Strange Things in the Museum of Odd Things
I still remember that day clearly. It was a hot Tuesday when I got lost in a narrow alley in the corner of the old city. BANG! The worn wooden door burst open when I accidentally leaned against it. And that's where I found it - the Museum of Odd Things which supposedly only appears every 13th full moon.
"Welcome!" greeted an old man with a silver beard that stuck out in all directions like a broken radio antenna. His eyes glinted mischievously behind his thick round glasses. "You are our first visitor since 1923!"
HAH! I almost choked on my own spit.
This museum - oh my gosh - was truly the most absurd place I have ever visited. In the first corner, there was a collection of used spoons that were said to have been used by kings to stir their soup. There was a gold spoon with a bite mark which was supposedly proof that the king was indeed fond of biting his cutlery when he was bored of listening to his ministers' reports.
"Pssst!" The old man whispered dramatically. "See that bent spoon? That's where King Henry VIII used it to scratch his back. That's why it's shaped like the letter S!"
In the next glass cabinet, I found a collection of strange and magical things: a boot that supposedly could walk on its own (unfortunately, it was on strike because the laces had broken), a comb that made anyone's hair curl instantly (but the effect was permanent!), and the most amazing thing - a mirror that reflected your reflection 5 minutes into the future (very useful for avoiding embarrassing situations, the old man said).
"But be careful with that mirror," the old man warned, pointing to a small warning sign. "The last time someone used it for too long, they got confused between what was now and what was 5 minutes later. Poor thing, she still likes to eat dessert before her soup."
I spent who knows how many hours there, amazed by the various oddities. There's a collection of singing rocks (although their repertoire is limited to 60s songs), an umbrella that makes the rain deflect away from the wearer (unfortunately the raindrops end up hitting other people twice as much), and of course - my favorite crown jewel - a book whose contents change according to the reader's mood.
"When I'm bored, the book becomes full of lame jokes," the old man chuckled. "But when I'm hungry, all of a sudden the contents become recipes. It's a hassle, because I have to change my reading glasses often."
When I finally said goodbye, the old man handed me a business card with changing-color ink. "Come again! But remember, this museum only appears on the 13th full moon. And oh, be careful with the exit door - it's a bit sensitive when slammed."
BLAM! Too late. The door slammed shut, leaving me in the same narrow alley. Except this time I brought home a story that probably no one will believe - and a magical business card that unfortunately turned into a receipt when I got home.
Well, at least I know the museum is real. Or... is it? whispering wink
