Plague Stories

I wake up early in the morning inside my new room. Arthur showed me to a spare bedroom above the store; it seems he and his father reside here. Though it's a very simple room without much furniture or decor I'm extremely grateful for it and the job. Yet I distinctly feel less magic to the beginning of this day than I did when I was back at Rina's. Suppose that can't be helped.

I wash up, eat a simple breakfast with Arthur, and put on the work apron he hands me. We clock in earlier than Arthur normally would "So I can get a head start on showing you the ropes 'round here!" he explains with enthusiasm. I'm glad he took this arrangement so well. Must be hard with his father not being here to manage the store. He walks me through on the wares of the store (mostly household trinkets and helpful-but-basic magical items), shows me how he packages them up, and does some drills of customer service scenarios. Throughout my first day in the store, I feel constantly as though I'm in the way, despite Arthur's great and patient training.

When night comes I eat another simple meal with Arthur, and as we eat I take occasional glances at Charcorn's eye up in the sky. Arthur graciously makes some time to share some of his craft knowledge with me after dinner, and even makes me a promise to do so every night after we finish work. To my benefit, I come to learn that he has a slight proficiency in Mendcraft, despite being primarily of an Aquacraft affinity, and that in games of strategy, such as chess, he's monstrously talented. We follow the blueprint of this day for the next three weeks.

One morning, a girl around my age enters the store. She approaches Arthur at the counter and informs him "I'm here to pick up an order for my dad. The two instant ignition cartons?" he put down his newspaper, and almost spilling his coffee as he spring up from his chair, says "Y-yes miss! Right away!" What a dork. "Here it is. I just need a name for my records."

"Name's Sable!" she grabs the parcel, which is beautifully wrapped in black paper, and turns to leave the store. As she walks past me, I notice she has a broom tucked under her arm. But it's broken in two pieces. I call out to her "H-hey . . . m-miss?" oh my God. Now who's the dork? "Hm?" She turns to face me with a smile "What is it?"

"Your broom--" I point awkwardly. "Maybe I can fix it?" She looks surprised for a moment, then beams a big smile. "You'd do that? Yes please!" And before I know it her broom is in my hands. I instantly feel a wave of anxiety and regret. She didn't hear me say "maybe"? Well, I have to try. Arthur watches us from across the room, an encouraging yet nervous look on his face. I set the two halves of the broom down in front of me, and focus intensely upon it. For several moments nothing happens. I'm about to give up, when I notice small fibres inside the fractured ends of the broom are starting to stand up, and the halves moving slowly together across the table. "Whoooa . . ." Sable exclaims as she watches. After a few more moments the two halves are firmly together, with only a slight seam visible between them, which is also vanishing slowly.

"Sable practically screams "That was amazing!" She takes both my hands in hers in excitement. "Where'd you learn that incredible mending? That would've taken a pro hours"

After she leaves the store, I thank Arthur. "If it wasn't for your patience and the knowledge you shared with me over these past few weeks, I would never have developed my mending this far. And I would never have met that girl today. Thank you so much, Arthur." He looks slightly embarrased and he chuckles "No need to thank me, . I should thank you, you've been an amazing help. To be honest, I was reaching my wit's end handling the store by myself. I can do the work, but doing it yourself all the time gets lonely." I finally make the sad realisation that his father is probably very rarely around.

The next morning, a tall man dressed in a very dignified-looking suit enters the store with a small box in hand. He practically ignores poor Arthur, walking straight past him, towards me. He introduces himself "Hello, I'm Henry. I believe you helped my daughter Sable with her broom yesterday?" I try to conceal a perhaps too-proud smile as I respond "Yes! That was me." He smiles "Perfect; just the girl I'm looking for. You see I have this watch" he opens the small box revealing an elegant golden dive watch inside. "It is very precious to me . . . I realise it's an extremely complex job. No mender has been able to help me with it in the several years since it sadly fell from some height. But I would really appreciate it if someone of your abilities could take a look." Someone's been talking me up, I see. "A-absolutely, sir! I'll see what I can do."

Just like I did yesterday, I place the watch in front of me and begin focusing on it. Moments pass without any noticable effect. Several more pass by, as Henry, Arthur, and I both watch on in great anticipation. By the time several minutes have passed, a small effect starts to become visible. The minute hand begins to move slightly, and some slight scratches on the watch's bracelet and crystal seem to 'polish' away. But I hit my limit and find that I am unable to continue. Right on cue the minute hand stops moving. I feel like a total failure until Henry says "That was quite impressive, young miss. You accomplished more in these past handful of minutes than other menders have managed in full business days."

His words make my emotions do a full one-eighty, and I'm back to grinning with foolish pride. He tells me "If it's agreeable to you, I would like to leave my watch with you. After what I've seen I'm confident you may have it in full working order one day. For now, please take this as payment for today." He hands me a small amount of money from his pocket. "No, please, sir, I can't accept this. I didn't even finish the job for you!" But he won't have it, and insists I take payment for what I did. "At least accept this as a first installment. I'll pay the full amount after it's fully fixed. Deal?" And he reaches his hand out towards me. I shake it agreeably "Deal."

Satisfied with our deal, Henry says "good day" to me and Arthur and turns to leave the store.

Over the course of the next week, I'm given jobs similar to Sable's every day. So much so that Arthur has to expand the area of the store he set up for me, to the point it's almost as big as his counter. One afternoon whilst I'm repairing a glass vase for an old woman who stopped by, Sable burst into the store with her happy swagger. "Hey, ! How's it going? I came to invite you out to lunch. If you're not too busy, that is." she says, noticing my focus as the nondescript glass shards reshape themselves into a rather ornate blue floral vase. "Lunch? That would be amazing!" I exclaim, looking over to Arthur "Would that be okay, boss? If I leave the store for lunch?" He laughs and waves his hand in a care-free way that says "Go for it." I think he's looking forward to being the main focus of this store again for a couple of hours.

"Perfect!" Sable beams "My two friends Katie and Matt will be there, too. Meet us on the corner of Baker Street at one-thirty!"

Mum, as I finish writing this letter to you, I want to express how amazing this year has turned out to be. I enter my fourteenth birthday with an amazing group of new friends, a stable education, work in a profession where I'm highly respected, and I have total optimism for what's next. I'll be visiting home soon with my friend, Sable (she'll fly us!). Can't wait to see you and Books.

Love,