They were three pals spending the day cruising from one small shop to another, looking for bargains. Beth had found a small antique lamp with crystal tear drops dangling from its center post that would be perfect for her newly decorated bedroom. Susan found an old brass chime to add to her brass collection. Carrie was feeling left out. She had hoped to find a small stand to go beside her favorite reading chair , but not one had materialized.  Susan was ready to have dinner.  Beth begged to make one last stop in the quaint small town of shops. Carrie voted to stop one last time.
It was there on the floor by the old creaking entrance door that she spotted the water can. It was old, a few dents but she was drawn to it. She walked slowly around the old shop taking in the discarded old cans, jars and furniture that were offered but found herself drawn back to the front of the shop and the can. She finally gave in and bought it for a small price convincing herself it was perfect for her plants, even if it was a little large.

Carrie used the can faithfully for months until she was offered a better job in New York City. She gave all her plants to her sister June and told her to take the can too. She knew June had admired it many times, and because the move was so far she needed to eliminate any unnecessary items. That afternoon as she packed her last few keepsakes carefully, a gentleman called to inquire if she was the lady who bought a watering can at the Allen City Resale and Antique Shop. She told him she no longer had the can because she had given it way.   He begged for a name and number and she thought carefully and then turned him down. After all it was just an old can and June would be upset she gave her number to a complete stranger.

June loved the can. She carefully cleaned it and found under the paper picture that someone had glued on it was lovely unicorn scrolled on the sides. She placed it on the table in her hall entrance and hung her keys on the spout and tossed mail into it. But she only had the can for a few weeks when Jake begged her to marry him and move to New Orleans. She loved him dearly and had been waiting for him. She offered the can to her best friend Julie as Jakes home was all modern and it would be out of place there.

Julie loved the can too. She placed it on the buffet and added a daisy bouquet and set her favorite angel from her collection on it . That afternoon the new building super stopped by to introduce himself. The minute he stepped inside he spotted the can.” Grandma’s garden can!” he exclaimed. “What? Julie replied in awe.” I am sure of it.” He cried. “Grandma scrolled that design in the side when I was a boy. I sat beside her work bench for hours watching her. If you check the bottom it will say SAM. Sarah Anne Mathews. It was lost when dad cleaned out her garage and carted it off .I tried to find it a several months ago but the lady who bought it refused to tell me who she gave it to.”
 Julie could hardly believe this was happening. She hoped he was not going to beg for it back. She invited him to stay for coffee and tell him about the can and his grandma.

Six months later the can had a new home in the supers apartment with Julie and her  new husband .They spent their honeymoon in Ohio with Sarah Ann Mathews.