老城杂铺记6/ Notes from Old Town’s shop6/ Anteckningar från Butiken i Gamla Stan6
今天上午，一个老太太牵一只小狗进店。她没有像其他牵狗的人那样，问我是不是同意小狗进店，就进来了。我也没提出异议。她走了一圈，到最里面的库房里看了一下才出来。在店门口，要出去的时候，她问我，店里的羊绒裤跟挂在外面的价格一样吗？我带她到羊绒裤子柜台那里，给她看了几条，说，价格都一样，现在都在打折。她拿起一条黑色的在自己腿上比试一下。我建议她到试衣间去试一下。她说，她穿得多，还牵狗，试衣服很麻烦。我问她，你住在斯京本地吗？她说，她就住在了老城里。我说，那你就拿回家去试一下，如果合适了，就回来付钱，如果不合适就退回来。她觉得挺好，就拿走了一条黑色的羊绒裤。
不记得这是第几次，我让顾客拿衣服回家去试，然后再回来付钱，或者退回来。
对于本地人，我是信任的。记得第一次是一个中年女性，她挑了一条裙子，说是给妈妈买的礼物，但不知道是不是合适。我说，你拿回去给妈妈试一下吧。她拿出她的身份证，我拍了一个照片，第二天，她就回来付钱了。她说，她妈妈很挑剔，不容易找到合适的衣服。几天后，她带她妈妈亲自来店里试衣服。她妈妈推着一个四轮的架子，这种架子我叫不上名字，可以辅助人站立和行走。她说妈妈来一趟，从家里去坐地铁 ，下地铁再走到我们店里，要二个小时。但她妈妈还是要自己亲自来挑选衣服。母女俩试了很多长裙，半裙，后来挑了一件长裙走。
后来又有几次本地人拿衣服回家试完回来付钱，或者退回来的，后面的人，我都没有要求他们留下证件照片，但有人留下电话号码和名字。所有人都十分有信用。
有一次，一个德国老太太从德国来看女儿，她挑了几条裙子，说不知道那件适合女儿。我说，你可以拿回去给女儿试穿一下。她很感动，说我这么信任她。她承诺三天内返回。她拿走二件裙子，二天后，她回来付钱买一件，退回一件。她又选了一件衬衣给女儿，但衣服有点崩线，我很抱歉，以为她会不要，她说她可以自己回去缝一下。
后来，她女儿带男朋友来店里看我，说妈妈回到德国了，很感谢我，让她在瑞典有在家乡的感觉。
今天这个老太太，晚上牵着狗返回店里付钱。我说裤子合适了？她伸腿给我看，说羊绒裤很暖和。
This morning, an old lady came into the shop with a little dog. Unlike other people who bring dogs, she didn’t ask whether I allowed dogs inside — she just came in. I didn’t object, either. She walked around and even went into the storage room at the back before coming out again.
At the door, as she was about to leave, she asked me whether the price of the cashmere pants inside the shop was the same as the ones hanging outside. I took her to the cashmere pants counter and showed her a few pairs, telling her that they were all the same price and currently on sale. She picked up a black pair and held it against her leg to check the size. I suggested she try them on in the fitting room.
She said she was wearing too many layers and was holding her dog, so it would be troublesome to try on clothes. I asked if she lived in Stockholm. She said she lived right here in the Old Town. I said, “Then you can take them home and try them on. If they fit, come back and pay. If not, just return them.” She thought that was great and took a black pair of cashmere pants with her.
I don’t remember how many times I’ve let customers take clothes home to try first and come back later to either pay or return them. I trust the locals.
The first time was a middle-aged woman. She chose a skirt as a gift for her mother but wasn’t sure if it would fit. I said, “Take it home and let your mother try it.” She took out her ID, and I took a photo of it. The next day she returned to pay. She said her mother was very picky and it was hard to find suitable clothes for her. A few days later, she brought her mother to the shop to try clothes in person. Her mother was using a four-wheeled walking aid — I don’t know what it’s called — something that helps people stand and walk. She told me that for her mother to come, she had to take the subway from home and walk to the shop, which took two hours in total. But her mother still insisted on choosing clothes herself. They tried many dresses and skirts, and finally chose a long dress.
Later, several local customers also took clothes home to try and returned to pay or return them. I didn’t ask for ID anymore; some simply left their names and phone numbers. Everyone was very trustworthy.
Once, a German lady who came to visit her daughter in Sweden chose several skirts, unsure which one would suit her daughter. I told her she could take them home for her daughter to try. She was very moved that I trusted her. She promised to return within three days. She took two skirts, and two days later she came back, paid for one, and returned the other. She then chose a blouse for her daughter, but the stitching had come loose a bit. I apologized, thinking she wouldn’t want it, but she said she could sew it herself at home.
Later, her daughter came to the shop with her boyfriend and told me her mother had returned to Germany. She thanked me and said that because of me, her mother felt like she was back in her hometown, even while in Sweden.
The old lady from this morning came back in the evening with her dog to pay.
I asked, “Did the pants fit?”
She lifted her leg to show me and said, “The cashmere pants are very warm.”
