Mr Rondo had a shop which stocked a lot of things: key chains, paper weights, stationery, postage stamps and envelopes, souvenirs and tools, dried flowers and lamps, shirts and belts, toys and cushions, chips and chocolates. There was a stool behind the counter on which Mr
Rondo sat.
Mr Rondo never fell off the stool. That was a wonder because whenever anyone came into the shop, he was found to be sleeping on the stool. The door had a chime hung on it, so if anyone opened the door, the chime would ring. However, it never disturbed Mr Rondo or woke him up. A customer could walk in and pick anything up and he would never know!
One day, a sweet old lady walked in and saw Mr Rondo fast asleep on his stool. She needed a cushion and a lamp, but couldn’t ask him the price because he wouldn’t wake up. She took a cushion and a lamp and left a note telling Mr Rondo that she had taken them and that he should come over and collect the money.
The next customer was not so nice. He was a shifty-eyed man who wanted a screwdriver and a wrench. He saw Mr Rondo sleeping, so he picked the screwdriver and the wrench up and then helped himself to a few shirts before he left the shop quietly.
Little Tim came in after a while. His mother had sent him to get a few postage stamps. He was delighted when he saw Mr Rondo sleeping. He first took the postage stamps and put the coins for them on the counter in front of Mr Rondo. Then he stuffed a few chocolates into his pockets and went out quickly.
In the afternoon, Mrs Rondo suddenly walked in to rest in the shop for a while. She woke Mr Rondo and sent him off to fetch the laundry. Then she went around the shop. She found the old lady’s note and the coins left by little Tim. But when she looked at the rest of the stock, she found some of the tools and shirts and chocolates missing! By the time Mr Rondo returned, his wife flew into a fury.
“Mr Rondo!” she announced, hands on her sides, “You are the silliest shopkeeper in town. People rob you and you just sleep! If I catch you sleeping ever again, I shall pour a bucket of water over you or put pins on your stool!”
Mr Rondo was so terrified of his wife that he never fell asleep again!
