The shop was quiet.
Outside it was the kind of day where it was more cloudy than sunny, and the wind made it just a little too cold to be outside for long. Still, it was noisier outside, thanks to cars driving and people walking by, chattering as they window-shopped.
Of course, no one window-shopped at this particular store. They might glance at it as they walked by, but they rarely broke their stride to look more closely at something. The shop’s windows were clean enough, but not bright and shiny like other shops; the bundles and packages in the window rarely held anyone’s attention for long.
So yes, the shop was quiet. Just as it always was, even on days when people were out in droves to enjoy sunlight. A quiet, normal day in the shop.
Until the little old-fashioned bell above the door chimed as someone pushed their way inside.
Barely looking up from the colorful object in their lap, the person behind the desk droned, “Welcome to Spin Me a Yarn, for all your thread, yarn, and fabric needs. Our wares are so rare they’re mythological, and we guarantee every item’s authenticity. Feel free to look around and ask if you have any questions.”
“Um, hi?” came a voice in response. “I need some help; I need a gift for my grandma.”
With a small sigh, setting their yarn and hook on the counter, the employee looked up to see a teenager standing a couple feet in front of them. “What kind of textile work does your grandmother do? Crochet, knitting, weaving, cross-stitch, embroidery?”
“Um, I don’t know. She always has needles and threads and has fabric in her lap, but”–
“Check the wall over there for threads and fabric,” said the employee, waving a hand in the general direction of the wall. “All threads on the bottom and middle shelf are sold individually, and threads in the middle are sold in a bundle. Both fabric and thread are sorted by color and whether it’ll behave normally or accidentally cause flight.”
“Wait, what? No, I mean, she also has yarn too and makes sweaters for everyone, but”–
“Yarn, needles and hooks are on the other side of the store. Yarn is sorted in order of softness and whether it has any special properties. Hooks and needles are sorted by size and usefulness as a weapon. Be careful when handling the yarn closest to the window. That’s known to sting if the person has lied in the last 24 hours.” The clerk resettled in their seat, picked up their work again, and starting crocheting a new row.
“What?! No, please, I need your help!” the teenager burst out. “My grandma already has a bunch of stuff. She loves to make stuff but she never has anything new or special. I can’t do any of the things she does, but I wanna give her something she didn’t have to make herself! She’s getting really old and I just wanna make sure she has a good birthday present. Please, don’t you have anything?”
The employee set down their project again on the countertop and looked more carefully at the teenager. “Well, if that’s the case, I might be able to help you”–
“Thank you”–
“But I should warn you, our stuff is not for those who are easily overwhelmed. You said your grandmother’s old? This stuff might make sure she doesn’t see her next birthday. You might be better off going down the street to that chain craft store.” The employee eyed the teenager skeptically. “Plus our stuff might be out of your price range.”
The teenager glared back, insulted. “My grandma helped raise her younger two brothers and keep her family together after both her parents died during the Great Depression, and helped her sister raise her kids after her sister’s husband died. My grandma’s tough and she can handle whatever weird stuff you have here. AND I can afford whatever you sell me, ‘cause I’ve saved my last two paychecks.”
The employee shrugged. “Whatever you say. I gave you the warning speech. We’re not responsible for any harm our items may cause after they leave the shop, and as long as you have the money and sign the waiver I’ll sell it to you.” Before the teenager could say anything else, the employee walked out from behind the counter and over to a display table in the middle of the room. “Now if you really want something special for your grandmother, I’d recommend one of these items.”
The teenager walked over, and stood looking at the table and everything around it. While the rest of the shop was dim due to a lack of overhead lighting, the table and its contents were brighter than everything else, as it it gave off its own glow.
“What’s that thing?” asked the teenager, pointing.