Chương 3: Chapter Three

I owned little, so packing was easy. A suitcase of clothes and then two more, one full of books and the other my bedding. I was broke while in school, so I kept things simple. I paid my rent through the end of the month, but my roommates wouldn't have a problem finding a replacement. It was cheap. I needed to remember to let my family know that I found a job, but I wanted to wait until after I got settled in first. The taxi dropped me off in front of the bookstore and was gone in a flash.

It took a hot minute to get everything inside. The door made a racket with the back and forth of getting my bags inside. There were several other suitcases sitting by the door, the ones that were upstairs yesterday.

"Meow," said the cat. He appeared as soon as I set my first bag down as I went back out to grab the rest. He seemed to sniff everything before padding back to the counter and jumping up near the register. Realization dawned, I didn't know the shopkeeper's name. The owner had been Mr. Cearnachain, but the shopkeeper had mentioned he wasn't the owner.

"Ah, Sable, you're here. Good, good. I have a flight to catch. I don't want to be late." He appeared out of nowhere from behind one bookshelf.

"Wait, what?" Panic rose. Today was supposed to be for unpacking and training. Not being thrown into the deep end. A horn honked outside. He grabbed a bag and set it outside the door.

"The extra copy of the paperwork is on the counter, near the register. Feel free to bring your stuff upstairs. The room has been cleaned and straightened."

"But…" He really was leaving me here. In the really cool bookshop with the awesome coffee machine. I grabbed one of my bags and moved it closer to the counter. The espresso machine seemed to glow. I needed a coffee to handle this.

"Do you want any coffee for the road?" Hopefully, he would slow down, and talk.

"Nope." He moved another few bags outside.

"I'm good to go." A stack of papers was on the counter, and I pulled it closer.

"Are you sure? Caffeine is important."

"I'm sure. Good luck, and I hope your years fly by."

"Wait, years?" But he was gone with suitcases in each hand. The door closed softly behind him without any response. The contract was only for one year, though I didn't grab the paperwork just yet. I breathed deeply. This was actually happening. The cat jumped onto the counter next to the pile.

"Looks like it's just you and me bud. Time for some coffee." The beautiful red machine was calling my name, and I patted it on the top. The contract could wait. Caffeine was first on the list, second was checking the paperwork.

"We are going to get to know one another so well. Hmmm, let's start with a cappuccino."

"I would like a cappuccino as well, extra foam. This time in a teacup, please." The metal cup to froth the milk tumbled out of my hand and I spun around. What the heck? The cat was staring at me.

"Use the teacup, so I don't get my whiskers covered in foam," echoed in my mind.

"I don't want to clean my whiskers again." Stolen story; please report. This wasn't possible.

"You can talk?"

"I am the Cat. You agreed to be the shopkeeper. So yes, we can talk." He ran a paw over his face, then stared.

"Are you going to make that cappuccino?" Nope, nope, nope. I grabbed my backpack and the suitcase handle for my books and headed to the door. I froze. My two other bags were gone. They had been right next to the door.

"I'm not doing this." My hand hit the doorknob and pulled it open, the bells ringing loudly. It was blocked. My hand hit a surface in the doorway. I couldn't get out. I dropped the handle of my suitcase and it banged to the floor. Both my hands ran along the invisible boundary. I spun around in place, glaring at the cat.

"Let me out. Now."

"You signed the paperwork. You are now the shopkeeper for the next year. I thought you said the compensation was fair?"

"Not for being trapped! How are you freaking talking to me? What the actual fuck?" My words came out in a rush. My hands shook, and I didn't know what to do. The cat was somehow talking to me and I held my backpack tight into my arms. This couldn't be real. I had to be dreaming. It was time to wake up. This dream needed to end. The cat jumped down from the counter and ambled forward.

"You heard me bright and clear yesterday, then you made a great drink. The hearing-me part was the most important requirement." He stopped about a foot away from me.

"Come on, you have some coffee to make and need to unpack. Tomorrow is going to be your first actual day on the job. I'll keep it simple." Deep breaths. I wasn't waking up. No one was going to believe me. What was I going to tell my family? I got a job at a bookshop and the cat talks. I knew the money had to be too good to be true.

"Where did my stuff go?" The cat's tail flicked in the air.

"To your room of course. Unless you want to lug it up the stairs. Chop chop, I would like some coffee." The suitcase stayed where I dropped it. My backpack stayed on one shoulder as I skirted past the cat back to the coffee machine. I did not want to upset him. If he could move my bags what else could he do? Where was I actually working?

"What is this place?"

"The Magical Emporium of Wares, of course." I shook my head and set the backpack on the counter. The suitcase had vanished. It must have happened once I took my eyes off it.

"A magical bookstore?"

"Something like that. Any of the teacups will do. Several years ago a friend got them for me as a present." My hands continued to shake as I worked my magic on the lovely machine. What was I going to do now? I couldn't leave, but the money was great, and this place was awesome. This was only a dream, right? The contract was for a year. It had to be better than school. Somehow I would deal with the cat. I poured a shot into the small teacup, then followed with the milk with foam.

As soon as I placed it on the counter he was over to it, lapping it up.

"So you are a cat that likes coffee?"

"Who doesn't like coffee? Cat or otherwise."

"Good point." I quickly made my drink and poured it into the bright blue mug with stars. The mug was sitting in the same spot as yesterday. At least I had superb caffeine. That helped. I sipped at the coffee and took another deep breath. The job paid well but I was stuck in the building. At least for now. The contract had to have more answers, but it wasn't my first stop. The cash register was strange. I ignored the cat as I touched the screen.

It looked like an old-fashioned register with buttons like a typewriter, but there was a screen. It flickered on. The front page had various tabs for inventory, ordering supplies, and checking out customers. At least that seemed normal enough. The ordering supplies section had a grocery spot as well. They better deliver.

"So, you are the one who does inventory ordering, right?" No answer. I peered over in the teacup's direction. Empty, and the cat was nowhere to be seen. Just great. Magical cat, locked in the bookstore, and no more answers. For now, at least, and maybe not for today. I cleaned up the espresso machine and gave it a pat on the head. The next stop had to be the kitchen. I had a quick breakfast on the way here, but lunchtime would be here quickly. Time to see what the pantry had in the way of foodstuffs.

Otherwise, groceries needed to be ordered as soon as possible. Dream or not, I just had to do the best I could. I hoped it would all seem normal soon enough.