Cliff wandered through the flea market looking for nothing in particular. And that was what he found, nothing. It was a good way as any to relax from a busy week at the restaurant.
Cliff stopped at a booth selling used videos. It had a collection of everything from Bambi to Wall Street. A box on the back counter said "Adults Only."
Cliff rummaged through the box because he loved the way they corrupted names of major movies to title porno's. His favorite was "Bright Lights, Big Titties. " He had to admit that it did contain the latter half of the title.
Cliff found a treasure in the bottom. It was an almost complete set of the "Debbie Does Dallas" series. Only number four was missing. Below that, was one called "Home Implements." The package blurb said it was about a man who had a TV show that explained how to use tools around the house.
Cliff could not pass that up. He forked over the ten dollars and the clerk bagged the movie. He walled around the rest of the market.
He found a booth that had old hand tools. Cliff could not draw a straight line with a T-Square. He did admire anyone who could make things. His greatest moment was when he made his computer desk using one of those kits where every thing was supplied and you just put the precut parts together.
Cliff was exploring the boxes of wood planes, screwdrivers and handsaws when a whiff of musk invaded his nose. He found a tall woman in painted on Levi's and a cowboy shirt tied just under her tits. Her long dark brown hair framed a face wearing black plastic glasses. Somehow, the look worked for her.
Cliff noticed her read the box description of his movie. That she held in her left hand. She held an item Cliff remembered from his grandmother in her right hand. It was a dark brown, almost black, wooden orb with a wood handle. It was a darning egg like granny used to repair socks. It was called that because it was shaped like a chicken egg. He smiled at the memories of his grandparents.
The brunette smiled as she read the box. Her other hand fondled the darning egg. That was the only way Cliff could describe what she did to it. She noticed Cliff looking at her.
"I'm sorry, the title just caught my eye. I had to read the box," she said with a voice straight from the southwest panhandle.
"That's okay, I enjoy the real show. The only difference between Tim and myself, is I never glued my head to a table."
Her laughter was like the bells of an Arizona mission, pure, loud and musical. Her eyes sparkled and it was not the lens of her glasses.
The cowgirl returned my movie and looked at the darning egg. She took it to the man behind the counter and bought it. She had the look of not knowing quite why she did. She smiled at me. I watched her walk out of the booth. She turned and waved.
I resumed my rounds. I walked by the snack bar. The cow gal sat with a drink looking at the egg. She had the look I know I had many time at one of these places. "Now that I have it, what is it for?"
She looked up and saw me. She waved me over to join her.
"Excuse me, but could tell me what in the hell this thing is?"
The sound of sagebrush and tumbleweeds.
"That is a darning egg."
That lost her. She was a city girl who never had to repair socks, she just replaced them. She was not alone. I have seen many darning eggs used as Easter decorations.
"Does that mean you cuss at it instead of people?"
"The world would be better off it that was its purpose. It is, rather was, used to sew socks."
"How?"
She was perfect for John Ford and John Wayne movies. I went to the counter to get a drink and a napkin. I tore out the center of the napkin.
"When you wear a hole in a sock, there are two ways of fixing them. One way, and the easiest, is to fold the fabric over like this and sewing it.
Cliff demonstrated what he meant. The lady looked at the sample and felt it.
"Wouldn't this rub on the foot?"
"Yes, it would cause blisters. That is where darning eggs help.
"You hold the egg inside the sock under the hole. Then you weave," Cliff demonstrated, "thread until you have a smooth patch."
