First Time Customer
1188 Words
Humans and werewolves alike were often drawn to curiosities. The things that filled Leonard’s shelves were all unique and different that they drew people in at first sight.
The shopkeeper wore a teal green apron and sat behind his desk, imputing the price for his new arrivals on the newest laptop he got from the nearest Elven Kingdom.
His first customer, Mark, still stood in the shop, in front of a shelf, confused about what to buy.
“Hey, Leo?”
“Hmm?”
“What did you get for her as a present?”
Leonard’s hand stopped on the mouse and he looked up. Mark’s brows were scrunched up really tight as he thought of what to buy.
“I can’t tell you. She asked me not to say but it was an interesting trinket I got from the Demons”
“You went to Luardo?!”
“Yes. They are accepting humans now. I’m surprised dad hasn’t visited yet”
“Boy, if you really believe your father hasn’t been to Luardo, then you don’t know him at all”
“You’re right uncle Mark. Maybe my mother is a demon”
“Child, don’t jinx yourself. I’m pretty sure she’s human like you. I don’t smell anything unfamiliar in you. Maybe apart from that peachy smell you always have but then……” Mark stopped, seeing Leonard’s eager expression.
Leonard’s mother’s identity has been the biggest mystery between him and all that knew his family. Over time, it had turned into a guessing game and an inside joke.
“Do you have any other thing from the demons?”
“I do. Speaking of which, I got an interesting toy from the Succubus tribe”
“I’m not even surprised you reached there”
Leonard laughed and took Mark into the inner room. The darkroom was lit with a yellow fluorescent bulb which was enough to illuminate the whole room. The bag he brought was placed on a stool and beside it were three other stools with identical bags.
He reached for an item on one of the three shelves in there and showed it to Mark. Mark’s eyes widened in shock.
“Oh my moon, is this even going to fit?”
“I told you where I got it from. They have a very interesting collection of these”
“Wrap it up!”
“Uncle Mark, it’s amazing you are giving it to her. I can recommend something else……”
“She got me something interesting for my birthday, so I’m returning the favor”
“That’s an impressive grudge you have there Uncle Mark, why don’t you......yes sir”
“Good boy”
Mark walked out happily from the shop and Leonard went back to his computer, full of worry for his Uncle. He wondered how it was even different from the gift he got her. Chuckling to himself, he continued working.
The morning trickled into the afternoon and after attending to customers all morning, he went for a lunch break. There was a food court in the trade center, which all sold meat dishes, what werewolf would be vegetarian?
Unluckily, Leonard was craving a salad, so he went to a location opposite the food court, a quaint little restaurant humans visited because they were sick of staring at meat all year round.
The restaurant was full of people eating and chatting away. He sat at a free table and ordered a salad and a small-sized veggie pizza, taking a lemonade before his order came.
His view was soon blocked as a tall, vaguely muscular female wolf sat in front of him. She had long blonde hair, which was obviously dyed, lip piercing on her round lips, green eyes, an abundant rack, and long legs. If she were human, she would make a beautiful model.
“Princess Yasmine, What are you doing here?” He asked, surprised. There were some werewolves who visited vegetarian restaurants, it seemed.
“Leo, I think…...my gift is broken”
“What do you mean it’s broken? Did you use it?”
“Well, I tried to but then my brother walked in at the exact moment…... Let’s just say he broke it for the trauma I gave him” she replied sheepishly.
Leonard didn’t know what to say.
“I have another one put you’d have to pay for it”
“Pfft, little Leo, do you really think I’ll pay for it?”
“Eh?”
“My brother is going to buy it with his own money and bring it to me. That’s his punishment. He’s coming over this afternoon. He’s a bit awkward with strangers so take good care of him, my lovely shopkeeper”
“Yasmine, I don’t think awkward is the right word, I mean, he was glaring at me”
“Glaring at you? What are you talking about? Tristan is an absolute darling. He won’t just glare at you”
“Your darling broke your gift”
“Sure, his temper is erratic and he may look imposing with his height but I often hear he’s an angel compared to me”
“Yasmine, no offense, but everyone is an angel compared to you”
“None taken. You’re totally right. However, Tristan is the good kid. You know I have 10 siblings right?”
“10? How come I’ve never seen any one of them?”
“You’re never around. How can you meet them? Look, honey, I’ve got to go deliver some reminders so I can get presents on my birthday. Take care of my darling”
“Yasmine, wait!”
Her long legs were apt at walking because she soon disappeared from his view. He hit his head on the table and weirded the server who came to deliver his food. He couldn’t even be happy over the delicious food and walked glumly to his shop, praying the prince wouldn’t have arrived yet.
The heavens were unfair because he stood right in front of the shop, staring intently inside. Catching a whiff of Leonard’s scent, he looked back and saw the incoming glum shopkeeper.
He wanted to ask what was wrong but since he would be prying as he was a stranger, he just gave him a nod. Confused, Leonard returned the nod and opened the door.
The shop was empty, save the two of them. Tristan took his time browsing the shelves while Leonard returned to his seat, watching the prince on his monitor with the CCTV. This first-time customer……...was a little bit troublesome.
- Writer
