A Summer Story
Summer Holiday time and the Brora sale is almost over. So here, for fun, is a story our talented staff in the Harrogate store wrote inspired by our gorgeous summer collection. (and also by EM Forster’s “A Room with a View” and “The Importance of Being Earnest” By Oscar Wilde)
Take a moment, sip a drink and enjoy your Brora summer reading, and your summer shopping!
The Brora Summer Story
Miss Cecily Honeychurch worked at number 2 Windy Corner (in other words Brora, Harrogate). A flaxen haired beauty, her wide eyes betrayed her lack of understanding of the ways of the world and her show stopping charm. Unlocking the shop door one summer morning, the wind blew her organic white cotton smock up and almost off, and she shrieked with both delight and dismay, clutching her peony cropped cashmere cardigan tightly round her.
“OPEN!” she commanded the door, and it obliged reluctantly. Cecily nipped hastily over the threshold, her mocha espadrilles wedging the unwilling door open. Windy Corner was wild that summer day.
Custom was brisk and the day flew. Later, Cecily was heading for a picnic with friends in the Valley gardens, a local beauty spot where art exhibitions and the like were held almost weekly. Her mind wandered to her favourite dress. The navy carnation Liberty print dress made the blue of her eyes sing. Yes, she would wear the shop’s best seller to the picnic later!
“I must not forget the rug” she muttered to herself , staring at the pile on top of the accessories unit. The rugs were selling like hot cakes, and no wonder, the glorious weather and the beautiful colours, who could resist? Cecily’s was pink and pale green tartan pattern. “Oh!” Her rug reminded her suddenly of the pink macaroons and strawberry tarts that she had noted in ‘Betty’s’ window that morning… She mustn’t forget! So handy having Harrogate’s world famous Tea Rooms across the road.
She was popping out to buy the cakes when she was interrupted by a deep voice at her shoulder, “Young lady could you help me?”
She turned to find a tall handsome man. She fluttered her eyelashes. She couldn’t help it, it’s a girl thing.“I’m looking for one of your chartouches, it’s the perfect light scarf for Yorkshire summer weather… Unpredictable” he smiled.
“Oh yes”, thought Cecily, “Every day is unpredictable here.” Chartouches spilled through her slender fingers as she showed him the gorgeous colours.
He chose navy, “Perfect for the theatre. And a dash to the City” he said. “Perhaps” she thought, “Our tall, handsome stranger may visit our store in Leeds, or maybe in The Kings Road? .. Who knows?”
But as he swished out of the door, she had a secret smile on her face. Customers were loyal to Windy Corner, “He’ll be back” she thought. Then she noticed a scrap of paper blowing under the door. She picked it up, it danced with a line of music she could not read.
“Of course” she whispered, twirling in her saucy flounced skirt, “He’s a musician, he will be on at the Harrogate Summer Festival. I’ll get tickets immediately.”
Who knows what might happen next…………
