QCC Newsletter

Sometimes the most entrepreneurial business owners can be found in the most surprising places, but sometimes again they can be found just where your mind might expect them to be. Such is the case with the sole owner/proprietor of Uncle Shelby's Lobster Trap, found about his ship, Constance. We had the luck to talk to one of the happiest people and ask him a few questions about his business.

Uncle Shelby : "Eh?" The old man walked from the cabin up to the main deck of his boat. From the inside, a sqawking of a bird was heard. It must have alerted the old salt that he had a visitor. "How do ye do? You bein' the lass I got the letter about. Wanting to ask about the Lobster Trap an all." He waved her to come on in and follow him down the step or two into the modest and somewhat cramped cabin. "You'll have to look at me when ye talk, Miss. Deaf. Accident at sea."

Rae Bonatti : "Oh of course," careful to do just that, of course, after following him.
"Thee do not mind answering a few questions about thy business do thee?"
It was easy to smile at the personable old salt, for sure.

Uncle Shelby : He sat down on a small stool and winced at felt, if not heard, creaking in his old joints. Nodding as he processed the lass' question, he answered, "When ye get to be as old as me, Miss, ye find you always have time to talk when a young lady comes to ask you anything about anything." A small kettle on the only slightly larger kerosene stove began to whistle. The source of the earlier sqwaking flapped it's deep red wings, catching Shelby's attention. "Can I get ye some tea?"

Rae Bonatti : She would wait until his attention returned to her face before answering yes, and wait until he returned with the tea before asking her first question. Flipping her braid over her right shoulder she smiled.
"Thank thee for the tea, tis always nice when people are pleasant, after all. Now, if thee do nay mind, our first question is, what gave thee the idea for such a business as thine?"

Uncle Shelby : He answered as he prepared a cup for himself and one for her, glancing over his shoulder to smile now and then. "It lies in a man's heart, it does. Dreams like this. When I was a lad, I wanted nothing more than to own my own boat and be able to go out before dawn and set a pot of coffee to boil. I'd work till I was done drinking that pot, and then pull up my traps and go back in for the day. Could be a four hour day, might be six or eight. Depended on how thirsty I was." When the cups were ready, he brought hers and then sat down. "That got sideline when I took up with James Scarlett."

Rae Bonatti : She chuckled as she accepted the tea, knowing of Captain Scarlett after all.
"Yes I could see where that might sideline the idea of being a lobster man. So do thee find it as enjoyable as thee imagined? As profitable?"

Uncle Shelby : "I lost my hearing in a batch of frigid waters off of a place called Winterhaven. I had jumped in to save a mate. When the Doc said I'd never regain the use of my ears again, James put me to work in the galley till we got close to my home port. There, James gave me a fat lot of swag and sent me home to be with my wife, Constance. She was a beaut, Miss. Nameake of this very craft." The old man's face was bright with pride and fond memories. "Ye don't go into this business for the money. Ye do it for the love of the catch, and the love of the sea." He leaned in and shared a bit of conspiratorial words. "And around Yule, ye should see the faces when I deliver fresh catch to the families. That's all the gold an old man needs."

Rae Bonatti : She smiled, his attitude was so refreshing and it seemed he truly was as happy with his business as it appeared he was at first glance.
"That is such a lovely sentiment. Can thee tell me what has been the order the most enjoyable for thee to fill?"

Uncle Shelby : "There's been a few, Miss. One was a friend of Scarlett's. A sailor's wife and her sailin' man. One, this past Yule was for a young lass. Not of the age where an old timer like me would think appropriate for her to be drinking - most orders came this year with alcohol orders - so I had to charm a farmer out of some milk and trade a few pounds of oysters to a chocolatier here in Ravenwood to make chocolate milk for the young squirt. Good times."

Rae Bonatti : That made her chuckle to think of, but she thought it was sweet that he went to the effort to make everything just right.
"That does sound enjoyable, chocolate milk and a clever replacement I think. Now I have one last question for thee. What is the single best moment of thy job?"

Uncle Shelby : Well now, that made him think some. He ran his hand over his mouth and pulled on his white beard. "When I get to deliver to a family who is just starting out, or doesn't think they'd afford something like this otherwise. ...The look on a wife's face when they try and pull live crabs out of a bucket or the way children scream and laugh - shocked but wanting to see more... I know they're caught in this moment that they're all goin to remember."

Rae Bonatti : She smiled again, that was a wonderful image after all. She set aside her tea cup carefully and smiled at him again.
"Thank thee so much for answering our questions, and for the tea. This was a nice visit."

Uncle Shelby : "Not every day an old man gets to spend a few mins with a pretty lass. Enjoy your stay in Ravenwood. Remember, if someone tells you a drink or something to eat is hot. It is."

If you would like to have your shop featured in Merchant's Corner, please contact Rae NAlsia.

[[Contact: RaeNAlsia@aol.com ]]