CHARMED
"A Stitch In Time"
by J. B. Tilton
email: aramathisot.com
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
(Authors note: This story is written in memory of Danny Kaye, an outstanding actor and comedian who passed away in 1987. Mr. Kaye once appeared in a Twilight Zone episode based on the same premise as this story, from where I got the idea. Danny Kaye's real name was David Daniel Kaminski.
This story takes place between season 1 episodes "That 70s Episode" and "When Bad Warlocks Go Good.")
A strange old man implores the sisters to help retrieve a family heirloom that has been stolen from him. A pocket watch.
ONE
"Good morning everyone," Phoebe said coming into the kitchen.
Prue and Piper were all ready up. Piper poured her younger sister a cup of coffee and handed it to Phoebe.
"Someone's in a good mood this morning," Piper said as Phoebe took the cup.
"Yeah," Phoebe said. "I finally got to meet mom and learn a little of what she was like. Something you guys probably take for granted."
"Not me," Prue said. "We didn't have her that long. I'm grateful for every minute we had together. I just wish you could have gotten to know her a little better."
"At least I now have some idea," Phoebe said. "And some memories of her. It's more than I had before."
"It was kind of strange seeing her again," Piper said. "And seeing grams, too. I'd kind of forgotten how much I missed grams. She was such a big part of our lives for so long I'd forgotten how much we relied on her."
"I know what you mean," Prue said. "She did a lot more than I imagined."
"I just wish I hadn't been such a pain now," Phoebe said. "I wasn't exactly the model granddaughter."
"Ya' think?" Piper asked sarcastically.
"At least we were able to stop that warlock," Prue said. "I was beginning to think we'd never be able to stop him."
"Well, it's all in the past," Piper said. "I guess we need to get back to the present now."
"Speaking of which," Phoebe said, looking out the window, "did either of you hire a new gardener?"
"No," Piper said.
"Not me," Prue said. "Why?"
"Well, there's a strange little man skulking around the back yard," Phoebe said.
"Skulking?" questioned Piper. "Who uses skulking any more?"
"I don't know how else to explain it," Phoebe said. "It looks like he's trying not to be seen."
"Do you think it's a demon?" Prue asked as she and Piper moved to the window.
"Not unless it's the oldest one in the world," Phoebe said.
The three sisters looked out the kitchen window to see the man Phoebe was talking about. He appeared to be ancient. He was slowly making his way through the yard apparently oblivious to the fact that he was being watched. But his movements weren't smooth and fluid. Instead, he seemed to have a great deal of trouble walking. He supported himself with a cane that, even at that distance, the sisters could tell was more ornately crafted than a normal cane.
The man was dressed in a suit that appeared to be nearly as ancient as he was. Although probably black at one time, it was now more of a charcoal gray because it was so faded. His hair was stark white and he was clean-shaven. He wore a hat that he occasionally had to hold onto his head when the wind picked up.
"Can we help you?" Prue asked the man as the three girls moved out the back door.
"Oh dear," said the man, looking up and seeing them. "I wasn't quite ready yet. I was trying to decide on the best way to approach you."
He had just the slightest trace of an accent, but none of the girls could place what type it was.
"Approach us about what?" Piper asked.
"You must be Prue," said the man, looking directly at Prue. "The eldest and most protective. And this vision of loveliness," he looked at Piper, "would be Piper. A very levelheaded person, from all accounts. Which would make you Phoebe, the youngest and sometimes most impetuous of the three. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Well, you seem to know who we are," Prue said. "So, care to clue us in on just who you are? And what you're doing skulking around our back yard?"
"Skulking?" questioned the man. "Now that's not a word that most young people use any more. My name is Kaminski. David Daniel Kaminski. And as I said, I was trying to decide on the best way to approach you."
"Okay, Mr. Kaminski," began Prue.
"Please, call me Daniel," said the man. "I'm afraid that even at my age, I've never quite gotten used to being called mister."
"Okay, Daniel," Prue said. "It seems that approaching us is no longer a problem. What do you want?"
"Direct," said Daniel. "It seems the information I have on you is correct. You prefer to meet things head on."
"Which still doesn't answer the question," Phoebe said.
"Of course," said Daniel. "Actually, what I want is the three of you. Or, rather, you help. I have a slight predicament that I'm hoping you can help me with."
"Us?" questioned Piper. "Why do you think we can help?"
"If you would invite me inside," Daniel said, "we could sit and I could explain everything. I'm afraid these old bones aren't what they once were."
"Yeah, right," Prue said. "Now, why would we want to invite a total stranger into our house?"
"Oh, I'm no threat to you, I assure you," Daniel said. "If I were, would I want to go inside? It would not be very wise of me to challenge the Charmed Ones in their own home. Where you are at your strongest."
None of the sisters said a word. They just stood staring at this old man who seemed to know their deepest secret.
