The Gift
Scratching his head, old uncle Will wondered.......
Relaxing in his big old wingback chair, fire glowing cosily, in
the Study of his big old house on Cedar Hill. All within the town of
Benedict, on the North, Eastern coast of America.
..........Wondered......what he would get his nephews this year for Christmas.
He didn't see them much these days........., in fact,........ hardly at all.
They weren't young kids now, Dwight, the older, was around 12 and young
Drew was around 9.
"Still young boys really but old enough to work in old money,"
Will thought.
In his day maybe.....
Will lived alone.......well, except for old Pepe, his beloved Poodle, who was
around 14 years old now.
After a small breakfast of pancakes, he left Cedar Hill to wander
into town to seek out a gift, with old Pepe in tow. The pace would be
slow......
It was the only gift he would buy at Christmas,......., in fact,.........all
year. It was important to him as his nephews held a very special place in his
heart. They were the only children in the family and would surely inherit
all that was Wills. A lovely, big old house, riddled with character, maybe a
bit run down and.....well,.....sod all else.
"That was enough," Will always thought.
But the gift had to be special, maybe a bit unique, truly magical........
It was late morning as he plodded down Lower Cedar towards the centre of
Benedict. It was mild and sunny although fresh snow blanketed all that was
visible.
Will was a pleasant being with a heart of gold. He'd worked hard all of his
long life and was now deep into his twilight years. He was enjoying
every minute of it, at last having time for himself, maybe too much sometimes.
Just approaching early afternoon, Will arrived in town, with Pepe still
looking spritely. For an older dog, he could walk all day and often did.
Finally.....he was ready to shop. He wasn't much use at it, after all it was
woman's work really. And he seriously lacked practice but anyway......he had
to, so off he went, in and out of premises, gazing through windows, asking
shopkeeper advice, the works!! The hours went by, his feet grew sore, even Pepe
was tiring!!
He'd exhausted everything and all he'd seen were, train sets, forts, sports
games, skateboards, etc, etc, etc.
These were the gifts any kid could have and Will didn't want that.
Almost ready to throw in the towel and return to Cedar hill, he glanced across
to Watson Street.
"There, over there" he breathed......
"The Old Curiosity Shop!!!"
The last stop saloon as far as he was concerned but why hadn't he thought of it
before. It was surely the only place in town he would hope to find something
different.
As he trudged across the street, a little, just a little, more urgency in his
step. He gazed towards the window. It was filthy, with the road spray and
weather. Will eagerly peered inside, wiping with his hand as his eyes
searched............and there, propped up in a corner, was all he'd hoped
for.......
"The Gift"
------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes it would be the perfect gift for the boys.
The shop door ‘tinkled’ musically as he entered. It was a reassuring
sound after all the automatic plate glass doors with their security alarms
buzzing rudely at confused customers. The shop's dim interior had a quiet
air of antiquity; there were no spot lights or horrible flickering neon tubes
here, no chrome, no garish displays or vulgar merchandising sales.
Instead goods were crammed into every available space, in an ordered
chaos that took time to appreciate. Wooden toys of every shape and size
dominated one corner. At the back area novelty mechanical contraptions ‘lived’,
animatronic action figures of a bygone era. Everywhere he looked will saw toys
that appealed to his sense of nostalgia, old toys that summoned ghostly friends
from his own long-gone childhood. But he was not to be swayed; what he was
after was tucked in the corner. And it seemed to be calling him; whispering ‘choose me, choose me’
Pepe scampered forward, snuffling as if he had scented something of
canine interest. Will watched as Pepe’s head dropped to an object on the wooden
floor. The familiar sounds of lapping told him that Pepe had found a dog boll
filled with water. Thank goodness, they were both a bit dehydrated after trudging
from shop to shop. These days most shops
didn’t even allow dogs past their doors, and they certainly didn’t cater to
them with water. Will felt a bit thirsty
himself.
“Good boy” he murmured and smiled down at Pepe. This was his kind of
shop.
