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“So, you can imagine, there’s a lot of interest in something like this. In us. In the stores that we’re running. In our town.”
“I guess, though I’m not totally sure I understand why,” Gwen admitted.
“You don’t really have to think about it or even try to understand,” I said. “I mean, I’m on the internet all the time, and I don’t understand why some things hit and why some don’t. I suppose it has to do with what’s going on that day, what people notice, and how they share that information.”
Robert laughed and tightened his grip on my hand. “Nobody ever said the internet made any sense.”
“We have to capitalize on this, and there are some ways we can do it that I think will be great for the store and this community,” I said.
“You two would certainly know better about that than I would.” Gwen smiled.
“They’d like to book us onGood Morning USAtomorrow,” Robert said, and I was glad he was the one to tell her that detail. Going on a national newscast still seemed so foreign to me, so against the life I’d built over the last few years, which had focused on being as anonymous as possible as I tried to heal from the trauma of what happened to me in Chicago.
“We think it’s an offer we should accept,” I said. “Lots of viewers, a decent amount of prestige, and overall, the right vibe.”
“Vibe?” Gwen sounded like it was a word she’d never heard before.
“Feeling,” Robert replied.
“These things are so delicate, and while I don’t have a ton of experience in marketing, my impression is that you must make sure you choose your options very carefully when something like this happens because the viral nature of the content can make things spiral out of your control very fast. We only want what’s best for The Green Frog. It’s such a huge part of New Burlington,” I said.
“And no doubt, Robert’s store too,” Gwen replied.
I nodded.
Gwen studied us for a long moment. She didn’t have to say yes, and if she said she didn’t want us to do it, I would back out immediately. We couldn’t control the video that was already out here, but we could control how we responded to it. I wasn’t going to do anything that would jeopardize or risk the important relationship I had with her. Gwen was the closest thing I had to family these days, and her feelings mattered.
“Just because we were offered something doesn’t mean we have to say yes,” I added.
Gwen shook her head. “No, it doesn’t, but I’m also smart enough to realize that people these days shop differently and think differently than they did when I started the store all those years ago. Back then, things were easier and simpler than they are now. People had a sense of community, and they shopped locally. People’s lives were closer.”
“When I was a kid, I didn’t understand or appreciate that,” Robert said.
“If you both think this is the right move for The Green Frog and the right move for New Burlington, I’m okay with your appearance on the show. Honestly, you don’t need my approval to do it—you all are adults and know more about how viral videos work than I do.” Gwen clapped her hands as if the conversation was over. “But I appreciate that you wanted to take the time to seek my approval of this.”
“I wanted to make sure since I’m representing your store.”
“You’ve worked for me so long, it’s almost your store too.”
“That means a lot to me,” I said, the relief sinking in that whatever happened next, Gwen would have my back, and I’d have hers.
“I know it does,” she said. “And you mean a lot to me too.”
With that, it was settled. We were doingGood Morning USA.
