Tales From a Second Hand Wand Shop- Book 1: They Were the Best of Gnomes. They Were the Worst of Gnomes.
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Nulu shook her head and eased sideways through the door. It closed behind her dutifully. She put Drimblerod down. He shakily stayed on his feet. “Can you put Grim on the cot in the back?” He asked as he laid Rat in front of the now cold stove.
“Sure thing, Drimblerod,” she said as she moved through the curtain.
Drimblerod sat on a stool, put his head on the counter and promptly fell asleep.
Nulu ducked to get through the curtain and entered the living area of the shop.
Dummy had its back to the curtain and was waving a wand at an upturned box.
“What in the lands?” She mumbled. “Hey, should you be doing that?” She asked Dummy.
The wand flared a yellow light into the box. He put it into a can with a sun painted on it. He turned his head to see who had entered the work area. When he faced Nulu, his head went from her to the limp Grimbledung and back to her. He flailed his arms then brought his mitt hands up in front of his face in a boxing pose. He made a couple of jabs then gestured for Nulu to move closer.
“Relax you ... whatever you are. He’s drunk and I’m just carrying him home” explained Nulu. “Where can I put him?”
Not changing his stance, Dummy jabbed at the cot.
“Over there, huh?” Nulu moved over and put Grimbledung not so gently on the cot. He continued to snore. Nulu turned to Dummy who stood disapprovingly with his hands on his hips. “Still not happy?”
The dummy appraised her for a moment, then gave a thumbs up. He moved his hands in the shape of an hourglass. A very large hourglass. Then he gave her another thumbs up.
“Oh for the love of ...” She started, “you’re all nuts. Completely barking mad,” she continued as she moved back past the curtain.
The Dummy waved approvingly at her. Exiting to the front of the store, Nulu saw Drimblerod asleep on the stool. Deciding he was safe there (it was a short drop if he tottered over) she went to open the door. It was locked. She rattled the catch but it made no difference. Nulu let go in an exasperated sign and peered over her shoulder to make sure Drimblerod was fast asleep. He was snoring softly. She bent over, putting her hands on her knees, “Who’s a good door? You are! Please let me out, Door. I just dropped the boys off and now I’m leaving. You solid, nice door.” It did not seem to move so she continued, “Such a safe and strong door. The best on the block, yes you are. Let me go, you wonderful door,” she finished.
The catch of the door clacked as it opened.
Nulu straightened and shook her head. “What have I gotten myself into?” She asked as she reached for the handle.
Quietly, she opened the door and slipped past it. As she stealthily shut it, she heard Rat chuckling. With a sour look on her face, she returned to her pub.
And immediately raised her prices by a copper.