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Mon 27th Feb 2023 02:29

Bull in the China shop

by Alex Hilltopple

It was a peaceful morning at the shop. I opened up like normal , dusted the counter tops, opened the windows, made sure the floors were swept and the sign hung just as mom taught me to do here. Mrs. Fletcher came in to pick up supplies for her garden that came in. I offered to walk her home because the were heavy but she brought the cart that day knowing how much she ordered. So I helped her load up her cart and she drove off. There were a few travelers as always, faces that come and go, none you really bother remembering because you probably won't see them again.
Plenty of folk see themselves as adventurers these days. Not many make it out alive, always doing something dumb like yelling at a dragon, or stealing an owlbear's young. I've seen plenty come back without limbs, forced to find some other means of work with what remains of their lives. Sometimes I look out the window hoping to do something else instead of this, but I remember those that pass through here never to be seen of again. Mr. Genji came by to drop off the mushrooms he promised mom for her potion making. We don't carry anything fancy, it's hard to find ingredients to more of the harder potions, but what we do have is simple and easy enough for mom to make with her practiced hand.
I wonder if Craig found us a fight for tonight. I rub my shoulder absent mindedly as I think about the night before. We fought another duo for the grand prize, I keep polishing my new lamp every chance I get. Everything else I have has a bit of dirt on it always, but this I want to keep clean. It proves that I'm not just a lug head, I can accomplish something.
A new customer walks in, I don't recognize him. Must be another adventurer. I should greet him.
 
"Hello there! Welcome in. Can I help you find something."
 
"No, just looking around."
 
"Oh, we stock most of our stuff behind the counter here, all of the bigger stuff is labeled, it's mostly food and grain though."
 
"Oh, well, the innkeeper said that you carry potions, what do you have?"
 
Something is off here, they aren't making eye contact and their hood is up. I peak out the window out of the corner of my eye, it's still a beautiful day out there.
 
"Let's see, I think I only have a potion of healing and half a bottle of bolstering. I'm afraid some of it spilled the other day."
 
I offer him the potions on the counter but not far from my hands. I don't feel right about this one.

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  1. Bull in the China shop