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 Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:35 pm
Fritz Meier was a collector of sorts.
Exploring the realm of antiques was his passion, even at a younger age. The man was getting on in his years, though - he was at the respectable age of seventy now. What was once rich brown hair was now whitened with age. His face showed his age as well, wrinkled instead of smooth. That didn't seem to bother him, though, as he still went about his business with a smile. Hunting through antiques never got old to him, and that was why he was there.
A small antique shop in the business district had caught his eye, seemingly hidden away from everything else.
Fritz would have almost missed it completely, in fact, if it weren't for the cold gust of air and the need for him to tie his shoe. The laces had come undone while he was walking, and the last thing he wanted was to pause and tie it in frigid weather like this. So, to solve this problem, he stepped inside. One his shoe was tied, the elderly man was faced with a dilemma: go back out and brave the weather, or stay and examine the shop some more? Well, it was an antique shop, after all. How could he not stay?
The store had a lot of interesting things. Old mirrors, furniture that looked like it had come from a by-gone age (and probably had), photographs and paintings that no one particularly wanted. All of this stuff, Fritz found fascinating. How no one could want any of it was simply beyond him. Yet, despite of all of the items the shop had to offer, only one thing caught the man's eye:
A doll. A naked, ball-jointed doll.
"Hmm..." the elderly man murmured as he gingerly scooped up the antique, "what do we have here? Interesting.."
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:21 pm
The peaceful and quite place was disturbed by the sound of discussion. Not that kind of discussion where people scream and through things at each other but the kind of discussion where people are very polite when deep inside at the heart they would really love to make a mess.
A young red-haired lady with Freckles all over her face, her eyes was a light blue she called a lot of attention because her clothes were really colorful for a such a decaying place like that store. The other person, the one she was discussion with, were a tall gentleman with long and straight brown hair. He seemed almost un-reachable by the lady’s argument, which was making her even angriest.
” Your itens always bring trouble to my costumers, I cannot accept any more of them.” The woman said. ”The last thing you sold me came to life and just broke the front glass of my shop! “
” It did? “ The man laughted silently to himself, it seemed to be very funny and not surprising to him. He was very calm.
” Just don’t laught like it’s nothing—oh! “ she exclaimed when she noticed the old man. “ I’m sorry you had to heard it all, my good sir. Shall I help you with anything? “ The woman smiled a little ashamed.
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:27 pm
Fritz blinked at the arguing couple, but said nothing on the subject. The squabbles of young love weren't really his thing, nor was it his place to intervene between the two of them. He just stood there silently, waiting until the two people finally noticed him. When they did, he raised the doll up carefully with a hand.
"Yes, actually," he told them both with a smile, "I'd like to purchase this doll."
His thoughts then drifted back to the argument the two were having. What was this about something from the shop coming to life after the woman bought it? Things couldn't just come to life - that was impossible. Oh, well. No matter. Fritz put it out of his mind as he waited to see what sort of reaction he would get.
The old man had lived in the town of Wünschenhimmel for quite some time now, and never before had he seen this shop. Regardless of that, though, it was most certainly interesting, and he simply couldn't leave now. Not without the doll in his hand. Whenever he went into an antique store such as this, Fritz always came back with something. And the doll would be that something today.
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:53 pm
The tall man opened a soft smile. ” Heard that, Marie? This man has fine tastes, he’s not interested in any of the junks you sell in here but my doll.” And there he stayed, grinning to himself. That was enough to drive the woman Named Marie angry.
” Ahem.” she looked rather uncomfortable to the man. ” Could you please let me do my job? “
” As you pleased. “ The gentleman was still grinning to himself.
For a moment the lady thought about telling about the strange things that were happening in that store, especially by the goodies brought by that very man. She opened her mouth but after remembering her dad that was really needing money for his medical treatment she decided to go with the lie.
” What a great choice, my good man. “ She smiled. ” May I pack it for you?“
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:11 pm
"Please do," Fritz said as he gingerly handed over the doll to the woman named Marie.
As he gave it to her, he glanced over at the man who grinned over the fact that the doll was being bought. So this was his doll? It was curious how he didn't mind parting with the thing. Maybe he had more than enough dolls already? Fritz certainly could understand that - he had a collection of various types of dolls from around the world, himself. He was a collector, after all. Thinking about all this, he then smiled, too, while a hand ran through his snow white hair.
"If you don't mind parting with it, good sir. I'd love to give this doll a home. I'm a collector of sorts, you see."
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:15 pm
Marie gently took the doll and went to the balcony to proper pack it. She was complaining to herself while cutting the yellow paper of the packages.
” I’m sure that it will be a totally great new item for you… but a home?! Why would you give it a home when you could give it a life!” The gentleman said with a dreaming full yet very beliable eyes.
” Don’t listen to this freak.” The red-haired Marie said while handling the package to Fritz. ” it was a great pleasure to make business with you, - she said forcing a smile- please come visit us anytime you want- Oh please! Haven’t you bothered me enough? “ Marie said to the brown-haired gentleman that was grinning to himself again.
” My good gentleman if you would like to expand the horizons of this doll and give a whole new meaning to life- “
Marie just opened the door and was pushing him outside.
” You can find me in the main park of the town-“
Marie closed the door.
” I’m sorry sir, he’s really insane!”
