"I-I don't remember this ring. I'm sorry, is it yours? Here, why don't you take it and I'll go-"
The man held tighter when I tried to pull away and I could feel tears pricking my eyes.
"All of the dolls in my shop are girls" he said, stepping back and slowly releasing me. "But I am thinking to myself, I would rather like a change"
I straightened up, looking round the shop. There was indeed a shelf filled with wonderfully made dolls.
"Did you make then, Sir?" I asked.
He didn't answer, but went back to sit down. I followed, looking at him for permission before taking the seat opposite him. The shop felt somewhat unreal, and this man intrigued me.
"You are indeed a beautiful specimen" he said.
"Oh! Well, I, thank you sir" I said, not sure how to react to being called a specimen, but accepting the compliment regardless.
I turned my head away, distracting myself by looking over the shop. My eyes set on a decorative brass candle stick holder. Eric liked them so we had quite a few at home, but not one quite as fancy. Oh dear, Eric's date! I couldn't believe I had become side tracked. He would be starting to worry.
"I'm sorry sir, there's somewhere I need to be"
He grabbed my hand when I stood up, forcing me back into the chair. I started to tremble and struggle but I couldn't escape. He was stood directly in front of me; his wooden movements making me shudder and near deny his humanity.
"Your eyes are of such a wonderful colour, like sand on an evening beach" he said, his odd hand cupping my face, forcing me to look at him. "The dolls may be beautiful, but those girls that I used are far too similar to one another. And I am thinking to myself; I would like something different, young man"
"You used girls? Do you mean to say the dolls are based on real people?"
"You are so very different, young man"