5th and Castle
The bell tinkled as Jamie pressed on the door of the dollmaker’s shop. The inside smelled old and earthy, as though someone had not bothered to fret over to the decrepit state of the establishment. Against the wall leaned a dark haired boy who looked like he didn’t want to be there, and inspecting a small Christmas town was an old lady with waist length gray hair. Jamie strode toward the counter, twining her red scarf into a rope between her hands.
Suddenly, an wrinkly old face leered out from behind the cash register. In his gloved hands was a small castle, decorated with intricate designs on the flags and ivy curling down the sides. Jamie approached him anxiously.
“Hello. What can I get ya?”
Jamie glanced around the shop. “I like that castle.”
The old man’s lips curled into a something that resembled a smile. “Ah, of course. And just who is this for?”
Jamie raised an eyebrow. “My little sister. But does it matter?” The old man nodded and set the castle down on the counter. “No. I’ll go get you another one. This one’s just on display.” He hobbled into the back room, shaking the curtain of beads as he passed through.
Jamie’s eye alighted on a pirate ship. She bent her face down to peer at the miniscule workers. Each one was set about doing a different task. She half-smiled and reached for one of them.
“Hey. Don’t touch, or you’ll pay.” The boy against the wall shifted and glared at her. Just then the old man walked out and glanced at the two of them. He glanced at the boy and shook his head. “Now, now, Jared, don’t harrass my customers.” Jamie returned to the counter. The old man added in an undertone, “My nephew. Bit unruly sometimes. So, you like what I got for ya?” Jamie examined the structure. “Yeah, it’s good. How much is it?” She bit her lip.
“About two hundred dollars.” Jamie gulped. Her mother had sent her out with only twenty dollars. “Sorry, I don’t have that much. I’ll just try another store.” She headed toward the door. She noticed that the long-haired lady was gone, but she hadn’t heard the bell ring. She shrugged.
“Wait!” the old man cried. “I just forgot that this one’s on sale! Yours for twenty dollars!” Jamie stopped, suspicious. “Really?” She fished around in her purse and withdrew the twenty dollars. The old man snatched it greedily and stuffed it in the register. Slowly he placed the castle on the counter. “Go on, take it.” He set his gloved hands on the counter, peering over at her.
“Thanks,” she said, tottering under the weight. “I–” Her words were suddenly cut off as the shop owner’s nephew surged forward and tried to take it from her, but before he did, they both flickered and vanished.
“Kids,” said the shop owner, counting the money, and examined the two new figurines in the castle.
