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Description
A hum droned through the chilling October air, the low tune carrying on the crisp breeze that gathered fallen leave and lead them into a spiraling waltz along the street. High above, the sky was pure baby blue, with a few puffy white clouds drifting lazily about. The trees has begun to turn colors, shining brightly in their death with hues of orange and red. The sight was a picture perfect day in this small town. Because of the cold weather, no one took a second glance at the figure who walked down the road, her face angled to the side as though she was inspecting the many shop windows she passed by. Which, wasn't too far of a lie.

Jess was just looking for now, but she needed something to fill her boredom. Something to entertain her. Sighing as a puff of fog escapes her dark red lips, she reached up slum fingers, covered in stylish red leather gloves to adjust her hair and scarf. She had made the scarf herself some time back after she taught herself to knit, and while it was stylish, she wished she had chosen a different yarn, as this one was rather scratchy. Causing her to run her fingers over her neck constantly and tugging it into a comfortable position. Her hair, however, was beyond her. She had years ago tried going it out, which only ended in her constantly getting it caught in window screens and doors, thus, forcing her to cut it to hang at her shoulder blades. Long enough to be cute and still conceal her face from passerbys.

Pausing at a street corner due to a glowing red "STOP" hand, she took the time to draw out her phone, accessing the front camera and inspecting her face. Her hair was braided only at the bottom, making her hair plume out and neatly cover the sides of her face in ebony locks. Her lips smeared with a deep Marron lipstick and her face covered in a coating of cover-up. She hated the make up. Not because it masked her virgin white skins but because even the lightest tone she could find looked strange on her. Over her eyes she wore light tinted sunglasses, used mostly for fashion and not function but due to her long bangs she could still hide her char circled eyes.

Noticing the glowing symbol had changed to a white walking man, she moved forward, offering a light nod to a middle aged couple who passed her. Her attention drifted to the other side of the street, looking for something when her eyes caught the familiar word 'Antique' hanging from a bronzed plaque. Oh how she loved antiques! One look couldn't hurt, right?

Stopping where she stood, she glanced at both sides of the road, waiting for a break in traffic to run across, her black heels clicking evenly with each step she took.

{READERS POV}

The smell of moth balls hung heavy in the air as dust motes floated in the sun beam. The day was one of those days that just dragged on and on and on and it was akin to dying. Around you sat different items from different decades in the last century, some from beyond that. All of it belonging to your grandmother, who had owned ths shop since she opened it in 1956.

"_____, could you be a deer and-'

"Go outside and run in the road?" You asked deadpan. Your humor dying.

"Well, if you do that be sure to say hello to the devil for me." Your grandmother teased, coming around the counter, her silver hair shining in the early afternoon light. "Go upstairs and get the box of old books next to the lamp."

"Sure, GamGam." You nodded, heaving yourself up from the chair you sat in and heading upstairs as the bell above the door chimed.

"Welcome to Aesthetic Antiques, dear, feel free to look around." Your grandmother sold kindly as you ascending the stairs, looking for the box she needed. Your grandma was always getting new things in, usually from donations. But, luckily your town was small and "cute" being a perfect area for non-locald to stop by and explore the surrounding area, including this shop.

Locating the box she needed, you grunted and you heaved it over your shoulder, turning and walking back downstairs as you heard your grandmothers voice again, sounding like she was having a conversation.

"Why yes there is, just go down this road until you hit Fall Park Road, take a right, after about 2 blocks you'll find a large park, and you'll know its it because of the light house in the lake. If you go straight you'll find the river, just follow the he path next to it and the museum is right there."

Ah, so it was just a person passing through town.

"Thank you, ma'am. You said something about a lighthouse, though?" Came the reply. A woman's voice. A soft and alluring mezzo soprano.

"Yes, yes, it was built some time ago in the man made lake. Oh, looks at me, I could prattle on all day about that lighthouse!" You grandmother chuckled.

"Oh, no worries ma'am, my grandmother was the same way, always telling me stories about life in Germany."

"Germany, you say? What part?"

"I could never remember the name of her home town...just that it was maybe....30 miles from Berlin I believe."

Rounding the corner, you finally spotting the girl your grandmother was speaking to.

Your first impression was based on her height, as she seemed to tower well above your grandmother, but a second look at her figure revealed the height was an illusion caused by the tall heels she wore adding an extra 4 inches or so to her height. Her hair was deep black, shining brightly in the light and styled in a neat half braid. Her skin tone seemed pale from what you could tell, but seemed even more so due to her deep lipstick color and the color of her hair. She wore a stylish white hooded pea coat, the hood currently down, the belt synced tightly around her slim waist, black dress pants, red leather gloves and fashionable sun glasses. For a split second you thought all she needed was a streak of white hair and a cigarette and she could be a new Cruela Deville.

