Magic Shoppe - For Real Now

As the door opened, a bell bracketed to the wall rang. “Welcome to the Magic Shoppe,” the tall, thin man behind the counter announced. “What can I do for you today?”

The man walked to the counter still looking around the shoppe. Aside from the man behind the counter and a woman wearing a maid’s uniform sweeping the essentially spotless floor, the shop was vacant. “Hi, I don’t know if you can help. But, I suppose if the rumors are true, you can.”

“I can assure you the rumors I spread are always true,” the proprietor said with a smile.

“Cute. My future wife…”

“You’re engaged?”

“Yes, the wedding isn’t scheduled but we’re thinking next summer.”

“Well, congratulations.”

“Thanks. After we’d been going out for about a year, she hesitantly introduced me to her darkest secret.”

“That you are about to tell me, a complete stranger.”

“You can’t help me if I don’t,” the man said. He noticed the proprietor favored verbal sparring. “She started out sending me links to images of people pretending to be mannequins in stores. Then to stories and webcomics about people who are turned into mannequins by technology or magic or other unusual phenomenon. No offense.”

“Of course not. Magic is strange. I can guess where your tale is headed.”

“After sending me a particularly steamy story, I was a bit embarrassed getting turned on as I read it on the commute home. And then…”

*****

“Barbara?” The man called out as he entered the apartment. “Barbara, that story was one the best you’ve sent me.” She wasn’t in the living room or the kitchen area. He entered the bedroom and saw her standing in front of the bay window. “Barbara?”

She hadn’t reacted at all. Her arms were held a bit too far away from her sides but not up in the air. Her fingers splayed in an odd manner. Her head was slightly tilted.

He was going to say her name again when he recalled the story he’d just read. He guessed she wanted to roleplay. He cleared his throat and said in a high pitched, kind of feminine voice, “When was the last time we changed the clothes on the main mannequin, Roman?”

Roman was his real name. “I don’t remember, Abigail,” he replied in his normal voice. “Do you want me to change them now?”

He returned to the feminine voice, presumably possessed by a woman named Abigail, “Yes. I’ll set out clothes while you remove those.”

He stepped up behind the mannequin and undid the zipper on the back of its dress. He raised the hem up to the mannequin’s waist. He gathered more of the fabric in a bunch and pulled the dress up over the mannequin’s head. The dress was hung up on the mannequin’s arm but pulling it downward allowed it to slip off.

He managed not to laugh as goosebumps manifested up and down her arms. He put the dress in the hamper and said, “Abigail? Where’s the dress?” He made soft incomprehensible sounds of a woman speaking loudly too far away. In his own voice, he said, “Okay, I’ll wait. You take care of the customer who just came in.”

He stood behind the mannequin and ran his hands over its arm. “She won’t be back for a bit. I have time for this.” He reached around the mannequin’s ribcage and caressed its breasts. “So hard… so solid.” He said about how hard her nipples had become and ignored how soft everything else about her chest was. “If the mannequin came to life now, my dreams would be answered,” he whispered in her ear. “Or maybe I’ll just put the new dress on it.”

He heard her a ragged nearly uncontrolled breath from her. She remained resolutely still otherwise as she got her breathing back under control.

“Okay, I can always take my girlfriend out to dinner later.” He grabbed one of her dressier outfits and put it on her. He could tell she was struggling not to tremble as he zipped the dress up. “Abigail, I’m leaving early. I’m taking Barbara out to Ciccone’s later.”

As he was leaving the room, ‘Abigail’ said, “Have a good time, Roman!”

*****

The proprietor looked over at the maid who hung on the man’s every word. The enchantment that was supposed to make her focus on sweeping and dusting was being overruled by how much she probably wanted to be the customer’s wife.

Roman continued. “I walked out of the bedroom and counted to ten. When I walked back in, she was sitting at her vanity doing her makeup, still wearing the dress I’d just put on her. She said she’d be ready in a minute and asked me about my day like nothing else had happened,” Roman said, finishing his story.

“You’re hoping I have something that can actually turn her into a mannequin, I’m guessing,” the proprietor said.

“Yes. Her birthday is coming. If it were something like a necklace, that would be perfect.”

*****

Her birthday came. She was so excited. Roman refused to tell her what he got her or what they were doing on her birthday.

