The Able Sisters

Chapter 23

Sable unlocked the doors to the shop and waited anxiously for customers to arrive. They were still receiving a steady flow, but it was nowhere as insane as it had been when they first opened. 

Mabel was walking around and glancing at all the clothes that hung on display. She seemed content just looking at the multitude of colors.

Sable grinned, watching her younger sister move about. She had recovered from their little talk, but Sable sometimes heard her whispering and asking for Label to come back. Sable's heart ached for her, but she didn't want to give Mabel any false hope, so she didn't bring up her sister much.

The door creaked open, and Sable glanced up to see none other than Tortimer.

"Welcome," she said.

The old turtle stepped inside and grinned, pushing his cane against the ground.

"Can I help you find anything?" Sable wondered.

"I wanted a nice hat, but I suppose I wanted to talk to you, too," Tortimer said.

"About what?"

"How is the business doing? Doing well, I hope?"

Sable nodded her head. "Very well, actually. We're making a steady income. I have enough for supplies. Sometimes I do have to sew a bit more than I hoped, but we're getting there."

"I'm glad," Tortimer replied. He walked around Mabel, who was still wandering around and glanced at their small collection of accessories.

"Hmm..." he muttered before deciding on a straw hat.

"This will be perfect for when I retire," he chuckled to himself.

"Are you retiring soon?" Sable gasped.

Tortimer chuckled. "Not for some time. I may have a cane, but I still have many more years of this job. I would like to live on a nice tropical island when I'm done running this town though."

Sable rang up his item and laughed. "That sounds nice."

"I'll invite you too," Tortimer promised.

"Oh, please. I won't retire for a long time," Sable told him.

"Ah, well, you've still got a lot of youth in you. Won't need a cane for a while," Tortimer said.

"Here you are," Sable said, handing him the hat.

"Have you heard from Label?" Tortimer whispered.

Sable shook her head, lowering her voice so that Mabel couldn't hear. "Not a thing. I assume she's somewhere in the city. I-I wanted to go after her, but I didn't have enough money for a ticket. Even now though, I don't think I want to go after her."

"Hm...maybe it's best," Tortimer said. 

"I think she intends to stay in the city from now on," Sable explained.

"Ah, the city. Speeding cars, bright lights, loud music...I always hated it. That's why I want to live on an island instead."

"Did you live in the city?"

"No, no! Heh heh horf," Tortimer chuckled. "I just took a few unfortunate trips there. But if it suits Label, I suppose that's the life she's chosen then."

"I guess so. I at least hope she found what she wanted," muttered Sable.

Tortimer patted her on the back. "I'm sure she has. Well, thank you for the new hat! Good luck!" he called.

Sable grinned and sat back down. The shop was empty once again.

"I'm hungry," Mabel complained to Sable.

"We just had breakfast," Sable told her sister.

Mabel huffed and crossed her arms.

"Lunch isn't for another hour, Mabel. Just be patient, please," Sable begged. She knew her sister hated sitting around in the shop all day, so Sable would do fun things with her on the weekend to make up for it. It never seemed to be enough though.

The same normal customers came in throughout the day, and Sable sold items. At one point, when the store was pretty occupied, she caught sight of someone she had not seen before. He had rounded ears and bushy tail, and when she turned, she realized he was a raccoon.

Strange, she thought. I thought I knew everyone in this town.

Perhaps he had just moved in, or perhaps she had just never noticed him before, though she figured she would've. He looked so different from the other animals that it was hard not to notice.

When the rush of the day settled down, Sable worked to close the shop while Mabel sat in the corner and played with some dolls. Sable swept up the shop and glanced outside, watching a steady snow come down.

"Ooh, snow!" Mabel exclaimed, dropping her toys and pressing her face to the window.

Sable giggled and shook her head. She sighed as she glanced outside. 

"I wish it would stop snowing," she muttered.

"It's fun," Mabel exclaimed, obviously overhearing her.

Sable shrugged. "I always liked spring better. This winter feels like it's been going on forever."

"It'll be okay, sissy," Mabel said in an attempt to comfort her.

"Well, your birthday will come soon enough," Sable teased. Mabel's birthday wasn't until May, but it felt nice to know that some event they could celebrate would be coming up at some point.

"I'm gonna be four!" Mabel exclaimed.

Sable laughed. "That's right. But right now, you're three, and we go to bed at this time."

"Aw..." Mabel complained.

Sable shook her head. "What am I going to do with you? Come on," she said. She lifted Mabel up and carried her upstairs. How had she so quickly changed from becoming the older sister to a parent?