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"How may I help you miss?" asked a voice at her side. She looked down
and saw a short, somewhat plump woman in a long dark dress.
"I'm curious as to what your store sells? Is it some kind of adult
shop? I don't see the usual slinky things."
"It is and it isn't," responded the woman.
"I don't understand."
"Those other stores sell clothing, massage oils and various devices to
help people create a fantasy. My store is somewhat different. I can make your
fantasies come true completely."
"What? I don't understand how."
"You don't need to really. That's my calling, I create whatever is
needed to make your fantasy a reality."
"Like what?"
"Sometimes clothes, sometimes entertainment, sometimes a little magic"
"Magic?" said Tina skeptically.
"Well, I see you don't quite believe."
"Well, uh, no," Tina felt strange somehow. This made her nervous. "I've
got to get going. Jim's going to be home soon."
"Please," said the woman. "If you want my services at any time, give me
a call." She handed Tina her business card. Tina stuffed it into her purse and
quickly left the store.
* * * *
Over the next few weeks, Tina found herself thinking more and more
about the strange shop. She didn't tell Jim about the shop or her thoughts and
hoped that this strange fascination would disappear. It didn't, of course. In
the manner of all such thoughts, the more Tina tried to forget the shop and
the woman, the more she thought about them. After three weeks, her curiosity
got the best of her and she found herself once more outside the shop.
She hesitantly pushed the door open again and waited to be greeted by
the strange woman.
"Ah, Tina," she said. "You've returned to us. So glad to have you
back."
"Uh, Ms?"
"Just call me Cassie."
"Well, uh, Cassie. Just how far can you take a fantasy? I mean costume
and makeup and stuff? Right?"
"Indeed, but much farther than that."
"How much farther?"
"I couldn't call my store 'Fantasies Come True' unless I could make any
fantasy come true, now could I?"
"Uh well, other stores might and do."
"I don't. Seems unethical to me to promise what I can't deliver."
"Any fantasy?"
"I've not had anyone in here who has ever been in the least
dissatisfied."
"Well, you see, my wedding anniversary is coming up. I was kind of
trying to arrange a special fantasy night for my husband."
"Involving you, no doubt."
"Well, of course."
The woman smiled. She looked Tina over carefully without saying a word.
"What is the fantasy?"
"He wants to make love with a mermaid."
"Does he indeed? And you want to be that mermaid?"
"Yes. Just for an evening, you know."
"Tell me the whole fantasy."
Tina found herself telling Cassie everything from the rock wall, to the
water chase to making love on the beach. She even found herself describing how
the mermaid looked. When she was done, she looked at Cassie, expecting her to
look amused or to tell her that it was too involved. Instead, Cassie nodded
her head slowly.
"It is possible. It will take a few days to arrange it."
"I won't need it for six weeks. That's when our anniversary is."
"Excellent! You'll have everything you need to create and enjoy your
mermaid fantasy. Just keep it hidden until you need to use it. Then follow my
instructions exactly. You and your husband will have a memorable anniversary,
I'm sure."
* * * *
Tina gathered her purse and left the store. She had to get to work as
she was on an evening shift. Somehow, her mind wasn't on shoe sales that
night. She had an irrational expectation that Cassie would phone at work to
tell her that she couldn't arrange it -- or perhaps maybe worse -- could.
--------
CHAPTER 3
The Fantasy
However, it was nearly eight days later that Tina picked up the phone
to hear Cassie's now familiar voice.
"Hello, Tina?"
"Yes. Is this Cassie, the woman from the store?"
"Indeed it is, I have your fantasy arranged. Whenever you want to come
on down, I'll explain how it works."
"I'll be down in half an hour."
Tina wondered what kind of costume she'd have to wear to give Jim his
fantasy. She eagerly pushed open the door and found Cassie with a large cloth
sack at the counter.
"Hello, Tina. I have everything you will need. This fantasy was a
little more difficult than I thought it would be at first."
Uh-oh, thought Tina. That means 'expensive'.
"I don't have much money, you know."
"I know and don't worry about money. I'll let you have the kit. On your
anniversary, use it. If it is unsatisfactory in any way, just return it.
Otherwise, you and I will agree on a fair price at that time."
"Oh," said a startled Tina.
"I've written the instructions down, but I want to go over them with
you. It's very important that you follow them exactly or strange things may
happen."
"Strange?"
"I told you that I used magic. Much of this fantasy will involve magic
as you will be changed into a mermaid for an evening. The sea and shore and
such uses a special illusion magic as well. So listen carefully and, if you
have any questions in the future, you can call me at any time."
"M-m-magic? Real magic?," stammered Tina. "I -- don't know -- uh -- I,"
Tina's voice faded out.
"You don't have to use the magic if you choose not to use the fantasy.
This is what you must do if you choose to use the fantasy."
"Okay, I guess."
"In this blue pouch is a special herbal tea. It limits the effects of
the rest of the magic to eight hours. Once you become a mermaid, you will
remain a mermaid for eight hours."
"And then?"
"You'll change back."
"Oh."
"Make a cup of steaming hot water and put a handful of the leaves from
the blue pouch into the cup. When the steam stops rising from the cup, you
must drink the tea. Without sugar, without lemon, without cream. Any additives [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]