Casey was the town street rat. Ever since his parents had
died he had to survive on his own, stealing food and evading capture by the
local constables. Wise beyond his tender 17 years, he had street smarts, as
people called them, and plenty of them. He didn’t trust or need anyone, which
suited him just fine.
Merlin was the town eccentric, the person others loved to
talk about. Little was actually known about him other than he seemed to have
been around for as long as anyone could remember. He would be quite congenial
when he met folks, but he preferred to be left to himself.
Their lives intersected one day when Casey accidentally
acquired Merlin’s watch after the two bumped into each other.
“Sorry mister,” Casey apologized to the older man. “I
didn’t see you.” Merlin smiled at the youth. For some odd reason, he was
feeling uncharacteristically guilty about stealing the old guy’s watch.
“That’s okay son. Accidents happen.”
Casey nervously fingered the watch in his pocket, trying to
make sense of why he should feel so guilt-ridden about what he had done. He
never had been bothered by his thievery before so why this time?
“Say son, you don’t look so well. How about coming home
with me and I give you something to eat. You look like you haven’t had a good
meal in a while. What do you say?” Something about the man set Casey’s
defensive instincts off but he couldn’t tell just what it was. Go home with
him? He might be some kind of perv or worse. Was it the glint in the old man’s
eyes as though he knew something he wasn’t telling Casey? The dude was only
trying to be friendly, right? Besides he could take care of himself and this
guy was certainly no match for him if it came to that so what did he really
have to worry about?
“Yeah, okay, but only for a meal and then I’m gone. Deal?”
“Fine. My name’s Merlin. And you are?”
“Casey.”
“Follow me, Casey. I don’t live too far away.” The two
started to walk, Merlin setting a rapid pace that surprised Casey. He certainly
was spry for an old guy. They soon arrived at what Merlin called his ‘humble’
abode. Strange thing about the house though: it appeared small on the outside
but upon entering Casey was overwhelmed by just how large the interior was. Must
be an optical illusion he told himself.
