Page 29 of The Vanishing Bookstore
‘Your Aunt Lenny is such a spoilsport; I have no idea why she won’t put on her costume and give the crowds what they want.’
Dora smiled. ‘What do the crowds want?’
‘What does anyone who comes to visit Salem want? A witch, a real witch, one who can levitate and do magic. They want to know that they exist. Your aunts are the real deal, it’s a shamethey spend all of their lives in denial. They could work it for all that it’s worth and then some.’
He took hold of Dora’s hand and raised it to his cherry-red-stained lips, gently kissing it.
‘Miss Dora, you need anything you come find me over at Crow Haven Corner. I live above the pub next to it at the end of the pedestrian walkway. I am always at your service, I’m so happy to see you both.’
He let go of her hand and turned to the crowd watching them.
‘Want a balloon?’
Lenny pushed Dora away from him. As the crowd opened up to let them through, Dora handed the red balloon to a small boy who was smiling at her. They were walking back up Essex Street now, or at least attempting to but there were so many people. As they passed one shop doorway Dora jumped to see the most life-like Freddy Krueger standing still, in his dirty red-and-green jumper and brown fedora. Lenny kept on leading her on. Dora lost count of the number of Sanderson Sisters that they walked past, but she knew she was falling in love with this strange, beautiful little city. Everywhere she looked there were witchy shops selling spells, trinkets, hats, costumes, books and everything else an aspiring witch could wish for.
‘Is it always so crowded?’
‘October is the busiest month of the year; I do think it’s great for the local businesses but dreadful for the people who live here. We have a mutual friend, Ambrose, who usually opens Sephy’s shop up around ten a.m., it’s not really busy until after lunch. I recommend you pop in first thing and introduce yourself to him.’
Dora nodded, and wondered why her aunt was so desperate for her to meet this Ambrose guy.
‘Where are we going now?’
‘To Sephy’s shop. You need to know where she spends most of her time when she’s not home.’
Lenny stopped and Dora knew she was hiding something.
‘What is it with the big secrets you two keep hiding? And who have you got cooped up in that bedroom? I heard you earlier, there were three voices.’
Lenny kept on walking so fast that Dora had to almost jog to catch up to her. They rounded the corner and there was a quaint, very pink shop. Lenny muttered, ‘Oh God, she didn’t.’Dora laughed; it was even prettier than the front of Sephy’s house. There was a garland of pink and white flowers surrounding the door with tiny pink pumpkins and silver witches attached to it. Wind chimes tinkled as Lenny slammed the front door open and stepped inside. Dora was almost disappointed to see the inside of the shop wasn’t the slightest bit pink. It was full of old wooden glass cabinets and shelves upon shelves of glass bottles, there were beautiful crystals in baskets and on the huge pine dresser that filled an entire wall, lots of dried herbs, tarot cards, cups and mugs galore, but not one book in sight apart from a few leaflets. Above the counter was an old-fashioned wooden sign that read, ‘English Sisters & Co.’ Sephy appeared from behind a black velvet curtain and grinned to see them both standing there.
‘Welcome Dora, what do you think of the shop?’
Dora wasn’t quite sure. ‘It’s beautiful, but why don’t you have a sign outside so people know what shop it is?’
Sephy gave Lenny a knowing look.
‘I don’t need a sign, dear. People who need my services know where to come, there is no need to advertise.’
‘Oh, that’s good then.’
She smiled at her. Lenny had crossed her arms and was staring at Sephy.
‘What did you do to the front of it?’
‘What can I say, I like pink and whimsical. I think it suits the shop rather well.’
‘I have no words; I mean, I literally have no words.’
‘Well, that’s good because it doesn’t matter if you do. This is my shop, you left a long time ago, Lenny. Dora, would you like to take a quick peek inside the heart of the place before my next customer arrives?’
She nodded and Sephy held back the soft black velvet curtain for her. She walked around the counter and past the curtain just as the shop door tinkled and three women all wearing pointed witch hats walked in.
‘Lenny, be a dear and cover for me.’
Lenny gave Sephy a death stare and she let the curtain drop, cupping a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles. Dora smiled; she adored her Aunt Sephy’s happy manner and light-hearted way of looking at things.
‘She’s going to kill me,’ Sephy whispered. ‘But, you know, she is half owner, it won’t hurt her to do her part and serve a few customers. Besides, they will buy a jar of tea and a couple of crystals then leave, this isn’t what they’re looking for.’
