My sister Leslie is a great natural writer. To add some interest for our fans and customers we'll be including some of Leslie's stories she has written in 'Tattletales of The White Elephant' (Part I) in our blog. These are true tales gathered from our almost 20 years of operating our consignment shops, The White Elephant, Inc. in the hunt country of Northern Virginia. There's always two sides to every story. The stories one usually hears about are generated by customers of retailers. These are stories generated by an experienced retailer about life on the other side of the counter. I thought I'd start with the Preface and Forward to the original 'Tattletales'....check the blog to read on.... Enjoy them!

PREFACE

'It is a matter first of beginning, then following through.' - Richard L. Evans 

A Korean friend once told me The White Elephant wasn't the accident we seemed to think. It was fate pure and simple. In her view, ours was a family enterprise begun with honorable intentions. It opened on the first day of the first Chinese New Year of a new decade under a new moon too. Given those conditions; she proclaimed, "The White Elephant was destined to be a stellar success."

If the definition of success is doing what you love with the people you love, then we're not only successful we're uncommonly blessed.

The White Elephant has evolved beyond anything we ever imagined. There are times that feel we've been at this forever. There are others that recall the magic of our first day. Twenty years down the road The White Elephant is not only part of our lives it's embedded in our hearts. I like to think the same is true for those who have enjoyed our little adventure in consignments as much as we have.

The stories presented here are the first in a series. They all have two things in common. They're true and they happened at The White Elephant. The names used are real. The names omitted are irrelevant. I'm not interested in exposing specific individuals or making judgements on their behavior. My interest is in the nature of people in general.

The way I see it, people are like mirrors. We present opportunities to everyone we come in contact with to view their own humanity. If you recognize yourself or someone you know in these pages, as far as I'm concerned, it's only by reflection.

FORWARD 

'Sometimes a person has to go back, really back - to have a sense, an understanding of all that's gone to make them - before they can go forward." - Paul Marshall 

 If everything Robert Fulgram learned was in kindergarten, everything I've learned has been at The White Elephant. By the age of 30 I thought I knew everything there was to know about people. What more could I possibly learn about life, living and the human condition? As it turns out, everything. Those years were just the prep work for my days behind a sales and consignment counter.

Every day in resale has been a challenge. The full spectrum of humanity parades by in endless and fascinating variety. I'm brought face to face with an unpredictable mix of individuals. Their moods, attitudes, prejudices and personalities are laid down right along with their purchases. Just like Forrest Gump's box of chocolate - 'you never know what you're going to get.'

When The White Elephant was young, I viewed my human interactions in limited terms. Time and experience, those sage advisors, have opened my eyes and expanded my mind. I've come to recognize myself in others and see others in me.

Of course, the most memorable lessons are the ones I learned the hard way. I will never forget my teachers, both the unwitting and the wise. They have taught me valuable life lessons, from the other side of the sales counter, during 20 years at The White Elephant.

OUR FIRST BIG SALE  - by Leslie Broockman

'To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.' - Henry David Thoreau

The first fabulous piece we received on consignment was a large, antique sterling, floral arranger. Beautifully handcrafted, it had an ornate initial engraved in the center medallion. Back then we didn't have a security system in our weekend's only shop. So every night we took the piece home with us for safekeeping.

One Saturday morning I took the arranger from my carry sack and put it in its' place in the front window. Minutes after turning the open sign a woman in a tweed hacking jacket strode in. Without so much as a hello she reached into the window, plucked the floral arranger from its pedestal and tucked it under her arm. I tried to go about my business while she looked around. My eyes kept straying to a few thousand dollars worth of silver being carted around like a sack of potatoes.

When the lady was through browsing she plunked the sterling on the counter with one hand, rummaging in her pockets with the other. Having yet to make eye contact with me, she asked grumpily, 'What will you take for this thing?"

This 'thing'? I quoted the amount on the price tag, standing up a little straighter as I did it. With exaggerated slowness, she raised her eyes to meet mine, her head still bent from peering in her pockets. It was a withering look meant to freeze me in my tracks. I just knew she used it often to great affect.

"I didn't ask the price," she slowly emphasized each word as though speaking to a dolt, "I asked what you'd take for it."

I replied by restating the price on the tag. "But the tarnish is free," I added with a plastic smile.

With a hurumph of mock disgust the lady thwacked her checkbook on the counter and began to scribble.

"I'm sorry," I began, pointing to the sign, "we can't accept checks."

Fixing me with an incredulous look she drolly replied, "I assure you it's good. You can call the bank."

"I don't doubt it. It's just that we're a cash and carry business. We're not set up for checks yet. Besides, the bank lobby is closed."

Rolling her eyes in a humorous way she spun on her heel and made for the door. With her hand on the knob she looked back, "I'll be RIGHT back. You WON'T sell that while I'm gone. WILL you?"

Risking it I sassed, "That's asking a lot. I mean, it's first come, first served around here. I'll have to beat off the hordes with a stick but....all right. I guess I can hold it. But just for a few minutes."

Her "You're TOO kind." dripped sarcasm with a definite glaze of amusement to it.

Watching her determined progress across the street to the bank a chilling thought came to me. There was a $500.00 cash maximum at the walk-up teller window of the bank. That was only a fraction of the cost of the sterling piece. "Oh great", I thought, "now she's going to be torqued for real!"

To my relief the buyer returned momentarily with a bank envelope thick with hundred dollar bills. I guessed her frosty glare had worked wonders on the bank teller. Tossing the packet of money on the counter she spoke in her crisp English accent,

"I suppose you're going to make me wait while you count that," scooping up the sterling piece as she said it.

"Not bloody likely," I answered, leaving the cash on the counter. "But the minute you leave I'm closing shop and running off to Tahiti."

That earned me a smirk. "Don't you want me to wrap that for you?"

"After what I just went through, you ought to polish it too! I only bought it because me initial is engraved on it."

"Oh man, in that case, I'm goin' to dig out my old engraving tools." I said.

There was a smile tugging one smile of her mouth as she turned to leave the shop.

Pausing at the door she sniffed once loudly as she smiled, "Then I MAY be back!"

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Over the years that gentle soul with the irascible facade has returned many times. I thank her for teaching me verbal sparring as an art form, sharpening my negotiating skills and showing me, by example, what it means to live graciously. 

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Watch our blog for Leslie's next story from our early years.... 'If I Had A Nickel...' 

'Til then - we'll see you at the shops! 

Tattletales of The White Elephant