Joan wanted so much to go to the annual antique market, which takes place once a year in the market town where she lives. Her husband, James, was out of town - actually out of the country. He was head of the purchasing department for a large machine tool company and was travelling in the Far east looking for potential suppliers of raw material. Joan decided it would be a good opportunity to have a look around at the market. She knew James would only come for her sake, so she decided not to put him through the torture of having to stand around and wait until she had finally made up her mind to buy something.
It was a bright sunny morning in June and she thought this would be the best opportunity to go. No clouds in the sky and dawdling amongst the stalls for a couple of hours by herself. She arrived at the market early in the morning. There was an abundance of antique articles to be had. Paintings and metal statues did not capture Joan's interest, she preferred small items that she could use for decoration at home. She was retired and had time on her hands for many hobbies, her home being one of them. she had been married to James for 40 years and was looking forward to the end of the year when he would be finished with work and they could both enjoy their retirement together.
Suddenly a stall caught Joan's eye at the end of the narrow street where the market took place. Although there were the usual brass statues and landscape paintings, there was also a display of colourful glass ornaments grouped together on the corner of a table. She had never seen anything like it. The stall holder was a middle aged man, dressed in jeans and t-shirt with a healthy tan and a deep blue eyes. She noticed this as they did seem to stand out against the teint of his complexion.
"Can I help you Madam" he asked with a slight suppressed cockney accent.
"Those glass ornaments are so beautiful and colourful."
"It's one of our specialities Miss. They are actually paperweights, but are useful as a door-stop or a bookcase end - if you have small books."
Joan's interest had already been awakened and she asked where he found the paperweights.
"Mostly we buy them from a house or business that goes bankrupt. We go along to see if there is anything worth having. When the missus comes with me she always goes for the colourful stuff. Don't have a lot of interest myself for it. I got this lot from one of those run-down stately homes. The couple living there both died in some sort of accident and didn't have any kin, so we managed to get these trinklets quite reasonable from the clearance people. Is there any particular paperweight you would be interested in?"
Joan had a good look and had difficulty in deciding. She took a few in her hand, but just could not make up her mind. She suddenly saw one with a flat bottom, the base covered in colourful circles probably made of plastic set into the glass cover. They really gave the impression of a field of flowers. She took it in her hand and immediately felt a prickling feeling go through her arm - she put it down again quite quickly.
"Anything wrong miss?" the stallholder asked.
"No, no" answered Joan "I think this paperweight is so heavy it seemed to send a spasm down my arm."
"Probably static electricity" he said.
"Yes, I suppose it is. what would it cost?" she asked.
"Well I usually ask for a fiver for one, but as you seem to had had a bit of bother picking this one out, I'll let you have two for one. So if you want to take another one, you can have both for five pounds."
Joan though about the offer and decided to accept. Her arm was still tingling, but she decided to take the stallholder up on his offer and chose a similar paperweight, but this time a plain green glass with a white pearl in the middle. She paid five pounds and the stallholder wrapped up the weights and put them in her shopping bag for her.
The time had flown and it was after twelve and Joan was feeling hungry. She made her way home pleased with her bargains. She knew exactly where to place the paperweights. They would look lovely on the dining table as a decoration, especially when she had guests. With a matching tablecloth they would be perfect.
As soon as she arrived home she unpacked the paperweights and placed them on the dining room table. She had a plain light blue raw silk cloth on the table and the weights reflected the colour through the transparent glass. The day passed quickly and she was glad that James would be coming home next daqy. She was used to him travelling, but they were both not getting any younger and she knew that James would be glad when he could at last relax at home without the daily routine of work.
The day had become quite sultry and by the evening it looked like a storm would be coming. Joan awoke around midnight to a clap of thunder and lightening and she heard a terrific noise downstairs in her house. she had been a nurse all of her working life, so her nerves were fairly strong and she did not hesitate to go and search for the cause of the noise. When she entered the dining room she was quite surprised. The window had blown open with the force of the storm and her lovely tablecloth was laying on the floor, the paperweight with the pretty flower pattern on top of it. "That must have been a strong gust of wind" she though as she picked up the weight and tablecoth from the floor. Again she felt the light tingling shock go through her arm as she touched the glass weight, but knew there must be a lot of electricity in the air with such a storm raging outside and so she though no more about it.
The next morning James arrived home feeling very tired. He had caught the night plane from Hong Kong and due to the time lag he had been awake for almost twenty-four hours. His taxi pulled up at the house at lunch time and although he was feeling quite dead on his feet, he lost no time in giving Joan a hug when he arrived, glad to be back home again. Joan realised how tired he must be and told him to have a nice relaxing lay down. It was friday and they had the week-end to spend enough time together. James did not need telling twice and he disappeared into the bedroom and slept through until about two in the morning.