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:21 pm
The elderly man took hold of the now-wrapped doll carefully. What was this the two of them were going on about now? Honestly, the way kids argued these days. He didn't understand how people could keep up with one another. Then again, in his youth, he was probably the same way. Luckily, back when he was younger, he and his late wife never had anything to argue about. Luckily. He just simply nodded when Marie told him to come back to the antique shop. He would be sure to stop by again - the chance to pass up so many wonderful antiques was too much.
The main park of the town? Give a whole new meaning of life? The strange man had caught his interest now.
"Wait --.." Fritz called out, ignoring Marie and hurrying after the long-haired fellow after he was shooed out the door. Still clutching his package, he found himself glancing at it, to the man, and then back at the box with the doll once more. If he went with him, he could provide something with a new life? How could anyone who was intrigued by these words say no to that?
"The park," he said with a confident gaze and a nod of his head, "I'll be there."
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:44 am
Marie shacked her head and watched the old man go outside her store, she was intrigued by the fact that someone would really like to buy that weird doll and pay attention to that insane gentleman in green but on the other hand she was happy that sold one of the troublesome goodies. She would stay there, in the door, if it weren’t for the cold, so Marie just went inside and forgot about everything.
The gentleman in green waved to Fritz when he mentioned about going to the park. He waved once more and crossed the street, a bus passed between them but when it went away there’s no sign of him.
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 3:16 pm
As quick as the man had gotten over near the park, he was gone.
Gone! Just like that. In the blink of an eye!
Confused, the elderly man found himself rushing across the street after the bus came by. He had to wait for a minute or so in order to cross the street, unfortunately. Stupid crosswalks! The light wouldn't change. When it did, though, Fritz dashed over to where the man had been standing a moment earlier. How could he...-- You just couldn't...He had been there just a second before!
With a brow furrowed in confusion, Fritz tried to look in the park in attempt to see if there was any sign of the strange man.
There was nothing.
"Huh..." he muttered, scratching is head, "...where did he go?"
A frown spread across the man's face. How was he supposed to bring new life into the world now if the man had gone?
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:34 pm
He waved his head from side to side, up and down trying to target what the old man was searching for.
” Did you lost anything?” The gentleman in green asked smiling; he was there, near a light pole looking to Fritz. He was there all the time… wasn’t he? “ My good sir, I think that what you may be looking for is over there. “ He said and pointed to a yellow bus wich an adverstiment about a new cosmetic that would make all wrinkles go away.
” I mean what’s behind it. “
The traffic light turned green and the bus went away, now he could clearly see that the gentleman in green was pointing to the little stands at the park.
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:43 pm
"The stands? That's what I'm looking for? Alright..."
A sigh escaped Fritz then, but he didn't argue. In the back of his mind, though, he couldn't help but question this strange young man. He better not have been leading him on some sort of wild goose chase. Fritz didn't have the time, nor the patience for something like that. As he was getting on in years, all he wanted to do was just live the rest of his life in peace. Oh, well. It didn't hurt to check it out, now, did it?
The man made his way over to the stands, curious as to what he was looking for, exactly, but gave the man from the antique shop one final look before turning his attention to what had been pointed out to him.
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:54 pm
The stands were like any ordinary stands. They were selling a bunch of artisan goodies, some were great, other were pretty boring. Like any good shopping place there were more people looking them buying, which usually wakes up a vending-instinct in the salesman that were cry out loud they super awesome sales…at least they thought it was awesome.
But particularly there was a single stand that didn’t seemed to be in a vending-rush at all. The man behind it was black skinned and wore an eye patch, his hair were dark red and he looked pretty much like a gyps. Whether he was up for mess or not was another question.
The red-haired man seemed to notice Fritz and smiled.
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:59 pm
Fritz gazed at the mysterious vendor with an eye of scrutiny. He stared at him, eyes examining the man up and down before he finally ended up approaching the stand. This? This was what the man from the antique store wanted him to see? Eyebrows raised and fully unconvinced, Fritz had about half a mind to just turn back around right there. He didn't, however, and instead shifted the box containing the doll to his other arm.
"So, my boy..." he began, unable to keep from looking back to the antique shop, "the man from the antique shop told me I should come here. I bought one of his dolls, you see, and he said this was the place I needed to go to. Something about bringing about a new life or something. I dunno. I'm gettin' old. My hearin' could be goin', for all I know."
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:16 pm
“ Good day, mister, how can I help you today? “ Asked the dark-skinned man, he was smiling gently and his hand were on his stand, visibly so he probably weren’t trying to pick-pocket or something alike. After hearing fritz’s story he stated:
“ My master doesn’t work in the antique-shop.” He politely pointed. “ But indeed, he did tell me that you would come, I were waiting for you” He said smiling. “ I have exactly what you need, but hum. “ He seemed insecure for a second. “ Excuse me, please?”
The red-haired man went under his stand and started searching for something and The sound of various objects being moved inside of what seemed to be a great bag began. After a little time, he came from behind the stand holding a beautiful heart-shaped box.
” This is exactly what you need. “ He smiled handing the box to the old man.
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:20 pm
...
A box?
He needed a box? What on earth would he need that for?
Suspiciously, the old man stared at the box. He then glanced down at where his doll was again, to the box, and then back again. Did the doll have something to do with it? It couldn't - could it? No...that wouldn't make any sense. None at all. Yet, still, Fritz reached out and took the heart-shaped box without hesitation or even a second thought.
"This..? This will help me? Well...if you say so. How could I say no to that?"
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