Jesper makes a trip into town - Part 3
The worm in Jesper's palm writhes around, searching for soil. Jesper draws it close to his eye, peering down at it.
"Worm friend---hehehe---visit ladies next! Get cookie---hehehe. Be nice, be polite, ladies like Jesper!" He tells the worm. "Be good, get cookie."
Jesper tucks his friend back into the front pocket of his trousers. The rucksack is removed. He rummages through and pulls out his socks and boots, putting them on carefully one at a time. He pulls down his jester hood and leaves it draped behind his shoulders. Licking both palms, Jesper hastily fixes his hair into as much of a perfect point as he can manage.
His feet prepare to land on the cobblestone as Jesper slowly inches his way off the seat of the bench. They carry him over towards another building across the alley. Mannequins in homemade clothing and fabric line the windows. Warm lighting invites him in.
This door, when opened, unfortunately has no bell. Regardless, two women swiftly turn in place to see who has entered. Their eyes both fall lower towards the floor in realization. Elated, the clothier, a tall blonde woman named Selene runs from behind the counter to meet the little imp. Her sister, Scarlett, remains at the counter, looking up Jesper's order in a ledger.
"Jesper! You're here!"
"Hi!" He peeks through one eye. His arms cross his mid-section, fingers interlaced. "Is Jesper!"
"You're here for Yarrow's order this week, right?" Selene asks.
"Yes---hehehe." Jesper looks sheepishly towards the floor. "For friend, for Yarrow."
"You're such a good help! What a cute little guy."
Selene holds out her hands, extending an invitation for Jesper to be picked up. His arms fly up in a positive response. She braces her knees, and sweeps Jesper up and places him on her hip. He's a bit heavy, until suddenly he's not. She doesn't notice Jesper is displacing some of the weight through levitation.
"He has such a crush on you." Scarlett laughs, heading towards the back of the business to gather the order.
"No he does not," Selene runs one hand through Jesper's slightly sticky hair. "He is just such a good help."
Jesper's eyes shut tight, content. He rests his head into her chest, ears lowered. His long tongue pokes out from his smile, and begins licking the top of Selene's wrist. She does not seem bothered.
"Imp good---no bite. Only lick---hehehe."
A worm falls from his pocket onto the floor below. Jesper's ears twitch as he recognizes the smack. His tongue locks mid-lick, his eyes open. Selene is both surprised and horrified. She leans forwards to grab the worm from the floor. Jesper snatches it, inspects it, and places the worm back in his pocket.
"Why do you have worms---?"
"No worms! Imp no have worms." Jesper opens his eyes at her.
"No, I mean---" Selena begins.
"---Alright, if you're such a good helper, Jesper, tell me where I'm putting this fabric." Scarlett is lugging two rather long bolts of fabric towards the front of the store.
It's unfeasible for Jesper to carry something this large alone. The two clothiers seem a bit perplexed, and had not thought out exactly how Jesper was ever supposed to transport these.
Jesper wiggles a bit in place to signal that he wants to be put down.
"Imp help! Imp carry!" He insists, while finding his footing on the ground.
Scarlett lowers both bolts onto the floor at Jesper's feet.
"Jesper, you can't carry those! Did Yarrow come with you?" Selene jokes. She begins scanning the windows to see if he might be nearby.
"No---hehehe---imp carry, Jesper carry. Have bag! Jesper's home---hehehe---can carry big things!"
The sisters exchange yet another look of confusion.
Jesper digs through his rucksack and pulls out a smaller bag. This does not solve any mysteries. He places it on the ground, and pulls open the bag to an impossible width. The bag should have torn.
"What is that?" Scarlett asks.
"Jesper's home! Look!" He reaches in and removes a stick that is twice the length of the outside of the bag. "Bolt in bag! Imp carry bag! Put bag in rucksack! Hehehe---simple!"
Scarlett and Selene are not sure exactly how this works until Jesper places the stick back inside. It simply vanishes.
"Yes! Imp hold bag! Friends put in bag---hehehe."
Scarlett loads up the first bolt into Jesper's small bag. It's swallowed up into nothingness. The second bolt fits just as easy as the first.
"Wow, would you look at that." Scarlett is in disbelief.
"Imp pay! No worry! Jesper pay---hehehe. Have money!" He sits down on the cold floor and begins digging around the rucksack once again. "From Yarrow!" One satchel is handed to each sister individually.
"Thank you, Jesper." The two take a subtle bow.
They watch as the imp leisurely begins placing all of his belongings neatly back inside his bag, and place it onto his back.
"Imp good! Imp was good---polite---hehehe." Jesper opens his eyes. He locks eyes with Selene. "Jesper good! Did not bite! Did only lick--hehehe. Paid friends!"
"Yes, you did!" Selene smiles.
Jesper stares. Selene glances over at Scarlett. Jesper pulls his ears down, and dances in place impatiently.
"Imp get treat? Get cookie?"
"Oh! Of course!"
Selene darts off behind the counter and returns with two small cookies. She makes an attempt to hand them to Jesper, but he eats them directly out of her hands. He offers his shirt to dry them, but she declines.
"Jesper, will Yarrow be joining you next week?" Selene asks, softly.
"Um... Not know! Hehehe."
"Well, we'll see you next week, bud. And you'll get your cookies." Scarlett reassures, double checking that Jesper is fully packed before he leaves.
"Bye Jesper!"
The two wave him goodbye as Jesper heads back out into the busy market street.
With one last stop, and Jesper could call it a day and head for home. He began to miss it's warmth.