Clutching his birthday money, Pete headed toward the mall. There was major construction, so Pete parked on the side street a block from the mall, and started to walk. Suddenly, a door opened right in front of him almost hitting him in the face. A man stepped out toting a sandwich board sign with his back to Pete.
"Hey, watch it!" Pete shouted rubbing his nose which had been lightly hit by the door, a bit farther and it might have broken his nose.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, not used to much foot traffic. That's why I'm putting the sign out. Hopefully, more people will stop to shop," the man said pointing at the sign, which read "25% off Sale". He added, "Come in take a look, because I almost broke your nose, I'll give you an extra 25% off."
Pete turned and looked at the store. The front window was frosted glass with big gilded letters reading "CURIOSITY SHOPPE".
"What do you sell?"
"Just about everything. Come in and see, buy and save."
"Okay, I'll take a look."
The shop was filled with all sorts of things that didn't seem to belong together. There was a space helmet next to a baby bonnet, but it wasn't a costume shop. There was a bicycle by the wall. Books and trinkets scattered everywhere. There seemed to be no organization. A shiny object caught, Pete's eye. He walked over to shiny silver sword about 8" long with a gold handle, it was standing upright in an anvil shaped piece of stone. He reached down and easily pulled it out of the stone holder, and laughed.
"How much for the Excalibur Letter Opener?" he asked.
The man gasped, and said, "You got it out, there is a trick to that. Uh, it's actually not Excalibur that was the sword that the lady of the lake gave Arthur, but this sword - uh, letter opener is still quite nice and is priced at only twenty," he paused seeing Pete frown. "But with your discount, it's only 10."
Pete pulled out a ten and happily purchased the sword letter opener. He waved it around a bit, it seemed to be bigger and heavier than it had been at first. He handed it to the shopkeeper who wrapped in tissue and put it in a brown bag.
When Pete left the shop, he blinked. It was a lot brighter outside. He was sure he had exited the front door, but this wasn't where he parked. He looked around, the area was positively desolate. Was there a park near here? Lots of trees, and no sign of the mall or construction. He turned back to where the door had been and found that it no longer was there. He stared at the boulder with runes on it. Then he hurriedly unwrapped the sword fearing a bait and switch. The bag felt strangely heavy. The letter opener inside was at least 14 inches long. Pete hefted it. It looked about the same otherwise. He held it up to the light, It seemed to grow right before his eyes. He was soon holding a 24 inch dagger, and it was growing. Pete was sweating when he finally had to lower the sword. It was a good three feet of steel now. And he only paid ten for it. But where the heck was he?
There didn't even seem to be a path. He started toward where there appeared to be more light, and was started to stumble on to a cross roads. There were three different directions that he could go. The sign post was not much help. It was a crude wood sign post with a dragon painted on one arrow, a castle on another and the third was painted with a flower. Pete made up his mind and started down the path.