Hulder and Mouse
Ray discovers thrifting
===
Ray Goes Thrifting
Ray was in the thrift shop with Kuri and Kit. Kit pointed to the shelf, “There it is pops, what do you think?”
“Pops? Aren’t you a bit old for ‘pops’?”
“What do you think of it?”
“I think you were right not to touch it. The thing is not exactly a trap, but it carries a compulsion. You are bound to help those who sent it along.”
“So you know what it is?”
“Sure, I’ve seen them before. They are a kind of scout, a preparatory plan for those who are coming.”
“Who is coming Ray? Are we in for another fight?”
“Not yet, but maybe. These fetishes are usually sent by refugees. Spirit beings who are fleeing from hardship. Now, if whatever they are fleeing chases them here, we may have a fight.”
“So if someone picks one of these up they will just want to help the refugees? We’d do that anyway, right?”
“Oh goodness, look at this, it’s a mask from Indonesia, oh a whole bunch of them. Wow, they can really churn them out.”
“Ray...”
“And look at this display, there’s tea cups from all over the world, but they’re all blue. Isn’t that cute.”
“Ray you’ve never been in a thrift store, have you?”
“No, I’ve never thought to come look. Wow, those shoes are brand new, who buys this stuff and then gives it away?”
“Ray can we get back to the topic please. Where do these fetishes come from?”
“I’m not sure, Kit. The last time I saw one was about two hundred years ago in Japan. The Ainu bear spirits were being run out of Hokkaido. They moved to Siberia.”
“So there are bears coming?”
“No, not here I wouldn’t think. Not in Guelph. Maybe further north where there would be room for them. The little brothers are about all the wildlife this town can handle.”
“The coyotes. Would there be more of them coming?”
“I don’t know, probably not, they wouldn’t need to prepare the way, they’d just move into the area. Anyway, coyote aren’t very good with their paws, these fetishes are too delicate for them.”
“So who is coming?”
“I don’t know, love, I’ll ask around. Oh, look at the art supplies, a whole bag of acrylic tubes. Do you want to get those for Dave?”
“The George supplies him with everything he needs, Ray, put it back.”
“Let’s check out the jewellery, you two must want some new bling don’t you?”
“Ray!”
“OK, OK, but I’ve got a debit card just burning a hole in my pocket.”
“Thrift store rules say you can walk back out if there are no treasures.”
Kuri tugged on Kit’s sleeve and pointed to the artwork. Ray saw it instantly, a woodland print of wolf and lynx. He picked it up and led the way to the checkout counter. “My treat, this almost looks like you and Okami posed for this.”
“Thanks Ray.”
Later that afternoon Ray was sitting in the lunch counter with Art. “There’s some fetishes in the thrift store that would seem to indicate that we’ve got another wave of refugees coming Art. Have you heard anything?
“The George wants to add 30 floors to the basement, it says there are refugees coming.”
“Well we’d better keep our eyes open. The George would know I suppose.”
“Should we go ask Ken about it?”
“I hear he’s got a new beer, so I suppose we have a responsibility to go sample it.”
As the pair went down the stairs, Mike shook his head. “What have you heard Liz?”
His partner poked her head out from the back room where she was arranging the supplies. “It’s the usual from down south, the Puritans have gained power again and are going after everybody else, not just spirit beings.”
“Puritans?”
Liz sighed, “Half the original Europeans to the place were religious refugees. The other half were believers in the enlightenment. The place never really got over that split, all the later immigrants sorted themselves into the two sides. When the enlightenment folks are in power, the place runs on the rule of law. When the Puritans come to power they try to make the place a kingdom for themselves alone.”
Mike, a seer, a man who could see the spirit beings just grunted. “I don’t get it.”
“Of course you don’t, love, you can see those who are different and not be afraid of them. Fear of ‘the other’ doesn’t really register on you.”
“But I’m often...”
“Before you say it, yes I know you’re afraid of some of the spirit beings around here, but not whole classes of people. That sort of proves you’re on the tolerant side of things. I mean some of the beings around here are actually scary, it’s OK to be scared of them.”
“Well, to be honest, as I get to know them I’m not as frightened of those beings either. Like Megan.”
“Dude, you thought she was going to eat you until you found out she never had the intention. That was Jim playing tricks.”
In the bar, Ray and Art were enjoying yet another pint of the new brew. Ken wandered out to say hello. “Have either of you touched one of those fetishes you told me about?”
Ray shook his head, “Should we?”
“How are you sure it’s a preparation for the refugees?”
“Well it looks the same...”
Ken kept looking at Ray.
“Just let me finish my beer would you please, then I’ll go.”
Ken nodded and went back to his office.
Ray looked over at Art, “So partner, you want to go to a thrift store?”
“A what?”
“Oh it’s a wonderful place, junk all over but the hope of a real treasure, something someone threw out without knowing what it was. Oh and books inscribed ‘with infinite love forever...’ that have been chucked into a box and donated. Such a lot of fun.”
“You just want me to grab one of those statue things.”
“Well, yes, I’ll be there to make sure nothing bad happens.”
“Oh yes, that always works out so well.”
~~
Kim Taylor Feb 21, 2025

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