Ideal Imaginations… my first short story!

Claire and Luna had waited forever for this day; when their moms finally allowed them a night at the Millcreek Mall alone.

“Thank you, Mom!”
They’d chorused quickly before their mothers changed their minds, and smiled as they declared,

“Pick us up at eight-thirty.”

So now it was seven forty-five, and they had not found what they were looking for. Claire and Luna had always wanted a night to shop together, eat at the mall diner, and search for the perfect friendship jewelry. So far the necklaces were too long or too short, too plain or too chunky. Claire thought the “Best Buds” jewelry was too babyish for fifteen year old girls. Now, they had just about given up hope. But then a new store seemed to appear right before them.

“Ideal Imagination Jewelry Gallery.”

Claire breathed. Luna nodded vigorously. Yes, this would be the place. They stepped inside. Little bells tingled, and the girls found themselves in a plain, bare room; with only a light bulb overhead and a tiny piece of paper on a square of carpet. Claire and Luna stepped closer.

Close your eyes, and imagine how you’d picture the gallery in your mind. Think of a place that you love, find interesting, or you would believe is full of magic.

Without hesitation, the girls shut their eyes and breathed in deeply.

Claire imagined crimson, gold, dark green, and deep purple walls. Many pillows were everywhere and bells hung overhead. She was thinking of an Indian shop, so ornate yet comfy. Incense was burning and tambourines jangled all around.

Luna thought of a quiet room of light blue. The floor was paved with seaglass, and crinkly curtains billowed from tall windows. Sea mist gently blew through the gallery, and dew drops sparkled on tiny swirls of sand.

“Lovely imaginations!”

A woman’s voice crooned.

The girls blinked back into reality. The real gallery was in jewel tones; with seaglass paved floors, soft pillows all around, and tiny bells tinkling over head in a sea misty breeze.

“Cool!”

Luna squeaked.

“Why are we here?”

Claire asked suspiciously.

The mall entrance was nowhere to be seen, nor were any doors or windows, for that matter.

“You are here because you wish to be. Because you have pure hearts, and wild imaginations.”

“Now,”

The woman’s voice paused.

“You are here for… friendship tokens, no?”

The girls slowly nodded.

“Then, let’s see…”

And the girls could’ve sworn they felt someone listening to their hearts and trying to read their minds.

“Ah, yes. Luna, the quiet, sensitive one, and Claire, the shy, curious, loving friend.”

A tinkly humming surrounded Claire and Luna and, suddenly, they were wearing bangle bracelets.

Luna’s was silver, and Claire’s was gold. Both bracelets looked well battered and tarnished, yet still were beautiful. Both had three charms; a clover, a fortune cookie, and a tag that read, “Wishes of the imagination can come true.”.

“Goodbye, loves.”

The woman whispered, and suddenly Claire and Luna were standing outside of a vacant spot.

Pac Sun Coming Soon!, a sign read. The girls looked to make sure their bracelets were still there. They gleamed back. Claire grabbed Luna and they race to the mall question center.

“Excuse me,”

Luna said to a man.

“Yessss?”

“Do you know of a store called, “Ideal Imagination Jewelry Gallery”?”

Claire asked.

“Nope. Neva heard of it.”

“But—”

Luna started.

“Listen, kids.”

The guy chomped on his gum.

“I have more important business, ya know?”

Claire and Luna slowly turned away.

Ten feet away, a woman smiled at them. And the girls knew exactly who she was.

“Never distrust your imagination.”

She whispered to Claire and Luna on a sea misty breeze. Grinning, the girls knew she was right.

~THE END!~ ♥