hiya!!! below is my enterance for the 2024 march swc writing comp. happy judging!!
The Wayfarer’s Guidance Emporium A bell tolled, signalling the entrance of another customer. Charlie straightened his tangerine bowtie and dusted off the crumbs that remained on his striped vest from the break he had just finished. Mentally practising his greeting, he looked up from the worn pages of the customer-log and met eyes with a pale, freckled girl with short messy waves framing her hazel eyes. Not for long, though, as she instinctively looked away, as if ashamed of herself. He watched as she suddenly became very interested in the tiny cracks in every wooden tile on the floor, and the rows of inviting stories that lined every wall. “Welcome to The Wayfarer’s Guidance Emporium, a haven for folks like yourself who’ve found themselves adrift in life’s twists and turns,” he chimed, the familiar string of words rolling easily off his tongue. “Can I offer you anything? A tea, perhaps?” The girl studied him, as if trying to decide whether to trust him or not. After a few moments, she seemed to come to terms with her inner dialogue, and asked, “Do you have any books about… making friends?” “I sure do!” Charlie responded. “Section H, just to your left. For you, I’d say…” he paused to take another glance at the girl. “’Finding Home Among the Stars’. A very touching read that should tell you everything you might need to know before you’re off on your way.” He hopped onto the ladder in front of his desk, gliding to the other side of the room. Hands that bore the marks of hours spent turning worn, browning pages of old novels glided across the shelves until they landed on a navy leather book with swirly gold details etched into the spine. “This should work a treat,” said Charlie kindly to the girl, flashing a grin as he handed it to her. With a snap of his fingers, the wobbly old ladder delivered him right back to his spot behind his desk. His guest took a seat in the corner, and he watched for a few moments as she turned the pages and indulged in the secrets they held. Satisfaction swept over Charlie, as he watched his guest from behind the old, stained wooden countertop he spent most of his days behind. He wouldn’t trade his job for the world- to be able to offer a haven for every soul who wandered through his door, each seeking something different but all yearning for a light in the darkness of the world was to live up to the hope he had longed for as a child but never known. While he would never be able to solve all of life’s problems, he could at least provide and sense of solace for those in need of it. The bell chimed, and another customer, tall and skinny with reddish brown hair, stepped through the doors. Charlie quickly adjusted his bowtie and looked at them with a smile. “Welcome to The Wayfarer’s Guidance Emporium."
