The Toy Shop

Sunlight hit Charlie’s face, waking him up a lot earlier than he’d ever normally want to. He was on holiday, but his body clock was still on school time.

As Charlie groaned, rubbing his eyes. Once they were properly open and adjusted to the light coming in from the windows, he screamed, and shuffled back in sudden alarm. Thargox was standing right above him, an inch away from his face. In mimicry, Thargox also backed away, stumbling over the bed frame and flipping onto the floor.

Breathing quickly now, Charlie managed to calm himself down.

“Don’t do that.” Charlie said, his breath was still coming in short, sharp bursts, but his heart rate had at least gone down something resembling normal.

“Do?” Thargox said, clearly confused at the request he’d made. The Gonk jumped back onto the bed and stopped a little bit further away this time.

“Just. Just don’t stand so near me when I’m asleep.” Charlie said, wiping the sleep from his eyes. He hoped that Thargox would understand, or if he didn’t, that he’d follow the command anyway.

“Gonk gonk.” Thargox said, and gave what looked like a smile.

Unsure whether or not The Gonk had understood a word he’d said, Charlie quickly got dressed into the same clothes as he always wore, and made to leave his room.

The only problem was that Thargox tried and follow him. The Gonk wobbled forwards on its short legs to stand next to Charlie’s ankle.

“No stay.” Charlie said, pointing back to the bed. He couldn’t have anyone finding out about Thargox. If the Gonk wasn’t just a figment of his imagination, and Charlie was not yet ready to discount that possibility.

“Gonk protect.” Thargox declared, looking up at Charlie expectantly.

It was like having a very loyal puppy. But this puppy could not be allowed out into the world. So, Charlie looked around, hoping that he was alone, and quickly closed the door. They might be safe in the lodge, but there were still people here that couldn’t know about Thargox.

“Look. Nobody can see you. And I’ll be fine. Trust me.” Charlie said smiling and made to leave, before turning around. An idea had come to him, a way that he could be left alone, and a way for Thargox to feel useful. “Stay here. And erm, protect my room.”

A moments silence whilst Thargox seemed to ponder the compromise. Then.

“Gonk gonk.” Thargox said again. This time, when Charlie went to open the door. The Gonk state put by the end of the bed.

“Does Gonk gonk, mean yes?” Charlie asked.

“Gonk gonk.” Thargox said, and this time he also nodded his bearded head. It was his turn to hammer the point home it would seem.

Charlie jumped the last few steps on the stairs as he always did, and landed cat like on the wooden floor. Straightening himself out, and after putting on his trainers, he made for the door. Before turning back suddenly.

“Mum! Dad! I’m going out!” Charlie announced to the house at large.

The statement had been pure instinct, the usual farewell he’d give whenever he’d went out with friends, or, his heart stopped at the thought, with Holy. That feeling though, was shattered by the slightly slurred voice of Jonah coming from the living room.

“They ain’t here knobhead, remember.” Jonah’s voice called out from the living room. Though it was different, like his older brother was slightly out of it. And entering the living room, Charlie saw why. His brother was lounging on the sofa, and in his slightly trembling hand was a can of beer. “Where are you even going anyway?”

“Just out.” Charlie said, standing by the door. The memory of the previous night still firmly in place.

Jonah simply stared at him. But it was like he wasn’t even seeing Charlie, instead only seeing the wall behind him.

“Where too? There’s fuck all around here.” Jonah asked, before belching out the alcohol.

“Saw a town as we drove in. Gonna see what they’ve got.” Charlie replied. The place stunk of booze. This was obviously not his older brother’s first drink, the empty cans surrounding him were just added proof of that.

“Fine. Just make sure you’re back here before night. Your Mum will kill me if her precious baby is hurt.” Jonah said as he returned to the TV and taking another swig of the can, crumpling it up, and beginning on another.

Charlie shrugged. He didn’t care how drunk his older brother got. In fact, the more so the better. It would give him more ammunition to use when his parents returned later that week. And not giving him so much as a backwards glance, he headed out the door into the cold December morning.

As Charlie rode his bike down the only main road that this town had, he weaved and dodged his way past the small amount of people out walking. All gave him death glares, but Charlie ignored them all, he was a kid on a mission.

What that mission was, he didn’t know. It could, for all his knowledge, be a suicide mission to see how quickly a car, pulling out from one of the side streets most likely, would hit him as he rode down the hill.

 That was until he saw it. Kicking his trainers into the ground, and bringing his bike to a stop in front of one of the shops. It looked like one of the older ones on the street, the windows were mirky, several of the bricks also looked like they were starting to crumble away, and the paint on the sign reading. ‘Lore Keepers Toy Store’ was peeling away.

Steadying himself, as the way he’d brought his bike to a stop had caused him to lurch forward on the seat. Charlie looked around, trying to see if there was anywhere nearby to lock his bike too. Eventually, he settled on the nearest streetlight. And ignoring the annoyed and curious looks from the locals, he headed inside.

The bell rang as the door opened and closed, and Charlie looked around to see what this place had to offer.

