The Adventures Of Edwin Groob - Chapter Three

Chapter Three – Edwin’s Strange Start To The Day

In the mornings, Edwin always liked to be at his shop an hour before it opened, this allowed him enough time to clean up from the day before, he generally never had much time as he was busy doing his books to see how much he had sold. He would go round to every section of the shop, straightening books, tidying up clothes and re-positioning the ornaments where people had moved them from their original position, this would take him the hour he needed and then he would open the shop at about nine o’clock.

Normally his first customer would arrive about half an hour later, this gave Edwin enough time to make some tea and toast. He did not have far to travel to work, he lived in the tiny one bedroom flat situated above the shop, in the summer it was nice and cool as the breeze crept in through the gaps and crevices, but during the winter it was very cold and Edwin had to make sure he had extra layers of blankets on his bed.

Edwin had a structured day, he would get up at around seven o’clock in the morning, have a shower, brush his teeth and then get his clothes ready, which were the same every day, the white buttoned shirt, black trousers with braces to hold them up and black shoes. He had more than one, in fact he had a set of clothing for every day of the week. Then once he had ready he would go down to the shop through a small door which led down the creaky stairs and then start his tidying up. The shop stayed open till the latest half past five in the afternoon, then once he had closed he would make sure his books were right, cash up his money and lock it away in a safe upstairs in his flat.

This would take some time, so after this was completed it was time for his dinner, then a bath, a quick read of the daily newspaper and then back to bed for about nine o’clock in the evening. Once a week though, on a Thursday and always at six o’clock in the evening he would receive his deliveries for the shop and he would have to sort this out so it meant that on that particular day he would not get to sleep until at least eleven o’clock, which made him very tired the next day.
Today was Sunday, not the busiest day of the week as far as Edwin was concerned but he still had his fair share of customers come through the door. He found it amazing how so many would visit his shop and he did not even advertise where he was or what he sold.

On this particular morning, as he was tidying up, Edwin’s thoughts returned to his visitor the day before, he looked over at the eagle ornament and book which sat on the end of the counter. He shook the thoughts from his mind and then went out to the back to make his tea and toast. Clicking the kettle to on, he placed two slices of bread in the toaster and stared out of the small, grubby window which was situated at the back of the shop.

Lost in his thoughts for a moment, he was suddenly jolted out of his day dream as the bell of the shop doorway sounded, he turned and made his way to the front, looking at his watch, this customer was a bit early, quarter past nine. Walking behind the counter he could see the shop door wide open, but nobody was in the shop. He moved out from the counter and walked to the door, he closed it and then turned to return to his toast.

Jumping back he noticed two small figures directly in front of him, one a small girl looking down at the floor and the other a very small man, dwarf-like in his features and height.

“Hello,” said the dwarf-like man cheerily.

“Erm, hello.” Edwin looked around the shop and then back at the figures. “How did you, I mean what can I do for you?”

“Can I smell burning?” asked the dwarf.

“Sorry?”

“Burning?”

Edwin suddenly bolted by the two figures and his waddling frame ran out to the back of the shop where smoke was rising form the toaster. Flicking the safety catch he pulled the toast out, which burnt the end of his fingers, he yelped and through the burnt bread into the sink. Turning he jumped back again as the two figures were standing right behind him.

“Hello,” said the dwarf.

“Hello, I...er...you’re not supposed to be out here.”

“Really, oh...ok...shall we go back in the shop then?”

“Yes can we.”

All three of them walked back into the shop, Edwin stood behind the counter and looked at the smiling face of the dwarf, the little girl was not smiling and just stared at the floor.

“Right what can I do for you?” Edwin asked.

“Two pieces of toast please,” the dwarf replied.

“Sorry?”

“I’m only teasing.” The dwarf began to giggle, holding his belly.

Edwin laughed nervously, two days and two weird customers, he thought.

“What is it I can help you with?” Edwin asked politely.

“We’ve come to collect two items that were reserved yesterday.”

Edwin looked across the counter at the eagle and the book and then back at the little dwarf whose eyes only just reached over the edge of the counter and he was standing on tip-toe. This made sense, he is as weird as the old man yesterday, Edwin thought.

“Of course, the old man from yesterday. But he has not paid for them yet.”

“He is so forgetful sometimes, I suppose I shall have to make the payment for him.”

“Well indeed or else I am unable to let you take them away, that would be stealing, “ Edwin explained.

“Are you calling me a thief?” The dwarf became a little angry at Edwin’s comment.

“No, certainly not I meant nothing of the sort, I am sorry I did not mean to imply that you would have taken them without paying. Oh dear, oh my I am sorry if I upset you.”

“Typical Groob.” The dwarf turned and walked away from the counter over to the bookcase to the left.

“Groob?” Edwin said to himself.

