part 1, part 2, part 3.

a montage of scenes…in slow-motion, if you wish, for dramatic effect.

[ana runs back into the store, pushing antiques scouters and vintage pyrex hoarders aside in the aisles; her eyes open wide as she sees the beams of golden light…]

ana: it’s still here!

[enter angelic choirs from above]

~*~

[next scene: the glint of a credit card, the swoooosh as it is swiped through the reader, the rrrrrip of the cash register receipt.]

~*~

[next scene: grumpy teenaged store worker called out from the back of the store, smelling suspiciously of organic burnt matter, his pants barely managing to hang on. he grunts and struggles as he reluctantly maneuvers the couch into the back of ana’s minivan.]

ana: thank you!

teen: mreh.

~*~

ana [driving home, talking to the couch]: it’s ok dear. you’ll be home soon, where you will be loved and adored. we’ll forget you ever set your pretty little curlycue legs in that old thrift store. the indignity!

ana: it’s all behind us now, it’ll be our little secret…

~*~

[next scene: at home]

ana: welcome home, lovely. i hope you like it here.

mr.MadeItSo [forcing what he hopes will pass as a sincere smile, and trying to be supportive]: it’s not that bad, actually. a lot better than that photo you sent.

ana [ignoring the fake smile, and thankful that he tries to be supportive]: well, you know, it’s my old phone, it doesn’t take very good pictures…

mr.MadeItSo: yeah, about that phone. you should really think about an upgrade…

ana: shhh…not in front of the couch.

a happy ending.

(a few details in this story have been embellished, but surprisingly, not that many)

~*~

epilogue

ana: wanna play boggle?

mr.MadeItSo: sure.

the couch, though a snug fit in the small living space, feels very much at home. the legs and structure are delicate and airy so that it is a lot less imposing than contemporary couches of the same size.  it’s a great piece of furniture, offering plenty of seating for guests.  the only thing that needs a bit of work is the foam in the cushions.  ana will be replacing them eventually, and she’ll surely share the process here.

the living room is divided fairly equally down the middle now, and it is easy for any visitor to guess which side of the room is influenced by ana’s taste (the old couch side) and which side is influenced by mr.MadeItSo’s (the side with the two sleek pub chairs).

some may call that eclectic decor. hgtv may call it a lack of style and focus. the MadeItSo’s call it home, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

~ * ~

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