She wasn’t sure why, but for the last few days, he had asked her to already be a mannequin when he got home from work. When she’d asked why, he said her birthday was coming and he wanted to encourage her fantasy.

She’d gone all out this evening. After leaving work early, she’d taken a bubble bath, done up her hair and makeup and was wasting time on her phone waiting for the sound of the front door opening.

When it did, she hurried to the mannequin pole she’d bought for herself a few weeks back. She decided to face the door so she could see Roman’s face when he saw her.

It had been so worth it. She stood there like a statue, or a mannequin really, and was so happy to see him taken aback when he saw her. He was holding a palm sized box with a red bow on it.

He looked around the room, making eye contact with her no longer. “Barbara? Barbara?” He called out. “Good, I must have made it home before her. How can I surprise her?”

She wasn’t sure what he was up to. She’d been expecting him to start role-playing his Roman works at a store with Abigail story as he’d done all week.

“I hope she likes the gift. I should see how it looks on the mannequin she bought.” He was standing right in front of her. “It is so convenient having a mannequin that looks exactly like Barbara in our bedroom. I can always be sure the clothes and stuff I buy her will fit.”

This was new, she thought. She wondered if he was going to change her clothes. Instead, he pulled a leather and metal choker out of the box and placed it around her neck. It was snug but not tight at all. She wanted to move her head side to side to see if it would pinch at all. But, she remained in character for now. Mannequins don’t worry about anything pinching them.

He stepped away from the mannequin, his arm on his chin, a thoughtful and discerning look on his face. He stepped forward again and twisted the choker a bit counterclockwise. He stepped back again. “Perfect,” he said. “I should take a picture. I can show it to her later.”

He took a moment to frame the shot just right and snapped a few pics of the mannequin. “I should put the choker back in the b—” An alert took over his screen as he was about to take another pic. “Oh, a text.” After reading the pretend text he pretended to respond. As he was ‘typing,’ he said, “That’s unexpected. She wants me to meet her Ciccone’s.” He put his phone in his pocket and reached for the choker. He stopped before he touched it. “I wonder. If I leave it there, how long will take her to notice it? I can pretend I didn’t get her anything and then she’ll see the choker on the mannequin.” He laughed. Later he wondered if rubbing his hands with glee had been too far over the top. “She won’t expect that. I better get going.”

He left the room.

What kind of plan is that? She wondered. It’s like he wants me to get upset and then have to apologize when I realize he has played me. But, why would he tell me his plan? I want to go after him and ask him but I’ll wait. He won’t leave without me.

She heard the apartment door open and close. Nice touch, she thought. He’s probably waiting in the hall for me to come look for him. I wonder what the choker feels like.

What? She tried to move her head side to side. But… How? It wouldn’t move. She couldn’t turn or bend her neck. She tried to reach for the choker but her arms didn’t obey her. Why can’t I move? She thought. For a split second she was afraid.

Where did he get that choker? She recalled a conversation they’d had a few weeks earlier…

*****

“Hey, you ever hear about a store called The Magic Shoppe?” He said out of nowhere.

“Yeah, on seventh, I think. Nancy was telling me about a coworker who’d been there.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, this guy had shown up to work one day as a woman. Scuttlebutt around the office was she’d used magic to do it. Goes by Dana now.”

“That can’t be real.”

“What if it is?” Barbara gushed. “That would be cool if there was magic to turn people into other things.”

“I wonder what you’d like to be.”

*****

It took all his willpower to stay away from the apartment for a few hours. He was at a nearby bar with his friend Martin.

“She’s a mannequin. Like a real mannequin?” his friend said.

“I’ve told you about this before.”

“Yeah, but now you’re telling me she’s actually a hollow piece of plastic, unlike all the other times.”

“True. It’s the perfect gift.”

“Unless the reality of being a mannequin is not the same as her fantasy.”

“Yeah, I’ve worried about that. But once I had the idea, I had to give it a shot.”

“All I know is when you do take the necklace off, do not lose sight of it. You might find it around your neck as she’s dropping you down the garbage chute.”

Roman laughed. “I’ve also considered her being livid with me for turning her back into a person.”

“Indifference. You are hoping for indifference in the best case here? Is it great gift giving if the optimal end result is indifference?”

“You’re buying the next round for that.”

Martin finished his beer. “Of course, we’re celebrating Barbara’s birthday without her.”