He would have slept longer, but heard a noise in the house and thought it might be Joan still downstairs watching the television. He then realised that Joan was sleeping next to him, so not wanting to wake her he went to see what was happening. He entered the dining room and found a bit of a mess. The tablecloth was on the floor and when he picked it up, something fell out of it and rolled under the settee. He was still feeling drowsy, so put the tablecloth back on the table and went back to bed.
The next morning he was refreshed from his long sleep and Joan was happy to have James home again. she decided to make a nice breakfast for them both in the dining room and started to lay the table. James helped her and was surprised to see the two table decorations in the form of two paperweights on the table.
"Where did they come from Joany."
I bought them at the antique market the day before yesterday. They really look lovely on the table."
"Yes, they are quite pretty, but where did they come from?"
"What do you mean James?"
James told her of his awakening in the night and putting the tablecloth back on the table, but there was only one paperweight on the table. He had not seen the other one with the flower design.
"Oh, come on James, you were so tired when you came home yesterday, you probably didn't even see them."
"Yes, I suppose so" James replied but had a strange feeling of uncertainty.
The week-end passed as usual. James and Joan went to the theatre on Saturday evening and on Sunday they spent the day at home relaxing in the garden and watching an old Hollywood film on the television in the evening.
On Monday James went back to the office. He was looking forward to having a quiet week in the office and to concentrate on training the new man who would replace him when he was retired at the end of the year. James was not too sure that his company had chosed the right person for such a job, but he thought just wait and see.
Jack Robertson was pleased to have a last found a job to suit his skills. His wife came from a very rich family and he was the son of a shop owner. Nothing to be ashamed of, but he always felt so small and unimportant when his wife and her family and friends were around. Maureen, his wife, was attractive, but she knew how to use her wealth to be attractive - dyed blond hair, perfect make-up and designer clothes. Naturally Jack was also dressed in the best quality cloth, but ûsing his wife's money, which was a bit degrading to say the least. this was why he was now glad to have the new job as Purchasing Manager. Admittedly the company did belong to his wife's uncle Charles, and with some friendly persuasion from Maureen Harles gave him the job, but after all no-one has to know that, and Jack mande sure they did not find out. Maureen's uncle was never in the company, he had enough money to let others work for him.
He was glad that James had been away for a week as he could take it easy. It was only at the end of the year that he would be the Purchasing Manager and at the moment he was going through his training programme. He did not really like James, found him a bit too good to be true and was certain that he had some sort of skeleton in the cupboard. The problem was that Jack had so many himself, he just felt that everyone else did as well.
James decided to get to know Jack and his wife better and was sure that this would improve their relationship in the office and invited Jack andhis wife to the evening meal on Wednesday evening. Actaully Joan had put the flea in James' ear and James willingly agreed. Joan was sure that when the women could get to know each other, the men would follow and it was after all only for half a year.
Wednesday evening came and the guests arrived. It was a warm Summer evening, with a slight breeze. Joan prepared the table outside on the porch and her paperweights were ideal as a table decoration and served a practical purpose in the breeze got stronger. They made sure that the tablecloth stayed firmly on the table. Joan quickly realised that Maureen was not her type of person. James did not have to do any introducing of Jack and Maureen. Maureen did it all for them. Basically it was Maureen's voice and talk that guided them through the whole evening.
"Oh, what a wonderful house you have, almost as large as ours, but probably build some years ago. I do like your garden, do you do it yourself? - We have a gardener of course. I just can't bend down and pull out the weeds myself"
and Maureen's monologue went on like this all evening.
Suddenly her loud voice broke into an ecstatic shout.
"Oh, Jack just look at that lovely peperweight on the table."
"Yes dear" said Jack (the only vocabulary he seemed to have all evening).
"Where did you get that Joan, I must find one like it - or would you be prepared to part with it. I would give you enough to cover the expense."
Joan was taken aback by this direct statement and for a moment did not really know what to say. James looked at Joan with a look meaning "say something to keep her quiet and happy". Joan gathered her wits and replied "I found it on the antique market." This was the crowing event of the evening for Maureen.
"I must have it - how much do you want for it. I am sure it was expensive. Would five hundred pounds cover the cost?"
Now Joan bought the paperweight because she fell in love with its colour, form and the way it fitted into the home, but Joan was not stupid. Five hundred pounds would cover the costs of more than one paperweight and there would be something left for her and James for their world trip they were planning to go on when he had finally gone into retirement.
