It had been a very normal day at first. I had breakfast with my father, got dressed and stood behind the counter, waiting for someone to enter the shop. Father wasn't around- he must've been out to buy groceries or meet friends. I had just decided to get a book to pass the time, when the bell tinkled from the door of the shop. I looked up. A man had entered the shop, and was smiling broadly at me.

"Good afternoon sir, may I help you?"

As I gave him the customary line, I looked at his face, noticing that he was rather handsome, though a little well-rounded.

"Why yes, I'm looking for a gift... something in earrings."

He had an American accent, and I wondered what he was doing here. We rarely had tourists or foreign visitors. I reached under the counter for our tray of earrings, and showed them to him.

"Here's some very nice ones," I said, rather awkwardly. He seemed to be staring at me rather than the jewellery.

"These diamond ones are very smart... or how about the pearl ones?"
I gestured to them as I spoke, but he still wasn't looking.

"No I don't think they'll do," he said, shortly but not unkindly.

I slowly took the tray out of his gentle grasp, somewhat distracted by his stare.

"What I'm looking for is something half moon shaped with spangles on it, golden?"

I didn't need to look around to know I'd never seen any earrings like that in the shop before.

"I'm sorry, we haven't any like that just now."
"Oh yes you have. Don't you remember? On your dressing table up in your room."
I gasped slightly.

"In my room?"

Of course, now he mentioned it, I remembered I did have a pair of earring like that- but how could he have known?
"Yes would you mind getting them for me?"

I was so thrown by his knowledge of my room that it took me a moment to think of what to say.

"But- well- they're not for sale."

He smiled at me again.

"I can't say that I blame them- they look so well on you."
So that's what his smile's all about, I thought to myself. I looked down at the earring for a moment, not wanting to meet his gaze, then I thought of what to say.

"Well perhaps my father can help you, I'll call him."

I put down the tray and made to go into the other room. I guessed he would leave me alone and I wouldn't actually have to fetch my invisible father.

"Oh no that won't be necessary," he said quickly, and I turned around. He was looking around the room, tapping his fingers on the counter.

"As long as I can't have the earrings perhaps I'll buy a cane."

He moved over to the set of walking sticks beside the counter and pulled out a cane at random. I looked at him curiously. It was rude to ask a customer a lot of questions, but I wondered about the earrings, and decided I was going to have to.

"Tell me- how did you know about the earrings in my room?"

He turned to look at me

"Oh I'm psychic. Every time I see a beautiful girl I know all about her, just like that."
He clicked his fingers. I smiled at him slightly. He seemed quite intent on charming me. I looked at the canes.

"Well what kind of cane would you like- we have daywear, evening wear?"
"Oh it doesn't matter"
"This one's very smart, solid gold top," I said brightly, pulling out the cane, turning to find his staring at me again. A slight thrill went through me.

"No I don't think that'll do."

I looked back at the canes

"How about the little dog? That would suit you."

You're not going to win me over that easy, I laughed to myself, secretly enjoying the situation. He grinned this time.

"No thanks."
He glanced down at the canes.

"There's one."
He pulled it out, turned it upside down, and mimed hitting a ball, like in golf.

"Make a good putter."
"Yes it would," I laughed. I found myself entertained by him, despite my confusion over the earrings and my slight annoyance at his constant attempts to charm me.

"That's funny- another dog"
He showed me the top of the cane, which was shaped like a wolf's head.

"No that's a wolf."

He gazed at it now, instead of me, with a strangely interested look on his face.

"A wolf. A wolf and a star. What does that mean?"

His gaze moved back to me.

"I thought you were psychic?"

"Oh I am. But this is only wood and silver, and it hasn't blue eyes."
I suddenly noticed how close he was to me. He had been standing beside me for some time, but he must have moved towards me, or I must have moved towards him. I looked down then turned and moved behind the counter.

"Well that stick is priced at three pounds," I said, consciously changing the topic.

"Three pounds?" His expression was a mix of annoyance and disbelief. "Fifteen dollars for an old stick?"

"That's a very rare piece," I explained, and he leaned onto the counter let me point to the top of the cane, "It shows the wolf and the pentagram- the sign of the werewolf."

"Werewolf? What's that?"

"That's a human who at certain times of the year turns into a wolf."

"You means runs around on all fours and bites and snaps and bays at the moon?"

"Ooh even worse than that sometimes."

I stared into his eyes for a moment, and I felt my smile widen slightly.

"What big eyes you have grandma."
I sighed and moved towards the dresser to put away a cloth.
"Little red riding hood was a werewolf story. Of course there have been many others. There's an old poem..." I frowned slightly, trying to remember. "Even a man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright."

We had walked over to the staircase now.

"Yeah, but what's this pentagram business?" he said, gesturing to the stick in his hand.

"Every werewolf is marked with that and sees it in the palm of his next victim's hand."

He looked at me rather sceptically.

"Look lady, if you're trying to scare me out of here you're not getting very far. I'll take the cane."

At least I got something other than sweet talk out of him. I laughed slightly, and stared at him curiously. I had been trying to remember if I'd ever seen him before since he told me about the earrings, but I couldn't. He reminded me slightly of John Talbot, but he had been dead for weeks now.

"Please tell me- have you seen me before?"
"Of course. How do you suppose I knew about the earrings?"

He looked away from me as he pulled some money out of his pocket, but I continued to gaze at him, trying in vain to find a memory with him in it.

"I can't remember ever-"
"Tell you what we'll do. We'll take a little walk tonight and talk it over."
I tried to give him a haughty look, but I was smiling ever so slightly.

"No."

I heard the distance rattle of carts outside. The gypsies must be in town. I moved towards the door, closely followed by my customer.
"See you at eight."
"No!"

I was firmer this time. I opened the door and looked out. Sure enough, an old woman was riding a cart and a man behind her was sitting at the front of a small gypsy wagon.

"Gypsies huh?"

"Yes, they're fortune tellers. They pass through here every year."

"You know I haven't had my fortune told in years- how about tonight?"

My look of interest faded.

"No," I said firmly, and walked back inside, closing the door behind me.

"I'll be here at eight," he said through the glass, and we looked at each other for a moment. He beamed at me, and left.

I walked back towards the counter, and leant on it, smiling.

"He was charming, I'll give him that," I muttered. There was something about him I really liked. I couldn't quite describe it, but although he was annoying and persistent, he seemed quite innocent and sweet too. I wondered if I should indeed go tonight. My eyes suddenly widened as I remembered our conversation.

"He didn't tell me his name!" I gasped. I paused for a moment, then laughed. I was considering going to a gypsy camp with a complete stranger at night. Still, I wonder how he knew about the earrings, I frowned. That was a reason to go with him tonight. But I'd better not to go alone... I would call Jenny later and ask her to come.