“Hey, if she really digs the necklace, I might be available to hang out more.”

“Let me get those beers. I want to drink to that.”

*****

This is fantastic, she thought. I wonder where he went. He was always complaining that he didn’t get to see his friends that much. I hope he used this opportunity to see Martin and/or Colby. I don’t want this to end. But, I also want to show my appreciation for the perfect gift.

She spent her evening wondering when she’d changed into a mannequin. She hadn’t felt anything at all. She realized she hadn’t tried to move for several minutes after Roman had put the necklace on her.

For a brief instant she considered it have been the photograph he’d taken. She dismissed this as unlikely since he talked a lot about leaving the necklace on the mannequin.

She hoped it hadn’t happened instantly. She could see herself coming home many, many nights and putting the necklace on herself if she was able to pose her arms afterward. It would be terribly inconvenient to end up standing there with her hands at her neck every time. She’d have to ask Roman when he got home. Her mind smiled. She corrected herself. She had to ask Roman when he removed the necklace. He could come home and leave it on her. Her mind became a little melty at the thought of him ignoring her for days.

Either way, she didn’t want him to rush home. She hoped he wasn’t worried about her reaction. Foolish, she knew. Being Roman, he’s worried. She tried to distract herself from his reactions.

She thought about how much she’d enjoyed the evening so far. Her favorite part of the evening was the sun ever so slowly setting, the light in the room dimming. She’d read those words in the stories she loved. Watching it happen was so much better.

She stood in the near pitch blackness, but not total silence. She could distinctly hear the explosions in whatever action movie her neighbor was watching. It was probably barely noticeable to someone alive.

The only thing she was missing was a window to look out of. She could have been looking out the bay window. Tonight, she’d wanted to see Roman’s reaction to her outfit. She laughed to herself. She’d gotten all dolled up because she’d expected to go to dinner. Instead she just got dolled.

The door to the apartment opened. It sounded loud in the silence. She realized she was so excited but her heart didn’t exist to be racing. When the light turned on in the bedroom, she hadn’t needed to blink so her eyes could adjust to the sudden brightness.

He got undressed before saying, “I considered just quietly going to bed. But, I need to know that you’re happy. But, that doesn’t mean you have to stop being a mannequin.”

What? She thought.

“I’m going to remove the necklace. When I unclasp it, if you really want to be human, you’ll turn back to normal. But, if you really don’t want to become human, the clasp won’t open and you’ll remain a mannequin.”

What should I do? I want to give him a kiss. And much more. I want to spend the night as a mannequin. What should I do?

“Okay, I’ve given you a few seconds to think about it. Here goes. 3… 2… 1…” The clasp would not open.

She was still a mannequin.

He laughed and kissed the mannequin’s lips. “Martin owes me five bucks. Enjoy the rest of your birthday, Love.”

In the morning, he used the bathroom before standing in front of her. Without a word he removed her dress. She’d wanted to kiss him since he’d kissed her the night before. He got a makeup removal pad and cleaned her face. He pulled the pins out of her hairdo. She had to admit she was amused at his delay tactics.

He stood back and looked around the room. He went over to his bedside table for his phone. He took a few pictures of her.

“Change back. I’m sure you want to thank me just slightly more than you want to stay a mannequin. The necklace isn’t going away.”

He removed the necklace. She couldn’t move for a few seconds. She was a bit surprised when she needed to inhale. Instead of speaking, she kissed him.

Moments later, he said, “Abigail said to wish you a happy birthday.”

“She should ask for a raise. She takes such good care of her mannequins,” Barbara said through a giggle. Seconds later her eyes when wide. “Your phone! Your phone! I want to see the pictures.”

“Yes. Here.”

The first picture he’d taken was already on screen. The naked mannequin had a close approximation of her face.

“There’s nipples but no areola. No labia. And the face is slightly fake.”

“Do you like it?” He asked for no reason.

“I love it.” Tears formed in her eyes. “I’ve never received a more perfect gift.”

They kissed and the kisses turned into further activity in the bed.

They lay in bed after a round of love making. “I need to stop,” she said. “I’m starved.”

“Mannequins generally don’t eat. Want to get dressed and hit The Grind for breakfast? I feel like I’m doing something wrong not taking you to a restaurant for your birthday.”

“Not a problem. You’re good. No, you are fucking great. I love you.”

“I love you.”