Once changed, I returned to the car to open my second present. Peering around and not seeing any nosey peeps, I unlock the car and finish the job to see a beautiful gift box inside. Hoping it’s jewelry since it is in a pretty quaint clasped shell that opens to reveal a pearl necklace. Wow! Stunning in a pinkish tone of 5mm pearls. The marquis-shaped safety clasp is a high-end hook-like tongue that pushes the mechanism fastening inside the clasp. If it slips out, it catches on the bar, saving the owner from losing her pearls. This particular one is decorative and has a heart shape, obviously made as an expensive, loving gift. I almost feel guilty for it, almost. This one item will pay my rent for a month. I can’t be sorry for that gift.
I don’t think it is safe to leave it in the car. Overall, today was an excellent haul- the best in a very long time. Thanking the universe for the well-timed bounty, I arrived at the apartment with the small cardboard box. The nice clasp box does not need to be seen in this neighborhood; it may invite the wrong type of visitors. It will be hidden and not left out until I decide which pawn shop to facilitate a sale. Unfortunately, with high-end pieces of jewelry, it will need to be done quickly and out of town. Oh joy, it will be fun reading the Yellow Pages this afternoon.
As the front door closes and the safety latch is closed, the microwave goes off; the food is done. This is peachy because I’m starving; my toast is long gone. Sitting and eating at my wobbly table, I pursue the location of an appropriate pawn shop. It needs to accumulate high-end without questions and pay decent money. Oh, let me investigate the worth first. Googling the pearls, I find the retail cost is nearly a thousand dollars. Holy crow, I found a treasure. I can pay rent next month if the establishment pays me five hundred. Smiling to myself over the excellent luck for the day, I finished eating and found the perfect out-of-the-way trade store. Now, to dress for success.
The outfit has to say that the person has money and doesn’t desperately need to steal valuables for cash. Also, the age sixteen will not work for this necklace. I need to be at least eighteen, a graduation gift I will never wear. So, no preppy clothes. After my thought process, I stumbled upon the perfect outfit. It involves the admin outfits I hardly wear. The black pencil skirt with the small slit on the side, my tight white blouse that shows just a peek of my overdeveloped bosom, and the black three-inch Michael Kors bootie heels that were a great find at the thrift store. It’s the perfect look, not trying too hard, and it's sexy but demure. My makeup is grown-up with a smokey eye, gray contacts hiding my blue eyes, and bright red lipstick. My face is exotic when slathered with makeup, but I hate how it melts off. Makeup and me don’t get along. Grabbing a black purse large enough to stow the beautiful box, I head for the door.
The hour-long drive was pleasant and relaxing. No issues until I reach the high-end pawn shop. It is closed. Damn. Turning my phone on, I Google another shop close by. Arriving, it is open, hallelujah. Taking a deep breath, I walk up the street from my parking place around the corner. Never park where any cameras are located. I have my short redhead wig on, but my curvy body type, being a female in heels, gives away my height and gender. It's a good thing these shoes are broken in with this short hike.
Clang, clang, the bell goes off as I walk in and see everything behind locked glass cases. Perfect, my kind of place. I can gauge where I'll be in negotiations by browsing the cases to see the merch and values plastered on them. Oh shit, a female voice says, “Can I help you find anything in particular?”
Commerce with females is far different from dealing with males. Knowing I will probably not receive the best deal possible, I reply, “No, thanks. Just browsing today.” I continued combing the cases until I saw a similar pearl necklace. It's not as refined as the one in my purse, but it's still decent. “Can I see this pearl necklace, please?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she replies as she walks around to the backside of the case to unlock it. Handling the piece, she lays it on a board like a quality product, spouting off the specific details of why this necklace is unique. It's a good sales pitch if I ever heard one. She does all the closing questions perfectly. I answer as though interested, not wanting to discourage her performance. I only wish to see the price they have on it. Cool, finally, what I needed. Nine hundred and ninety-nine. I love it when I’m right and a plan comes together. Pouting and frowning are easy markers, letting the folks know that a sale will not be forthcoming.
