Ella sighed, peering into the shop’s window. Being Christmas day, she wanted to buy her older brother, Tim, a new watch chain.
Walking home, Ella passed a hair salon. A hairdresser took one glance at Ella’s long, flowing hair, she said, “You have such beautiful hair. We’ll buy it! Twenty dollars.”
Ella would be losing her hair but receiving money for the gift. It was a small sacrifice.
Ella quickly purchased the watch chain. It was perfect.
She arrived home and waited for her brother. The door opened, and Tim came in.
Tim looked at Ella. “You cut your hair.”
“Sold it.”
“Ella, I don’t mind how you look, but...Merry Christmas”
Tim gave her a package from his pocket. Ella ripped the wrapping and let out an ecstatic scream of joy. On the table lay a pair of combs. Ella hugged them. “Thank you! I have wanted these for years!”
“You must see my present.” She flashed out the watch chain.
“Ella, I sold my watch to get enough money for your combs.” Smiling, Tim added, “It was worth the sacrifice. Let’s use our gifts to remind us of each other.”
The next day, Ella pinned her combs up to her short hair. Walking around, everyone’s eyes were on her. Ella was the center of attention.
That night, Tim smiled. “I wore the watch chain today. Stuck it on and went to work at the newspaper company. I was about to print the paper when a man named Hans Wilsdorf walked in, yelling that I should print his part of the paper too. I was getting curious why he was desperate, so I read his article. He’s going to start a watch company, and he needs some watchmakers.
“I accidentally tripped, and a stack of newspapers fell down. Hans helped me pick it up. He asked about my watch chain, and we talked. He heard my story, offering to teach me how to make watches. He asked me if I wanted to join his business at the watch company. I’ve always wanted to be an engineer, so I took the job on the spot.”
In the morning, Ella went outside with the same hairstyle as the day before. Women were wearing combs in their short hair. Jogging up to a newspaper stand, the first thing Ella saw was the headline in bold: Local Girl Sets Up New Short Trimmed Hair Fashion Trend.
Amazingly, Ella’s misfortune had become a benefit. Everyone wanted Ella’s fashion advice.
Meanwhile, Tim was at the watch shop, talking with Hans.
“I have to tell you, Tim, that your watches are one of a kind, and the best. Right now, our business is small. I was hoping you could stay with us. Our company is going to get big soon, I just know it.”
“Now, we need a name. Tim, what’s your family name? I remember hearing it somewhere, thinking that it was onomatopoeic like a watch ticking.”
Tim smiled. “Rolex.”
Walking home, Ella passed a hair salon. A hairdresser took one glance at Ella’s long, flowing hair, she said, “You have such beautiful hair. We’ll buy it! Twenty dollars.”
Ella would be losing her hair but receiving money for the gift. It was a small sacrifice.
Ella quickly purchased the watch chain. It was perfect.
She arrived home and waited for her brother. The door opened, and Tim came in.
Tim looked at Ella. “You cut your hair.”
“Sold it.”
“Ella, I don’t mind how you look, but...Merry Christmas”
Tim gave her a package from his pocket. Ella ripped the wrapping and let out an ecstatic scream of joy. On the table lay a pair of combs. Ella hugged them. “Thank you! I have wanted these for years!”
“You must see my present.” She flashed out the watch chain.
“Ella, I sold my watch to get enough money for your combs.” Smiling, Tim added, “It was worth the sacrifice. Let’s use our gifts to remind us of each other.”
The next day, Ella pinned her combs up to her short hair. Walking around, everyone’s eyes were on her. Ella was the center of attention.
That night, Tim smiled. “I wore the watch chain today. Stuck it on and went to work at the newspaper company. I was about to print the paper when a man named Hans Wilsdorf walked in, yelling that I should print his part of the paper too. I was getting curious why he was desperate, so I read his article. He’s going to start a watch company, and he needs some watchmakers.
“I accidentally tripped, and a stack of newspapers fell down. Hans helped me pick it up. He asked about my watch chain, and we talked. He heard my story, offering to teach me how to make watches. He asked me if I wanted to join his business at the watch company. I’ve always wanted to be an engineer, so I took the job on the spot.”
In the morning, Ella went outside with the same hairstyle as the day before. Women were wearing combs in their short hair. Jogging up to a newspaper stand, the first thing Ella saw was the headline in bold: Local Girl Sets Up New Short Trimmed Hair Fashion Trend.
Amazingly, Ella’s misfortune had become a benefit. Everyone wanted Ella’s fashion advice.
Meanwhile, Tim was at the watch shop, talking with Hans.
“I have to tell you, Tim, that your watches are one of a kind, and the best. Right now, our business is small. I was hoping you could stay with us. Our company is going to get big soon, I just know it.”
“Now, we need a name. Tim, what’s your family name? I remember hearing it somewhere, thinking that it was onomatopoeic like a watch ticking.”
Tim smiled. “Rolex.”
