The sign above your store lost a single letter. That changed everything.

The sign above the door had said Grossman & Sons for the last 17 years. It was a proud day when I welcomed my twin boys, Jacob and Stanley, behind the counter with me when they tuned 18.

But now that the ‘&’ has been “lost” (though I note the plier marks in the plaster work, around the flaking paint and traces of glue) I have been sidelined. I am only 55.

Jacob’s taken over ordering the stock and his choices are ill-formed. Stanley is discounting too aggressively. I think it will be mere months until all the letters on the sign are removed for good.