“A little rich for my blood, but they are beautiful,” I mumble to myself as if thinking about how I could possibly buy them.
“We have a layaway plan for large purchases, a little down, and weekly payments that fit your budget, and this gem is all yours,” she proudly says, like she has provided the best gift a girl could ask for.
“That is an incredible offer. I will consider it." There's no sense in being harsh; I may need to pawn something here one day.
“Let me know if you see anything else,” she gestures to the rest of the locked cases as she returns the pearls to their stand.
She is definitely a professional, with no snarkiness at not bagging a sale. “Thank you for your time, and I’ll consider the necklace and my budget,” I relate as I head out.
“Thanks for coming in today. I hope to see you again soon,” she replied with a big smile, letting the warmth shine.
She must not work on commission, or the boss must monitor the cameras because she was downright pleasant.
Back to the drawing board, I scroll through Google again, looking for another place to do business. Approximately fifteen minutes away is another store that is open late and in a decent locality.
Arriving close to five o’clock was perfect timing. People were everywhere, on their way home or to the busy bar across the street. I parked around the corner again and hoofed it to the front door. When I pulled on it, it was locked. What the fuck. It said open late, and the open sign was shining bright red. Viewing the signage is a message to ring the bell. Pushing on the doorbell, I hear it ring inside, followed by a buzzer sound. I tried the door again with success. Inside, I see the proprietor is a man, thank goodness. Now, down to business.
“Hello there, Miss. What can I do for you?” The middle-aged man was no gentleman but a smarmy, nasty type.
“I was hoping you could help me, Mister?” being the downtrodden female type interested in his name (NOT!).
“Sorry, Miss, my name is Butch. Are you here for something special?” he muttered with a gleam in his eye. You could literally see the dollar signs in them.
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“Oh, Butch. Yes, please.” Okay, it was a little thick. “I hope to sell a beautiful pearl necklace I was gifted for graduation from a great aunt. I will never wear the thing; it is so tacky. But one of my friends said I could sell it for cash. Being out on my own is not as glamorous as everyone says when those bills come rolling in. I should never have splurged on shopping with the new credit card. Would you like to see it?”
“I pretty much am full of stock right now and not purchasing anything unless it’s special. But for you, sweet thing, I will make an exception. Show me what your auntie bestowed upon you,” he oozed with irony.
A man after my own heart. Two can play the game, but only one can win. Let the game commence. “I hate doing this, really. Suppose my great aunt finds out; it will hurt her feelings. Maybe I should think about this some more. I’m so sorry to waste your time.”
“There is no such thing as a waste when a pretty young thing comes to see me.”
I shudder – ewww… Slimball. “Ok then.” Turning on my heels to leave, I ensure it’s slow and provocative. Piquing his curiosity to see the item.
Noticing the slit and leg showing, he licks his lips. It’s nauseatingly gross. But I have my hooks in now and hope he will be easy prey. Moving towards the door with my shoulders a little scrunched, almost dejectedly. My hand reaches for the bar when I hear him clear his throat—hook, line, and sinker.
“Miss, would you like to know how much your jewelry is worth?” he asks.
“Yum, well. I don’t know. I guess it wouldn’t hurt. What would it entail?” I innocently question.
“Just me eyeing the piece through this trusty little gizmo,” he states, showing his magnifying glass.
I glance at my nice watch. “Well, okay. I have a few minutes before I meet my friends.”
I open my black bag and retrieve the pretty box. Pausing before handing it to Butch. A little timid shows vulnerability and makes Butch think of me as easy prey. If he only knew.
Butch’s eyes glaze over, seeing the box, but he doesn’t say much. I know he knows the jeweler it came from and that it’s worth money.
“I can trust you to be honest with me in an evaluation, right, Butch?” I ask in all innocence.
“Of course, darling. I do these all the time.”
