The Shark Fin Mirror

The mornings had gotten a lot cooler marking an end to the summer and "tourist season". I quickly dressed in an old sweater and some jeans. I grabbed a brush and went to make sure I was presentable. Looking in the mirror, I saw myself. My hair was still being stubborn and did not want to lay the way I wanted it to. My dull blue eyes looked tired, though I knew no one but me would see that part. My face seemed puffy. I put a tiny bit of makeup just enough to make me feel better but not enough for anyone too really see. I felt like that was the best I could do with what I had.

I grabbed my coffee mug and headed down to open the shop. As I went to the door, it felt like something was watching me in the shop. My heart rate accelerated, until I caught a glimpse of the mirror on the far side of the shop. I unlocked the door and went back to the counter.

The mirror was an odd item one that I had seen hanging on the wall several times and had looked up the description to find its name, the Shark Fin Mirror. In looking at it from a distance, the mirror in its oval frame was odd. The mirror portion was in the shape of a shark fin, so I just figured that was all there was to it. Now I began to wonder if that was really all that, there was to it. The mirror looked like it was rising out of the bottom of the frame, like a sharks fin rising out of the ocean. The frame itself was magnificent, it was a large oval, flowers and other decorations were carved in a vine shape around the mirror. I was never sure what all the decorations were. I guess you could say I looked at without looking at it. The top portion of the mirror looked like it had been broken. Although if it was, it had to have been before it was framed. On either side of the pointed top of the mirror was a background of beautiful flowers painted to be just out of focus. All in all, the mirror was a beautiful piece and one that I had grown used to. I was surprised that it had caught my eye this morning. I never remembered the mirror being that reflective before today.

The bells on the door jingled before I could identify why it had caused me alarm. The first of my early morning shoppers, a group of four women walked in.

"Hello, welcome to the Shop of Oddities. If there is anything I can help you with please let me know."
I recognized one of the women as a local busy body, Joan. Her only interests seemed to be spreading the juiciest gossiping in the town. I hoped that my feelings for her had not been in my voice; I really didn't want to be the heart of her next conversation.

"Hazel, I wanted to show my friends this cozy little shop." Even though she smiled, it looked more like a sneer.

"Ok, Well, please let me know if you need some help" I said hoping more than anything I was keeping the doubt out of my voice.

I could hear a slight snickering in the group. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I just hid my reaction taking out my pen and paper, I decided I would distract myself writing.

Glancing up, I could see that the women were all looking at different items spread throughout the store so I went on writing. After just a moment, I heard a gasp. When I looked up Joan was standing looking in the Shark Fin Mirror. The look on her face was one of stunned disbelief. When she turned toward me, it looked like she would start crying.

"Oh my," was the only thing she said.

One of the women she came in with, a tall blonde-haired woman looked up from a set of antique dishes.
"Joan, what is it? Are you OK," she said capturing the attention from the other two.

All three women moved to where Joan was standing. I sat speechless looking at them. The three ladies were making their way over to her. The look of haggard recognition and regret on her face astonished me. I never thought I would see that look on her face.

By the time, I could finally make myself move, Joan was crying. All four were now standing peering into the mirror. The closest to Joan stood smiling at the reflection in the mirror and the other two were trying to comfort their friend, while not quite able to look away from their reflections. I tried figure out what was going on. I decided I should go see what was so interesting about their reflection.

Each of their expressions was different. One was smiling, one stood with a shocked look on her face, the third was angry, and Joan was crying.

"Ladies?" I started to say. Just as I came close enough to see what I thought as a design ringing the putter frame of the mirror was really an inscription. The inscription read. "Look into the Shark's Fin only if you wish to view yourself as others TRULY DO." I was glad that I had stopped just to the side of the mirror. I was not ready to see myself reflected that way especially not with anyone else standing anywhere close.

Joan looked up at me. "Am I such a bitter, broken looking person?"

Before I could say anything, her friends started murmuring words of comfort too her.

The woman who had the huge smile on her face, leaned down to Joan. "Jo dear, you know, maybe you can change that image if you try."

The angry one piped up, "Well! Of all the things!" Then she turned and looked at me. "How could you put such a piece in your shop? Don't you know a piece of rubbish when you see one?"

Before the scene could turn ugly, the one that had been smiling, turned around, "Oh hush. You know the only reason you’re mad is because you already knew what others thought, you just never let yourself see it so completely before. I just can't believe they see me as such a silly little child."

"Ladies, I apologize for any discomfort the mirror caused you. This has been here as long as I have had the shop. If you like, I have a little sitting room in the back where you can sit down and have some coffee: If it will help?"

"No, Hazel, I don’t think we will need any coffee," Joan said with a voice closer to her normal.

Uncomfortably, I looked around the area near the mirror. I found piece of dark Plexiglas the same shape and size as the mirror in the frame. "I think this should be put back." I said as I picked up the Plexiglas and put it back in front of the glass.

All four women were more comfortable once the Plexiglas was back in place. None of them looked quite like they had when they came in. I went back to the counter. Joan followed a couple of steps behind. The other three went back to where they had been before Joan's discovery.

I sat down on the stool behind the counter as Joan reached the other side.

"Hazel, I know what I saw in that mirror." Joan said her voice not much more that a whisper.

"You know Joan, I am not sure how that thing really works. I am sure you can change what you saw. People change every day." I said as I looked at her. I was not sure what each of them had seen since I stopped at the side not wanting to stand in front where I would cast any type of reflection.

Joan's eyes had taken on a different light and her smile seemed sincere for the first time.
"Have you ever, looked Hazel?"

"No, I never really even read the frame until just a few minutes ago. In fact, I was not aware that there was anything over the mirror. I guess it must have fallen of last night. I am sorry Joan; I hope you are, OK?"

"You should look into the mirror. You are an amazing person, exactly the type that this shop needs. Now, I know why Mammy chose you to take over the shop."

"Thank you." I said in an embarrassed, whisper.

All three ladies purchase several items, and as they left they worked hard to keep their gaze as far from the mirror as possible.

The rest of the day flew by, but as I locked the shop for the day, I decided I would look in the mirror.

I stood with my hands on the Plexiglas directly in front of the mirror. My breath caught in my throat as I lifted the Plexiglas. Was that me? The Plexiglas slipped in my fingers as I set it down on the floor.

The reflection was not something I had ever seen. Nothing like when I looked into the mirror, in the mornings. The eyes sparkled and changed from blue green to jade and settled too brilliant blue. Embarrassment made my cheeks a deep red. My wavy hair was dark brown with light blonde streaks that fell around my face accentuating the high cheekbones and large eyes against my sun-bronzed complexion, giving me the look of fragile beauty. I looked like a blonde version of the Pocahontas. I laughed at the thought. I had always thought of myself as too short and heavy. The person who stared back at me was not either one of those things. The person looking at me was a medium height with a sturdy frame that was neither too small nor too large.

As I continued looking at the reflection, it changed. First, the image looked like me wearing a nurse’s uniform, then a cook’s apron, then an old-fashioned dress then back to jeans and sweater, I was wearing. Just as I was about to reach for the Plexiglas the area just around my body became a bright white with rays of yellow. I was so stunned I turned, looking all around the shop, wondering what could have caused the color. I found nothing that could explain the burst of color and when I looked back at the image, the color was not there.

Finally, I pulled myself together and picked up the Plexiglas. When I was placing the Plexiglas in front of my image, the image winked. I quickly pulled my hands back from the Plexiglas, letting the image disappear, knowing I would not look in that mirror again.

I stepped back and walked quickly to the counter. I picked up my pen and pad, wondering how I would be able to capture what I had just experienced.