Stories Of London

PAGE TWENTY ONE CONTINUED:
A NEW COUCH FOR OLD

Casanova/Puppy is now Ten Years Old

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PART THREE

As I said earlier, there was a wonderful store close by to my house. But, and very sadly, it had closed down and was replaced by the K & W Cafeteria. However, I remember during my visits to the Bordeaux Center Roses that there were all kinds of furniture including couches. Although none of these couches would be chosen by the elite of society, I remember them being durable and would prove ideal for Casanova/Puppy were I able to find one that I did not dislike. I looked at what was available on the Roses’ website, but could not find the ideal couch. However, I was not daunted, as I did recall seeing Love Seats during my earlier visits to the store. I felt confident that my quest would have ended at Roses had it not closed!

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What the reader needs to remember when considering the Roses Store is that it is a Discount Store and offers goods that are within the reach of those with limited budgets or are like me,  always on the lookout for a bargain. Goods by famed Couturiers would not be found here. However, although the goods are generally produced by less prodigious designers, they are nonetheless durable and of value to those in need of counting their pennies.

Please do not think me a snob when I say this about Roses, as I am not. I come from working class stock and remember times when we had little and needed to make what we had go far.

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The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that the search for a suitable replacement couch would end at the wonderful Roses. However, should this prove to be unsuccessful, perhaps the only remaining place left where the elusive couch might be found would be at the end of the Rainbow!

Earl Grant (1931-1970) – (At) The End (Of A Rainbow)

The Couch at the end of the Rainbow

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As devastating as this was to the neighbourhood when the Bordeaux Center Roses closed (see previous story), all was not entirely lost since If one was able to obtain a ride, one would be able to visit other branches of the store in the town.

There were two other branches that I knew of in the area: one at the Westwood Shopping Center in Fayetteville and another in the Town of Hope Mills. The Westwood Roses is about three miles from my home while the Hope Mills Store was somewhat further, at about eight miles away. Unfortunately, both distances were beyond my walking capabilities since I had started to have balance problems, which effected my ability to walk far.

The Westwood Roses Discount Store

I was keen to visit the Roses Store in the Westwood Shopping Center and decided to try to find out if there was a bus that would take me there. However, I did not have to worry about this, as help and kindness came from my neighbour who offered to drive us there.

-oOo-

It did not take long to drive to the Westwood Shopping Center. Its Roses Store was larger than the erstwhile store at the Bordeaux Center and was filled with just about everything a family of limited means would need. The furniture area was at the back of the store and the area devoted to it stretched into the far left-hand corner.

As we walked towards the area, we passed all sorts of household goods including sheets, pillowcases, curtains and various toiletries. We next past into an area of clothes: men, women and children; and then past small and large carpets, some in rolls and some in huge baskets. And then through masses of lamps and followed by kitchen tables and chairs.

Finally we came to an area filled with multiple arm chairs and couches, interestingly, some having been suspended on the far wall, as if by magic. There was a huge assortment of couches and suites of various shapes and sizes in different colours and made from a variety of materials. There were so many pieces of furniture stored in the area. They were packed very close together giving the area an extremely cluttered look. The choice was vast, but then, most people seem to prefer a large choice.

-oOo-

To say the least, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the huge mass of furniture stacked closely together that now surrounded me, my spirits fell, as I could see no couch to my liking – that is – not until I looked up and saw the final couch that had been hoisted up on the back wall! There for all to see, nestled in the corner where the left wall met the back wall, was what looked like the perfect couch!

The Perfect Two-Seater Couch in Charcoal Black

Etta James (1938-2012) – At Last

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Overjoyed at the find, I realised that I would not be able to sit on the perfect couch and examine it in its present position on the wall! However, there was a similar styled couch made of the same material, but of a different colour just below it at ground level.

I asked one of the available assistants for aid. She was a woman of early thirties with a nice way about her who proved to be very helpful especially after I gave a brief history of The Quest to find the perfect couch. She offered all kinds of information about the couch and said that the one on the ground was of the same make as the one that interested me hanging from the wall and that I should look-it-over.

I sat down on the ground-level couch. It proved to be firm and comfortable enough. I sat back and imagined Casanova/Puppy resting himself on it. I asked the person that came with me for her thoughts and she said that she thought that the charcoal couch would be ideal. She echoed my sentiments and so the decision was made.

Un Siège digne d’Un Roi ou d’Un Pacha – A Seat fit for a King or a Pasha

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I told the assistant that I would like to purchase the couch on the wall. She said that she would go and check if there was one available in the storage area. She was not gone long and when she returned she said that there was and that it could be delivered the following day. I said that I would not need delivery, as another friend of mine would come to collect it and bring it to my house. We then set about completing the paperwork followed by payment.

When this was completed, I thanked the assistant and we left the store after retracing our steps through the maze of objects to the exit and then outside. Later that day, the assistant telephoned to tell me that although the couch was not available after all at the Westwood Roses, it was available to the store in Hope Mills. After speaking to my friend and asking if he and his son would mind going to Hope Mills to collect the couch, and after getting their agreement, I telephoned the assistant and said that they were willing to go to the other store.

-oOo-

The couch would be arriving the next day!!! Now I had to return home and decide quickly what to do with the old couch.