On the way home I had decided to take a detour, being engrossed by the memories of the bus ride. My lovestruck state had led me to an antique store nearby. Opening the door, I was greeted by the smell of old books, a smell that I had grown familiar with.
"Rover, it's you again, are you here for more books?"
The old lady who owns the shop greets me, as the world had transitioned into the technological state, books had been considered antiques, being deemed as unpractical compared to their digital counterparts.
"No, I am here today to look around"
The antique store had been one of the only ones left in the city and the only close to my residence. The shopkeeper had been the one who had helped me adjust to my environment, teaching me about many things I had been unfamiliar with due to my move here for middle school, filling in the gaps that my parents had left due to their strict working conditions.
"Don't worry about me miss shopkeeper, don't you have guests to attend to?"
At the mention of guests, she remembers the two guests who had been left unattended to as she was distracted by my appearance.
"Didn't I tell you to call me Grandma Koko?"
She reprimands as she then focusses her attention on the two guests
"Alright Rover, do tell me if you have any problems, I don't mind listening to them. You know I treat you like my grandson."
As she starts heading towards the two customers waiting around, she leaves behind those words, expressing her care towards me. That had made me feel very grateful and comfortable, Granny Koko being one of the few people I can talk to comfortably.
As I looked around the store, I noticed an item left in the corner at the front desk.
Approaching the small rectangular object, I gently place my hand on it, feeling the smooth plastic material of the object.
It is unlike anything in the store, looking like one of the remotes that were used for TV's 30 years ago. At the top of the item, a hole was visible, seeming to be used to connect something. On the small screen at the front of the object a ordered list of what seems to be words popped up, such as "Somebody that I used to know", "A thousand miles", or "Thinking out loud".
Seeing these words, I try clicking on one of the words on the screen. After a couple seconds of empty silence, I try pressing on the circle in the middle of the object, which prompts sound to start playing from the object.
Flustered, I try to press the button again, pausing the audio coming out of the object. Heaving a sigh of relief, I look around the store, hoping that no one has noticed such a commotion. Noticing the stares from the two customers, I turn my gaze away, escaping towards the old books section of the store.
After a while, Granny Koko concludes her business, walking over to me.
"I had noticed that you had found my birthday present for you"
Seeing me standing there dumbfounded, she continues.
"Your birthday was coming up soon and I thought I would get you a present. I had thought long and hard about what you could need, seeing that you already had so many books, I thought a music player would be a good change."
Seeing her amiable gaze, I asked.
"But granny, how did you know that it was going to be my birthday soon?"
"You had once told me that you never got to celebrate your birthday with you parents, because they were away during winter break."
Remembering that incident, my heart was filled with warmth, being so glad to have such a caring person.
"Granny Koko, you really didn't have to get me a present. I don't even have anything to give back to you."
"No need for that, it would be great if you could visit the store in your free time, it gets pretty lonely sometimes."
As she says this, she laughs. Seeing this, I had no words to express my gratefulness, being very happy to have my first present.
"Thank you, Granny Koko, but how do I use this?"
Seeing this, she smiles, explaining the use of this object. After spending the next hour at the antique shop, I start making my way back home.
"Until next time, Granny Koko"
"Ho, ho, until next time Rover"
Seeing me off, Granny Koko waves.
'So, this is an mp3 player'
On my way home, I recalled the explanation Granny Koko had given me about this item. This item, which had been used back in the day to listen to music, has been sold by one of Granny Koko's customers. This item, supposedly owned by an eccentric individual had been upgraded to house most of the songs from the early 2000s and late 1990s, being quite the collector's item.
'I will investigate this item when I get home'