I handed the necklace over without opening the box. This way, I can see his eyes as he opens the case. It will tell me everything I need to know. There is no sense in wasting my time haggling if he isn’t interested. He looks at me, and I give him a tentative smile. Opening the jewelry holder, his eyes widen briefly before he shuts it down. It was too late, and I saw what I needed to make it rain money.
“Well, sweetheart, your auntie provided you with a nice babble. We don’t have much need for pearl necklaces in this area. But I’ll give you a good estimate.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
I patiently wait for him to speak first. As the saying goes, the person who opens their mouth first loses. I glance at my watch again, ensuring he notices while reviewing the pearls with his magnifying glass.
A few minutes later, “Well, honey. It is a fine-looking piece, but there are some flawed pearls on it, and they are small. I can give you a hundred dollars for it. I’m feeling very generous today for a sweet girl.”
“That is so nice of you. I am so sorry to waste your time.” And I reach for the pearls and box.
“Wait, now, honey. You're already here. Would you like to go ahead and sell them?”
“Oh no. I know my great aunt, and she would never buy flawed gems. I will return these to the jeweler who made them and complain.”
Butch was taken back at the reply, “Um, well, instead of going to all that trouble, I could give you two hundred for the necklace.”
“You are so nice, but I should return these and complain. After all, I wouldn’t want someone else getting ripped off with bad stones.”
“But they aren’t bad stones, just some slight flaws. I suppose three hundred would be better since, as you say, the stones aren’t bad.” He smiled, sure that such an offer would be gratifying.
“It would still bother my conscience not complaining and pointing out these were flawed pearls.”
Butch pulls out his magnifier again, “Let me double-check them. Maybe the light here is not catching them correctly, making shadows.”
“Does that happen?” I ask with as much curiosity as I can muster.
“It can. Yes, I think these stones are good. It may have been the lighting here, now that I am in a different position. I can go as high as four hundred with the look of these in a better light.”
“Um. I appreciate your time, and I will think about it.” As I reach for the necklace once again.
“What is keeping you from selling these to me right now?”
“Well, my great aunt would have bought something a little more precious. You know what I mean? I feel I should have these appraised first before I sell them. But I am happy to have met you.” Reaching yet again for the box.
Sliding the box a little closer to him, Butch says, “You are the sweetest girl I’ve had the pleasure of serving in a long time. I won’t do this for anyone else. But how about five hundred dollars for them?”
Saying nothing but looking at him. I keep my mouth shut.
As time ticks by, he gets nervous and jittery. “Okay, final offer six hundred. Can I offer something in exchange that would better suit your tastes? Why don’t you have a look around my wares?”
“If you want my graduation present from my great aunt, may she rest in peace, I can part with it for six hundred and fifty cash.” I mimic crossing myself and in grief.
Butch sputters, “But honey, that’s a lot of money.”
“Okay, I'm back to plan A and will return it to the retail store.” I grab the box with the necklace.
Butch takes a roll of cash out of his pocket and peels off six one-hundred-dollar bills. He waves them at me.
“You forgot the fifty that goes with them.”
“Damn, girl.” He pulls out a fifty from the roll and hands the cash to me as he slides the container towards him. Popping it open to make sure the necklace is in the box.
It’s a shame there is no trust in this world today. Pocketing the six hundred and fifty dollars in my bag. I smile. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
Butch grumbles, “I believe that was supposed to be my line.”
Swirling towards the door, I step out into the fading light of night. It was a productive hour spent haggling. My hand is still in my purse, clutching pepper spray in case the asshole changes his mind and has a buddy try to rob me. But no footfalls behind me. I catch glimpses in the windows I walk by to double-check. I hurry to my car and lock my door, just in case. The drive home is quiet, and I smile all the way. It was one of my finest moments. I pat myself on the back for my best performance to date. Deciding I deserved a genuine meal and looking this spectacular, I went to a classy pub with grade-A food near home. I’m not the champagne and caviar type.
