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NEW SHOP IN TOWN
by Craig Mintoul
There's a new business opened up on The Gap Road
Where it splits from Edmunds street and runs south out of town. 
Well not a new business, not actually: like the location,
It's set up where Molina's Hardware used to be.
Moliona's was established in the 1880s, three generations ran it since,
Then Valerie was out of here because there seemed nothing more to do
And no kind of future for the kids, Gillian and Ashley.
The new business is named Jensen's, you'd guess that's a family name,
They sell stuff made in China mostly, cotton trousers, tees,
So many joggers, runners, gum boots, plus those coloured plastic shoes
With holes to let the water in and out when you're, say, wading in rock pools.
Crocks, is that what they are called? The town's two hours from the sea -
You go straight on past once-was Molinas to get there - and the local river's
Dry. Still the crocks are there for all to buy. Oh, they sell hats as well.
So you venture in after a hat for summer. Brian, who it turns out
Breaks horses by the Jeffrey method, was wearing this particular hat
When I caught sight of him outside the Huang's Chemist shop.
Nice kind of hat, and Brian never being in the money, you asked him
Where'd he get it. Which is what brought you to Jensen's
On this particular heat wave morning. 41 fucking degrees outside.
This character, Jensen I guess, asks, “Can I help you?” Predictable.
“Just looking.” You move down to the back of the shop 
Where the Molina family had kept power tools under lock and key.
Where now this blond hair woman is kneeling, wiping out a bar fridge.
“Problems?” You say, only because her eyes meet your eyes.
“I't's dead, this spell's too much for it, I expect.” And you say,
“Happened to me two weeks ago. Jesus, the dog bones, didn't
They go off, stinking the shed out when I opened the door.”
“Shit happens,” she adds, a philosophic touch. You shift your gaze
Searching out hats but she says, “The cat warned us once,
When the freezer – in the garage we had this big old freezer, you know -
Well the cat, I heard it crying like something's wrong. Opening the door,
God-damn, the thing was on fire at the back.” The old freezer, you think
Not the cat. “They say,” she said “cats can get to piss on the wiring
Of freezers and stuff, gives them this kind of thrill, so they like it.”
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