Better Cities:Turquoise Beads

Book Information Turquoise Beads
ID	xx0982ED
	25		1.0
Locations
Found in the following locations: Sold by book merchants and found in random containers as loot.

Turquoise Beads

A story about sacrifice.

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One clerk, standing behind the counter of his store, was absentmindedly looking out into the street. A little girl went to his store and literally stuck her nose to the display glass. Her eyes sparkled with delight when she saw what she was looking for. She went inside and asked to be shown a turquoise necklace.

"This is for my sister. Can you wrap them up nicely?" asked the little girl.

The owner looked at the little girl with disbelief and asked:

"How much money do you have?"

Without a shadow of a doubt, she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket, poured out all the little things it contained on the counter and asked, smiling happily:

"Is that enough?"

There were only a few small coins. But the girl continued with pride:

"You know, I want to give this to my older sister. Since our mother died, my sister has been taking care of us, and she has no time for herself. Today is her birthday and I'm sure she will be happy to get such beads, they are very suitable for the colour [sic] of her eyes." The man took the beads, went into the back of the store, found a case to put the beads in, and wrapped it with a blue ribbon, tying a bow.

"Here you go!" he said to the girl. "And carry it carefully!"

The little girl ran out happy and skipped towards her house. The working day was drawing to a close when a young girl crossed the threshold of the same store. She put on the counter the case she knew to the seller and separately the wrapping paper and the untied bow.

"Were these beads bought here? How much did they cost?"

"Ah!" said the owner of the store, "the cost of any item in my store is always a confidential agreement between me and the client."

The girl said: "But my sister only had a few coins. Real turquoise beads, right? They must be very expensive. We can't afford it!"

The man took the case, restored the packaging with great tenderness and warmth, handed it to the girl and said: "She paid the highest price, more than any adult could pay: she gave everything she had."

Silence filled the little shop, and two tears rolled down the girl's face, clutching a small bundle in her trembling hand.