Mender’s Toys to Mend the Heart - TheRealLJIdol - Week 15
The year was 1964. Charles Mender and May Juniper were on their way to FAO Schwarz in NYC. Their friend Susan had set them up because she knew they both had a love for toys, and Susan had a love for playing cupid. She had tried setting them both up before, but nothing had ever come from her arrows of love. This time, however, both May and Charles had immediately felt that spark. They had so much in common and both confided in Susan that they found the other quite attractive. When they discovered that they shared a passion for toys, it seemed as if the match had been made in heaven.
As they walked the busy New York streets, May and Charles made small talk. Both were nervous and excited. This was their first actual date. When they arrived at their destination, May stopped to admire the store. While Charles stood holding the door for her, he joked, “Are you just going to look at it, or are you going to come inside?”
May smiled and quickly walked through the open door with Charles right on her heels. They spent hours walking the isles. Admiring the craftmanship of all of the trinkets that brought such joy to children and adults alike. They talked about how someday they wanted to own a place like this. Where they could set up elaborate displays of hand crafted toys and watch the people come in and experience the same wonderment that they were feeling.
As their date was coming to an end and the store was closing, Charles passed a set of dolls that were in a special display case that read “ONE OF A KIND. Please ask for assistance.” He called May over and showed her the beautiful pair. A male figurine made of oak and a female figurine made of different types of fabric patched together peered back at May through the glass.
“They’re perfect!” She exclaimed. “I love that they are a set, but are also so different.” As she said this she looked up at Charles and in that moment their love for one another was sealed. They called a salesman over and had the dolls boxed up.
On January 16, 1966, they were married. The set of dolls they had purchased on their first date were pulled down the aisle by their flower girl. It only seemed right to include them in their ceremony.
That year, Charles and May Mender opened ‘Mender’s Toys to Mend the Heart.’ It was their dream come true. They kept their unique dolls from their first date on display in the middle of the store. The dolls were not for sale, but people loved to stop and look at them. The couple would spend each night setting them into different poses for the next day. Charles had even made a little scene for them. It mimicked the backroom of their toyshop, complete with mini toys, tools and even a work table with two chairs. Though they loved all of the toys in their shop, these two had a very special, almost magical, meaning to them. They represented the beginning of their fairy tale love story. They became the heart and soul of the store. No matter what kind of day Charles and May had had, when they walked into the shop the next morning and wiped down the display case, they were reminded of the love that they shared and it filled their hearts with happiness.
Over the years, Charles and May had many great times and also some tough times, but their love for one another only grew stronger. When money was tight, Charles would pick up some side work doing construction and May would work as a seamstress, but their hearts always belonged to their store.
Their first major tragedy hit in 1973. Charles was working in the shop and suddenly felt ill. May called 911 thinking it was a heart attack. The paramedics showed up and took them to the hospital. When the doctor came into the room he was somber. He explained to the couple that Charles had coronary artery dissection. A condition which caused a tear in the artery wall of his heart. Due to their fast actions, the doctor felt that Charles had a good chance of recovery, but the chances of it happening again were very high. They discussed treatment options and set up an appointment for an EKG. Two days later they received the results. Charles had the heart of a 20-year-old. The doctors were floored. “It’s as if someone stitched your heart back together,” the doctor said as they were leaving. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. We’re going to need to do a follow-up, but honestly, everything looks fantastic.” The doctor’s tone was astonishment. May and Charles felt only relief. After the follow-up appointment, Charles was cleared of any heart related issues and the couple went back to their little slice of heaven.
In 1994, May was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She had major scar tissue which was making it difficult for her heart to pump blood properly. The doctors said she was going to have to undergo ventricular restoration surgery to remove the damaged tissue. Though the original prognosis did not look good, the morning before the surgery, her scans came back clear. The doctors said it was a miracle. After her final round of testing, her doctor told the couple it was as if someone had “sanded the scar tissue right off of her heart.” She went back for more tests just to make sure nothing had been missed, but she was in perfect health.
Charles and May celebrated in the same way they always did. They went to their store and set up their dolls to replicate their own delight upon hearing the wonderful news. The wooden male with his arms wrapping around the patchwork female, each resting a head on the other’s shoulder.
