My Mother’s Mother, Granny to me, had a well worn mink cape that was considered the epitome of “ultra” to all females on Mother’s side of the family. Mother borrowed it for nights out on the town. Just wearing the cape caused an immediate change in the countenance of all who donned it. And each and every one of us had our picture taken while striking a “pose”.

It never crossed my mind that mother ever wanted to own a mink coat even though she was very, very proud of her first coat with a mink collar. But, a mink coat? In Houston? This was in the part of the country where winter temperatures rarely fell below 32°F.

One Saturday morning in the midst of our normal warmish fall weather, I got a call from Mother at about 8:00; I was asleep. Ignoring my grumpy attitude, Mom said, “Don’t say anything Just get up and get dressed.” She continued, “I’m leaving right now and will be there to pick you up in 30 minutes.” “Why? What For?” I asked. Mother said, “Joskes’ has their furs on sale.” Nothing connected in my head. She continued, “Get up and get dressed. Joskes’ has their furs on sale. Go on. Get up. I’m leaving,” and she hung up. I was grouchy and I was indignant, but I got up and I got dressed.

To clarify the significance of going to Joskes’, it was considered the high end store where the upper tier Houstonians shopped. That is, until Neiman-Marcus opened their store and stole the thunder from every retailer in town. Joskes’ still maintained it’s exclusive aura, especially Joskes’ Fine Furs which was located in an independent building on its own parking lot in the classiest part of Houston. The implications of shopping at Joskes’ still had a magic hold over me even though I was no longer the young girl living on a unpaved, shell covered street on the near North Side. To clarify the position this store held in the Houston community at large, when it opened its doors to the downtown, flagship store, it was a front page event in both daily newspapers.

The store’s opening pushed all news, including the latest war news from Korea out of the headlines. So, we drove over to Joskes’ Fine Furs coat store. It is now about 9 o’clock AM on a Saturday. I repeatedly ask mom, “Why do we need to go so early?” Her reply was, “Their minks are on sale and I want to get there before they’re all picked over.” “Minks?” I asked. “Picked over?.” I said. .“You have to be kidding; it’s still summer, and hot. It won’t be cold for months, if it even gets cold.” Mother retorted, “Just shut up. I’m buying us all a mink.” I asked, “Who’s us?” “Me and you two girls,” she said. I shut up.

I was shocked. By the end of this conversation, we were at the store. Empty parking lot. Not a single car anywhere. The store was dark. “Mom,” I asked “what time is it? Are they even open?” “Park here,” was her answer.” “Mom, they’re not open yet,” I said. She said nothing; she just opened her door. I took a close look at Mother for the first time that morning. I was wearing jeans,tennis shoes, and a school tee shirt; she was in knit pants, sandals, and a rayon blouse we called a pleat job. I thought we looked like we should be parked in front of Walmart, not this store. Mother picked up her purse, slammed her door, and walked up to the front doors. I followed her with my eyes and saw the sign saying: Open 10:00. No wonder the lot was empty. I called to Mother, “Mom, they’re not even open for another hour.” Ignoring me, she started knocking on the door. I got out and, without leaving the proximity of my car, I raised my voice her and said, “Nobody’s here.” I thought more about her knocking on the door to a closed store. ‘Mom, please, I begged, “we’re too early. No one’s here.

Let’s go back home for a while.” Mom stopped knocking on the door and started banging on the door. I looked out at the traffic; I was afraid we would draw the attention of a policeman. “Mom, please,” I said, “just get in the car. Please.” “Get back in the car and be quiet. I don’t want to hear another word out of you.” she said.

I turned to get in the car. She put her purse down and banged harder. Once more I tried to get her to stop, “Mom, we’re going to get in trouble. Please. You might set off the alarm.” She ignored me and continued her banging. I was climbing into the car when I heard Mother say, “Finally.” I turned to look and someone was peeking out the locked doors at us. Mother said, in a loud voice,, “ Hi, we’re here for the coat sale,” And she mimed “open the door.” I couldn’t believe what happened next. A lady opened the door for Mother. Mother made to enter the store, then turned to me, and said, “Don’t just sit there, Come on.” I grabbed my purse and got out of the car. Mother was already talking to the lady about what she was looking for. 

Mother and I were dressed casual and our hair was combed. That’s more than could be said of the saleslady. She was not even dressed, per se. Her hair was up in those big blue rollers with little teeth to hold your hair firm. She was wearing a house coat which is a short, cotton, button up the front, patterned garment that Southern women wore after they shed the gown and before they really got dressed. They are not street apparel. On her feet she had on nylons and Daniel Green slippers-terry cloth, open toed flip-flops.

By the time I reached the door, the sales lady had turned on some lights over a staircase to the right and Mother was telling her how she wanted to get three full length coats and had come early to get a good selection. The sales lady locked the front door and flip-flopped up the stairs with us following right behind. When we got to the mezzanine, she turned on more lights. We were standing where the coats are modeled,

I sat down. Mother continued following the lady on into the back area where the main stock is stored. I could hear the lady apologizing for how she was dressed and Mother saying that it was no problem and how much she appreciated the lady letting us in early. I was sitting in stunned silence when mother and the sales lady returned; their arms were filled with beautiful mink coats.

Mother said, “Stand up and try this on.” She handed me a full length mink which i slipped into. It was heavier than I expected, but felt wonderful. Mother asked me what I thought. I said, “Well, it’s beautiful, but when would I get a chance to wear it?” I added, “And where would I wear it?” I left out the observation about Houston winters. “Don’t worry; you’ll wear it,’ Mother said. She and the sales lady talked fur talk and I was taken aback to hear my mother talk about the various aspects of mink coats. I had no idea she knew anything about them.. .

Mother tried on a coat, asked me what I thought, picked out one for my sister, and we were through. This could not have taken more than 20 minutes from front door to finish. Mother and the lady headed down stairs with three minks. Three full length mink coats. $30,000 worth of mink coats.

Paying time. Mother asked if she could pay with an out of town check. And if she could have her name embroidered in the mink that she planned to keep. Decision time. An out of town check from someone who banged on the door until admitted. The banging on the door would have given me pause about an out-of-town check. This is not to mention our mode of dress along with Mother’s sprint through the purchase of $30,000 in coats. The lady called her boss and turned her back to us while she mumbled through a description of us. She got the go ahead. Mother wrote a check. She printed all three names for the embroidery person. She made arrangements for the coats to go into cold storage until it got cold, and we left.

The whole process from arrival at the store, through mother’s banging on the door, trying on coats, and paying took no more than 30 minutes. The sales lady was looking a bit woozy with the speed and circumstances of her first sale of the day. I never expected to own a mink coat, nor did I think anyone in the immediate family would ever be wearing one. Now we had three mink coats. I have absolutely no doubt that the lady told everyone she knew the story of Mom’s whirlwind visit to buy those three coats.  Mother and I both found places to wear our minks. It was unsettling at first, but we both got used to being petted by strangers.