Crossing Boundaries

Furniture Shopping and Painting

Sang was examining the display of lamps and coloured lights while Gabriel was arguing with the salesperson about colour schemes for the wall. Gabriel wanted rose coloured lights placed on the walls and the salesperson was arguing back that they had nothing like what Gabriel described. Sang sighed, they were getting nowhere with this. Gabriel was so adamant; he had a perfect image in his head of what the bedroom should look like and he snapped at anyone who questioned that. They've been trawling through three stores looking for furniture, deco and the like and have come away with very little. She hoped the boys back at home were having more luck.

"Gabriel, I think maybe we should call it a day..." started Sang.

"No, I have one more place in mind. I think you'll like this place. Don't worry, I've saved the best for last," replied Gabriel, taking Sang's hand and dragging her towards the exit.

The place Gabriel took her to was a hidden shop in a rural area. It looked very posh and exclusive. Sang gulped, wondering how much thing were going to cost in this place.

When they entered the shop, a woman stepped from behind a counter and greeted Gabriel like a long lost friend.

"Mr. Coleman, what a pleasant surprise. I was wondering when you'd come in here again."

"Geena, it's been too long. This is Sang, we're here to look at some items; I hope you can help us?"

"Of course, what do you have in mind?"

The woman barely spared a glance at Sang; her eyes were on Gabriel alone. While they were talking, Sang glanced around the shop. She couldn't believe her eyes. This was the most magical, whimsical place she'd ever stepped in.

The shop was full of colour and light. Every space was stuffed with strange objects and art. There was artwork all along the walls, depicting weird and wonderful worlds and sights. There was a whole wall dedicated to cat decorations. There were furniture piled on top of each other, some that she had no idea of what they were. This shop was like a place a fairy would live in.

Sang walked around, fingering everything and letting her eyes take their fill. Gabriel and the woman walked behind her and continued their conversation. Sang was only half listening.

"I see what you mean, Mr. Coleman. I think we can find most things on your list."

As the woman left for another section of the shop, Gabriel turned to Sang grinning wide, "well, what do you think?"

"This place is amazing, I never knew anything like this existed," Sang said with an awe in her voice.

"I know, we're lucky to be able to come here, not many people know about it."

Gabriel showed her around. There were so many things to explore. "Pick anything you like," Gabriel said.

"I don't know where to start."

After an hour, they finally left the shop weighed down with packages and bags. The rest of the furniture would follow after them in a van.

"I can't believe how much we bought, and I can't believe how cheap they were," Sang said.

"Geena and I go way back. We got a big discount on these things," replied Gabriel.

"Huh?" Sang wondered how far they went back.

"I used to work here, when I was very young. The boys and I had just joined the Academy and I needed a place to escape to." That was all Gabriel offered and Sang didn't want to pry anymore from him.