DEAR UNCLE ROBOT

CHAPTER 2

   Rose peered down at the bunch of cards displayed on the table that was separating her from the man. He seemed to be new to the town as this was the first time she was seeing him. Her mind had tried to stop her from approaching him but there was something particularly interesting about him. And twelve years old Rose was as curious as ever.

     Twin market was bustling this afternoon; A lot of traders and buyers moving quickly, cars patrolled the road every now and then and the stench of meat being butchered, hung heavy in the air like an invisible curtain. She was beginning to get use to the smell though, along with some of her friends and classmates. The route through the market was so far the shortest to the street they all lived at. One or two of them, including Rose herself had been strictly warned to stop taking the route. Several children were disappearing occasionally and the market was believed to be hiding some dark secrets. Rumours has it that it was built over a cemetery.

    Rose and her friends were in a hurry to get home after school this particular afternoon and they had all chosen to take that route and promised to stick together in a group till they got to the other side.

   It was a run down shop standing on its own at the side of the road with a single, scrawny signboard planted halfway into the ground beside it.

      ' know about your future '

  The little girls didn't noticed it at first. They were all busy talking about the new teacher that was recently posted to the school. But then, Lucy accidentally struck her foot against a piece of rock protruding from the ground. It wasn't that bad except for a skin cut on her big toe. Suddenly, everyone was talking about the signboard, including Lucy. They were not too young not to understand what it meant to know about their future.  There were other shops around but this one stood out among them. Creepy looking, they could see bunch of toys on display inside it, along with second hand children clothes, worn out shoes, faded flowers and other stuffs. Just like the other girls, Rose found herself drawn to the shop and that signboard. They glared at it silently for several seconds before Kate decided to break the silence.

     " It would be fun to know my future " She said in a disappointed tone.  " Alas, I spent all my money during break time "

   " Me too " Two other girls said at the same time.

    " Come on let's go " Rose heard herself say and then took a steady step forward. It almost became a stride but she stopped herself and looked back. The others were going the wrong way and they themselves paused to stare back at her, confusion written on their faces.
 
       " Let's go home...right? " Lucy asked. Her face was disconcerted as a result of the pain on her toe.

    " No, I meant in there " Rose replied, pointing with her head.

       " But we have no money left with us " Kate chipped in.

    " We won't buy anything....we would just look around and if we see anything we like, we will save some money and come again to buy it " Rose replied and faced the shop again. It was like it had a voice and was calling out to her. Maybe...the others couldn't hear it..

   " I suppose we could do that " Kate mumbled thoughtfully.

  " Let's go in then " Lucy said and quickly pushed her way past Rose. " Maybe I might see a bandage to plaster my wound "

    They flocked toward the shop and Kate pushed the door open. A bell rang at the top corner and they walked into a small crammed room. Tall shelves stood on both sides fully loaded with children toys and dolls. Beside one of the shelves, a small refrigerator sat on the ground, humming loudly. Several feet before them, a table had been positioned across the room and a book was on it. A clock was on the wall and it struck four as they entered. A lonely white florescent bulb hung down from the stained ceiling over their heads and inches away from it, an old fan twirled and creaked noisily.