The shop seemed to be deserted; where was the shop
assistant hiding? He saw that there was a ‘bell’ by the rather ornate
cash register. This was in character
with the rest of the shop – in fact there were no jarring notes, nothing seemed
incongruous at all, anywhere, which impressed Will. He wondered about the
staff; would they be suitably attired? He looked around hopefully. But there was no one in sight. He didn't like to ring the service bell but his finger was poised, ready to strike.
‘Nothing else for it,’ he thought, ‘I’ll just have to-’. But just then:
“Thank you for being patient” the voice was behind him.
“Oh!” he turned – no one was there!
“Hello?” He said.
“Good boy! Good boy! What’s his name? I'm over here”
The voice had moved; Will saw that the speaker was kneeling down and
rubbing Pepe behind his ears. And Pepe was letting him.
“It’s Pepe” said Will – and added “you’re privileged…Pepe doesn’t usually
like strangers”
“Ah, but I’m no stranger” this sounded rather cryptic to Will.
Abruptly the sales person sprang to his feet with his hand out
stretched.
“Merry Christmas, I’m Morgan, how can I help?”
Will responded to his enthusiastic handshake, all the while appraising
the fellow’s oddly antiquated clothing. He had been right about that. Morgan’s attire
was like a costume. But in truth, it was Will who felt out of place in his
jeans and his old water proof Burberry. This fellow seemed right at home in his well-worn
brown velvet suit, complete with waistcoat and a glint of silver chain that had
to be a fob watch. But the hat! – That was going too far; it made him look like
the mad hatter from Alice in wonderland. And the expectant steady gaze added to
the impression. With an effort, Will gathered his thoughts.
“I’m interested in –“
“Ah yes, the magic set!”
“Yes, that’s right - but how did you know?”
“That’s why I’m wearing this hat. It’s the original, you know. I heard
it too, calling you…”
Will had difficulty in following this. It sounded like nonsense to him. Morgan was wearing the ridiculous hat
because he somehow knew that Will was interested in the magic set? Was that it? And that thing
about it calling to him; he had had an odd sense of something like that…
He met Morgan’s mad hatter gaze. “How?...” he began and faltered.
Morgan swept the Top hat off with a showman’s bow, presenting the hat to
Will.
“Take it, try it on. The hat goes with the magic set”
“Oh, I see” said Will as he accepted the hat. But he didn't see at all;
none of it made sense. Morgan watched his puzzled expression.
“Go on then, put it on” He coaxed.
Will did as he was told, feeling like an embarrassed schoolboy.
“Good!” said Morgan, sounding like a teacher. “It suits you, you’re a natural”
Will doubted it. He fiddled uncomfortably with the hat on his head and
then removed it.
He looked very confused.
“Don’t worry. It’s just the way it works here…The toys can be very choosy! instead of you picking the
toys, sometimes they pick you!”
Will looked more doubtful than ever. His eyes had rested on a huge poster
just behind Morgan. It was the only poster in the shop and it was in an ornate
gilt bordered frame. He could see that it was very old, possibly vintage and collectible, judging by the faded colour and the archaic style of the
lettering. But it was the name that the lettering spelled that caught his
attention: MORGAN THE MAGNIFICENT! And the depiction of the fellow in the top
hat looked very familiar…
------------------------------------------------------------
Needless to say old Will bought the magic set. He was giddy as a schoolboy as he paid for it, caring little for the cost. Morgan wrapped it lovingly in a brown paper bag, including the hat. As he wrapped the gift Morgan talked on, explaining more about the magic set and it's provenance, then it's potency, giving a long list of previous owners all of whom had been more than pleased with it.
Will walked home with the parcel firmly under his arm, Pepe seemed to have new life breathed into him, he bounded along and cavorted like a pup. Will too felt a spring in his step, feeling the joys of the season in his spirit, he stopped to listen to some Christmas Carollers sing their hearts out. He also stopped at a nearby bakery, buying a selection box of cakes, a little treat for the coming week.
It was late when Will got back home, after giving Pepe his dinner and consuming his own Will was dead beat. He flopped onto his armchair by the fire, soon falling fast asleep and snoring like a steam train.
Pepe laid his head down on the hearth rug, staring into the fire, also ready to fall asleep.
