you.”
“Gee thanks, Bill. Thank you very much.”
“You head along home now.”
“Goodb… See ya later Bill”
“See you later”
Bill looks around his store in the evening light, for the last time
He looks at the cash register he bought with his first week’s profits
The windows he replaced when the hurricane broke them
The old tools hanging on the wall that weren’t always antiques
The cooler he fixed dozens of times, now laying dormant
The shelves he built himself, now nearly empty
The clock on the back wall is five minutes slow
Just like it has been every afternoon for the last 15 years
He resets the clock to match his old watch
Steps outside
Closes the squeaking door
"Guess I never will oil it, now"
Locks up, for the last time
He reaches above the door
Pulls down the loose sign
“Bill Hadley, Grocer”
He tucks the sign under his arm
And carries it home.
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Submission Name: The Last Day
