The China man watched as an elderly woman entered the store and wandered the isles. She did so until she came upon the maternity and baby items which she stopped and gazed over for almost an hour.
The storekeeper went over to that isle, pretending to dust items off, and struck up a conversation with the old woman.
“Aren’t children nice.” The old woman said, speaking totally out of context to the conversation they were having.
The China man agreed and asked the woman what was troubling her. She picked up a newborn baby outfit and started to ramble on, something about her two sons and the fact she was getting old.
The China man was baffled but determined to help this poor old woman and several questions later he figured out what her dilemma really was.
At first he thought she wanted to have children for herself but now realized she meant grandchildren. She has two sons. First is Jared, 42, a loathly lawyer, living upstate in a nice apartment, never felt he had time for a wife so no grandchildren there. Second was Melvin, 37, usually out of a job and still living with his mother. He has always shown interest in women however by looks, personality or shyness, never made it happen.
The China man told the old woman that he had just the thing for her problem and disappeared into the back room.
A few minutes later he returned holding two shiny woman’s engagement rings. “Here we go.” He smiled and handed her the rings.
The old woman looked puzzled for a minute and then corrected the old man “Sir, I have two sons.”
The old man grinned, nodded and explained “I don’t care how you do it, but make both of your sons wear a ring. Make sure however that you put the ring on any finger except their wedded finger.”
The woman looked even more perplexed so the man started over. He explained it again and added that the ring is permanent once worn and not to worry if the engagement ring magically changes fingers to indicate she, the China man corrected. I mean he has reason to get married. The old man laughed and put his hands out from his belly as if pretending to be expecting child and said “If you know what I mean.”
Though somewhat confused the old woman agreed and opened her purse to pay for the rings.
The China man held up his hand to her. “Oh no ma’am, this one is a freebee.” He said and the woman smiled back.
The China man put his hand on her shoulder and walked her out. “You can repay me by coming back to visit with your twelve grandchildren.” He said
“Twelve?!” the old woman exclaimed.
“Did I say that,, I mean just that you would honor me by visiting here with however many grandchildren your sons have.”
The old woman went home, plotting this almost unbelievable thing she had to do.
She knew it would be easy to make Melvin wear the ring since he spent most of the day sleeping on the sofa and she could easily slip it on his finger then.
But Jared was going to be the tough one. He is the aggressive lawyer type and wouldn’t be caught dead wearing anything of a woman. Not to mention he lived clear out on the other side of town.