The Dabbler

The Dabbler

Back in medieval times during the new renaissance there was a proud toy maker, so successful people from far and wide would come to look at, and buy his closely guarded secret new gizmo-whirly toy wonder. He made a modest living and held off against the competition from the (made-to-be-broken) Toy Makers Guild. His secret to success was that when his toys weren’t selling he passed his time repairing broken toys for donations or trade. This also allowed him to study what children cherished most among their toys.

As he became older he decided to open a position for an apprentice on the town crier board, at a glance he felt, he would know the right lad for the task.The day came when he saw that very lad in of all the people, a petty thief hanging from the shackle of a jailer. Caught up in the guild sweeps without proper papers, he was surely a goner. However the toy maker assured the guard that there was obviously a mistake, that the lad worked for him and surely they wouldn’t lock up an old mans only apprentice? The lad quick to catch-on walked away a free character, reluctantly he accepted the toy makers offer of fare and an oversized closet to sleep in exchange for odd jobs around the shop. As time passed the old man without the knowledge of the lad began to set aside a small pension in the lads name.

When he felt the time was right he also gave the lad, now a man, the secret to his success. “Use surprise”he went on, “to bring the customer to you.”, and as an after thought. “Never let the (made- to-break) Toy Makers Guild get any idea what your new toy is!”

Sadly the toy maker became ill and weak with a delirium that grew stronger by the day. The doctors called the sanitarium, and the sanitarium told the apprentice a stay would be good for the worn toy maker, and presented him with a payment plan for admittance to better his enjoyment of his last days.

The Toy Shop was slow, and not due for market any time soon, and they were getting by repairing broken toys just to eat. With a great dilemma before him and the well being of the old man on his heart, he happened upon an agent from the Toy Makers Guild who mentioned that for the information about the type of material of the newest prototype they would pay plenty enough to give the old man a long stay. The apprentice accepted the offer going immediately to the sanitarium to make the required arrangements. Doing so was the hardest thing he ever did, returning to the old man, still delirious and incoherent, he knew not whether to tell the old man what he had done or let him die with peace of mind.

Then by chance the cat died by poison, and it was found that the old man as well had been poisoned too. He began to recover slowly, as the Guild released the next new gizmo to the masses, promising to close the shop for good.

As appointed the sanitarium came to pick up the delirious toy maker, already found to be incompetent. The apprentice not being able to tell the toy maker what he had done let them take him away. Then cleaning out his closet he left the shop for the last time. Some say he went mad from the dilemma he committed himself to… yet children are still told that leaving their broken toys in the closet will eliminate the monsters, assure them the things they need, and the Dabbler will leave a well organized closet that others may have peace of mind that he denies himself… that is the tale of the Dabbler.