Hayden, G. Miki - [SS] The Birthday Watch [v1.0]_files/image001.jpgHayden, G. Miki - [SS] The Birthday Watch [v1.0].htm

THE BIRTHDAY WATCH

by G. Miki Hayden

Kate Forman

* * * *

Miriam had boughtNana three or four ten-dollar watches on the street, yet for some reason, theynever seemed to last longer than a month. Miriam herself didnt own a watch,but then she never held a job where she had to be at a certain place at aparticular time. Besides that, Nana simply liked to wear a wristwatch, whichmade her feel like a lady of some value. Therefore, Miriam decided to buy herdaughter a watch for her birthday in February, and she began small forays hereand there on 125th Street in Harlem where they lived to look at what was in thestores.

The sad truth wasthat either the watches Miriam saw were horribly ugly or they were extremely expensive.The one watch she saw and liked in Marshalls department store was gone by thetime she went back to buy it. Thus she determined to go on an excursion toMidtown Manhattan looking for a watch that would make her young and beautifulchild happy.

Miriam found some adsfor Bloomingdales in a newspaper she saved out of her buildings recyclingstack. The department store advertised watches, and Miriam spotted a couple ofgold-plated ones under a hundred dollarswatches that would shine splendidlyagainst Nanas dark mahogany coloring. Miriam then studied a well-creasedtransit map until she understood how to get to Fifty-ninth and Lexington, andone morning she put a significant amount of cash in a handkerchief between herbreasts and descended into a subway station other than the one closest to home.

At Fifty-ninthStreet, she got out and entered the overwhelming store through the basement.Luckily a sign listed the floors for each of the departments and Miriam wasable to find her way to the jewelry area on the main floor.

She didnt see in thecases either of the watches she was interested in buying. Moreover, the lessexpensive watches were of silver, while the gold-colored ones had small diamondchips and cost quite a lot. The jewelry clerk was engaged with a gentlemaninterested in spending around a thousand dollars on a slender gold bracelet.

Miriam walked away inorder to regroup. She examined scarves and purses that interested her,especially their price tags. People paid as much as seventy-nine dollars forsmall, nothing purses and forty dollars for scarves to decorate their necksnotkeep them from the cold, no, because the material was silk, but decorate theirnecks. The world had gone truly berserk in a scramble for such luxuries asstruck them as necessary to their continued existence. Miriam smiled toherself.

Then she saw it. Aslender white boy had slipped such a scarf from its hook and put it into theinside pocket of his shabby leather jacket. Miriam looked around to see ifanyone else had noticed the move; the store must have security to protect itsgoods. Concentrating on the young manmaybe he was eighteen or maybe he was ayear or two older or youngerMiriam followed him toward the door. This is notyour business, Miriam Obadah, she told herself. Youre in this store to buy awatch. She bit her tongue to try to stop from doing anything rash.

Finally, when the boywas about to exit Bloomingdales entirely, Miriam sidled up quite close to thethief and clearly enunciated four simple words into his ear, Arent youforgetting something? She just couldnt help herself.

He turned and lookedto see who had spoken. One emotion after another was etched on the suspectsface: guilt, bravado, fear, and anger.

The scarf, shesaid, as if he didnt know.

I was about to payfor it, the boy protested.

Is there a problem?asked a man. Since the man didnt have a coat suitable for the cold Januaryweather, Miriam could only assume he worked for the store.

The son of myemployer has a mental disorder, Miriam said. She indicated to the boy that hewas to remove the scarf from inside his jacket. Panic and resentment stillwarring in his expression, he obeyed her, and Miriam grabbed the scarf andhanded it back to the worker. Were terribly sorry, she added. I hope youwill be sure not to let him in the store on his own.

If youll come up,we can take a picture of him, the worker offered.

Miriam shook herhead, took the boys clammy hand, and led him outside, onto the street.

Was that really necessary?asked the young man.

Because of you, theymust charge forty dollars for a simple scarf, Miriam chided. All the shoppersmust pay for your theft.

Because of theircapitalist greed, you mean. He made a rude face.

Your mother would bevery ashamed, Miriam countered. And trust me, you know nothing of politicaland economic systems. Besides which, you will ruin your young life if youcontinue on such a dishonorable path. The crowds swirled by them whileautomobile horns honked in the street, and Miriam had to raise her voice to beheard.

