The Shop

where we used to work

When we were much younger, we worked at a small furniture shop at Del Amo Mall in Torrance. It was the early eighties, there was a recession, no one was buying much of anything, especially furniture!
Cher was the manager and I was assistant manager. For a time, we were the only two employees as well!
We really enjoyed working there, and we still recall the franchise owner, Paul, with fondness.

The Little Shop

It could have been a little shop
in a village square 'most anywhere
'most anytime in centuries
and snug in Mankind's memories

It could have been but this was now
A modern mall with marbled halls
And concrete pillars, neon lights
closed at precisely nine at night

A fountain splashed, the music rang
Children played and shop-clerks waved
And shot the breeze and made the change--
In slower times they re-arranged

And people hurried everywhere
And lost their way as they tried to pay
for specials they'd seen advertised
on little things that caught their eyes

They fought the crowds that passed the door
of the little shop where few would stop
Or notice it was even there
'round the fountain like a village square

Ceridwen, 1982

Our sales have been slow--
First of the year, the bills aren't in
and they don't know how much they owe
so they don't buy

But, still, the Muzak swirls around to help them shop
It isn't helping sales any-- make it stop!!!

(I'm crazy as it is, I'm getting more
the Muzak's pounding out what's left, it's such a bore!)

Ceridwen, 1982

Dear manager, my friend,
in business friends can now be frank
I've topped your totals for the month so far
To you I owe my thanks

What an idea we should race!
So far it seems to be success!
Please top my totals by the end tonight
I don't think we should rest

Dear manager, my friend,
you've been my life-long, mind-long friend
You've been there when I've needed celebrants
and when the light was dim
Right now we'd open the champagne
if we were working the same time
So take some tea on me in comfort,
read, enjoy this rhyme
Cer.

Ceridwen, 1982

Well, it's time to become the Saleslady
Push a button to explode that neon smile
Be so helpful tho' the customers degrade us
...get away from all my troubles for a while

Need some customers to come and get things started
Thru' the door, the button's hidden 'neath the floor
Another minute and I'm left with all my heartache
Oh, to be the Saleslady just once more!

Ceridwen, 1982

Well, we lost the business tho' it wasn't ours to lose
We tried out the new management, at least then we could choose
We fought and gave up bonuses so 'our shop' could survive
In spite of all we did Paul's shop (and ours) went for a dive
It's still the little village shop around the fountain square
But it's all changed, the owner's new, and we're no longer there

Ceridwen, 1982

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