Creed’s Tale: 
The Young Shopkeeper

Chapter 1

               Laney gripped her clutch purse firmly with a gloved hand. With the other she slung a garment bag over her shoulder. The bag hid Mrs. Anders’ dress, one much more beautiful than her own, and a great deal more expensive. The kind of dress you wear in respectable society. Although she very much liked her own dress, simple and white, Laney would have killed to wear a dress like Mrs. Anders’ – a dress that’s meant to be seen. But people like Laney weren’t meant to be seen.

Laney had traipsed to every corner of the city in search of another tailor, but none could equal Creed’s, unfortunately. Laney had hoped she wouldn’t have to come here for a long time, ever again actually if it were up to her. With a sigh, Laney stared at the sign hanging over the modest red front door - Creed’s Tailoring Emporium!

Adjacent to the door behind a friendly round window, a sky-blue cat with black striping soaked in the sunlight. Laney shook her head. The last time she had come ‘round, Mr. Biggles had been banana yellow, and the front door green.

Mr. Biggles noticed Laney standing idly outside, and loosed a giant yawn. Rising to a seated position, he languidly shifted his attention from soaking sunlight, and eyed the young girl in front of his shop through slitted pupils. Something inside drew his attention, and he looked back into the little shop for a brief moment. Strangely, Mr. Biggles then lifted one front paw against the window, and aimed it directly at Laney, almost as though he were pointing at her.

“Ah!”

The door opened with a bang, causing Laney to jump. In the doorway stood the emporium’s acting proprietor, young Magnus Creed. The boy was only sixteen, the same age as Laney, and yet his father had left him in charge of the shop ever since the two of them had arrived in town almost three years ago. In point of fact, Laney had never even once seen Magnus’ father, Master Creed. He arrived in town with his son to set up shop, only to leave immediately for Atlanta to run the parent business. At least that’s what Magnus said.

Flamboyant as ever, Magnus wore vibrant colors, albeit in a rather disheveled manner. You would think that having his pick of materials he’d be able to throw something a little more presentable together. His bright yellow shirt hung half-tucked into blue suspended pants, and on his feet, a pair of leather loafers looked lonely without socks. Laney noticed she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze. Mrs. Anders had kept her away travelling for some time, so the last time Laney had seen him; Magnus had been the same height as she. Now however, he stood well above her, though the process had left him skinnier than a stick.

“Come in, come in!” Magnus grabbed Laney by the wrist and led her emphatically inside. Before she could say anything, he shut the door behind them, and Laney found herself inside Creed’s Tailoring Emporium.

“Mr. Creed, usually you ask a lady in, not drag her by the wrist!” Laney adjusted her cloche hat. It was a habit of Laney’s to do this when she felt uncomfortable. And this occasion certainly met that criterion.

               The little shop never ceased to amaze Laney, despite her discomfort. Apart from a small kitchenette in the corner with a stove and sink, and a dusty little globe in another corner, the shop was filled wall to wall with fabric: cloth of every description, silks, satins, and the like. Great rolls of cloth, lace, and patterned brocades, all in the most vibrant of colors, festooned the shop in gorgeous arrangements. Spools, tapes, shaping materials and untold odds and ends piled over any surface they could find for themselves. Even the ceiling had little nets suspended and bulging with colorful fabrics that threatened to fall through the roping tied between rafters.

               Magnus certainly had a flair for color, although Laney wondered to herself if dying one’s cat wasn’t taking it too far. Laney had asked Magnus before why he colored Mr. Biggles, but he had merely shrugged and asked Laney how she would feel if she had to wear the same outfit every day. Laney glanced at the poor cat on the sill, who seemed none the bothered. 

“Sorry about that.” Magnus spoke not to Laney, but to Barty McCormick, who Laney now noticed standing at the counter. Thank goodness! She wouldn’t have to be alone in here. “It seemed Miss Thibodeaux had been staring at our door for a good five minutes. I thought I’d give her the opportunity to look at it from the other side.” Magnus gave a beaming smile, and Laney flushed.