Well, youre smarterthan I am, okay, the boy shot back. But now I have nothing to sell and wontbe able to buy any dinner.

Ah, no dinner. Hescored a point with her on that account.

He obviously couldsee she was vulnerable to such a line of reasoning, and he pressed on. Youllhave to give me a twenty for some food. I could have sold the scarf for atwenty.

Or you could havewound up in jail, she argued. But Ill find someone to help you now. Churchesalways feed the poor. She looked around. The only churches visible onLexington Avenue were to the shopping gods. Her mind wandered back to hermission. This was a wonderful street to look for a watch. But no, she had takenon responsibility for the boy.

Then she saw theirsalvation. This was gooda nun in traditional habit, collecting money. The nunwanted alms for the poor, and here was the poor. Besides which, nuns alwaysknew what to do in any situation.

Once again Miriamtook the boys wrist and hauled him off.

Excuse me, Sister,she said to the nun.

Yes, my child. Wouldyou like to make a donation to St. Annes? To the poor?

Im afraid nottoday, Sister, but can you direct us to a church where this boy can find a mealand some help? Miriam appealed to the holy woman, who looked both startled andannoyed.

The nuns reactioncaused Miriam to examine the woman a bit more closely and observe that she wasdressed in the habit of a Carmelite, a contemplative and cloistered orderfounded by Saint Teresa and having nothing to do, that Miriam knew of, withSaint Anne. Moreover, the womans wimple had a food stain on it and not a freshone.

Ah, you are aFranciscan sister, she suggested to the nun.

Yes, the womanagreed readily.

Miriam, in hergirlhood in Ghana spent in a British Catholic school there, had learned all theorders and the saints, among other arcane facts. This woman collecting for charitywas no nun.

Miriam backed awayfrom the nun and turned to retrieve the shoplifting boy ... But he was gone!She couldnt believe it. Shed taken her eyes off him for one careless second,and hed fled her ministrations. Why? She had intended to help him find foodand shelter and a social worker to set him straight. Perhaps his having run offmade her life easier, but she was really very disappointed.

Every dollar yougive goes to help the poor, called out the nun.

Charity is positivein society and maybe giving will do the giver good wherever the moneygoes. However, what this woman was doing wasnt acceptable. If people foundout, they would become even more cynical about donating to those in need.

Miriam located apoliceman on the corner. The nun sitting in the nook by Bloomingdalescollecting for charity is a fake, Miriam said.

The officer frownedat the West African woman, as if shed just accused a real nun of somethingdreadful. Well, sir, shes dressed as a Carmelite but says shes collectingfor St. Annes. Do you see?

No, he didnt.

I asked her if shewas a Franciscan, and she agreed, Miriam clarified. But shes dressed as aCarmelite. And of course Carmelites Miriam held her palms up to demonstratethat her point was quite obvious. They dont come out into the world.

The policeman seemedfinally a little bit interested. Youre sure? he asked.

Positive, insistedMiriam. She didnt bother to mention the old food stain on the portion of thehabit that should be spotlessly white. She shuddered to think of a real nunbeing so slovenly.

Okay, said theofficer. He went off to handle the matter, and Miriam peeked around for hershoplifter, but the boy was really and truly gone.

Back to the businessat handMiriam walked downtown a couple of blocks, where she found a smalljewelry shop to her liking. Inside, she spotted a watch that appealed to her,and when she asked the clerk, he told her the cost was a hundred and tendollars. With tax, that would come to almost one-twenty. She had that much withher, so why not splurge? She liked the watch, but still she wavered.

In the meantime, herconcentration was broken by a young Hispanic couple looking at a diamond ring.The man was trying to please the woman, always a good sign for the future.

But Miriam couldntsee the diamond very well, and she wanted to take a better look. What a prettyring, she told the couple. I know something about diamonds. She had learneda great deal as a girl, when she had worked for a diamond merchant.

The clerk helping thecouple smiled tightly when the couple handed the ring over to Miriam. His eyeswere fixed rigidly on her. Perhaps he thought she was going to pocket thepiece.

