“The world seemed to shimmer a little at the edges.”
― Neil Gaiman
A soul made of winter’s first snow, of birthday candle wishes, of firefly light. Evan was a toymaker like no other. The magic lining the clouds with silver, and sprinkling each dream with stars, lived within him. It was here, inside a quaint little toy store nestled between forest and sea, all that was filled with wonder and whimsy was given breath.
Squeals of delight were heard from the young and old alike, for the toys Evan created were like none ever seen before. Bubble wands in the shape of sparrows, swallows, and owls. With a puff of breath, an iridescent bird was released into the sky. A hand-held telescope with the lens tinted pink so the world may be seen with a rosy glow. There were dollhouses fashioned after the cottages dotting the shoreline, and when opened, tiny replicas of the cottage’s occupants and furniture were found inside.
In the center of the room stood the most splendidly ornamented grand fir. Tucked in its branches and hanging from the boughs were presents of all shapes and sizes, wrapped in colorful gilt paper and tied with a silver ribbon. Sugared almonds contained in twists of paper, making a wonderful cracking noise when torn open, dangled from the foliage, as well as gingerbread men dressed in piped icing suits, and snowflakes snipped from the pages of a storybook and sprinkled with glittering diamond dust. Slender white tapers held in polished sockets flickered and shimmered against the tinsel, and the entire tree glistened as if covered in flecks of frost and ice. An endless garland of paper dolls wound up the tree to the glass star perched on top. Inside the star burned a candle, shining so bright, the children gathered below made their Christmas wishes upon it.
The bell above the door jingled gaily as customers came and went. Entering with hats and coats dusted with freshly fallen snow, and cheeks and noses red as cranberries. Departing with crumbs of gingerbread caught in mustaches and scattered on clothing, hot chocolate on their breath, and the rustle of packages piled high in their arms. Songs of carolers drifted in and out with the opening of the door, and the aroma of roasting chestnuts wafted in from the street vendor’s cart.
In the years to come, Evan would not recall the merriment of the evening, the names and faces of those he engaged in bits of conversation with, or the small child bouncing up and down with excitement as he handed her a doll from the shelf. Instead, he would remember the shrill ring of the bell demanding his attention as Briar walked through the door. The crimson red of her capelet. The rhythmic ticking of the clock, the rapid beating of his heart when first he saw her.
He watched, fascinated, as she moved about the store. Her expression of enchantment growing with each step she took. She paused before a doll costumed in a top hat, tailcoat, and a red and white striped skirt.
“Here,” he said, coming to stand beside her. “my toys are like people, appearing quite ordinary on the outside, while inside the extraordinary awaits.” He pulled the doll’s waist sash, and the skirt parted in the middle like theater curtains, revealing a clockwork circus within. As the acrobats leaped and tumbled, somersaulting and swinging from the trapeze, Briar clapped her hands together with glee.
“How absolutely wonderful!” She exclaimed. She lifted her eyes to his and his breath was taken. Her eyes were the silvery blue of a dragonfly wing caught in a brilliant ray of sunlight. In his cabinet of paints, he would find the lace white of her skin, the raspberry pink of her plump lips, the moon gold of her hair, but he would have to capture starlight in a jar to paint her eyes.
“Is there something I can help you find?”
“My way home!” She laughed, a blush creeping up her neck and coloring her cheeks “I am staying with my aunt, Nora Weatherbee, on Wharf Avenue. I wandered farther then I thought while looking at fairy lights and can’t remember my way back.”
“Yes, Nora said her niece would be arriving for the holidays. You’re Briar. Come, let me show you.” He boldly took her arm, guiding her to the display of dollhouses. “This is where we are.” he pointed to the scale version of the toy store. Opening the pane glass door he pulled out a figure with dark, wavy hair, evergreen eyes, and a paint-streaked apron worn over a ditto suit. “You want to go here.” He explained, walking the doll down the cobbled streets and bringing it to rest in front of a sea blue cottage.
“Yes, that’s my Aunt’s house! And there is my room.” She pointed to a second-story window, quickly dropping her hand to her side when she saw Evan’s face flush pink at the mention of it. “Everything looks different when covered in snow.”
“Then we shall remedy that!” Taking a bucket of diamond dust from the counter, he poured it over rooftop and sidewalk until the whole town sparkled. “It is complete.”
“Oh, it’s lovely.” Briar murmured. She was not looking at the winter scene but gazed at the carousel drying on his work table.
“Would you like to see it?” He asked. She nodded her head, and he retrieved it for her, carefully placing it on the counter. As she reached for it, Evan gently touched her hand. “It is still wet.” Bending forward and blowing on the tented top, his breath twinkled in the air like silver stardust. He turned the key and the carousel was brought to life. Eyes wide with wonder, Briar watched the horses perform their ballet.
” Never have I seen anything as magical!” She swore, her voice filled with awe.
” Nor I.” Evan whispered, his eyes on her.
The clock struck six, startling them both from their reverie.
” I should go.” She hesitated, “Thank you for showing me around your store, and for guiding me home.”
“Of course. Please, come back again. For any reason. For no reason at all.”
“I’m sure I will find reason.” She promised as he walked her to the door.
Wiping fog from the window with the palm of his hand, Evan watched her red capelet disappear into the swirling snow. A brushstroke of crimson paint forever changing the blank, white canvas.
Fairy Tales
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This second chapter did not disappoint. You truly have a gift for storytelling!
☆Thank you・:*:・゚