“I…I was just enjoying the sun.” Attempting to cover her fluster, she changed the subject. “Mr. McCormick, how does your telling fare?”

“Excellent, Miss Thibodeaux thank you. The markets continue climbing!” He knocked on the counter. “Happy markets make happy bankers – say.” He turned to Magnus. “Can you have your cat do that trick again for Miss Thibodeaux?” He let off a booming laugh. “You’ll love this!” He smiled at Laney. Though she was quite fond of Mr. Biggles, Laney somehow doubted she would enjoy whichever trick Magnus and his blue cat were about to perform for her. She had seen quite a few already, and though they were always impressive, today she was not in the mood.

“Would you indulge the man?” Magnus called absently. Preoccupied, he walked through a hanging red curtain into the back room, presumably to fetch something for Mr. McCormick. Laney eyed Mr. Biggles suspiciously. The cat responded lazily to Magnus. Laney adjusted her cloche hat. This was why she hesitated to enter in the first place. Well, one of the reasons. This shop was…unnatural.

               Mr. Biggles hopped down from his perch and sauntered across the store’s floor. He padded his way to the kitchenette along a cleared path through the mess of  measuring tables, sewing equipment, and bolts of fabrics, a path much too small for Laney, but just large enough for a cat. Biggles jumped up onto the side of the stove with the deft precision inherent to all cats. Resting atop the backing of the stove were several drinking mugs. Biggles considered each of the mugs for a moment, and then chose one near the end. He bit down on the handle and carried it in his mouth, setting it down upright inside of the adjacent sink. Laney watched with amusement. She’d seen this one before. As the cat then looked around for the small jug of iced tea, Mr. McCormick stared, mouth agape, next to Laney. Once he’d found it, Biggles rearranged himself, rearing back onto his haunches, taking the jug’s handle with both paws. Carefully, he leaned the jug forward, using the dip of the sink’s lip to balance the container, and soon the drinking mug was filled with iced tea.

               Magnus reappeared just in time for Biggles to finish his trick, and he strode over to the sink. “Tea?” He picked up the mug and offered it to Laney.

“Fantastic!” Mr. McCormick guffawed. “Magnus you should teach him to juggle next. Forget tailoring, you could take him on the road!” Mr. McCormick let off another booming laugh, and Laney swore she saw Biggles roll his eyes.

“Well in the meantime, here are your pants. Hemmed and ready to go.” Mr. McCormick gave an emphatic double take.

“You see? That’s why you’re the best!” He turned to Laney. “I brought these in just fifteen minutes ago, and he’s already done. Marvelous!” Mr. McCormick shook his head, still smiling. He took his pants and headed for the door. “Send the bill to my office would you Magnus. Good afternoon Miss Thibodeaux.” He left Laney and Magnus alone. She looked down awkwardly at her tea, sad to see Mr. McCormick go.

“Now then, what brings you in today? Another emergency from the Anders household?” Magnus looked at Laney sarcastically.

“As a matter of fact yes.” She replied. “I know you may think little of what I do, Magnus, but without people like me, people like Mrs. Anders’ would fall apart.”

“I don’t think little of what you do. I think little of what she does.”

“She…she has her hands full with more important things.”

“Like what? What is she doing right now?” Magnus smirked, causing Laney to flush. Thankfully, Magnus didn’t press the issue. “Fine, fine. What is the emergency?” He waived his hand in the air.

“Well, Mrs. Anders is throwing a party last minute, and she has her heart set on this dress.” Laney reached into the garment bag and produced an elegant, lacy black cocktail dress. Holding it along her chest tenderly, Laney flattened it.

“It looks good to me.” Magnus took it by the trim, and ran his fingers against the material. “Personally, I’d go for a bit more color, but I don’t see anything wrong with it.” He looked at Laney curiously.