First she looked atthe price tag on the item, then she took up the jewelers loupe, which theclerk had set down on the counter. What a shame, she said after a moment.

Thats a certifieddiamond, the clerk said loudly.

Miriam smiled. Look,she said to the young woman and she handed the girl the jewelers loupe. Seethat fracture? she asked. Under the 10x magnification of the loupe, the flaw,filled with resin so it wouldnt be obvious to the naked eye, was clear.

Oh, said the girl, Ido see that.

Miriam again lookedat the watch and imagined it on Nanas wrist. The woman put the diamond ringback down on the counter. I dont think so, the bride-to-be said.

Miriam decided thatshe would buy the watch. She opened her purse.

Get out of my store,all of you, the clerk began to shout in excitement.

Miriam was startled.What right had he to be so angry? He was the one who was trying to cheat. Shebacked up as he continued to yell, and she and the young couple fled from thestore.

How unfortunate,Miriam told the couple meekly. But in selecting diamonds, one has to becareful.

Thank you so much,said the girl.

Miriam gave them aquick primer on buying diamonds and the couple walked off to see what theycould find crosstown at the Forty-seventh Street Diamond Exchange.

Miriam continuedwalking down Lexington, but the neighborhood changed character and she saw nomore nice little jewelry storesonly large office buildings. Tired out andchilled, at Forty-second Street, she got on the crosstown bus with a freetransfer on her MetroCard.

The bus was crowded,so she had to stand. She watched with interest the several young people of bothgenders who sat complacently. Of course Miriam herself didnt appear to be asold as she wasshe used a henna compound to keep her hair from going gray. Whentwo rather ancient women got on at Fifth Avenue, however, Miriam had tosay something to two boys who sat. You two handsome men have youth on yourside. Your muscles are strong. Let these ladies rest. Theyve worked hard toproduce your world and to give birth to you and your brothers.

Those around her whostood nodded their agreement, though the women on whose behalf she spoke saidno, no, they were getting off in a couple of blocks.

The boys, bothembarrassed and reluctant, simultaneously stood. Miriam persuaded the women tosit, and five minutes later they all got off when the driver called, TimesSquare. Broadway.

Once off the bus, thewomen thanked her. Such manners of the youth today, decried Miriam. Do youknow of a store around here where I might find a pretty watch for under onehundred dollars? The women directed her north to a store called Swat, andMiriam set off up Broadway.

Despite the cold, theday was sunny and the street was mobbed. Miriam, her eyes out for the store theladies had directed her to, paid attention to nothing else. Suddenly, however,she felt the touch of a small human hand in her own and she looked down to seethat a black boy no older than five or six had confidently thrust his hand intohers.

Hello, Miriamcalled to him. The boy looked up, startled. He withdrew his cold hand and gazedaround in confusion and distress. Well, heavens. Miriam caught up his arm sothat he wouldnt get swept away in the crowd and shouted loudly, Has anyonelost a little boy? Here, mothers, have you lost your child? She picked up theyoungster and held him aloft for his mother to see.

People walked aroundher, and no eager black woman responded with tears and hysterical thank yous,grabbing her child.

The little boy allthe while hadnt stopped crying, so Miriam took a handkerchief from her pocketto dry his tears and wipe his nose.

Standing against thewall of a building, offering the child to the world at large as it passed,Miriam eventually spotted a police venue opposite her in the wide trafficisland between uptown and downtown.

She crossed over togive the boy into official custody, and by the time she left, an arrangementwas being made to bring the youngster a frozen custard. A bit peculiar, Miriamthought, to offer a child an ice cream as a substitute for his beloved mother,but the police officers were men, warmhearted and clueless.

She found the watchstore where the women had told her it was, though the name was Swatch, notSwat, which only min-imally made any more sense. Absolutely hundreds of watcheswere available and Miriam disliked every single one of them. Not the watches, shesupposed, but the bands, which she found ugly.

She sat on a platformnear the entrance for a few minutes to rest up for her further exploration. Shewould buy Nana a proper watch today if it killed her. She surely wasnt comingback downtown, where thieves abounded, young men let old women stand while theyrested their sturdy muscles in their seats, and where mothers let go of theirchildrens little hands in a crowd.

