While prowling through the tables of assorted stuff you spot…
A Macramé wall hanging
Rolled up under a pile of old doormats and shower curtains you find a Macramé wall hanging patterned after a Navajo dream-catcher (though the knots appears to be placed randomly). This 6’ by 6’ wall hanging somewhat resembles a gigantic web made of natural fibers and colorfully hand-dyed cotton rope. When illuminated by moonlight certain knots on the hanging shine softly causing the piece to resemble a star map. During each new moon a different constellation shines faintly, connected by strands of varying thickness. There is no apparent connection between the “stars” on the hanging and the stars as seen from earth.
Assorted bobble-head dolls
Tucked in a battered Jim beam wholesaler box are two-dozen assorted bobble-head dolls. The tops of the heads are sun-faded, and all are made of cheap plastic. They look to be part of a series since each of the dolls appears to have serious if not outright mortal injuries painted on them. While there is no manufacturer’s information, each doll bears a name and date ranging from June 4th, 1962 to October 28th, 1976. A rigorous attempt at research will pull-up missing person reports of people with the names on the dolls…
Unidentified preserves
You spot a quart-size mason jar of unidentified brownish goo shoved to the back of a card table. Underneath the tattered checkered cloth wrapping, the lid appears to be made of cast bronze covered with cabalistic sigils, in addition itseems to be soldered in place. Disturbingly, the glass of the jar is developing flaws in several places, all from the inside-out.
Plastic Jesus icon
Propped up against a box of hymnals you spot a 2’ tall crucifix. Oddly heavy and carved out of ivory-colored plastic it has a cloth wrapped electrical cord descending from the bottom. When plugged into the wall the crucifix glows brightly with a warm internal light except for the eyes and hands of the figure. Attempting to correct this flaw reveals that the cord is not attached to anything, but is simply glued into a socket in the base.
Raffle ticket book
Tossed in a box of odds and ends is a water-stained old book of raffle tickets. The halves remaining in the book have names and phone numbers as well as the item(s) they’re prefer from the raffle. After the tenth ticket stub each has been filled out by a different person with the requested item being ‘my soul back’. It appears that one ticket was filled out each week for a bit less than a year. There are six tickets left
I love the Raffle ticket book.
“And the winner is Jason Green! whose prefered prize was his soul. If you will just see Sandra after the prize giving. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone here today and everyone who bought a ticket. We’ve gathered $2000 for the creche building, thank you so much. Please enjoy yourselves and be sure to try some of Aunty’s fruit juices.”
I also love the Raffle Ticket book, but I’d have every ticket me filled out by the same person– some poor soul lost in the depths of desperation. Sounds like a great plot hook– is he still living? Did he get his soul backi? Does he know what lies beyond from his soul’s sojourns? Or was he just a misguided born-again convert?