The Time Travelers Bookshop

Part 1

The air was hot and the sun was burning my skin although it was only 8 am. I rode my bike to the old book shop that an old lady held, and I was meant to be helping her this summer to run it. Soon, I came in front of the store, I could barely see inside due to the dirty windows. I leaned my bicycle on the wall and opened the heavy door.

''Miss Potter? It's Anabelle, I came here to help you. Your daughter sent me.'' I looked around the old bookshelves and piles of boxes, and saw miss Potter sitting in her chair behind the desk. She was looking at some old photos.
''Oh dear, its you. Come on in.'' The old lady spoke, hand gesturing me to come closer.
''Is there anything I can help you with?'' I stood in front of her with my hands in the pockets of my worn out short jeans.
''You can get those books out of the box and put them on the shelves if you don't mind.'' She pointed her finger at the back of the room where a big box lied.
''That won't be a problem.'' I nodded.

The box was heavy and it contained a lot of old books. I started arranging them on the shelf that was empty. I coughed now and then from all the dust. Mrs Potter has left for her coffee with her neighbour, mrs Granger and left me alone to finish.

I would occasionally look through the books, most of them were cookbooks and manuals, nothing too interesting.

When I came to the bottom of the box I found something that seemingly didn't belong there. It was a wooden chest. It had a little golden lock, and was obviously locked. I shook it a bit, but no sound was heard. I presumed it was empty and put it on the table so I can ask miss Potter what it is. I finished my work when she came back. In the meantime I forgot about the chest.

She sent me home saying there is nothing more I need to do. She thanked me by offering the cookies she made.

As the summer passed, I would spend every morning helping the kind old lady with anything she needed help with. One day, I was cleaning the windows, I needed an extra rag, so I snooped around the store for mops. I found one in the bottom drawer of and old cabinet, but what was under that rag was more intriguing. A little key was glistening on the sun. I remembered the little chest I found some time ago. Who knows, maybe this is the key that opens it. I thought.

I took the chest the table where it was located, and put the key in the keyhole. I was pleasantly surprised when the lid of the chest opened. My imagination raced as I was about to open it.
Maybe it's an old necklace or a map..
I was like a little child opening a Christmas present.

There inside of the box was coushined in red, cashmere cloth, and lying on it was a diamond.
A purple, violet crystal glistened on the sun.

While I was admiring the beauty of it, I heard the bells on the door, so in a hurry I picked up the crystal from the box and put it in my pocket. I quickly showed the key and the box on the bottom shelf. I wasn't really sure why I did it, but I didn't mention anything to mrs. Potter that day.