It was 7:30 pm, I was finished my late shift in the office. As I packed up papers into my brief case, I scanned over my planner at the reports due in less than a week. All my hopes of relaxation over the holiday were simply out of sight. My boss frankly took advantage of my lonely life over the season, so much so I didn’t mind. With no family living close by, all I received on Christmas was a long distance call with my Aunt and a package of mint tea from the gentle old lady within the apartment complex. I pushed the revolving door, and stepped outside in relief. I was free (well until tomorrow).
Swiftly I made my way towards the transit stop where the bus pulled up by the curb. The bus was empty, for only a older man clenching onto his handbag was sitting by the window with headphones in. I sat down in the back, as the bus took off. Unzipping my purse, I glanced at my phone “no messages” I placed it back. Gazing up above through the window at the blurry lights of buildings and vehicles, my eyelids drooped and grew heavy.
I woke up startled, my head twitching back and fourth looking all around me. I had no clue where I was, the bus started to slow down. I quickly jutted out of the bus as soon as it stopped, it was 8:15 pm. The street lights guided me. I started to contemplate everything, how terrible this night was going, how much I wanted to be home, how much I disliked my job that I worked so hard for. I tucked in my scarf, as the cold bitter wind crept down my neck.
Everything was closed, you could here faint classical music playing throughout the street (in order to stop loitering). Though I was tired, cold and unknowing of where I was; I found the music soothing. I tried to scan for anything familiar, I felt Déjà vu rush through me as I recognized a small toy store. It was nuzzled in a corner, perfectly placed. The store was painted like an ornament red, with green trim framing the windows. As twinkling golden lights flickered in tranquility. I read out to myself the store’s sign, “Livingstone & Cavell extraordinary toys”. As if a gust of memory, blew through me I remembered. I was reminded of my Father, my small hands and my wide eyes and my laughter. He used to always take me here.
I approached the door, as it had gold outlines, and paint slightly chipped away around the door knob. There were lights still kept on, and the “OPEN” sign wasn’t flipped. I opened the door and closed it behind me as a gush of warm air enveloped my body. Walking up the stairs my eyes lit up with life, as I stepped back into my childhood again. Bright bursting colors filled the store, everything was decorated from the shelves to the cashier desk. I was amazed, as I began searching throughout the store. With each corner of the store each memory I had remembered became vivid, like a film. It was a harmony before my eyes, looking through to the past. My mind fluttering with flashbacks, then everything froze.
“Can I help you?” I turned around caught of guard.
“Oh no… I’m sorry, you probably are closing the store right now. I just got lost and your store was the only one that was open.” I replied nervously.
“Well sometimes I like to keep it open late, for customers like you to come in.” he said with a chuckle
The creases of his eyes squinted, his forehead crinkled, as he lifted his gray bushy eyebrows. His cheeks grew with color, as he smiled with care.
“Looks like you had a long day.” The old man said as he pushed up his wide glasses, “You know we don’t get a lot of business people here.”
“Yeah you could say that and well I don’t usually fall asleep on the bus and miss my stop.” I responded
We both laughed.
“What’s your name dear?” he asked.
“Lauren, yours ?”
“Nice to meet you, and the name is Charles.”
He started to pick up and straighten out toys, to put back on the shelves. As I continued to search around the store aimlessly, fiddling with trinkets.
“You know Charles, I have been here before.” I told him as I spun a spinning top.
“Really now? What is your favorite toy?”
“As a kid, my Dad used to take me and we would always get a wind up music box together. We would then bring it home, place it on the shelf with our collection. He would wind it up, and I would stand on his feet as we danced around the room.”
“Do you still collect them, you and your father?” Charles responded as he glanced over and smiled.
“No, no we don’t.” My smile dropped and my heart felt heavy in my chest. “He past away years ago.”
He came closer to me, as his eyes glowed with sincerity. He sat me down as he knelt.
He spoke gently,”I am so sorry about your Father, Lauren.”
I chocked as a tear rushed down my face. “It’s.. It’s okay, I stopped collecting them when he died, it was just to hard.”
Charles held my hand in generosity,”I want to give you something, in memory of your father.”
I wiped my tears from my face, as he got up quickly.
I stood up, as he brought out a box. “You really don’t have to do this for me Charles.”
“I want to do this for you, because you remind me of my daughter.”
I unfolded the box and pulled out a snow globe, I wound it up as it played Silent night.
It was beautiful, inside was the small toy store painted red and green, lights hung along the window. As snow cascades a layer along the roof. A Father in a winter coat and a little girl with pink snow boots and toque, there they stand holding hands in front of Livingstone & Cavell Extraordinary Toys.
“This means so much to me, Thank you Charlie.”
It was 10:00 pm, I am happy and not alone.
Picture Credits: Livingstone&Cavell
This short story is based on my favorite toy shop growing up; Livingstone & Cavell in Kensington,Calgary.
