"This staff can't be sold for even a hundred dollars," a middle-aged man who had come to purchase an item said to Michael who was already getting ready to leave the house. "You came in here, telling me you are from the central museum of Ekiboh and you're trying to beat prices with me?" Michael asked with a stern look that made the man go dumb all of a sudden. "Sir…. But…" he stammered "the museum has never bought any artifact from me for a price less than a thousand dollars" Michael continued "so it means you're not from the museum and you want to buy it cheaper from me to sell it to them at a higher price", "Leave my house!" he screamed.
It was Monday and it was going to be a busy day for the Lamptey's. Rose had already gone to the warehouse to open it for business. It was her point of duty every morning to open the warehouse where they stored artifacts of various types and forms. She had left late that morning and a buyer who came to the warehouse had traced them to their house already. He was there to buy the staff used by the last magician. He had heard that it could make his business blossom, so he came under the pretense that he was from the museum.
Michael was smart enough to figure out he wasn't and the gentleman had to explain the real reason why he needed the staff.
"I run a big poultry farm in Philadelphia and my birds have been mysteriously dying for a while now. My competitor in the business isn't having the same issues and I have this feeling he is the reason why. I was told the staff can protect me and my business from the hands of enemies." He said all this with so much sadness and pain written over his face.
It was said that Agabos, the last magician, used that staff throughout his life till he died. Some said he carried it everywhere he went and it was filled with protection spells to protect him from his enemies.
"I'd be honest with you Mister, the staff won't do your business any good," Michael replied with a lower voice, almost like a whisper. "I could have decided to sell it for you though because I'm a businessman. But I'm also an honest one. Take that money and see a veterinary doctor. He'd tell you what is wrong with your birds" he continued.
Michael was an honest businessman and so was his wife too. They were morally upright and the people of Reek loved them for those attributes. "Thank you Sir for your advice. I'm very grateful " the buyer said while leaving the house of the Lamptey's.
Michael and his wife Rose were amongst the few that didn't believe in magic. And even though he was an archeologist in Reek, he still doubted the existence of sorcery. He had been able to convince his wife and she also shared the same belief with him.
Michael's belief was fueled by the that the stories told them about their history were filled with loopholes and deceit. Most times, he would find an artifact during an excavation that disproves a story or two told them by their fathers. Although some turned out to be true, he still looked more at the negative sides than the positive.
Maybe that's what pushed him every day he went to sites for excavation. The belief that he can prove to everyone that the majority of the stories told them were cooked-up lies. Including the existence of magic.
"Carrick come here " he beckoned on his twelve-year-old son. Carrick was already taller than his father at that age "you're growing fast you sluggard" he said with his teeth exposed and his dimples very visible. "Dad, I'm following you to work today right?" Carrick asked with his shoes already on and his belt in his left hand. "Yes of course" Michael replied while standing up from the chair he was sitting on.
Michael had promised his son that he would take him to work when he turned 12. They had celebrated his birthday the previous day at the warehouse with a lot of friends in attendance including his teachers from school and his friends from school too. A big cake was made for him to celebrate his special day and his best friend from school, Harvey, was there also. Carrick enjoyed the evening to the fullest. They danced, played games, ate, and drank like he was celebrating his last.
"It's interesting how quickly our son grew up," Rose thought out loudly to the hearing of her husband Michael. Twelve years since she gave birth to who she always referred to as the best thing that happened to her and it's been nothing but happiness in her family.
Carrick went to school during the day and joined his mum at the warehouse whenever he got back from school. He had started reading about the history of his people and he was getting more interested in it. He spent hours daily studying most of the artifacts he found in their warehouse. He always wished he followed his dad to an archeology site. But his dad promised him to take him whenever he clocked twelve.
"Dad, can I bring Harvey with me?" Carrick asked while they were heading out of the house. "If Harvey is okay with it, then no problem with that". Carrick ran speedily to Harvey's house as it was just a few blocks from theirs. He returned with his best friend already fully dressed like he was waiting to be called already.
When they got to the woods, it was a crowded place, as other workers brought their children to work too. It was bring your kids to work day. Harvey and Carrick were excited to meet other children of their age-gradee in the woods and they didn't waste any time socializing with them as there were many games to be played.