Mr. Ordo and the Magic Cape, As Written by One Deemed Worthy by the Great Ordo

Mr. Ordo and the Magic Cape
As Written by One Deemed Worthy by the Great Ordo
By Michael Padilla

A little bell jangled as I entered the out-of-the-way shop with a “Help Needed” sign out front. It was very old-fashioned, as if time had yet to touch this little slice of Victorian England. Though we were in New York City I felt as if I had entered an entirely different time and place as I had been in a moment ago.
“Hmm, yes, yes this will do…” Low muttering came from the back of the “Shop of Gifts, Gags and Greater”. Books and trinkets lined the walls each with its own price tag hanging from it, as if to give them all an individual identity. Teddy bears and helicopter-like toys stood side by side proclaiming that no prejudice was to be had here. Whether there were 3 of the same toy or 300, you would not find them in the same aisle but spread throughout the shop, standing where they deemed appropriate for themselves.
“Hello?” I whispered from the storefront. I had no wish to disturb a man hard at work but as my funds for living in this vast city were quickly diminishing, I felt that a job would be better than starvation.
“Is that you, Radames?” came the reply. Clutter and crashes drew closer from the back room as the speaker attempted to make their way into the main shop area.
“Uhm, no sir. My name’s Louis.” I called out.
“Whoops, sorry. Mind was in the 2nd century again. Those were some great times.” The voice came closer and closer until a man came spilling out of the doorway with greater grace and style than Louis could ever hope to achieve.
He wore a brown double breasted vest with shawl collar along with dark trouser and brown shoes. He reached for his very stylish (for the 19th century) derby and placed it atop his tusseled dark hair.
“Now then Louis, we must get a move on. You are half a century late and if I am to be at the High Council meeting before sunscape we must depart at once.” As he rambled on about how utterly boring these council meetings were and how once, on a dare, he had given a tug on Odin’s beard to see if it was a fake (and FYI it was, though try telling that to the High Chancellor who would hear no other side of the story), I found it in myself to speak.
“Uhm, buh, what?”
Not my greatest prose but at the time it was all I could say.
“Forgive me, I tend to ramble. Allow me to introduce myself.” He removed his hat and took a very impressive bow.
“I am the Great Ordo, Master of Midgard, Guardian of the Guild and an Artiste of Alliteration!” He finished with a flourish of his hat.
I hung around speechless, contemplating how rude it would be to turn around slowly and back out the way I came until the silence had become too unbearable.
“You are in for a wonderful surprise,” Ordo smiled and in that smile, I knew that the secrets of the universe were mine if I wanted it.
“When do we leave?” I asked with only slight visible apprehension.
“We’re already gone,” And with a wave of the staff he held, Ordo and I were off on our first adventure.

-To Be Continued-