Mail Order Annie
Copyright© 2025 by DFL Runner
Chapter 7
As he walked to the general store to reopen it for the afternoon, Harry felt anxiety in his stomach so profoundly that he could not have eaten even if he had not seen food for a week.
As he fumbled at the door, someone called his name from behind him. He let out a startled cry as he dropped the key he had been holding in his right hand, as well as the item in his left hand.
He heard the chuckles, one warm and deep, the other higher and lighthearted, from behind him. Then Rabbi Mendel said apologetically, “Forgive me, my friend. I didn’t mean to startle you. Is everything all right?”
As Harry bent down to retrieve the key for the front door, a gust of wind blew something toward Miriam. She bent to pick it up. As she held it, waiting for Harry to get his bearings, Isaac looked over her shoulder. He immediately recognized what it was, and that it was likely what had Harry out of sorts at this moment.
Over time, married couples become capable of having entire conversations with each other, without saying a word. The rabbi and his beloved had such a conversation as their eyes darted back and forth between Harry, each other, and the envelope in Miriam’s hand.
Miriam wrapped her arm around her husband’s as she held the envelope. Harry unlocked the door, and they both followed him inside. Harry stopped short and turned back toward the door.
“I have it,” Miriam said reassuringly.
With that, Harry stepped behind the counter and sat on the stool perched there. His eyes never left the envelope in Miriam’s hand, yet he made no move to retrieve it. He told himself he was just catching his breath first.
With a beatific and slightly exasperated smile, Miriam took his hand ... and placed the envelope between his thumb and index finger.
Taking a deep breath, he opened it and began reading.
He read the page, then stared at it for several long moments. The only thing his friends heard was a whispered, “Forty-seven dollars...”
Harry was unwilling to allow himself to admit how often he had imagined this moment. Now that it was here ... he wasn’t quite sure what to do.
His reverie was interrupted when Cora Baumgarten walked in.
Harry was grateful for the distraction, but he gave himself away as he greeted her, stammering, “Miss ... Miss Cora. I ... your ... the, ah, your order from Chicago ... I think it’s in the back. Let me ... ah...”
Cora’s brow furrowed. “Are you all right, Harry?”
She looked over at Miriam. Miriam caught her gaze and looked at the counter. Cora followed her gaze and saw the envelope and the letter sitting on the counter. The letter was face-down, but she recognized the handwriting on the envelope.
Still stammering, Harry answered Cora. “I ... yes. I’m ... I’m fine. Just ... a little distracted, I suppose.”
Cora gestured toward the storeroom at the back of the store. “Go get the lamp. Please.” She would get Miriam to tell her what was happening while he retrieved the kerosene lamp she had ordered shipped from Chicago, which would find a home in her parlor.
As Harry walked toward the back of the store, he heard Cora ask, “Now ... what does it say?”
As he came back, awkwardly carrying the heavy parcel, he saw Cora leaning against the front counter, holding the letter and smiling at him.
“Harry...” Cora began.
“Let ... let me put this down,” Harry grunted. He staggered to the counter and set the heavy parcel beside it. He took a couple of deep breaths to dispel the fatigue and slight discomfort that the effort had caused. He then swept his fingers through his hair, trying to keep the creeping anxiety at bay for just a couple of more moments.
“I...” Harry hesitated. “I never ... I never believed ... I suppose I never truly expected to come to this choice. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want anyone to feel that I’m dishonoring Ella’s memory. I know it has been more than two years, and I know she would probably not want me to mourn forever, but is two years long enough, and-and-...”
The pace of his speech increased markedly, “ ... and yes I want her to come but we’ve only been corresponding for two months and what if she despises it here and what if she despises me for asking her to come here and what if sh-”
Cora loudly spoke over him. “Harry!”
Harry paused mid-word, blinking at Cora, who, he could see, was trying not to laugh uproariously at his rapid-fire stream of thoughts. As she was biting back her laughter, Harry took a couple of deep breaths to re-center himself.
Cora glanced around the store to ensure they were alone. While she could not help those who saw an invisible scarlet letter on her chest no matter the setting, it was still never proper to publicly discuss what happened behind closed doors at her house.
Further, while Rabbi Mendel was a proper and devout gentleman, when he was not wearing his kippah, Isaac Mendel was possessed of a bawdy sense of humor. Only four others knew that, and three of them were present with her; Reverend Allard was in Grand Forks.
“Many years ago, I entertained a gentleman who had barely started shaving. He wanted ... well, he wanted his passage to manhood. That has been asked of me a few times, and they are always nervous, but he was exceedingly so. I took him into my room and he just ... stood there. I even ... ah ... tried to encourage him a bit. I took off my clothes. I could also see he was aroused, so I...” She glanced briefly at Isaac, but continued, “I touched it, trying to spur him to action. But he just kept staring at the floor and blushing.”
“I finally said to him, ‘At some point, you will have to undress.’”
As she had known he would, Isaac chuckled, as did Miriam, but she kept her gaze fixed on Harry.
“I know very well that you have imagined this moment many times over these past weeks. Now it’s here. And...” Cora laughed softly, almost to herself. “I never imagined I would say this to you.”
“Harry ... at some point, you have to undress.”
Neither Isaac nor Miriam could prevent themselves from doubling over in laughter, while Harry’s face turned the color of the setting sun on a clear evening. But his nerves did begin to settle a bit.