The parcel lay unwrapped on the table, ready to be delivered tomorrow or the next day. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to Morgan in the shop, this venerable magic set did not suit being neglected in this way.
Apart from the sound of snoring all was still, all was quiet. The fire was warm, old Pepe yawned contentedly, his eyelids becoming heavy, still staring deeply into the merrily dancing flames.
All of a sudden a flame shot up higher than the rest, Pepe's eyes were immediately fixed on it. The flame seemed to assume a human shape of dwarfic proportions, a playful elf complete with pointed hat and flute. Pepe watched it dance merrily, soon joined by several others. A fireplace full of dancing elf-flames. Their shadows appeared on the walls of the room, like a dancing carousel of flame. A shrill, merry form of music seemed to emanate from the fireplace.
Pepe sat bolt upright as the sound of little marching feet came from the kitchen. Soon the cakes from the box appeared, they had grown little arms and legs and were marching in step to the elven music. Pepe's eyes were fixed on this bizarre little procession as they marched round him, a chocolate fondant fancy was their leader, marching out in front swinging a toothpick as his baton. A strawberry tart turned to salute Pepe, then turning again waved to the elven flames. They danced a special flame dance in a ring, then seemed to salute the strawberry tart with their flutes in reply.
A fat little doughnut was bringing up the rear, struggling to keep up. A moment later their resident mouse appeared, it was avidly pursuing a terrified and squealing lemon meringue.
The cakes marched up onto the arm of the chair old Will was sleeping on. One by one they leapt from the arm of the chair onto Will's ample stomach, using it as a trampoline to reach the other side.
Pepe barked with delight to see the little dancing cakes bobbing through the air, but his attention was grabbed by a piece of Gouda cheese and a pickled onion who waddled past him now, between them they were carrying an open bottle of Budweiser, spilling some onto the carpet as they walked in an odd, jerky motion. They also climbed up onto the arm of the chair, then up onto Will's mountainous stomach before sticking the bottle into his mouth. Will automatically slurped down the beer although still asleep.
A group of little olives scampered past, frolicking and giggling with glee. One bounced too hard on Will's big belly and landed on the other side of the room. It soon picked itself up and caught up with the rest.
Pepe barked with enthusiasm, waking Will. He looked around rubbing his eyes, confused to see food and an empty bottle of Budweiser scattered on the floor. Will picked up the chocolate fondant fancy and took a bite out of it, causing Pepe to bark out in shocked alarm.
Will stared at his canine friend in surprise, then said 'Sorry Pepe. I forgot you liked the chocolate one. Here have a doughnut'
______________________________
It was
midnight on Christmas Eve
and although the boys were supposed to be asleep, the excitement of the next
day had kept them awake.
“Do
you think that we’ll get our bikes tomorrow?” whispered Drew.
“You
mean later on today,” laughed Dwight. “I know we will and I hope I get that
radio controlled car.”
“Ooooh!”
squealed Drew. “I am so excited!”
“What
do you think Uncle Will has got for us?” Dwight asked. “His parcel looked so
mysterious all wrapped up in brown paper. I hope it is something special.”
As the
minutes ticked by both boys’ eyes closed and all that could be heard in the
bedroom was the gentle rise and fall of their breathing.
The
December sun rose on Christmas morning and the birds sang to welcome its
arrival. The small creatures scurried to and fro and a large owl settled down
to sleep after a busy night hunting.
Morgan
woke and stretched like a cat. Today was a special day and he needed a special
breakfast to celebrate it.
“Hat!”
he shouted. “Bacon, egg and sausages with a heap of hot buttered toast!”
Morgan
waited, and waited and waited. Nothing happened! He heard nothing moving
downstairs.
He
climbed out of bed and after putting on his dressing gown and slippers went
down to the kitchen.
“Hat!”
he repeated. “Why is my breakfast not cooked waiting for me?”
The
‘Hat’ in question sat on the sideboard, unmoving and unresponsive.
“Hat…”began
Morgan. “Oh my giddy aunt…, you aren’t my hat at all are you? I’ve gone and
given away the wrong hat!”
Rushing
upstairs Morgan pulled on his clothes and then after running back down the
stairs with his shoe laces untied ran out of the front door and up the street
towards old Will’s house.