"A Stitch In Time"
by J. B. Tilton
email: aramathisot.com
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
(Authors note: This story is written in memory of Danny Kaye, an outstanding actor and comedian who passed away in 1987. Mr. Kaye once appeared in a Twilight Zone episode based on the same premise as this story, from where I got the idea. Danny Kaye's real name was David Daniel Kaminski.
This story takes place between season 1 episodes "That 70s Episode" and "When Bad Warlocks Go Good.")
A strange old man implores the sisters to help retrieve a family heirloom that has been stolen from him. A pocket watch.
ONE
"Good morning everyone," Phoebe said coming into the kitchen.
Prue and Piper were all ready up. Piper poured her younger sister a cup of coffee and handed it to Phoebe.
"Someone's in a good mood this morning," Piper said as Phoebe took the cup.
"Yeah," Phoebe said. "I finally got to meet mom and learn a little of what she was like. Something you guys probably take for granted."
"Not me," Prue said. "We didn't have her that long. I'm grateful for every minute we had together. I just wish you could have gotten to know her a little better."
"At least I now have some idea," Phoebe said. "And some memories of her. It's more than I had before."
"It was kind of strange seeing her again," Piper said. "And seeing grams, too. I'd kind of forgotten how much I missed grams. She was such a big part of our lives for so long I'd forgotten how much we relied on her."
"I know what you mean," Prue said. "She did a lot more than I imagined."
"I just wish I hadn't been such a pain now," Phoebe said. "I wasn't exactly the model granddaughter."
"Ya' think?" Piper asked sarcastically.
"At least we were able to stop that warlock," Prue said. "I was beginning to think we'd never be able to stop him."
"Well, it's all in the past," Piper said. "I guess we need to get back to the present now."
"Speaking of which," Phoebe said, looking out the window, "did either of you hire a new gardener?"
"No," Piper said.
"Not me," Prue said. "Why?"
"Well, there's a strange little man skulking around the back yard," Phoebe said.
"Skulking?" questioned Piper. "Who uses skulking any more?"
"I don't know how else to explain it," Phoebe said. "It looks like he's trying not to be seen."
"Do you think it's a demon?" Prue asked as she and Piper moved to the window.
"Not unless it's the oldest one in the world," Phoebe said.
The three sisters looked out the kitchen window to see the man Phoebe was talking about. He appeared to be ancient. He was slowly making his way through the yard apparently oblivious to the fact that he was being watched. But his movements weren't smooth and fluid. Instead, he seemed to have a great deal of trouble walking. He supported himself with a cane that, even at that distance, the sisters could tell was more ornately crafted than a normal cane.
The man was dressed in a suit that appeared to be nearly as ancient as he was. Although probably black at one time, it was now more of a charcoal gray because it was so faded. His hair was stark white and he was clean-shaven. He wore a hat that he occasionally had to hold onto his head when the wind picked up.
"Can we help you?" Prue asked the man as the three girls moved out the back door.
"Oh dear," said the man, looking up and seeing them. "I wasn't quite ready yet. I was trying to decide on the best way to approach you."
He had just the slightest trace of an accent, but none of the girls could place what type it was.
"Approach us about what?" Piper asked.
"You must be Prue," said the man, looking directly at Prue. "The eldest and most protective. And this vision of loveliness," he looked at Piper, "would be Piper. A very levelheaded person, from all accounts. Which would make you Phoebe, the youngest and sometimes most impetuous of the three. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Well, you seem to know who we are," Prue said. "So, care to clue us in on just who you are? And what you're doing skulking around our back yard?"
"Skulking?" questioned the man. "Now that's not a word that most young people use any more. My name is Kaminski. David Daniel Kaminski. And as I said, I was trying to decide on the best way to approach you."
"Okay, Mr. Kaminski," began Prue.
"Please, call me Daniel," said the man. "I'm afraid that even at my age, I've never quite gotten used to being called mister."
"Okay, Daniel," Prue said. "It seems that approaching us is no longer a problem. What do you want?"
"Direct," said Daniel. "It seems the information I have on you is correct. You prefer to meet things head on."
"Which still doesn't answer the question," Phoebe said.
"Of course," said Daniel. "Actually, what I want is the three of you. Or, rather, you help. I have a slight predicament that I'm hoping you can help me with."
"Us?" questioned Piper. "Why do you think we can help?"
"If you would invite me inside," Daniel said, "we could sit and I could explain everything. I'm afraid these old bones aren't what they once were."
"Yeah, right," Prue said. "Now, why would we want to invite a total stranger into our house?"
"Oh, I'm no threat to you, I assure you," Daniel said. "If I were, would I want to go inside? It would not be very wise of me to challenge the Charmed Ones in their own home. Where you are at your strongest."
None of the sisters said a word. They just stood staring at this old man who seemed to know their deepest secret.