I was four or five when I got it. My parents and I were our monthly day together. We were not very wealthy and my parents worked most of the time... So once a month we set aside a day where we would walk around town and hang out.
That day in particular was strange in itself. Nothing really should have happened with it being a little cloudy with a small chilling breeze. But a random stranger with blonde hair and blue eyes came up to us and offered us ice cream. My parents had refused but the lady took ahold of my mother's hand and dragged her to the nearest ice cream store and she bought us some anyway. Then, not long after that incident a street performer, who was doing magic tricks at the time, gave both my mother and I, a flower. He had handed my mother a bright yellow carnation and tucked a white rose and a small forget-me-not into my hair.
(If anyone gets what these mean you get a shout out)
After all of this havoc my Father was on edge along with my mother. And me? I was giggling and skipping. Having the time of my life. You see I really didn't get much attention with being an only child and my parents constantly working. So for a small child like me I was ecstatic just have the smallest amount from other people. Mom didn't like this and was trying to hurry us home as quickly as possible. Me being the stubborn child I was, dragged my feet. We had taken a different route home then usual to see different parts of the city, when I saw it.
It was a old store with green paint and gold letters written in calligraphy for the sign. The first thought that came to my head when I saw it was.
'It should be in a old western movie or a pirate movie.' I walked to the old dusty windows and peeked inside. Inside was even older. With maniquins that looked like they belong to the 18th century and hats that also looked like they were from that era or older.
Sometimes I think back and wonder what would have happened if I hadn't have entered through the door to see what else there was. That I hadn't have looked in its slightly dusty windows. That I just shrugged with uninterst and kept walking. But I didn't, and I did stay. I did enter.
Inside was very dusty but everything seemed brand new. The old cash register to the tall shelves and paint. Like it had never changed. Like it had been locked in time. In all honesty that alone should've sent alarm bells off in my head, since I was a sensible kid and trusted my own gut more than my parents. But it didn't, and I stayed.
My parents had rushed over from the other side of the street to join me as I started to wonder into the store looking at the different hats. Nothing really catching my eye. There was big and small hats and some with gears on them. They were cool and all but not quite interesting enough. So I continued to look and wonder until something did.
It was a shelf like any other, it was polished the same and it was tall as the others. But it had a small door with a bright golden knob. The golden knob seemed to beg me to open it. It looked like it was dusted almost hourly and looked more faded than the others.
I approached the door slowly and was about to open it when a old gravily voice called from behind me.
"Hey! What are you doing?" I turned and looked up at a old greying man. He had thick brown hair and a mustache that had grey streaks in it. He also had bright green eyes that seemed to twinkle with old memories and mischief. He wore a bulb hat with those 18th century gear goggles and light grey shirt with a pine tree green apron. I smiled at him and greeted him
"Hi my name is Angel! I just saw this door.... Is there a hat in there?" He was so taken aback by my warm greeting that he took a physical step back. He stared at me for a long moment before smiling and kneeling down to my level.
"My name is George little one, and yes there is a hat in there... Would you like to see?" I nodded eagerly and he turned towards the door and opened it very carefully. When it was open he brought out a beautiful top hat. It was all black including the band that held a deconstructed clock and a purple stone with a simple white feather. On the inside it was peach and had three small letters stitched inside. AGW. I had no idea what they stood for. But it was beautiful.
George carefully set the beautiful thing in my tiny hands. I took it very gently and set it on my head. It fit perfectly and immediately I felt the urge to take it with me. It felt like I had found apart of me that was missing and I had finally found it. There was no way no how I was going to leave it behind. George seemed to notice and he smiled warmly at me.
"It will be five dollars for that hat, Angel." I nodded and determinedly grabbed his hand. I dragged a surprised and shocked George to my equally shocked and surprised parents.
I introduced them to George then he explained the situation.
"Oh honey we don't have the money.... And your birthday is coming up soon... Don't you want a dolly or a party?" My mother cooed and I shook my head.
"No. No girl likes me and they won't want to come. And I don't want another dolly. I don't like dolls. I have told you this!" I huffed. She sighed.
"But honey girls don't wear hats... Especially top hats. Only men do." She reasons. I growled under my breath and said.
"Well I'm not like the other girls! I like playing with the boys and playing pirates." She was about to speak again but I continued. "This could be a early birthday present to me! And I will give up my allowance for how many months it takes! Please can I have this hat." My mother glared at me and was about to raise her hand to strike me but my father set his hand on her shoulder.
"I agree to it Angel.... Just don't come complaining to me when you don't get your allowance for awhile." I smiled and hugged him.
"Thank you daddy!" He chuckled and hugged back.
Before we left I gave George one last hug, promising that I would be back to visit. As we walked down the street I had turned and waved goodbye to him. He was watching me go and he waved back, smiling sadly before walking back into the store.
That was the last time I saw him and the store. It was like they disappeared... Like they never existed.
YOU ARE READING
Time limits (a Wilford Warfstash x Reader)
FanficI started out small, like everyone. I didn't always have everything. I didn't have him. I didn't have fame. I didn't have much money. At a very young age I knew I was different. I was quiet, but often very straight forward and more determined then m...