Will
had just finished getting out of the bath when he heard an angry knocking at
his front door. Pepe was barking furiously and Will struggled to the door,
wrapped in two wet towels. Throwing the door open he found Morgan on his
doorstep, looking red faced and out of breath.
“Where
is my…?” spluttered Morgan. “Where have you put my…?”
“My
good man,” said Will. “Calm down you’ll give yourself a heart attack. Where
have I put…what?”
“My
h-h-hat!” stammered Morgan. “The one I sold you yesterday!”
“Oh,
the hat with the magic box?” replied Will. “Why, I gave it to my nephews for
Christmas.”
“Their
address! Quickly man! It is a matter of life and death!” screamed Morgan.
Will
scratched his head. He knew where it was, but could not remember the address.
“Give me a minute to throw some clothes on and I will take you there.”
As
quickly as he could, Will dressed himself and upon returning to the front door
found Morgan pacing to and fro, muttering angrily to himself. “How stupid can I
be? Imagine mixing up hats!”
The
two men ran up the road towards Maple
Grove, a very salubrious area of the town. The houses
here were very large and grand and rich and important men lived there. So
imagine the surprise that both men felt when they saw the lights of one of the
larger houses, number 22, flashing off and on. Soot coming shooting out of its
chimneys and its doors and windows opening and closing. The noise coming from
this house was deafening, it sounded like a demented band was playing music out
of tune and off key. It was sheer bedlam!
“That
is my brother’s house,” said Will.
“You
don’t say,” retorted Morgan.
A
large crowd of concerned neighbours had gathered outside number 22 and were all looking very scared.
“What’s
happening?” screeched one lady. “Is it burglars?”
“I
think it must be ghosts,” suggested a man. “I think it is one of these demonic
hauntings!”
Morgan and Wills stepped up to the front door
and prepared to enter.
“Are
you ready?” asked Morgan.
“Into
the valley of Death…” quoted Will.
The
scene that presented itself to the two men was something out of a very bad
dream, a nightmare of the first category in fact.
Dwight
, Drew and their parents were huddled down in the centre of their lounge and
all hell was swirling about them.
Two
shiny bicycles raced circles round the room. A toy motor car drove all over the
carpet. The fairy from on top of the Christmas tree danced with a very spooky
looking, long nosed, toy clown. Bunches of mistletoe and holly flew around the
room. The Christmas tree and room lights flashed on and off. Books and fruit
marched to and fro and toy instruments had formed a little band in the corner
and was playing music that could only be described as sounding like several
cats being tortured.
And
sitting on the mantelpiece, like a king, was a very battered looking top hat.
“Stop
it, Hat!” shouted Morgan and suddenly a silence fell on the room. The bicycles,
toys, instruments, mistletoe and holly collapsed on the floor and lay still.
Will
helped his brother, Cyril and sister-in-law, Dorothy to their feet as the boys
collected all the toys together.
“What
happened?” asked Will, turning to his brother.
“We
all started opening our presents and admiring each others gifts, when the boys
decided to open your parcel. They took out the hat and placed it on the
mantelpiece and began to open the box when…suddenly all this began happening!”
“I am
very sorry, sir,” said Morgan hanging his head. “I am afraid you were the
unfortunate recipients of a true magical experience.”
“Rubbish!”
retorted Cyril. “Magic is just trickery. It is not real. I demand you give us a
plausible explanation for this fiasco. You’ve scared my wife and children half
to death!”
Morgan
stepped over to where the top hat lay. He pulled another similar hat out of his
pocket and exchanged it for the one on the mantelpiece. “This one is the
correct one for the magic set. I just made a little mistake.”
“I
want the police!” shouted Cyril. “This man is a very clever con artist. I want
him arrested!”
Morgan
sighed deeply and placed his top hat on his head. “I don’t think we should
involve the police, do you? It is Christmas Day and I have given you some free
entertainment. Can’t we leave it like that?”
“No, I
want an unsavoury type like you locked away,” ranted Will’s brother.
Will
placed his hand on his brother’s arm. “Cyril, it was my fault, don’t go
involving the police. It’s the time of good will to all men.”
