The beginning

Tom T. Wong made his way into the small, dark back office much as he had done for the past three years. He really saw opening the store early every morning as a pleasant experience. He always arrived early, sometimes even two hours early. A little quiet time before the hectic happenings that sometimes occur in the world of retail management.

Although he was only the manager he took pride in the appearance and success of the small independently owned clothing and soft-goods store. Sure, it was located in a small town, sold only soft goods – clothing, shoes and the like. It was no big box retailer like WalMart or even K-Mart but it was the largest store in this strip shopping center. Even though it had grown since its inception it still retained the original name – Aisle Three.

Where did such a name come from? Although he did not know for sure, he had heard rumors that the original owner had a small store with only three aisles. Still, why else would someone name a store Aisle Three?

As the only son of an immigrant family from Taiwan, Tom always felt that he had to achieve success quickly. He had to show the world what a first generation American citizen could achieve. After all, his father had come to this country 35 years ago, back in 1972, with only his shirt on his back and the hope for success. He had been trained as teacher in his native country – an English language teacher. A skill that helped him assimilate into the small town culture.

It was here, in Feeley Junction, Florida, that he met his wife, Sue Ann. And created his American dream for Tom and his older sister. Feeley Junction, population 6832, if no one died overnight. Two grocery stores, three schools, and only one department store, the Aisle Three.

As a child Tom had always immersed himself in the American culture because he was an American! That is how he came to his first love. Oh, how he loved country music! Ever since he first listened to the Grand Ole Opry as a small boy he had loved the music. Having taken guitar lessons at the Feeley Junction Civic Center as an 8 year old, he dreamed of the day when he would be the next great country music songwriter.

That first guitar, a Sears Silvertone was his most prized position of his childhood. Although the quality wasn’t that great, it was like they played on the Opry, only cheaper. But that was OK. Tom knew that although his singing was not bad, his strength was in his ability to put music and words together! He knew this job, now going on three years, was only temporary, until he moved to Nashville.

Having married his childhood sweetheart, Estella Gray, Tom just knew that with her support he could make it. Sure, he was managing the department store. But, he had been there from the time he was in high school. He had worked his way up to, finally, Mr. Caracino, the owner, had made him the manager. A promotion only 12 years in the making. It wasn’t rapid promotion but it was more money. Yet, now over a decade later, he kept reminding himself that it was only temporary, although lately it appeared to be a permanent temporary position! Besides, it would not be long before the “cheap-marts” came to town, opened their super centers, and ran his business into the ground. Yep, just a stop in the road until he sold that first hit song.