Turning the key felt as a lock slamming in a vault. But, as Adam stared through the large window, nothing was left to steal. Beyond the for sale sign: emptiness. Something never imagined when Adam took over the store from Dad, who inherited it from Gramps. Then worried over when cavernous stores outside of downtown changed the landscape. Fewer shopping baskets plopped next to his cash register. Then the Internet, and people filled virtual shopping carts.
Adam shook his head for the millionth time and asked, “What now?”
“Dinner,” Carla said, giving him a small smile. “Then sleep. Then tomorrow.”
Dave Williams 
Our towns are empty these days. It’s sad for some shops that have been around for generations.
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I agree. Many stores have “for rent” signs and it’s sad to see them empty. Although I heard the news that shopping malls were very busy with holiday shoppers, so some people are still buying stuff in person instead of online.
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A story that captures our times very well.
As Mom and Pop shops go out of business.
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Sadly, yes — since I like small businesses. They were affected by big-box stores, then online shopping, then covid.
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Heart breaking and potent lines Dave! It’s hard to see the changes around us and to make sense of what is happening sometimes. We all navigate at view…
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Thanks Didier. Yes, the world can change rapidly, and some of those changes are good. But not all are for the better, in my view.
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I agree and relate Dave, I’m at the age where I’m starting to feel old…
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