A Clog in the Cog

“Um Hello? Can I help you?” For as long as you can remember, you have never seen that store before in your life. Granted, stores pop up here and there every so often but if you remember correctly then it was only just the other day that the building was a hole in the wall pizza place, not an odd little store with an even odder owner.

For a moment the man gives you a confused and utterly incredulous stare before he laughs loudly, “Ah ha that’s a good one John-san! Now please, please come inside so we can do business.”

“Er…I’m not sure ab-“ you begin but in the blink of an eye the man has hopped up from his seat and has grabbed hold of your shoulders, guiding you into his shop with a grin.

“Oh no please, I insist!” You are helpless to stop the man as he pushes you into the store and quickly slides the door closed behind him, “Now feel free to look around John-san while I retrieve your items from the back, it is quite a lot so relax and take your time!”

Like that the man vanishes behind a curtain of beads and into the back room leaving you alone in the main section of the strange little shop with nothing to stop you from turning tail and leaving with the swiftness of the wind. However, while the circumstances might be strange you decide to hang around for a bit…if nothing else it was an amusing pit stop on your way to the corner store.

As the man suggested you casually browse the shelves of the shop, spying numerous amounts of sundried items and spiritual charms as well as more than a few odd pieces of clothing and what looks to be a badge and glove.

You are carefully examining the rather unique looking glove when a soft thump is heard behind you, your body spinning on a dime with the glove in your hand as the man from before greets you with a smile and a massive box, “Ah Johnny-san! Sorry it took so long but some of the stuff in here is fragile you see!”

“Uh…thanks,” you mutter, glancing into the box and spying a few items, “Er…what is all this?”

Chuckling a bit the man points to a large ceramic bottle, pitch black with gold Japanese lettering printed on the side in a rather bold contrast, “ That would be Black and Gold Sake, best in all the world, this one and the next.”

Moving his finger the man points to another small cylindrical tin, “this would be catnip tea, very good for the skin and keeping the creepy crawlies away.”

With a soft chuckle the man moves his hand and points at a small box with what appears to be a pair of sunglasses in them, “a few sets of the finest fashions from Gin Tonbo, guaranteed to block out 100 percent of UV light and a few other perks you just have to find out for yourself.”

Suddenly the man quickly shuts the box, a playful smile on his lips as he flawlessly and silently seals it with a single strip of packing tape, “and the rest…well, I’ll let you find it all out when you get home.”

Raising an eyebrow as the man slides the box over the table towards you, you decide now is the time for you to speak up, “How do I know this isn’t going to blow up the second I open it at home?”

Chuckling a bit the man slides his hands into his pockets, his bucket hat shading his eyes as he grins cheekily, “How do you know that it will?”

With a moment’s hesitation you lift the box, a thing that is surprisingly light given its tremendous size, “you’re a smart ass you know that?”

Chuckling again the man nods, “I’m very proud of the fact.”

“So how much do I-“ you begin but the man waves you off, that grin of his never loosening as shoos you out the door.

“Don’t worry about it for now Johnny-san, I’ll just put it on your tab,” the man gives you a wink and a laugh before you thank him and take your leave…