Glenn spent a miserable and mostly fruitless day searching for a store in the Marketplace that sold the musical apparatus for a music box. Every place he could think of that would carry the items he was looking for either didn't have them, or were sold out. To make things worse, he spent most of the day sniffling, sneezing, and blowing his nose. At one point, he had to stop and purchase another package of tissues, and even that one ran out by the end of the day. By the time Glenn finally discovered a place that seemed promising, his nose was read and his body was exhausted from walking so much.
The first thing he noticed when he walked past Kwerejacek's was the fact that, among the jewelry, jewelry boxes, and watches in the front window displays, there were also music boxes on display. It seemed like a long shot, but Glenn decided that he had already spent most of the day fruitlessly searching, so he might as well keep going. He opened the thick oaken door, admiring the craftsmanship that went into it. It was later in the day, so there were only a couple of customers in the store, and they were being helped by black suit and red-tie wearing employees. The carpeting was a lush and navy blue, and the walls were decorating with what seemed to be very expensive Impressionist paintings. A gold chandelier hung over the center of the store. Glenn immediately felt a little self-conscious about the fact he was wearing his work clothes; the other patrons were at least wearing khakis and dress shirts. At the center of the store, surrounded by a dazzling circular display case that seemed entirely crafted from glass, was what appeared to be a dwarf. He was standing behind the case, using what looked to be a miniature telescope to examine something that was resting on a white piece of fabric on top of the glass surface. Upon Glenn's approach, the dwarf quickly squirreled the fabric and whatever was on it into a safe below the counter. Glenn immediately noticed three things: he looked mostly human, aside from the fact that he was shorter than than the counter and had the largest, fullest white beard he had ever seen. He must've been standing on a stool earlier. Glenn racked his brains, trying to figure out what the man must be. Not a dwarf, not an undersized human. A gnome, perhaps?
?Welcome to Kwerejacek's. I'm Kwerejacek, but you can call me Jacek. How can I help you today?? the gnome asked, his tone almost sickeningly friendly and rapidfire quick. Glenn paused a second, trying to figure out exactly what he'd said.
?Uh, hello. I was wondering if you sold parts for a music box. I saw that you sold music boxes and-?
?No,? Jacek interrupted. In an instant, he went from congenial salesman to openly confrontational. Glenn found himself stepping back from the counter a bit. ?We don't do that here. We only sell the music boxes themselves. Unless...?
?Unless what?? Glenn asked warily.
?Unless you'd be willing to make some for me?? The owner's tone swung back to being kind again ?Lemme see your hands.? Glenn looked confused at first, but after a quick glare from Jacek, he found himself resting his hands palms-up on the cool glass. The gnome thought nothing of prodding, poking, and kneading the callouses on Glenn's palms and fingertips, despite the highly uncomfortable look he gave him. Just as quickly as Jacek had started the examination, he finished it, with a hmph.
?You seem like you're good with your hands. How about it? Why don't you make some music boxes for me to sell? I'll pay you very handsomely.?
?Uh, I'm actually going into business for myself, so I-? The gnome's face grew bright red as he interrupted Glenn.
?A competitor? In my store? Trying to buy something from me?? Jacek knelt down behind the counter, and when he stood back up, he had a tiny shillelagh in his hand. He swung it at Glenn's head, who was too surprised to dodge the blow. ?Get out of my store! GET OUT!? Before Glenn could rub his head, the gnome was vaulting the counter with the assistance of his stool. Jacek swung his club at Glenn a couple more times, landing blows on the carpenter's legs. Glenn tried backing up slowly, but the owner wouldn't stop coming at him, his furious swings whistling around Glenn's torso. Finally, Glenn smartened up. He turned around and started sprinting out of the store as fast as he could. He narrowly dodged a salesman and a particularly snooty looking female customer, both of whom looked upon him with open disgust as he ran past.
?I didn't know Kwerejacek's let the riff-raff in,? the lady said with disdain.
?I apologize, he must not have known his pla-oof!? Jacek, in his rush to catch up to the much faster (and longer-legged) carpenter, accidentally ran into his salesman, whose momentum carried him into the woman he was talking to. The three fell into a pile at the front of the store. Jacek was the first to spring to his feet, his fury now fully transferred to the salesman.
?You- YOU'RE FIRED!?
?But-but it wasn't my fa-?
?LEAVE! NOW!? Jacek brandished his shillelagh at the salesmen. He took the hint quickly, scrambling out the front door and falling over a couple of times in his eagerness to avoid Jacek's rage. Jacek turned to the woman, offering her a hand up.
?Terribly sorry about that, it won't happen again.?
?That's right, it won't. Because I will never shop at your store again.? And with a hmph, and despite Jacek's desperate pleadings, the woman sashayed her way out the front door as well.
