Evil Eye

She came in smiling and cheerful.  She asked for books about magnolias.  I said I don't think I have any specifically on magnolias.  "Here's one on orchids,"  I said pointing, "Magnolias might be included in the books on gardening, but you look, there might be something."  I noticed her several necklaces, and told her I thought they were very attractive. 

She fingered a ruby colored strand and held up two petal-like flat beads.  "These are made for praying when you cover your eyes," and she cupped them over her eyes.  "And this," she said, touching a large flat silver piece with a hinge, "this has prayers from my Koran in it."  I nodded, respectfully.  The third had no significance.

She spent some time looking at the flower books, which are on the lower shelves, so she is kneeling.  Finally, "These," she said, "how much are these."  She pointed to a set of four volumes.  Opening volume one, I showed her where I price the books.  "It is $150 for the set."

There is no date on the set, but a former owner in a charming handwriting of the period signed her name adding 1893 after it.  The set is green with gold lettering and a black floral design decorating the front covers. The edges of the pages on all three sides are gilt.  Yes, over 100 years old, and the four books look like new.  The name?  Dictionary of Gardening An Encyclopaedia of Gardening by George Nicholson. 

She asks, "What is your best price?"

This it happens rarely, but I am prepared.  I answer, truly, "I price them as low as I can.  That's the price."  She wheedles.  "It's for a gift.  To somebody very nice.  I really want them.  Can't you do better?"  Very reluctantly, I say, "All right.  I can give you 20% off."  She persists.  "That's not enough.  You would be doing such a good thing.  It would make her so happy, and it will make you happy to be doing such a good thing."  She continues on, persuasively.

Was I hypnotized?  I said, "All right.  You can have it for $100."  When she said, "No, I can't pay that,"  I woke up.  "Sorry," I said, "That's the best I can do."

She said, "Nobody will buy these except me.  I am the only one who will buy these books."  I said, "Let me explain.  I only buy books I personally love.  They are mine until someone buys them.  If nobody buys these books, they will remain mine and I will be very happy." 

She looks up at me.  She says, "There is a name for people like you.  It is not a bad name.  But there is a name for people like you."  I stare back at her, kneeling there.

I walk back to the office which has a large open window to the shop.  "Are you catching this?" I whisper to Heidi.  Heidi says she only heard her say she is the only one that will buy these books, and that wasn't nice.  I say in a whisper, "I mean about a name for me.  Well there is a name for her, and it is a bad name."  The woman looks up at me.  Can she hear from so far?  Do I care?  She gives me a fierce look and gets up.

I walk back in, dissembling, "We are having computer trouble.  Are you good with computers?"  She replies, "I am an expert with computers," and turns to leave, saying, "Good luck with your computer," and she's gone.

I say to Heidi, "I am so glad she didn't buy the books.  What was I thinking of?"  And I stand in the book store suddenly feeling very agitated.  There are bad vibes in the store.  "Heidi?  Do you feel it?  There are such bad vibes in the store."  She doesn't feel it.  I am exceedingly agitated.  I rush to the front door to stand outside in the sun and I breathe deeply.  I close my eyes, and ask the sun to cleanse me.  I hold the door of the store open to freshen it.  It is cold outside,  but I stand there until I feel well again.

I recount this eerie experience to my husband who says, cheerfully, "I feel that way when I'm in a house that has a lot of cats.  Maybe she has a lot of cats."  Oh for Pete's sake.

I tell it to a man who walks in the next day.  Why?  I don't know - he's a stranger.  He nods.  "I went with a friend to an Expo for mind-readers, card-readers, all kinds of fortune tellers.  I didn't get far into the room and I felt a darkness, a heaviness.  I told my friend I had to get out.  He said that we came from so far away he didn't want to leave.  I said, I'm choking.  I'm outa here. So I know what you mean."

See?  It's not just because I grew up reading Grimms fairy tales about witches and bad spells.  Yes, it is Out There!  (Spooky music rising in the background.)

---Florence

Comments

[Ellen]

My fantasy ...

Lady.

For YOU, I have a brand new price:

THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

Is that too much?

OK. FOUR hundred. That's my best offer.

Dear Florence, ... next time some creepy creepy CREEP come in your door, with negative energy ... call me. I've got ideas.

Love,
GRRRR ...

[Lauren]

The bad feeling was HER. She left, you aired out the place. Bad feeling OUT! We have a word for HER, by the way...