A Visit to Alice's Curiosity Shop

         

                Life is interesting when you look for a glimmer of hope! One must always look forward, profit from mistakes,  look challenges straight on, be inquisitive, be curious at all times, and never take life too seriously.

         Anyone who desires to slip into a fantasy world has but to make a short and timely visit to Alice’s Curiosity Shop. Alice is quite the individual. She appears to be in her 60’s. She is short in stature and a bit rotund. Alice’s glowing gray hair is always in a long and carefully braided pigtail flowing down her back to her rather large hips. She wears bifocal glasses that are antiques themselves. Her voice is delightful and she is always pleasant to all visitors to her shop. Tempter, her cat is ever present. On my visits that large and somewhat fluffy black cat always kept a focused stare upon me. 

         This day the items that caught my eye were a small collection of keys on an ornate brass key ring and a weathered old quilt hanging on the wall. The two antiques appeared to have nothing in common. However, after a bit more intense observation, one could see that these artifacts contained many links to not only the past, but, they could easily bear a mystery that drew them  to intertwine a memorable journey for the observer.

         The ornate quilt was tattered with age. The numerous blocks of material had faded a bit with time. The colors not so bright as they had been at an earlier time. The border of the displayed that this ancient blanket had been used for many a year, yet it still looked as if it could serve its original purpose of creating warmth.

         The brass ring of keys was also of an earlier time and appeared to have been used over and over again. Yet, they displayed an aura of unending value to someone or some  valuable purpose. Only thorough examination would reveal their true purpose or value.

         Possessing an inquisitive mind I bought the ring of keys and the quilt. The price was fare and I felt I could always find a use for the new acquisitions. Off I hurried to my humble abode to spend more time with my new treasures. I was convinced there was much to be learned from these antiques.

         The quilt was large enough to fit a double bed. It was rectangular in shape. It was stitched together with a plethora of vivid colors. The patterns of this quilt were unique as none were repeated and all seemed to blend together. In one corner of this old quilt there was a signature block filled with very faint lettering. It would take some time and effort to solve the lettering, if in fact there was a message to be read. The old quilt also emitted a faint but distinct odor of age. It was somewhat musty and dank.

         After spending several minutes of scrutinizing my new prizes, I set them aside to give my mind a break from the whirling ideas that were racing through my brain. I knew in the near future I would be spending a great deal of time trying to solve the puzzle of both items I now had in my possession.

         Shortly after awaking the next morning, I had a revelation about my new acquisitions. In my mind I could see the quilt in a new fashion. The faded patterns depicted on this antique were actually pictures of old historic buildings in my hometown, Iola, Kansas. Could it be the keys were part of this picture in my mind? How fascinating it would be if I could discover the relationship between the keys, the quilt, and the old structures scattered around the old part of town. Since they were no longer in use, with two exceptions, my next course of action was to call Mr.Giovanni Bianchi, the only locksmith in town. I would give Mr Bianchi a call and schedule an appointment to chat with him about the brass ring and keys.