The year is 2016, and ‘Mender’s Toys to Mend the Heart’ is having a special celebration to commemorate their 50 years of being in business. They are set to have a three-day sale with all the trimmings. There will be decorations, a large area with tons of toys to play with and an hourly change of the positions of their treasured dolls to reflect the excitement of the store. They are even going to take suggestions on how to pose the dolls. Charles and May have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary as well, so the starting position of the dolls will be a replica of one of their wedding photos, complete with mini versions of the dolls.
The next three days are a whirlwind of emotion. Generations of people are visiting their store. Showing their children and grandchildren all of the toys that have brought them joy over the years. Couples stop in and hold hands as they look around.
Charles and May step back for a moment, hand in hand, remembering their first date and smiling as they see their dream fully realized.
After locking up on the last night of the celebration, May and Charles go over to their favorite display and open it. They pose the dolls sitting on each side of the work table, both stretching a hand to the other. They turn the display light on and head home, their hearts full of pride and joy, but most importantly, love.
As the store door closes, the wooden male doll stands up and stretches. He looks at his beautiful patchwork wife and smiles. They meet in the middle of the table and hug each other as they have done every night since being purchased by the Menders.
“Hand it over,” the wife says to the husband.
“You know we always do it at the same time,” he retorts.
They each reach into their chests and pull out their toy hearts.
His made of fabric, hers of oak. His belonging to her, hers belonging to him.
They sit down at the table that was made for them and pick up their tools. He sands down the rough parts as she stitches the tears.
“Do you think they know?” She asks as she sews.
“I doubt it.” He responds.
“I’m glad we chose them,” she says without looking up.
“I’m glad they chose us,” he says, smiling at his wife.
They chat as they work and just as the sun starts to rise they finish their tasks. Husband and wife stand face to face as he places his freshly polished heart in her chest and she places her lovingly stitched heart in his.
“A sturdy oak heart for my strong and beautiful wife.”
“A soft plush heart for my sensitive and loving husband.”
The dolls embrace each other. They never would have had this wonderful life together without the love of Charles and May. The work the dolls put in every night is their only way of thanking them. They sit back down in their chairs and get into position. The wife looks at the husband,
“As the lovers mend one another’s hearts,” she says.
“Their love forever grows and they will never part.” He finishes.
The Menders wake up the next morning feeling refreshed. Their hearts repaired and full of love. Even though they are both in their seventies, they still feel like spring chickens. They get ready for their day and go open their magical store. Charles notices May standing at the display case looking at their dolls.
“Do you think they know how much we love them?” She asks.
As he wraps her up in a hug, he whispers, “I know they do, honey. I can feel it in my heart.”
As they walked the busy New York streets, May and Charles made small talk. Both were nervous and excited. This was their first actual date. When they arrived at their destination, May stopped to admire the store. While Charles stood holding the door for her, he joked, “Are you just going to look at it, or are you going to come inside?”
May smiled and quickly walked through the open door with Charles right on her heels. They spent hours walking the isles. Admiring the craftmanship of all of the trinkets that brought such joy to children and adults alike. They talked about how someday they wanted to own a place like this. Where they could set up elaborate displays of hand crafted toys and watch the people come in and experience the same wonderment that they were feeling.
As their date was coming to an end and the store was closing, Charles passed a set of dolls that were in a special display case that read “ONE OF A KIND. Please ask for assistance.” He called May over and showed her the beautiful pair. A male figurine made of oak and a female figurine made of different types of fabric patched together peered back at May through the glass.
“They’re perfect!” She exclaimed. “I love that they are a set, but are also so different.” As she said this she looked up at Charles and in that moment their love for one another was sealed. They called a salesman over and had the dolls boxed up.
On January 16, 1966, they were married. The set of dolls they had purchased on their first date were pulled down the aisle by their flower girl. It only seemed right to include them in their ceremony.
That year, Charles and May Mender opened ‘Mender’s Toys to Mend the Heart.’ It was their dream come true. They kept their unique dolls from their first date on display in the middle of the store. The dolls were not for sale, but people loved to stop and look at them. The couple would spend each night setting them into different poses for the next day. Charles had even made a little scene for them. It mimicked the backroom of their toyshop, complete with mini toys, tools and even a work table with two chairs. Though they loved all of the toys in their shop, these two had a very special, almost magical, meaning to them. They represented the beginning of their fairy tale love story. They became the heart and soul of the store. No matter what kind of day Charles and May had had, when they walked into the shop the next morning and wiped down the display case, they were reminded of the love that they shared and it filled their hearts with happiness.
