Page 66 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Mom!”
“Although, I guess it wasn’t really a date,” my mom says.
“We’re taking every precaution,” Maddie says.
Yes, like not even kissing.
“Do you want kids?”
“Someday, but obviously, we’d have to both be financially secure,” Maddie says.“But my mom and my sister run a cookie business, and it has a daycare for employees, so I can drop them off there.That’s what my sister does.It’s pretty much a child’s dream to be living in a cookie factory.At first, anyway.My mom would be happy to see them.She spends more time there now than in the kitchen.”
I want to delve into that “At first, anyway.”
“That’s good that you have a plan.Would you like some tea or coffee?Let me take you on a tour of the house first,” my mom says.“Nick mentioned that you make miniatures.You will love our miniature room.”
Maddie seems to have passed whatever test my mom has with flying colors.
“Oh here.I forgot to give you this,” Maddie says, and she hands my mom the little present.
My mom unwraps it, and she does indeed love the miniature knitted sweater.
She takes us on a tour of the house.First up is her knitting room, which has a bookcase full of yarn and a comfortable rocking chair.
Next, we visit the miniatures room, so titled because it’s literally a miniature town, and meet my mom’s roommate, Christy.Her other roommate is away this weekend, visiting a friend.
“Wow, you even have a bookshop, a coffee shop, and a Christmas store,” Maddie says, staring at the red, white, and green shop.
Christy beams with pride.“I couldn’t decide whether to make a house for Santa Claus and Mrs.Claus, but then I decided that I have so many Christmas miniatures that I really needed a shop.”
“Oh, and you created a secondhand shop too.I haven’t seen that before,” Maddie says.
“Same thing.I made some things for my mini club, and they didn’t fit in anywhere, so I thought a secondhand shop would be perfect.”
“What is your mini club?”
“We meet once a month at someone’s house and make miniatures.You’re welcome to join us, if Nick wants to bring you up here on the third Saturday of the month.”
“That’s why you seemed so familiar with miniatures at the fair,” Maddie says to me.
“I told you my mom’s roommate had a mini town,” I say.
“I’m sorry I missed that New Jersey fair,” Christy says.“Several of my friends were dealers there, but my boyfriend had an operation earlier that week, and I needed to be around.Do you have a website?”
“No,” Maddie says.“With my work schedule, it’s hard to create enough stock.I do this one show, and periodically I email my list to see if they have any requests.”
“Well, I know so many people in the mini community.If you ever want me to put out the word, let me know.”
“Have you ever seen this work before?”Maddie asks and shows a photo of Ward’s bodega.
She peers at the image.“I know that artist.He has an Instagram page.”
“He does?”Maddie asks.
“It’s not under his real name, obviously, but sure.Let me find it,” she says.“He spends a fortune on miniatures.”She shows Ward’s Instagram handle to Maddie.
“Wow.”Maddie shows me one of the posts.“Look at this miniature deli.It really captures a New York City deli.And the signs are even electrified and blinking on and off.”
“I wanted to get an electrified one, but they were too expensive,” Christy says.“Even I couldn’t justify spending that much for my miniatures.”
