Katie, my sister who was younger than me by two years, was headed down Main Street for the Public Library. For the past few years, since middle school really, she had taken to reading and spending less time with friends with whom she had grown up with for most her life. I understood it to be that she just didn't fit in. She was a good looking girl, but I guess all the drama that goes with being a girl after puberty was too much for her.
Anyway, about a block from her destination, Katie saw an old, quaint shop she had never noticed before. It was odd looking and didn't mesh well with the surrounding architecture. Even with that though, she felt drawn toward it. She didn't even know what they sold there, but for some reason, that didn't matter.
Upon entering, she was amazed at the organization of the otherwise dingy environment. There wasn't much for natural light entering the shop and the shopkeeper apparently didn't like spending too much on electricity bills. However, that didn't hide the neat shelves and tables lined with bottles and tins containing who knew what.
"Can I help you?"
Startled by the sudden entrance of the elderly Chinese shopkeeper, Katie was at a momentary loss for words.
Without waiting for further encouragement, the shopkeeper grabbed a bottle off the table and walked over to Katie.
"I believe this is what you are looking for." he said as he handed her the small glass vial.
"What is it?" she asked.
"This potion will give you a friend beyond all measure. A friend you can confide in and whom you can help along the curves life will throw their way. That's what you've been looking for these past few years, hasn't it?
Katie was shocked. How did he know so much? She had never met this guy before in her life.
"Now before you ask", he continued, "I am Chinese and do have ancestral practices that have allowed me to gain insight into your life. Now to get to business, simply poor the contents of this vial into the shampoo that your brother uses, and the rest will take care of itself. I will give you more information tomorrow when you come back."
Without further conversation, Katie soon found herself standing outside the shop with the bottle in her hand still trying to comprehend what had just happened. With nothing else to do at the moment (she forgot all about the library) Katie came home to put the contents of the vial into my shampoo.