I push open the door
the bell sings out:
Ringalingaling
The old woman behind the counter
eyes me suspiciously,
and I want to say
“I’m not going to break anything”
but instead I wander.
It’s quiet as I pass the pots and pans
the strange china imps and goddesses
run my fingers through the jewlery.
A look at the lady tells me not to try on the funny hats
so I pass them by
wandering,
till i find what I’m looking for
that I wasn’t even looking for
till I found it.
She smiles an affected little smile
as I lift her from the shelf.
From her smug expression,
you’d think she’d found me.
I check the tag
head over to the suspicious old lady,
who seems relieved that I’m leaving.
We walk out together,
her nestled under my arm
heading home with a new treasure
excavated from
glares
tags
hats
pots
and rings,
finally unearthed
to see the light of day
once more.