There is this „game“that my friends and I play. It is a bit like Secret Santa, just not only for Christmas and with a few additional rules. It goes like this: Buy an item for one person in the group. You must pay no less than 5$ and no more than 10$. You are not allowed to think about it. Buy the first thing and draw your attention to it. It must be from a store that isn’t a chain, so small local stores only. You have 1h from the start of the game to buy it, time on the receipt counts. If you don‘t bring anything there was a punishment, which changed every time, but often was something embarrassing like having to wear a unicorn onesie to school.

We often do this when out in the city, bored and unsure of what to do. And we managed to get some nice gifts for each other like this. I have this hairpin I love which Helen got for me a while ago. It is just a fun thing that brought a lot of nice memories and mementos.

We are playing this game today again. I am supposed to buy something for Steph, but all the stores I tried didn‘t have anything my attention was drawn to, or if there was it was too expensive. I had only 10 minutes left and was outside of our normal circle around the city center we usually stick to. I was just wandering, looking for a store, any store, that might have something for me to buy. 

Waiting at a traffic light I spotted a sign written in an old-fashioned font, gold on black with some of the gold color chipped off: „Antiques“. This was it, the last store I could try to find something. The light turned green and the peeping sound called my focus back to reality. I didn‘t realize my mind had been fully captured by this store sign. Weird. 

I crossed the street and opened the door to the shop. It was heavy and at first, I thought it might have been locked, but then it opened. 

A chime rang as I stepped in. I closed the door behind me and looked around. 

The store smelled of old things. Old books and slightly moldy furniture. If you have ever been to the house of a very old person, this, but without the medicinal smells. It was filled to the brim with all kinds of things. The corridors of overfilled shelves were narrow and things were lying around everywhere where there was enough space to fit it. Some corridors were blocked with merchandise but looked like they were supposed to connect to others. I could see no order to things. Lamps were standing next to jewelry and loose papers. There was furniture, pictures, old rusty weapons, piles of books, things I could not identify, dresses, and other clothing. They had everything and most of it looked to me like trash or like it should be in a museum.

Behind a desk with a cash register that looked like it came from at least 2 centuries ago I spotted a white-haired, small but burly man sitting there. He was wearing a white shirt and brown vest with a gold chain that must be attached to a pocket watch hidden in his vest pocket. He also wore glasses that looked way too small on his face. He was looking down, maybe reading a book, but I couldn‘t quite see behind all the merchandise filling the counter. I wasn‘t sure if he didn‘t notice me or just didn‘t want to acknowledge my presence. It didn‘t say anything, not wanting to disturb him, and instead started to look around for something to buy, anything drawing my attention. I was running out of time.

That is when I spotted it. A hat. It had the form of the kind of close-fitting heads people in the 50s wore. It was grass green and had feathers and pearls as decoration on one side. It was beautiful and would fit Steph‘s red hair nicely. It was perfect! And the first thing that drew my attention. I took it, looking for a price, but there was none. So I want to the men with it. He still wasn‘t looking up when I approached him. 

I cleared my throat and when he still didn‘t react I said ‚Ehm, excuse me? Sorry? How much is this hat?‘

He finally looked up, but only to look at the hat, not at me. It took him a while to answer as if he had to think about every word. ‚How much are you willing to pay for it?‘

So it was this kind of a store. No fixed prices, only bargaining. I hated bargaining, but maybe this would allow me to get the hat below 10$. ‚Would 7$ be ok?‘ I asked instead of telling. The hat felt like it was worth more, but when bargaining one was supposed to start lower than one actually was ready to pay. 

The man still was staring at the hat, seemingly thinking. Then after what felt like minutes looked for the first time up at me. His gaze felt like he was able to read evereything about me in my eyes. My past, my character, my darkest secrets, everything. A chill ran down my spine. I was just about to say nevermind and leave what he said ‚9$ and it is yours.‘

Jackpot! ‚Great!‘ I said, getting out the money and handing it to him. He took it, already looking back down to his book or whatever. I took the hat and left, without the man acknowledging me again. It was as if our interaction didn’t happen and I was never there.

Outside I looked at my watch. Still 3 minutes to spare. I did it! As evidence, since I didn‘t get a receipt, I wanted to take a photo of myself with the hat to send to the others. I put it on and made my best selfie face, having the antique store sign in the background. I took the photo and sent it to the group. Steph will love this hat!

I made my way back to our meeting spot, still wearing the hat so I didn‘t have to carry it. Only when I reached the more busy streets again did I notice that something was off. People were ramming me and not making any space, almost as if I wasn‘t there. A car almost hid me at a crosswalk. But I didn‘t think much of it.

I took off the hat right around the corner of the meeting space and approached the others who were already waiting.

‚Hey! Sorry I‘m late.‘

They all greeted me and I told them about the store and the man. Then we got to exchange our presents.

I handed the hat to Steph. ‚Here. Sorry I spoiled it already, but I needed evidence that I bought it in time. Hope you like it!‘

Steph looked at me confused. ‚What do you mean you spoiled it?‘

‚The selfie I sent?‘

‚Which selfie? You sent a photo of the shop…‘

What was she talking about? I took out my phone and opened up the photo. She was right, it was just a photo of the front of the shop. There was nothing in the photo in the position I posed in. Very strange, but maybe I was just too tired.

‚Oh, yeah. Must have sent the wrong photo then… Well. Surprise! I got you a hat for 9$!‘ 

There was no other photo, but I didn‘t mention it.

Steph happily took the hat and turned it to give it a closer look. ‚This looks amazing! I love it!‘

Then she put it on and… was gone. Steph just vanished. 

We all made noises of surprise, Ella even screamed. Then we heard Steph’s voice, ‚What is it? Does it not fit me?‘ she asked as if still standing there.

None of us were able to talk due to the shock and we were stunned, staring at the spot our friend was supposed to stand in. I was the first one back to my senses. ‚Steph? Can you take off the hat for a sec?‘ 

And then there she was again, holding the hat as if she just had taken it off. ‚What is it? Is there something on it?‘

I decided that showing her was the best solution so I had her hand it to me and put it on myself. Now she was the one looking in surprise. 

‚I think this hat makes the wearer invisible!‘ I exclaimed, taking it off and putting it back on multiple times in a row to demonstrate, excitement taking over and all the possibilities this will give as flooding my thoughts.

This hat was definitely worth way more than the 9$ I paid for it. And it will open up oh so many mischievous things we can do with it. This was the best purchase I ever made by far!