Merchant awoke after five hours of rest as his alarm clock went off. After the cleaning last night, he arose without a sound but evident disaffection over it. He silenced the little wooden clock as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. His frame being scrawny by most standards but in no way to look malnourished. His two-piece pajamas clung to him, almost as being another tailored suit as he walked over to his dresser.
At first look, the dresser was plain and lacking any uniqueness to it. What made it special quickly revealed itself as Merchant opened the doors and stepped inside. Everything around him changed from the simple, minimalistic room to one filled with rows upon rows of clothes racks. With a small wave of his hand, the room shifted, and racks rushed past him and stopping with rows of baskets to his sides.
Striping down and tossing his dirty clothes into the basket, it rose and shot off and out of sight. Another wave and racks of underwear rushed to his side. All simple and single-colored in design as he thought over on which to get. A few more waves and he had selected some matching pants and shirt. With a stretch and a final wave, the doors to the dresser rushed over and in front of him.
The doll girl sat at the edge of his bed as he entered his room from his dresser. A little cloth doll, looking old and worn, held tight to her chest by both hands as she stared at Merchant. "Now, you are supposed to be in your room." He spoke to her as he went over to his bed and slipped on some shoes. "Come, let us take you to gran. I must make some quick purchases before opening the store."
Without a sound, she grasped onto his pant legs as she followed him out. It took but a minute before Merchant stopped at another door. Morning light escaped the room as he opened the door. An old lady sat on a rocking chair in front of the single window. The strangeness was apparent as she sat sideways to the window in an empty room.
"Hello, gran. I will be leaving her here for a while. Please look after her." Merchant patted the doll girl on the back as she walked forward. Gran finally bringing her attention to the two as she turned to face them. A warm smile spread on her face as she looked at the girl. Tray of cookies appeared on her lap as the room around her changed to a cozy home as Merchant closed the door.
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It was only a few moments later; Merchant was walking down the dirt road. Old and worn homes on either side of him with equal people around. Making Merchant a king by comparison with clothes alone. A couple of people stared on as he made his way through. Bakers shop being the first stop for the morning.
"Ms. Agnes, how are you this morning?" Came the greeting from the Merchant as he entered the store, picture of bread on the wooden block nailed to the top of the outer door frame.
"Old and worn Merchant. Just like every other day. So will you be having the same tonight?" A woman replied. A short woman with black hair and in her forties began collecting varied types of bread.
"Yes. Some of my own for you." Merchant took out a few coins and a loaf of bread. Placed both on the desk as Agnes stared at the more rounder and puffy loaf. Her own looking more like mud pie than anything.
"Ready to tell me how you get them like that?"
"We all have our ways. Can't share every secret away."
"Don't know why you come then. With your secret, you can open a better shop of your own. Let alone coming to me for mine."
"Cooking is not my interest. But everything is for sale, Ms. Agnes. Even my secrets. Come on by if you have anything you wish to buy. Till next time, however." Merchant stored away his bread and walked out the door of the shop. "Goodbye, and have a nice day Ms. Agness."
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The last stop for the morning is the butcher. Much like the bakery, this one had pictures of various meats drawn on a block of wood over its door. Before a greeting could be spoken, the butcher spoke. "Merchant. Got deer in this morning and not much else. I have yet to get anything in."
"Morning to you too, James. About two pounds would be fine. Not picky about what it is." With a nod, James quickly picked out some already cut pieces of the deer and tied it with twine. He was handing it over as he took the coin in return. "My thanks. Have a great day, James and goodbye."
With another nod in return, he exited the butcher shop and began his walk back home. Way again being as uneventful as the first time. Much of the same stares on the way back. Few people even avoiding him, some before he came near. No hate was shown on the faces of the ones around, more of distrust and worry. Merchant did not care either way as he happily hummed his way back.
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Merchant walked back inside his shop, now spotless and in proper order. Leaving the front unlocked, he went and stored away his day's food. The shop was not as busy as most days tend to be. Few shoppers were stopping to make a few purchases. Some were walking out with a new pair of work clothes while others walked away with food.
The single event that piqued Merchant's attention was that of a boy who entered his shop—noting unique about him when you had a good look. Black haired, simple child's clothes and his right hand whose fingers would at times bend every which way. But that was not Merchant's reason for noticing him, but rather the fact that he was in the store the full day.
His first thought was that of an orphan looking for a quick meal. Waiting for the right time to run off with food or anything of any value. If this was the case, Merchant would have had no problem letting the boy go with a loaf or two. The boy instead went from item to item, doing little more than study them before going to the next. He only stopped when he reached a small bookshelf with very few books.
The majority of which contained little more than images. Some with images of a man farming and a detailed image of how almost like a guide. The others were likewise with a blacksmith, baker, tanner, and other professions. But three stood out the most, and this was the ones he stopped at the longest. The covers were brand new and not a scratch.
The shop empty by all others than Merchant and the boy. A few moments later Merchant stood behind the boy, door now locked. "So, find anything of interest?" Merchant spoke up as he stood beside the boy. The boy, however, stood silent as he stared at the book in his hands. "Ah, a good tale that one. 'Their once was a man..' Good story of a man with a heart of good but shunned all the same."
The book contained the title Merchant spoke and a very simple image of a man smiling from ear to ear. A hat on its head with round glasses on it. "This one is just as good." Pulling out the second book to show the boy. "Tale about someone who wanted nothing but love. 'Lost Love' is its title." The cover contained an image of a crying woman, waist up, hugging a crumbling heart.
"Perhaps the tale of a man who did not understand the true worth of time." Third book coming down in front of the book. Title of 'Time Keeper' and containing the image of a hooded man holding a grandfather clock. "Do you see anything you like. I will even read it to you."