"Oh, please" Maureen went on "I must have it"
and before Joan could say anything more Maureen had taken out her cheque book and given Joan a signed cheque for five hundred pounds.
"I just can't take your money" began Joan in a feebled attempt to maintain her good manners.
"Of course you can" said Maureen - "can't she Jack?" she added.
Jack had been trying to ignore his wife's remarks but as he had now been drawn into the conversation he said "of course" not wanting to discredit himself. After all he was having the evening meal with one of the most important people in the company he would be working for.
"The deal is done" said Maureen and picked up the paperweight and put it in her handbag. Joan noticed that Maureen winced when she took the paperweight in her hand, but said nothing and that was the evening more or less finished. Small talk was made over coffee and cognac - although Maureen made more loud talk than small talk - and eventually jack and Maureen departed.
"That was an evening not be forgotton" said james and how he would be reminded of these words.
* * *
On their way home in the car Jack exploded and asked Maureen what she thought she was doing.
"Now Jack, don't act so cheap. Those people might be good class, but they probably had to work all their lives for what they have. You could see the way her eyes sparkled when I mentioned five hundred pounds. Of course, the paperweight is probably only half the value, but they realise now with who they are dealing when you take over his job."
"You are a stupid woman. That might work in your highlife circles, but normal people are not impressed with the way you acted this evening. I feel ashamed to know you and ashamed to go anywhere with you."
Maureen exploded. "If it wasn't for me you wouldn't be where you are today. It was only with my money and influence that you have such a good life, nice clothes and eat in the best restaurants. Not to mention the job that you now have thanks to Uncle Charles."
Jack was so worked up he could hardly concentrate on the road any more.
"You know what, woman, drive home yourself. I have had enough."
Jack made a full breaking manoeuvre on the car and they came to an abrupt stop. everything that was not fixed in the car flew around including Maureen's handbag. It opened itself as if by an invisible hand and the peperweight flew out hitting the car window which broke immediately. A huge glass splinter flew out of the window into Maureen's neck cutting through her main artery. Jack could not help her. Through the impact he was forced into the steering wheel of the car. Although the airbag opened, a further glass splitter cut into the airbag and Jack was forced down into the steering wheel with such an impact that his neck was broken.
The next morning James went to the office as usual, not really looking forward to being confronted with Jack after the experiences he had made the evening before. It was ten in the morning and no Jack. The owner of the company was suddenly standing in front of James.
* * *
"Something tragic has happened" he said
"My niece Maureen and her husband Jack had a car accident yesterday evening"
Before James could say anything the owner continued.
"They were both killed instantly and probably had no pain. The police are looking into it now."
In a way James was devistated and just did not know what to say. When he got home he told Joan. She too was upset. Joan did not cash the cheque for five hundred pounds, she just couldn't. the police verdict was adccidental death and the case was closed.
At the end of the year James was retired,. Uncle Charles' grandson had completed his studies at the local university with a business degree and was the ideal man to take over for James.
James enjoyed being retired with Joan and they lead a wonderful life together. She even managed to encourage him to go with her the next time the antique fair was held in town. Of course, the man who sold her the paperweight was not there, but at the same place where his stall was, there was a similar stall run by a rather plump lady. She had similar articles to sell and ..... paperweights in all shapes and colours. Then Joan saw it, a paperweight which could have been the twin of the one she had bought a year ago. Not being able to disguise her curiosity she asked the woman at the stall.
"What a lovely paperweight you have there. I remember buying one very similar last year at this antique fair from a stall almost at the same place as yours."
"What could well be, miss, my late husband was always on the market selling. you must have bought it from him last year."
"Oh, I am sorry to hear that he is no longer alive."
"Yes, it was quite sudden - he was always messing about with antique stuff in the cellar and caused a short circuit with the electricity. He didn't survive the shock he had."
This struck Joan and James as being peculiar.
"Where did you get that nice colourful paperweight the same as the one I had?"
"Funny coincidence" she answered - I was driving in this area on my way home from an auction and saw a wrecked car at the side of the road. Of course, I made a stop to see what had happened. the car was in a terrible state, broken windows and bloodstains. Whoever was sitting in the car certainly didn't survive. I then took a step to the side and nearly fell over this paperweight. It was just laying on the road next to the car door waiting to be found. Thought it would bring a couple of pounds at the next antique market."
Joan decided not to buy the paperweight and went home with James where they lived contented and happy - even without table decoration.
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