Soon Miriam was backup and at her quest. On the sidewalk, however, someone bumped into her, with aquick apology. A man with a hot dog had spread mustard over her coat. Wait aminute! She herself was from a country of experienced and devious thieves.Miriam stepped back quite deliberately and onto someones stylishly clad foot,giving rise to a sharp cry from a healthy set of female lungs. Instead ofapologizing, Miriam crunched down on the foot a little further, while shefirmly closed her purse, which someone had begun to unzip. Once she lifted herown foot from the offenders foot, the would-be thief limped off speedily.Miriam was quick enough to whirl on the man who had gotten the condiment on herwool coat and smack him in the face with her now secure handbag.

You pack of jackals,she cried out and went to hit him again, but he was gone.

Then, to hersatisfaction, she saw an officer running after the pickpockets. How wonderful!She slung her purse across her shoulder and walked south again towardForty-second Street. Macys, at Thirty-fourth, was her destination.

Slow as she was, shewas able to see the officer return, hauling the man who had dirtied her coat.This wasnt a bad country, after all. Ill testify against him, she calledout to the policeman. He stopped and gave her his card and she said shed call.Thats no way to behave, she told the thief. What kind of life do you createfor yourself? The path you have chosen is a thousand times harder than going towork every day. But God will forgive you if you make amends now.

Arent you the womanwho brought in the little boy before? asked the officer.

Yes, sir. I am.

Hes back with hismother. She was very relieved, the policeman told her.

Good, said Miriam. Thoughshe must be more careful.

They parted at once,and Miriam continued her stroll. The robbery attempt had shocked her and slowedher down. Also, her feet hurt. If she didnt find the watch today, maybe shedtry again in a day or two. She kept looking to see the stain on her coat. Shedget it out with water and a brush, she supposed.

Then on Forty-secondStreet, a man accosted Miriam to ask her something. She tried to dodge him,fearing some new scheme against her person. Ready to either listen or flee, shestopped a few feet away from the man and looked into his sad blue eyes. She triedto detect some sign of insincerity, but maybe he really was sad aboutsomething. Or very practiced. I just would like to know where theres a pawnshop, maam.

She had passedone and she tried to think of where. At the same time, she kept a wary eye onthe man. The collar on his brown wool coat was turned up to ward off the cold,and he hadnt shaved in a couple of days, but his hair was neat.

Well, I can pictureit in my head she said. Ill try to take you there because Im not a hundredpercent sure.

Oh, thanks. Thanks alot. He fell into step with Miriam. Im going to pawn my watch, he confided.Its a good one too. But Im in a bit of a jam.

Of course, sheanswered. These days everyone was in a bit of a jam.

The man took thewatch off his wrist and showed it to her. Funny that he was going to pawn awatch, when she was looking for one. Of course, she didnt want a mans watchwith a worn leather strap. Very nice, she said.

Its a Breitling,he told her proudly. I bought it secondhand myself, but for sixteen hundreddollars.

The words secondhandand sixteen hundred didnt seem to her to go together. If this stranger wastrying to fabricate a con, she wasnt having any. The pawn shop owner wouldbear the brunt. Pawnbrokers, however, should know their trade.

I was beaten up androbbed the other night, the man continued, and I need seventy-five dollars toget down to Florida where I have a good job waiting. So he was tryingto sting her for the money, she decided. Oh well.

There. She couldntbelieve it. Shed found the pawnshop, which shed merely glimpsed and hadntexactly even noticed.

The man opened thedoor for Miriam to enter the store along with him, so she did.

He hadnt put hiswatch back on and he immediately offered it to the clerk, who grunted over hisexamination.

Miriam should haveleft, but she was curious, so she stood and watched the pawnbroker work. He setdown the watch. I can give you fifty dollars for it. Ah, so the watch wasworth something, after all.

The owner of thewatch looked obviously disappointed. He shook his head. I need a hundred, hesaid.

Miriam turned to thepawnbroker to see his reaction. The man dismissed the idea that he would payany such incredible amount for the watch.

Ill give you a seventy-five,Miriam broke in, though she wasnt quite sure why. Maybe the man was tellingthe truth about being beaten and robbedand, anyway, if the watch was worthfifty, surely it was actually worth seventy-five.