"I got the books, grandma." You said after a pause in their chat.

"Oh, thank you dear, just set them behind the counter here
" Grandma said, pointing to a corner spot. "I'm sorry for that."

"Oh, no no no no, don't feel bad, now we've broken the spell and I can look at all the cute things in here!" The mystery girl joked, smiling brightly, though her smile looked a tad to big...

Your grandmother laughed with her and let her on her way as she turned to you, thanking you for bring down the books and the girl walked to the main show room, looking at everything there was to offer. She didn't seem like most non-locals. Most of the others would be gushing over any old doll or taking pictures, but this girl simply walked slowly, each step a careful calculation as she inspected every item on the shelves.

"I think I'm going to donate those books over there to the museum." You're grandmother mumbled, mostly to herself as she opened the box and began pulling out its contents. You finally looked away from the woman to help your grandmother set the books on the counter in neat stacks as die mumbled to herself. "_____, could you mark the prices on the inside covers for me?"

"Hard covers 5 and paperbacks 3?"

"As it always is" She nodded, getting to work on the cash register.

The two of you worked soundlessly for a few minutes before the girl appeared again, setting a few objects on the counter. An antique rose broach, a kit filled with old sewing materials, an old, strawberry patterned apron, a book entitled "Satan Sanderson" and a decorative hair comb.

"This is it for you today, dear?" Your grandmother asked kindly as she began to manually enter the prices.

"Yes, ma'am. Figured I'd get some gifts for a few of my friends and and few gifts for myself." She answered smoothly, leaning against the counter calmly.

"There is nothing wrong with a little self indulgence." Grandma said knowingly as she prattled off the price, prompting the girl to remove her wallet and select the amount needed.

"Dont worry about the change." She smiled, handing over the bills.

"Are you sure, dear? This is ten more than I need."

"I insist, ma'an, I don't worry about change all that much, and honestly, doing this limits my budget so I don't go buying up the bookstore down the way."

"Wise girl, you are." Your grandmother nodded, handing over the bag filled with her purchased items. "You have a lovely day, dear, and come back soon."

"I can assure you I'll be coming by so much you'll start to hate me!" The girl laughed as she walked to the door, offering a wave and a 'bye' before she slipped out into the crisp October air.

"She was pretty cute." You shrugged.

"And the body on her! I haven't seen a rack like that since I was 18 years old and in my prime!"

"GRANDMA! !!!!"

Description
A hum droned through the chilling October air, the low tune carrying on the crisp breeze that gathered fallen leave and lead them into a spiraling waltz along the street. High above, the sky was pure baby blue, with a few puffy white clouds drifting lazily about. The trees has begun to turn colors, shining brightly in their death with hues of orange and red. The sight was a picture perfect day in this small town. Because of the cold weather, no one took a second glance at the figure who walked down the road, her face angled to the side as though she was inspecting the many shop windows she passed by. Which, wasn't too far of a lie.

Jess was just looking for now, but she needed something to fill her boredom. Something to entertain her. Sighing as a puff of fog escapes her dark red lips, she reached up slum fingers, covered in stylish red leather gloves to adjust her hair and scarf. She had made the scarf herself some time back after she taught herself to knit, and while it was stylish, she wished she had chosen a different yarn, as this one was rather scratchy. Causing her to run her fingers over her neck constantly and tugging it into a comfortable position. Her hair, however, was beyond her. She had years ago tried going it out, which only ended in her constantly getting it caught in window screens and doors, thus, forcing her to cut it to hang at her shoulder blades. Long enough to be cute and still conceal her face from passerbys.

Pausing at a street corner due to a glowing red "STOP" hand, she took the time to draw out her phone, accessing the front camera and inspecting her face. Her hair was braided only at the bottom, making her hair plume out and neatly cover the sides of her face in ebony locks. Her lips smeared with a deep Marron lipstick and her face covered in a coating of cover-up. She hated the make up. Not because it masked her virgin white skins but because even the lightest tone she could find looked strange on her. Over her eyes she wore light tinted sunglasses, used mostly for fashion and not function but due to her long bangs she could still hide her char circled eyes.

Noticing the glowing symbol had changed to a white walking man, she moved forward, offering a light nod to a middle aged couple who passed her. Her attention drifted to the other side of the street, looking for something when her eyes caught the familiar word 'Antique' hanging from a bronzed plaque. Oh how she loved antiques! One look couldn't hurt, right?

Stopping where she stood, she glanced at both sides of the road, waiting for a break in traffic to run across, her black heels clicking evenly with each step she took.

{READERS POV}

The smell of moth balls hung heavy in the air as dust motes floated in the sun beam. The day was one of those days that just dragged on and on and on and it was akin to dying. Around you sat different items from different decades in the last century, some from beyond that. All of it belonging to your grandmother, who had owned ths shop since she opened it in 1956.

