A Shop in Time

Sarah had searched all the local stores looking for an unique gift for her best friend, Tracy. She decided to cross the bridge to Forest Grove; something she almost never did. As she reached the outskirts of town the car backfired, and steam poured out from under the hood. She noticed the check engine light on. Quickly she guided the car to the side of the road.

“Shit! Stupid piece of crap.” Sarah banged her fists on the steering wheel. She picked up her cell phone, pushed a couple of buttons, and waited.

“Hello,” a seductive voiced answered.

“Jimmy, I’m so glad you picked up. I need a favor.”

‘Hey Sarah, for you doll, anything.”

“My car just backfired and stream is pouring out from under the hood. Can you come pick me up?”

“Sure babe. Where are you?”

“I’m on old highway thirty-nine about a mile before the bridge.”

“Okay, Sarah. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Thank you.” She pushed the off button, and threw her phone in the passenger seat.

She stepped out of the car to stretch her legs while she waited, and hoped Jimmy would be along soon. Suddenly her attention was drawn to a sign that blinked in the window of a purple building. The sign read ‘open’.

As she walked closer to the building there was another sign above the door, Alice's Curiosity Shop. She peered in through the window; inside there were shelves and tables filled with odds and ends.

“Awesome. Maybe I can find something for Tracy here.”

She turned the doorknob and pushed opened the door. A bell rang announcing her arrival. As she stepped inside, she caught a whiff of a sweet smell, then she felt something soft brush up against her leg. There was a long hair Himalayan cat at her feet welcoming her to the shop. The cat ran and jumped up on the counter as Sarah bent down to pet it.

“Hello. Welcome to my shop. May I help you?” a delicate voice said.

Sarah jumped. An old woman at the counter petted the cat. Her hair was silver, pulled back high upon her head, and her green eyes twinkled.

“Hello. Yes. I’m looking for an unique gift for . . .”

“For your best friend,” the old woman finished the sentence.

Sarah, bewildered, stared at her. “Yes.”

“Well look around and see if you can find what you are looking for.”

Sarah walked down the closest row. She noticed a teapot in the shape of a dragon and a blue jar sitting on a shelf. A red hat and a multi-colored quilt sat on another. She took a step and bumped into something. It was the old woman, and she was holding a strange plant.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.” She looked down at the plant, “I don’t think my friend would like a plant. She doesn’t have a green thumb.”

“Oh,” the old woman said. She set the plant down on an empty shelf.

On the next row Sarah took notice of a bearskin rug. There was not a price tag on it. “How much . . .” Sarah looked up, but the woman was gone. She turned and looked at the counter. The cat sat on it watching her, but the old woman was nowhere to be found.

Sarah walked toward the counter; as she got close the cat hissed at her and jumped down. She noticed a big ring with several gold and silver keys on the counter. Something shiny caught her eye; it was a gold charm bracelet.

The charm bracelet called to her. She picked it up and a surge of energy rushed through her body. An image flashed in her mind; she handed a small box to her friend Tracy.

“I think I have exactly what you are looking for,” the old woman said from behind Sarah.

She dropped the bracelet. “Oh! You startled me.” She spun around. Black hair with silver streaks hung down to the old woman's shoulders.

The woman held out a snow globe. Angels played instruments and sang while it snowed. Sarah took the snow globe and watched the snow; it didn’t stop. She looked at the old woman who smiled.

“Shall I wrap up the snow globe for your friend and the charm bracelet for you?”

“Uh, yes. Please.”

The cat jumped back up on the counter and purred. Sarah looked down at the cat and it winked at her.

“How much do I owe you?” Sarah pulled out her credit card and handed it to the woman. Her hair, now solid black and her green eyes twinkled.

Sarah took her package and left the shop. She felt as if all her energy was suddenly gone. When she reached the car she placed her package in the backseat. Sarah heard the sound of a car coming to stop.

“Thanks for coming, Jimmy.”

“Not a problem. Let me look at you car.”

“Damn it! I left my credit card in the shop over there. I’ll be right back.”

Jimmy watched her walk away and scratched his head.

As Sarah neared the building, she noticed boards covered the windows. The door was hanging from the hinges. She stepped inside. Dust and dirt covered the floor. Spider webs hung from the ceiling. The sweet smell was gone. The shelves and tables were gone. She walked to the counter it was covered with dust. Her credit card lay on it and next to it was cat paw prints.