The pawnbrokerappeared alarmed. Ill give you eighty-five dollars, he said.

Ill sell it to thelady for seventy-five, said the watch owner. She was very nice to me.

Well, Miriam hadntbeen all that nice. She hadnt trusted him and now she felt bad. She turned herback to the men, reached into her coat, and pulled the money-holdinghandkerchief out of her dress. She then counted out eighty-five dollars. Yes,she would give him the extra ten. She didnt want to cheat him out of anything.

As to what she wasdoing, she herself was surely puzzled, since she hadnt come shopping for asecondhand mans watch but for a brand-new, gold-colored womans watch.

Great, said theseller, who gave Miriam the watch. He counted out the bills and offered herback her extra ten.

She shook her head. Youmight want to get the watch again though, she said, realizing suddenly howthese things usually worked.

He shrugged andbacked away toward the door while he tucked his money into his pocket. Easycome, easy go, he said. Then he came back into the shop and much to hersurprise kissed her on the cheek. She had done nothing for him! He hurriedaway.

He stole the watch,said the pawn shop clerk. Did you see what a hurry he was in? He sold it to youbecause he didnt have to give his name and identification.

Oh, I dont thinkso, said Miriam. I believe he was an honorable man.

Youd be surprised,said the clerk. Can I see the watch again?

Miriam gave it to himin trepidation. She had just given away the money with which she was going tobuy Nanas present. Now she would find out that she had thrown away the moneybecause she was such a bad judge of character.

Yeah, said theclerk. He must have stolen it. Its a really nice watch. Can I buy it fromyou? For me, that is.

Why didnt you buyit from him? Miriam asked suspiciously. She examined the cases for womenswatches. She had just fifteen dollars left.

That was business,but Id like the watch for myself. Ill give you a hundred for it. You makefifteen dollars.

As if she couldntread the shifty look in his eyes. Good heavens, no, she said in surprise. Thisis an incredible watch. Its a Breitling. Just then, she caught sight of aladys watch in the case that was rather handsome, though these all were secondhand.Can I see this?

The minute he movedit, she saw the price tag, which read $209, way out of her range. She spentsome time examining the watch, anyway, so as not to embarrass herself.

Im going to look onthe sheets to see if the Breitling was stolen, the clerk said, picking up somepages from under the counter.

Yes, she agreed.She was a bit curious too.

He looked through thepapers while she continued to scrutinize the unaffordable watch. She wonderedif he would offer her more for the Breitling or whether she might back down andtake the hundred dollars.

Maybe it washis, said the pawn shop clerk, putting down the pages. Or maybe it hasntbeen reported yet.

Miriam abandoned thewomans watch and looked around the store at many guitars and an old fur ortwo. But there was nothing cheap as in the thrift shops.

Ill trade watcheswith you, the clerk said after a minute of this. My boss will kill me, but Illthink of something.

Aha! He really,really wanted the watch. Well, you probably only paid fifty dollars for thewomens watch, she said. The womans watch is nice but its secondhand, afterall.

Its not secondhand!Its pre-owned! He was indignant.

Someone else woreit. Its not like new. That, to Miriam, was secondhand.

All right, he said.You take the womens watch, plus I give you fifty.

Eight-five, shesaid. The womens watch might be worth nothing at all. Id be cheated.

He didnt answer, buttook a roll of bills out of his pocket and counted out eighty-five dollars. Hemoved the womens watch in her direction. He already had the Breitling.

She nodded inagreement. Do you want me to sign anything?

No. Its a privatedeal, he said.

She turned from himand arranged the cash again where it belonged, then put the watch into herpurse. Had the negotiation been a little too easy? Thank you, she said. Heshrugged.

Though she had allthe cash shed come downtown with, on her way out she wondered if shed beencheated by the pawnbroker in regard to the womans watch.

Still tired and herfeet still more or less on fire, Miriam began to walk again to Fiftieth Streetto return to the East Side on the crosstown bus. She ruminated on her recenttransaction and tried to decide what to do about the watch. She had one forNana, but it was secondhand. She could still buy the girl a new watch, however,since she again had the cash.

