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dirt fc This writing was accepted for publication
in the 84 page perfect-bound issue...
Down in the Dirt magazine (v081)
(the April 2010 Issue)




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The Extra Sparkle

Susanna Wiliker

    “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
    “No. I don’t know. It’s for a woman I’m trying to impress.” A young man bows his head shyly to the sales clerk.
    “I see.” She says knowingly. She’s run into plenty of men like him, who don’t trust their own taste. Looking over his clothes she agrees silently that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s wearing an expensive outfit altogether, but the shirt is slightly off-color as compared to his pants, and while he affects the upper-class accent he has the cadence incorrect. He’s new money trying to attract old money.
    “We just got these pearl earrings in yesterday. They’re studded with ruby chips. Quite pretty!” Smiles the sales clerk. “And pearls are coming back into fashion, they’re very classy. I’m guessing it’s a classy lady you’re shopping for, right?”
    “Yes. I never see her wearing earrings though.” He says sheepishly.
    “What colors does she usually wear?”
    “A lot of black, and red. White sometimes.”
    “Oh, wait one moment. Let me find a piece for you.” She walks briskly down to an adjacent display case and carries back a beautiful onyx bracelet. Its slender beads are engraved, and spaced with petite silver studs.
    “It’s nice but I don’t think it’s, you know...her?” The young man says. He sighs.
    “Well tell me more about this fine lady of yours. Maybe you could get her a birthstone. Or is she involved in a particular area of magic?”
    “Yes, she’s a necromancer.” He brightens up. “Do you have something like that?”
    “Follow me.” She waves him over to another display case. It has many intricate pieces, composed of bone, teeth, and the hard lenses out of eyes. He looks at a ring of polished bone, studded with ruby chips.
    “How much is that one?”
    “Only ninety-six marks with tax.”
    “What about that one?” He points to a necklace of quarter inch bone cabochons set in silver, with a dangling lens as a center piece.
    “Oh that came in straight from Dead City. It’s a very effective talisman for viewing through the eyes of your owned. It’s all the rage there and very affordable too at two-hundred marks.”
    “Uh, I was kind of hoping to spend a little more than that. She knows how much is in my budget is the thing. So I’m looking for something expensive.”
    The sales clerk gets an odd little smile that creases the lines next to her mouth. She’s about to make a nice big sale.
    “I have the perfect thing. Perfect for her. These are very rare. We keep them in the back room.”
    She leaves for a second disappearing into the back of the shop. She returns carrying a carved wooden display chest, which she sets on the counter in front of him. Pulling out a set of keys from her pocket she unlocks it. Inside is a set of jewelry including a necklace, ring, bracelet, barrettes, and ankle bracelets. The chains and settings are beautifully crafted from bone and the central piece on each is a black-red stone, with a multi-faceted oblong cut. The sales clerk tilts the lid forward to show off the most singular property of the gems. Though they are shaded from the sun, they still sparkle with light as if from inside.
    “As you can see, the actual chain on this necklace is bone. It’s a very difficult thing to craft one this thin and has...”
    “Why do they glow like that?” He asks. She’s hardly surprised at his interruption, and smiles.
    “Each stone in this set has an actual soul in it.” She replies. “That’s where the extra sparkle comes from. You won’t find anything like this collection elsewhere. We came across them at an auction, by pure luck and recognized their value.”
    “I’ll buy them.” He says immediately.
    “Shall I wrap them for you?”
    “Yes, and could you accidentally leave the price tag on?” He asks with a wink.
    “Of course, Sir.” She winks back.



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