Over the years, Charles and May had many great times and also some tough times, but their love for one another only grew stronger. When money was tight, Charles would pick up some side work doing construction and May would work as a seamstress, but their hearts always belonged to their store.
Their first major tragedy hit in 1973. Charles was working in the shop and suddenly felt ill. May called 911 thinking it was a heart attack. The paramedics showed up and took them to the hospital. When the doctor came into the room he was somber. He explained to the couple that Charles had coronary artery dissection. A condition which caused a tear in the artery wall of his heart. Due to their fast actions, the doctor felt that Charles had a good chance of recovery, but the chances of it happening again were very high. They discussed treatment options and set up an appointment for an EKG. Two days later they received the results. Charles had the heart of a 20-year-old. The doctors were floored. “It’s as if someone stitched your heart back together,” the doctor said as they were leaving. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. We’re going to need to do a follow-up, but honestly, everything looks fantastic.” The doctor’s tone was astonishment. May and Charles felt only relief. After the follow-up appointment, Charles was cleared of any heart related issues and the couple went back to their little slice of heaven.
In 1994, May was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She had major scar tissue which was making it difficult for her heart to pump blood properly. The doctors said she was going to have to undergo ventricular restoration surgery to remove the damaged tissue. Though the original prognosis did not look good, the morning before the surgery, her scans came back clear. The doctors said it was a miracle. After her final round of testing, her doctor told the couple it was as if someone had “sanded the scar tissue right off of her heart.” She went back for more tests just to make sure nothing had been missed, but she was in perfect health.
Charles and May celebrated in the same way they always did. They went to their store and set up their dolls to replicate their own delight upon hearing the wonderful news. The wooden male with his arms wrapping around the patchwork female, each resting a head on the other’s shoulder.
The year is 2016, and ‘Mender’s Toys to Mend the Heart’ is having a special celebration to commemorate their 50 years of being in business. They are set to have a three-day sale with all the trimmings. There will be decorations, a large area with tons of toys to play with and an hourly change of the positions of their treasured dolls to reflect the excitement of the store. They are even going to take suggestions on how to pose the dolls. Charles and May have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary as well, so the starting position of the dolls will be a replica of one of their wedding photos, complete with mini versions of the dolls.
The next three days are a whirlwind of emotion. Generations of people are visiting their store. Showing their children and grandchildren all of the toys that have brought them joy over the years. Couples stop in and hold hands as they look around.
Charles and May step back for a moment, hand in hand, remembering their first date and smiling as they see their dream fully realized.
After locking up on the last night of the celebration, May and Charles go over to their favorite display and open it. They pose the dolls sitting on each side of the work table, both stretching a hand to the other. They turn the display light on and head home, their hearts full of pride and joy, but most importantly, love.
As the store door closes, the wooden male doll stands up and stretches. He looks at his beautiful patchwork wife and smiles. They meet in the middle of the table and hug each other as they have done every night since being purchased by the Menders.
“Hand it over,” the wife says to the husband.
“You know we always do it at the same time,” he retorts.
They each reach into their chests and pull out their toy hearts.
His made of fabric, hers of oak. His belonging to her, hers belonging to him.
They sit down at the table that was made for them and pick up their tools. He sands down the rough parts as she stitches the tears.
“Do you think they know?” She asks as she sews.
“I doubt it.” He responds.
“I’m glad we chose them,” she says without looking up.
“I’m glad they chose us,” he says, smiling at his wife.
They chat as they work and just as the sun starts to rise they finish their tasks. Husband and wife stand face to face as he places his freshly polished heart in her chest and she places her lovingly stitched heart in his.
“A sturdy oak heart for my strong and beautiful wife.”
“A soft plush heart for my sensitive and loving husband.”
The dolls embrace each other. They never would have had this wonderful life together without the love of Charles and May. The work the dolls put in every night is their only way of thanking them. They sit back down in their chairs and get into position. The wife looks at the husband,
“As the lovers mend one another’s hearts,” she says.
“Their love forever grows and they will never part.” He finishes.
The Menders wake up the next morning feeling refreshed. Their hearts repaired and full of love. Even though they are both in their seventies, they still feel like spring chickens. They get ready for their day and go open their magical store. Charles notices May standing at the display case looking at their dolls.
“Do you think they know how much we love them?” She asks.
As he wraps her up in a hug, he whispers, “I know they do, honey. I can feel it in my heart.”