CHARLESTON - When Toni Easley blew through the door of Kinnee's Gifts 'n Shells two decades ago, owner Pat Kinnee said neither one of them had any idea her employment would last so long.

"She came bouncing in 20 years ago and said, 'I want to be really honest with you. I'm just going to be working here for the summer,'" Kinnee said.

Promises. Promises.

Easley's bubbly personality quickly grew on Kinnee and her husband, Bob, who helped Kinnee run the 34-year-old business until he died 10 years ago.

Bob and Easley liked to kid around with each other. Kinnee remembered a time when her husband asked Easley what her age was.

"She said, ÔWhat does that have to do with anything!'" Kinnee said.

Easley recalled another time when Bob doubted Easley's rodent report.

"I heard these funny little noises in the ceiling," Easley said. "He didn't believe me, so I brought a rat trap from home and we were in the rat-catching business for a while."

Now Kinnee's son, Jim Ritchie, is a partner in the business, having joined two years ago. He, too, enjoys working with Easley.

"I'm the owner. She's the boss," he said, smiling at Easley.

The women have remained great friends over the years. They laughed recently at the store about how once on Easley's birthday she showed a customer a racy birthday card she'd received.

Unbeknownst to her, the customer was a nun.

"It was like Sister Mary Theresa or something," Kinnee laughed. "She was so embarrassed at letting this sister see this off-color birthday card."

Kinnee and Easley met while the gift shop owner sought extra help to get through the busier summer months. Easley's job had ended at a radio station and she inquired about an opening on a whim.

"My first day was April Fools Day, the day my unemployment ended." Easley said, "I came in to buy a pair of earrings."

Kinnee said they got so much response to an ad that Easley almost didn't get the job.

"We got something like 93 people applying," Kinnee said.

The store, which features all types of shells, seashore-themed souvenirs and more, is seeing its third generation of customers now. A half-barrel near the door holds about 400 pounds of shells that kids have plunged their hands into for years.

"Most of the kids are really good, and if they're not I whack them," Easley joked.

Each year the same groups of students come in for field trips - one from Montana and another from Canyonville.

A customer at the store, Bernie Shipman, said she's brought her three children shopping at the store since they were babies. Her youngest is now 21.

Easley, who grew up in Coos Bay, said one of her favorite things is to see the people who return every year.

"They say, 'Oh, my gosh, you're still here?'" Easley said.

"I say, 'They're holding me for ransom.'"