“Well… the truth is… you see it’s been quite awhile since Mrs. Anders last wore this dress.” She watched understanding seep into Magnus’ face. He laughed loudly, causing Laney to purse her lips. “I’ve taken the dress to three other tailors across town, and they’ve all told me it’s impossible. But I can’t bear to see the smug look on Macy Williams’ face if I return empty handed!”

“So you’ve come to me for the impossible.” He gave her a cheeky grin.

“Believe me, Magnus, I wouldn’t be here unless I absolutely had to.”

“You aren’t still mad about the park are you? That was weeks ago!”

“Are you able to help me, or aren’t you?” Laney tapped her foot in frustration.

“Not the park… is it the carnival then?” Laney glared at Magnus, not deigning to respond. Magnus took the cocktail dress from Laney; still trying to remember exactly which mistake Laney was mad about, and examined it more closely. “Just how long ago did you say she wore this?” Magnus gave her a look over the top of the dress, which made Laney almost crack a smile, but she fought the urge and kept staring the boy down.

While Magnus considered the challenge, Mr. Biggles drew Laney’s attention, catching the corner of her eye. He shifted on his windowsill, and made a noise like he was clearing his throat. Magnus looked up absently, and the cat turned around and raised his paw to the window just like he did when Laney had stood outside the front door.

“Another customer? We’re quite busy today.” Magnus indicated towards the door, which promptly opened. An older gentleman, maybe fifty, dressed in an all black suit entered. He wore the expression of a young child entering a toyshop for the first time, staring up and around with his mouth agape.

“Oh my, this is more than I expected.” He muttered to himself. “Much more.”

               Maggie caught Mr. Biggles darting across the floor of the shop and into the back room, swishing the hanging curtain as he went. “His tail wasn’t red this whole time was it?” Laney must have been mistaken, but she could have sworn she saw a flash of red on the cat. Strange that he would run away like that, she thought. Mr. Biggles usually seemed so unperturbed by people.

With a furrowed brow, Magnus quickly stepped to the front door. “I was just on my way out sir. Walk with me won’t you?” Magnus quickly opened the front door and indicated for the gentleman to step outside, to which he promptly obliged.

“I’ll have this fixed and delivered to you.” Magnus took Laney by the small of the back and brushed her out the door.

“Oh, well thank you.” Laney hardly got the words out before the little red door shut behind her and the two men were halfway down the lane, leaving Laney to wonder what exactly had just happened.

Chapter 2

               Laney flung wide the lavender door and rushed inside. Under normal circumstances, she would never presume to enter so unceremoniously, but such was her distress. “Magnus the most awful thing has happened!” But she stopped short. When she stepped into the little shop, the man she’d seen enter on her previous visit stared at her with a confused and startled look. Today he wore a different suit, though still all in black. Laney turned a bright shade of pink. It was for this very reason that she never normally burst into rooms unannounced.

“Are you all right my dear?”

“My apologies sir, I had no idea you were here.”

“I suppose not.” The gentleman gave a chuckle. “Mr. Creed, you’ve got quite an energetic one here. Best keep on your toes.”

“Yes I’ve tried taming her, but she’s proving difficult.”

“I beg your pardon!”

“There, you see. Far too polite; go back out and come in yelling again.” Magnus threw Laney a teasing grin.

               Laney didn’t appreciate being poked fun at, especially in front of a stranger. “Please sir, go ahead. I can wait.” Laney offered the gentleman. She could wait with Mr. Biggles, whose fur had transformed to fiery red, and who was eyeing the stranger with serious, apprehension. Strange to see Biggles so unnerved. It was a far cry from his usual aloof demeanor. He really didn’t like this gentleman. Laney looked to Magnus and noticed a similar discomfort in his body language. Though his voice gave nothing away, she could tell he was nervous. Laney adjusted her cloche. She didn’t think Magnus could get ruffled, at least, she’d never seen it happen.

“No need miss, no need. I’m merely here to peruse.” The gentleman moved over to the small globe in the corner of the room.

