Papunus Jewelry

I needed a watch battery, and I stopped at the first shop with «We sell watch batteries» I could find on my way to the subway.
Papunus Jewelry at first looks a bit weird, like many shops around here where you couldn’t tell whether they are undergoing some kind of repairs, or that’s just the way they look. Like somebody threw a hand granade in the shop some time ago, and that’s just the way the shop looks now.
The owner «greeted» me at the entrance. There are some newspapers on the floor, and he’s swiping it. He looks at me suspiciously. The counter is protected by a bulletproof glass, there is a painting of a «Madonna con bambino» behind the counter, and pictures of boxers, rap singers, and Jewish rabbis on the side.
I show him the battery, and the owner asks me the number of the battery. I struggle to read the tiny inscription on it. It’s dark in the shop; I move closer to the entrance, to get some sun light. I sense the owner getting impatient. A minute passes… another one… The owner walks back behind the counter.
«262… I think», I say. He signals to approach the counter. I slid the battery under the bulletproof glass, he takes a pocket magnifying lens and looks at it.
«Yes, 262. Where are you from? You German?», he asks.
Why do I always get German…
«No, Italy».
«Ah, Italia!». A broad smile lights up his face.
«Where in Italy?»
«Venice».
He picks up a plastic plate, and pours a handful of watch batteries on it. He then walks around the counter, opens a door, and hands me the plate and the lens.
«See if you can find one», he smiles.
I look at the batteries, turn them over, and search for the right one. Some are kind of rusty. I can’t find what I need, and I hand everything over to the owner.
He walks me to the street, and points towards Fulton.
«Go around the corner, just after Dunkin Donuts. Tell the Chinese lady[1] Mr. Roman sent you. She will give you a good price».
«Thank you, Mr. Roman», I say, while shaking his hand.
Mr. Roman smiles, and goes back inside his shop.
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[1]