I must be dreaming! Angela thought.
But when she opened her eyes, the man was still there. And still aging and youth-ing by turn.
Angela was ready to run back to the stairs and the street, but the man’s jolly laughter stopped her.
She decided that anyone with such a warm laugh couldn't be too scary.
“Hello there! Hi!" he said. "Didn’t mean to startle you, young lady. What might you be looking for? What can I get you?” The old-to-young-to-old man laughed again.
Angela couldn’t help smiling herself. He looked so happy to have someone in his shop.
“I… I don’t know,” Angela said. “What is this place?”
“It’s Adam Zimmerman’s Rewind Shop," the man said. "I’m Adam Zimmerman. This is my shop. Do you need a rewind?”
Angela didn’t know what a rewind was.
The old-young-old man tilted his head to one side. “Didn’t you see the sign? It says Rewind Shop, clear as can be. I like to say we have every kind of rewind, from A to Z. Get it? A to Z. Like my initials... Adam Zimmerman. That’s me.”
Angela only grew more lost.
Adam Zimmerman waved one hand like it wasn't worth worrying about. “Well, no matter. Take a look around, young lady. I’m sure you’ll find something you can use,” he said.
Adam Zimmerman picked up a tattered old book and began reading.
Angela watched him go from old to young to old two more times. Then she decided to do as he’d said and take a look around.
Maybe she would be able to figure out what a Rewind Shop was all about.