Kind eyes

From afar, the same seemed like any other shop with potted plants guarding the doors and a bell tied to the top of the sign which read "Great Antique Treasure" in bold blue. The front glass, exposing the whole shop to the passer buyers, extended high up to the ceiling of the store until it was covered by the rusty shutter. Through the glass window one could see an enormous shop filled with counters and shelfs holding a variety of delicate items.

The smell of varnish mixed with wood crept up my nose as I entered the new shop filled with old items. I looked from left to right and just two steps away for me was a white fur cushion. I gently passed my fingers through the feather soft fur as I heard a delightful purrr. The snow- white cat turned its back to reveal it's face. Its whiskers were entangled and eyes were dazed as if were in a trance, which it soon came out of as I screamed on the apparent furniture moving.

With a sigh of relief I stepped away from the now disappointed cat. None of the objects seemed to be antiques They all were so well polished and varnished that they did not look even a day old. The charming white shelves were filled with marble lids covering wooden boxes with intricate patterns. Some boxes even held stings of pearls which were once worn around a beautiful woman's neck during her wedding in the 19th century.

The shopping bags were hung at the side of each shelf as if were calling out to people pleading them to fill them up with the items off the shelves. They were succesful in their goal as I stacked around a dozen items in the bag and headed towards the tiled purchasing counter. As I looked up I saw a lady wearing the brightest smile on her face. her eyes were filled with kindness and tenderness and were peeking out of the wrinkles that covered her face. Her forehead was covered by white and grey curls which were heald neatly in place by a pink hair band. Once she billed all the objects she neatly packed them in a small goody bag and handed it over to me.

She started telling me about her life and how she was seperated from her family as she was an immigrant. My heart melted for her as her voice cracked while she spoke. She was immediately distracted by the door bell as she gathered herself and spoke in a hesitant voice "duty calls". I immediately allowed her to be with her customers and went out of the shop. Before I left she asked me to come back a week later as she liked talking to me and I promised her I would.

A few days later I completely forgot about the promise I made and got caught in the whorl wind of assignments and projects. Three weeks later I went back to the same shop. I passed the familiar blue and white tiled walls, saw the same furry kitten and the same marble counter. I looked up expecting to see the very same kind eyes and glowing face but instead I saw a young attractive woman with almond shaped eyes and pink cheeks standing next to a picture of the old lady with candles around it.