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semi-stolen chair

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

We went to a gigantic sale at the TOC outlet building in Gotanda.

I suggested we have a look at a rather good furniture store in the basement that has Japanese-made versions of European styles (e.g. everything's made of Oak). Outside the store there were four chairs, none of which matched the others. Mari instantly fell in love with one of them, and we saw that it was only ¥15,000 including delivery. As we were quite happy with a small table we'd already bought from the same store (at another discount sale) we went inside to discuss the chair.

Mari suggested that I should have something other than her piano stool as a chair for my desk, and I agreed. But as we discussed the price, I saw another couple hovering about the chair with mum, dad and grandma giving it a try. I told Mari, "they're going to buy it!" She said, "Should we buy it now?" I told her, "do it!" and positioned Kenny's baby carriage so that it would obstruct "dad"'s only clear path to the staff in the back.

It turned out that the chair was normally ¥50,000 and was a remnant from a large purchase that wound up with an odd number.