7The store stood in a lonely corner of the dark, empty downtown of London. It's sign swung back and forth with the meek force of the formerly violent wind. Melting snow slipped from the rim of its roof and dripped noisily against century old cobblestone street below.
The mid-December cold seemed to seep through the thick layers of clothing the people wore, nipping their skin and forcing them to hurry along their way and in such a rush, the people, who resembled scurrying rodents, took no notice of the shop, it's squeaking sign, or the fading "welcome" sign sitting in the window that beckoned for them to enter. Children and grandparents seldom paused to look into its grimy windows at the life-like dolls that sat upon pedestals, in beautifully designed, hand-sewn dresses, with bows in their hair, or handsome tuxedos and top-hats.
Jang Rie paused for the longest time in front of the tiny, barely noticeable store, her almond-shaped green eyes wandering over each and every detail of the dolls that teased nearly all of the passing children. She would be going back to Hong-Kong soon, and if she did not have a present for her grandmother, well... The older woman would brave the harsh weather to chase her through the entire city, just to make sure she never forgot to get her a gift from her travels again. A fond smile found its way to her lips, and she stepped into the tiny little brick building, bells jingling over the door as it opened.
All of the dolls seemed to stare at her as she walked calmly over the creaking, hardwood floors that seemed to strain with the new weight that pressed down upon them. The room was dimly lit, and it smelled heavily of a mixture of cigar smoke, dust, and other unfamiliar smells. A fire that roared dangerously in a corner danced in the odd, life-like eyes of the dolls.
"Hello, miss," Rie jumped at the voice and turned to find herself staring at a petite elderly woman, likely in her eighties, scrunched over a cane, and who, Rie suspected, was hardly four-and-a-half feet tall. Her graying hair was permed and she gazed at the tall, Asian girl through bifocals that magnified her pale blue eyes nearly ten fold.
Rie bowed deeply, her raven hair cascading over her shoulders to frame her face. "Good afternoon, ma'am," she replied in her heavy, Chinese accent, before standing straight, smiling politely at the old woman.
The woman seemed flattered and smiled back, "Is there anything I can help you with, miss?"
"Oh, yes, ma'am," she tried to flatten her accent out so she could possibly be understood better, but failed miserably. "I'm looking for a doll for my grandmother back in Hong-Kong. She absolutely adores them!"
"Any sort of doll in particular? Any style she likes the best?" the woman began walking through the isles, Rie following closely. The stare of the dolls was becoming rather unnerving.
"Not that I know of, ma'am," she paused briefly, "But from what I have seen, she collects dolls that have an old look. Victorian-era, I suppose."
The woman chuckled and looked at her as they stepped out of one of the isles, "Stay right here and I'll bring you out my very best doll." With that, she waddled like a duck into a room that was closed off to any customer that would find there way inside. It was just as dimly lit as the rest of the store, but smelled different. It smelled strongly of almonds. And, strangely, rubbing alcohol and something else. Something that she couldn't quite figure out.
"Here we are," the woman returned after a moment, holding a small, one-foot tall, pale little doll with black, glass-like eyes, long, pale blond hair pulled back in an adorable French braid, and dressed in pink, perfectly Victorian-like dress. It even had matching shoes!
The doll smelled even more strongly of whatever substance it was that lingered in the smoky air, but Rie took no notice and snatched the doll up quickly in her arms, smiling brightly.
"Grandmother will love it!" Rie looked from the doll to the woman quickly, hugging the doll to her chest. "How much do I owe you, ma'am?"
"Sixty-three pounds for her. After all, she is my very best!" the old woman smiled delicately and shuffled to the out-of-date cash register, ringing her up slowly.
Rie admired the doll quietly, grinning from ear-to-ear, "How do you make them so..." she paused to find the right word, "life-like? She's as warm as if she were real!" and handed the woman the proper amount of money.
The old woman looked up, still smiling, "Oh, deary, that's because she is... or was real just this morning!"
Rie screamed and ran from the store, having dropped the 'doll' as soon as the woman had said the word 'real.'
"Oh, dear," the woman muttered as she twiddled her thumbs absently, watching after her out of the grimy window across the store. "It seems she forgot her change."
I'll give you a cookie if you know what the smell of almonds came from!
Review, please!