         I was totally mesmerized by all the fascinating discoveries I was sure to uncover. Would there be financial gain, would I achieve some notoriety, or would this just be just another adventurous journey of self-satisfaction? Above all else, “there’s a glimmer of hope!” That night I was restless as over and over, I kept remembering some of the quotes I had spent time reading,
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.
Carl Sagan
Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!
Theodor Geisel
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney
         Awakening the following day, I immediately locked my door for complete and uninterrupted privacy. I removed each key from the crusty brass ring. I lined them across my desk by size. I then spread the ancient quilt across the floor so I could observe each and every one of the ten fading designs completely. After careful study, it became clear to me, each design was a replica of several of the old buildings found on the square of my hometown. Most of these structures were now empty and boarded, to , however, were still occupied on the first floor. Those were being used as retail spaces. I then created a list of the buildings using the local telephone directory to retrieve each address. To me this seemed the most logical way to plan a search of each building, if this were possible. I would make every effort to contact the owner(s) of said building to obtain permission to search through each. This activity, arduous as it was, took me the better part of two weeks to complete. Next I would need to visit with Giovanni, the locksmith. Giovanni was an old acquaintance of mine and I looked forward, with great anticipation to another visit to his old shop. Truth known, I enjoyed frequent visit to his shop. Visits to the elfish old codger’s shop were about as much fun as my ongoing trips to Alice’s Shop. Unfortunately, for me, school and my paper route kept me busy the rest of that week.
         One evening, shortly thereafter, I had completed my paper route and before I engaged myself in homework, I called Jacob. I explained what my adventure was about. Jacob was thrilled and said he would set aside a time for me to visit him. I told him I wanted to find out information about the keys and he said he was more than willing to help with my quest. That night as I lay in my bed, my mind was buzzing with all sorts of notions as to what was in store on this adventure and what the final conclusion would bear for me. I found it next to impossible to relax enough to fall asleep. Eventually, I eased into a sound and relaxing slumber, knowing tomorrow  was a new day and my latest adventure was about to unfold.
         That next evening after finishing the paper deliveries I made a beeline straight to Giovanni’s shop. My heart was pounding with anticipation. Giovanni took his time with each of the rusty old keys. He inspected each thoroughly. He even wrote down a few note so he would not forget what he wanted to tell me about them. Upon finishing his inspection, Jacob set his glasses aside, sat in the old rocker, and proceeded to tell me about each key. The old locksmith gave me a detailed report about each key. He even confided in me, that he probably had made most of them himself for one reason or another.
         I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with Giovanni. It was an informative session. The old guy was a hoot and it was obvious he enjoyed his work. He related to me that he’d been in the key and lock business nearly 50 years. After finishing our discussion I went home to try and get some rest. I knew I would have a hard time sleeping with all the information I had absorbed on my visit to see Giovanni. As I had thought, I was restless all night. My mind was raced with the prospect of what I might find in the search of all the buildings. I just prayed that some of the keys would unlock something of interest.
         The next day, a Sunday, I started the quest. I went to thoroughly examine nine of the old buildings. I searched each structure as thoroughly as I could. To my utter amazement, I found nothing but layers of dust, old newspapers, broken furniture, and a few rats. There was nothing of significance anywhere in those old structures. My heart sunk with disappointment. My investigation, thus far, made not one important discovery. I was discouraged, but, I still had one more building to investigate. It had to wait as it was almost dark and I knew my parents expected me to show for dinner. In my heart, I knew the quest still had a remote chance in that last building.
         That next Saturday, after completing the paper deliveries, I began my initial search of the last of the old buildings. I took all the keys, a flashlight, some storage baggies, a notebook, and a pencil. The final phase of my adventure had begun. As I entered that old building, it became very obvious that the flashlight was one of the more important tools I had brought with me. This building had been vacated for years. Layer upon layer of dust had settled all over. Not many boxes or other things of interest were held within. However, there was a medium size chest under some old newspapers off in a corner. I carefully removed the newspapers. I tried to open the chest without success. I next found a small opening on the front of this antique. It appeared to be a slot for an old key. After several unsuccessful attempts of using various keys, I found the one that turned ever so slightly in the slot. With a slight snap, the chest was unlocked. I slowly open the top. At first I could see nothing within. I pointed my flashlight into the interior of the chest. At the very bottom I observed a very old and discolored envelope. Using caution, I removed the envelope and placed it in a plastic baggie for protection. A further search of the chest revealed nothing more. I closed the chest, locked it, and went straight home.
         I let the building and rushed home to the seclusion and privacy of my bedroom. After locking the door, I cautiously removed the antique envelope from the baggie and placed it gingerly on my desk. At this point I sat back in my chair just look at the this old artifact. It was impossible to conjure, in my mind, what the content(s) of the envelope might display. With utmost care, I slowly opened the envelope. Inside i found a folded piece of paper. It to, displayed the signs of years of neglect and fading. I opened the slip of paper with extreme care. On the paper was a short note almost invisible to the naked eye. I then turned the desk light on and slipped the paper under its beam. After awhile my eyes adjusted to the light projected upon the paper. There was in fact a message written on this old document. I read with anxiousness the following:
                   “Congratulations, you have found the first clue.  Thanks to your diligence and persistence you have begun a quest for knowledge and excitement. Following your intuition to find a use for the key that opened the chest, your adventure has just begun. However, t is only the beginning. If you wish to peruse this puzzle further, you must return to Alice’s Curiosity Shop. There it will be another clue to be found. Carefully examine the following items:
         1. A charm bracelet
         2. A strange planet
         3. A. snow globe
         4. A teapot in the shape of a dragon
         5. A bear skin rug
         6. A red hat
         7. A jar
         8. A small rocket ship
         One of these items will contain the next clue. Good luck and good hunting.
The message was signed with the initials MAL.(8.) 6/30/09
         Though I was dejected after reading the message, there was surely more to be discovered on my next visit to Alice’s Curiosity Shop. Little did I know, at the time, Alice’s last name was Giovanni.