“No!”
screamed Cyril. “He has made fools of my family and I and I will not stand for
that!”
Suddenly
there was the sound of music in the room and a whirring noise like bird’s
wings. Morgan was holding his hands above him and had his eyes closed. A
sensation like being engulfed in cotton wool filled the room.
Cyril
spun round to face Morgan. “Is this more of your nonsense?”
A
gentle wind blew through the room and everything begun to get blurred and
insubstantial. Time was resetting itself to a time before this transgression
had occurred. The massive debt that had been run up was paid back in full and
World’s clock began to tick again…
“Thank
you for being patient” the voice was behind him.
“Oh!”
he turned – no one was there!
“Hello?”
He said.
“Good
boy! Good boy! What’s his name? I'm over here”
The
voice had moved; Will saw that the speaker was kneeling down and rubbing Pepe
behind his ears. And Pepe was letting him.
“It’s
Pepe” said Will – and added “you’re privileged…Pepe doesn’t usually like
strangers”
“Ah,
but I’m no stranger” this sounded rather cryptic to Will.
Abruptly
the sales person sprang to his feet with his hand out stretched.
“Merry
Christmas, I’m Morgan, how can I help?”
Will
responded to his enthusiastic handshake, all the while appraising the fellow’s
oddly antiquated clothing. He had been right about that. Morgan’s attire was
like a costume. But in truth, it was Will who felt out of place in his jeans
and his old water proof Burberry. This fellow seemed right at home in his
well-worn brown velvet suit, complete with waistcoat and a glint of silver
chain that had to be a fob watch. But the hat! – That was going too far; it
made him look like the mad hatter from Alice
in wonderland. And the expectant steady gaze added to the impression. With an
effort, Will gathered his thoughts.
“I’m
interested in –“
“Ah
yes, the magic set!”
“Yes,
that’s right - but how did you know?”
“That’s
why I’m wearing this hat. It’s the original, you know. I heard it too, calling
you…”
Will
had difficulty in following this. It sounded like nonsense to him. Morgan was wearing the ridiculous
hat because he somehow knew that Will was interested in the magic set? Was that
it? And that thing about it calling to him; he had had an odd sense of
something like that…
He met
Morgan’s mad hatter gaze. “How?...” he began and faltered.
Morgan
swept the Top hat off with a showman’s bow, presenting the hat to Will.
“Take
it, try it on. The hat goes with the magic set”
“Oh, I see” said Will as he
accepted the hat. But he didn't see at all; none of it made sense.
Morgan watched his puzzled expression.
“Go on
then, put it on” He coaxed.
Will
did as he was told, feeling like an embarrassed schoolboy.
“Good!”
said Morgan, sounding like a teacher. “It suits you, you’re a natural”
Will
doubted it. He fiddled uncomfortably with the hat on his head and then removed
it.
He
looked very confused.
“Don’t worry. It’s just the
way it works here…The toys can be very choosy! Instead of you picking
the toys, sometimes they pick you!”
Will
looked more doubtful than ever. His eyes had rested on a huge poster just
behind Morgan. It was the only poster in the shop and it was in an ornate gilt
bordered frame. He could see that it was very old, possibly vintage
and collectible, judging by the faded colour and the archaic style of the
lettering. But it was the name that the lettering spelled that caught his
attention: MORGAN THE MAGNIFICENT! And the depiction of the fellow in the top
hat looked very familiar…
Morgan wrapped everything in brown paper and tied it up with
string. Will paid the price, which he thought was a little too much to pay for
a dusty old magic set, but it would please the boys and that was what mattered.
“Good day!” said Will as he stepped out the door of the shop and
began to make his way home.
Suddenly he heard a shout from behind him.
“Sir! Sir! Please come back!” It was Morgan the owner of the
curiosity shop.
Will stopped and the man caught up with him. Carefully Morgan
unwrapped the brown paper parcel and drew the top hat out. I am so sorry, I
gave you my hat instead of the one that goes with the magic set. Really
stupidof me…I am so sorry.
Will
started back up the road with his nephew’s present under his arm. He whistled a
little tune as he went and began to imagine the boy’s faces when they opened
his gift.
