He sat on a stool in the corner of the room, still but for the stifling breeze that made his white-blonde bangs flicker about his pale face.

I really don't know why I went into that little gingerbread-like house on the corner. It was run down, its once bright blue and yellow paint peeling off, and the placement of its windows and doors creating the effect of a sad face looking out onto the street. I was disoriented because of the mere moments before. Yes, that was it. There was no other way I would have entered that little shop proclaiming it sold the very best toys. Very best toys?

He was probably just an employee. A kid desperately needing some cash (And, looking around at the musty shop that looked as if it hadn't been entered in who knew how long, he must be very desperate for some money.), that was all.

I approached him, glancing about the store as I walked towards him. Dolls sat on the shelf, pieces of their faces cracked and broken, and their hair adorned with dust. Marionettes hung from the rafters, their long strings tangled, looking lost and confused with their lips parted and their eyes wide. The wheels of the little cars sitting on the shelf were missing or chipped, the paint peeling and metal rusting. I glanced up at the sitting boy again. His eyes were downcast, a small smile curving his shockingly scarlet lips, ones that stood out sharply against his pallor.

"Excuse me..." I said, stepping over a pile of jacks and marbles that had been scattered about the floor before the boy. My voice was as cracked as the doll faces behind me, sorrow seeping through my attempt at being sunny.

"Hello," came the soft reply, one so soft I had to strain my ears to hear it. He didn't look up, and his lips had barely moved.

"Err..." I was at a loss for words. What was there to say?

The boy lifted his head, and blinked up at me from beneath the ivy cap he wore. And then--

"Gregory!"

The sound made me jump and yelp in fright, as a harried-looking old man rushed out from the darkness of the hall behind the boy. "Why didn't you ring for me when she came in?" He looked up at me, nodding sadly, and saying,

"Excuse Gregory, my dear, he still needs some work." Not knowing what the strange man meant by this, I simply nodded. He looked more than a little eccentric, with his patched apron and his satin top hat that was adorned with ribbons. Pushing his goggles up onto his forehead, he looked away from Gregory and down at me.

"Allow me to introduce myself; the name's Mr. Smatch." I politely shook his outstretched hand.

"Now, my dear, what is it that brings you to my humble toy store? Looking for a present, perhaps? Or..." he trailed off, staring down critically at me with eyes that were of the lightest blue. "...is it something...else?"

"Something...else." I echoed, "I was hoping for something for myself."

"And what is it that ails the little lady? Does your house need brightening up? For that I suggest the doll, Abigail, she's quite-" Mr. Smatch began, rambling until I interrupted him.

"Listen, Sir, I'm sorry and all, but I don't think a doll can help me at the moment. This probably wasn't the right place to come..."

Mr. Smatch's eyes brightened in realization, and he looked down piteously at me. "Ah...I see. Boy troubles, I presume? In that case...you should take Gregory."

I stared at him, eyebrows raised and face red. "Har har, Sir. Sure, make fun of the girl who just got dumped by her boyfriend. Hilarious."

He stared down at me, his face grave."‘Tis no joke." He gestured to Gregory. "My boy here is tuned to mend broken hearts. You should have him."

"Tune him? You make him sound like some brainless robot!" I took a step backwards, eyeing the two warily.

"He's not a robot, and he's certainly not brainless. Quite the opposite really. However--" He reached around Gregory, as if to pat him on the back, and there came the sound of something being wound up. Gregory blinked at her again, his lips cracking into a grin, and he winked at her.

"Even if he isn't a robot, he's certainly not human either."

I stare in wonder as Gregory stands up, his joints creaking as he did so, and bowed to me. And there, on his back was his switch. It was one of those keys that you turned in order to wide up a music box, and his was slowly rotating.

"The secret is to him is to keep him wound, and he'll keep going and going, for as long as you like. I've got a manual for using him, as well." I suddenly found my arms laden down with a heavy book that was titled 'The Wide-Up Boy', and listened, entranced, as Mr. Smatch continued,

"That will tell you everything you need to know about him. Be sure to read every page. And..." he trailed off, thinking. "...did I forget anything?"

"But...why are you giving me him? Why did I do to deserve him?"

"Ah, my dear, we think of ourselves as the bringers of happiness. It's only natural that we'd want to brighten up someone's day, and who needs a brighter day than you?" he replied, smiling down at me.

I still was unconvinced. "I'm fine, really. There are girls who deserve him more than I do..."

"Even so--they didn't enter my shop, did they? Now..." He gave me a pat on the head. "Run along, for I've got much work to do if I want to complete another Wide-Up Doll soon. I was working on Gregory's sister, Janine, when I heard you two talking."

I found myself being pushed back towards the doors by some unknown force, Gregory, his eyes wide and confused, following me.

"Feel free to visit again if any...complications...arise. Now..." I was just by the door when he said, "Enjoy your new Wide-Up Boy." and I was instantly outside in the sun, Gregory standing beside me, and the doors to the toy shop were barred shut.

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