Maybe she should goback to the store where theyd thrown her out? No. She ought to have more pridethan that. At Forty-seventh Street, she realized she might go where the youngcouple in love had goneto the Diamond Exchange. Theyd said the booths insidesold watches too.

Miriam entered thebig store at 55 West Forty-seventh Street. The place reminded her of the openmarkets in her home country of Ghana, though here the shops were under awarming roof and the products being sold were far different from the cloth,cocoa, and shea butter marketed by the vendors at home.

She stopped atseveral counters and looked at the merchandise until, at the rear of the bigmain floor, she found some watches in a showcase that resembled the one she hadbeen given at the pawn shop. She brought out her watch and showed it to theclerk who had been eyeing her with a frown. She didnt say anything, but hegasped in what sounded like shock.

Thats a Van Cleefand Arpels ladies dress watch, he croaked. He cleared his throat, then bit hislip. Thats a beautiful item. His eyes focused on her in rapt attention. Shecould see he was seeking out an explanation as to why a heavyset black womanwith an ugly mustard stain on her coat was showing him this nice (thoughsecondhand) watch.

Those are diamondsaround the face, he added reverentially.

Yes, she agreed,not all that impressed. Grainers. That was the industry term for small,inconsequential diamondsdiamonds the size of a small grain of rice. Halfgrainers.

He stared at her. Wheredid you get this, if you dont mind my asking.

A birthday present,she said. That wasnt an answer to his question, exactly, but it wouldnt havebeen a lie if the question had been why? rather than where?

Someone cares foryou very much then, he said.

She nodded andstudied the watches in the case. Suddenly she saw it: The watch she had nearlybought in the store near Bloomingdales. Can I see that little gold watch?she asked. She might be able to complete her shopping right here.

Thats not gold, heanswered, as if confused. Its just gold colored. He took the new watch fromout of the case and showed it to her. Then he kept his eye on her fancy watchwhile she turned over the watch from the case, marked at ninety-nine dollars.Ah, a ten dollar discount. She liked it and knew that Nana would like it, too,but she set it down.

He sighed. Ill giveyou five hundred for the watch, the man said at last. He licked his lips.

Miriam kept herequanimity. Her mother had told her once that in bargaining, Youre not askingfor enough unless your palms sweat.

Throw in this otherwatch and you have a deal, she said coolly. Her heart had accelerated to afast trot, so she guessed she was asking just about the right amount.

He was the one whoseemed to be sweating though. Okay, he answered, but please tell me that youdidnt steal the watch.

Miriam laughedquietly. Im exactly the opposite of that type, she informed him. Once, as agirl, I walked ten kilometers to return a hundred cedis too much that Ireceived in changeabout a dime.

The man began tocount out five hundred-dollar bills for her, but she asked for twenties. Hethen gave her the watch in a blue velvet box. Their dealings done, Miriamcarefully placed everything in her purse, praying to God she would be able toreturn home without being robbed. She must be more careful even than usual.

Do you realize hownice this watch is? he asked, looking down again at the watch shed just soldhim.

Yes, its nice, sheanswered, but I really wanted something new. He gave her a puzzled look. Notpre-owned, she explained.

He opened his mouth,then closed it again. The expression on his face told her he believed hed seenjust about everything, and this transaction capped it all.

Back on the streetonce more, she felt as if she were walking on air, though her feet and legswere absolutely killing her. How much would a cab to 123rd Street cost? Shelaughed at herself, because she would never be that much of a spendthrift.

She had only one morestop to make before she went home. For that, she put a bill in her pocket. Backat Bloomingdales and eager to get onto the subway, she looked around. If shecould find the boy, shed give him the twenty.

But though she spentseveral minutes in the search, he didnt show up. What a shame. Oh well. Shedmake sure someone else in need got the money instead.

At home, before lyingdown to rest her very tired body and whirling mind, Miriam took the velvet boxout of her purse, opened it, and studied the pretty little gold-colored watch.

What a wonderfulbirthday present it would make. That was the main thing.

She understood, ofcourse, that the two watches she had sold today had been worth a great deal,but this was exactly the one that Nana would like.

God had certainlyblessed Miriam today. Her shopping trip had been a great success.

From AHMM September 2008.txtA N.E.R.D's Release

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a N.E.R.D's Release.txtA N.E.R.D's Release

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