Toymaker

      I was alive for a moment, only I wasn't sure why. See I had a problem, not that I was the only one who had problems, mind you. But that this problem was sort of strange and mystical to me.

     I tried to figure it out, it sort of drove me insane, I found myself looking at the old books, those dusty ancient pieces of knowledge that you don't even know if it existed before the beginning of time.

    But then it came to me, being a vampire, isn't that bad. Sure my thirst for blood makes me rather unlikeable to some, but everyone pisses someone off from time to time.

     I enjoyed black silk cloth, and not because it was the only cloth available or because I saw it in a movie, no, the feelings of death made me long towards it, as if it somehow gave me back what the light had failed to restore.

   So my name is Simon, and this is my story.


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      I was the youngest of my family, four boys total, my father seemed to love each one of them more then me. Although it don't bother me. I enjoyed reading and spending time by myself. I did get my lessons in fighting, as my father was a captain in the local militia.

     However most of my time was spent outside, on the farm doing what work I could actually complete. Needless to say, I grew up looking for things outside our small town, I hadn't any interest whatsoever in the minds of boring laborers.

    Then it came to me on an evening of my 17th birthday. I found out about a local apprenticeship as a toymaker. At first, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, but it seemed I would have plenty of chances to study something intellectual, and to carve things, I always enjoyed that.

   So I went into town and caught a carriage to the larger city of Cilvadon, and there I was able to find the toy shop rather easy. Out of all the shops, it had the brightest glow. Maybe it had to do with the way kids lined up looking in the window at the things being made, or simply good advertisement, either way it seemed special.

  Upon entering, an old bright bald bright man with a leather apron, looked up at me. I looked confidently into his eyes and walked towards him. He seemed to be not paying attention, which at first made me wonder if he liked me at all.

  Just as I was about to say something to him, he spoke.

  "So you are the one looking to learn the art of toy making?"

  I nodded honestly, "Yes, but I really don't know much about it. I wasn't sure what level of experience you would require."

  He chuckled and spoke, "What's more important to me is your desire to focus and learn, to take on a challenge and not give up. To think beyond what seems possible. If you can do that, you will be an amazing toymaker. You have a tough job. You have to inspire the minds."

 I took in his words with sincere effort. Yet I was not sure if I understood exactly how I could possibly do that.

 He seemed to notice my thinking and responded quickly.

  "Come back around the corner, we'll get you setup."

 
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  For months I worked for him, learning his procedures, helping him with basic tasks. It seemed like forever before I would be allowed to make my own toys.

  But on a summer cool day, with the old man Jameson, getting rather tired, I was finally given a chance to make, whatever I wanted!

 So I did just that, I used the shop to create my very first toy. The toy was a small star, with holes inside each triangle. There was another star connected below it. Where each hole would line up, there was a small little colored mirror. Any time you would twist it, and light would shine through, there would be a different shape glowing with different colors.

At first I thought no one would buy it, until someone came into our store. A man I had never seen before yet could feel something, as if I had known him somewhere, but could not place it.


With his eyes intent on me, and the toy, he spoke, "Toymaker, it seems you are good with toys, I shall buy that one. But I have another toy that I would like you to make."

   ====== To be continued.