"_____, could you be a deer and-'

"Go outside and run in the road?" You asked deadpan. Your humor dying.

"Well, if you do that be sure to say hello to the devil for me." Your grandmother teased, coming around the counter, her silver hair shining in the early afternoon light. "Go upstairs and get the box of old books next to the lamp."

"Sure, GamGam." You nodded, heaving yourself up from the chair you sat in and heading upstairs as the bell above the door chimed.

"Welcome to Aesthetic Antiques, dear, feel free to look around." Your grandmother sold kindly as you ascending the stairs, looking for the box she needed. Your grandma was always getting new things in, usually from donations. But, luckily your town was small and "cute" being a perfect area for non-locald to stop by and explore the surrounding area, including this shop.

Locating the box she needed, you grunted and you heaved it over your shoulder, turning and walking back downstairs as you heard your grandmothers voice again, sounding like she was having a conversation.

"Why yes there is, just go down this road until you hit Fall Park Road, take a right, after about 2 blocks you'll find a large park, and you'll know its it because of the light house in the lake. If you go straight you'll find the river, just follow the he path next to it and the museum is right there."

Ah, so it was just a person passing through town.

"Thank you, ma'am. You said something about a lighthouse, though?" Came the reply. A woman's voice. A soft and alluring mezzo soprano.

"Yes, yes, it was built some time ago in the man made lake. Oh, looks at me, I could prattle on all day about that lighthouse!" You grandmother chuckled.

"Oh, no worries ma'am, my grandmother was the same way, always telling me stories about life in Germany."

"Germany, you say? What part?"

"I could never remember the name of her home town...just that it was maybe....30 miles from Berlin I believe."

Rounding the corner, you finally spotting the girl your grandmother was speaking to.

Your first impression was based on her height, as she seemed to tower well above your grandmother, but a second look at her figure revealed the height was an illusion caused by the tall heels she wore adding an extra 4 inches or so to her height. Her hair was deep black, shining brightly in the light and styled in a neat half braid. Her skin tone seemed pale from what you could tell, but seemed even more so due to her deep lipstick color and the color of her hair. She wore a stylish white hooded pea coat, the hood currently down, the belt synced tightly around her slim waist, black dress pants, red leather gloves and fashionable sun glasses. For a split second you thought all she needed was a streak of white hair and a cigarette and she could be a new Cruela Deville.

"I got the books, grandma." You said after a pause in their chat.

"Oh, thank you dear, just set them behind the counter here
" Grandma said, pointing to a corner spot. "I'm sorry for that."

"Oh, no no no no, don't feel bad, now we've broken the spell and I can look at all the cute things in here!" The mystery girl joked, smiling brightly, though her smile looked a tad to big...

Your grandmother laughed with her and let her on her way as she turned to you, thanking you for bring down the books and the girl walked to the main show room, looking at everything there was to offer. She didn't seem like most non-locals. Most of the others would be gushing over any old doll or taking pictures, but this girl simply walked slowly, each step a careful calculation as she inspected every item on the shelves.

"I think I'm going to donate those books over there to the museum." You're grandmother mumbled, mostly to herself as she opened the box and began pulling out its contents. You finally looked away from the woman to help your grandmother set the books on the counter in neat stacks as die mumbled to herself. "_____, could you mark the prices on the inside covers for me?"

"Hard covers 5 and paperbacks 3?"

"As it always is" She nodded, getting to work on the cash register.

The two of you worked soundlessly for a few minutes before the girl appeared again, setting a few objects on the counter. An antique rose broach, a kit filled with old sewing materials, an old, strawberry patterned apron, a book entitled "Satan Sanderson" and a decorative hair comb.

"This is it for you today, dear?" Your grandmother asked kindly as she began to manually enter the prices.

"Yes, ma'am. Figured I'd get some gifts for a few of my friends and and few gifts for myself." She answered smoothly, leaning against the counter calmly.

"There is nothing wrong with a little self indulgence." Grandma said knowingly as she prattled off the price, prompting the girl to remove her wallet and select the amount needed.

"Dont worry about the change." She smiled, handing over the bills.

"Are you sure, dear? This is ten more than I need."

"I insist, ma'an, I don't worry about change all that much, and honestly, doing this limits my budget so I don't go buying up the bookstore down the way."

"Wise girl, you are." Your grandmother nodded, handing over the bag filled with her purchased items. "You have a lovely day, dear, and come back soon."

"I can assure you I'll be coming by so much you'll start to hate me!" The girl laughed as she walked to the door, offering a wave and a 'bye' before she slipped out into the crisp October air.

"She was pretty cute." You shrugged.

"And the body on her! I haven't seen a rack like that since I was 18 years old and in my prime!"

"GRANDMA! !!!!"