More Than A Mask

Eight O'Clock

Chapter Six

Amanda's POV

The tour around the store ended at a small table.  The old man offered me a seat and poured me a glass of tea that was sitting in the middle of the table.  Ice cubes clanged as they hit the bottom of the glass and floated to the top.

"So what is it that you came to find?"

"I wanted to find a mask-."

"Like a scary mask or a masquerade mask kind of thing?" he interrupted.

"Masquerade."

"So what is it that you came to find?"

I looked up at him.  He had just asked that.  For a second I though the old man must have Alzheimer's or something, but then I looked into his eyes and saw their clarity.  They were not dazed, not befuddled, and not confused.  They shone with youth and happiness.  But still, I couldn't believe that he would ask the same question twice on purpose.

"I told you, I came here to find a masquerade mask."

"No.  You came here to look for a masquerade mask, but you came here to find something else."

Now I was the confused one.  I came here to find a mask, didn't I.

He continued, "You came here because you were looking for yourself.  Yourself, which you lost in all of the hustle and bustle of looking for a mask." he paused for a moment to take a sip of tea.  The ice rattled again as he set the glass down. "A mask that you are looking to hide behind.  But behind the mask is where you will find yourself, not here."

We sat there for a while, the silence weighted with the truth of what he had said.  After a short time I felt his eyes upon me.  I looked into their endless depths and found myself thinking that I didn't even know his name.

"I'm sorry, I've been rude... I'm Amanda Cade." I stuck out my hand.

"You've been rude?" he laughed, "And I guess that that makes me something worse.  It's not everyday that I get a pleasant young lady such as yourself in here." His eyes turned sad.  "These days I don't get many people in here at all."

My hand was still hovering above the table and he still hadn't told me his name.  I coughed politely, not wanting to disturb his moment of unhappiness.  But melancholy was not something that he was used to and he bounce right back.

"I'm Dale Avery, owner of this pleasant abode!"  He shook my hand softly yet firmly with his small hands which held the same youthful energy as his eyes.

"Well I'm pleased to meet you."

"Same."

Suddenly the room filled with the chimes of many clocks.  Some dinged, some tolled, and some chirped like birds.  But although each was unique, they all had something in common.  They all rang eight times: it was eight o'clock.

"I should go."

"You can't! I mean no, you didn't even get what you came for."

"I really should go.  My mom's going to kill me if I don't get back soon."

"But what about your mask?"

"I didn't see any when you were showing me around the store."

"Ahh, but who says I showed you the entire store?"

A slightly devious smile lit up his face.  "Come."  He waved me to follow.  He led me to the back of the store and to a door that I didn't notice on the tour.

"Through this door is where I keep my most important items.  Close your eyes."

I let my eyes drop, but couldn't help peaking just a little as he opened the door and propped it open.  I squeezed them shut again as he came towards me and grabbed my arm lightly.  He led me through the doorway and we wound our way through what seemed like a maze of things.  We came to a halt.

"Open your eyes!"

I opened my eyes and they grew wide in amazement."