The Wizards Door

The Wizard’s Door

by

LaVerne C. LaVake

Dirken was rather side-tracked, as he was walking down the sidewalk. He had been walking for over an hour, heading nowhere in particular. He was troubled about his little sister, Anna.

“Now why did I think that again? Anna is eighteen years old, I should quit calling her ‘little’ sister, and simply say ‘My sister, Anna,’ She deserves that.” He thought.

But the truth of the matter was that Anna was not herself, and she was not getting better, but rather was noticeably worse each time that he had seen her. Her eyes were dark and hollow, her hair disheveled, her frame more stooped and gaunt and she hadn’t spoken in weeks.

As he waited at the corner for a car to pass, he thought, “Perhaps a gift would lift her spirits.”

Crossing the street he stepped up onto the sidewalk and totally ignoring the shops that were on his left, all the way down the block, his eyes were drawn to a door across the street. He crossed over to that side and walked directly to the door and grabbed the knob, which did not turn but a lighted sign appeared that read. ‘Punch any seven numbers into the key pad, and then turn the knob.’So he did. 6,2,1,4,9,7,8. Immediately the lighting changed within the shop. He turned the knob and the door opened quite easily and in front of him was a silver haired man with wire-rimmed glasses wearing a blue shop apron over a long-sleeved silk shirt and black slacks and black wingtip shoes

He spoke softly but clearly and said, “Good day, Sir, thank you, for answering the door. My name is Silver. Mr. Silver”

“Excuse me, Sir, but you answered the door,” Dirken answered.

With patronizing smile, he said, “You are looking for a gift for your sister. Correct? You are quite tired and worried and I am sure we can help. Will you let us?”

Dirken took a deep breath, as if to fight, and then remember Anna’s eyes, sighing as he let the air back out in resignation.

“Thank you, Dirken. May I scan you with this instrument?”

“What is it?”

“It is called a deglazer, for lack of a better name. As in cooking, this tends to recognize and remove things that do not need to remain. I assume you have seen your sister recently?” Silver said.

“Yes, this morning I tried to give her a cup of chi.”

“Very good, may I proceed?”

Mr. Silver used the instrument all around Dirken, reminiscent of a TSA scan at the airport, and then stood back and watched Dirken’s face, particularly his eyes.

“I feel better, what did you do?”

“Very good, very good. I recognize this enchantment, which means we can do something about it. Yes, I saw this, Shadik, in the street yesterday, looking far too healthy and I was wondering from whom he was stealing spirit.”

“So your saying I was enchanted, as well as Anna?”

“No, but you were near her, and that is a lot like picking up a turd from the clean end. You’re just going to get some on you! Please just give me a minute, I will be over at my counter, just over there.”

Mr. Silver came back with a small bouquet, a music box, and what looked like a box of chocolates. He opened the box and there were seven rows of seven “chocolates”, and each chocolate in each row was numbered and that row of numbers was exactly the number that Derkin had punched into the key pad at the door: 6,2,1,4,9,7,8.

“What is all this about,” Dirken asked.

“They are in the order that she should eat them. Don’t worry, once she eats the first one, she will automatically follow the order.

“And the music box?”

Mr. Silver opened the lid and the tune started to play softly, convincingly, like the notes were embedding themselves, cleansing as they went and Dirken became even more calm. ‘See, even though you were deglazed, there is still a little residue,” Mr. Silver explained.

“And the bouquet?”

“Give it a whiff.”

“Oh my, that is nice. Almost like something to eat, and so refreshing.”

“Just take these three items to your sister and try to make sure she eats the number six chocolate first. The rest will take care of itself,” Mr. Silver said.

“What is all this going to cost me?”

“What would you be willing to pay to get your sister back?”

“Your right. Sorry I asked.”

“Take these items to your sister. Bring her back here at this time next week. And remember your number.

***

At Anna’s apartment, Derkin realized that Anna was even worse that that morning. She was having trouble holding her head up and her eyes could not focus, so the first thing Derkin did was to use the bouquet as a smelling salt, putting it directly under her nose. Anna responded instantly, her eyes were working and she could see the bouquet. The corner of her mouth lifted in almost a smile. Then Derkin put the music box beside her and opened the lid and let the soft music work on her as he took out the first chocolate, number six, and unwrapped it and set it in Anna’s hand. Her smile came easier this time as the music was moving through her heart and mind. Soon she lifted her hand and put the chocolate in her mouth. She started sitting straighter.

Derkin found a vase for the bouquet and set it near Anna. Then he went out side with a pail of soapy water and washed Anna’s car. He worked slowly and carefully, trying to make it perfect and spotless. Then he found the car wax and carefully waxed and shined every square in of the car before opening the doors and vacuuming the floor and upholstery. After cleaning up the dash and the windows, Derkin went back inside and found his sister unwrapping the next candy in the box and the music box still playing and the scent of the bouquet seemed to be dancing with the music, filling every corner of the apartment.

Derkin spent the rest of the day with Anna and watched with wonder as her life and spirit began to return to her. When he left her that evening she was just eating the last chocolate in the row as she rose and prepared herself for bed.

Derkin checked on Anna the next morning, before heading off to work, and was amazed to see that she had eaten number six in the second row of chocolates and was making herself scrambled eggs t the stove. The music box was freshly wound and still playing and the apartment smelled glorious.

After work, Derkin stopped in again and found that Anna had showered and washed her hair and the dark circles under her eyes were gone, as were most of the chocolates in the row. Just enough left to last until bedtime. Derkin breathed in deeply and let a great deal of his stress and concern slide away. Hope is a wonderful thing.

The following morning, Derkin had an early meeting at work so he couldn’t check on Anna. He was a bit nervous all day, but tried desperately not to let it eat him up.

After work, he actually knocked on the door. Anna answered with a smile and a hug and said, “Come on in, Derkin, I have supper on,” Anna said.

Derkin stood amazed, maybe awestruck. Anna hadn’t spoken for weeks and her face was no longer drawn, but almost lively. That evening Derkin and Anna had their first real conversation in a long time, and the Anna challenged him to a game of chess.

At the end of day seven, as Anna was eating her last chocolate, Derkin suggested that he would like to take her to a shop that he had found. She readily agreed.

The following morning, Derkin picked Anna up and was amazed at how perfectly whole she

seemed. He parked at the curb and Anna jumped out without help. She ran to the door and punched in the code 6214978. The knob turned and she stepped into the presence of Mr. Silver.

“I assume your brother is coming in, Miss Anna?” Mr. Silver asked.

“Oh, yes, of course. I was just so excited to meet you that I just had to hurry. I hope you can forgive me my exuberance!”

“Of course, my dear. Oh! Here is Derkin, good to see you again young man, I take it that all is going quite well?”

“Yes Mr. Silver. As you can see, I have my sister back. What a joy that is!

“I knew things were going very well because I saw Shadik in the street again yesterday, and he was an emaciated mess. I also have a little gift for each of you. I have here two special chocolates that will keep the enchantments at bay for as long as you like.

“Mr. Silver, I believe there is the item of my bill, that we still need to settle.”

“Mr. Derkin I would settle your account for one hundred dollars.”

“No you won’t, Sir. You saved Anna’s life. I have in this envelope five hundred dollars. Please continue to help others as you have so generously helped us.