               Magnus kept an eye on the man as he moved through the shop, and Laney caught him give a signal to Mr. Biggles when the man’s back was turned. Biggles hopped down from the ledge, silently, and padded into the back room of the shop through the hanging curtain. As he passed, Magnus dropped a small ribbon, which the cat casually picked up in his mouth.

“Did you just…”

“How can I help you Miss Thibodeaux? Magnus cut her off. “I believe you said that the most awful thing had happened. Was there a problem with Mrs. Anders’ dress?”

               The strangeness of the situation melted away from Laney’s mind as she remembered the reason she had come in the first place. “Oh, no! It fit beautifully, and she was so pleased, especially since she didn’t know it had been altered. And I was so excited that I went to show it to Macy Williams to rub it in her face – because Macy had been bragging about Mrs. Martel’s dress for so long you see. Well she was so angry about the dress, because of course Mrs. Anders’ was so much better than Mrs. Martel’s, that… Oh, I don’t know how she did it, but I know it was her, who else could it be?”

“What happened?”

               Laney was on the verge of tears at this point. “She ruined it!” Laney pulled out what remained of the lacy cocktail dress from her garment bag. Silently, Magnus took the former dress from Laney. “I’m so sorry Magnus, you must have worked so hard to make it fit, too!”

Magnus frowned. “She must really hate you to go this far.” Magnus held up the shredded remains, letting the sunlight peek through the newly formed empty spaces.

“What am I going to do, the party is tonight! Mrs. Anders will be furious with me.”

“Can’t you just explain that Macy destroyed the dress?”

“I can’t prove anything, and she’d blame me anyway.”

               Considering the dress for a moment, Magnus’ eye glinted. He cracked a wide, wolfish smile. “Wait here.” Magnus rushed into the back, making all sorts of noises from behind the hanging red curtain. Magnus often did this when he got excited. He would disappear to the back of the shop, many times forgetting that Laney was even there. He would reemerge after long periods of time covered in paint or dye, or holding some kinds of contraption startled to see her standing there. Usually, whenever Magnus disappeared like this, Mr. Biggles was around to keep her company. This time however, Laney found herself alone in the shop with the strange gentleman.

               He had moved during Laney and Magnus’ conversation, around the perimeter of the room, stopping at this or that to take a closer look. At each stop he would mutter to himself, “Extraordinary” or “How did he even do this?” The gentleman never touched anything, but took great pains to examine each of the objects from every angle, running his hands just along the outside, in a hovering caress.

               Laney adjusted her cloche.

“Have you seen this?” The man exclaimed, turning his head to Laney and pointing at the small globe. He had made it full circle around the room. It was a rather small shop after all.

“Do you collect?” Laney guessed; the only reason she could think that a person might be so interested in a dingy globe.

“Collect? Oh, no. Come, take a look at this.” Laney very much didn’t want to go near the strange man pointing over-excitedly at a glorified map, but her more polite instincts forbade her from being so rude as to refuse such a simple request. Tentatively, she approached the corner of the room, avoiding the tangle of fabrics and debris along her path.

“Come, come! Look.” The gentleman waived Laney closer. He stepped to the side, so that the two of them could fit into the small space. “This is no mere globe my dear.” He hovered his hands once more over the top of the sphere and breathed deeply. “Can’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?” Laney leaned closer. The old brown globe looked as ordinary as any; too ordinary, in fact, for Magnus’ tastes. For all the pomp and circumstance in the little shop, this tiny piece stood out for its mundanity. Laney didn’t doubt that Magnus might keep a globe, many people did, but for him to keep something so brown and dingy was very strange indeed. Laney reached out to touch it, but the gentleman’s hand shot forward wrapping around her wrist.

               Fear jolted through Laney as she wriggled to break free, but the man held firm. “I wouldn’t touch it if I were you. Don’t know where you’ll wind up.”

“You’re hurting me.” Laney tried to remain calm.

