Running Through Rivers

Chapter Six

Chapter Six - Cassidy's POV

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"Come and join us when you've grown a pair," I stated, grabbing Sophie's hand and our bags, and quickly turning away from Austin, who was slumped against a tree.

I pulled Sophie along as I left the park and walked out onto another street. Now, where the heck was I? I saw a shop across the road and ran over, even though my legs were killing me.

The bell above the door jingled as I pushed on the glass and entered the shop. The were one or two flickering light bulbs that hung from the tiled ceiling, and a few aisles were scattered in the small space, mostly filled with books. I walked up to the counter and tapped the small bell labeled 'ring for assistance', as Sophie became mesmerised by the fish tank in the corner. No reply. I rung again. Still, no reply. Sophie tapped on the glass, trying to get the fish's attention, and I was just about to ring again when a voice suddenly cried out.

"Don't tap the glass!" An old man appeared behind the counter and waved his walking stick at Sophie, who ran over and hid behind me. I turned to the man.

"Excuse me, sir. Do you know how to get to Foxten road from here?"

The man stroked his beard, well, the place where his beard would have been if he actually had one. He nodded.

"Yes. I do."

I stood there and smiled encouragingly, but the man seemed to have stopped.

I gestured for him to carry on, but he just looked at me, remaining silent.

After realising he wasn't going to continue, I spoke again, "Uhm, could you possible tell me how to get there?"

The man blinked at me. "Only if you buy something first, I ain't no tour guide."

"Oh." I smiled awkwardly, "You see, the thing is, we don't really need anythi-"

"No sale, no directions. Sorry missy."

I ground my teeth together. "Please, we just want to know-"

"No can do, I'm afraid," the old man interrupted, "Buy or be gone. That's the motto, see?" He pointed above his head and, sure enough, a tattered sign on the wall read:

'PJ's Emporium. We only want your money, so buy or be gone.'

"How...interesting," I said, nodding my head like I actually cared.

"You going to buy something, or..." the man hinted.

I turned around, grabbing the first thing I saw, which was an old looking book, and dropped it onto the counter.

The old man smiled, showing off the small amount of remaining teeth. "That'll be £4 please."

"£4?!" I spluttered, but handed over a £5 note. He gave me back a pound coin and I stood there, expectantly.

"Oh! Foxten road, right. That's just opposite here. You were standing on it just before, actually. I saw you across the road from my window."

I clenched my fist. "I just spent 10 minutes and £4 so that you could tell me to GO BACK ACROSS THE ROAD?!"

The man chuckled uneasily at my outburst, and stepped back slightly. "Um, shop's closed! Sorry!"

And, with that he disappeared into the back room. I growled, grabbing the pound coin and the book off the counter and leaving the shop, Sophie in tow.

I muttered profanities and walked back across the road, noticing the sign post declaring the words: Foxten Road.

I grimaced, and began walking down the street, looking at the letterbox numbers.