Mystic Gifts

A new store opens in town, offering one of a kind gifts. What could go wrong?

The sun set in a blaze of crimson glory. It was Friday night the work week was over. Birds sang. Traffic hummed. Wrought iron street lights turned on, spreading circles of golden light over car rooftops, cobblestone streets and cement sidewalks. People wandered the streets in festive groups, laughing.

A neon sign, in shades of black, turquoise and red lit up. A picture of a pixie appeared. A gift box, tied with a ribbon blinked on and off. MYSTIC GIFTS.

A new store? Oddly, I didn't remember seeing it, in the morning, on my walk to work. I grabbed the heavy brass door handle and opened the beveled glass door. A bell jingled announcing my presence.

I smelt coffee, almonds and mothballs. Dark wooden shelves crammed with frivolous knick knacks stood in military style rows. Plastered walls were hung with musical instruments. Acoutic guitars, native American flutes, penny whistles, African drums and a Turkish carpet were offered for sale. A taxidermy buffalo head with beady amber eyes glared at shoppers.

"May I help you?" Asked a bald middle aged gentleman, wearing a white button up shirt.

"I'm just looking." I said as I meandered in the store. Tall shelves were. crammed with miniature ceramic unicorns, mermaids and dolphins. A glass case was filled with custom jewelry that glittered in every color of the rainbow. Carved wooden animals stood in rows, looking life-like and appeared to move out of the corner of my eye.

A sign next to a coffee pot and a plate of yellow cookies said free. I helped myself. I bit into a round cookie, it tasted of almonds and sunshine. I sipped some coffee, it tasted earthy and delicious. I started to giggle. I couldn't stop laughing or snacking.

I picked up a box of almond cookies and a pound of coffee. I set the items next to a huge golden black antique cash register.

The cashier winked. "Help yourself. Those cookies are imported all the way from Scotland. They were baked by pixies. The coffee was grown in the rainforests of Vietnam."

"Thank you" oh my upselling! Most of the time I was immune to frivolous purchases but it was a new store and magical.

"Everything in my store is one of a kind. Imported from distance exotic destinations."

I smiled and giggled like a fool. My feet felt light as air. My hands danced on the shelves tapping out a tune. In all the clutter, I found a carved wooden man wearing a whiskey barrel. I lifted his barrel up and a huge penis bounced up and down, it hit me in the nose. Next I found a music box with a dancing male lion that played (Over the Rainbow). Last but not least a tan leather bound book of Gone with the Wind.

I paid in cash. The clerk wrapped my presents in paper. He reverently placed them in a black canvas bag, that proudly read MYSTIC GIFTS.

I hugged my treasures and skipped home.

At my apartment, my roommate, her boyfriend and Dave the next door neighbor, were in the living room, drinking shots. I joined them sitting on the floor Indian style

Dave downed a shot of Jameson and grinned. He handed me a shot glass of whiskey. "What did you buy, penny pincher."

"Oh come on, I'm not that cheap. "

Mary giggled. "From the lady whose house napkins come from Burger King. "

Her boyfriend Kevin laughed.

I drank a shot of Jameson and set my package on the floor.

Dave looked at my treasures. "Call of the Wild, I love this book." He picked up the music box, held it next to his ear. "Love Story, what an awesome song. " He picked up the carved wooden man and lifted up the barrel. "Whoo nice classic belly dancer. "

Kevin looked at the book. "You better get some glasses, this is Lord of the Rings. "

Mary snatched the book out of his hands. "Honey, it's Pride and Prejudice."

What the heck is going on? I held up the tan leather bound book. "It's Gone with the Wind." I read a couple of pages. It was definitely Gone with the Wind.

Dave looked at the book. "It's Call of the Wild. "

Seriously, my hands shaking, I held up the carved wooden man. I pulled up the whiskey barrel. "What do you see?"

Dave laughed. "A belly dancer. "

Kevin stuttered, "a Hawaiian dancing girl. "

Mary gasped, "a drunken sailor."

What was happening?

I held up the music box. "What do you hear?"

Dave stared. "It's playing, Love Story, from the movie. Their kissing. "

Kevin's hands shook. "It's a staggering sailor. Playing What do you do with a drunken sailor early in the morning. "

Mary pushed back her long brown hair. "This is insane. There's a full moon shining over a river. It's playing Moon River. "

I dropped the music box. Over the Rainbow stopped playing.

The book, the music box and the carved wooden figure lay scattered on the orange shag carpet. The box of cookies and the pound of coffee were unopened.

Mary her pink lips trembled said. "Why do we each see something different?"

Dave pulled his hands back. "Where did you buy this stuff?"

I hugged my legs to my chest. "A new store Mystic Gifts. It just opened today. I walked past this morning but don't remember seeing it. "

Mary , "this crap gives me the creeps, let's get this stuff out of here."

We sat in a circle staring at the gifts. I didn't want to touch any of it.

Mary, "who's picking it up?"

Kevin held up the bag. "Sarah, you brought this creepy stuff. You pick it up."

Hands shaking, I picked up the tan leather book. It felt normal. Gone with the Wind was stamped on the cover. I dropped it into the shopping bag. The music box was cool to the touch and didn't look or feel creepy. The carved wooden man smelt of cedar and felt light for it's size. I tossed the box of cookies and coffee in the bag.

Dave, " let's go I want to see this store. "

We walked to the store, or at least the area where the store was supposed to be. I circled the block twice, checking doors and neon signs. We searched in vain.

Kevin, "come on Sarah find the store will you. "

"It's not here, it disappeared. "

Mary, "how can you lose a store?"

"I don't know. I walk this route to work every day. The store is not here, or the neon sign or the door. "

I searched up and down the dark empty street. A cold breeze blew on my cheek. A cat hissed. A car door slammed.

"This is close enough." I set the bag on the sidewalk.

We jogged home.

Dave, "this has been one creepy night. I'm going home. "

Kevin walked us to our door. He kissed Mary. "I'll call you tomorrow?"

I went to bed and left the light on. What had just happened? How could we each see a different title on the same book? How did the music box play so many songs and display so many images? Was it a carved wooden man or a dancer? The store disappeared? I lay awake for hours.

The next day, I woke up to someone pounding on the front door. I rolled over and tried to ignore the noise. The knocking continued.

"Knock, knock, knock. "

I crept to the living room. Mary pointed to the peek hole, in the front door. I peeked outside. I shoved my hand into my mouth to keep from screaming. It was the bald headed cashier from Mystic Gifts. How did he know where I lived?

"Knock, knock, knock, Sarah, Mary it's very rude to keep a man waiting. " How did he know our names?

Mary gasped and shook her head no.

"Knock, knock, ladies I know you're in there. "

I pointed to the back door. I mouthed run. Mary ran out the back door.

Hands trembling, l turned the doorknob. Opened the door. The scent of almonds, coffee and cedar filled the air. A blast of stream rose from a mug of black coffee. Over the Rainbow played.

The cashier entered the house. He set the bag and coffee on the table. "Come here," he ordered.

My mind screamed no but my body obeyed.

"Drink, eat. "

I sipped the coffee. It smelt earthy and tasted divine. I nibbled a cookie, crunchy almond with a hint of honey. I ate and drank. The mug refilled. The cookie grew back. The clerk patted my head. "Now be a good girl AND NEVER REFUSE MY GIFTS AGAIN. "

He disappeared. Over the Rainbow played.