The place was clearly old. The word PlayStation probably didn’t exist here. Instead, the place was rammed with the kind of things that old people liked to collect.

That was when Charlie saw them and did a double take. A whole row of Gonks lined the back wall. Just like the lodge when they’d first arrived, they were all different shapes and sizes. Though these seemed to be better kept than the ones back at the lodge.

Rushing over, Charlie stared at the novelty items that he’d previously been talking to.

That was when a frail and elderly voice came from behind him. “Can I help you son?”

Charlie span around at the words, and came face to face with the oldest man he thought he’d ever seen, not even his Grandad had looked as old as this man. His hair was as snow white, his face wrinkled, and he needed a cane to walk at any sort of speed. The name tag on his pristine suit read Simon White, Owner.

“Sorry. I was just,” Charlie tried to start. He guessed it was odd for someone his age to be in here. Despite this being a toy store, it seemed like this place was catered for a much older clientele.

Simon, however, was batting away the apology before it could be given like it was nothing.

“No need to apologies my son. I don’t get many people your age come to my store you see.” Simon said, and giving a toothless smile.

“Right?” Charlie said, confused somewhat. Sure, on closer inspection, this place was clearly not for someone of his age. But from the outside, it looked like an ordinary toy store, surely some people his age might have mistakenly walked in.

“I see you’re admiring my collection of Gonks. Are you interested in purchasing one of them?” Simon asked, gazing at the collection as well.

Charlie shook his head. One was more than enough.

“No, I’ve already got one thanks.” Charlie replied, not wanting to sound rude by just saying no.

But the old man would not be dissuaded.

“Oh, you can never have enough of them. They bring good luck and protection to the owner.” Simon said.

Charlie remembered the way that Thargox had planted himself against the door the previous night. But he didn’t want to sound insane by telling this man, who was basically a stranger, that he had one that had come to life. So, he chose to play dumb.

“Protection?” Charlie asked, making it sound like he was curious.

“Oh yes my boy. They are fiercely protective of their owners.” Simon replied, sounding pleased that he had someone to talk too. Charlie had the feeling that whilst the old man might be the owner of this place, he didn’t get a lot of opportunities to talk with people.

“You don’t say.” Charlie said, trying his best to hide the sarcasm. Luckily though, Simon didn’t seem to have picked up on it.

“Yes. And furious to those who threaten them.” Simon said, a frown crossing his withered brow.

This took Charlie aback for a second. Thargox seemed like he wouldn’t say boo to a ghost. But then he remembered what had happened when the Gonk had found out that Jonah had been picking on him. And how that peaceful nature had seeming vanished. Only to come back when Charlie had insisted that Thargox not attack anyone.

He was about to ask more on this point. When an irate looking man came down the aisle towards them. Just like the old man, he wore an ornate suit. But unlike him, he had none of the warmth.

“Yes. Forgive an old man’s ramblings. I shouldn’t be filling your head with nonsense like those old stories.” Simon said, bowing his head and sounding like this was a treat that was very suddenly about to be taken away from him.

“No. I like nonsense. My Dad and older brother say my head’s full of it.” Charlie said. Sure, they might use worse language than that. But if it brought the old man’s spirits up, it was worth it.

Simon’s eagerness returned like a tonne of bricks.

“Then my boy. You have come to the right place. This place,” Simon gestured around his store, the light returning to his eyes with every passing second. “This place. Is the place for people with heads full of nonsense.”

Before the old man could continue however, the man who Charlie guessed was the old man’s son just by looking at the similar features, comes up. There was no name tag on this man. He looked like the stereotypical big businessman looked like. The one that always came into the story with the plan to tear down the beloved town lost puppy home or village orphanage, only to put up a boring, grey office block in its place.

“Dad, we’ve talked about this. You can’t be telling your stories to the Customers, you’ll scare them off.” The Man said, shooing Simon back towards his own part of the store. Then the man turns to Charlie, who backs up “So sorry sir. Normally he stays behind the counter.”

“It’s no-” Charlie started. He’s meant to say that it was no problem. Anyway, he wanted to keep talking with Simon. But his son was no longer listening. As he was walking away to where Simon was tottering along.

“Just go behind the counter and stop harassing people.” The man said, half shoving the elderly man towards a dinghy looking counter that looked like it was the original that came with the store.

Charlie looked at anything else in the store in embarrassment. That was until the son returned to him, Simon now fully secured behind the counter, where he was talking to a young girl. Charlie couldn’t get a good look at her. She had his back to him.

“Are you going to buy anything then?” The man said, arms folded and glowering down at Charlie who only shrugged. Though this was not the correct thing to do apparently. “Well. This isn’t a hang out place for youths. If you want to do that, we have plenty of other places in this town.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Charlie said. He now fully decided that he didn’t like that man, not one bit. He had been heavily leaning that way since seeing how he treated Simon. But now he was sure of it. He did not like him. And Charlie got the feeling, that that feeling was mutual.

As he was halfway towards the exit, he felt someone tap his shoulder. Turning, expecting to see that man back to ask why he was taking so long leaving. He was instead surprised to see the girl that had been talking to Simon.