I was still standing next to my chair, and I was only a few steps away from the door. I could have bolted out of there whenever I wanted and never come back. I could have just shrugged it off as some strange, vivid dream. I could even have tried to call the police or something, because surely this wasn't legal! And yet... something made me stay... At first I thought it was his magic at work again that made me stay, but then when I thought about it, no, that couldn't be it. When he turned me into a cat, I could feel a relaxing, tingling sensation come over me, and I didn't feel that right now. I figured it was just the presence of the old man that was kind of intimidating me, even though he looked so friendly and gentle.
"Take your time," the man said with a smile and then stood up. "I'll meanwhile get myself some coffee. Would you like some?"
My immediate reaction, knowing that this guy sold all kinds of potions, was to say "No thanks!"
"Hahaha, don't worry. I'm drinking the same coffee as you would," the man said with a smile, "but suit yourself." With that, he was off to the back room, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
Now would have been the best chance for me to leave, without Gregory's eyes on me, but I still found myself frozen in place. I had to face it now: I was actually considering this. Why though? Was it because I needed the money? Or was it because of the job itself? People transforming into other things... and didn't he also mention some other kinds of potions? It all seemed so out of this world! But then, I thought back to what had happened only a few moments earlier, when Gregory turned me into a cat. I did have to admit... it felt pretty good. The magic working its transformation on my body felt so relaxing and tingly, and then being a cat, even for a few seconds, was also pretty fun. Okay, so I had to admit it to myself: the idea of magic was starting to interest me now, more than it scared me. Maybe if I'd just buy one or two items and be done with it? That way I could experiment with this a little more, and then maybe come back here some other time as well. But then, what did the man say about me being special? What did he mean by that?
"So, have you made up your mind yet?" I was so lost in thoughts that I hadn't even noticed that Gregory had returned with his cup of coffee.
I looked at the old man once more and opened my mouth to say something, but the words simply wouldn't come.
"Ah, hang on, I got something for that," Gregory said suddenly. He stood up and went up to the wall with all of the 'candy' jars. He took what looked like a purple gummy drop and handed it to me. "Eat this, that'll help! Don't worry, it free of charge," he said, still smiling.
I looked at the purple thing and was hesitant at first, but then, I was also rather curious. This was going to help? Was this going to transform me again, or was this one of the 'other things' Gregory mentioned? After a few moments, I put it in my mouth and swallowed it. Instantly, I felt something overcome me. I looked down at my body to check, but it was still quite the same as it was before. So it wasn't a transformation at least! But then, what did happen?
"So, tell me now. Do you or do you not want to have a job here at my store?" Gregory asked me again.
Then, I felt a really weird sensation. It was as if my entire body encouraged me to tell the man the truth and nothing but the truth. It ached when I even thought about lying or hesitating. "Yes, I want to work here at your store," I said without hesitation then. Right away, the sensation stopped and I felt like normal again. My eyes went wide right away when I said that.
"Fantastic!" the man said excitedly. "My apologies for that. As you could probably tell, that purple pill makes you tell the truth. It's kind of like a truth serum. Don't worry, it will wear off in, oh, two days I believe."
"T-Two days?!" I yelled suddenly.
"Don't worry, you won't even notice it! So long as you keep telling the truth that is, hahaha. Now, shall we finalize some things?"
"I.. I ... " I sighed. I was doomed to speak the truth for the coming two days now. Now, I'm not an avid liar or something, but occasionally, there's those moments where you tell a little white lie. Or, when mum wants me to do the laundry again, I'd suddenly be 'preoccupied', but now, there was no way I could even attempt to think about that. "Alright..." I said then.
"Splendid! Now, first and foremost, I open my stores on weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM, and on saturdays, from 12 PM to 6 PM. Now, I won't be requiring your help all the time of course, but since it's currently still the summervacation, I'll simply let you decide. If you want, you can just work here tomorrow for a day and see how you like it. Then you can base your future hours on that." he told me.
"That sounds good," I said truthfully again.
"Then, what is required of you, you might wonder. Well, at first, you'll only need to be the check-out girl. Nothing too difficult I imagine." Gregory said.
"At first, sir?" I asked then.
"Please, call me Greg. Sir sounds so old," he said with another chuckle, "but yes, at first. I did say you were special, but you haven't seen any of that yet. let us wait until you do see that before I give you other tasks. Does that sound good?"
"I suppose it does," I said. I noticed that I was a lot calmer now, after I'd taken that truth pill.
"Excellent! Now then, I'll expect your arrival tomorrow morning, a little before 9. Have a good night's sleep and remember, an honest person always beats a liar!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at that last remark. I suppose that my situation was a little funny. "Until tomorrow morning then, Greg!" I said, and, rather confidently, stepped out of the store again.