Our store is becoming more and more successful. Some people still have difficulty finding work, but times have gotten better and more customers can afford to buy our goods.

Many people gather at the store to discuss politics, gossip, and local news. I always enjoy their stories, which remind me of the days when I used to share local news and gossip with my customers as a peddler. The main difference, of course is my customers now come to me instead of me going to them.

We stay open later than most other stores: until 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on Saturdays. Saturday night is our busiest time of all. That's when everybody buys the groceries they need for Sunday (when all the stores in town are closed) and gathers around our radio to listen to the hockey game. The older boys even bring their friends to the store to listen with us.

Even though I still don't entirely understand why this game of hockey is so popular here, but the company certainly makes the long hours of work pass by much quicker. I have never felt so much at home on this island as I do right now.

Your loving son,

Omar

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