CAT CLAWS

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PAGE ONE

Quietly, the rain fell against the shop window. It rinsed away enough of the dirt and grime that had collected during the year, to reveal the distorted and twisted images, staring through the faded gold letters of the word Curios. The small bell attached to the shop door chimed as the well dressed young man rushed in from the wet and windy outside. He stopped, allowing his eyes to grow accustom to the dim lighting of his new surroundings. He was amazed at the sight of strange objects, figures and bizarre art that stood, leaned and sat all around him. As his eyes shifted from the one area to the next, he felt a coldness creep into his flesh, sending a chill through his body that was uncontrollable. From the corner of his eye, he saw something moving slowly toward him from the deep shadows in the rear of the shop. It entered into the isolated circle of the single overhead light. He let out the long breath of relief that he never realized he was holding. There in front of him was a short, old and chubby man with a full white beard. He looked strange but harmless. Richard Blake stood there feeling awkward and embarrassed. He knew that he was stuck in a place he would never be caught dead in. The old man stared at him as if he was looking inside him, rather than at him.

"May I help you, sir?" his voice crackling like dry leaves being stepped upon. "I'm sure I must have something that would interest you!"

"No!" Blake said, with a shortness that made him feel guilty. "Well, maybe you can. I'm looking for something unusual as a gift."

"I see," said the old man as he turned and walked behind a large art deco bookcase. "I believe I might have just the item you desire sir."

Richard could hear him rumbling through cardboard boxes and mumbling that he was sure the item was here somewhere. Richard looked out the shop window, hoping to see that the rain had stopped. He suddenly decided that the prospect of being drowned was better than being stuck in this filthy rat trap, buying a piece of junk at an over priced amount. All his life, he was forced to live with hand me downs. He'd sworn he would never own anything that ever belonged to someone else. He took a step forward to leave, when suddenly a pudgy but sure hand grasped his shoulder. Richard cautiously turned around to see the old man. Blake almost began to laugh at his own anxiety and the old man's appearance. If it wasn't for the weird surroundings, this guy would make a terrific Santa Claus.

"I believe that this should satisfy your needs!" The old man bellowed.

Richard glanced down at what the old man held in his hand. He could feel his heart pounding deep within his chest as he stared at the object. There in front of him was a crystal statue of a cat. Its stance and image was Egyptian in cut and style. At any other time, this would not bother him, but just this morning, his latest girlfriend asked him when he would buy her a new addition for her cat collection. One that she could look at and remember him by. And now, this strange little man, here in a shop full of shadows and trash, held a cat, as if he knew exactly what words had been exchanged between him and Elaine.


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