Glorious drunks, part 4

Steve came back by the shop on that Tuesday.
"Hey!" I said, "glad you could come by"
I went into the back and came out with a small case. I opened it up, and handed the little soprano uke to him. He gave it a strum. I had re-strung it in Low G, and cleaned it up a bit, made it shine. It played beautifully.
He regarded it for a moment, and nodded. "Nice"
I told him, "This was the first soprano ukulele I ever built."
I wanted to tell him the story of it's journey. I wanted to tell him here was a time when I thought that little uke was cursed. That it did not want to exist, and should be thrown into a volcano, or burned in a pyre, that it had somehow angered the ukulele gods, and that is why it kept breaking.
But that now, I think it had a job to do, and all the problems were simply a way of making sure it was here and ready when the time came.
I wanted to tell him that story, but, all I said was, "I want to loan this to you for...well, as long as you want to play it"
He smiled. "Thanks"
"No problem" I said.
as he was leaving, he turned, "I'll make sure you get it back, after... well..."
I cut him off.."when you are done playing it."
"Thanks" he said again.
He came in a few weeks later just to tell me he was loving the little soprano, and We talked about ukes, and different players. Then he said "Hey, we should go have a drink some time up at Dons, get away from work ya know?"
"Sure" I said.
He smiled, "whoop it up a little"
I nodded, "Get gloriously drunk"
"I'd like that" he said.
But I never saw him again.
I was hoping that it had turned around, that he was just busy.
But then I read his obituary in the paper.
And that was that.
Until one day when woman came into my shop carrying a small case. She said hello, and said she had a surprise for me. She set the case down on the counter, and opened it up.
It was, of course the little soprano ukulele.
we talked a little they thanked me, and told me how much steven had enjoyed playing. Her and her niece looked around a bit and then left.
I stood for a moment looking at the uke.
I gave it a little strum.
"Good job" I told it, and then closed the case.

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