“I’m curious what he sees in you. Like this globe you seem so… ordinary.” Laney’s heart raced, and she began to panic. Mr. Biggles leapt to the shelf beside the two of them and bared his teeth to the man, hissing. Laney noticed a small brass spherical ornament hanging around Mr. Biggles’ neck in place of where a collar might normally be attached. The man let go of Laney, not out of fear, but curiosity. Undisturbed by the cat’s aggression, the man moved his face closer to Biggles, enraptured by the creature. “What exactly has he done to you? I’ve never seen something of this magnitude.” He reached a hand forward, which began to shake the closer it got to Mr. Biggles.

“That’s quite enough Mr. Finch.” Magnus reappeared from behind the curtain. He strode over to the globe and casually spun it, to the man’s surprise, and then lifted Biggles from the shelf, placing the cat on his shoulder. “I’d ask that you not frighten my customers.” Magnus steered Laney by the small of the back to the middle of the room. Then he reassured her, “He’s not dangerous, only overeager.”

“Mr. Creed,” Mr. Finch grew excited. “I’ve never seen such exquisite craftsmanship, and from someone so young! Think of what you could learn – with my specialty, what we could accomplish!”

“I’ve heard your offer, and I told you I would consider it.”

“Consider… Mr. Creed you must know this is highly irregular. For us to come to you is almost unheard of!”

               Though Laney couldn’t follow the conversation, anyone could see Mr. Finch was growing annoyed with Magnus, a feeling she wasn’t unfamiliar with herself. Considering the manner in which the man had treated her, she hoped that Magnus was only being polite. Surely he wouldn’t consider anything this man offered.

“Miss Thibodeaux,” Magnus addressed Laney, “I’m afraid even I can’t remedy the dress on such short notice, but you said the party was tonight, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“In that case, this should do.” Magnus produced an almost identical dress to Mrs. Anders’.

Laney gasped. She couldn’t believe it. The only difference between this dress and the original was the color. This one shone silver, dark blue lined with sequins. “Magnus it’s magnificent! And you think it will fit her?” She took the garment from Magnus, holding it up to the waning sunlight in the window.

“Almost certainly, although she may feel a little airy in it.” He flashed a strange, mischievous smile.

“Magnus, I don’t know what to say. Thank you! Thank you!”

“Go on. You’d better hurry and explain all this to Mrs. Anders.” Magnus walked back over to the globe in the corner and casually touched it with a finger.

               Clutching the new dress to her chest, Laney emitted a slew of gratitudes as she rushed from the little shop. Magnus threw his eyes to Mr. Biggles, who quickly slipped out of the door before it slammed shut. Once it did, Magnus swiveled around, his mischievous smile remaining.

“Alright, convince me. Tell me more about this school Mr. Finch.”

Chapter 3

               This time Laney knocked. And this time the door was blue and Biggles, pink. Magnus’ voice called from inside, and Laney let herself in. She carried Mrs. Anders’ dress inside its garment bag.

“Miss Thibodeaux, how are you? How did the party go?”

               Laney had meant to play it off casually, but she couldn’t help herself. She skipped over to the counter. “It was wonderful! You should have seen the look on Macy Williams’ face – she just couldn’t believe it!” Laney leant forward on the emporium countertop. “And then the most astonishing thing happened too.” Mr. Biggles turned his head from the windowsill to hear what Laney had to say.

“Oh, what happened?” A smile escaped the corner of Magnus’ mouth.

“Well, right when Macy and Mrs. Martel arrived, someone spilled ink all over Mrs. Martel’s beautiful gold dress. Ruined it completely, and I mean right at the beginning of the party. Everyone saw too because she had just arrived, and they were all looking to see what she was wearing and whom she came with. But somehow nobody saw who did it; it was all anyone could talk about. I mean it couldn’t have been an accident – who brings ink to a party? But all they could find was this little capsule.” Macy held up a tiny brass sphere that split at the center into two pieces.

