A Christmas charm

Ripping paper off gifts is the highlight of my Christmas. Hearing Betsy squeal in delight as she opened her new Barbie doll my heart filled.  I’m happy and I can see that Paul’s happy too.  Just the three of us this year, no hassle from family and friends, we can spend the day relaxing.

Watching Paul unwrap his new sweatshirt and art books, he nodded and proceeded to check the pictures. Passing me a small square box I was prepared to hear the words I had wanted to hear for so long, but this didn’t happen. He stared at me smiling as I opened the box, looking at the charm, a silver cat with diamonds for eyes, looking back at me, my stomach sank and I held back my tears.

“Em, it’s for your bracelet, it’s a charm, I got it from that strange shop that you love.”

“From Mrs Zintalis?”

“Yes, her, what’s wrong.”

“I’m intrigued by it, but haven’t you heard the rumours? Putting the charm on the table, I picked up Betsy and held her close.

“Why what’s wrong?”

“Paul, people say she’s a witch, is that charm safe?”

“Em, don’t be daft.  The charm might have a history as I thought her goods were usually second-hand so more character and possibly more valuable.”

“I’m sure its valuable but I’m scared of it turning me a funny colour or cursing me”.

Grabbing my tablet, I asked Google for Mrs Zintalis, whilst Paul watched me anxiously.  Just a normal little back street shop.

“Maybe Em, you shouldn’t be worrying over daft chatter”.

Two weeks later

The day that the Christmas tree comes down I always feel a little sad.  Removing the tinsel and baubles and placing them with the tree back up in the loft, it really is the end of the festive season.  I was in the loft when a jolting pain when through my wrist. Yelping I dropped the tree, and looked at my wrist. What did this mean? The silver on the charm bracelet was warm and the cat had turned a strange tinge of green.

It was then that the loft disappeared from around me and I saw a busy street.  Paul was walking towards his office, I guess walking back from the cafe where he often has his dinner.  As I watched I heard a screech of brakes as Paul stepped into the road. As if playing in slow motion, I saw his body hurled into the air and then crash down on the bonnet of a blue Land Rover. Pulling my phone from my trouser pocket I dialled Paul’s number, as he answered my heart lurched

“Hi, where are you?”

“Bucks Cafe, why? “

“Stay where you are, Betsy is with my mum, I’ll be fifteen minutes, please go nowhere.”

“I need to get back to the office.”

“Not today you don’t.  Order more tea, I’ll be there soon”.

Hanging up on him, the bracelet remained warm. Surely, I wasn’t going mad here. Climbing down from the loft, I questioned what I’d seen.  I’m just a normal person with romance in my heart wanting to be with the man I love.  Why would I have seen this message? For a long time, I have been wary of Mrs Zintalis and her curious shop.

A rescue

Running out of the house, I climb into my old battered Citroen, all the way looking out for a blue Land-Rover. Approaching North Street where I saw the incident I slowed down.  Seeing the family on the pavement I observed the girl with a pink shining ribbon in her blonde hair.

Thinking again about the cat charm I finally reached the cafe and parked the car.  As I walked in, Paul looked up at me and waved. Relief washed over me, there he was safe and well.  I ordered myself a mug of tea before sitting down opposite him.

Reaching out for my hand he asked,

“What’s happened?  Why can’t I leave?

“It’s the cat charm, I think I had a premonition.  You were hit by someone in a blue Land Rover.  I think you died”.

“Don’t be ridiculous, “ he grabbed my hand and smiled.

“I’m not, the bracelet was warm and the cat turned a green tinge.”

Bad news

I jumped as my mobile rang loudly. Reaching for it I saw mum flash across the screen. Answering it I was not prepared for what she had to say and I could hear her crying.

“Em, there’s been an accident.“   I could feel myself going cold, this was my fault. “It’s Libby Reynolds, Em, Joan phoned, she was run over today and killed.”

“Mum, do you happen to know what the vehicle was?”

“Land Rover, why?”

I then had a thought, feeling sick I asked,

“Did she have her family with her?” I thought of her daughter Tess and the girl I had seen this morning with the hair ribbon.

“Yes, she did, they were all at the scene.  Oh Em, little Tess is so distressed, Joan was with them, she says that she’s winding her pink ribbon round and around her arm.”

“Mum I’m just with Paul, I’ll be back soon”.

A blessing or a curse?

So, what was this charm? Was it a blessing or a curse? Thanks to me Paul was alive but a woman was dead and a child had lost her mum.

“I think we need to talk to Mrs Zintalis. We need to know more about this charm and the premonitions.  I can’t keep saving people and killing others.”

“Okay, work can wait, we need to check out that shop.”

“What about mum and Betsy?”

“They are okay, upset but okay, come on we need to know more about what we are involved in here.  I’m glad to be alive but we need to know why this is happening  to you”.

Finishing my tea, I put down my mug.

“Come on then, let’s go.”

 

Written for Blog Battle – Charm

For more see, Miniature dancing men and a mystery