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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our view: The wolves' way ... Readings of new plays by local playwrights featured ... Ticket availability ... Our view: The wolves' way ... Readings of new plays by local playwrights featured ... Ticket availability ... ROGUES: TALES FROM THE VALLEY Episode 2.8: A virtual visit to a pawn shop Comment By Lyda Woods DailyTidings.com By Lyda Woods Posted Apr. 20, 2015 at 7:25 PM Updated May 7, 2015 at 2:42 PM By Lyda Woods Posted Apr. 20, 2015 at 7:25 PM Updated May 7, 2015 at 2:42 PM » RELATED CONTENT • ROGUES: TALES FROM THE VALLEY: Dawn wants a new family » Social News Episode 2.8 of the fictionalized adventures of two sisters, Dawn and Sherry, one Ashland-loving, the other Medford-bred, and their adventures across the Rogue Valley. Find prior episodes at www.dailytidings.com. Last week, I built a character to practice my skills as an undercover operative. Sunshine Trallee and her abducted chicken, Dolores, seemed to impress Blue. But apparently, I was only getting started. “Now we need to think of a character you could embody, who would work well for our current case,” said Blue. “How do we do that?” I asked. “Let’s brainstorm. Our target is in downtown Medford. We have to figure out the range of clients that would pawn things there.” “Couldn’t we just go visit the place to find out?” I asked. “Well, you can’t show your face until you’re in character.” “You could,” I said. “Let’s call Jennifer first. I wonder if Jeremy took any footage of the place.” That afternoon, we arrived at Jennifer and Jeremy’s beautiful Ashland home. She had gone through his office again and managed to find 10 minutes of silent footage from the pawn shop, but it wasn’t at all what I had imagined. Jeremy didn’t hide the fact that he was filming. The customers and staff were quite friendly when the camera pointed in their direction. Perhaps they thought he was testing out the merchandise because there was a counter full of high-end camcorders. The bright, clean storefront was a marketing miracle with a boxing theme. In the middle of the store was a theatrical boxing ring under a banner sign announcing: “Get in the ring for a knockout deal.” One of the owners, a portly man shaped like an apple, sauntered around dressed as a boxer, in silky shorts, lace-up leather gloves, and a red cape. He came up to Jeremy, grinned, and said something but the sound wasn’t working on the video. The mountains of used merchandise gave me chills. Along one wall were racks of hunting and assault rifles in front of a lighted display case lined with handguns. What stories did those pistols have to tell? Who had held them in anger or fear? Who had been on the receiving end? Along another wall were stacks of big black guitar amplifiers, and above, Gibson, Fender and Les Paul axes hung limply from the ceiling. Many a musician’s dreams had come to die here. Two middle-aged women, wearing mom jeans, belly bags, and rock-and-roll T-shirts, stood near the gun counter. One picked up a handgun with a purple frame and playfully showed it to Jeremy. What was she was saying? The other woman casually racked an assault rifle with a pink stock and took a wide stance with the rifle resting on her hip. The man behind the counter laughed and waved at the camera. What was going on? In the center of the room, a display of gold and silver Rolex watches glittered under a bright halogen spotlight. A polished woman in a business suit studied them. I involuntarily thought of Ray, my brother-in-law, now in prison for manufacturing drugs. I wondered how many of these Rolexes formerly belonged to con-artist, wheeler-dealers like Ray. I had read and understood that pawn shops offer vital short-term loans that help a lot of working class people out of tough situations. I knew they provided a needed service. But still, I felt nauseous. I didn’t know if I could handle the undercover work anymore. The video faded to black and Jennifer turned to face us. “That’s all I’ve got,” she said.  Next week: Other filmmakers talk about Jeremy. By Lyda Woods DailyTidings.com By Lyda Woods Posted Apr. 20, 2015 at 7:25 PM Updated May 7, 2015 at 2:42 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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