There was a rumour that a new mysterious shop had appeared in the last few days. No one remembered when it actually arrived, it just seemed that one minute it was a closed-down eyesore and then it wasn’t. Those that should have been able to recall what was there before, couldn’t remember when asked and they couldn’t even think as far back as to a time before it came to be. But came to be it did the night before last, boasting of an opening that would never be forgotten.
Roll-up, roll-up, roll-up, said the poster.
All the fun of the fair without ever leaving the comfort of your seat.
There was a queue right around the block, it looked such a tiny shop from the front that no one knew how, or even if everyone would fit in. Directly the town hall clock struck midday the double doors were flung open and the first paying guests were welcomed in. There was no set entry fee, each person was bid to pay what they could afford. Some natural skin-flints just gave a few pence, while others were a little more generous.
Kevin had grasped his shiny six old pence piece so tightly in the palm of his hand that it just stuck there when he tried to tip it into the collection bowl.
“Seems like it doesn’t want to be leaving you young sir.” The clown said, laughing.
Kevin shook his hand but the coin held firm.
“Best you keep hold of it for now then,” the attendant said ushering him forward.
Result … not only was he in, but he was in for free.
Inside was huge but instead of there being a stage there was a kind of circle arrangement like the middle of a circus big top, with benches all the way round. It was not long before each tiered seat was occupied.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages” boomed a voice. “Welcome one and all to The Emporium.”
Cross beams of coloured lights danced around the room. The voice continued.
“I am pleased to introduce the proprietor of the establishment, the master of the magic, the one and the only Professor Edward Urvaine Thrumpus!”
There was a drum roll. Acrobats tumbled all around a top-hatted man dressed in a magnificent gold braided tailcoat and red trousers. As Thrumps reached the centre, he doffed his top hat and bowed so low that his nose almost touched the sawdust, and then did it again in each direction until all were formally greeted.
Turning as he spoke, he proclaimed the spectacles that would unfold, dancing bears, wild lions, ballerinas on horseback, the frightful stunts on the high wire without the use of a safety net, jugglers with batons of real fire and of course the clowns.
The show was amazing. As ring-master he bumped-up the drama scaring the wits out of all, building the tension until everyone was on the edge of their seats eagerly anticipating the finale.
When all the performers had made their grand entrance and had paraded around the circle to stand facing the crowd, did Thrumps climb onto the barrel that had been placed in the centre and indicate the need for silence.
The anticipation was tangible.
“My friends,” he began and then lowered his voice to all but a whisper. “Thank you for being part of the fun today, we …” he cast an arm around the circle of the show people.
“We …” he said smiling, have one last thing to maybe amaze you with.”
A gentle hum ran within the audience. He waited.
“As you leave you will be asked for a wish but pick wisely, because you can never be sure if your wish will be the one, or ones that will come true.”
The sound system blasted out the March of the Gladiator, the same music that the performers had made their entrance to when the show began, but this time they retreated backwards, waving all the time until only Thrumps remained. Striding forth he climbed the steps of the main entrance towards the shop front, bidding Kevin and then everyone else to follow.
As they reached the doors Kevin whispered his wish knowing it was silly and that it could never happen, but he really couldn’t think of anything else he wanted more in the whole world. Thrumps nodded knowingly and ushered him out onto the street.
Outside it was still hot, too hot for what greeted everyone behind him as they walked out. The whole street was a white fluffy snow-scene. The adults surmised that whilst they had been enjoying the show a team had been busy creating an artificial winter-scape, but there was nothing synthetic about it. The snowflakes glistened in the sunshine and even though it was a roasting hot June day, they simply did not melt.
The snowflakes flurried and when they settled the shop was gone.