by Ikaros Marks

Created on: May 07, 2009

The compass spun around and around idly, not settling on one direction, just turning around and around. The little magnetic needle (if it was indeed still magnetized) rotated about the central pin, turning and turning around and around.

"I'll make you a bargain" the old man said to Terri. "Give me ten dollars and I'll give you the compass."

"But it doesn't work anyway" Terri complained. "How about I give you five dollars and take it off your hands."

The old man rubbed his fingernails on his dingy lapel and looked at them in the bright sunlight. "Price is ten dollars young miss. You're not getting it for a dollar less."

Terri looked on at the compass spinning around and around and her mind started spiralling. She didn't want a compass. She never went outdoors and was never a brownie or a camper. What on earth would she do with a compass? Still a nagging thought, like a fishhook embedded in her head tugged at the idea. The compass needle spun, catching the light from the sun and reflecting it back to her eye. Her heart leaped as the shard of light flashed over her left eye and sunk into her soul.

"You drive a hard bargain mister..." she paused. Had the old man given her his name? She couldn't remember.

"Name's Oscar", he said reaching out to shake her hand. He had a firm and steady grip, quite the opposite of what she was expecting. "So missy, are you buying the compass?"

"Please don't call me missy, and why would I want a broken compass anyway?" Terri queried again.

"If you offered me a name, my dear young woman, I wouldn't have to call you missy" Oscar replied, rubbing the back of his head as his eyes shifted upwards to take in the blue sky above them.

Terri looked at the compass again and once again that strange pull arose in her. She must have that compass. She must possess it. She pulled her eyes away with some effort to look at Oscar, her eyes narrowing.

"Okay, okay, I know it looks broken, but it ain't." Oscar leaned closer to her and whispered conspiratorially "This compass belonged to a very important man!"

Terri looked at him, disbelief evident on her face. "I find that a little hard to swallow" she replied.

Oscar sighed. "Give me five bucks and you can have the darned thing. It's only been trouble since I found it."

Somewhere inside Terri rejoiced as she handed over the five dollars and collected the compass from Oscar. His eyes lit up as he gazed upon the five-dollar bill. It was quite a large sum of money in those days. Terri pondered

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