               Maggie switched her gaze to Mr. Biggles, who quickly turned his head away. If Laney didn’t know better, which she thought she did, it was the gesture of a guilty cat. “You know” Laney said coyly, “I think I remember seeing a brass sphere just like this around Mr. Biggles’ neck yesterday.” She walked towards the window, watching Biggles pretend he didn’t see her approaching.

               Laney bent over and whispered into his ear, “Did you save me yesterday my little hero? Did you really do such a thing?”

“Well it sounds to me like Macy got what she deserved.” Magnus called from across the room.

“And then, stranger still, I went to get Mrs. Anders’ dress pressed this morning, and all I could find was this.” She reached into her garment bag and pulled out the dress that Macy Williams had shredded. “You never gave this back to me yesterday, and the silver dress you did give me was nowhere to be seen. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you?”

Laney looked up and caught Magnus smirking. She ran across the shop and threw her arms wide embracing Magnus. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before letting go. When she did she saw his ears had turned the same color as Mr. Biggles. “I don’t know what you did or how you did it, but thank you!” Laney said as she pulled away.

“Oh hang on I left a little smudge.” Laney laughed and used a gloved thumb to wipe her lipstick from Magnus’ cheek. Just then the door to the emporium burst open, and Mr. Finch stepped through the threshold.

“Mr. Creed! All set to go? Ah, not quite yet from the looks of it.” Mr. Finch lifted his hat to Laney. Confused, Laney looked around the store. Everything did look a bit tidier, but not too out of the ordinary. Laney found that for once she could see the floor in places she couldn’t remember ever seeing it before.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“Oh yes.” Mr. Finch answered. “Mr. Creed is coming away to stay with me.”

Laney’s heart caught in her chest. “For what reason?”

“Why, to study magic of course. Hasn’t he told you?” All Laney could do was stare. “Ah, I suppose that’s a no.” Mr. Finch walked over to the corner of the room. “I’ll just be over here then.”

Laney directed her confused stare at Magnus who wore a sheepish expression. “Before you say anything, let me explain.” He walked up close to Laney.

“You’re leaving?” Laney’s breaths quickened. She didn’t know about any magic, but she understood what going away meant.

“Yes, but… hmm how to explain.” Magnus furrowed his brow, and then perked up. “Here let me show you something.” He took Laney by the hand and walked her over to the little corner globe. “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you pick?”

               Laney looked between the dingy little globe and the boy smiling like an idiot, and started to get angry. “I don’t care about your stupid globe, Magnus! Tell me right now why you’re leaving with this man, who…who…” Laney stopped short of saying what she really thought of Mr. Finch, who stood across the room examining a pair of scissors with utmost fascination.

“Just, humor me would you?” Magnus spun the globe slowly. “Pick anywhere you like and touch it with your finger.” Laney huffed, but did as she was told. Without really thinking she put her finger on Venice, the first city that caught her eye.

Magnus shook his head and laughed. “You would pick one of the places I haven’t gotten around to yet. You’ll have to pick somewhere else.”

“Magnus!”

“Come one, pick. There must be another place you’ve always wanted to visit.” Thoroughly irritated, Laney took a moment to think this time. Paris. She always wanted to go to Paris. Squinting, she found it on the globe, and touched her index finger to it. The moment she did, the entire shop went dark, startling Laney. The sunlight pouring through the window completely disappeared.

Once more, Magnus dragged Laney by the hand, this time to the front door. Pulling it open, the sight  took Laney’s breath away. Lights dotted the landscape. The sprawling city of Paris lay out before them, illuminated by moonlight and electric lamps.

Laney retreated inside the shop. “Take me back!”

“But you’ve barely seen anything! We haven’t even gone into town. They play the most beautiful music at night.”

“I want to go back.”

“We could go somewhere else.” Magnus suggested.

“I said take me back now Magnus!” Somewhat abashed, Magnus quickly touched the globe, and light returned to the shop.

“What just happened? Tell me what’s going on!”

