"Its just a couple blocks away from the Caffeinated Moose. I remember Mom telling me about the vinyl records and vintage gaming systems in the different booths at the Flea Market" Jenn told her boyfriend, Josh, as they were looking for something to do on the mild Spring day. The snow had started to melt causing the roads to be constantly wet and everything was starting to wake from their long winter slumber. Guiding him to where she remembered her Mom telling her it was, Jenn started to point at various streets and Josh dutifully followed her directions. "I think it was in the same shopping plaza as the old K-Mart and it was called Quinton's Curiosities and Collectibles."
Thinking about it for a moment, Josh gestured over towards the left side of the car. "If you said it was near the old K-Mart, then we need to head over to JFK blvd." Josh pointed out as he started to map everything in his head. With the introduction of online shopping, many brick and mortar stores who had refused to adapt found themselves losing their customer base to tech giants. However with many of these stores closing down, smaller local stores took up the mantle and sprung up int there place. Hobby and game stores were popular in the college towns and both, Josh and Jenn, had been wanting to try out some of the old board games that some of the other students were into. However between family time, school, and Jenn's rigorous study sessions, they never seem to be available when a game was going on.
Nodding her head, Jenn agreed. "Yeah, that sounds about right." She replied sitting back in her seat. They made their way through the traffic until they came across the shopping center that Josh had mentioned earlier. As they pulled in, Josh glanced around at the nearly empty parking lot and the store fronts that lined it. "Do you see it?" Jenn asked following her boyfriend's example and started looking around.
Unable to find the shop that she was describing, Josh shook his head. "I don't see anything like that." He told her with a sigh. "How about we park the car and walk around. Maybe we'll be able to find it and we can avoid getting in an accident too." She nodded her head in agreement and they parked the car in the near empty lot. "At least we don't have to worry about somebody hitting the car." Josh chuckled as Jenn grabbed his arm and they made their way towards the store fonts.
As they walked the store fronts, Jenn looked around hoping to find the shop that her Mom told her about. As they neared the end of the walkway, Jenn felt her smile fall. "It's not here." She replied with a tone that made Josh feel bad for her. Letting go of her boyfriend's arm, she jogged ahead to where a small parking lot was formed from the outdoor area of the K-Mart. That's when she saw it. A small shop with various knick knacks and paddy wacks sitting in the window for purchase. With her heart beating quicker, she quickly turned back towards Josh. "There it is." She announced with a small giggle as she turned the corner towards the shop. Making her way over to the door, she marveled a how they got reclaimed wood to frame the outside and how clean the windows looked compared to others in the shopping center. 'It almost looks like there's not any glass.' She thought to herself as she felt her boyfriend's presence near her. Turning towards him, she felt her smile grow wider as she brought her hands up to display the store behind her. "Here we go, I thought it was over here."
Rolling his eyes, Josh corrected her. "Actually, you thought it was on the other side of town." He couldn't help but chuckle as Jenn gave him a playful scowl. Seeing her do this caused Josh's heart to skip a beat. 'I'm glad I asked her to Senior Prom. If I didn't, I doubt we would be together today.' He thought to himself as he gave her a loving kiss on her forehead.
After their quick kiss, Jenn turned and opened the door causing a small bell to chime. As they entered inside, the atmosphere changed quickly. Outside was a chilly spring day, but inside the shop had a warm, almost oppressive feel to it. Looking around, Josh could see the lack of lights, but had lanterns swinging from the rafters and the flames were lighting the room. Looking back at where they came through the door, he noticed that the windows were gone and in their place was an earthy looking wall that looked more at home in one of the medieval fantasy movie than in Pennsylvania. Next to the wall was a counter that looked to be made of a portion of a tree, long and intact. On the counter lay a black cat that appeared to have the night sky bred into him, sleeping and indifferent to the world around him. "This doesn't feel right." Jenn whispered as she grabbed a hold of her boyfriend's arm. "We need to go." She declared as she turned to leave, but found an old woman, hobbled over her gnarled cane standing in her way. Letting out a surprised scream, Jenn quickly hopped back and hid behind Josh.
"Hehe hehe." The old lady cackled, bringing up her hand, which looked to be as gnarled as the cane she was using, to cover her mouth. "I certainly didn't mean to scare you little one. So tell me, what brings you into my little shop, hmm?" She asked, but clearly not waiting for an answer as she pulled a monocle from her sleeve and put it up to her eye. "Not to worry, I will find out myself." Instead of looking at Josh and Jenn, as they expected, she let her cane fall to the ground and grabbed Jenn's arm. Looking around the crowded shelves, Josh and Jenn followed her head until it stopped on a shelf near the front of the store. "Ah, so you seemed to be looking for something for game night. Am I correct in assuming this?" She asked as she put the monocle back into her sleeve pocket.
"How did you know..." Jenn asked but was interrupted as she looked over at the old woman, who seemed to brush it off as nothing.
Letting out another cackle, the old lady held out her hand and the cane that she dropped earlier, went back into her hand. "The monocle of Hippalus always knows what you're searching for." She answered as she made her way over to the shelf where the monocle showed her what they were searching for. "I've been wondering when somebody would be coming to retrieve this box." She announced as she hoisted the box onto her hip and brought it over to the counter, where the cat looked up and laid his head back down, not caring about the world around him. "Now, this box will come to..." She stopped as she looked at Jenn and Josh with a stare that would make the most dedicated salesman turn away. "Let's just say its worth $14.76." She declared as she put her hand on top of the box with her palm facing upward.
Jenn looked over at Josh, who was still trying to piece everything together. Bringing up her bag, she looked inside and found her wallet. "Do you accept debit?" She asked, pulling out her bank card.
The old lady shook her head. "Sorry sweetie, but cash only." She gestured to the lack of computers and general electronics in the shop. "We're not up to date with the world in here, as you can see."
"Clearly." Jenn replied as she dug deeper into her wallet. Pulling out the dollar bills, she was amazed to see that she had exactly $14.76 in her wallet. Placing the correct amount into her outstretched hand, Jenn quickly pulled her hand away as the old lady grabbed it and tossed the money into a hidden drawer behind the counter.
As Jenn started to grab the box, the old lady stopped her. "Don't you want to know what you're getting?" She asked, riding a fine line of asking a question and telling her off. Pulling her hand back, Jenn nodded her head. "Inside this box is a game that has been lost to time. When you open the game, it will let you know the rules. So don't be afraid."
Narrowing his eyes in confusion, Josh spoke up for the first time since stepping foot into the shop. "You mean that there will be rules written inside the box, right?"
"Sure, lets go with that." The old lady agreed as she started to nudge the box towards Jenn. "It's been great doing business with you, but you need to leave. I've got another potential client in 1492 and I've got to be there before he rounds the corner." She announced as she walked out from the counter and started to push them out the door. What amazed both, Jenn and Josh, the most was that she didn't seem to need the cane to rush them out of the store.
Crossing over the threshold of the door, the light coming from the sun seemed to blind them causing the both of them to bring their hands up to protect their eyes. Taking a minute to acclimate her vision, Jenn hefted the box onto her hip to get a better look at the shop. When she turned around to get a better look at the shop, she found that there wasn't anything there, just an empty covered area, where excess lawn furniture would be stores waiting to be sold. "Whats in the box?" Josh asked, clearly not phased with the missing store behind them.
"I uh..." Jenn stammered giving the box to Josh. "Where is the shop?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Josh grabbed the box and opened the flaps to reveal what looks like a board game from...
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