Emily browsed through the strange shop, not really sure what she was looking for. She had never seen the store before today and the promise of 'magical items' peaked her curiosity. She was not in a hurry to get home and face her bratty younger sister. Jenny had gotten everything - good looks, talent in arts and sports, and even intelligence, when she chose to use it. Jenny tormented her older sister, blissfully pointing out Emily's imperfections. It did no good to complain to her parents - they always sided with their darling perfect angel Jenny. Emily was left as the frumpy older sister, an outcast at their school and at home. So she decided to delay her return home and instead browse through the new shop she had seen on her way home from school.
As Emily browsed through the aisles, she was a little disappointed. She had expected bright shiny orbs, glowing vials of mysterious liquids and fantastic mechanical devices that defied explanation. But everything in the store just looked like junk. She picked an item at random from the shelf. It looked like a desiccated clawed hand, with three crooked fingers and a thumb. It felt repulsive. Emily had the sudden urge to drop it and thoroughly wash her hand. But for some reason she didn't want to put it down.
"Can I help you?"
The voice startled Emily and she almost dropped the hand. She turned and saw a withered old woman staring up at her. It was impossible to tell her ethnicity, her features hidden beneath a plethora of wrinkles, but her strong accent made it apparent that she was from another country. But from where, Emily could not tell. She wore a shawl over her head. A large bulky cloak covered her curved, humped back.
"Um, I'm just looking, thanks," said Emily quickly.
Something about the old woman bothered Emily and she just wanted to leave. But she was reluctant to put the hand down.
The old woman had turned, ready to disappear back to wherever she had been hidden before. But Emily had to stop her.
"Actually, can you tell me what this is?" asked Emily.
The old woman turned and her small, squinted eyes went wide.
"Oh, that is a very powerful item. A monkey paw. Not for little girls," said the old woman.
"I am NOT a little girl," said Emily. "What does it do?"
The old woman scowled.
"The monkey paw will grant you three wishes, one for each finger. But I warn you, that item is cursed! Each wish comes with a terrible price, regardless of how you word the wish. I only tell you because I am forced to. Part of my curse, to sell these ....things. Would you like to buy it?"
Emily frowned. "What is this - a hard sell or something? If it is so bad, why would you sell it?"
"If you want to buy, I must sell," said the old woman plainly, as if that explained everything.
"If it is so powerful, why haven't you used it?" said Emily.
"What makes you so sure I haven't?" said the old crone, cackling. "As I said, the wishes do not always seem to end up the way you envision them."
Emily stood tall and proud. "I'm pretty smart. I think I can find the right words to prevent any problems. So how much?"
The old woman sold it for a surprisingly low price. Emily happily took the 'cursed magical item' home with her. Even if it didn't work, it was still worth the price just for the entertainment. Maybe she could use it to scare her little sister.