“I can use magic.” Magnus stated plainly. “This shop is my base of operations, and this globe transports me to other places with Mr. Biggles.”

               Laney looked at the pink cat for support, but to her surprise he spoke. “It’s true.”

“Oh my goodness. You can talk too?” Mr. Finch ran over to the cat, excitement bursting, while Laney jumped backwards in shock. “I knew the enchantment made you smarter, but you can talk! What else can you do?” But Biggles ignored him.

               Laney verged on tears. It was all her body knew to do at the moment. “Is that what happened to the silver dress you gave Mrs. Anders’? Shaking slightly, she still clutched Mrs. Anders’ shredded dress.

               Magnus nodded. “I didn’t have time to make a spell to repair it, so what she wore was merely an illusion. It most likely faded shortly after the party.”

“First thing we need to teach you is a little tact.” Finch chimed, shaking his head. “How about starting small? Make something disappear, make some fire. You don’t just transport someone to Paris!”

“Ignore him.” He winked at Laney. “She gets it.”

“No I don’t get it!” Laney’s voice rose. Laney couldn’t process Paris or talking Mr. Biggles or whatever was going on right now. “Magic isn’t the issue. I always knew you were different, and that strange things happened around you. But you’re leaving, Magnus, you’re leaving! That’s all I care about. Why even tell me all this. Why not keep lying and say your father called you away to Atlanta, or just disappear?”

               Magnus blinked, confused. “I thought that was obvious.” He turned to Biggles for backup, but the cat rolled his eyes. Mr. Finch mirrored the action across the room. “I want you to come with me of course.”

“Go with you? I… I can’t.” It had never dawned on Laney that Magnus would ask her such a thing. “Mrs. Anders, she needs me.”

“Good. She may even realize that once you’re gone.”

“We’re unmarried! What would people think?”

“We can get married if you like.” Magnus suggested with a shrug.

               Laney struck the boy on his shoulder. “Magnus that is not how you ask someone to marry you!”

“See I need you around to tell me these things.” He took her by the hands. “Think of all the adventures we could have. Paris is just one stop.”

               Laney didn’t know what to say. How was she supposed to give an answer to something like this on the spur of the moment? “What about my family?” Laney blurted. She almost forgot about them. “Papa would have a heart attack if I disappeared forever.”

“We’re not conscripting you. You can come back whenever you like.” Mr. Biggles’ purring voice called out soothingly. Mr. Finch put his face right up next to the cat’s as though he were trying to figure out how the inside of a clock worked.

“Exactly!” Magnus ran to the globe. “Once I find a breech and connect it to my globe I can visit a place whenever I want.” Smiling, Magnus grew serious for once. “I just want you around.”

“We both do.” Biggles added. Laney’s heart swelled, and silence filled the room.

“It’s settled, then!” Mr. Finch rubbed his hands together.

“What? No, I…” Laney protested but Finch interrupted.

“Oh, come now. At least come see the place. You heard the cat: change your mind, and we’ll zip you back here lickety-split. He turned to Magnus. “You have everything?”

               Nodding, Magnus waived his arms. Surrounding Laney, the little shop disappeared. The bright fabrics and materials hanging above the room disappeared, transforming into small dirty rugs. The stocked corners vanished, leaving cardboard boxes behind. The colorful walls faded to dull white, and in an instant the beautiful little shop disappeared, leaving Laney standing in the middle of a lack-luster storage room.

“What…”

“I’m quite good with illusions.” Magnus grinned. “Everything I really have is in these bags.” On cue, two large bags floated from the back room though the hanging curtain to land on the floor next to Magnus. “Shall we?” Magnus offered Laney a hand. Hesitating only a moment, she took it. Once she did, Mr. Biggles jumped onto her shoulder.

“Mr. Finch.” Magnus rested the globe in the middle of the floor, holding it by the base. “The world is yours.” He and Laney stepped back.

“No Mr. Creed.” The man all in black carefully turned the sphere. “It’s ours.”