Sweet Shoppe

Chocolate Eyes

I remembered the first day I went into that sweets shop. I was around seven years of age. I barely reached the tall glass windows that displayed the fragile delicacies behind them. I was never allowed to wander on the job; Instead, I would glance through the glass windows but never stray from the designated places I was to go to.

One day, I had gone down that same elegant street to deliver a request to the shop owners. The street and the people who lived on it were very stylish and proper. I was a peasant compared to my formal companions. Despite the fact that my job wasn't a spectacular one, I always made sure to keep myself happy every moment of the day. As I skipped around the corner, I made my way down the alley shortcut. I heard something that startled me. Sobbing. It was so pitiful. I've never been one to cry myself except only to sleep. I peered around the alley to seek a boy with his head in his hands. He sat against the brick wall, sobbing. I examined his surroundings only to find a large, red velveteen box next to his fanciful dressed feet. It was in the shape of a heart. I poked the boy in his shoulder.

"Hello," I said nervously. "Are you all right?"

The boy, startled, backed into the wall and looked up at me. His porcelain complexion was stained with tears. He had the darkest brown eyes I've ever seen. It reminded me of coffee, something I've never tried but it smelled delicious. He looked older than I, about ten or eleven. His long dark brown hair was slightly furled as it touched his jaw line. He had stopped crying and stared at me. I suddenly felt an unnerving feeling that I had never experienced. I wished I hadn't said anything and moved on. I looked down at the box. "What's that?" I quickly asked. The boy continued to stare, not answering.

"Can I open it?" I asked. I still hadn't gotten an answer. I withdrew my gaze from the boy and picked up the box. It felt soft. I sat down and opened it. A sweet, pungent scent arouse from the box. It was overpowering. I felt sick. I peered inside the box, secretly holding my breath. Chocolates! Different kinds of dark truffle shaped chocolate lay in rows. I was never properly fed back home and I've never had any sweets. Not until now. I looked up at the boy who was still unnervingly staring at me.

"Whose are these?" No answer.

"Can I have one?" No answer. I took my chances and plucked a truffle from the box. I put it in my mouth and chewed. I couldn't swallow it for it was so rich. I have never tasted anything so succulent. I cannot explain the taste. An orchestra had taken my tongue as their stage and composed a song with such sweet notes that was too beautiful to endure. I smiled with satisfaction. Where had these chocolates come from? I had forgotten that the boy was in front of me once I had looked up. I set my back straight and asked, "Where did you get these?"

The boy answered in his soft English accent unlike my harsh, nasally American one. "I made them."

I stared back in wonder because he had finally answered.

"You did?"

He nodded. I closed the box and handed it back. The boy took it gently, his eyes still on me. I got up and adjusted my bag.

"It was nice to meet you," I said. I left the boy in the alley, hoping not to see him again. I turned a few corners and made it to the shop. It was the most wondrous place I've ever been in. Velveteen drapes hung from each side of the windows tied with a golden braided tassel, as if I had walked into a theater. There were glass displays filled with sweets that I have never seen before. Some had been covered in gold wrappings. There was only one that was distinguishable amongst the others. It was an egg. A chocolate one to be precise. I admit, I had robbed my master's sister's boy, who had a supply of sweets. He kept it hidden under his bed calling it his "gold". As true as it might be, the golden wrapped eggs did resemble a mound of gold.

I was quickly greeted by a kindly woman whose dark brown curls fell upon her shoulders. She accepted my master's request that I had given her and I was rewarded with a truffle. I thanked the woman and ate the truffle straight away, unable to savour it, for I had to hurry home. As I opened the door to leave, there on the sidewalk stood the boy. He held the velveteen box against his chest. He stared at me intently; his coffee colored eyes seemed darker. I felt fear rise within me. I ran home frightened than worried about being late...