Bobby went into the strange store on the corner he had passed many times. It was a scary magic store that the locals whispered was "not quite right". As he
entered the "Spells R Us" store, he saw a middle-aged man behind the counter shuffling through a box.
"I will be with you in a moment, Bobby" he said with a wave of his hand.
"No problem, mister" he said then froze. How did he know his name? "Because I am a wizard, Bobby, I know all about you. My name is Merlin" he held out his
hand. Bobby cautiosly shook it. "You mean like in King Arthur?"
The man shook his head, "Oh fits and bother! I have been around for a thousand years and everyone wants to just remembe that story! Don't want to hear about
me taking on the egyptian armies, or consulting with Ceaser or Whatever happened to Atlantis, no."
"What did happen to Atlantis?"
"Never you mind, Bobby! Don't ask dangerious questions unless you want to get dangerous answers! No, lets see, you want the power of age, correct?"
"How did you..."
"I thought I explained that already....me wizard, you pesky 16 year old boy. How much have you got?"
Bobby pulled out $96 and some change. "Hmmm, that will get you the ring of age. The ring of Youth is ALOT more expensive. You want it or not?" Merlin pulled
out a beautiful ruby ring with symbols etched around it.
"What does it do?"
"What does it do? Why it ages people of course! You put the ring on and you can then age anyone as much as you want, from a single hour older to 100 years
older, your choice. You can also manipulate their minds to act their age, but you have to concentrate to do that, might take some practice."
"What about making them younger?"
"I just told you, that is MUCH more expensive! At least $100,000, if not more! So once you age them, that is the way they stay, until you get rich of course, and
can afford the other ring. So do you want it or not?"
Bobby thought on the matter for a few minutes and then decided. "Sure! Here's the money!" He gave Merlin the money and
took the ring. "One warning" whispered Merlin, "Once you put that ring on, you can't take it off! And it will read your
thoughts, so be careful. Remember what happened to King Midas!"
"King who?" Bobby asked as he slipped it on.
Merlin just rolled his eyes. "What are they teaching young people these days? Ok, you got what you came for, now scoot!"
Bobby walked out of the shop, wondering if he had just been conned by the wacked out guy in the magic shop. He needed to
test the ring to see if it actually worked. As he was walking home, he saw.....