The little girl just stood in front of the counter, Edwin looked at but she would not look up from the floor, she just stared down with an unhappy look on her face.

“She probably won’t speak to you,” said the dwarf.
Edwin quickly looked away from the little girl and made his way from behind the counter to join the dwarf over at the bookcase.

“How will you be making the payment?” Edwin asked.

“How do you normally receive payment?”

“Well money of course.”

“Money?” The dwarf scratched his beard still looking at the bookcase. “I don’t appear to have any of this money on me,” he looked at Edwin. “Where do I get this money from?”

“I’m sorry,” Edwin said.

“Where do you get this money from?”

Edwin just stared back at the dwarf in disbelief, he always knew that he sold some strange items in the shop, but now it was attracting some very strange people and it was beginning to make him nervous.

“Stop teasing him, Cedric,” said the voice at the front of the shop.

Edwin looked over and standing there was Kale, the old man from yesterday, but even stranger to Edwin the shop bell did not sound.

“Cedric?” Edwin looked at the dwarf.

“At your service,” he replied pushing out a fat little hand to shake with Edwin.

“Please to meet you.” Edwin shook Cedric’s hand.

“And this,” Kale made Edwin jump as he appeared right next to him. “Is Sophie.”

Edwin looked over at the little girl who was still standing in front of the counter, staring at the floor.

“She doesn’t look very happy?”

“Well you wouldn’t be would you?” Kale replied.

At that moment a figure came to the front of the shop, tried the door handle which was locked and then turned and walked away believing the shop to be closed.

“Do you keep shutting my shop?” Edwin asked.

“Do I?” replied Kale.

Edwin was starting to become a little flustered, he rubbed his head, which was still sore from yesterday and went and sat down on a stool.

“Are you okay, dear boy?” Kale asked.

“Typical Groob,” Cedric said.

“What is a Groob?” Edwin asked.

“Was,” Cedric replied.

“Is,” Kale said correcting Cedric.

“Was...is...?” Edwin bent forward on his stool and placed his head into his hands. “I don’t feel well.”

“It may be something to do with that bump on your head,” Kale replied. “Let me get you something for that.”

Kale walked over to the counter and took out a bright green bottle which he placed on the counter, he took the stopper out of the top and poured the liquid out onto a cloth he had. Kale walked over to Edwin, who lifted his head up.

“Are you a doctor?” Edwin asked.

“Doctor?” Cedric had now joined the both of them.

“A healer in this world,” Kale said to Cedric.

“A healer, why didn’t the Groob just say healer?”

“Why does he keep calling me a Groob?” Edwin asked.

“Because you are a Groob,” Cedric replied.

“Enough, Cedric, this all seems to be going far too quickly for Edwin.” Kale said sternly.

Kale applied the cloth to the forehead of Edwin, who leant back on the stool. He could feel the cool liquid soaking into his skin and the headache which had been bothering him since yesterday began to go away and then a strange warm feeling came over him until he began to feel sleepy, extremely sleepy.

“Well that didn’t take long,” Cedric said.

“Hemocalady,” Kale explained.

“Hemo-what-lady?” Cedric asked puzzled.

“It helps you sleep, just by applying it to the skin.”

“That’s nice,”

“Right, Cedric we have spent long enough here, now is the time to go. Get the pendant from Sophie.”

Cedric wandered over to the little girl and placed a caring arm around her shoulders, he led her over to Kale and the sleeping Edwin, then slowly unhooked the chain from around her neck and handed Kale the pendant.

“As soon as we arrive, this pendant must be placed back around her neck, else...well let’s just say we don’t want anything to happen.”

Kale wandered over to the counter and took out the book he chose the day before he turned to a page and then took the eagle ornament out of the tissue paper. Then Cedric and Kale both took hold of a hand each from Sophie and the sleeping Edwin, Cedric bowed his head as Kale closed his eyes and looked up towards the ceiling.

“I hate this bit,” Cedric said.

Kale began to shake, his lips began to quiver and then a large breeze swept in from the direction of the door, even though it was closed. The pendant from underneath Sophie’s clothes began to vibrate and then a strong bright light burst out from her chest, Cedric tightly closed his eyes as Kale began to speak in a deep, echoing voice.

“Beautiful Eagle Fly So High
Up In The Sky Where The Air Is Dry
Carry Us Softly Into The Dark
From This Other World To The Land Of Hark
Lay Us Down Amongst Our Brood
I Cast This Spell With The Hand Of A Groob”

As soon as Kale uttered his final word, the light from the pendant filled the whole room and the breezed turned into a huge blast of wind that lifted the eagle up into the air and straight into the centre of the light, the whole shop shook as if an earthquake had woken from beneath and then suddenly the wind stopped, the light faded and the shop was completely empty.