THREE
Phoebe looked at the sign hanging over the front entrance to the small shop. Odds And Ends. There was a sign hanging on the front door that read "Closed". Tentatively she tried the handle. The door wasn't locked. It was just after six. The card said the store was open until six. She cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.
A small bell on the top of the door jingled as she opened the door. She looked around the shop. Shelves filled the room with a variety of items on them. The light scent of incense hung in the air. Immediately to her left was a small counter with a cash register on it.
"I'm sorry, we're closed," said Marie, coming out from behind one of the shelves. Then she saw Phoebe standing inside the front door. "Well, Phoebe. I didn't expect to see you so soon."
"I'm sorry," said Phoebe, "you're closed. I can come back another time."
"Nonsense," said Marie. "You came all this way. Besides, I usually hang around for a while after closing, anyway. To get ready for the next day. Come in, come in. I'm sure we can find something for your sister."
Phoebe closed the door behind her. The shop wasn't what she expected. Then she realized she wasn't sure what she had expected.
"The incense smells good," said Phoebe.
"It has a relaxing affect on people," said Marie. "I read somewhere it makes them feel more comfortable and, hopefully, they'll buy more. Besides, I like it."
"I can see why," said Phoebe. "It's not real heavy. I once went to a Catholic funeral. That incense could choke a horse."
"No doubt," said Marie. "Now, you need a gift for your sister. Tell me. What kinds of things does she like? What does she like to do?"
"That's the difficult part," said Phoebe. "Actually, she's my half sister. And we didn't know about her until a couple of years ago. I'm still getting to know her."
""How wonderful for you," said Marie. "Still, I'm sure we can find something. As the name of the shop implies, I carry an assortment of things. I'm sure there's something here she'll enjoy."
Phoebe looked around the shop. It was a very eclectic assortment of items. Suddenly something caught her eye. Sitting on a shelf to her right was a crystal ball. Phoebe walked over and looked at the price tag.
"Twelve hundred dollars?" questioned Phoebe.
"Oh, quite reasonable, I assure you," said Marie. "Most so-called 'crystal' balls are actually made from glass. Genuine crystal is actually somewhat rare. This one is made of genuine crystal."
"A little out of my price range, I'm afraid," said Phoebe.
"So, does your sister have an interest in the occult?" asked Marie.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that," said Phoebe.
"I might have just the thing," said Marie. "It's in the back. I just got it in a few days ago. And I'll give you a very good price on it. Come on. Let me show you what it is."
Phoebe followed Marie into the back room. The room was cluttered with half opened crates. A table sat in the middle of the room filled with objects. Marie reached down and picked up an ornately carved dagger.
"This," she said, "is called an athame. It's a ceremonial dagger used in various rituals. This one is quite old."
"Yeah, I know what an athame is," said Phoebe.
"Of course you do, dear," said Marie. "After all, you've used one often enough."
"What?" questioned Phoebe.
Suddenly Phoebe didn't feel so well. Her head was starting to swim and her vision began to blur.
"The affects of the incense, I'm afraid," said Marie. "Don't worry. It's only temporary. And it's not dangerous. It will just make you sleep for a while."
Phoebe didn't answer. She was having trouble focusing. She tried to turn and leave the shop. But she had taken only a couple of steps when she suddenly lost consciousness.
Phoebe looked at the sign hanging over the front entrance to the small shop. Odds And Ends. There was a sign hanging on the front door that read "Closed". Tentatively she tried the handle. The door wasn't locked. It was just after six. The card said the store was open until six. She cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.
A small bell on the top of the door jingled as she opened the door. She looked around the shop. Shelves filled the room with a variety of items on them. The light scent of incense hung in the air. Immediately to her left was a small counter with a cash register on it.
"I'm sorry, we're closed," said Marie, coming out from behind one of the shelves. Then she saw Phoebe standing inside the front door. "Well, Phoebe. I didn't expect to see you so soon."
"I'm sorry," said Phoebe, "you're closed. I can come back another time."
"Nonsense," said Marie. "You came all this way. Besides, I usually hang around for a while after closing, anyway. To get ready for the next day. Come in, come in. I'm sure we can find something for your sister."
Phoebe closed the door behind her. The shop wasn't what she expected. Then she realized she wasn't sure what she had expected.
"The incense smells good," said Phoebe.
"It has a relaxing affect on people," said Marie. "I read somewhere it makes them feel more comfortable and, hopefully, they'll buy more. Besides, I like it."
"I can see why," said Phoebe. "It's not real heavy. I once went to a Catholic funeral. That incense could choke a horse."
"No doubt," said Marie. "Now, you need a gift for your sister. Tell me. What kinds of things does she like? What does she like to do?"
"That's the difficult part," said Phoebe. "Actually, she's my half sister. And we didn't know about her until a couple of years ago. I'm still getting to know her."
""How wonderful for you," said Marie. "Still, I'm sure we can find something. As the name of the shop implies, I carry an assortment of things. I'm sure there's something here she'll enjoy."
Phoebe looked around the shop. It was a very eclectic assortment of items. Suddenly something caught her eye. Sitting on a shelf to her right was a crystal ball. Phoebe walked over and looked at the price tag.
"Twelve hundred dollars?" questioned Phoebe.
"Oh, quite reasonable, I assure you," said Marie. "Most so-called 'crystal' balls are actually made from glass. Genuine crystal is actually somewhat rare. This one is made of genuine crystal."
"A little out of my price range, I'm afraid," said Phoebe.
"So, does your sister have an interest in the occult?" asked Marie.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that," said Phoebe.
"I might have just the thing," said Marie. "It's in the back. I just got it in a few days ago. And I'll give you a very good price on it. Come on. Let me show you what it is."
Phoebe followed Marie into the back room. The room was cluttered with half opened crates. A table sat in the middle of the room filled with objects. Marie reached down and picked up an ornately carved dagger.
"This," she said, "is called an athame. It's a ceremonial dagger used in various rituals. This one is quite old."
"Yeah, I know what an athame is," said Phoebe.
"Of course you do, dear," said Marie. "After all, you've used one often enough."
"What?" questioned Phoebe.
Suddenly Phoebe didn't feel so well. Her head was starting to swim and her vision began to blur.
"The affects of the incense, I'm afraid," said Marie. "Don't worry. It's only temporary. And it's not dangerous. It will just make you sleep for a while."
Phoebe didn't answer. She was having trouble focusing. She tried to turn and leave the shop. But she had taken only a couple of steps when she suddenly lost consciousness.